One of the passers-by

Question Xue Yan's words made Wang Shize, Zhang Ziyou and other Taixue students look at each other in blank dismay.Most of the students who can be admitted to the Tai Academy by themselves are from poor families or the sons of officials below the fifth rank.But even if the so-called poor family, in the era of Da Chu, an official selection system where filial piety is more important than the imperial examination system, it is definitely not in the ordinary sense that they can afford their children and grandchildren to study and expect their children and grandchildren to serve the court as officials. Small folks and small households - at least they must be from a rich family of squires with a few acres of fertile land or a few shops, spending a lot of money to ask professional teachers to transfer and teach them.

These people are different from Xue Yan and other Guozixue students who can get the best education by relying on their birth. Because they have been influenced by their ears and eyes since they were young, and they bear the responsibility of shining in the family, most of them are mature and have clear goals. what to fight for.I also cherish the opportunities and resources that appear in front of me even more.

Because they know that, compared with those Guozixue students who were born next door with gold seals in their mouths, they are destined to lose no matter in terms of family background or connections.The only one who can fight is the only one who can learn this by himself.

Therefore, on the basis of years of hard study and increasingly excellent assessment results, most of these students think that they are talented and arrogant.But now he is dumbfounded by an aristocratic son who claims to have never read the Four Books and Five Classics.Even though this person is the son of the well-known Xue family in Chang'an, everyone still felt that his face was shameless.That's why I felt like leaving.

It's not that Wang Shize and others can't afford to lose, but that they not only represent themselves, but also represent the two academies of Taixue and Guozixue.Now that Taixue occasionally loses in this confrontation, it is convenient to leave immediately, so that others will not mistakenly think that their Taixue students can't afford to lose. Of course, the main reason is that they have no face to stay.

But they didn't expect that after the college said those words and gained the upper hand in righteousness, it didn't pursue the victory like before. Can't help but look at each other, slightly hesitant.I don't know whether I should stay to show that I don't care about this accidental defeat, or I should leave here to express the determination of Taixue students not to associate with "dandies".

Most of these Taixue students are sixteen or seventeen-year-old boys. In the words of later generations, it is the stage when people value face the most and can't wait to think that they are adults who can make decisions for themselves and be responsible for themselves.So the idea is even more special.On the one hand, they want to be more calm and considerate in the face of failure, and on the other hand, they don't want to bear the strange mocking eyes of other people in the lobby after the failure.Seeing it, Xue Yan smiled and winked at Xu Liulang and others who were sitting on the sidelines watching the show.

Xu Liulang and others understood, but Jiang Qilang didn't wait for others to speak, because he said: "Why, are you embarrassed to sit down? Back then you laughed at me like that, but I didn't do it myself. They are all students of the Imperial College, don't you? People who learn are so stingy, can't afford to win and lose?"

"Who says we can't afford to lose?" Wang Shize has always looked down on Jiang Qilang the most.Before Jiang Qilang's words settled down, he sneered and said: "What I said just now, I actually underestimated it. The sage has a saying that life has a limit, but learning has no limit. I am a mere student of Taixue, so naturally I can't understand everything. .But you may not know much better than me. If you don’t accept it, I’m here to listen.”

Saying so in the mouth, several Taixue students sat down naturally.

"That also knows more than you." Jiang Qilang said with a smile.He was originally from a general family, although others could not understand the questions Xue Yan asked, but even though their children from aristocratic families didn't know everything, but because of what they heard and saw, they were much better than the scholars who only knew how to read and seek scriptures.Xu Liulang, Wei Silang, Fang Wulang and others were also checking and filling in the gaps, and they answered Xue Yan's questions just now.

Wang Zhize and others usually only know how to talk and argue in the academy, and occasionally write policy and theory only from the righteousness, so rarely can they hear these big and small practicalities.What's more, Da Chu's officialdom is also admiring Hanlin's nobles and avoiding local common affairs. Wang Shize and others never thought that these practical affairs were worthy of attention.I only know how to learn Confucian classics well, and serve the court as an official in the future.But the specific process and means of serving the court have never been thought about.

