One of the passers-by

Hearing what Empress Wei said, Emperor Yong'an was not surprised, stretched out his hand to hold Empress Wei's catkin, and said with a smile: "This is also our family's business. The crown prince is our son, and Yan'er is our nephew. It's not an outsider."

Empress Wei curled her lips with a shallow smile, and said pointedly: "...I'm afraid Duke Wei and Pingyang won't agree to this matter."

When Emperor Yong'an competed with the crown prince and King Qi for the throne, how tragic the situation was. Thinking about it to this day, the dangers are still vivid in my memory.Wei Guogong and Ping Yang had already experienced this personally, so how could they ask Xue Yan to get involved in this matter prematurely.

Furthermore, it doesn't have to be the case that Wei Guogong and Pingyang are honored with the current status.

Emperor Yong'an was taken aback when he heard the words, pondered for a moment, and said with a smile: "It's still the empress who is thoughtful, but I was reckless."

Duke Wei and Pingyang brought Xue Yan into the palace to meet him, but Emperor Yong'an did not mention the matter of asking Xue Yan to study with him in the palace.It is just a brief mention of asking Xue Yan to enter the Guozijian to learn some subsets of classics and history.

"...Yan'er is a smart and intelligent child. He not only has the ability to govern the world, but also has a compassionate heart. It's just that this child was displaced in his early years, and he was wandering outside without a teacher to teach him well. It's a pity that he doesn't know anything about classics and history. So I decided to ask him to go to the Imperial College to study when he is not on duty. Firstly, he can increase his knowledge, and secondly, he can make friends with aristocratic princes of the same age and like-mindedness. Thirdly, this is also Shangshu Youcheng and Zhongshu What Ling and the others mean. I just don’t know what Wei Guogong and Pingyang think?”

Duke Wei and Princess Pingyang looked at each other and smiled, and Princess Pingyang said, "Your Majesty's consideration is of course thorough. We have no objection."

Emperor Yong'an looked at Xue Yan again, smiled and said: "Where is Yan'er, would you like to study?"

Xue Yan frowned, naturally he didn't want to read the Four Books and Five Classics.Then he excused and said: "I have to go to the palace every day on duty, and I have to manage the glass shop after I go home. I'm afraid I don't have time to study."

Hearing this, Emperor Yong'an couldn't help laughing out loud, stretched out his hand and nodded Xue Yan, smiled and said to Duke Wei and Princess Pingyang, "He doesn't want to."

Princess Pingyang then said to Xue Yan: "The matter of the glass shop is naturally handled by the servants of the family. Your Majesty's Xiande Palace court meeting is only enough for one or two hours a day. Instead of doing nothing in the remaining time, you might as well go to school. In the future, I will also enter the court to assist His Majesty."

Xue Yan had a bitter face, thinking that other people play games to relax their minds.Not only is he under the pressure of going bankrupt while playing games, but now he has to go to school.This is what makes people have the same fate!

Seeing that the wishes of Emperor Yong'an and his parents were hard to disobey, Xue Yan could only agree with a bitter face.

The official business was over, the monarch and his ministers chatted a few more words, and gave dinner in the Lizheng Hall, Wei Guogong's family just left the palace and returned home without mentioning it.

Arriving at Duke Wei's mansion, Princess Pingyang saw that Xue Yan was still frowning, she unconsciously showed her face and said: "Yan'er went to the Imperial College to study this time, but it's not for the purpose of reading the Four Books and Five Classics, and becoming a great Confucian in the future. Mother and your father are just thinking that if you enter the Imperial College, you can meet more close friends who are similar in age and like-minded, so as not to be lonely on weekdays."

Ever since Xue Yan followed Wei Guogong and his wife back to Chang'an from Youzhou, the only people who communicated with them every day were the few people they knew in Youzhou.Wei Guogong and Ping Yang were afraid that Xue Yan would become more mature and dull if he got along with them for a long time.

How could Xue Yan not know the good intentions of Wei Guogong and Pingyang, so he could only secretly smile bitterly, but responded with a smile on his face.Just a little delay...

"When I came back from Youzhou, Dr. Sun Bogu asked me to bring a letter from my family to the Piaomiao Daoist in Shangqingguan. It's just that there are many things in the next year, so I forgot it for a while. I was looking through old things a while ago, and suddenly I found them. I think I don’t want to disappoint Miracle Doctor Sun’s entrustment. Tomorrow, I will personally deliver this letter to Master Shangqing Guanyoumiao, and it won’t be too late to go to the Imperial College to study.”

