A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks of the Imperial Examination - Chapter 89

    Because the family has been busy with Xiao Yumang’s marriage these few days, even Xiao Jingduo will inevitably be involved. The day before the wedding, the married sisters were accompanied by their husbands back to the house, so that Xiao Yumang could be married off. As an elder brother, Xiao Jingduo had to attend this day to help entertain his brother-in-law and cousin’s in-laws.

    Since a few days ago, Xiao Mansion has been laughing and laughing constantly, Xiao Yufang and Xiao Yuli went back to the mansion in carriages one after another, with a bunch of children behind them, and their husbands also came to Xiao Mansion congratulate.

      Xiao Yuli took her husband back to her parents’ house. Her husband Zheng Balang was born in the Duke’s mansion, and he disliked the Dingyonghou mansion, but his wife and sister married, and his brother-in-law had to show his face, so he had no choice but to be ruthless. Reluctantly accompany Xiao Yuli back to her mother’s house.

    The carriage of the imperial government drove into the side door, and walked towards the inner house. After arriving at the place, Xiao Yuli got out of the car with the help of the maid, Zheng Balang dismounted and followed behind boredly.

    As soon as the couple entered the main hall, Zheng Hachiro saw a very outstanding person. The Xiao family is notoriously good-looking in Chang’an. He is willing to marry Xiao Yuli, and the Xiao family’s ancestral beauty is a great contribution. But at present, this person, standing in the crowd of Xiao’s family, is not oblivious, on the contrary, he can catch the attention of outsiders at first glance.

    Zheng Balang paused for a while, then turned to ask his wife, “Who is this? Why haven’t I seen him before?”

    “This is my eldest brother in the next room. He was an official outside a few years ago, and he didn’t come back to marry me. It’s common for you not to know him.”

    After Xiao Yuli explained in a low voice, she walked to her father with her husband: “Father, we are back.”

    Xiao Jingduo stood beside Uncle Xiao and saw the man beside Xiao Yuli. He guessed that this should be Xiao Yuli’s husband, so he nodded at them with a light smile.

    Zheng Hachiro walked in and asked tentatively, “I’m Hachiro of the Duke of Wei, dare to ask the eldest brother?”

    “I’m Xiao Jingduo.”

    Xiao Jingduo? This name is a bit familiar, and Zheng Hachiro couldn’t remember where he heard it for a while, so he asked again, “I don’t know what the official position of the eldest brother is?”

    Zheng Hachiro took a deep breath, it turned out to be him! Wei Guogong’s mansion has long heard that there is a new member of the Ministry of War, the surname is Xiao, and it is said that he is very young. Xungui has more generals and more time to deal with the Ministry of War. Their family was planning to find a way to get acquainted with this young officer, but Zheng Balang did not expect that the famous Xiao Langguan was his brother-in-law?

    Zheng Hachiro’s attitude suddenly changed: “It turns out that it is Xiao Langguan, who has been respected for a long time. It turns out that you are Erniang’s brother.”

    As she spoke, she turned her head and glared at Xiao Yuli: “Why didn’t you say it sooner, otherwise we could have come to visit brother-in-law early, why is it delayed until now?”

      What official did you become? But Xiao Yuli didn’t want to embarrass her husband in front of everyone, so she gritted her teeth and endured it.

    “Eldest brother was transferred back to Chang’an a few days ago. I couldn’t get away, so I forgot to tell you that I was negligent.” Xiao Yuli said.

    Zheng Balang’s face became much better, and he enthusiastically pulled Xiao Jingduo to speak. Second Uncle Xiao, the serious father-in-law stood aside, quite angry.

    To make her daughter look ugly in front of him, and now she doesn’t flatter him, the old Taishan, to flatter the junior in the big room? Uncle Xiao felt uncomfortable, but he knew that he had no official position or title, not to mention the son-in-law of the Duke’s mansion, and even his own nephew. If you look at Xiao Jingduo’s face, the Zheng family can treat their daughter Be polite, Uncle Xiao also recognized this grievance.