Asked by Xue Yan today, he couldn't help but think of these things.After hearing the answers from Xu Liulang and others, he realized that Shi Jiazi was not as useless as they thought—at least in terms of vision and official methods, he was more familiar than them.

But Wang Shize and others are not discouraged and complain about themselves. Now that they know where their shortcomings are, they just need to make up for them on weekdays.Zhang Ziyou said with a smile: "Xiang Ri, we only know how to read the scriptures in the academy, and these court affairs are not within our reach. As the saying goes, those who don't know are innocent. Although we are limited by our status, we cannot read the court newspapers. But it’s okay to read more local chronicles on weekdays. Those local chronicles describe the customs and population of each state capital, and it seems that it is quite beneficial to us.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Shize and others nodded in unison, deeply convinced.

Xue Yan and others sat across the table, and they were also touched by the enthusiasm of these Taixue students.

Everyone Sun sat in the main hall, watching the debate between the Taixue students and the Guozixue students turn the fight into jade, and smiled and praised both sides for their kindness.After exchanging a few pleasantries to ease the atmosphere, we started today's main topic - to be a teacher.

It sounds jerky and a mouthful, but it is actually a kind of drinking order.The form is quite complicated, and you have to recite poems, recite lyrics, and sing songs. Anyway, Xue Yan didn't figure it out after a long time of fuss.

Wang Shize and others from Taixue saw that Xue Yan really just sat on the sidelines during the next series of drinking orders, and they had nothing to say.

That Mr. Sun had seen Xue Yan's witty remarks, and he was quite talented, but he was quite curious about him for a while, and mistakenly thought that Xue Yan's words just now were modest remarks.Later, seeing that Xue Yan was really illiterate and not interested in these elegant orders, he was slightly disappointed, but because of his duty, he couldn't neglect the guests, so he asked Xue Yan with a smile if there were any interesting drinking orders he could do.

Xue Yan doesn't know about elegant drinking orders.But when it comes to the small games that Xue Yan is willing to play at the dinner table or when everyone gathers, there are quite a few.It's just that it's not easy to make everyone accommodate him.

Everyone in the hall knew Xue Yanjian's identity as the son of the Duke of Wei, and knew that Xue Yanjian was in the emperor's heart, and had long wanted to make friends, but because of face, there was no one to introduce him, and it was not easy to introduce himself.Seeing that Mr. Sun is willing to be the middleman, everyone naturally smiled and cheered, and said straight away, "I knew that Xue Shizi was talented and intelligent, and his heart is hard-working. If there is any interesting drinking order at this time, you might as well say it and let us have fun together. "

Wang Shize, Zhang Ziyou and others also wanted to know what good drinking orders Xue Yan could have.Even though he didn't follow the crowd, he looked over curiously.

Seeing this, Xue Yan stopped coddling.Immediately, he explained the gameplay and rules of the wine table game "Who is Undercover" that he would most like to play in later generations.Everyone listened quietly for a while, then clapped their palms with interest and said with a smile: "It really is a wonderful idea."

Wang Shize and the others listened, and although they were eager to try, they sneered and said: "It's just small. And it's too vulgar."

Jiang Qilang glared at Wang Shize immediately, but Xue Yan didn't take it seriously.If compared with Xi Jiulian's poems and other wine orders, who is the undercover is really vulgar.But this kind of game is more fun with more people.Only those who have played know the meaning of it.

Everyone Sun is talented and intelligent, and he has long understood the rules of the game.Yin said: "If you play this, it's no better than me being a magistrate."

Everyone smiled and invited everyone to have fun together.Everyone Sun looked at Xue Yan once, and agreed with a smile.

Before the words were finished, Zhike led another person into the lobby.Seeing that there were still people coming at this time, everyone was very surprised.Then he leaned towards the door—

All of a sudden, I felt the sun shining into my eyes.After the halo subsided, a man in green shirt quietly walked to Xue Yan's table, silent as a mountain.

