The First Yamen of the Great Song Dynasty

Huangcheng Division was formerly called Wu De Division. Its history can be traced back to the end of Tang Dynasty. After five dynasties, it went all the way to Song Dynasty. Therefore, this is a yamen with a long history. Even if it shows seniority, it can beat other yamen.

Gao Ming especially likes its office location, which is in the Zuochengtian Gate of the Imperial City of Tokyo, very close to the Taiwei Mansion, and can sleep a little longer every day.

The Imperial City Department is managed by Yun Wang Zhao Kai, but he is a prince after all, and he has many things to be responsible for, so he will not sit in the Imperial City Department.

There are no tigers in the mountains, and monkeys are called kings. As long as Zhao Kai is not around, Gao Ming is the head of the Imperial City Department.

But strictly speaking, it is called the top leader, because there are two people in the imperial city, and he is only one of them.

It's just that the other one is Liang Shicheng, the emperor's personal eunuch, who works in the palace on weekdays, in charge of the security in the forbidden palace, and is responsible for the part of the guards in the palace of the imperial city.

Gao Ming is in charge of external spying and supervision, and he and Liang Shicheng do not violate the river water.

If Liang Shicheng didn't come to Chengtianmen's Imperial City Office, Gao Ming wouldn't enter the inner court either.

Except for the first day when the two met face to face, half a month has passed and they haven't met again.

Because Liang Shicheng was favored by the emperor, his reputation was also very bad, but Gao Ming was more interested in another thing about him.

Is he Su Shi's son?It is said that Su Shi gave his pregnant concubine to a friend named Liang.

The concubine gave birth to a son less than a month after arriving at Liang's house, and this child was Liang Shicheng.

Liang Shicheng also claimed to be Su Shi's son, and the Su family also chose to remain silent and never came out to refute the rumors.

I don't know if it is impossible to refute in the face of the truth, or I think it is good to have a powerful eunuch as a backer, and I don't want to refute the rumors.

The new official took office three fires, and he burned them when he was in Mengzhou. It was because he was the magistrate, and there were still those who refused to accept him. Naturally, all the enemies and obstacles had to be burned.

But this is Tokyo City, his father's stronghold, and no one in the Imperial City Division is against him, so he will not bother if he is comfortable.

Yang Jian just waited for Gao Yanei to mess up and make mistakes, so as to sue him severely, which is a pity that people are disappointed.

They waited and hoped that Gao Ming would not cause trouble. Seeing that it was winter, Gao Yanei would not cause trouble anymore, so he would not call people to celebrate the New Year.

The most suffocating thing is that none of the people from Liangshan grew up. After knowing that Gao Yanei was their village master, nothing happened, and they just passed away peacefully.

Bah, Yang Jian despised them in his heart.

It wasn't until the leaves were all gone, and winter really came, that I was so jealous that I turned my attention away from Gao Ming. This kid is really treacherous. Forget it, don't worry about not having a chance in the future, just take care of your own business first.

-

Huarong's salary, that is, his salary is quite generous. In Tokyo, where housing prices are staggering, it is not a problem to save up and buy a house.

So in the stage of saving money, it is logical to continue to live in the Taiwei's mansion.

Murong Yanze, who often went to the Taiwei's mansion, saw that Huarong hadn't moved out for almost a month, and said kindly: "The houses in Tokyo are getting more and more expensive, and the later you buy them, the more you will suffer. If you are short of money, I will lend you money." You, buy it first, so as not to spend more money next year."

Originally Huarong and Murong Yanze had a mediocre relationship, and because Murong Yanda's relationship inevitably had a estrangement, even if he borrowed money, he couldn't lend it to him, "Thank you, if I borrow it, I will borrow it from Gao Ming."

Gao Ming smiled and said, "Ask him how much the interest is. If it's cheaper than mine, you can borrow it from him."

Hua Rong looked at him pretending to be angry, "You must be poor."

