Chapter 2598 Deliberate Encounter
The emperor said, "There's a lot of knowledge to learn in this area. If he wants to go further, he needs to know how to govern the common people, the noble families, and the local powerful families. Only in places far away from the emperor and the governors can he rely entirely on his own strength and wisdom to integrate with and confront these people. Only then can the connections and reputation he cultivates belong entirely to him."
The emperor asked, "Look at Yang Heshu. What is his current reputation in Xiazhou and in the court?"
Although he was far away from the capital and the center of power, in the hearts of the ministers, his weight was no less than that of Tang He, who graduated from the same department.
The emperor put his hands behind his back and clenched his fists slightly. Yang Heshu was involved in too many things behind the scenes, and he didn't know what would happen in the future. But although Bai Shan was born into a noble family, he had always grown up away from his family. When the prince ascended the throne in the future, he might be the purest one.
The emperor thought, if he didn't grow crooked.
That evening, the emperor specially invited the prince to have dinner with him. As the father and son ate at the table, the emperor mentioned this matter and said to the prince, "Bai Shan is still young and has youthful enthusiasm. Where do you think he should go?"
The prince said, "Since he doesn't choose himself, then we'll just see where the next vacancy is and assign it to him."
The emperor glanced at him and said, "That's not how you raise talents."
The queen smiled and gave them another bowl of rice, saying, "Let's talk after dinner."
Bai Shan finished his work and left the palace. However, he was stopped by a carriage just outside the imperial city. County Magistrate Guo lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "Master Bai, the weather is nice today. Why don't we have a meal together?"
Bai Shan understood after a little thought, and nodded with a smile.
When County Magistrate Guo saw Bai Shan, he took the initiative to lift the curtain and invite Bai Shan in.
Bai Shan handed the horse to County Magistrate Guo's attendant and stepped onto the carriage himself.
County Magistrate Guo asked with a smile, "Where would you like to eat, Lord Bai?"
Bai Shan smiled and said, "Wait a little longer."
County Magistrate Guo: "Why would you spend so much time thinking about a place to eat? Zhuangyuanlou, Jiufulou, pick any one of them, and he wouldn't even blink an eye."
But Bai Shan took a little too long to think, and he still hadn't figured it out until the carriage passed a block, and then it was stopped.
County Magistrate Guo heard a familiar voice in the carriage, "Why is Lord Bai's horse with you?"
County Magistrate Guo: ...
He raised his head and looked at Bai Shan quietly.
Bai Shan smiled at him, opened the curtain and said, "I'm here."
Manbao dismounted and curiously approached, meeting Magistrate Guo's gaze in the carriage. He asked in confusion, "Why are you together?"
County Magistrate Guo had returned to normal, and with a smile on his face he said, "The weather is nice today, and I happened to meet Lord Bai, so I would like to invite Lord Bai to have a drink with me."
Man Bao believed him, it was impossible. Didn't they meet by chance a few days every month?
Why didn't he invite her?
County Magistrate Guo smiled and said, "What a coincidence! I met Lord Zhou today. This is fate. Lord Zhou, would you like to have a drink with me?"
Manbao glanced at Baishan, and Baishan nodded slightly to her.
So Manbao gave his horse to County Magistrate Guo's entourage, and soon there was one more person in the carriage.
Bai Shan picked up the teapot in the car and poured her a cup of tea, then asked, "Are you alone?"
"No, there are still two medical assistants, but I asked them to go back first."
Bai Shan asked casually, "How is Mr. Zheng's injury?"
"I no longer shave my hair; I can let it grow longer. The external wounds have healed, but the internal bruises haven't completely dissipated yet, so I still have trouble speaking."
County Magistrate Guo also became serious and asked, "Master Zhou, do you think he might take the imperial examination this year?"
Manbao thought for a moment and said, "I'll ask him tomorrow when I give him the acupuncture to wake up his brain and open his acupoints, and then I'll know."
Having served in the same court and sat next to each other for many years, County Magistrate Guo was aware of Zhou Man's ability, so he nodded slightly.
County Magistrate Guo glanced at Bai Shan, smiled slightly, and said, "Master Bai, have you decided where to eat?"
Bai Shan smiled and said, "Since it is Lord Guo who is treating, it is natural for Lord Guo to choose. We, the guests, will follow the host's wishes."
County Magistrate Guo didn't hesitate. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Let's go to Jiufulou. I heard they have fresh lotus seeds now. Because of the summer heat, they've specially developed several dishes to cool down. Let's go and try them."
Manbao nodded repeatedly, "It's a bit hot. My sister-in-law said that the store hasn't been making steamed pork with rice flour since the beginning of the month, but the newly made cold noodles are very popular."
Bai Shan nodded and asked County Magistrate Guo, "Does Jiufulou have cold noodles?"
County Magistrate Guo: "...I think so."
When the three of them arrived at Jiufulou, their entourage took their own carriages and horses to accommodate them. The servants recognized County Magistrate Guo, Bai Shan, and Zhou Man, and immediately went forward to greet them.
County Magistrate Guo asked for a private room, and the three of them sat at a spacious table and ordered food.
County Magistrate Guo, who was not short of money, was very generous. He not only ordered two signature dishes, but also ordered a number of dishes suitable for summer.
They were so generous that Bai Shan and Man Bao felt embarrassed to order more, so they said to the waiter who was reading out the dishes, "We don't have anything else to add."
County Magistrate Guo smiled and said, "Master Bai and Master Zhou, please don't be polite to me."
Bai Shan smiled and said, "I'm not being polite, but Lord Guo has ordered enough. Any more would be extravagant."
County Magistrate Guo smiled upon hearing this and said, "That's quite true. As expected of someone close to His Majesty, I'll drink a glass myself."
Manbao had already started writing and revising the book today. She had been using her brain too much and was a little hungry at the moment, so she didn't want to use her brain much. Seeing the beans and pastries on the table, she didn't want to eat the pastries to fill her stomach, so she picked up the fried beans with chopsticks and ate them.
As for why County Magistrate Guo wanted to invite the couple, oh no, to invite Bai Shan to dinner, just leave it to Bai Shan to deal with it. She concentrated on eating.
County Magistrate Guo glanced at her at first, but seeing that she was so focused on eating, he forgot about her and focused on talking to Bai Shan.
By the way, why did he invite Bai Shan to dinner?
Of course, we have to wait until the food is served before we talk about it.
When the dishes were served, Manbao ate more attentively. County Magistrate Guo then mentioned the vacancies in Chang'an County and Wannian County while eating.
He is still the magistrate of Wannian County, but it is foreseeable that he will leave office. However, no one expected that the magistrate of Chang'an County would leave office earlier than him.
Bai Shan thought about it. This matter was not a secret. Moreover, he had copied the official document of County Magistrate Tang's promotion to the Ministry of Personnel for review in the afternoon. Although he didn't know whether it was reviewed or not, Lord Wei was also present at the time. He did not express any objection on the spot. Then this matter was 99% certain. It was only a matter of time before it was reviewed.
Even Lord Guo, who wasn't present, knew about it, so quite a few people knew about it. So he said, "Lord Tang's promotion to Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture has been submitted, but the successor magistrate of Chang'an County has not yet been selected."
See you at 9pm
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
