Chapter 76: New Year's Eve "Don't just look at your wife, you have to do your work too. ...
In late autumn in Kyoto, the grass is already covered with a thin layer of white.
Before daybreak, the magnificent capital of a great country with its flying eaves and brackets was still in a deep sleep. A single light in an old alley in the south of the city cast a solitary shadow on the gray-black wall.
This was Shi Chunsheng's seventh year living alone in the capital. Four years ago, he was admitted to the Hanlin Academy as a second-class Jinshi. According to the rules, after the three-year teaching period, the best ones could stay as Hanlin editors, while the worst ones would be sent to prefectures and counties.
Shi Chunsheng's situation was fraught with embarrassment. Officials often enjoyed the protection of aristocratic families. Those without official connections needed to borrow money to pave the way. While the law prohibited bribery, offering gifts of both ice and charcoal was commonplace. As long as one kept it under wraps, who would care? How many officials in the court were truly incorruptible? Without connections or wealth, one could only possess exceptional talent. At worst, one needed to be eloquent. Flattery was the first skill on the road to success.
And what about him?
Since he was not protected by the aristocratic family, if he had to talk about the influence of his ancestors, the only one he could talk about was his great-great-grandfather Song Lang, who was notorious in Huaicheng. But in the final analysis, Song Lang only held a nominal position in the previous dynasty. Although he was born in a high position, he was just an imperial tutor with a loud name but no real power. Although he had the merit of following the founding emperor of Dacheng... he had never served as an official in the new dynasty. Therefore, the influence of his ancestors was as good as nothing.
Secondly, his family only had a few acres of land and a bookstore, but they could not even afford the money for ice and charcoal tributes. Thirdly, he was too lazy to flatter others, and all he had was a talent or two that was gradually dulled by numbness.
It was precisely this little bit of knowledge that won the favor of a Hanlin scholar, who used his expertise to postpone his exile for a year. The deep meaning behind this was self-evident. It was nothing more than teaching him the tricks of currying favor in official circles, to read people's faces when doing things, to flatter them, and perhaps to stay in the Hanlin as a reviewer or to compile history.
God will not let down those who work hard. Now that the one-year term has expired, the imperial scholar has finally realized that he is not cut out for officialdom. He no longer cares about where Shi Chunsheng will take up the post and has given up on everything.
Shi Chunsheng looked around and saw that the small house had been tidied up. After confirming that nothing was left out, his gaze returned to the torn scroll on the desk.
The title page bears the character "Ju" (琚) in standard official script. This suggests the scroll was written by Xie Ju, Xie Shangqing's great-grandfather. However, the scroll was not obtained from Xie Shangqing, but rather borrowed from the Hanlin Academy's library. Since arriving in Beijing, Shi Chunsheng has been intentionally or unintentionally investigating someone's deeds. The mention of "Song Lang" in Kyoto is not met with the same scorn and curse that characterizes Huaicheng; instead, it's often met with respect and admiration.
Shi Chunsheng's fingertips traced a line of ink marks. The first part was still legible, "In the first month of the new year, Dara invaded." The next part read, "Lang's brother and Dara colluded with each other from inside and outside." He said that Dara was pretending that the Qing army had broken through the Huai River. Later on, the ink marks were blurred and difficult to make out.
He pondered those few words dozens of times, but still felt the rock in his chest was hard to let go. It was ridiculous.
The rumor in Huaicheng was that Song Lang had colluded with the enemy and sold out the city, but this volume recorded that it was his brother who colluded with foreign invaders.
If this record is true, then there is a reason why Song Lang killed his brother, who was also his great-grandfather.
Things that happened a hundred years ago cannot be brought back, the past is like smoke, and it is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Shi Chunsheng closed the remaining scroll and said nothing.
Dawn was breaking outside the window, and the candle on the table had gone out. He opened the window to let the cool wind in, brushing away the anxiety in his heart.
Shi Chunsheng packed his bag, holding the incomplete scroll in his hand, and planned to return to the Hanlin Academy first to return the book, and then go to the border to take up his post.
