Chapter 175 God-Level Green Tea (First Update)
Gu Changqing won so much money his hands were sore.
The old lady had planned to find a sucker to empty his pockets, but unexpectedly, she lost everything herself.
She cradled Xiao Jingkong's head, wishing she could roar to the heavens—
Xiao Jingkong: I finally managed to grow a few strands of hair, and you've almost taken them all away!
Gu Changqing looked like a child who had done something naughty behind his parents' backs, with a faint blush of excitement remaining on his cold, handsome face.
No wonder the younger brothers love playing this game so much; it really is fun.
Of course, he enjoyed the process, not the money he won.
It's already embarrassing enough to show up empty-handed, how could I possibly take their money with me?
But the old lady was a gambler with good sportsmanship.
We can afford to win and we can afford to lose; we will resolutely refuse to accept the bets that Gu Changqing has returned!
Gu Changqing thought for a moment, then wrapped the silver into New Year's money and gave it to the children.
Gu Jiao looked at the crushed silver in her hand and asked in confusion, "I have some too?"
"Mm." Gu Changqing nodded.
In his eyes, Gu Jiao and Gu Yan were the same age and both children. If Gu Yan had it, then she naturally had it too.
Gu Jiao, who always gave New Year's money to her family, received New Year's money from someone else for the first time.
Actually, the majority of this money came from the old lady; she gambled the most today and lost the most.
Although she received a red envelope from Gu Changqing, it was far from enough to cover her expenses.
The old lady went back inside and sharpened her kitchen knife; it was time to rob her of her secret stash of money again!
The old chief priest on the carriage suddenly shivered, a chill running down his back!
The old friend whom the old chief priest took Xiao Liulang to visit was surnamed Feng. He had once served as the third-rank official of the Court of State Ceremonies, which was comparable to the rank of the chief priest of the Imperial Academy. Of course, if we were to talk about who had more influence in front of His Majesty, it would be the old chief priest.
The old chief minister was quite adept at the Machiavellian tactics of officialdom. He was excellent at suppressing his opponents, and adept at pleasing His Majesty, making His Majesty believe that he was a genuine scholar.
They really hid it well!
Professor Feng is a scholar who truly devotes himself to academic research.
The Court of State Ceremonies was the foreign affairs department of the Zhao Kingdom. Feng Lao rose to the position of Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies through sheer strength. He was proficient in six languages and the dialects of more than thirty ethnic minorities, making him a gem in the field of linguistics.
His achievements go far beyond these; if we were to list them all, we could talk about them for three days and three nights.
However, he was too straightforward and simple-minded, which made him unsuitable for the treacherous world of officialdom.
One year, he was framed and almost accused of treason. It was the old chief priest who managed to save him. However, both he and the old chief priest realized that the officialdom was not suitable for him.
So he resigned from his official post and devoted himself to scholarship at home.
He traveled to the beautiful landscapes of six countries, visited the most remote deserts, and climbed the most dangerous Gobi Desert.
He lived a very poor life, and his wife pawned her dowry to make ends meet.
For Zhao Guo, he was blessed and fortunate, but for his wife, marrying such a husband was a lifelong tragedy.
Master Feng has three sons, but unfortunately, they are all mediocre. Of course, it is also possible that Master Feng was so focused on his own studies that he neglected to nurture his children.
Feeling that his days were numbered, Feng Lao wrote a letter to the old chief priest, asking him to help find a suitable successor.
After much deliberation, the old chief priest brought Xiao Liulang along.
Paralyzed in bed, Feng Lao heard footsteps and said in a hoarse voice, "Brother, you've come?"
The old chief priest said to Xiao Liulang, "Wait for me outside for a while."
Xiao Liulang agreed.
The old chief priest stepped into the house: "Hey, you're here. How are you feeling today?"
Old Feng's speech was actually quite slurred; he spoke with great difficulty, but his complexion was rosy: "Much better."
The old chief priest sat down on the chair in front of the bed: "I think so too. In another two days, you'll be able to get out of bed!"
Old Feng shook his head slightly: "My time is coming to an end, and I know it."
The old priest sighed inwardly. How could someone who could barely speak suddenly become so energetic?
"Did you bring the person?" Old Feng asked.
“I brought him; he is my disciple.” The old chief priest glanced at him and said, “This time, I’ve reluctantly given up my own disciple!”
"That guy surnamed Li?" Old Feng shook his head. "No, no, he's too old."
The old chief priest: "No, you've actually chosen one?"
Dean Li is not old at all; he's not even forty yet and is in his prime.
Although the old master had brought his youngest apprentice, the eldest apprentice was disliked by Elder Feng, so he couldn't help but retort sarcastically: "What, you want to find someone so young and tender that you could squeeze water out of them?"
