Don't go back to hometown

After the parade team passed the main street, Jiang Xianyu and Xie Sangrou brought the three little guys back to Xie's mansion.

After Jiang Xianyu rented a house in the capital, part of the bodyguards who used to live in Xie's mansion moved there, and Jiang's father, Jiang's mother and Jiang Baizhou happened to live in after arriving in Beijing.Today Jiang's mother cooked by herself and prepared a table of Yangzhou dishes for Xie Cheng and others to congratulate.

Xie Cheng and others entered the palace early in the morning, and when they returned from the afternoon parade, they were already hungry and empty, and now they were full of praise for Mother Jiang's craftsmanship.

Jiang's mother used the serving chopsticks to pick up food for Xie Cheng, and said: "Eat more if you like, I will make another meal for you in the evening, and then go to the Qionglin Banquet to fill your belly."

"Thank you, Mrs.

"I'm out!" Jiang's mother angered him, and then glanced at Jiang Xianyu, "Xiao Yu swore to me to abduct half of my son, are you still polite to me?"

Xie Cheng was startled, and turned his lips to look at Jiang Xianyu.Duan Shuwen and the others were also teasing.

Jiang Xianyu lowered his head to pick up the vegetables, avoided his eyes, and his ears were red: "Mom, don't embarrass me..."

Jiang's mother raised her eyebrows and smiled happily: "Why didn't I see you shy when I threw the sachet to the new champion in the street? I, as a mother, didn't even know that Mrs. Zhuangyuan can also sew!"

"Who is the wife of the number one scholar?!" Jiang Xianyu's face was on fire, and he twisted Xie Cheng's waist under the table, "Aren't you talking nonsense!"

Xie Cheng quickly grabbed his hand: "I made a mistake, madam."

Jiang Xianyu's face turned red immediately, wishing he could disappear on the spot.

Everyone couldn't help laughing, and Zhang Tao, who couldn't understand Xie Chengtong's man's broken sleeves, couldn't help smiling.

To be honest, whoever Xie Cheng likes has nothing to do with them.Xie Cheng's knowledge and character are obvious to all, and it will not change just because he likes a man.

What's more, besides Zeng Hu, Zhang Tao's old classmates from Yangzhou Academy all knew that Jiang Xianyu was Xie Cheng's inseparable brother, and seeing them get together now, they felt like their "childhood sweethearts" were finally getting married.

Well, it's not surprising to think so.

After dinner, everyone went back to their houses to rest.

Jiang Xianyu and Xiao Tangyuan are still living in Xie Chengyuan, the little guy is not so clingy to Jiang Xianyu now, he was fed by the nanny after he came back, and now he is taking a nap in the house.

Jiang Xianyu went to see the little guy first, and tucked the quilt for him.

Before he got up straight, Xie Cheng hugged him from behind, the faint smell of alcohol lingering in his ears: "When will you teach him to call him 'Daddy'?"

Jiang Xianyu shrank his neck: "You can't let him call you 'mother' in front of outsiders, right?"

Xie Cheng turned him around and held him in his arms: "So Madam taught him to call me 'Daddy'?"

Jiang Xianyu supported the back of his neck and squeezed it: "Don't bark, who is your wife?!"

Xie Cheng didn't argue with him, he picked him up and sat on the edge of the bed, let Jiang Xianyu sit on his lap, grabbed his hand and checked his ten fingers, "When did you embroider the sachet?"

Jiang Xianyu was embarrassed, and lowered his head not daring to look at him: "On the few days when you took part in the test, I saw Sister Sang Rou embroidering a belt for Brother Duan, and I remembered that you insisted on me embroidering a sachet for you before, so I asked Sister Sang Rou has learned."

Xie Cheng kissed his fingertips: "Like my sister to embroider things for my brother-in-law, and still say she's not my wife?"

Jiang Xianyu pulled out his hand and pushed his shoulder: "You are enough! I am not a girl!"

Xie Cheng paused, wrapped his arms around his waist and looked at him seriously: "Others' wives are girls, but mine is you."

Jiang Xianyu snorted and bit the tip of his nose lightly: "Then you are also my wife."

Xie Cheng kissed his lips, and said in a low voice: "Yes, husband."

Jiang Xianyu's cheeks were hot, and his fingers and toes couldn't help curling up. His heart was numb from the shout of "husband", and his whole body was burning hot.

But she still hugged Xie Cheng's neck to respond to him, deepening the kiss.

……

On the day when the palace examination was released, the case of the Duan family in Jinling also spread throughout the capital.While denouncing the Duan family, the common people brought up the disaster situation in the south of the Yangtze River.

"Have you heard? The one who advised the governor of Jiangnan to stabilize prices is this year's new champion!"