The morning light was dim and there were few people on the street. As Shi Chunsheng approached Hanlin, he could hear voices gradually rising. Merchants dressed in red and green were busy setting up their stalls, creating a prosperous scene.
The clerk of the Hanlin Academy was dozing off against the pillar with his eyes half-open. When he saw him, he just nodded lazily and said "hello" vaguely.
Shi Chunsheng went straight to the library. He looked around but didn't see anyone inside or outside. He went straight in and walked towards the depths of the library. He found the remaining scroll in the bamboo basket at the innermost part. The lights in the library were on and the floating dust could be vaguely seen.
He put the ancient scriptures and volumes in the basket in order one by one, swept away the dust, put the remaining volumes back, and then turned back. Shi Chunsheng was still some distance away from the pavilion door when a burst of noise hit his ears.
When he stepped out of the pavilion, he froze in place.
I saw that many Hanlin scholars had gathered outside the pavilion, and at the main entrance stood an eunuch with a white beard and a purple robe holding an imperial edict. On his left and right stood eunuchs wearing black gauze and holding whisks. There were also four guards with swords standing on both sides.
Shi Chunsheng frowned slightly. There was no one in the pavilion, and the people outside were separated by several feet by the servants. He thought that the decree was directed at him.
Without giving him time to think, Shi Chunsheng bent his knees and was about to kneel, but was held back by the leading purple-robed eunuch. "Your Majesty has said that the instructors do not need to kneel, and can just stand and listen to the decree."
Without waiting for Shi Chunsheng to say anything else, the purple-robed eunuch took out the bright yellow imperial edict, read out the order hastily, and then handed it forward.
Shi Chunsheng hesitated.
He quickly went over the imperial edict in his mind. The general meaning was that he would be exempted from being sent abroad and instead be appointed as a doctor of the Imperial College. Although it was not a promotion, he could stay in Beijing. Such an exception was unheard of since the founding of the Dacheng Dynasty.
The purple-robed eunuch, not annoyed by Shi Chunsheng's delay in accepting the order, simply smiled and said, "I heard that your grandfather once taught at a private school in Huaicheng, and that several talented scholars were among his students. Your Majesty has also heard that the former Emperor Song's tutor was related to you. It seems that Teacher Shi, with his family's long tradition of learning, is perfectly suited for the position at the Imperial College."
There was a wit in the words, and just as Shi Chunsheng was about to think about it, the wind blew it away.
He took the imperial edict and bowed. The eunuch suddenly added, "His Majesty has ordered you to come into the palace for a conversation."
…
Chengzi Clothing Shop had several big businesses. Both the shop under Zhu Hao's name and the clothing store jointly run with Liu Rutang were well-known to other places. People from other places came to Huaicheng to buy clothes. Besides, Miss Qiao, who was well-liked by the Empress Dowager in the Kyoto Music Bureau, had dresses and skirts at the banquet all made by the Huaicheng clothing store, and its reputation was completely established.
Zhu Hao and his staff at Yilou were busy until the end of the year, and finally they could take a breath.
New Year's Day comes with the first snow. Red lanterns are hung high outside the house, silk is draped, and newly picked flower branches are inserted diagonally into the door cracks, adding to the festive atmosphere.
When we entered the inner courtyard, the snow was about to stop. In the middle of the room stood a large round mahogany table that required several people to hug it. It was covered with festive red silk. The dishes had been placed on the table one by one, and the aroma filled the air, looking very tempting.
The kitchen was busy for who knows how long. Fang Xuyin and Li Yuan were coming in and out, carrying plates of delicacies. Xie Shangqing was holding a few small hollow lanterns in his mouth, hanging them from the branches. As soon as Liu Rutang entered, she put her hands on her hips and pointed at the furnishings in the courtyard. Xie Shangqing was so annoyed that he immediately made a snowball and threw it at her face, "If you keep nagging me, come on!"
Only then did Liu Rutang shut up and sat on the chair to peel and eat kumquats.
Miaoli worked in front of the stove all night, her forehead soaked with sweat. When the last braised pork elbow was served, she took off her apron and breathed a sigh of relief.