Wei Guogong and Ping Yang secretly laughed when they saw this, and responded with a very lenient expression.

Everyone sat in the hall and gossiped about running the glass shop again.It wasn't until late at night that they went back to their rooms to resettle.

At dawn the next day, Xue Yan really got up early, waited for the street drums in Chang'an City to beat five times, and the gates of all the gates were wide open, then rode a tall horse all the way to Zhongnan Mountain.

In the late spring of March, the grass grows and the warblers fly, and the flowers bloom.

Xue Yan walked all the way, and saw that the official roads were divided into plots and acres, and the green hills in the distance were like daisy, undulating, and the breeze was blowing, and the blue wheat waves were layer upon layer, which was quite wild.

To the shore of Weishui River, at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, it becomes more and more visible that all kinds of barrier curtains are scattered along the sides of Qujiang Pond, all of which are men and women from various families who have come out for outings.

Xue Yan is the only son of the Duke of Wei and Princess Pingyang, and the eldest son of the Duke of Wei's mansion. He is a child of the family that Emperor Yong'an loves very much. After one year's festival, he has become acquainted with the meritorious families of officials and eunuchs in Chang'an City.

Along the way, there were naturally acquaintances from aristocratic families who came to greet and have a banquet, Xue Yan exchanged greetings one by one, and by the time they arrived at Shangqingguan on Zhongnan Mountain, it was already two hours later.

When it was almost noon, Xue Yan looked at the warm sun hanging above his head.Can't help but smile.

Fortunately, he left the city gate at five drums.If it was later, wouldn't it be time to have dinner at Shangqing Temple?

After receiving the instruction from his disciples, Master Piaomiao of Shangqing Temple casually covered up a furnace of discarded alchemy fire, and ordered his younger disciples to lead Xue Yan into the backyard for tea.

Xue Yan was standing in the courtyard looking up at an old locust tree with tall, thick trunk and leaves like canopy.Then I saw an old Taoist priest in Taoist robes walking towards him.

The old Taoist priest has white beard and hair, long eyebrows reaching shoulders, and a snow-white dust whisk on his arm, becoming more and more immortal.

"You are Xue Yan, the eldest son of the Duke of Wei's mansion? A few days ago, my younger brother sent a letter from his family, in which he mentioned the eldest son. Not only did he praise the eldest son, but he also thought that the eldest son had a noble temperament and was sincere in his dealings with others. , We are friends with Wangnian." At this point, Master Yaomiao stroked his beard casually, and said indifferently: "My junior brother also attached a prescription in the letter, saying that it is the holy medicine for healing that Xue Shizi presented to the court. Pindao has also seen it a few times, and it really is quite amazing."

Xue Yan made a head-off ceremony with Master Misty.A little ashamed, he said: "Xue was entrusted by Sun's doctor, and should have come to visit the Taoist priest early. Unexpectedly, he was busy in the end of the year, and there were many mundane affairs, so it was delayed."

Master Misty laughed loudly, waved his hands disapprovingly, and said, "Senior Xue thinks there are too many mundane affairs, but he doesn't know that mundane things are the most touching. Shizi Xue was lost when he was young, and now it's so easy to get together with his parents. Filial piety to parents is the most important thing. Besides, Xue Shizi didn't delay anything. Didn't my junior brother still send over the prescription of Baiyao?"

Master Misty said, "It's a pity that this prescription is too profound. With the strength of my poor way, after a new year, I couldn't restore it to perfection. But I learned by analogy and refined a better medicine... ..."

Xue Yan was embarrassed when he heard this.Seeing Master Misty showing off his elixir endlessly, he remembered Sun Bogu's evaluation of his senior brother.

Although his medical skills are exquisite, he is even more obsessed with the art of longevity and alchemy.

Sure enough.

Xue Yan listened quietly for a while to Master Piaomiao's self-promotion of his own elixir, and then smiled and declined the few pills of unknown composition that Reverend Piaomiao gave him, only to hear a loud bang.

Xue Yan was taken aback, but he saw Master Piaomiao said indifferently: "Young Master Xue, don't panic, it's probably because the disciples of the poor way are not good at learning, and they blew up the alchemy room again."

Blown up... dropped... gone...

