Chapter 160 A young man came to the Xiuwen Museum
After a light rain, the pears in Lihuatang are ripe.
Zhao Duan discovered this after returning to the Yamen.
Because it was a tree that had been planted for many years, it was full of fruit. Zhao Duan waved his hand, and the little secretary led a group of officials to become fruit farmers collectively and picked several large baskets.
Early that morning, Zhao Duan stepped into the dining room.
At a glance, he saw two beauties, one big and one small, surrounding a soup bowl at the round table.
"Dalang, come and take a look. It was cooked according to your instructions, but I don't know if the 'rock sugar snow pear' you mentioned looks like this?"
When Eugene Hua saw him, her eyes lit up and she said a little anxiously.
"Let me take a look."
Zhao Duan walked over and observed the cut pears. They had changed color after being boiled in sugar water.
The frosting industry in Dayu is relatively developed, but there are too many impurities in rock sugar, which is far inferior to that of later generations, which affects the appearance to some extent.
Zhao Duan picked up the spoon, took a mouthful, and put it in his mouth.
Next to him, two beautiful faces stared at him, Eugene Hua was filled with anxiety and anticipation.
Zhao Pan's autumn-like eyes were full of eagerness to try.
"how?"
"Well, it's not bad, the heat is just right," Zhao Duan said with a smile, "You guys should try it too."
The two girls were also very curious about this new and unheard of dish.
The two women each had a spoon, filled the bowls with the soup and pears, and ate them carefully.
After tasting for a moment, the mother and daughter's eyes lit up at the same time, and their eyes curved into crescent moons:
"Yeah, it's so sweet..."
"Mom, you're just talking nonsense, you put some icing sugar on it."
“Dalang’s research on how to eat is really fresh.”
"Suck, suck, suck..."
Zhao Duan was sitting at the main seat, watching the two female family members eating enthusiastically, feeling as if they were feeding cats, and his mood was much brighter.
On Eugene's bun, the heavy treasure hairpin he gave was inserted across it. Because it was shaped like "branches" made of gold, Zhao Duan named it "Golden Branch".
The gold pieces dangled at the end, paired with a dark green dress, and her fair complexion also showed a bit of nobility.
Since I gave it to her during the Qiao Qiao Festival, she has been wearing it all day long, smiling when she meets everyone, as if showing off.
As for Zhao Pan, the girl did not wear the hairpin that was named "Jade Leaf" because of its emerald leaves. The two looked pale in comparison.
"I have something important to do today. Where is the basket of pears I want to wash?" Zhao Duan asked.
Eugene Flower immediately ordered someone to fetch it, and a basket was full, both fat and thin.
…
After meal.
Zhao Pan returned to the bedroom, where the girl sat in front of the dressing mirror.
Open the drawer, carefully take out the "jade leaf" treasure hairpin wrapped in red cloth, then look at the bronze mirror carefully and insert the hairpin in your hair.
He held his cheeks, which were slightly thin due to the growth period, with both hands and looked left and right.
After changing a few more outfits, I stood up in the room and slowly walked around in circles, not getting tired at all.
"Sure enough, she looks much better." The beautiful girl's brows were stretched, her cheeks were red, and her mind was far away.
I regretted not wearing it because of shame in the morning. My eldest brother looked at my mother frequently, but paid little attention to her.
…
Outside Zhao's house, Zhao Duan left the house. Today, there was no coachman "Xiao Wang" outside.
He walked straight to the street and waited silently.
After a while, a low-key luxury carriage came from a distance and slowly stopped.
Zhao Duan bent down and picked up a basket of pears, stepped into the carriage, sat down carelessly, and said with a smile:
"Mo Zhaorong, we meet again."
Dressed in female official robes and wearing wingless black gauze on her head, the "female prime minister" looked at him calmly with a cool temperament and "neutral beauty". The "female prime minister" with plum blossoms on her eyebrows looked at him calmly.
He nodded slightly, indicating that he had seen it before.
When his eyes fell on the basket of pears, he couldn't help frowning:
"Zhao Shijun should know where he is going today. What are you doing with this thing?"
