Clear and Muddy Loss of Love

Hu mutton piled up on a gold plate

Three days later, the imperial decree appointing Qi Yan, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, as the chief examiner of the imperial examination was read out in court by Sijiu at the early court.

Except for Su Ru of the Loyalty Sect who remained silent, the officials of the other two factions knelt down and implored "Nangong Rang" to take back his order.

These ministers were passionate, risking their lives to admonish the importance of the chief examiner and put forward many reasons why Qi Yan was not suitable to be the chief examiner.

Qi Yan walked forward calmly amidst the doubts, and took the imperial decree from Sijiu.

For a moment, many thoughts flashed through Qi Yan's mind. The order announced by the imperial decree is the highest standard decree of all dynasties. The courtiers dared to openly resist the decree to prove that the "long-term sick" Nangong Rang is gradually losing control of the court. On the other hand: I have to say that Nan Gongwang's skills have matured a lot in the past three years, and he is still his man in name, but in the face of such a chaotic situation, he can be as immovable as a mountain...

It seems that he wants to completely hide his hole card in order to obtain greater benefits.

Qi Yan: "I obey the decree, and I will definitely live up to the emperor's grace." She glanced behind the bead curtain indiscriminately, how should Nangong Jingnv deal with such a situation?

At this moment, there was a coughing sound from behind the screen, and a trace of astonishment flashed in Qi Yan's eyes. After a few breaths, Nan Gongrang, who was wearing an imperial uniform, came out from behind the screen.

Nangong Rang hadn't shown himself in front of the courtiers for nearly a year, but his appearance was like a sea needle. All the officials in the hall, including Nangong Da who was sitting on the dragon chair, knelt on the ground and shouted long live three times.

However, Nangong Rang did not come out, but sat on the Taishi chair and was carried out by two servants separated from the left and right on the shoulders.

It seems that his body has not recovered at all...

Qi Yan frowned slightly, and instantly figured out the key point of this matter. It must be the chaos in the hall when she recommended herself last time, which made Nangong Jingnv understand that the examiner's affairs would not be so smooth, so she invited Nangong to...

Qi Yan quietly raised her eyes to look at the high position, and saw Nangong Rang's two feet hanging in mid-air slightly swinging with the Taishi chair. She knew a little about medical skills, and knew that this was not a normal person's performance—maybe Nangong Rang's lower body had been lost perception.

Qi Yan's mood was a bit complicated. Nangong Rang managed to do this to help Nangong Jingnv calm down the situation...

I don't know what kind of mood he was in, Qi Yan continued to look up despite the suspicion of offending Tianwei, the imperial costume was still grand and solemn, but it looked much wider than before, a pair of dark gold lines Long Guang's sleeves are laid flat on his knees, and the chest is embroidered with Wei's unique Nine Dragons Chaozhu totem.

Immediately afterwards...the four eyes met.

Qi Yan immediately looked away.Crouching on the ground in trepidation, unexpectedly Nangong Rang was also looking at her, the hall was dead silent, Qi Yan's back was covered in cold sweat.

There was a sound of "creaking" that gradually drifted away from the superior, and the voice of Mr. Sijiu, the chief servant, sounded again: "Your Majesty has an order to retreat..."

Only then did the officials slowly raise their heads, and Nan Gongrang was no longer seen in the high position, as if everything that happened just now was an illusion.

The ministers looked at each other in blank dismay, still a little unwilling.

The Zhongshu ordered Xing Jingfu to stand up and say: "I was a fledgling at the beginning of the year, and thanks to your majesty's appreciation and trust, I am today. Although Lord Qi is young, he was born in the top three in the imperial examination and has experience in governing the country. Since your majesty believes in him, list Don't have any more doubts, my lord."

After a moment of silence, all the officials echoed.

So far, this matter has been completely knocked out.

Qi Yan returned to the side hall of the Weiming Palace, and just after changing out of her regular clothes, the maidservant reported: Aunt Qiuju, the female officer in charge of His Highness Zhenzhen, has come.

Qi Yan invited Qiu Ju in, who had an exquisite food box hanging on his arm, and bowed respectfully: "Your maidservant sees the son-in-law, the tribute from the north arrived yesterday, and a lamb was selected for cooking in the kitchen." , it just came out of the oven, His Highness asked Pao Ding to cut up a few plates of the best parts for the son-in-law to taste."

Qi Yan smiled and said, "I'm sorry to bother sister Qiu Ju, what is Your Highness doing?"

Qiu Ju handed the food box to the servant girl next to Qi Yan, and replied: "At this moment, it is estimated that His Highness should have lunch over there, and he is having lunch."

Qi Yan's staring eyes were half closed, and she said in a low voice: "In that case, please ask sister Qiu Ju to take the food box back."

Qiu Ju: "What is the meaning of the son-in-law? As soon as the lamb was roasted, His Highness ordered the cook to cut it out for you. Your Highness didn't even move a chopstick."

Qi Yan hooked the corner of her mouth and replied: "That's why I don't dare to enjoy it alone, I'd better ask Sister Qiuju to take the food box back. If Sister Qiuju thinks it's difficult for His Highness to explain, just leave what I just said Just pass it back without moving."

Seeing Qi Yan's resolute attitude, Qiu Ju had no choice but to go back the same way with the food box.Nangong Jingnv actually hasn't had lunch yet, the matter of sending mutton to Qi Yan was decided yesterday, today the chef just followed suit.

She had been waiting in the side hall of Ganquan Palace all this time. After Nangong asked Shangchao to come back, the father and daughter talked about something again. When Nangong Jingnu came back, Qiu Ju just came back.

