A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks of the Imperial Examination - Chapter 100

    After Xiao Jingduo moved into the Marquis of Chengxi Mansion, he was soon transferred to the Minister of Rites of the Ministry of Rites.

    He was a staff officer in the Ministry of Military Affairs, from the sixth rank, although now he has been transferred from the upper military department to the lower ritual department, but his official position has been promoted. All rose to fifty thousand dollars. This is a common routine for promotion. First, you will be promoted from the top to the bottom, and then slowly transferred back to the important places such as the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War.

      Later, he was transferred to the Sixth Division for promotion, and he was in the prime of life.

    Anyone with discernment can see that Xiao Jingduo has been promoted and has a bright future, but Xiao Jingduo himself is not very happy.

    Not long after I was promoted to the Ministry of Rites, the new year is approaching. This was the first new year for the Chengxihou Mansion, and it was also the year after Xiao Jingduo became independent.

    Today, after Xiao Jingduo went to the office, Qinghan came to ask about the New Year’s ceremony.

    “Master, this is this year’s gift list, you can take a look.”

    Xiao Jingduo took it and glanced at it and put it down: “The gold inlaid jade longevity lock that was given to Prince Liang’s mansion is inappropriate, so replace it with something else.”

    Qinghan often took over the things that were sent to us in the palace, and now I am very puzzled when I hear Xiao Jingduo’s words: “This winter, King Liang was delighted with Lin’er. Lose?”

    “Too close.” Xiao Jingduo only said one sentence, then lowered his head and refused to say any more.

      It’s best to be rude.

    Qinghan used to work in the palace, and she didn’t think about doing what she liked and getting closer, but now she can’t turn around for a while. Lord Hou has the heart to support the princess, so he can’t get too close to other princes, even if Prince Liang is the uncle of His Royal Highness.

    “It’s the slave’s negligence, the slave will go back and change it, and I will show the list to the Lord later.” Qinghan now knows which direction to prepare, and immediately thinks of many inappropriate places, She respectfully took the gift list back and planned to change it before taking it out.

    Xiao Jingduo saw that Qinghan was connected at one point, nodded and said nothing. Since Qinghan and others came to Chengxihou Mansion, Xiao Jingduo deeply realized that the difference between people is really huge. Among the 100 servants bestowed by the royal family, Qinghan, Hongque, Huang Xing, and Lvfern are the leaders. Among them, Hongque is good at inquiring about news, Huang Xing is good at cooking, Lvfern is careful, and is very good at managing the warehouse, while Qingqing is good at inquiring about news. Han has been in the East Palace for several years, and he is the best at handling human relationships. In this comparison, Qiu Ju only has the advantage of being honest, and even the relatively clever Xiqi is much inferior.

    With these four people taking the lead, Xiao Jingduo’s life really eased a lot. Even if he had the heart to give respect to the elderly such as Qiu Ju, he would slowly rely on Qinghan and a few others. However, Qiu Ju was also giving up her mind. Xiao Jingduo’s daily chores were still in her charge, so she felt satisfied. Instead, she cherished chess. In front of Qinghan and the others, she was somewhat unsure of her position.

    Qing Han should have quit. But she paused for a while, and then asked carefully, “Master Hou, how should we give the gift from Dingyong Hou’s mansion?”

      However, the situation of the Xiao family is a bit special. In the past few days, the girls married outside the Xiao family have sent posts to the Chengxihou Mansion as lobbyists, but they have been rejected by Xiao Jingduo in the name of being busy with official business. Qinghan probably understands that Xiao Jingduo has a bad relationship with the family, but she does not know the specific degree. Good to hold.

    It is said that the broken bones are connected to the tendons. After all, they are Xiao Jingduo’s blood relatives. Become a person inside and out. What’s more, Qinghan is still a slave and servant sent by Gan Ning. She is sandwiched between the two masters in the front and back. Qinghan doesn’t dare to be sloppy at all. Since ancient times, suspicion between rulers and ministers has been a bloodless killing field. Qinghan is especially afraid that she will become Cannon fodder among them.

    Xiao Jingduo turned the book in his hand to a new page and said without looking up, “Just treat it as usual.”

    Ordinary treatment…Qinghan had a clue in her heart, and saluted: “I understand.” She wanted to ask Princess Ganning how to deliver it, but she swallowed the words. .

    The inexplicable survival hunch told her not to mention this.

    “Marquis, this morning, the old lady of Dingyong Hou’s mansion sent someone over to instruct you to go back to the mansion on New Year’s Eve to keep the year old, you see…”

    This is not easy to push.

    Xiao Jingduo has not married a wife, and has only a few days to live in another mansion. Xiao Jingduo could only answer: “I see.”

    Qing Han was relieved and stepped back softly.

