Chapter 177 Didn’t Dong Xuan teach you not to bark like a dog when you are outside?
In the pavilion.
Facing the question raised by Zhao Duan, Young Master Dong hesitated, cupped his hands, and said shamefacedly:
"We are a small family. We can only come here because we pay a lot of money to Shenlong Temple every year. Haha, it's not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."
Zhao Duan said "Oh" and had an idea in his mind.
This Mr. Dong is definitely not the son of a high-ranking official.
Maybe those who are in the family are in business, so they have money to donate. As for not saying anything, it is understandable. It is indeed not decent to make money by spending money.
He did not associate the nerd in front of him with Grand Tutor Dong.
The surname "Dong" was not uncommon in the Dayu Dynasty.
Besides, the children of the Grand Tutor's family must have high standards. How could they be obsessed with a prostitute who sells smiles... He was almost fooled.
It doesn't make sense.
"Where is Brother Zhao? How do I get in?" Dong Da was curious.
Zhao Duan laughed and lied:
"I am also an elder in the family. I helped to get a place. I heard that Master Bianji will be presiding over the ceremony this year, so I was curious and came to take a look."
Dong Da nodded repeatedly without giving it much thought, and he didn't even associate the "Brother Zhao" in front of him with the famous empress's concubine...
The logic is clearer:
How could the empress's lover be so careless as to find an ordinary prostitute to have sex with?
It doesn't make sense.
So, based on their own logic, the two successfully concealed each other's identities.
Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan remained silent, and did not expose Dalang's lie. They just whispered curiously and looked around.
"Come to think of it, this is my first time attending such an occasion, but I don't know where the important figures in the capital and Master Bian Ji are?" Zhao Duan asked without hesitation.
Seeing this, Dong Da smiled and said:
"Brother Zhao, you may not know that this Zhai Garden is divided into inner and outer gardens. The one you and I are in right now is the outer garden.
The families of those big figures, the invited scholars, the wealthy donors of Shenlong Temple, or some people who received invitations but were not of high status were all here.
Only when we offer sacrifices to the gods later will we have the chance to see the true face of the mage. The real big shots are all in the inner garden."
He raised his hand and pointed deep into the garden.
"Is that so..." Zhao Duan took an orange from the fruit plate and played with it, thinking:
Does Shenlong Temple feel that its status is not high enough? Is it unworthy of entering the inner garden?
Suddenly I felt the same way as the monkey who served as Bimawen.
Dong Da didn't notice his expression and said excitedly:
"As for Master Bianji, he is indeed a matter of great curiosity. It is said that he holds an extraordinary status in the Shenlong Temple.
Abbot Xuanyin, like Tianshi Zhang, rarely ventured into the mortal realm. Thus, Venerable Bianji became almost Xuanyin's deputy... just like Mo Zhaorong in the palace was to His Majesty..."
Through his description, Zhao Duan also gained a deeper understanding of the "Monk Bian Ji".
He is also a disciple of Master Xuanyin, and his rank is obviously higher than Jinjian.
Not only is his cultivation powerful, but it is also said that because he mainly practices the Buddhist "World Honored One", his wisdom exceeds that of others.
He was particularly good at making witty remarks, and whenever he entered the residences of officials, he would make thought-provoking remarks.
The most famous one is a small case.
It is said that one day Master Xuanyin was giving a sermon in the temple and asked the monks:
"What is the origin of all Buddhas?"
Everyone was silent and deep in thought, except for the youngest monk, Bian Ji, who smiled and said:
"The origin does not matter to the Buddha, the grass will turn green in spring."
Since then, the saying "Grass turns green in spring" has become widely circulated.
It also made Monk Bian Ji famous.
Some people say that it is very likely that Monk Bian Ji will become the new abbot of Shenlong Temple in a few years and reach the top of the "world".
…
"That sounds amazing."
Zhao Duan was amazed.
Beside them, Zhao Pan silently peeled a banana, and Zhao Duan opened his mouth to eat it, leaving the girl confused.
“…” Dong Da saw Zhao Duan chewing a banana and praising him.