Jiang Qilang, who was sitting next to Xue Yan, called out "Brother Wei" subconsciously. Before he finished speaking, he got up immediately, and gave Wei Ziqi his seat very obsequiously. Come here in vain? You usually don't like to hang around..."

After seeing Master Sun in the hall, he didn't say the last sentence.

Wei Ziqi knelt quietly beside Xue Yan, as if explaining to Xue Yan, and also as if explaining to Jiang Qilang, and said slowly: "I came from Duke Wei's mansion, the eldest princess said that Yan'er was going out to meet friends, so I came here .”

Jiang Qilang and the others looked at each other, then looked at Xue Yan.

Xue Yan was also puzzled, looked at Wei Ziqi and said, "How did you know I was here when you came out of our house? I didn't tell my aunt that I came to Pingkangfang."

As he spoke, he said nervously: "Could it be that my mother knows?"

Wei Ziqi shook his head quietly and said, "No. Only I know."

Xue Yan became more and more baffled, and asked, "Then how did you know?"

Wei Ziqi said, "I know what I want to know."

Xue Yan: "..."

Xu Liulang and the others looked at each other in blank dismay, only feeling that the atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

Sitting opposite Xue Yan's table, Wang Shize and the others were quite excited. They looked at Wei Ziqi and said, "Dare to ask, but General Wei is in person?"

Wei Ziqi studied under the army god Xue Ji, and joined the army at the age of 12. He has won every battle for more than ten years, and has won the true biography of Xue Ji.And at a young age, he occupies a high position in the third rank, and he is also the object of admiration and pursuit by the young talents of Da Chu.Seeing the real person at this moment, Wang Shize and others were all overjoyed.

Wei Ziqi looked at Wang Shize and the others, nodded and said, "Are you students of the Taixue?"

Wang Shize and others nodded repeatedly and hurriedly introduced themselves.Wei Ziqi heard about them one by one, and said: "They are all rare talents. I hope you will study hard and enter the court as soon as possible to serve the court."

When Wang Shize and others heard this, they became even more excited.

Master Sun's beautiful eyes were shining, looking at Wei Ziqi, who was rarely in and out of Pingkangfang, he said with a smile: "I have never seen General Wei come to Pingkangfang for a drink. It is really a blessing for my family to come to the humble house today. I don't know." What kind of wine would the general like to eat, can you make wine?"

Wei Ziqi looked at Master Sun, only smiled slightly, and said softly, "Thank you."

The blush on Master Sun's face became more and more obvious, and he looked at Wei Ziqi with affection in his eyes, but Wei Ziqi just lowered his head and talked to Xue Yan, and didn't give Master Sun another look.Everyone Sun looked at it once, and felt that something was missing.But still remembering his responsibilities, he forced himself together and asked Xue Yan to play with everyone who is the undercover agent with a smile.

Because someone like Wei Ziqi was temporarily added, Xue Yan had to explain the rules of the game to Wei Ziqi in a low voice.The two were sitting together, but at this moment Xue Yan moved a little further in order to explain the rules of the game to Wei Ziqi. Wei Ziqi only felt a hot breath in his ears, itching.

The game is not difficult at all, and none of the people here are stupid.Afterwards, he played a few times. For some reason, Xue Yan was unlucky enough to draw two undercover agents. Because of his familiarity with the game, he obviously fooled a lot of people. Unexpectedly, every time Wei Ziqi opened his mouth, he could always expose it. he.Xue Yan wondered, and while everyone was drinking, he quietly asked, "How do you know I'm an undercover agent every time?"

With a smile in his eyes, Wei Ziqi said, "Because you smile very happily every time you tell a lie."

What the hell is this explanation (╯‵ ′)╯︵┻━┻

Xue Yan looked at Wei Ziqi speechlessly, not knowing whether what he said was true or not, so he could only admit that he was unlucky.

Xu Liulang and the others felt that ever since Wei Ziqi came in, the atmosphere in the hall was always somewhat awkward.Everyone thought it over and thought it was because Wei Ziqi had never set foot in such a place.Just watching Master Sun's beautiful eyes looking at Wei Ziqi frequently, but Wei Ziqi only talked to Xue Yan, and he felt pity and pity for jade.Yin smiled and said to Wei Ziqi: "Brother Wei, why are you only talking to Xue Yan and ignoring Mr. Sun, his eyes are almost falling on you and you can't get them out."

