Chapter 100 Who Made Su Changan Good-Looking?

The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet on the night of August 14th is a big event.

Even though there are still a few days until the fourteenth, the entire palace has already begun to be prepared.

From the Shanggong Bureau to the Shanggong Bureau, everyone was busy preparing for the arrival of this palace banquet.

Especially the imperial chefs in the imperial kitchen, the cooks have already started preparing the menu, but the small menu is enough to give them a headache.

Since Xunxia and the others often went there to get the meat and vegetables needed by Lingqi Pavilion, they knew more about it.

The same is true today

After coming back, he told Su Changan, who had not yet started practicing swordsmanship, about the interesting things that happened in the imperial kitchen today.

It was said that the imperial kitchen was in a hurry, and the imperial chefs prepared a lot of dishes every day and put them on the table for Sun Shanggong to come and taste.

But Sun Shang Gong was very strict, so it was always rejected.

Linghua, one of the four palace maids, said that they should look for the young lady because her cooking was delicious.

Su Changan shook his head to indicate that he couldn't do it.

After all, I still have some self-knowledge. When I cook, I just rely on some ideas that have been improved over many years in my previous life and the dishes that have not yet been invented here.

But when it comes to cooking, it’s definitely the royal chefs, the professionals who do the best.

Hearing Su Changan's words.

Xiangluo immediately shouted, "I think the young lady's cooking is better than the royal chef's."

Su Changan was in a good mood when he heard this.

Naturally, Xia and the others also laughed, and then began to talk about what they had heard.

The Xianghongsiji of the Shangyi Bureau was also constantly changing the etiquette and costumes of the palace maids and eunuchs at the palace banquets.

Moreover, the six departments of the harem are interconnected, and because of some links, there are constant conflicts among the palace maids and eunuchs in each department.

In the end, some people think that they should listen to Sun Shang Gong, but some people have to listen to Xiang Hong Si Ji.

But in fact, it was because the people under the empress and the empress dowager in the harem did not get along with each other.

Su Changan often heard Xia Xia and others talk about what happened in the palace and what happened there.

He also loved to listen, especially to the stories of the palace maids on the Queen Mother's side.

When I heard about this, I felt helpless, but there was nothing I could do.

Xuanxia and the others have been with Su Changan for such a long time that they are happy to talk to her. They think it is very interesting to talk to Miss Changan. She always says one or two words out of the blue that are incomprehensible but sound very funny, so they always tell Su Changan what they hear about the things in the palace.

After talking about the Shangyi Bureau, he began to tell Su Changan which chapter of Dream of the Red Chamber he had talked about with the palace maids today, and how much the palace maids now respected and admired Su Changan.

Anyone who boasts about

Su Changan loves to listen to them all.

So I listened very carefully. What is beautiful and well-written? I heard it many times and I never get tired of it!

Why did Gong Nei know about the Red Mansion?

The cause of the incident was that Xuanxia and the others went outside to get some things needed in Lingqi Pavilion, which were actually just paper for Su Changan to write on, and some other daily necessities.

Then she heard the palace maids talking about Su Changan's affairs outside.

When Xia and the others heard that the person they were talking about was Su Changan, they listened for a while longer. All they heard was praising Su Changan for how great he was and how talented his writing was.

Xia and others were naturally somewhat proud.

But later I heard those palace maids talking about storybooks, saying that if Miss Chang'an, who could write a storybook as passionately as Jiang Chun, also wrote a storybook, I wonder what it would be like.

Then a palace maid said that there was a huge gap between poetry and vernacular novels, and perhaps even if Miss Chang'an wrote them, they would not be good looking.

Hearing this, Linghua, one of the four palace maids in Lingqi Pavilion who was already impatient, was naturally dissatisfied. Wanting to protect Su Changan, she immediately jumped out and said that Miss Changan had already written a storybook, which was very good.

It also tells some stories from the Dream of the Red Chamber.

The palace maids were fascinated by what they heard and asked Linghua to continue.

Linghua saw that these people admired Su Changan again, so she naturally said a little more.

As time went by, the story of the Red Mansion gradually spread within the palace.

