Chapter 160 A young man came to Xiuwen Pavilion
After a light rain, the pears in Lihuatang are ripe.
This was what Zhao Duan discovered after returning to the yamen.
Because the trees had been planted for many years and were bearing abundant fruits, Zhao Duan waved his hand and the secretary led a group of officials to become fruit farmers and pick several large baskets of fruit.
Early that morning, Zhao Duan walked into the dining room.
At a glance, I saw two beauties, one big and one small, sitting at the round table, circling around a bowl of soup.
"Da Lang, come and take a look. I cooked it just as you instructed, but I wonder if this is what you called 'rock sugar and snow pear'?"
When Eugene Hua saw him, her eyes lit up and she spoke a little nervously.
"Let me take a look."
Zhao Duan walked over and observed the cut pear, which had changed color while being boiled in sugar water.
Dayu's frosting industry was quite developed, but the rock sugar had too many impurities, far inferior to that of later generations, which somewhat affected the appearance.
Zhao Duan picked up the spoon, scooped a mouthful and put it into his mouth.
Next to him, two beautiful faces were staring at him, and Eugene Hua felt nervous and expectant.
There was an eagerness to try in Zhao Pan's autumn-water eyes.
"how?"
"Well, it's not bad, cooked to the perfect temperature," Zhao Duan said with a smile, "You all should try it too."
The two girls were also quite curious about this new dish they had never heard of.
The mother and daughter each took a soup spoon, scooped the soup and pear into a bowl, and ate it carefully.
After savoring it for a moment, the mother and daughter's eyes lit up at the same time, and their eyes curved into crescents:
"Ah, so sweet..."
"Mom, you're talking nonsense. I added icing sugar."
"Dalang's research on the method of eating is really fresh."
“Slurp, slurp…”
Zhao Duan sat in the main seat, watching the two women eating with relish. He felt as if he was feeding a cat, and his mood brightened a lot.
The heavy hairpin he gave her was inserted horizontally in Eugene Hua's bun. Because it looked like a series of coiled "branches" made of gold, Zhao Duan named it "Golden Branch".
The gold piece at the end sways, and paired with the dark green long skirt and fair skin, it also shows a bit of nobility.
Ever since she was given it as a gift during the Qiqiao Festival, she has been wearing it all day long, smiling at everyone she meets, as if showing off.
As for Zhao Pan, the girl did not wear the hairpin that was named "Jade Leaf" because of the jade leaves on it. In comparison, the two hairpins suddenly pale in comparison.
"I have to go out for something important today. Where is the basket of pears I want to wash?" Zhao Duan asked.
Eugene Hua immediately ordered someone to bring it, a full basket with just the right amount of fat and thin meat.
…
After dinner.
Zhao Pan returned to the bedroom and saw the girl sitting in front of the dressing mirror.
She opened the drawer and carefully took out the beautiful "Jade Leaf" hairpin wrapped in red cloth. Then she looked at herself in the bronze mirror and inserted the hairpin into her hair.
Holding her cheeks, which were slightly thin due to growth stagnation, in her hands, she looked left and right.
She changed into several sets of clothes, stood up in the room, and turned around slowly, without any sign of tiredness.
"It really looks much better." The pretty girl's brows relaxed, her cheeks rosy, her mind drifting away.
I felt a little regretful that I didn't wear it this morning because of shame. My brother looked at my mother frequently but paid little attention to her.
…
Outside the Zhao family's door, Zhao Duan left the house, but the coachman "Xiao Wang" was not outside today.
He walked straight to the street corner and waited silently.
After a while, a low-key and luxurious carriage drove up from the distance and slowly stopped.
Zhao Duan bent down, picked up a basket of pears, stepped into the carriage, sat down carelessly, and said with a smile:
"Mo Zhaorong, we meet again."
The "female prime minister" in a female official's robe and a wingless black gauze on her head, with a cool and elegant temperament and a very "neutral beauty", with plum blossom makeup adorning her eyebrows, looked at him calmly.
He nodded slightly, indicating that he had met him before.
When his eyes fell on the basket of pears, he couldn't help but frown:
"Envoy Zhao, you should know where you are going today. What are you carrying this thing for?"
