Tanhualang

Shen Jing tore off the torn red robe on her body, wiped away the blood on the corners of her lips, raised her head and looked directly at Zhao Heng, her voice trembling slightly: "Could it be that Your Highness refuses to leave me even the last bit of decency?"

Zhao Heng stared at him, his lips pursed tightly, his chest heaved, and he held Shen Jing's wrist, refusing to relax.

The two stalemate for a moment, Shen Jing twitched his wrist, frowned and said: "My wrist... I'm afraid it will break."

Zhao Heng frowned and his expression relaxed a little, Shen Jing struggled a few more times, pushed Zhao Heng's hand away, took a step back and sat back on the bed.

After a moment of silence, he rubbed his wrists, patted the place beside him, and said tiredly: "Your Highness must be tired after a long journey, please sit down and have a rest."

Zhao Heng sighed and sat down beside him.

After another moment of silence, he closed his eyes and let out a long sigh: "... I know this is wrong. But when I heard the news that you are going to get married—"

He grabbed Shen Jing's hand, raised it to cover his eyes, gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "I hate Gu so much that I can't care about anything."

"Who does His Highness hate?" Shen Jing smiled wryly, "Is it Eldest Sister, is it me, or... Your Majesty?"

"..."

"Eldest Sister is dedicated to keeping the festival for Brother Pan, and I begged on my knees, so she had no choice but to marry me." Shen Jing held Zhao Heng's hand and said slowly, "The Holy Majesty is suffering from a serious illness, and he still painstakingly paves the way for His Highness. There is no need for Your Highness to go down." Hate, to say something outrageous... I'm afraid I won't be able to make it through this year."

"……As for me."

Shen Jing paused, turned to look at Zhao Heng, and said softly: "I have never had half a cent, and I regret this relationship with Your Highness."

"I just blame the impermanence of life, and too many worries." Shen Jing paused, and then said slowly, "I just found out about the days when His Highness is going to get married, and I often feel depressed in my heart. Cheng Mian... But if you think about it carefully, if I am not alone and alone, if my parents are still alive today, I am afraid that I will be relieved to see me marry a wife and have children and live an ordinary life."

"Now the situation in the court is unstable, there are powerful enemies outside, the Holy Majesty is sick, and the two princes are young. Therefore, the Holy Majesty expects a lot from His Highness. In the future, the burden on His Highness' shoulders is not only the Holy Majesty, the prince, and His Highness Myself. There are also the rulers and people of heaven and earth, and the common people of the country.”

"A gentleman has something to do, and something to not do. From now on, Your Highness... must never act so willfully and recklessly again."

"you are right."

Zhao Heng was silent for a long time, clenched Shen Jing's hand, then let go, and stood up: "...You are right. Gu should go back."

He got up and walked to the door, but stopped, stood for a while, turned his head to look at Shen Jing and smiled wryly: "In the days to come, I don't know where I can find some comfort without Miao An?"

Shen Jing got up slowly, met his gaze, and said in a low voice: "In this life, you can't show love to you, but you can only repay him with righteousness... No matter where I am, I will do my best to share your worries for Your Highness."

On February [-]th, Shen Jing got married.As soon as they returned to the Hanlin Academy, they received documents from the Ministry of Officials together with Yu Zhijing and Lu Meng. Due to the busy work at the beginning of the year, the three of them were exceptionally promoted to the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Industry as directors of the sixth rank.

The three said goodbye to Fang Wei, the bachelor, packed up and went to their respective posts.

This matter is not too big to say big, but it is not small to say small.

In this way, among the Jinshi on the same list, the three Shen Jing were promoted one step faster.

Shen Jing apologized to Zhijing and Lu Meng.

Zhao Du had told him that he was going to be recruited into the Ministry of Industry, and he didn't dare to refute it.But now, although everyone didn't say it clearly, they secretly thought that the Holy Majesty had always looked favorably on Shen Jing, and that Yu Zhijing and Lu Meng were in favor of Shen Jing.

Because of him, even the two of them will be criticized.

It's just that right now, he doesn't care about the situation of the two of them, because when he comes to the Ministry of Industry, he will be embarrassed first.

As soon as Shen Jing joined the Ministry of Industry, Zhuo Dajiang called him by name and asked him to lead the water control affairs in the south of the Yangtze River, and said that the matter had been reported to Shangshu Miao Shenjian.

Quietly obey.

However, flood control in the south of the Yangtze River is a major event, and it is also a "fat job" that several people are staring at.Zhuo Dajiang resisted all opinions, and his extraordinary reuse of Shen Jing aroused the jealousy and dissatisfaction of several of Zhuo Dajiang's subordinates.

The next day when Shen Jing came to work, Shang Shu Miao Shenjian and Zhuo Dajiang talked about Shen Jing's affairs, turned around and left, leaving only a few Yuanwailang and the principal in the hall.