    “What, are you still a Jinshi in the ninth year of Qiyuan?” , that is notoriously difficult to test!”

    Evidently Zheng Balang also knew about the omission of questions and the re-examination in the ninth year of Qiyuan, Xiao Jingduo did not say much, he remembered something, and added: “Speaking of which, Zheng Shilang and I We are still classmates, we once took the “Mandarin” class together when we were in the Imperial College.”

      At that time, Zheng Shilang was sent to the Guozi School to study, and Zheng Shilang’s mother boasted to them for a long time about this matter, and the words were full of pride. Guozijian is easy to enter, but Guozixue is famously difficult to enter. Zheng Shilang can apply for Guozixue at the right time and place, but Xiao Jingduo is also a graduate of Guozixue. The relationship behind him is terrible. And these people, Xiao Yuli actually said that her eldest brother was unsatisfactory in his career, and he didn’t need to communicate on weekdays?

    She may have misunderstood the disappointment of her career!

    Zheng Hachiro scolded his wife several times in his heart. This woman was a mistake, and the ready-made way almost made her delay. Although Zheng Shilang and Xiao Jingduo were classmates, but Xiao Jingduo graduated earlier than Zheng Shilang, plus Xiao Jingduo was not in the capital for four consecutive years, Zheng Shilang had long forgotten this number, and he didn’t respond when he heard that a new member of the Ministry of War had come. come over. Zheng Hachiro was secretly proud, this was just right, and the benefit belonged to him.

    Zheng Hachiro was so enthusiastic about Xiao Jingduo that he was almost inquiring about the Ministry of War in addition to the rhetoric. Xiao Jingduo didn’t like Zheng Balang’s tendency to gain power, but this was his second brother-in-law after all. In order for Xiao Yuli to live more comfortably at her husband’s house, Xiao Jingduo couldn’t be ashamed of Zheng Balang. Xiao Jingduo knew very well that Xiao Ying was the culprit who killed Zhao Xiulan, and Wu Junru was the one who poisoned him several times. Although the second room and the third room had also bullied their mother and son, it was a very young thing, and it was trivial to discuss in detail, and it was not worth mentioning it. Now that Xiao Jingduo has power, the first thing to deal with is Xiao Ying and the Wu family. If he is holding on to the others, wouldn’t he be someone who bullies the soft and fears the hard like Second Aunt Xiao?

    What’s more, Xiao Yuli and others are his cousins ​​after all. As the eldest brother, if he can support them with a little effort, Xiao Jingduo is still happy to do it.

    Shortly after Xiao Yuli arrived, Xiao Yufang also arrived with her family. It was rare for there to be so many people in the Xiao residence, and the old lady was so happy that she specially ordered a family banquet to be held, and the family stayed busy until very late.

    The second day was Xiao Yumang’s wedding day, and the Dingyong mansion was busy early. When dusk came, the Runan mansion came to welcome the marriage. When the grandson of Marquis Runan was walking to the main hall, he saw Xiao Jingduo deliberately stopped to speak: “Xiao Langguan, I have always admired you for your military exploits in the southwest. It’s a blessing to be home!”

    “The third brother-in-law is joking.” Xiao Jingduo also accompanies him to greet him, “The auspicious time cannot be mistaken, it is important that the brother-in-law goes to urge makeup first.”

    Marriage, funeral, and marriage are important events. Xiao’s house greets guests with smiles all day long.

    Xu Shi heard the news of Xiao Jingduo’s return to Beijing, and many students from Guozijian also came. Like the Zheng family’s thoughts, most of Xungui are military commanders, and they will have to deal with the Ministry of War in the future. Now that the ready-made way is in front of them, many people in Guozijian are willing to use the name of their classmates to get close to Xiao Jingduo. If the relationship is good, can I use two words in the future, but it will not be a bad thing to have an acquaintance in the Ministry of War?

    Bai Jiayi also came to Xiao’s house for a banquet, and when he saw Xiao Jingduo surrounded by everyone, he began to laugh from a distance.

    After all, he was a good friend whom he hadn’t seen in four years. When Xiao Jingduo saw Bai Jiayi, he took the initiative to separate everyone and walk towards him.