Zhao Duan picked up a green pear and handed it to her with a smile:
"This is our own produce. Let's take it to quench the thirst of the scholars. Can Zhaorong have some too?"
"Haha, no need," Mo Chou declined politely and said lightly:
"Xiu Wen Guan is not short of a few pears."
"It's different, it's different. The gift is small but the sentiment is great," Zhao Duan smiled. "Besides, the pears produced in the imperial court are the only ones in the world."
Mo Chou didn't respond. While ordering the driver to start, she said with a hint of displeasure:
"Envoy Zhao's house is too remote. Going back and forth would waste too much time."
Zhao Duan's house was bought with the money his grandfather saved up, and it was renovated by his father, but the location is indeed not close to the imperial palace.
After all, housing prices in Beijing are expensive, and not everyone can live in the "inner ring". The few thousand taels in Zhao Duan's hand are not enough to buy a new house.
"Haha, living in Kyoto is not easy. It's not like Mo Zhaorong has lived in the palace since she was a child, and she doesn't know the sufferings of the people."
Zhao Duan sat opposite her and made a slight smile.
Will you be short of money? Will you not be greedy?
Mo Chou didn't believe what he said at all and said:
"Let's get down to business. Today, the Xiuwenguan officially convenes. His Majesty has specially ordered me to take you there to see the world. Grand Tutor Dong and His Majesty are both here today. Just watch over the place when you get there. Don't interrupt and delay important matters."
"event?"
Zhao Duan ate his pear and asked curiously:
"On the first day of meeting, shouldn't we exchange pleasantries and get to know each other? What could be the big deal?"
Mo Chou glanced at him:
"Do you think His Majesty has a lot of time? Would he spare the precious time to chat and socialize with a group of scholars?
Your Majesty has more or less known those people before, and Grand Tutor Dong has summoned them to meet more than once, so they have already known some of the rules and regulations.
Today is called the opening ceremony, but it is actually a formal discussion of some important dynastic affairs."
"for example?"
"For example, the new policy." Mo Chou said seriously:
"During the decades of the previous emperor's reign, he did not exercise strict control over the court. Therefore, when it fell into your Majesty's hands, it was already riddled with holes and accumulated problems. As a result, new policies must be introduced.
This is also the most important matter since the opening of Xiuwenguan, in addition to helping Your Majesty share his worries and handling some unimportant memorials and official business.
Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty frequently attacked court officials before? "
It was to pave the way for the new policy and clear away obstacles... Zhao Duan understood.
I put away some of my thoughts on traveling.
Therefore, today's opening is more significant than he expected. Is it a gathering of talented scholars offering suggestions and discussing the formulation of new national policies?
"Understood?"
Mo Chou looked at him and sighed:
"That's why I told you not to interrupt.
I don't understand why His Majesty would allow you, a warrior, to attend as an auditor.
Regarding the new policy, anyone entering the museum and participating in today's discussion must keep their mouths shut and maintain confidentiality. This is what I want to emphasize to you: nothing that happens in the museum today can be disclosed."
Zhao Duan became more serious now and said:
"I should know who's in that museum."
"This is the list of admitted scholars." Mo Chou handed over a booklet:
"Anyone who enters the academy, regardless of their previous status, will be granted the title of 'Bachelor of Literature'. The first batch of people who enter the academy consists of eight people in total, and including Grand Tutor Dong, there are only nine people."
So little?
Zhao Duan was surprised, but after thinking about it, he was not surprised.
Decisions concerning truly major issues, unless they are made by voting, have always been made by just a few people from ancient times to the present.
He opened the book and saw the first name:
Korean porridge.
The carriage rocked.
Mochou explained:
"Among these eight people, the most important are the first three. Han Zhou, who was born into a humble family and became a top scholar, worked as an editor in the Hanlin Academy and was known as the most talented scholar. Not to mention his poetry and prose, which are all minor arts, he is quite intelligent.
In the past few years, although he has not held an official position, he has repeatedly traveled to various prefectures and even the countryside to observe and visit. His profound knowledge was admired by Grand Tutor Dong.