Others were better. One of them was Yang Yu, who was always upright and without taboo. He sarcastically said to Shen Jing in front of everyone:

"Shen Tanhua is a talented person. I went to Jiangnan for a trip, stayed for three or four months, and wrote an article. The qualifications surpassed those of us who have worked hard for five or six years. If you stay for another two years, Yu His Highness Wang made a recommendation, I am afraid that he will be in the second and third ranks of the official residence? By then, he will be on the rise, but don't forget our stepping stones."

As soon as the words came out, the crowd was about to disperse, but they all stopped, some pretended to persuade the situation, and followed along with ridicule, and some stood aside and secretly enjoyed the joke.Among the crowd, only Zhou Yunzhi was familiar with Shen Jing, but he looked at Shen Jing and then at Yang Yu, looking embarrassed, and dared not speak for Shen Jing.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Shen Jing didn't feel annoyed at all, and went forward to salute Yang Yu: "Master Yang taught that. Shen Jing has little talent and is young. When he first came to the Ministry of Industry, he will have to rely on your guidance in the future."

"Teaching? Shen Tanhua's articles are almost famous all over the world, how dare we?" Yang Yu sneered, "It's really a saying, it's better to say it well than to do it well. We people have worked so hard, I'm afraid At that time, Shen Tanhua will be asked to play with the pen and say a few words for us. Where can I point you?"

Shen Jing is still calm: "Master Yang has said it. Shen Jing came here not to write articles, but to follow the adults and do something down-to-earth. Therefore, before coming to the Ministry of Industry, I also studied several construction, water Workers' books and books, if—”

Before he finished speaking, Yang Yu snorted and interrupted him: "After reading a few books, I feel that I am doing things in a down-to-earth manner? Shen Tanhua, I didn't deliberately make things difficult for you. The matter of hydraulic engineering, I don’t know how much you know? Measuring the depth of rivers and lakes, the length of embankments and banks, how much earthwork, stonework, and laborers are needed, all of which can only be known after hard work! It’s all like Shen Tanhua This way, when there is a flood, let's stop building dams, just stand there and recite the words, and the flood will be pushed back!"

Everyone roared with laughter when they heard the words, Yang Yu also laughed twice, glanced at Shen Jing proudly, then turned around and followed the crowd away.

Only Zhou Yunzhi was left behind, and when everyone had gone far away, he followed Shen Jing step by step, apologizing in a low voice: "I'm sorry, I didn't speak for you..."

Shen Jing shook her head and smiled, "Master Yang is right."

Zhou Yunzhi comforted him and said, "Yang Yuanwai went too far today, and I didn't expect him to embarrass you in public... In fact, he is a bit talented, but he has a bad temper and is a little arrogant. Jiangnan Regarding water control, I heard that he had asked Master Shangshu and Zhuo Shilang several times to take up this job. Who would have thought that Master Zhuo fell in love with you? He must have become a little annoyed... You don't have to worry too much, see you soon People's hearts, after a long time, they will know your true talents."

While talking, the two went back to their respective houses.

Because of Yang Yu's accusations, in the afternoon of the Ministry of Industry, he was a little quick-mouthed, and gave Shen Jing the nickname "Endorsement and Tanhua".

It's just that I didn't expect that after four or five days, Shen Jing "settled down" the hat of "endorsing books and exploring flowers".

On this day Zhuo Dajiang gathered several members of his staff, foreign ministers and chief executives to discuss the matter of water control in the hall, and Shen Jing happened to be there.Speaking of the flood in the Wusong River, Zhuo Dajiang asked casually: "The Wusong River is full of disasters. By the way, except for last year, when was the last flood in the Wusong River? I don't know how many people have been flooded." , How many fertile fields have been destroyed?"

Everyone chattered a few words, some said it was two years ago, another said it was three years ago, but no one said the exact time.

Zhou Yunzhi said casually: "It's not difficult, just look up the county annals of Songjiang County a few years ago, and there should be one."

Yang Yuben also echoed the crowd, looked up and saw Shen Jing sitting beside him silently, and suddenly asked with a teasing smile: "Shen Tanhua has read a lot of books and has some experience in endorsing, he must know about it?"

Everyone looked at Shen Jing and laughed when they heard the words.

Zhuo Dajiang didn't know about Yang Yu's satire on Shen Jing before, so he also raised his head to look at Shen Jing: "Xiao Shen knows?"

Unexpectedly, Shen Jing stood up when she heard the words, saluted, lowered her eyes, and said unhurriedly: "My lord. According to "Songjiang County Chronicles", the last time the Wusong River was flooded was in June four years ago. From the third to the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, there was a heavy rain for ten days, and the surface of Taihu Lake soared by three feet, causing Wusong to flood, flooding [-] hectares of fertile land in Songjiang and Suzhou, and [-] people were affected. The river returned to its course in March."

Zhuo Dajiang was stunned by everyone present at first, and then joked: "Haha! You just memorized "Songjiang County Chronicles" by relying on your photographic memory?"

Shen Jing lowered her eyes and bowed again: "Don't dare, just flip over."

Everyone didn't care, so they continued to talk.