For a moment, he was unsure about the authenticity of the praise, and then said:
"However, compared to Master Bian Ji, the most popular people today are the scholars of Xiu Wen Guan."
Zhao Duan: "Oh?"
Dong Da pointed to the surrounding area:
"Brother Zhao, look, those scholars are all here for the group of scholars headed by Han Banshan.
Don’t you see how they are all looking forward to the gate? I just don’t know when those people will come. Maybe they will have to wait until the afternoon, or even the evening.”
Zhao Duan swallowed the banana and said casually:
"No, I'll be here soon."
He asked this at Xiuwen Pavilion last night.
Grand Tutor Dong told him that the new policy had been basically finalized and there was no need to hide anything.
He asked if he would like to come to the Dharma Assembly tomorrow as a scholar of Xiuwenguan, which would help him become famous.
Zhao Duan shook his head and said that it was unnecessary.
What's more, it would be inconvenient to bring my stepmother and younger sister with me, so I didn't agree and came here alone.
"Haha, Brother Zhao, you are so sure, as if you know it already."
Dong Da joked that even as the eldest grandson of the Grand Tutor, he didn't know.
What's more, outsiders just thought he was joking.
Zhao Duan did not explain, and suddenly said:
"I've heard that this group of scholars have been vehemently cursing Zhao Jisi, the head of the Imperial Court, lately. I heard that even the Grand Secretaries in the Hanlin Academy have joined in the criticism... Brother Dong is also a scholar, do you know those people? Are they here?"
Dong laughed and said:
"Are you talking about Chen Zhengru, the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy?
The person who cursed the most harshly was his disciple, a Hanlin named Xu.
It's not surprising. As far as I know, Chen Zhengru is a member of the "Li Party". Zhao Jisi has made many enemies with the Li Party in the past few months, so it is normal for him to be scolded.
As for Xu Hanlin, there is an even more interesting story.
It was said that a few months ago, regarding the issue of converting rice crops to mulberry trees in the Huai River, he had written to the Sage, proposing a method of "combining reform and relief"... but was later rebuked by the Sage...
Look, the one sitting over there, talking so loudly, is Xu Hanlin."
After a pause, he seemed to feel that he had explained it in too much detail, and hurriedly added:
"These anecdotes are widely circulated among scholars, but I don't know whether they are true or not."
Zhao Duan was stunned. He didn't expect there was such a connection.
No wonder those scholars scolded him so vigorously. I originally thought it was just scholarly arrogance and jealousy of him...
Now it seems that it was Chen Daxueshi of the "Li Party" and his disciples who were fanning the flames.
He suddenly had an idea.
If the Li Party is pushing it... then the recent war of words against him may not be as simple as it seems.
At this moment, Dong Da suddenly frowned, feeling uncomfortable in his stomach, and stood up and said:
"Brother Zhao, please take a rest first. I need to go to the toilet."
Zhao Duan smiled and nodded.
After the other party left, the mother and daughter next to them came over.
"Da Lang, do you know this man? He doesn't seem to recognize your identity."
Eugene Hua asked in a low voice with eyes full of curiosity.
"Well, I met him once before when I was working on a case," Zhao Duan said self-deprecatingly.
"As for my identity, huh, if he knew who I was, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to talk to each other."
Zhao Pan peeled another banana, protected it with her little hands to prevent it from being snatched away, and suddenly said:
"Those readers seem to be looking this way all the time."
Zhao Duan nodded, he also noticed it.
It seems that some people recognized him after all.
However, today is Ullambana Festival.
Zhao Duan thought that this group of scholars would not bother him if they did not consider the Buddha's favor.
However, while he was chatting with the women.
Suddenly, a commanding voice, amplified many times, suddenly rang out from a distance:
"Oh, isn't this Zhao Jisi who's been so popular recently? How did the little King of Hell from the Zhaoya Court come to this Buddhist Pure Land? I wonder which monk in charge of reception was so careless as to let him in without any reason."
The voice was loud, with a yin-yang tone.
In an instant, the crowds that had gathered around looked over here at the same time.