I'm so tired! I'll probably hire a chef from the restaurant next year...
Everyone was exhausted and sat around the table but no one picked up their chopsticks. Suddenly, they heard heavenly music breaking through the snow. They regained some energy and looked sideways. They saw a beautiful girl with fair skin and beautiful face leaning against a pomegranate tree playing the flute. Her beautiful eyes were like stars and moons. It was Qiao Mei, who was now very famous in the Kyoto Music Bureau.
The sound of the flute was clear and melodious, like the breaking of jade from Kunshan Mountain, which moved everyone's eyes and brows. However, the solo performance was a little lonely. As everyone was thinking about this, they suddenly heard a piece of pipa music swaying in the air, harmonizing with the sound of the flute, causing the branches of flowers in the garden to tremble slightly and shake off the broken snow to the ground. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Yu Sha, who was in a green skirt and beautiful face.
The sound of the flute was high and low, while the pipa was plucked quickly and slowly. The two had never played together before, but they seemed to have a telepathic connection. Every change of key and pause was perfectly matched, and the melody flowed like pearls and jade colliding, clear and moving to the ears.
After the piece, Yusha put her pipa aside, not caring how excited everyone was, and just picked up her chopsticks to enjoy her meal. Seeing this, Xie Shangqing also hurriedly picked up a chopstick and said teasingly, "Oh, my little girl is so lucky to have the honor of listening to the duet of the priceless music champion, Miss Yusha, and the famous music official, Miss Qiao Mei... But this music champion has a bad temper. There's a county magistrate's wife at the table, and she hasn't even started eating yet, and you're doing it!"
There was a sudden silence at the table. It was Chen Ci who came to his senses first. His ears flushed red. He glanced at Fang Xuyin stealthily before saying, "Xuniang and I are not engaged."
Zhu tasted the sour cake and actually tasted a hint of sweetness in it. "Why are you so anxious, Lord Chen? Maybe the Shangqing is talking about me. Our Shangqing is like a fairy and knows how to manipulate a man's mind. She might have already hooked up with some official from the next county..."
Yusha smiled and continued, "Look at how jealous she is. I'm afraid she's been hanging on for nothing. If you give me a few thousand coins, I might teach you a few tricks."
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Xie Shangqing slammed the table and stood up. "I despise you! Even a table full of delicious food can't shut you up!"
Everyone at the banquet was in laughter. It seemed that the only two people who could control Xie Shangqing were Zhu Hao and Yu Sha.
After three rounds of drinks, the food on the plates gradually became less delicious. Everyone's faces were flushed from drinking. There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, and when I listened carefully, I found that there was more than one person.
Everyone stretched their necks to look at the gate, blinking for a long time before they recognized the man's identity.
Duan Meiyin's figure has become much fuller than it was seven years ago, and she has a different kind of charm. She is standing at the door holding the hand of a girl with a small bun, and in her other hand she is holding a New Year gift wrapped in flowered silk.
Everyone at the table was stunned, except Xie Shangqing Chenci and Liu Rutang Yusha, who all stepped forward to greet him.
Duan Meiyin distributed the New Year gifts one by one, and only thanked Shangqing for the entrustment and wished him well in passing it on.
Li Yuan and Fang Xu, who were always peacemakers, saw that although Xie Shangqing was aloof, he didn't show any disgust on his face. So they said to Duan Meiyin, "Madam Duan and Le Lai, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Before Duan Meiyin could even open her mouth, Le Lai had already pulled her mother towards the table, "Great! Thank you, Auntie..."
Le Lai blinked his eyes, and seeing that some people looked cold, he quickly changed his tone and called out, "Thank you... Thank you, the fairy sisters!"
Liu Rutang, the most "elderly", smiled with relief: "This child is teachable."
Duan Meiyin pulled Le Lai back to her side and said, "Daddy is still waiting for us at home. Ah Le has eaten his fill here. Do you think Daddy will be left to starve?"