Unexpectedly, the crowd went on to talk about Fanjiabang, and Zhuo Dajiang casually asked how wide and long the river was, and how many people were there along the way.Yang Yu was obviously not convinced by Shen Jing's fluent answer just now, and felt that he had bumped into each other, so he looked at Shen Jing again: "Can Shen Tanhua recite it this time?"

Shen Jing glanced at him, stood up, quoted "Jiangnan River Chronicles", and recited all the content Zhuo Dajiang asked, without missing a word, and the answers were fluent.

Everyone was shocked.

Zhuo Dajiang stroked his beard and asked directly: "Xiao Shen, you can't really memorize all the books related to water control, right?"

Shen Jing still lowered her eyes: "It just happened to be turned over."

Zhuo Dajiang refused to believe it.

Next, he began to test the tranquility of the school. When it comes to Huangpu Water, Taihu Lake, etc., no matter the floods and droughts over the years, or the number of residents along the way, the number of acres of land, or even the amount of water over the years, how much tax the people pay, whatever comes to mind, So he asked Shen Jing directly.

Standing there quietly, when he heard the question, he thought for a while at most, and then recited the contents of the relevant books.

Several Yuanwailang and the principal standing beside him were smiling at first, wanting to see his jokes, but at the end, they all broke into a cold sweat: This "endorsement Tanhua" is worthy of the name, and they are really good at endorsement!Not only will he be able to quote from the classics, but he will also quote from many sources, so that he can master it without any effort.

With such ability, what can you learn?

Everyone discussed in the hall all afternoon, and drew up several details.When Zhuo Dajiang got up, he stroked his beard and praised Shen Jing: "Xiao Shen has a heart."

When he left, several Yuanwailang turned around and looked at Shen Jing one after another.

Yang Yu couldn't help but ask first: "Are you really memorizing those county annals and river annals just now?"

"My lord Yang has said it before." Shen Jing smiled, "I have read the report on flood control in the south of the Yangtze River before, and I have read it many times, so I will naturally remember it."

This is the default.

Yang Yu was silent, cleared his throat, and asked uncomfortably, "Apart from these county annals and river annals, what else have you 'read'?"

Shen Jing was silent, arched his hands, and replied respectfully: "What you can find in the library of the Imperial Academy, far away is "Shui Jing" written by Guo Pu of Jin Dynasty, "Shui Jing Zhu" written by Li Daoyuan of Northern Wei Dynasty, and "Shui Jing Zhu" written by Li Daoyuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty. "General Discussion on River Defense" compiled by Lisuo. More recently, there are "Answers on Water Conservancy Discussions in West Zhejiang" by Mr. Ren Renfa of the former dynasty, and "Records on Zhizheng River Defense" by Ouyang Xuan. Mr. Wang Zhen's "Nongshu" also contains hydraulic affairs records, but There are not many people who can learn from it. Mr. Pan Jixun once wrote "River Defense Overview", and I borrowed it to read it, but it is quite insightful."

Some of these were read from various county annals in the process of drafting the report on the water control strategy in the south of the Yangtze River, some were borrowed from Zhao Heng, and some were specially read from the library after arriving at the Imperial Academy passed.

If you read the book quietly, you can remember it with a photographic memory. In addition, after going to the south of the Yangtze River, you pay attention to the water control. Therefore, when you read the important parts of the book, you will often read it over and over again until you understand the essence, and even copy it down. Naturally, you are familiar with it. Take it to heart.

"Have you read "A List of River Defense"?" Yang Yu asked in surprise, "I don't know where you got it from?"

Shen Jing hesitated for a while, but still didn't say that she had seen it at Zhao Heng's place before: "...a friend borrowed it from his friend."

"..." Yang Yu hesitated for a while, and finally he didn't pull his face to ask for help. He nodded, snorted, turned and left.

When everyone had left, Zhou Yunzhi stood next to Shen Jing, tidying up the desk, and said with a smile: "Brother Shen, you are now in the Ministry of Industry. From now on, no one will dare to underestimate you. .”

What Zhou Yunzhi said is true.

In the following days, Shen Jing's stay in the Ministry of Industry really went smoothly. Although everyone made jokes about him occasionally, they no longer had the contempt and dissatisfaction they had at the beginning.However, Shen Jing's nickname of "endorsing books and exploring flowers" has also been widely spread. Even Yu Zhijing and Lu Meng in the Ministry of Rites have heard of it, and they came here to laugh at him.

It's just that time waits.

Just over half a month after Shen Jing arrived at the Ministry of Industry, at the beginning of March, an imperial decree was sent to the Ministry of Industry, ordering Zhuo Dajiang to concurrently serve as Minister of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing, and to go down to the south of the Yangtze River as soon as possible to start the water control project in the south of the Yangtze River before the flood season.

Calmness and nature go hand in hand.

So in mid-March, one month before Zhao Heng's wedding, Shen Jing once again followed Zhuo Dajiang to the south of the Yangtze River, and started the long and voluminous water control project in the south of the Yangtze River.