And every time they went to the imperial kitchen or other places, the palace maids would gather around them and want to listen to "A Dream of Red Mansions".

Later, Linghua saw that the matter had gotten out of hand and realized that she had caused trouble, so she ran to Su Changan to admit her mistake.

After Su Changan found out about it, he didn't think it was a big deal, and told Linghua that if they came to find her, she could just tell them, and there was nothing wrong with writing it down and spreading it.

then

That’s why what’s happening in the palace now is about Su Changan and the Red Mansion.

Many people even knew that Su Chang'an was frail and kind, so they would greet them, the palace maids, with a smile even when they met them outside.

Therefore, I immediately thought of "Lin Daiyu" in the storybook.

In private, the palace servants all called Su Chang'an "Miss Daiyu".

When Su Changan heard about this, he felt helpless but also used to it. After all, when he entered the palace before, he was seen as a frail and sickly person by outsiders.

But in fact, Su Changan originally wanted to let Xuanxia and the others copy a copy and then circulate it to the palace maids.

But after thinking about it, I decided to give up. After all, I have already written 60 chapters, and there are too many words, so it will be difficult for Xuanxia and the others to copy them.

So, let Xia and the others handle it on their own.

but

Su Changan thought about this and felt that it was about time to publish "Dream of the Red Chamber" and put it for sale.

Although there are only more than sixty chapters now, it can be regarded as the first volume. When it is finished, the second volume will come.

Although it was interrupted in the middle.

But Su Changan thought about it and felt that it was not a big deal, so he just broke it off.

Anyway, I'm not the one watching.

…

Su Changan finished practicing sword skills in the afternoon.

But looking at the soft knife in his hand, Su Changan shook his head helplessly.

Although there has been progress, there is still a long way to go before he can wield the sword with complete flexibility.

Yan Ruyu said on the side: "Practice makes perfect. My mother asked me to practice swordsmanship all the time, from the simplest walking on the stakes to the later moves and responses, and finally taking turns to fight with others. That's how I got through it."

Su Changan nodded: "I always know that I have to take it slow, but time is running out."

Yan Ruyu looked at Su Changan, wanting to say something but stopping herself. After all, she had been with Su Changan for so long and had seen a lot of things that Su Changan did.

She could see that Su Changan wanted to help His Majesty share his worries, and she also knew how hard Su Changan was working.

However, she couldn't say these words, although sometimes she couldn't understand why Su Changan had to practice swordsmanship so hard when he had the Chixia Army like her by his side.

After all, with Su Changan's current condition, he can actually live a comfortable life by doing nothing, just eating, drinking, playing and having fun every day.

But Su Changan just had to suffer like this.

So Yan Ruyu didn’t understand.

But I didn't ask anyone, I just thought maybe I would know later.

Yan Ruyu glanced at Maomao who was carrying a large wine jar back to the house: "Actually, Miss, you can drink some of the medicinal wine that Maomao made. Mother likes to drink it very much and says it can strengthen the body."

Su Changan asked, "Do you want to drink?"

Yan Ruyu immediately shook her head.

Su Changan immediately said, "That's right. We both know what poisonous plants and insects are in it. How dare we drink it? Besides, that girl has been so interested in my distiller recently. She has been thinking about distilling her medicinal wine all day long."

Yan Ruyu nodded, feeling that this seemed to be the truth.

But when it comes to Maomao, Yan Ruyu said, "Your Majesty said that Cui Yu has always wanted to let Maomao live in their Cui family, and has asked Your Majesty many times. Now, Cui Yu wants to use Lord Su to meet with you, probably thinking of asking you to persuade Maomao."

Su Changan shook his head helplessly: "Let it be, it's all about Mao Mao's business, we don't know the specific truth, so we can't help her make the decision. If Cui Yu wants to see me, it's okay to meet once."

Yan Ruyu was also helpless, but she felt that it was highly unlikely that Cui Yu would allow Maomao to leave the palace and go to Cui Mansion.

Because for Maomao, let alone the name Cui Yu, even hearing the surname Cui would instantly reveal a look of extreme disgust on Maomao's face.

After thinking for a while, Su Changan added, "But you can't see me. Didn't Mu Jijiu and Xun Kuang always want to see me?"