"Is this true?!"

"The news uploaded by Governor Fang's Mansion, can it be false?"

"It's not enough! The champion of the new department not only gave advice to Governor Fang, but also paid for disaster relief by himself, giving porridge and cotton coats to the victims."

"That's right, we are the champion of the new department, and we are descendants of the Xie family who 'carve jade for saints', and we are a rich man in the south of the Yangtze River!"

"Is he from a merchant background?"

"What happened to merchants? As long as they are knowledgeable and capable, merchants can also serve the country!"

"That's the reason! Don't look down on him just because he was born in a businessman. Not only does he have a rich family, but he is also well-versed in both civil and military affairs. The martial master he worships is the owner of the Yangzhou Ping'an Escort Bureau."

"Ping An Escort? The one that saved His Royal Highness Yi Wang?!"

"Exactly! The Jiedu Envoy of the Jiangnan Retreat was unable to move. Thanks to the chivalrous men from the Ping An Escort Bureau who came forward, His Royal Highness Yi Wang was rescued, and the relief supplies that were thrown in the mountains were recovered."

"Isn't it! I wonder why the Jiangnan Jiedu envoy refuses to send troops to help King Yi?"

"You guys don't understand this, this Jiangnan Jiedu envoy is in the same group as the Duan family."

The trend of these remarks did not come about spontaneously, but was fueled by someone.

Fang Zhizhou revealed Xie Cheng's identity in order to add a layer of leverage to him, so that he would be more appreciated by the emperor; by the way, he publicized the righteous deeds of the Ping An Escort Bureau, and prepared for the Jiang family's rehabilitation in the future.

Xie Cheng and Jiang Xianyu had no objection to this.

Later, Li Yi sent someone to quietly send the news that Emperor Wenqing fell ill after returning to the palace, and King Zhong was kneeling outside the palace of Emperor Wenqing at the moment, and the Qionglin Banquet in the evening might have changed.

Sure enough, the Qionglin Banquet in the evening was presided over by Prince Rui and Li Yi, Emperor Wen Qing only showed up at the opening of the banquet, encouraged the civil and military Jinshi with his sick face, and then returned to the palace.

After Emperor Wenqing left, the seemingly lively scene became subtle again.

Prince Rui asked about the details of Li Yi's disaster relief in the south of the Yangtze River, and praised him for "if you don't make a sound, you will be a blockbuster". If you are successful in disaster relief this time, you don't need to be "clumsy", and quickly find an errand in the court to relieve your father's worries.

Li Yi fought with him, saying that he was able to manage the errand well thanks to the rescue of King Cheng and the guidance of Governor Fang, and he would still listen to his father's arrangement in the future.

Prince Rui couldn't grasp what he said, so he brought the topic to Xie Cheng.

"I heard that the champion of the new department has also contributed a lot in disaster relief. Ninth Brother and Master Fang, don't forget to ask Father for rewards for him."

Xie Cheng immediately got up and bowed: "The humble minister is afraid and dare not ask for credit."

Prince Rui looked at him carefully, trying to see a trace of arrogance or real fear from his face, but Xie Cheng's face showed no emotion, no clue could be seen.

At this moment, Emperor Wenqing suddenly sent an order to summon Xie Cheng.

Prince Rui's eyes flashed, but there was still a warm smile on his face: "Since Emperor Father summoned me, Xie Zhuangyuan should go quickly."

"Yes." Xie Cheng bowed to leave, and before leaving, he exchanged a look with Duan Shuwen and the others, letting them adapt accordingly.

……

The palace of Emperor Wenqing was located in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, some distance away from the place where the Qionglin Banquet was held.

When Xie Cheng arrived, King Zhong had already been driven back.

Emperor Wenqing had just taken the medicine, and he sat on the throne with a tired expression, and the hall was filled with a bitter medicine smell.

"Thank you for seeing Your Majesty."

"Cough cough..."

Xie Chengyi got up and saw the chief eunuch dripping water on Emperor Wenqing's lips. He could see that Emperor Wenqing's movements were slow, and his breathing was more turbid and heavy than on the day of the palace examination. Presumably, he seemed to be more old and sick.

Emperor Wenqing paused for a while before saying, "Your essay on the day of the imperial examination was well written."

Xie Cheng bowed his head and said: "Humble views are not worthy of His Majesty's praise."

Emperor Wenqing shook his head: "I have been in power for eighteen years and appointed many talented people, but none of them has written an article like yours."

Xie Cheng: "My minister is terrified."

Emperor Wenqing looked at the lantern outside the hall and sighed: "They may not have thought of this at first, but later they dared not say it, and they didn't want to mention it. Every reform and innovation will end up being scratchy."