Murong Yanze didn't lend any money, seemed very disappointed, sat on the bed opposite Gao Ming, faced him across the low table, propped his chin and said, "Let's have some fun?"

When Huarong heard this, he saw that this was the disadvantage of going back to Tokyo, and the bad friend immediately led him to the bad road, "He just came back from Liangshan, so he has to rest until the end of the year, what fun is he looking for? Why don't he just rest more honestly. "

"Well, the weather is cold, and I don't want to go anywhere." Gao Ming said, "I just want to stay at home and enjoy the fire."

Murong Yanze didn't believe that Gao Ming could stay like this, "Are you thinking about something? Have a new idea? If so, I won't bother you, let you think about it."

"How can there be any new ideas? You are my idea king." Gao Ming said lazily.

Murong Yanze couldn't persuade Gao Ming to go out to play, and since he had something else to do, he said, "When you feel like moving, tell me, I'll come and play with you again."

After Murong Yanze left, Hua Rong said: "Why does he stay here all day? He is more diligent than going to the Ministry of Rites to get a haircut."

Gao Ming smiled and said, "Of course I'm more attractive."

Hua Rong couldn't help laughing, "By the way, I haven't told you yet, I'm going back to my hometown after a few days off..."

Before finishing speaking, Gao Ming immediately said, "I'll go with you too."

Seeing that he was so active and willing to go back with her, Huarong was indescribably happy, but she was happy, but the situation did not allow it, "No, you just came back, how could the Taiwei let you go out of Tokyo again, besides, the officials and King Yun will also look for you. I just go back by myself, go and come back quickly."

After recruiting, he didn't have time to go back to his hometown. He only sent back a few letters. Finally, he was looking forward to the Chinese New Year holiday and had to go back.

If Hua Rong rode a fast horse, he would be able to come back soon, but he was afraid that the family would keep him and stay forever.

"How long are you going?"

"The holiday of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is seven days, but I'm a special case after all, so I'll let it go for a few more days, as long as I can come back on the [-]th day of the first lunar month."

This means that Huarong has to go home for the New Year and will not be able to return until after the Lantern Festival.

Gao Ming really felt uncomfortable now, "Tokyo's Lantern Festival is only lively. I asked your family to come to Tokyo. I'll be in charge of receiving them. Don't go back."

Hua Rong smiled and said, "You don't want me to go?"

"Well, a little bit." After all together all day, Hua Rong left suddenly, and always felt that there was something missing around him, empty.

"Then I will try to come back as soon as possible, and let's spend the Lantern Festival together."

It is a foregone conclusion that Huarong will return home, so he can only try to make up for it, "Lantern Festival? That's a deal!" I thought it would be a puppy if I didn't come back, but considering the accident, if Huarong really doesn't come back, wouldn't it be Embarrassed.

"It's a deal, I'll do what I say." Huarong promised.

Thinking that Gao Ming cared so much about him and wanted to spend the Lantern Festival with him, a smile could not be hidden on his face.

But Hua Rong said worriedly: "Murong Yanze asks you to go to a bad place, you have to know how to refuse, don't go anywhere."

Gao Ming thought that Hua Rong was afraid that he would learn bad things, and he was too concerned about his physical and mental health, "Don't worry, I'm the only one who brought Murong Yanze bad, how could he have the chance to kidnap me?!"

Hua Rong narrowed his eyes, "You can't even kidnap him!"

"I know, I know." Gao Ming said with a smile, "I will definitely be a healthy yamen."

Hua Rong smiled and said, "It's not too bad."

After Laba, Huarong set off to leave, leaving Gao Ming to idly dawdle.

It's not that he hasn't tried telling his father that he wants to leave Tokyo and go back to his hometown with Hua Rong, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his father shook his head in horror, "No, no, no, no."

The last time they went to Qingzhou for Chinese New Year, everyone knows what happened.

This time, don't move around during the Chinese New Year, stay in Tokyo honestly, Huarong will go back to his hometown by himself, and he will be back in a few days, so don't have any accidents on the way, my dear son.