The old wind hummed.
The old chief priest actually understood what he meant. The younger a person is, the more time they have left. The knowledge he has gained in his lifetime cannot be fully explored in ten or twenty years.
"Come in," the old chief priest said to the doorway.
Xiao Liulang walked in.
When Feng Lao's gaze fell on Xiao Liulang's face, his whole body stiffened.
Xiao Liulang had taken Feng Lao's class when he was a child, so Feng Lao must know him.
However, Elder Feng's next words almost choked the old priest: "Am I dead? How come you're dead too? Oh no, oh no, no one has inherited my mantle yet!"
Xiao Liulang: "..."
The old chief priest: "..."
It took the old priest a lot of effort to convince Elder Feng that the boy in front of him was not dead.
As for why he didn't die, the old priest didn't say, and Elder Feng didn't ask further.
Having lived to this age, I've come to understand my destiny. There are some things I know in my heart, but I can't delve into them too deeply.
The old master Feng was like this, and so was the old libationer.
The old chief priest asked, "Are you satisfied with this successor?"
"Satisfied, very satisfied." Old Feng grinned from ear to ear.
He had his eye on this kid back then too. If it weren't for the old master's proximity, he would have snatched him up to be his apprentice long ago.
His biggest regret in life was probably not being able to find a satisfactory disciple.
That's perfect now.
Due to the hasty nature of the event, everything was kept simple. Under the guidance of the old master, Xiao Liulang performed a simple apprenticeship ceremony.
Feng Lao was paralyzed from the neck down and had difficulty eating. The old master symbolically let him touch the rim of the cup, which was considered as him having drunk the apprenticeship tea.
From then on, Xiao Liulang became his successor.
Feng Lao had his wife bring his life's worth of literary treasures and move them all onto the old libationer's carriage.
Seeing that they had emptied the study, the old priest felt a little embarrassed: "Uh... sister-in-law, do you want to keep some for yourselves?"
Madam Feng waved her hand, saying, "Please move out quickly! I beg you! I've been burdened by these wretched things my whole life, please don't torment me any further!"
The old priest bowed and said, "Alright, then I'll visit you again when I have the chance."
Xiao Liulang also bowed to Madam Feng as a junior.
That night, Old Feng went there.
Perhaps because his wish had been fulfilled, he passed away peacefully.
This incident dealt a heavy blow to the old chief priest, who suddenly realized that he too was one of those people with half his body buried in the earth.
Actually, if it weren't for his benefactor, he would have died back on the mountain.
Why did God arrange for him to survive?
The old chief priest looked up at the starry sky in the courtyard, contemplating life.
The old woman came over with a knife to rob him, but before she could say anything, the old priest calmly handed over his money bag.
The old woman asked strangely, "Did you take the wrong medicine?"
The old chief priest didn't look at her, still gazing up at the endless starry sky: "Zhuang Jinse, what do you think is the purpose of a person's life? You can't take anything with you when you die."
Zhuang, Jin, Se?
That name sounds so familiar.
The old lady also looked up at the starry sky.
On the other side of the starry sky, it seems as if a distant memory is calling to her across the years.
Her mood suddenly became heavy, and she became melancholy and sad.
She looked down and counted her money pouch, feeling even more distressed: "That Huo fellow! You think you can get away with less secret stash by playing tricks here? These few copper coins are enough for several rounds of cards! How much else are you hiding? Hand it all over to me!"
Old Chief Priest: You can't even get away with this?
The old lady, satisfied with her small amount of money, went back to her neighbor's house.
The old priest's plan to lull the old lady into a false sense of security was genuine; he sighed that life itself was not a lie.
He was genuinely worried.
I'm afraid that one day I'll end up like the old man in the wind.
Feng Lao's obsession in this world is his legacy.
If there are enough outstanding people to inherit his mantle, then Feng Lao can die without regret.
He is different.
He has people he can't let go of.
It used to be thought that once a person died, they had no attachment to this world.
But now, his Ah Heng is still alive, so he dares not get sick, dares not die.
I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone in the world to face everything by himself.
"Aheng, what else can your teacher do for you?"
After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Imperial College and other major academies in the capital gradually reopened, and government offices and the imperial court also opened.
After a good New Year, the first day of court is usually peaceful, and the memorials selected by civil and military officials are usually mild and meaningful, all in order to bring good luck.
It's bad luck to create chaos in the court right at the start of the new year.
At the Zheng residence, Zheng Siye was also preparing to go out.