Yan Ruyu nodded, "Mu Jijiu and Xun Siye said they wanted to continue to ask you for the manuscripts, but your majesty thought they were too shameless, so he didn't bother to pay attention to them and asked my mother to deal with them. They were beaten by my mother and didn't dare to do anything. But my mother deliberately recited a few lines of your poem "Red Beans Grow in the South" in front of them."

"Then the two of them were eager to know the full text, but my mother actually only remembered that one sentence, and she said it deliberately to tease the two of them. The two of them must have been itching to know the full text, but they didn't dare to pester my mother, so now they go to Lord Su Zimu every day. I heard that the two of them go to the Secretariat every day."

Su Changan was helpless, but he was too lazy to say anything more. After all, asking for help every time was not a solution. Moreover, he didn't get anything good this time. Maybe Xia Fengxiang thought it was not a good thing and not worth exchanging for poetry, otherwise Xia Fengxiang would have got it for him long ago.

As for Su Zimu, although I feel a little sorry for him, it doesn't seem to be a big deal when I think about it.

However, Su Changan frowned: "Why do they keep thinking about me? Aren't other people good at writing poems? What about Zuo Shaoweng, the one you told me about who won the first prize at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and the Lantern Festival Poetry Festival last year? There are also a lot of other talented men and women. If all else fails, you can look for our Linhan. Isn't that girl admired by many people?"

Yan Ruyu thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty has asked me before. To use the words of Grand Priest Mu, it's because you are so beautiful, so talented, and so popular."

Su Changan suddenly wanted to meet this Grand Priest Mu who always spoke the truth.

…

In the Su Mansion, in the courtyard of Old Master Su.

Mu Xu, the Shangshu You Pushe and the chief academician of the Imperial College, sat opposite the old Grand Tutor Su, lowering his head and examining the bamboo table carefully.

After looking at it for a long time, he sighed: "I'm afraid your table is an antique."

Old Master Su rolled his eyes at Mu Xu.

How could he not understand that this was Mu Xu's way of saying that his bamboo table was broken and had been patched up?

But Mu Xu continued, "But it's also good, old stuff, durable."

Old Master Su couldn't bear to listen any longer and said, "My daughter Linhan made this for me when she was a child. If you are envious, just say so and let your granddaughter make it for you."

As he spoke, Old Master Su picked up the teacup, but before it reached his mouth, he glanced at Mu Xu and said, "I almost forgot that your son is not married yet."

It's not relevant to bring up this issue.

Mu Xu had only one son, but that son did not like studying, let alone practicing martial arts. However, he was very interested in practicing Buddhism.

More than ten years ago, he even ran away and became a monk.

Mu Xu was so angry at first that he almost took the students of the Imperial College to the temple to make trouble. In the end, it was the late emperor who stepped in to calm the situation.

But Mu Xu's son still wanted to learn Buddhism.

The result is that other old officials of the same generation all have many children and grandchildren.

Only Mu Xu was accompanied by a daughter, but his daughter happened to be married in Jiangnan.

Now, there are only him and his wife at home.

Hearing these words from Old Master Su, I was deeply moved.

Mu Xu immediately scolded: "Su Dayan, if you have something to say, just scold me directly, don't poke my heart!"

Su Wenqing drank his tea without even lifting his eyelids. After he put down the teacup, he said, "Why didn't you say this when you were poking someone's heart."

Mu Xu looked at Su Wenqing, but suddenly narrowed his eyes and smiled: "See how pitiful I am, why don't you write a letter to Miss Chang'an? I really don't ask for anything this time, I just ask for a poem from the previous [Snow Chapter]."

Su Wenqing knew Mu Xu's intention long ago, and when he finally heard her speak, he shook his head and said, "Future Empress, is it something an old man like me can do with just a word? Do you think I'm as shameless as you?"

Mu Xu chuckled: "Don't be so heartless. Besides, if I really didn't have anything good to exchange, I wouldn't do this."

Su Wenqing sneered: "Isn't there still one last pen?"