Considering the old father's mood, Gao Ming didn't want to mention it any more. An Sheng spent the New Year in Tokyo.

Murong Yanze was on vacation and spent almost the whole day in Taiwei's mansion.

One day, the two were sitting together playing chess. Gao Ming smacked his lips after making a move, "Why do you come to my house all day to eat and drink? If you continue like this, you will have to pay for food and tell you."

Murong Yanze looked at him, "Aren't you afraid that if you have troubles again, I will have to burn paper figurines for you?"

"For Chinese New Year, can you say something auspicious?" Gao Ming rolled up his sleeves, "I'll get your tongue out."

"You're still pulling my tongue, you lost." Murong Yanze slammed down, and showed Gao Ming a complacent expression of not wanting to be beaten.

"I'm not going here anymore." Gao Ming said as he was about to retrieve the chess pieces that had just been dropped.

"Hey hey——I have no regrets when I make a move, how can there be regrets?"

Gao Ming blurted out, "If Huarong would definitely make me regret this move."

"Hua Rong is Hua Rong, I am me!" Murong Yanze protected the chessboard, "Let him follow you."

Regretting the failure of the game, Gao Ming pushed the board, "Then I won't play, and when Hua Rong comes back, I will play with him."

Murong Yanze grinned, "Then when will he come back?"

"Hua Rong won't come back until the Lantern Festival."

"Did he come back specially to watch the lanterns? I heard that there is a good team of lanterns this year, so it's worth running back to see them. Then I'll come to see you on the night of the Lantern Festival, how about we go to see the lanterns together?"

Gao Ming readily agreed, "Okay."

-

Facts have proved that everyone thinks too much, what to go out to play, what to watch lanterns, under the emperor's order: "I want to have fun with the people."

Zhao Ji heard that this year's lantern team gathered masters from various places, so he decided to watch the fireworks and lanterns in person on the city gate tower on the night of the Lantern Festival, and have fun with the people.

The emperor wants to watch the lamp, so there is no reason for his favorite minister not to accompany him.

Therefore, Gao Ming, Murong Yanze and the new generation who were favored, as well as the older generation such as Cai Jing, Yang Jian, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Liang Shicheng, etc. had to be present, and no one could run away.

Of course, the crown prince and King Yun could not be absent, and they were frozen together in the city gate tower.

Gao Ming was thinking about Hua Rong, so it's okay if he didn't come back in time, but he was afraid that he would rush back and miss the appointment, which would be too bad.

He looked at the crowds of people lingering in the fiery tree and silver flowers downstairs, and thought, if the emperor hadn't insisted on calling everyone, he might be playing with Hua Rong below at this time, and he would be several times happier than he is now.

Looking at the prosperous Lantern Festival scene, Zhao Ji felt that he ruled well and the people were rich and happy.

From time to time, I would ask where a certain lantern with a unique shape is, and then the people around would scramble to answer, with everything in detail.

Gao Ming's mind was not on the emperor tonight, he was only out for personal occasions, and he didn't plan to start the business of favored ministers.

He himself didn't feel anything about his behavior, but the people who had been vigilant against him thought strangely in their hearts, they thought Gao Ming would seize the opportunity of the Lantern Festival and try his best to flatter the officials, how could he be so honest?

Recently, Yang Jian also found that Gao Ming was very honest, so he couldn't help muttering, could it be that his ingenuity was used up when he met the officials, and now he has no new ideas?

If this is the case, then there is nothing to be afraid of Gao Ming, after all, he is just a brat, just showing off his ability for a while.

Gao Qiu also found that his son was not in the mood tonight, and he was a little listless. He thought worriedly, it's not because he is not feeling well, but because he has a cold?

Gao Ming didn't know that everyone was waiting for him to show the basic qualities of a courtier, even the emperor had expectations of him, and smiled at him: "What's wrong with Aiqing, how can you be absent-minded?"