He had already received news from Grand Tutor Zhuang that the matter of the Imperial Academy Chancellor had been settled. His Majesty would confer the title of Prince Ning upon the eldest prince at the first court session after the New Year, and at the same time appoint him as the Imperial Academy Chancellor.
"Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir!" said the butler.
Zheng Siye proudly raised his chin: "What's there to congratulate me on? If it weren't for those awful things that happened, I would have been the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy long ago!"
The butler said, "What you say is true, sir! But it's not too late now!"
"Too."
Zheng Siye smiled.
Thinking of something, he asked, "Are the clothes all ironed?"
The steward hurriedly said, "Alright, alright! We'll embroider it on for you as soon as the imperial insignia arrives!"
The Imperial Academy's uniforms were specially commissioned by the court, but Zheng Siye couldn't wait and had them made early on, only lacking the badge that symbolized the Imperial Academy Chancellor's status.
"Let me see it!" Zheng Siye said.
"Yes!" The butler smiled and brought over the clothes.
Zheng Siye's eyes gleamed with a bright green light.
The butler said, "Master, would you like to try it on to see if it fits?"
Zheng Siye cleared his throat: "Ahem, well, okay, just in case the size isn't right, you can get it altered in time."
The butler chuckled, "That makes sense!"
Zheng Siye couldn't wait to change into his official robes, strutted around, and spread his arms wide for the steward to admire: "How is it?"
The butler gave a thumbs-up and flattered him repeatedly: "Perfect, perfect! Master looks absolutely magnificent in this outfit!"
Zheng Siye was extremely proud of himself. He went to the bronze mirror, looked at himself from all angles, dusted off his wide sleeves, and laughed, "All that's missing is the badge!"
The steward smiled and said, "It will be ready when you return from court!"
Zheng Siye reluctantly took off his sacrificial robes, knowing that after today he could wear them every day!
Zheng Siye came to court.
It was pitch black, and the palace gates were not yet open. All the ministers were waiting outside.
Upon seeing Zheng Siye arrive, the Minister of Personnel first offered his congratulations, followed by the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, among others.
Clearly, everyone had heard that Zheng Siye was about to be appointed as the chief priest.
This was a foregone conclusion, and Zheng Siye didn't even bother with feigned modesty, smiling as he returned the greetings with the others.
His official rank is currently below that of several high-ranking officials, but after court, he will be on equal footing with them. Therefore, the greeting he is performing now has become a standard greeting.
Soon, the palace gates opened.
"Lord Zheng, please." An official said with a smile.
Zheng Siye smiled and strode confidently into the Golden Palace.
The first morning assembly of the new year was as amicable as in previous years.
The memorials submitted by civil and military officials all praised His Majesty's achievements.
His Majesty was very pleased.
Consistent with the rumors circulating in the palace, he first lavishly praised the eldest prince and bestowed upon him the title of Prince Ning. Soon after, it was the Imperial Academy's turn.
"Now that the Imperial Academy has reopened, the position of Chancellor cannot remain vacant forever. Fortunately, I already have a suitable candidate in mind..." His Majesty's majestic voice echoed throughout the Golden Palace.
Zheng Siye straightened his back in excitement.
He's finally waited for this day!
It's here! It's here! It's here!
His feelings at this moment could probably only be compared to those of a bride-to-be. He was like a bride waiting for her groom to come and perform the wedding ceremony with her!
Then he saw a eunuch hurrying over and kneeling outside the Golden Palace: "Your Majesty! There is a letter for you!"
Ordinary letters wouldn't reach the imperial palace unless it was an extremely urgent matter.
Everyone wondered if another urgent report had arrived from the border.
"Bring it here," His Majesty said.
The eunuch presented the letter to His Majesty.
After reading the letter, His Majesty actually stood up from the dragon throne.
Everyone was stunned. What terrible thing had happened? Had the border fallen?
The next second, everyone heard His Majesty say with barely suppressed excitement, "The Grand Chancellor has returned to the capital! He wrote to me, and he asked how I am doing..."
Zheng Siye was internally cursing.
Didn't the old Grand Master retire and return to his hometown eight hundred years ago? What does it mean to write a letter to seduce His Majesty at this critical juncture?
It was another deeply affectionate letter, meticulously crafted with carefully chosen words. Roughly translated, it reads: "Your Majesty, it has been many years since we last met. How have you been? Please forgive my past impulsiveness; I am filled with remorse whenever I recall Your Majesty's affection for me. Now that I have returned, I ask Your Majesty, is your heart still the same?"
Definitely a green tea ex!
His Majesty was deeply moved, tears welling in his eyes: "The matter of the Chief Minister will be discussed later. Court is adjourned!"
Zheng Siye was struck dumb!
Scumbag!
Tea is still Laojiu tea 23333
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