Mu Xu frowned, "I was thinking about the coffin. It was a gift from the late emperor. He kept it for me to take with me into the coffin! No wonder you are so close to that money-grubber Li Jiulang! And I only have that pen left. I sold all the others to build a school. You know that."

Then, Mu Xu swallowed his saliva and said, "I heard Commander Yan say a line before, 'Red beans grow in the south.' There is another line, 'This thing is the most nostalgic.' It is said that when Miss Chang'an named her knife, she casually composed a poem. I have recited these two lines several times, and there is something in them. And it sounds like they should be the first and last lines. How about you help me ask Commander Yan about the other two lines? If you find out, I owe you a drink?"

Su Wenqing shook his head: "The Queen's poem asked me to go to the commander of Yan, and then to exchange something with me. You have a good plan. Are you thinking that His Majesty will be angry in the end, and you will blame me?"

Mu Xu saw that his plan had been discovered, smiled awkwardly, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

However, Su Wenqing said, "The Queen will also attend the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet in a few days. She will definitely compose poems at that time. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Hearing about the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, Mu Xu thought for a moment and said, "That's true, but this time the palace banquet has invited more people than in previous years."

Su Wenqing glanced at Mu Xu and said nothing.

Mu Xu said, "It's right to invite more people. After all, it's a festival, so let's have some fun. And it was so quiet last year, so let's have some fun this year. But I heard that the Queen Mother is going to attend this year too? Aren't you afraid of something going wrong?"

Su Wenqing shook his head: "She can't come out. If you dare to let her come, you won't be afraid of anything happening."

Mu Xu sighed: "You are really amazing. You dare to say such a thing? If it were me, I wouldn't even dare to think about it."

Su Wenqing rolled his eyes at Mu Xu, then asked, "Didn't you scold the Queen Mother when you were drinking yesterday? And when you met the Queen Mother, I remember you scolded the Master, right?"

Hearing this, Mu Xu chuckled, "I'm just a scholar, how can I not do this? I'm not as cunning as you guys! But there is one thing I want to remind you, this time Miss Chang'an may have a hard time winning the first prize. The girl from the Cui family, Zuo Shaoweng, Li Wei from Duke Guyuan, and a few others, all have to go to the palace banquet this time. If Your Majesty wants to invite more people and let Miss Chang'an shine again, it will be a bit difficult. And I can see that Your Majesty made such a big deal about this in order to let Miss Chang'an shine, and those people can see it too. I heard from Yang Guofu yesterday that he also invited He Li and Li Hun. Although there is no movement from the Eighth Prince, it is impossible for him to sit idly by. That person loves to do this kind of idle things the most."

Su Wenqing narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Mu Xu, you are not very cunning. You are the most cunning guy in the whole capital! And now, aren't you playing tricks on me?"

But of course, she didn't say it out loud: "When my eldest daughter went to the early winter poetry gathering, there were also a lot of people waiting to watch the fun, and a lot of people also sent some people over to block the limelight, and then what?"

After that, Su Wenqing continued, "And among these children you mentioned, which one can have an issue published in your journal? And which one has been chased around the world by you, the chief priest, to ask for poetry?"

Mu Xu immediately scolded, "You big eyed bastard, you just called me the Queen and now you suddenly change your name to 'Big Girl'? You're telling me that our relationship is not good?!"

But after he finished scolding, he immediately said seriously: "But what you said is true, but I think I should add one more sentence. Miss Chang'an's elegance and beauty are better than these young people. And I am attracted by her elegance and beauty."

Su Wenqing didn't respond, but after thinking for a moment he asked, "Has Yuan Ruxi been invited?"

Mu Xu nodded: "I'm invited."

Su Wenqing frowned: "It's best not to let him run into Commander Yan."

Mu Xu was stunned for a moment, and while peeling a peanut he asked, "Why?"

Su Wenqing said: "I heard from my eldest daughter that Commander Yan seems to have always wanted to learn martial arts from Yuan Ruxi."

Mu Xu curled his lips, but after changing his mind, he asked, "If Commander Yan beat Yuan Ruxi at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, shouldn't the Red Cloud Army and the Huanglong Guard compensate our Imperial College for medical expenses?"

…

(End of this chapter)