Zhao Duan smiled and picked out a green pear and handed it to her:
"Tangkou's own property, use it to quench the thirst of the bachelors, Zhaorong also has a taste?"
"Haha, that's no need," Mochou thanked him and said calmly:
"The Xiuwen Museum is not short of a few pears."
"It's different, it's different, etiquette is less important than affection," Zhao Du'an smiled, "Besides, I am the only one in the world who has the pears grown in Zhao Yamen."
Mochou didn't answer, and ordered the driver to start, saying slightly displeasedly:
"Zhao Shijun's house is too far away. It wastes too much time coming back and forth."
Zhao Duan's house was bought by his grandfather and renovated by his father, but the location was not close to the palace.
After all, housing prices in Beijing are expensive, and not everyone can live in the "inner ring". Zhao Duan's few thousand taels are not enough to buy a new house.
"Haha, it's not easy to live in Kyoto. It's not as easy as Mo Zhaorong, who lived in the palace since childhood and didn't know the sufferings of the people."
Zhao Duan sat across from her and paused for a moment.
Will you be short of money? Not greedy?
Mochou didn't believe what he said at all, and said: "To get down to business, today the Xiuwen Museum is officially convened. Your Majesty has specially ordered me to pick you up and see the world. Grand Master Dong and His Majesty are both here today. You can watch them when they get there. Okay, don’t interrupt and delay the important matter.”
"event?"
Zhao Duan was minding his own business, nibbling on a pear, and said curiously:
"On the first day we meet, isn't it time to chat and get acquainted with each other? What big thing could it be?"
Mochou glanced at him:
"Do you think His Majesty has a lot of time? He would spare precious time to chat with a group of bachelors?
His Majesty has known those people more or less before. , Grand Master Dong also summoned them to meet with them more than once, and they already knew some of the rules and regulations.
Today is said to be the opening of the museum, but some important dynasty matters have already been formally discussed. "
"for example?"
"For example, the New Deal." Mochou said seriously:
"During the decades of the late emperor's reign, the imperial court was not strictly controlled. Therefore, when it fell into the hands of His Majesty, it was already riddled with holes and accumulated ills. As a result, a new policy was needed.
This is also the most important important event after the opening of the Xiuwen Museum, apart from sharing His Majesty's worries and handling some unimportant memorials and official duties. Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty used swords against courtiers so frequently before? "
It was to pave the way for the New Deal and remove obstacles... Zhao Duan understood clearly.
I put away some thoughts about playing.
Therefore, the opening of the museum today is more important than he expected. Is it a group of talented scholars offering their opinions and suggestions to discuss and formulate new national policies?
"Understood?"
Mochou looked at him and sighed:
"That's why I asked you not to interrupt.
I don't even understand why Your Majesty allowed you, a warrior, to come and observe.
When it comes to the New Deal, anyone who enters the museum and participates in today's discussion must keep it secret and keep it confidential. This is what I want to emphasize to you. Everything that happens in the museum today is not allowed to be disclosed. "
Zhao Duan became more serious now and said:
"I should know who is in the library."
"This is the list of bachelors entering the library." Mochou handed over a booklet: "Everyone who enters the library, regardless of their previous status, will be awarded the title of 'Bachelor of Literature'. The first batch of people to enter the library, there are eight people in total. Counting Grand Master Dong, there are only nine people.”
So few?
Zhao Duan was surprised, but after thinking about it, he was not surprised.
Resolutions that really involve major matters, unless it is a vote, have always been the decisions of a few people from ancient times to the present.
He opened the booklet and saw the first name:
Korean porridge.
The carriage shook.
Mochou explained: "Of these eight people, the most important ones are the first three. This Korean congee is the number one scholar from a poor family. He works as a editor in the Hanlin Academy and has the reputation of being the most gifted scholar. He is famous for his poetry and articles. Needless to say, they are all trivial, and his people are quite wise.
In the past few years, although he has not held an official position, he has repeatedly gone out to various roads, prefectures, and even fields to observe and learn, and his knowledge was deeply appreciated by Grand Master Dong. "
The number one talent...