    “Why didn’t you tell me when you came?” Xiao Jingduo asked.

    “You went back to Beijing for a promotion, and I didn’t see you writing to tell me!” Bai Jiayi was brooding about this, “You are such a simple person, you are wearing dark green, and now you have It’s the sixth grade!”

    Bai Jiayi patted Xiao Jingduo on the shoulder: “Okay, if you work hard, maybe you can wear red!”

    Five and above can wear crimson, and crimson is extremely sacred in the eyes of the people of the Xuan Dynasty. Gi Fei is regarded as a supreme honor. There are only three kinds of people in the world who can wear Fei, five-rank officials, Xinke Jinshi and bridegrooms, which shows Feiyi’s status in the folk.

      Emperor Wenzong has passed away, and Empress Dowager Xia ignored the affairs of the court, so who else could be recalled? But seeing Bai Jiayi now, the grudges in Xiao Jingduo’s heart also vanished, and he recounted the old with Bai Jiayi cheerfully: “It’s a good thing that you were transferred back to Beijing, is the transfer letter from the Ministry of Personnel ready?”

    “No.” Bai Jiayi shook his head, then gave Xiao Jingduo a sullen look, “I’m not as lucky as you, my boss died the day I took office, although I have been transferred back to Beijing, But presumably we have to start from the seventh or eighth rank officials.”

    Xiao Jingduo was a little embarrassed: “Be careful, don’t talk nonsense.”

      After jumping to the seventh rank, and then accumulating merits for three or four years outside, he was transferred back to Beijing just in time. With his political achievements and military merits, he could directly be promoted to the sixth-rank official and enter the six pivots. This is a link, The connection couldn’t be better! I can’t do it anymore. I’m missing a link in the middle. Although I am transferred back to Beijing now, I will be transferred outside to serve as a county magistrate for a few years in the future to accumulate actual results. You say, is your luck the best? best?”

    This person is really open-mouthed, there are so many people coming and going here, and there are so many ears, Xiao Jingduo gave him a warning look: “Shut up. This is my sister’s wedding banquet, you continue to talk nonsense. , I’ll let someone beat you out.”

    Bai Jiayi shrugged and said, “Okay, I won’t argue with you if it’s cheap. By the way, I heard that Xiao Jiajing produces beautiful women, can I see Xiao beauty?”

      Xiao Jingduo just smiled gently and said to him, “Do you owe a fight?”

    Bai Jiayi laughed so hard that she almost burst into tears: “It’s not what I said, it’s my sister who called it that way in private. You say it’s really unfair, we are both outspoken, I was sent to the northwest to eat sand, and you can go to the southwest. Shu is famous for keeping people in Fengshui. Look at you, you have been raised in the past few years, but I have been blackened by the wind and sand. Look at me What is it called Bai Jiayi, let’s just change his name to Hei Jiayi.”

    Xiao Jingduo was amused and glanced at him angrily. “Okay, I still have to help the family entertain guests, so I won’t listen to you. I’ll let someone lead you to the table later, and I won’t greet you.”

    “Okay.” Bai Jiayi waved, “Go and do your thing, I’ll take a look around.”

    Xiao Jingduo left to entertain other guests. The prince of Runan Hou brought his nephew to welcome his relatives, and also went to the Xiao family’s wedding banquet for two drinks. Seeing Xiao Jingduo’s back, he quietly pointed at Xiao Jingduo, and said to his son and nephew, “He is the eldest brother of Liu Lang’s daughter-in-law, and Xiao Lang is very famous these days, right?”

    The sons and nephews glanced at them and nodded, “It’s him.”

     “The person who was joking with him is the only seed of the Bai family, you should know the Bai family?”

    “The Bai family? Could it be the famous white Confucian family of the previous dynasty?”

     “Exactly.” Runan Hou Shizi continued, “This Xiao Langguan can be said to be the youngest official since the founding of the country, and it is already an official career for ordinary people to become a member of foreign affairs at the age of 30. Proud, and how old is he this year? As long as he doesn’t make mistakes, he can be transferred to the provincial governor several times in a few days, and he can be a fifth-rank official when he comes back. Jingguan enters the fifth-rank, then go up It is also possible.”