Xue Yan was silent for a while, looking at the face of Master Misty who didn't feel embarrassed at all, he said with a smile: "Alchemy can make such a big movement, and the disciples of Shangqingguan are really extraordinary."

Before the words fell, his heart moved.He asked again: "Why do the disciples of Shangqing Temple often refine and explode alchemy furnaces?"

Reverend Misty nodded, and said with a smile: "Take three or four out of ten. However, my disciples from Shangqing Temple are still quite capable. If it is replaced by disciples from other Taoist temples for alchemy, I am afraid that there will be more alchemy furnaces. .”

Xue Yan continued to remain silent.I thought to myself that these Taoist priests are indeed using their lives to pursue longevity.But judging from the situation, the elixir of immortality has not yet been developed, but the gunpowder that can kill people is about to take shape.

Xue Yan thought about this point, because he smiled and said: "It's a good thing that the Taoist master is diligent in alchemy. Besides alchemy, he can understand by analogy. For example, the sound of the frying furnace that Yan just heard. If the power of this kind of elixir is stronger, I'm afraid They can be used to kill the enemy on the battlefield. I don’t know how this pill is formulated?”

Hearing Xue Yan's words, Master Piaomiao shook his whisk in disapproval, and laughed: "The purpose of alchemy and Taoism is to pursue immortality. The way of heaven is already ruthless, so how can it be reckless to kill evil, Mr. Xue?" Just kidding."

"I am very serious about what I said." Xue Yan replied solemnly.Although there are "Encyclopedia" and "Heavenly Creation" in his bronze bracelet, he can't come up with many formulas for no reason.Doesn't it make people suspicious if things go on like this.

If this kind of comprehension by analogy seems to happen by chance, it is the safest.

Seeing Xue Yan's words with his own eyes, Master Piaomiao had already become somewhat interested in the matter of cultivating Taoism and alchemy.Although the alchemy he pursued was not the medicine of longevity that everyone took for granted.However, it is always a good thing for the Daoist sect to have the children of a family with the status of Xue Shizi practice alchemy and seek Taoism.

Thinking of these, Master Piao Miao couldn't help recalling the incident when he entered the palace to meet His Majesty last year.I thought that all the emperors and kings were greedy for power and wanted to live forever, but Emperor Yong'an was quite disapproving of the pursuit of longevity.Not only did he reject the elixirs carefully refined by Master Misty.He also said convincingly to the courtiers next to Zhou that "immortals are illusory, and they have their names in vain".

Everyone in the world has the vulgar custom of "what is good at the top, it will be bad at the bottom". Seeing that Emperor Yong'an was not very enthusiastic about the pursuit of Taoism and longevity, even though the noble families in Chang'an City deeply believed in this, they could only try their best to restrain themselves.Everyone is like this, and the incense of Shangqing Temple must be affected...

Xue Yan is the only heir of the Duke of Wei, and he is deeply trusted and used by His Majesty.If rumors spread that Xue Shizi is interested in seeking Taoism, I am afraid that the meritorious deeds of the aristocratic families in Chang'an City will be affected by the wind, which will also be beneficial to Shangqingguan.

Master Misty thought for a long time, and finally agreed to Xue Yan's request.He ordered the disciples who were waiting on the side to pass the few disciples who used to refine and explode the alchemy furnace to the backyard to answer Xue Yan's confusion.

As a later generation, and also a prop master who often cooperates closely with the blaster in the crew, Xue Yan is very familiar with the rebellion in ancient times.It's just that I don't want to take it out rashly to arouse suspicion.So during the conversation, intentionally or unintentionally, the disciples were guided to recall the specific composition of the elixir when refining and frying the elixir furnace, and said, "If a few Taoists can really develop this thing successfully, they must be in front of the sages. The Taoist priest asks for merit" and so on, a few words aroused several Taoist priests' desire for fame and fortune.

Seeing several Taoist priests swear as if they had been beaten with chicken blood, Xue Yan, who was thirsty, sighed contentedly, and ate a vegetarian meal at Shangqingguan before heading back home.

As the son of the aristocratic family that Emperor Yong'an paid the most attention to, Xue Yan's whereabouts and behavior will always appear on Emperor Yong'an's imperial case as quickly as possible.

So not long after Xue Yan returned to Duke Wei's mansion, Shi Shiran, the eunuch from the Xiande Hall of the East Palace, came to the door, and brought along the oral order from Emperor Yong'an to pass on the son of Xue's mansion to enter the palace.