Xie Cheng was silent for a moment, and replied: "Reformation is not a one-day achievement, Your Majesty does not need to act too hastily."

"But I'm already old, aren't I?" said Emperor Wen Qing, "If I die, in your opinion, which prince ascends the throne to realize the prosperous and powerful country you mentioned in your article?"

Xie Cheng didn't dare to accept these words, and knelt back on the ground again: "Your Majesty is the Son of Dragon, so naturally he will live forever."

Emperor Wenqing chuckled and coughed twice, "Get up."

Just as Xie Cheng got up, he heard Emperor Wen Qing say again: "You know Lao Jiu?"

Xie Cheng cautiously said: "During the snow disaster in the south of the Yangtze River, I was fortunate enough to meet the imperial envoy."

Emperor Wenqing lowered his eyes and looked at him: "Lao Jiu mentioned you to me, saying that you gave Fang Zhizhou a lot of ideas for disaster relief." In fact, Fang Zhizhou said this, not Li Yi.

In order to avoid suspicion, Li Yi would not deliberately mention Xie Cheng.

Xie Cheng: "My minister just couldn't bear the disaster in his homeland and the suffering of his neighbors, so he did his best."

Emperor Wenqing asked, "That junior brother of yours rushed to Huai'an to rescue Lao Jiu because he couldn't bear the disaster in his homeland and the suffering of his neighbors?"

Xie Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that Emperor Wenqing might have discovered Jiang Xianyu's identity.

"Returning to Your Majesty, I have a pure and kind nature, and I value love and righteousness. This time, I really can't bear the suffering of the people, so I agreed to the governor to rush to Huai'an to save people."

"Born pure and kind, emphasizing love and righteousness..." Emperor Wen Qing muttered these two sentences, "Lao Jiu also praised him so much."

Xie Cheng didn't think that Emperor Wen Qing frequently mentioned the Nine Kings because he changed his view on this son and became close to him. He probably became suspicious, suspecting that the Nine Kings recognized Jiang Xianyu and had a connection with the Jiang family.

It's just that the Nine Kings were young at the time, and they have been silent all these years. Emperor Wen Qing may not be sure how much he remembers, so now he is testing frequently.

"Take him into the palace some other day and let me have a look." Emperor Wenqing said, "He has made great contributions in saving Lao Jiu, and he should be rewarded."

"Yes." Xie Cheng bowed, hiding the vigilance in his eyes.

……

After the Qionglin Banquet was over, the imperial court immediately started a thorough investigation into the Duan family's embezzlement of land property.The officials in charge of this case are from Prince Rui's family, and they may have made up their minds to make Prince Zhong unable to turn over.

One after another, Emperor Wenqing was so angry that Emperor Shenzhong resigned from the court, and Prince Rui temporarily took over the affairs of the court.

King Zhong was grounded, and Fang Zhizhou was also fined for his negligence in the case of the Duan family.

However, King Yi was rewarded for his meritorious service in disaster relief and was sent to the Ministry of Households to work.

At the same time, the Ministry of Officials began to arrange official positions for newly promoted civil and military Jinshi.

Most of Wen Ju Jinshi were arranged according to the usual practice. Duan Shuwen was transferred to a certain county in Hangzhou, Zhang Tao and others also had their own places, and Xie Cheng was admitted to the Imperial Academy.

After Duan Yu was expelled, Emperor Wen Qing seemed to have no intention of pursuing the fraudulent martial arts exam. The martial arts examiners thought they had escaped, but they were reprimanded, fined, and demoted by Emperor Wen Qing for various problems.

However, the position arrangement of Wu Jinshi presented by the Ministry of Officials to Emperor Wenqing was rejected one after another, and it was only after the chief eunuch raised points that he realized the problem.In the end, all Wu Jinshi were assigned to inconspicuous positions among the garrisons in various places, and Emperor Wenqing reluctantly approved and agreed.

Only then did the courtiers understand that Emperor Wenqing didn't seem to pursue it, but in fact he kept it in his heart, and he didn't plan to reuse this session of Wu Jinshi at all.

After the official position is determined, the newly promoted civil and military Jinshi will have one to two months of vacation as usual, and they can return to their hometown in full clothes.

Xie Cheng suggested that Duan Shuwen and others return home as soon as possible.

"His Majesty is seriously ill now, Prince Rui and Nine Kings are in full swing, and the loyal king is walking on thin ice. I'm afraid he can't sit still." Xie Cheng analyzed, "The capital will soon become chaotic, sister and brother-in-law should not stay for a long time, it is better to go as soon as possible When I return home, I will go directly to take office."

"What about you?" Xie Sangrou worried, "Aren't you going with us?"

Xie Cheng shook his head: "I can't leave for now."