When Wei Ziqi heard the words, he glanced at Xue Yan, because he said, "I came here to find Yan'er. But you, uncles and aunts, came to such a place secretly under the pretext of studying?"

After saying a word, everyone was stupefied in an instant.Xu Liulang and Jiang Qilang exchanged a listless look, while Wei Silang said with a smile: "It's getting late, why don't we just go here today."

Jiang Qilang and Xu Liulang nodded in agreement.Xue Yan stayed in Pingkangfang for a day today, but he also felt that it was meaningless, so he said with a smile: "If that's the case, then let's go."

After all, get up and say goodbye to everyone present and everyone present.Everyone Sun looked at Wei Ziqi reluctantly, but the woman was reserved and didn't say anything after all.

A group of people left Mr. Sun's house, drove the horses away from Pingkang Fang gradually, Xu Liulang and others looked at Wei Ziqi expectantly, but no one said anything.Wei Ziqi understood, because he said: "You go, I won't mention today's matter to my uncles."

After hearing the words, everyone hurriedly expressed their thanks, then said goodbye to Xue Yan, and left in a panic.

Xue Yan looked helplessly at the backs of the crowd, turned back to Wei Ziqi and said, "You made me have a good rest. You must know that I am studying in the Imperial College, and there is only one rest day every ten days."

Wei Ziqi said: "Then what do you want to eat, I will go with you."

Xue Yan said, "Is this an apology for me?"

Wei Ziqi smiled and said, "You can think what you want."

Xue Yan snorted and asked Wei Ziqi, "Don't you have to go to the palace today to be on duty? Why did you come out so early?"

Wei Ziqi said, "I'm going to take a rest today, too."

Xue Yan said with a smile: "Nonsense, do you think I don't know when you will rest? Let me tell you, the Empress and Aye have told me many things about you - such as the things you did when you were young. It's a scandal. Don't think that you can hold my handle, and I have yours too. "

For some reason, Wei Ziqi's heart skipped a beat.His face was still stagnant and he said: "Then what do you know about me? Tell me about it."

Xue Yan didn't continue to talk about Wei Ziqi's words, but turned around and asked: "Jiang Qilang and the others said that you never go to Pingkangfang. Why did you think of going there to find me today? By the way, why did you go to find me?" I?"

Wei Ziqi looked at Xue Yan, who was sitting leisurely on the horse beside him, and said, "Didn't you say you wanted to eat gazelle last time? I wrote a letter to Xu San, asking him to send someone to buy some gazelles on the grassland. It was only delivered to the Duke of Zhen's mansion yesterday. Unfortunately, the environment was not acclimatized along the way, and now there are only two living ones left. I thought about inviting you to dinner at night, but when I arrived at the Duke of Wei's mansion, the eldest princess said that you were not there. "

Xue Yan thought for a long time before saying: "It turns out that I forgot about this matter. It was just a casual sentence I said when I was eating hot pot next year. Why do you take it seriously?"

Wei Ziqi remained silent.He didn't know why he took it seriously.I don't even know why Xue Yan was so angry after hearing that Xue Yan had gone to Pingkangfang.

In the end, it can only be blamed on the fact that he regards Xue Yan as his own younger brother, and he doesn't want to see Xue Yan learn from others.

Wei Ziqi blinked and asked, "Then are you going to my house at night?"

Xue Yan shook his head, and said with a smile: "There are two gazelles. You keep one for yourself and send the other to our house, which is also your filial piety to your master and wife."

Wei Ziqi pondered for a moment before asking, "You don't want to have dinner with me?"

Xue Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "You always mention eating, I'm hungry. There is a wonton stall next to the gate of Chongrenfang, let's go eat wontons."

Wei Ziqi said, "Wontons should be served with Hubing. I know there is a Hubing restaurant outside the city that is delicious, and their bad goose is also good. Shall I take you there?"