"At this time?" Princess Pingyang looked suspiciously at the completely dark sky outside, and said, "It's almost time for the gate of the palace gate to be locked? If my son enters the palace now, wait until the curfew How should I leave the palace?"

The eunuch was startled when he heard the words, and immediately bowed and said, "This... I don't know."

Princess Pingyang frowned slightly, thought for a while, and said, "Forget it, I will enter the palace with Yan'er."

After finishing speaking, he raised his voice and ordered his servants to prepare all the chariots and horses.

Only Xue Ji, the Duke of Wei, went back to his study helplessly and continued to study the art of war.

As soon as he entered the palace, His Majesty was chatting with the empress in the Lizheng Hall.Pingyang mother and son were led by the palace servants into the Lizheng Hall to pay their respects to His Majesty and Empress Wei.

The dragon's heir in Empress Wei's womb is more than seven months old, and she still looks gentle and graceful, but her stature is obviously much plumper than a few months ago.What's more, the burden of the fetus disturbed Empress Wei, who was restless. Even though the palace had laid many hidden pillows and backrests in front of and behind her, Empress Wei still felt sore and swollen after sitting for a while, which was very uncomfortable.

Seeing Queen Wei's difficulty, Xue Yan couldn't help sighing: "It would be great if there were a grand master's chair and a rocking chair. The empress is pregnant now, and she is not used to kneeling like this."

Emperor Yong'an recruited Xue Yan into the palace, originally he wanted to ask Xue Yan about the pill that could blow up the single room of the pill furnace that Xue Yan had discussed with the Taoist priest of Shangqing Temple.Unexpectedly, Xue Yan would mention some high-backed chairs and rocking chairs because of his troubles, and he couldn't help asking: "What are the rocking chairs and Taishi chairs that Yan'er said, I have never heard of them."

Xue Yan came back to his senses, and said with a smile: "This is my little thought. It's not worth mentioning."

After a slight pause, he asked Emperor Yong'an for a pen and paper.Of course, what Xue Yan asked for this time was not the pen, ink, paper and inkstone that people tried to use, but the carbon strips Xue Yan used for drawing.Because the painters of the general supervisor and the Ministry of Industry often use this object, many craftsmen are familiar with it, and imitate the shape of a brush to wrap a thin wooden coating on the outside of the carbon strip, which looks similar to the pencil of later generations. .

Sure enough, the wisdom of the ancients is endless.

After hearing Xue Yan's request, Empress Wei immediately ordered the palace to bring jute paper and charcoal pens.Xue Yan bowed and picked up the pen, and drew a grand master's chair and a rocking chair in two or three strokes, and handed the drawing paper to Emperor Yong'an with both hands. Xue Yan said with a smile: "Yan'er is lazy by nature. When I saw wooden piles and Dashanzi stones, I would always sit down. Later, when I entered Chang'an City, the nobles in the capital often sat and discussed the Tao. Sitting with both feet on the ground is like sitting on a wooden stake or a mountain stone, and it is much more relaxed."

Emperor Yong'an and Empress Wei looked at the blueprint in their hands.Emperor Yong'an remained silent, while Empress Wei smiled lightly and said, "Yan'er really has a fantastic idea. Although I haven't used this thing before, I feel comfortable looking at it."

Emperor Yong'an said: "But with the craftsman's craftsmanship nowadays, such a delicate work, I am afraid it is difficult to do it."

Chu Shi did not have a saw or a plane, and the current seats and bedding are all made of axes, catties, and adzes.Therefore, the style is so simple and natural, and it is a natural tool.It was not until the Song Dynasty that there was a frame saw, and then a plane appeared in the Yuan Dynasty. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, all kinds of hardwood furniture were introduced, which is dizzying.

The chair and rocking chair drawn by Xue Yan on jute paper, the latter is easy to handle, but the former can never be done without a saw or a plane.

Xue Yan smiled and said: "Confucius said: If a craftsman wants to be good at his work, he must first sharpen his tools. If he wants to make this kind of fine seat, he must first have something more handy. Yan'er used to wander outside At the time, I had some ideas, and I tried it a few times. If your majesty doesn’t believe me, you will know when I make it.”