The air was silent for a brief moment.
Then, people woke up.
"Zhao Jisi? Is that Zhao Duan? Where is he?"
"That's the one in the pavilion. Hiss, why would Shenlong Temple invite him? Didn't they even invite Ma Yan in previous years?"
"It's Young Master Dong San... Tsk, I heard there was a feud between the two of them. We're going to have something interesting to watch today."
Amidst the discussion.
Zhao Duan also looked towards the source of the sound.
I saw a young man in his early twenties, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with a flamboyant aura, walking towards me with a sneer on his face.
He had an ordinary appearance, tall and thin, except for a small birthmark on the side of his face.
This time he had a defiant look on his face and an imposing manner, with several playboys following behind him.
He walked into the pavilion with swagger, his eyelids drooping, and glanced at the mother and daughter who were subconsciously snuggling together beside Zhao Duan. He suddenly laughed and teased loudly:
"Everyone in the capital knows that you, Zhao Duan, are loyal to His Majesty and never touch other women even in brothels.
I didn't believe it before, but now I understand. It turns out that he has two beauties at home, so no wonder he doesn't need to go out to relieve his sexual desire."
Wow——
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the celebrities from the capital who had gathered around them changed subtly.
It’s not that I really believed Dong San’s lies.
What surprised me more was that the grandson of this Grand Tutor was indeed worthy of being called "the most dissolute young man in the capital."
Knowing that Zhao Duan was very popular recently, he still dared to humiliate him in person.
Is it because of the opening of Xiuwen Hall that the Dong family has the confidence to rise again?
Everyone knows that Grand Tutor Dong is now in charge of the "New Cabinet" on behalf of His Majesty. Scholars like Han Zhou are even Grand Tutor Dong's disciples.
As long as the empress can hold on to the throne, the Dong family will have the hope of becoming the most powerful family in the empire.
In this way, the "Little Third Master", who has a flamboyant personality and is prone to quarreling with others, is indeed not afraid of Zhao Duan.
There's something exciting to watch.
The same thought arose in everyone's mind.
"Da Lang, don't..."
In the pavilion, when Dong San said this, the first person to react was Eugene Hua.
This weak and timid beautiful woman hurriedly reached out to grab her stepson, fearing that he would be enraged and fight with the other person.
Although You Jinhua was in the inner house, she also knew that the Dong family was in its heyday recently.
The literary giant, Grand Tutor Dong, the Empress's mentor, was quite displeased with his stepson.
On such an important occasion today, if Zhao Duan took action in anger, who knows what kind of revenge he would face from the Dong family.
"Don't be angry, Dalang. It's not worth getting yourself hurt by anger... Auntie and Pan'er have nothing to do with each other."
Eugene Hua tried to persuade him in a low voice.
In this feudal dynasty, a woman's reputation was above everything else.
Dong San's words spread, but actually did not cause much harm to Zhao Duan.
The ones who will truly suffer damage to their reputations, be pointed at and criticized for their entire lives, and live in the shadows forever are Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan.
However……
At this moment, even though she knew that her reputation would be damaged, Eugene Hua still tried her best to dissuade him.
Even Zhao Pan, who used to be very assertive, bit his lip and quietly grabbed Zhao Duan's arm.
Dong San looked down at Zhao Duan who was being dissuaded by the two women. The corners of his mouth turned up on his still young face:
"Why, I just said one sentence, and you're already protecting a man?"
All around, there was silence except for his laughter.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhao Duan remained seated, his expression completely gone.
No anger, no other emotions.
He just quietly watched the performance of this "No. 1 playboy in the capital" while slowly peeling an orange in his hands.
After he finished laughing, Zhao Duan slowly handed the peeled oranges to the mother and daughter.
Then he lightly brushed his hands, raised his head, and said calmly:
"Dong Xuan usually doesn't teach his children and grandchildren not to bark like dogs when they are outside?"
Dong Xuan is the name of Grand Tutor Dong.
A brief silence, then...
There was an uproar.
…
Update first and then typesetting
(End of this chapter)
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