    In the past few days at the end of the year, it snowed a lot, and the whole Chang’an was plain white. The Ministry of Rites had a holiday as early as seven days ago, and Xiao Jingduo rested in the Hou’s Mansion for the past few days to receive the Duke Hou Xungui who came to pay New Year’s greetings.

    On the afternoon of the 30th, Xiao Jingduo brought people back to the Dingyonghou Mansion.

    The Marquis of Dingyong has more people than the Marquis of Chengxi, and it seems that the New Year’s taste is heavier at this time. The juniors all dressed in new clothes, festively and auspiciously surrounded the old lady for fun. Xiao Su has remarried, and Cheng Huizhen has long lived in the Dingyonghou Mansion, but moved out with her mother. It is reasonable for Cheng Huizhen to spend the New Year in her new family at this time of family reunion, but Cheng Huizhen is very I rarely mention my new home, and more often I live in my uncle’s house, and I don’t even go back for the New Year.

    Cheng Huizhen kept staring at the curtain, Xiao Yuyun laughed when she saw this scene: “Cousin, who is waiting for?”

    Xiao Yuyun is Xiao Ying’s eldest daughter, because she is the first girl in the big house, and her mother Zhuo is favored, Xiao Yuyun acts a bit rampant. Xiao Yuyun has always disliked the old lady’s partiality to Cheng Huizhen. It is clearly Xiao’s house, but the old lady always sticks to Cheng Huizhen first when she gets anything, which makes Xiao Yuyun, who claims to be the daughter of a serious family, rather resentful. Seeing that Cheng Hui was really restless now, Xiao Yuyun knew it in her heart and wanted to stab Cheng Hui more and more.

    Sit for a while, Cheng Huizhen still couldn’t calm down, said a word in a hurry, and walked out quickly.

     She ignored the shouts behind her and walked straight out. After walking out of the yard, Cheng Huizhen grabbed a maid and asked, “eldest cousin, Marquis Chengxi, where is he?”

    The little maid said timidly, “Marquis Chengxi is in the study in the front yard.”

    Cheng Huizhen left the little girl behind and ran quickly to the study.

    She was called into the palace as a female official two months ago. Although it seemed to outsiders that it was a happy event, it was a great honor for a civilian girl to enter the palace as a female official, but Cheng Huizhen But one thousand and one hundred are unwilling.

    Since she was reborn, she has always had an inexplicable fear of Princess Gan Ning. In the past, she tried to avoid occasions where Gan Ning would appear, but now she never thought that she would be summoned to Gan Ning’s side as a female official?

    She doesn’t want it. Cheng Huizhen has always kept aloof from such ruthless and cruel blood relatives, and she still has lingering fears about the scene before her death.

    Cheng Huizhen was restless these days. On the one hand, she heard that Xiao Jingduo was inquiring about her marriage. On the other hand, it was getting closer and closer to the second year of Qianyuan.

    Cheng Huizhen died in the coup in the second year of Qianyuan.

    She still doesn’t know what happened that night. Cheng Huizhen didn’t know who was fighting who, why the coup d’état, the result or cause of the coup d’état, and she seemed to die in a daze.

    But based on the wind before her death and the noise she heard that night, Cheng Huizhen at least knew that this coup was initiated by Gan Ning, and that many people died that night.

    Cheng Hui really doesn’t want to die. She was reborn, not to repeat the useless days of her previous life. Now, only Xiao Jingduo can save her.

    As long as Xiao Jingduo is willing to take her in and shelter her in the Marquis of Chengxi, then she will not have to go to Gan Ning’s side to be a female official, nor will she die at the hands of the rebels, isn’t this both the best of both worlds?

    However, when she got to the study, before entering the door, she was stopped by a few guards: “Marquis Chengxi is reading a book inside, and the idle people are not allowed to enter.”

    “I’m not an outsider, I’m his cousin!”

    The guard was still motionless, but when Xu heard a voice, a maid in blue ran out and asked, “What’s wrong?”

    “I’m Cheng Huizhen.” After Cheng Huizhen finished speaking, she glanced at the people on both sides displeasedly, “You dare to stop me.”

    “It turned out to be Miss Cheng.” Qing Han smiled, “I wonder how you are in the palace?”

    Which pot can’t be opened and lifted, Cheng Huizhen looked impatient: “I’m here to find my cousin, what is he doing inside now?”

     Said that Cheng Huizhen was about to go in, Qing Han moved and blocked in front of Cheng Huizhen.

    “What do you mean?” Cheng Huizhen raised her eyebrows unexpectedly, “How dare you stop me even as a servant?”

     “Miss Cheng, forgive me, this is what Lord Hou meant. He is handling official business, and no one should disturb him.”

    “It’s the annual holiday, what else can I do? It must be you, a bold and cheap maid, who dares to stop me from going to see my cousin, so you won’t let me go?”