Xue Yan thought for a while, and then said in a tangled voice, "Why is it so far away?"

Wei Ziqi knew that Xue Yan always had a good appetite, so he asked calmly: "The smell of wine is never afraid of deep alleys. Naturally, delicious food will not worry about no one eating it. Are you going or not?"

Xue Yan said quickly: "It's so late, I'm afraid we will leave the city now, and we won't be able to come back when the city gate is closed."

Wei Ziqi said: "Then stay outside the city for a night. You are not a girl from any family, and I will accompany you. Are you afraid that wolves will eat you if you sleep outside the city?"

Xue Yan shook his head and said: "It's not that I didn't live outside the city when I was in Youzhou. It's just that I have to go back to the Imperial College to study tomorrow. Besides, I, Aye and Aniang, don't know that I'm going out so late and won't come home, so I should be worried. gone."

Wei Ziqi wanted to laugh a little, because he said: "Then let the people who follow you go back and report the news. As for the Imperial College... I have to go to the palace to work in the palace tomorrow morning. The two of us get up early and go to the city together. It's over."

Xue Yan thought for a while, wanted to go home to sleep again, but really couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food, pondered for a long time, and said in a dilemma: "So that Brother Ziqi can find out that I have a problem with seat selection, I'm afraid I will I can’t sleep well outside the city, and I won’t be able to get up early in the morning. But I want to eat wonton pancakes and bad goose, what do you think should I do?”

Wei Ziqi smiled, looked at Xue Yan's wrinkled face, and stopped teasing him, and said, "You are so stubborn that you have forgotten what job I am doing now. Even if Chang'an City has a curfew at night, can you still block it?" We can't go back to the city. What's more, we are in a hurry to get out of the city, and we rushed to that family. Maybe after dinner, it's not time to close the city gate. No matter how bad it is, we can also enter Xingqing Palace through Chunming Gate. Greetings to the Supreme Emperor."

Xue Yan suddenly realized, and said to Wei Ziqi with a smile: "I didn't expect that after seeing you for a few days, brother Ziqi has learned to be more flexible. Such a coincidental idea, I didn't expect it."

Wei Ziqi looked at Xue Yan shaking his head and said, "Hurry up, aren't you hungry?"

After Wei Ziqi mentioned it, Xue Yan remembered that he hadn't eaten anything in Mr. Sun's house, and he was really hungry right now.So first he ordered a boy who was following him to go home and report the news, saying that he would not have dinner at home tonight.Then we rode out of the city with Wei Ziqi, and went straight to the family that Wei Ziqi mentioned—it was not far from Chang'an City, only about 20 miles away.Turn right along the official road and go down the country road. You can't walk more than three or five miles, but you can see a small village with smoke rising from every house.

Wei Ziqi and his party rode their horses to a house in the village, and saw two jujube trees in front of the house, a fenced yard, a cowshed, a horse shed, a chicken coop and a duck house. A man in brown with short brown beard and hair The white old man was sitting on the stones in the yard weaving willow baskets, and a few children in the corner were playing wildly in the yard.

Seeing Wei Ziqi leading a group of people riding tall horses, the old man with white beard and hair stood up in surprise and joy, Xue Yan realized that the old man was actually very tall.It's just that when he came up, he walked up and down, and said in surprise and joy: "Little General Wei, why are you here?"

"I miss the bad goose and hummus made by your old man." Wei Ziqi said, pointing to Xue Yan and laughing: "This is Xue Yan, the eldest son of the Xue family. The son of the master and his wife has been found."

Hearing the words, the old man looked at Xue Yan more excitedly, rubbed his hands together and said, "So it's Marshal Xue's son. He has grown so big. Sure enough, Yushu is facing the wind, and he looks exactly the same as the Duke when he was young."

After finishing speaking, he said with tears in his eyes: "Sure enough, it is heaven's favor. This crime on my body can be offset a little bit. Otherwise, even if I die, I will have no face to see the old man."

Seeing this, Xue Yan knew there must be a reason for this.Unknowingly looking at Wei Ziqi.