"Isn't this easy? Why not just ask Daddy to come over to my sister's place? Come over, Xiaole, don't you think?" The children nodded like drums when they heard this. Zhu Hao pushed and dragged Duan Meiyin to the table, but all he saw was a mess of cups and plates, not a single delicious dish. Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Zhu Hao rubbed his nose awkwardly, "Drink...?"
Miaoli saw this and stood up, "I'll go cook some hot dishes!"
"Why bother... Coming here uninvited is already inappropriate." Duan Meiyin lowered her brows and eyes, saying gently, "Chu Lang is still waiting for me and A Le at home, so I won't bother you today. I made a big mistake in the past and caused you all to be frightened, so I thought I'd bring some New Year gifts..."
Her temperament had changed from seven years ago. Xie Shangqing saw that she was like a fox with its claws broken, and he felt inexplicably angry. She retorted, "You came here when you knew it was inappropriate? And you're in such a hurry to leave after you came? That's even more inappropriate."
These words seemed harsh, but they made Duan Meiyin burst into laughter. Seeing this, everyone else also breathed a sigh of relief.
But she was still determined to go home, and when everyone saw that the table was empty, they didn't want to keep her any longer.
Everyone watched Duan Meiyin turn the corner, and they couldn't help sighing in their hearts. She and her cousin pretended to kidnap Xie Shangqing seven years ago. Fortunately, the two of them came to their senses and turned themselves in. Because they had their reasons, Duan Meiyin was pregnant at the time, so they were not punished. They were only sentenced to one year in prison. Chu Zhijian's career in the imperial examination was cut short, and he had to find work to make a living. The two of them stayed away from the limelight and returned to Huaicheng a while ago, intending to live there permanently.
The moon was setting in the west, and everyone was getting drunk. Liu Rutang, who always loved to gossip, was drunk at the moment. He caught up with Xie Shangqing and asked, "Isn't your ex-fiancé Shi Xiaolang always thinking about Xiao Zhu? Why didn't he come today?"
She murmured quietly, "Husband Xiao Zhu has been gone for several years. Look, isn't it another two years? If this continues, I don't think Shi Xiaolang is doomed."
Xie Shangqing burped and waved his hands. She never corresponded with him, so how could he know all this? Besides, she didn't like Shi Chunsheng's dull personality. He was very boring. If he ever got promoted to a high-ranking official, it wouldn't be too late to go and flatter him.
Qiao Mei stepped forward and whispered, "Mom is talking nonsense again."
When Liu Rutang saw that it was her daughter who was well-known in Kyoto, she insisted, "Qiao Qiao should know something about the situation in Kyoto, right?"
Qiao Mei frowned and said, "How can I, a daughter of the Imperial Court, know what's going on at court? I only heard that in late autumn, His Majesty intended to decree that Master Shi remain in the capital, and even summoned him to the palace to meet Him. Strangely, Master Shi was immediately sent to a remote frontier post upon leaving the palace... This is a stark contrast to His Majesty's previous decree."
Xie Shangqing sighed softly upon hearing this: "It seems this nerd will have no chance of receiving my flattery."
After a period of silence, everyone chatted casually. I didn't know when the light snow started falling from the sky, but the full moon as big as a jade plate was as bright as ever.
Everyone dispersed one after another. Miaoli had already been carried to the couch and fell asleep unconscious. Only Fang Xuyin and Zhu Hao were left in the yard. Fang Xuyin stuffed a hot water bottle into her arms and was about to drag Zhu Hao, who was sitting on the steps and acting crazy, into the house when someone suddenly knocked on the locked door. Fang Xuyin had a strange intuition. Who had hit his head and came to the door in the middle of the night?
But then they saw Tuantuan and Yuanyuan rushing out from the hanging flower gate, standing two by two at the gate, wagging their furry tails, one big and one small, to the left and right.
The moment the door opened, Fang Xuyin froze in place, then she smiled. She glanced at Zhu Hao who was mumbling something on the steps, and her eyes curved.
Fang Xuyin took off her apron and handed it to him, pointing to the round table in the yard, which was littered with cups and plates, and said, "Don't just stare at your wife, you have to do your work too."
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