After a pause, he said again: "After careful calculation, I actually need to make a few more copies. I will give them to Your Majesty, the Empress, the Supreme Emperor, and Yan'er's Aye Niang. Although this thing is not easy to get to the hall It is shown to everyone, but it is good to put it in the inner room of the dormitory or in the private study."

Speaking of this, Xue Yan asked Emperor Yong'an again with a smile: "Why don't you make a set of tables and chairs for His Majesty, so that His Majesty will not kneel and sit in front of the table every day to review government documents, and your legs will be sore and numb."

Xue Yan's ability to irrigate crooked buildings is indeed a great success among later generations of netizens.As Xue Yan began to talk, Empress Wei and Princess Pingyang started discussing with great interest.Xue Yan diverged his thinking, and said a lot of "a small shaking bed for the little prince, a small couch for the prince and King Wei..."

In the end, he suggested with great interest: "Why don't we open a utensil shop in the east and west cities. Even if it doesn't work, it's good to earn some pocket money."

Emperor Yong'an sat aside and listened to his ears, and finally couldn't help interrupting the three people's chat, and asked Xue Yan straight to the point: "I heard that you went to Shangqing Temple today, but you had a good chat with the Taoist priests there. You even instigated Those Taoist priests refine the kind of waste medicine that can blow up the pill furnace and pill chamber...Does Yan'er really think that this kind of pill can be used on the battlefield?"

Xue Yan came back to his senses, and replied with a smile: "Yan'er doesn't know either. It's just a casual request to them. It would be better if it can be done. If it can't be done, there's nothing wrong with it, right?"

Emperor Yong'an was silent for a while, and said: "Since I came to the throne, I really don't like those monks and Taoists who deceive the public with false words, and deceive the world with false words. However, I also know that Taoism is a miscellaneous learning, and there are some great talents in it. I have also heard about such things as Master Misty and Daoist Sun's rejuvenation, and Taoist Tianji's tricks. If these people can get rid of the false talk and do something for Da Chu and the people, I will be happy."

Speaking of this, Emperor Yong'an couldn't help sighing, and said: "I have established the country for less than ten years, and I still lack talents for governing the world!"

This question was related to the government, so Xue Yan couldn't get in the way.He sat quietly with Princess Pingyang, waiting for Emperor Yong'an to sigh, and then said with a smile: "But the matter of the seat that Yan'er mentioned just now is related to the queen, and it is also an important matter. I will discuss it tomorrow So I ordered the Ministry of Industry to send two skilled craftsmen to Duke Wei's mansion to help Yan'er make rocking chairs and Taishi chairs."

Hearing this, Xue Yan couldn't help but said, "Your Majesty wants me to be on duty in the Hall of Xiande, and also wants me to go to Shangqing Temple to supervise several Taoist priests to develop elixir, and also wants me to make rocking chairs and Taishi chairs for the empress. Then I Why do you still have time to study in the Imperial College?"

After all, I still don't want to go to school.

Emperor Yong'an, Pingyang, and Empress Wei couldn't help but smile at each other.I just think Xue Yan's cunning and cunning of a child's heart is really cute.

Emperor Yong'an said: "Yan'er is the heir of Duke Wei's mansion, so you don't have to do the rough work of making seats, you just need to order it. No matter how much time it takes, you won't be able to miss your studies in the Imperial College."

Xue Yan said unwillingly: "But Yan'er wants to make these personally and present them to His Majesty, Empress, Supreme Emperor and Aye Niang, so as to show her filial piety."

Emperor Yong'an was even more hilarious when he heard the words, and waved his hands and said: "I, the empress and the Supreme Emperor all know your filial piety, so there is no need for you to work hard. As parents, Pingyang and Wei Guogong must also be reluctant to let their only son do these rough jobs. , you will die of this heart."

Presumably Emperor Yong'an was really relaxed by Xue Yan's teasing, and the last sentence he said was quite unusual.Even Empress Wei and Princess Pingyang were stunned.

Empress Wei couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty has a grand nature and likes to talk and laugh. It's just that the government affairs are complicated, and I haven't been this happy for a long time."

Princess Pingyang heard the words, and said in a hurry: "Yes, I still remember that when we were in Taiyuan Mansion, His Majesty liked to make friends with heroes of the world. Donate money, be high-spirited, and go hunting and drinking with friends and friends every day. The whole Taiyuan Mansion Who doesn't hear the reputation of Zhuang Erlang."