The first talent...
Zhao Duan turned to the second page and saw a familiar name:
Wang You.
Mo Chou said:
"This is the son of the Minister of Rites. The Wang family is a prominent clan that has existed for hundreds of years during the Great Yu Dynasty. Wang You's talent and learning are self-evident, and his father is a master of calligraphy and painting. However... he is arrogant and has the temperament of a 'celebrity'. He is also very proud and has a strong sense of family background."
Please don't let me offend him? The son of a powerful clan?
Alas, it seems that if Zhenbao wants to secure the throne, he also needs to win the support of some of the powerful families... Zhao Duan took note silently.
He turned another page and said with a smile:
"That's a strange name, Guo Jieyuan? Isn't Jieyuan the title for the top scorer in the provincial examination?"
Mo Chou cleared her throat and said:
"When his father named him, he regretted that he had only come second in the provincial examination that year, so he named him in the hope that his son would pass the imperial examination, and his wish actually came true."
Is this so perfunctory... Zhao Duan complained:
"Should he be named Guo Zhuangyuan, or Guo Prime Minister?"
Mo Chou was silent for a moment and said:
"His father did want to change his name... Well, that's not important. The point is, this man is very good at dealing with people, always smiling when he sees them, and he's a financial expert."
Zhao Duan took note silently and scanned the resumes of the remaining five young talents.
They come from different backgrounds, but they are all elites among the elites among scholars.
A gathering of heroes... I am the only one who is a big Luobei... Zhao Duan sighed.
I thought that in their previous lives, these people would have been admitted to the world's top universities, or at least to the gifted classes at Peking University or Tsinghua University...
Mo Chou sighed:
"Originally, there was a hermit from Dayu who we wanted to invite in, but unfortunately, Grand Tutor Dong intervened and was unable to invite him."
"hermit?"
"Well, he's a famous scholar living in seclusion outside the capital... well, it's normal for a rough warrior like you not to know about it."
Being despised... Zhao Duan shrugged indifferently, and seeing the depressing atmosphere, he closed the booklet.
Mo Chou caught a glimpse of this scene and said teasingly:
"Are you ashamed of yourself? You see, these are the real talents. Just reciting a line of poetry is something you could never achieve even if you practiced swordsmanship for a lifetime."
Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and asked:
"Aren't you jealous of me? Envious that I was invited by His Majesty to the Xiuwen Pavilion?"
Mo Chou seemed to have her thoughts exposed and immediately denied it:
"No. You, an auditor..."
Zhao Duan laughed and suddenly said:
"Come to think of it, I heard you've been with His Majesty since you were little? As a maid? The palace is filled with so much yin energy, so you've probably never had any serious contact with men."
After a brief pause, Zhao Duan said something shocking:
"I say... you always look at me with displeasure. Could it be that you like His Majesty?"
Mo Chou felt as if she was struck by lightning.
She looked away in panic, her fingers and toes curled up, her cold face instantly burning hot:
"What... nonsense are you talking about? I... I just admire His Majesty."
"Really?" Zhao Duan looked skeptical and said seriously:
"Actually, if you have this idea but are too embarrassed to speak up, I can help you convey your feelings to His Majesty."
"don't want!"
Mo Chou's voice suddenly rose and her eyes widened.
The eunuch driving outside was so frightened that he looked sideways with a terrified expression.
I was thinking, could it be that Lord Zhao did something to Miss Mo in the carriage?
…
"Haha, just kidding. Come and have a pear."
Zhao Duan laughed out loud.
Mo Chou's face flushed red as she stared at him angrily, realizing she had been fooled.
She stared at it for two seconds, snatched the pear, and took a vicious bite, as if she thought it was Zhao Duan and wanted to swallow it in one bite.
At this moment, the carriage began to slow down.
The eunuch pretended not to hear anything and decided to bury what he heard today in his heart and said:
"We've arrived at Xiuwen Pavilion."
Zhao Duan perked up, lifted the car curtain, and looked at the building in front of him with some anticipation.
Agree on a new policy?
He really didn't believe that a group of feudal literati could surpass him.
(End of this chapter)
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