Nangong Jingnv flipped through the scroll in her hand and asked, "Have you sent it?"

Qiu Ju: "Go back to Your Highness, it was sent, but the son-in-law asked the servants to bring it back."

Nangong Jingnv's hand paused, her green fingers loosened and half of the pages fell back: "What's going on? You didn't repeat what Bengong said?"

Qiu Ju slapped Wanfu deeply: "The servant girl ordered by His Highness told the son-in-law verbatim, but the son-in-law still insisted on letting the servant girl bring the food box back, and said... If the servant girl feels embarrassed, please tell your highness. He dare not enjoy it alone."

After two breaths, Nangong Jingnu suddenly smiled. She turned her gaze back to the scroll in her hand again, and put the book on the case after reading the last page. She got up and said, "You can follow me for a while."

Qiu Ju: "Yes. Where does Your Highness drive? Do you need slaves to pass the sedan chair?"

Nangong Jingnv walked ahead: "No need, bring the food box too."

Qiu Ju: "Yes."

The two masters and servants walked to the side hall, and the maid hurriedly stepped forward to attend the ceremony: "Your Majesty, my servant."

Nangong Jingnu: "Where is the son-in-law?"

Palace maid: "Return to Your Highness, the son-in-law is in the dining hall, and I have ordered my servants to wait here. If your Highness comes down, please go directly."

Nangong Jingnv smiled again, and took the food box from Qiu Ju: "You go to rest elsewhere, I will go there by myself."

Qiu Ju: "Yes."

Nangong Jingnu: "By the way, call someone who is smart to go to the wine cellar and bring a jar of kumiss from the north."

Qiu Ju: "Yes."

When Nangong Jingnv came to the dining hall, Qi Yan was sitting alone in the guest seat, the main seat was empty.There are two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, with refreshing side dishes on the periphery, and the middle of the table is empty.

Nangong Jingnv put the food box in that position, and it was just the right size.

Qi Yan raised her hand: "Your Highness, please take a seat."

Nangong Jingnu sat on the main seat: "Is the son-in-law waiting for someone?"

Qi Yan got up and opened the food box, a fresh smell of mutton came to his face, Qi Yan took a deep breath, and praised: "The chef's cooking skills have improved again!"

Nangong Jingnv couldn't help smiling, the temperament of this person seemed to have changed a little in the past three years: "Are you sure that I will come?"

Qi Yan set the plate, put the food box by his lap, raised his eyebrows and pretended to be surprised and asked back: "If your highness doesn't come, wouldn't it be a waste of money, my minister?"

Nangong Jingnv rolled her eyes at Qi Yan: "Poor mouth."

Qi Yan also laughed, and said to himself: "In the past few years in Jinzhou, I have often visited various counties and counties, and occasionally rolled up my sleeves and trousers to work in the fields with the farmers. They tell some folk tales, and if you listen to them too much, you will inevitably be contaminated, and I hope His Highness will not blame you."

Nangong Jingnu: "It was just paid tribute yesterday. I asked Pao Ding to choose one with the most tender meat. Let's taste it."

Qi Yan: "Thank you, Your Highness." Holding the chopsticks in his hand, he glanced around with his eyes and pushed the chopsticks back: "Let's wait a little longer."

Nangong Jingnu: "Waiting for what?"

Qi Yan blinked at Nangong Jingnu: "There is one thing missing."

After finishing the words, there was a sound of careful footsteps: "My son-in-law."

Qi Yan: "Look, isn't this just waiting?"

A trace of astonishment flashed across Nangong Jingnv's beautiful eyes: "Come in."

A servant came in panting with a small jar of wine in his arms, knelt down and raised the jar above his head: "Here's the kumiss."

Qi Yan took the wine jar over: "Go down."

Waiter: "Yes."

Qi Yan patted Kaifengni, took the flagon on the table and poured kumiss into it, and placed it in front of Nangong Jingnu.

Nangong Jingnv pursed her lips, feeling a little complicated: This person even prepared an empty jug, not only expected that he would come, but also what he would do?

Nangong Jingnu: "You..."

Qi Yan: "Didn't Your Highness say it before? This mutton goes well with the unique kumiss in the north, and he also said that we must make some and put them in the wine cellar in the future."

Nangong Jingnv recalled it for a while, but her impression was gone, Qi Yan said again: "So I thought that if there is no wine, it would be a fly in the ointment, so I ordered someone to go to the wine cellar to get it."

Hearing this, Nangong Jingnv finally felt a little better: "Use your chopsticks."

Qi Yan scooped up two plates of leek flowers and placed them in front of the two of them, picked up a piece of mutton and put it in his mouth: "It's really delicious."

Nangong Jingnv took a drink from her glass and ate a piece of mutton, which seemed to taste the same as usual.

Qi Yan swallowed the meat in his mouth and picked up another vegetable, and said: "The minister drew up a note to ask for a leave of absence, what name does your highness think is better?"

The answer was on the verge of her lips, but Nangong Jingnv swallowed it back abruptly. After realizing it, her palms were sweating, and she turned to look at Qi Yan.The latter's expression is very calm, and his eyes are also calmly looking at Nangong Jingnv.

Nangong Jingnv asked: "Ask for leave? Why does the son-in-law ask for leave?"

The two looked at each other and smiled, everything was in silence.

The reason why Qi Yan asked to stop the court leave was naturally that he had won the position of chief examiner, and he didn't want to have a too tense relationship with the courtiers, so he simply avoided the edge for the time being.

However, the reason behind this is that "Nangong Rang" who listens to politics behind the curtain can know it, but Nangong Jingnv, who is not allowed to interfere in politics, cannot.