It's bad, the distraction is too serious, even the officials can see it, Gao Ming can't justify that he didn't distract himself, so he can only bite the bullet and say: "I... I am afraid that the officials will make jokes when I say it. I have been worried. If one Everyone will guess the lantern riddles, what should I do if I can't figure it out, so I racked my brains to think about it, but found that the ones I came up with were not actually lantern riddles, and I was planning to think again, so I was distracted before I knew it. Forgive me."

Gao Ming threw out the words "I have come up with some riddles that are not lantern riddles", hoping to divert the emperor's attention away from his distraction.

Sure enough, Zhao Ji smiled and said: "Then tell me, what did you come up with, let everyone help you find out, is it a lantern riddle?"

Gao Ming rolled his eyes, "The minister just made a fool of himself, and the word "dog" is less, what do you read?"

As soon as the words came out, everyone laughed. It really was Gao Yanei who didn't study. What kind of puzzle is this? Yang Jian blurted out first, "Of course it is reading big characters."

As a result, as soon as he said it, Gao Ming ruthlessly retorted: "Eunuch Yang, you are too impatient. The answer to the riddle is to read 'people'. It is a little less to say."

It turned out that it was not less "one point" but "one" and "point" less, Yang Jian secretly gritted his teeth in hatred.

The serious lantern riddles of this era are all well-behaved, and there is no language trap like this. Yang Jian was the first to speak out and fell into the trap first.

After Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment, he smiled and shook his head at Gao Ming, "You, you."

The others reacted and laughed too, the only one who didn't laugh much was Prince Zhao Huan, whose expression was quite serious.

Being laughed at, Yang Jian couldn't bear it. He forced a smile and said, "I didn't hear the last one clearly, so let's try another riddle."

I want to be ashamed.

"Okay." Gao Ming said, "There are five birds in the tree, and one is shot down. How many birds are left in the tree?"

This time, Yang Jian could hear clearly, there was no trap of homonyms, and one was subtracted from five, and the answer was ready to come out, "There are four left!"

"The answer is no one, and the other four were scared away." Gao Ming shrugged.

Oops, careless!Yang Jian regretted it.

Hearing this answer, those who wanted to answer the same question as Yang Jian just now broke into a cold sweat. Fortunately, they didn't rush to answer, otherwise Yang Jian would be the one who would be embarrassed.

Yang Jian took a deep breath, he can't be bullied by him alone, he looked at Tong Guan who was also a eunuch, "Hahaha, I can't do it anymore, you can try it."

Lao Yang, you don't pay attention!Tong Guan scolded in his heart.

Although Tong Guan is an eunuch, he has a beard, which is a great spectacle in the industry, and everyone in the industry can only envy him.

At this moment, I was short of breath, and my beard fluttered down, "Hahaha, these are all jokes in the market, I won't come if I haven't heard it before."

The key is that it doesn't matter if Tong Guan has heard of it or not, the officials haven't.

Normally, this kind of thing would definitely not be in the hall of elegance, but today is different. During the Lantern Festival, the officials and the people have fun, relax, and it is not a serious occasion. Tell some jokes to amuse the officials and adjust the atmosphere. The icing on the cake.

So Zhao Ji laughed and said: "I still want to hear something from Gao Aiqing, you can answer it."

You want to hear why he didn't let him give you a question? !Tong Guan roared inwardly, but on the surface he agreed calmly. He looked at Gao Ming, you brat, take care of it, give me a simple answer, do you hear me?

The officials all said that he wanted to hear it, so Gao Ming had no choice but to speak.

Tong Guan is now a privy envoy, with great power in his hands, except in front of the officials and Cai Jing, he is showing off his might and being invincible.

But in front of the emperor, he could only keep his head low, "Yes."

Gao Qiu stood aside calmly, thinking in his heart, son, tell me quickly, don't give me face.

Gao Ming pretended to be difficult, "Let me tell you a simple one. It's very simple. Listen up, Eunuch Tong. There is a cook frying two kinds of beans, one is red beans, the other is mung beans, stir fry, stir fry, stir fry , when it was finally cooked, he poured the beans into the basin, it was strange to say that the red beans and mung beans separated naturally, why is that?"