    The teenagers of the Marquis of Runan exclaimed: “Is it so easy?”

      Go back and tell your wives and concubines, and don’t open the door lightly after Liu Lang’s daughter-in-law has passed the door. The Xiao family, maybe there will be a capable person.”

    Young gentlemen are not convinced: “Uncle, I am afraid you have raised him too much. He is only sixth rank now, and it is uncertain what will happen in the future!”

    “Oh, sixth-rank.” Runan Hou Shizi sneered, “Do you know how difficult it is for Beijing officials to be sixth-rank? Officialdom is not based on grades, don’t look at him now from sixth-rank, In reality, it is not much worse than a third- or fourth-rank expatriate official. He is now a member of foreign affairs. As long as he is transferred abroad, he will be the prefect of Zhongzhou and the official residence of the fourth-rank. Maybe I can still talk to people!”

    Perceiving that his language was too harsh, the Prince of Runan eased his expression and said: “If he can do this, you can’t do it. When you go home, let your wives have a good relationship with Xiao Sanniang. , I will often walk with Xiao Jingduo’s wife’s house in the future. Men are not easy to talk to in official circles, but it is much easier to start with female dependents.”

    Everyone in the Marquis of Runan suddenly realized something: “Does Xiao Jingduo have a wife?”

    “I just greeted you and didn’t see it. It is reasonable to say that Xiao Jingduo’s wife will not show up on this occasion. Could it be that he has not married yet?”

    “It’s not easy, let Liu Lang ask Xiao Sanniang to find out.” Runan Hou Shizi touched his chin and thoughtfully, “If he really doesn’t have a wife, then Good thing.”

    “Uncle, what do you mean?”

      What I’m afraid of is that Xiao Jingduo doesn’t want to. Runan Hou Shizi can guarantee that in addition to Runan Hou’s mansion, there must be many people who are staring at Xiao Jingduo. If you marry a daughter, you can get a ready-made help, a promising newcomer in the officialdom. Who is this deal? come out? Even if Xiao Jingduo failed to buy the rank five in the end, it would not be a loss to recruit him as a son-in-law. After all, with Xiao Jingduo’s talent and appearance, he could rank second and third in Chang’an, not to mention the first. To put it bluntly, this is a solid profit. A no-pay deal.

    “That’s all.” Runan Hou Shizi said, “This kind of thing is not in a hurry, let’s talk about it slowly.”

    When he returned home on the third day, Xiao Yumang told his family about Xiao Jingduo: “… A-niang, grandmother, I heard from my husband and father-in-law that the eldest brother’s current position is quite important, Let me tell the eldest brother that in the future Xunwei and Yiwei will be evaluated for their performance, and let the eldest brother help the sons and sons of the Marquis of Runan to clear the way.”

    “Huh?” The old lady heard the main point, “Can Duo dredge for Yiwei?”

     Isn’t Xiao Jinghu in Yiwei!

    “That’s right!” Xiao Yumang also regretted it, and said heavily, “After the noble children have left the shadow of their fathers, it is best to enter the Qianniuwei, but the Qianniuwei we are Houfu. Don’t even think about it, these places have long been taken away by the royal family of the Gongfu. The children of the Hou family are generally admitted to the guards, the guards, and the guards. What about Yiwei! I heard that Xunwei can go to the Ministry of War for assessment after six years of duty, and it takes eight years for Yiwei to go to the Ministry of Personnel for selection after the assessment. It’s the general and deputy general! If you fail the military examination, you can only spend your time in the three guards, and you won’t be able to get promoted in the future, and you can only spend your life on low-level soldiers.”

    The old lady only knew that her precious grandson went to Yiwei to become a soldier and guarded the palace with majesty, but she did not know that there were so many doorways in the military officer! The old lady took a breath and said, “Doesn’t that mean that in the future, when Hu’er is promoted, it will be Duo’er who will check?”

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