Zhao Duan turned to the second page and saw a familiar name:
Wang You.
Mochou said:
"This is the son of a scholar in the Ministry of Rites. The Wang family has been in the Yu Dynasty for hundreds of years. The family is prominent. It goes without saying that Wang You is talented and learned. His father is a master of calligraphy and painting. But... this man has eyes higher than his head and is quite famous. "Celebrity" has a temperament, is arrogant, and has a strong sense of family status. "
Do you want me not to offend you? A descendant of a big clan?
Alas, it seems that if Zhenbao wants to secure the throne, he also needs to win the support of some noble families... Zhao Duan silently wrote it down.
He opened another page and said with a smile:
"This name is weird, Guo Jieyuan? Isn't Jieyuan the name of the one who ranked first in the provincial science and technology examination?"
Mochou coughed and said:
"When his father named him, he only got second place in the provincial examination because of his own scientific examination. He felt regretful, so he named his son in the hope that his son would win the honorary title. Later, his wish came true."
Is it so perfunctory... Zhao Duan complained:
"Then should he be named Guo Zhuangyuan, or Prime Minister Guo?"
Mochou was silent for a moment and said:
"His father really wants to change his name...well, that's not important. The point is, this man is a well-rounded man. He smiles when he meets others. He is a financial expert."
Zhao Duan silently wrote it down and scanned the resumes of the remaining five young talents.
They have different backgrounds, but they are all scholars and the elite among the elite.
All the heroes gathered... I am the only one who is a big Luobei... Zhao Duan sighed.
I thought that in my previous life, if these people were not at the top universities in the world, they would have been in the Qingbei Genius Class...
Mochou sighed:
"Originally, there was a hermit from Dayu who wanted to invite in, but unfortunately, Grand Master Dong took action and could not be invited."
"hermit?"
"Well, a celebrity who lives in seclusion outside the capital...that's all. It's normal for you, a crude warrior, not to know."
Being despised... Zhao Duan shrugged indifferently and closed the book when he saw that the atmosphere was dull.
Mochou caught a glimpse of this scene and teased: "Are you ashamed of yourself? You see, these are the real talents. Reciting a poem is something you can't do even if you practice swordsmanship all your life."
Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and asked: "Aren't you jealous of me? Are you jealous that I can be invited by His Majesty to go to the Xiuwen Museum?"
Mochou seemed to have been pierced, and immediately denied:
"No. You are just a spectator..."
Zhao Duan laughed and suddenly said:
"Speaking of which, I heard that you have been with His Majesty since you were a child? As a maid? There is so much yin in the palace. Come to think of it, you haven't had serious contact with many men."
After a brief pause, Zhao Duan said something shocking:
"I said...you always look at me with displeasure. Could it be that you like His Majesty?"
Mo Chou felt as if he had been struck by thunder.
He looked away in panic, curled his fingers and toes, and his cold face instantly turned hot: "You... what are you talking about? I... I just admire His Majesty."
"Really?" Zhao Duan looked suspicious and said seriously:
"Actually, if you have this idea but are too embarrassed to speak out, I can help you convey your thoughts to His Majesty."
"don't want!"
Mochou opened the door and raised his head, his eyes widened.
The eunuch driving outside looked sideways with a horrified expression.
I thought to myself in the carriage, could Master Zhao have done something to Miss Mo?
……
"Haha, just kidding you, come and eat a pear."
Zhao Duan laughed.
Mochou's face turned red and she stared at him angrily, realizing that she was being played.
She stared at it for two seconds, then snatched the pear and bit it viciously, as if she was treating it like Zhao Duan and wanted to swallow it in one gulp.
At this moment, the carriage began to slow down.
The eunuch who pretended not to hear anything and decided to keep what he heard today deep in his heart said:
"The Xiuwenkan has arrived."
Zhao Duan perked up, opened the car curtain, and looked at the building in front of him with some expectation.
Agree on a new deal?
He really didn't believe that a group of literati from the feudal era could compare to him.
(End of chapter)