Tong Guan said: "This is not a lantern riddle, is it?"

"It's really not." Gao Ming looked at Zhao Ji, "Guan, I..."

"It doesn't matter, as long as it's a riddle, Gao Aiqing also said just now that the riddle he thought of didn't fit the riddle of the lantern riddle, but it doesn't hurt." Zhao Ji said.

So Tong Guan had to answer, and it was Yang Jian's turn to smile.

King Yun looked at Gao Ming with a smile, and then at Tong Guan who was thinking desperately with a dark face, restraining his smile.

Murong Yanze looked at Gao Ming, where did you hear these weird riddles?Fried beans, why separate?I can't figure it out.

Time passed by, and when Tong Guan was thinking, everyone else was thinking, but it was obvious that Tong Guan was going to play the trick of dragging characters, so he didn't say the answer. I didn't have time to say it out, to save face.

But at this time, Prince Zhao Huan, who didn't want to see him, said, "If you can't figure it out, you can ask others for help. Taishi Cai is well-versed in the past and present, so he must know the answer."

Good guy, Cai Jing also jumped into the water.

Cai Jing's face was calm, and he scolded in his heart, Gao Ming's solution to the riddle is obviously not a serious way, and he can only answer it by thinking in a different place, even if he is full of knowledge, he can't answer this thing.

It was like pulling him to the level of a street gangster and defeating him with rich experience.

Zhao Ji didn't think too much about it, and said with a smile: "Cai Aiqing also helped to think about it, if the answer is correct, I will reward you." Then Gao Ming smiled and said: "You have more rewards."

Gao Ming immediately thanked the officials, and then looked at Cai Jing and Tong Guan with a smile.

The emperor is interested, and everyone has to cooperate. Besides, the emperor is just asking everyone to answer a riddle for entertainment purposes, and there is no reason to hold their necks to spoil the fun.

Tong Guansi thought about it, he couldn't embarrass Grand Master Cai, isn't it just a bad question, if he can't answer it, he can't answer it, what's the matter, if he answers wrong, but the answer is interesting, it can make the officials happy, it might not be a good idea a method of resolution.

"I think..." Tong Guan just opened his mouth when Gao Ming announced the correct answer, "Because there are only two beans in the pot, one red bean and one mung bean."

Zhao Ji listened, shook his head while laughing, and said to Gao Ming: "You, you, where did you hear such strange puzzles?"

There was no blame at all in the words, but a bit of pampering.

The emperor, if he wants to live a comfortable life, he will treat whoever makes him happy.

Cai Jing breathed a sigh of relief for the time being. He was born as a Jinshi. Guessing such a low-level puzzle would be a waste of time. Fortunately, Gao Ming announced the answer first, and he quietly stepped aside, trying to dilute his own existence. Feeling, afraid to mix in again.

But Tong Guan didn't think so, and said, "Officials, I haven't answered yet. Why did you announce the answer without permission? Actually, I thought of it just now, and I almost said it."

This is a step that cannot be lowered, Gao Ming is entirely for the good looks of Cai Jing and Tong Guan, who knows that Tong Guan has climbed smoothly.

Tong Guan mainly felt that this kid Gao Ming came up with three tricky and weird puzzles in one breath, and he probably didn't have any stock in his stomach.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the words fell, Gao Ming said: "Private envoy, don't be sorry, I have another question here."

Tong Guan scolded in his heart, what are you thinking about all day, kid, why do you save so many useless things? !At the same time, I regretted it in my heart, I should have known that I didn't try my best just now.

Zhao Ji stroked his beard and looked at Tong Guan and Gao Ming with a smile, waiting for the next question that would make him laugh.

Gao Ming said: "Just ask, how can you jump higher than the Yellow Crane Tower?"

Tong Guan thinks he can answer this question, "Jump from a higher place than the Yellow Crane Tower."

Gao Ming shook his head, "No."