    Qinghan lowered her head, but her body always accurately blocked Cheng Huizhen. Cheng Huizhen tried several times, but couldn’t get around Qinghan, so she scolded angrily: “Cousin, do you not care if a cheap maid bullies me? And Qiu Ju, I clearly remember the one in my eldest cousin’s house. The chief is not you, what are you?”

    When Qiu Ju heard this, she couldn’t hide anymore, so she could only stand up and salute Cheng Huizhen: “Miss Biao, Lord Hou is really busy, you go back first.”

    “You are obviously the old man next to your eldest cousin, but you still can’t handle the newcomer and let a later one climb on your head?” Cheng Huizhen pointed at Qinghan and said to Qiu Ju.

    Qiu Ju bowed her head: “This is the order of the Marquis, and the Marquis will never make mistakes.”

    “You!” Cheng Hui was very angry, but Qing Han felt that Cheng Huizhen’s methods of sowing discord were too low-end, and drove her out without changing her smile: “Ms. I have told many noble families about your marriage, and as you are now a female official, presumably good luck will come to you soon, and I will congratulate Mrs. Cheng first.”

    Cheng Huizhen and the maids had been arguing outside for so long, and the main room had not even opened the door once, Cheng Huizhen suddenly felt disheartened: “He doesn’t even want to see me anymore…”

    “Miss Cheng, the weather is cold, I will take you back.”

    “I haven’t done well in these years, why is he still like this, obviously I’m still taking risks to help him with the imperial examination.”

    Qinghan felt wrong when she heard it: “Miss Cheng, be careful. The nobles in the Hou Ye are rewarded by heaven, how can outsiders be able to help?”

    “But I’m not reconciled.” Cheng Huizhen glanced inside again, with a frenzy in her eyes, “Since my cousin is going to handle official business, then I’ll just wait. My cousin also knows what happened, he should understand what this means, if my cousin still doesn’t come to me within an hour, then don’t blame me, and don’t regret it in the future.”

    Cheng Huizhen put down these words and left. Qinghan and Qiu Ju stood guard at the gate of the courtyard, and turned around when Cheng Huizhen was far away.

    “What do you mean by the words of the cousin?” Qiu Ju was puzzled.

    Qinghan shook her head: “Master’s business, let’s not worry too much.”

    As soon as Qinghan entered the room, she told Xiao Jingduo what she had just done. After repeating Cheng Huizhen’s words word for word, Qinghan lowered her head and waited for Xiao Jingduo to express her stance.

    Actually, Qinghan was right, Xiao Jingduo was indeed handling official business, but it was only a matter of the Hou’s mansion. This is the situation of the fiefs that were just delivered this year. Since the five hundred households are real seals, that is the income of real money.

    Xiao Jingduo is sometimes not sure what Rong Ke is thinking. She suddenly turned her face two months ago. To be promoted to Langguan, although he was transferred from the Ministry of War to the Ministry of Rites, this was a normal promotion order, and even the various rewards under the name of the Marquis of Chengxi were not lacking. If it wasn’t for his own obvious feeling that something was wrong, how could outsiders see that the Marquis of Chengxi was on the verge of falling out of favor.

    Xiao Jingduo shook his head slightly, and quickly calmed down. “Cheng Hui really said this?”

    “Yes.” Qinghan asked, “Master Hou, did you really see Miss Cheng?”

    “No, she only likes prosperity and wealth.” If you want to refuse, you must have a refusal attitude. Xiao Jingduo is very firm on this point. He doesn’t take Cheng Huizhen’s so-called one hour to heart. Thinking of this, he was a little stunned: “It is reasonable to say that the news of the marriage I inquired about for my cousin has been spread outside…”

    “That’s true. But because Mrs. Cheng’s status is really low, even if you have the face of Lord Hou, many people just wait and see.”

    What does this mean, why did Lord Hou let the news spread? Qinghan felt tired again. The two masters she served were harder to guess than the other, and their subordinates were really hard to do.

    …

    Cheng Huizhen waited for a long time, until she said goodbye to the old and ushered in the new, the sky was full of firecrackers, and she did not wait for any news from Xiao Jingduo.

    Cheng Huizhen felt scared every time she thought of the approaching death, but Xiao Jingduo still seemed indifferent, Cheng Huizhen had a kind of irritability and impulsiveness in her heart, at that moment she wanted to smash everything around her destroy.

    The sudden explosion of firecrackers in the courtyard woke her up. Cheng Huizhen realized that this was the Dingyonghou Mansion, not a place to show her temper, so she quickly wrapped her cape and slipped outside with her head lowered.

    In the courtyard, several gentlemen were lighting firecrackers. Cheng Hui really hated the excitement and went to a secluded place. She walked too fast, and when she turned, she hit a person directly.

    “Bold!” The maid shouted and pushed Cheng Huizhen away. Cheng Huizhen took two steps back before standing up, and when she looked up, she was surprised: “Why are you?”