Tong Guan felt that there was nothing wrong with his answer, and was about to defend himself when he heard Zhao Kai, the king of Yun, say, "Could the answer be 'jumping'? Because the Yellow Crane Tower can't jump."

Gao Ming immediately said: "Your Highness is absolutely correct." Then he began to boast, "I knew that after the two questions, Your Highness will be able to fully understand the thinking of the person who made the question. Once you discover the skills, these questions will not be difficult. , Your Highness is really smart." Then he sighed, "Your Highness won't be able to solve any future questions, and I can't do it again."

What he said was actually correct, his brains turned sharply, and what he played was unexpected, but in fact there were rules.

Moreover, he didn't want to ask any more questions, just because Zhao Kai was unparalleled in intelligence and could solve all the questions in the future, so he ended the guessing activity logically.

Gao Ming started by making the official family happy, and ended by praising the official family's favorite son, which is perfect.

Besides, Zhao Kai is his immediate boss, so it can't be overstated.

Zhao Ji gained double happiness from Gao Ming, "I just said that I want to reward Gao Aiqing, in my opinion, let's designate him as Jingyuan Jiedu envoy, what do you think?"

Jiedushi no longer has real power in this dynasty, and has been completely reduced to an honorary title.

But honorary titles are also beneficial, not only for status, but also for more monthly salary.

When the emperor asked other people's opinions, he didn't want to hear dissenting voices, but just said it casually. Anyone who dared to make trouble, they all agreed quickly, and praised Gao Ming by the way, to explain the emperor's appointment as a wise man.

Everyone could see that Gao Ming was the biggest winner tonight.

This is a rising new favorite in the world of sycophants!

Zhao Ji was in a good mood, and then continued to watch the lantern and fireworks show below, which took longer than the previous years, and he went back to the harem after completely enjoying himself.

He left first, followed by the various officials.

Before leaving, Murong Yanze said to Gao Ming in disappointment, "Let's watch the lantern together next year. I'm tired this year, so I'll go home and sleep."

Gao Qiu was very satisfied with his son's performance tonight, and was afraid that he would catch a cold, so he wanted to take him back home.

But Gao Ming said: "Father, you should go back first, the lantern festival is not over yet, I want to take a look around."

Young people like to be lively, Gao Qiu also understood, asked a few people to follow his son, and went back first.

When Gao Ming came to the street, he couldn't help but sighed in loneliness. If he wanted to see the lantern with Huarong, he would have to wait until next year.

I told him to hurry back to Tokyo, but in the end he couldn't get together because he was with the emperor. Although it was an accident and unpredictable, it was still a pity.

Now I can only think better, Hua Rong did not rush back to Tokyo, this situation is not impossible, after all, it was already afternoon when Gao Ming left the mansion, Hua Rong hadn't come back at that time.

I hope he doesn't rush back to Tokyo.

As Gao Ming thought about it, someone suddenly called him softly from behind, "Hey, Xiangyunjian."

He immediately froze in place, and there was only one person who called him that.

He suddenly turned his head, and saw Hua Rong standing with his arms around his shoulders in a dimly lit place beside the road, looking at him with a smile.

As soon as Gao Ming saw him, he ran over with a smile on his face, "When did you come back?"

"Not long. The gates of the city are not closed during the Lantern Festival."

In fact, he was in a hurry and entered the city before evening, but when he returned to Taiwei's mansion, he was told that Gao Ming had entered the palace and went to see the lantern with the official.

Disappointment, of course there is, but it is not Gao Ming's fault.So I went to the street to wait for him, the emperor always had to leave the banquet, and when Gao Ming was free, it would not be too late for the two of them to watch the lantern together.

Although it was a bit late, he was still waiting.

Gao Ming said with a smile: "You came back just in time, and I just came back from the official's house." Pointing to a lantern in front of him that hadn't dissipated, "Would you like to go shopping?"

"Of course, let's not get separated." Hua Rong took his hand naturally.

Afraid of being separated, the two held hands and walked towards the brightly lit place together.