Luoyang Imperial City, Imperial Study Room.

A small-scale imperial meeting ended shortly after it started.

Zhang Yu and Khu Fu, who hurried back to the capital to resume their duties, both retreated with serious faces.

Shi Lingzhen, a woman in colorful clothes who temporarily served as a female official after Rong Zhen went out, looked away from the backs of Di Fuzi, Xie Xun and others who had finished their speeches and left the house.

She stood next to a mysterious black dragon couch behind the bead curtain, lowering her head slightly, not daring to look at the expression of the old woman on the dragon couch in front of her.

In the imperial study room, outside the bead curtain, there were still five figures left, who did not retreat.

They are Li Lun, Wei Jisi, Wei Sixing, Princess Changle, and a young Princess Wei. She is the granddaughter of one of the empress's sisters, and she usually takes care of them... They are all clan relatives.

Several people were stayed by the empress Wei Zhao, who gave them seats by the stove and gave them pepper and cypress wine.

This is a custom during New Year's Day in Guanzhong. According to folklore, drinking pepper and cypress wine can drive away evil spirits and diseases and prolong life.

Today is New Year's Day. Empress Wei Zhao has just returned to the palace after presiding over the Eastern Suburbs Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony. She left the five clan members in front of her and prepared to chat warmly. However, she received Zhang Yu and Hu Fu who had returned from Jiangzhou in a hurry.

information.

So, Master Di was immediately summoned and entered the palace with Ouyang Lianghan's teacher Xie Xun.

Inquire about Ouyang Lianghan's resignation...

After Master Di and Xie Xun retreated, the old woman on the couch behind the bead curtain did not say a word. The atmosphere inside and outside the imperial study was a bit quiet.

Lingzhen, who lowered his head, felt Her Majesty the Queen's gaze on her. She felt pressure in her heart, and her obedient head lowered even further.

She bit her lip, and while her eyes were filled with embarrassment, she also felt a little... helpless.

As a female official with a pen, she drafted the specific imperial edict for Ouyang Lianghan's promotion. Her Majesty the Queen just gave a few instructions and arranged for the promotions of "Acting Jiangzhou Governor" and "Jiangnan Supervisor Zuo Deputy Envoy".

But knowing the Holy Heart deeply, second only to Rong Zhen, I know that I must protect His Majesty’s majesty and face.

So when drafting the reasons for promotion in the imperial edict, she took a roundabout way and only said that Ouyang Lianghan had fulfilled his duties as Sima of Jiangzhou, and that he was filial to his parents at home, and that he was promoted because of his filial piety and reputation.

It was as if he had been promoted naturally, and he did not mention his contribution to the recent crisis when he was ordered to clean up the mess in Xunyang City, as well as the imperial court's intention to continue building the Donglin Buddha in need of him.

Anyway, smart people will definitely understand.

But Lingzhen never expected that Ouyang Lianghan would directly borrow her words on the spot and refuse directly on the grounds of serving his sick relative.

In particular, I heard from Khu Fu and others that Ouyang Lianghan even said at that time, "Fuwei Holy Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety."

This is very filial.

When Lingzhen, who was standing by just now, heard this, he was silenced anyway, and he tried very hard not to look at the expressions of Her Majesty the Queen and several Li and Wei clan relatives outside.

At present, no one can blame Ouyang Lianghan for his polite refusal, let alone find fault with this sentence.

Three concessions and three concessions are not unusual in the court.

Although in the past, those who could make three concessions were either high-ranking officials like the Prime Minister of the Political Affairs Hall, or respected old officials who begged for their bones. Like Ouyang Lianghan, there were very few who had such troubles at a young age, mainly because of big officials.

Most young officials do not have this qualification.

However, the Donglin Buddha statue in Jiangzhou now needs this person, and he is almost the only one.

This Ouyang Lianghan is indeed qualified to push and bargain.

But it's a bit impolite for you to "make three concessions and three concessions" so skillfully.

Moreover, according to what Zhang Yu and Hu Fu said, Ouyang Lianghan's aunt came out to receive the order lively at first, but after someone finished speaking, she suddenly fell ill... Could you have agreed in advance? Pretend to be more like it.

?If you do this, everyone will be embarrassed, okay...

Lingzhen couldn't help but think, could it be that the words she drafted in the previous edict to demote officials were too harsh and cold, which made this guy hold a grudge?

Sensing Her Majesty the Queen's gaze, Lingzhen lowered her head deeply, understanding that Her Majesty was somewhat blaming her for her incompetence in drafting the decree.

On the couch, the elderly empress seemed to be holding her forehead and speaking:

"Tell me, what can I give you? Marriage is not enough, and I want him to stay in Jiangzhou. What else is suitable for me to reward him."

Lingzhen stood with his hands down, not daring to raise his eyes.

This was actually the suggestion of Hu Fu, the eunuch who had just been envoyed. He was familiar with Ouyang Lianghan and knew that Ouyang Lianghan and Xie Xun's only daughter, Xie Lingjiang, were in love, so he proposed that Your Majesty grant them a direct marriage.

Because Ouyang Lianghan was from a poor family, and Xie Lingjiang was a girl with the fifth surname.

When a poor man marries a noble woman, even if the poor man is good enough, there is always a gap in family status. If Her Majesty the Queen personally grants the marriage, it can be regarded as a reward.

However, this proposal of granting a marriage was blocked by a sudden memorial from Rong Zhen in Jiangzhou, and he was firmly opposed to it.

The reason is that Ouyang Lianghan still needs to govern Jiangzhou and preside over the Buddha. It is better not to do things like this that distract talented ministers at the moment.

Speaking of which, this memorial to Feng Rongzhen was brought back by Hu Fu and Zhang Yu from Jiangzhou. Apparently, Hu Fu, Rong Zhen, Aunt Song and others mentioned this matter before leaving.

Looking at the confused look on Khufu's face just now after hearing the content of Rong Zhen's memorial, he obviously did not expect that the previously silent Rong Zhen daughter Shi of Jiangzhou had asked him to submit the memorial, and she was directly opposed to this matter.

However, Rong Zhen's objection alone could not stop Empress Wei Zhao's intention. After all, granting marriage to a poor man like Ouyang Lianghan would indeed save trouble and effort.

But after just summoning Ouyang Lianghan's mentor Xie Xun to consult about the matter, the empress gave up the idea completely.

Because Xie Xun also opposed the reward of marriage in court.

Of course there are a lot of reasons, similar to Rong Zhen.

However, the two kings of the Wei family, King Xiang and other discerning people could see that the great scholar Xie Xun was doting on his disciple, so he refused this useless reward for Ouyang Lianghan and wanted to exchange it for a more substantial reward.

Anyway, his old father would definitely be able to make the final decision on things like marriage contracts. How could he look down on Han Shituer?

After hearing the news, everyone in the royal study was an old fox, including Mrs. Di, who was also vague and said that it was up to His Majesty to make a decision.

At a certain moment, Lingzhen quickly glanced at the stern expression on Her Majesty the Queen's face.

He knew very well that Ouyang Lianghan could no longer find excuses to refuse this time.

It doesn't matter if you refuse once on the grounds of "filial piety", but if you repeat "three resignations and three concessions" a few more times, will the court lose face?

"Why is the elder feeling unwell? He was fine before, but after receiving His Majesty's edict, he becomes unwell?"

Wei Jisi, who was sitting by the fire, did not drink the wine in the cup and muttered with a somewhat unhappy look on his face.

Wei Sixing nodded and said expressionlessly:

"Then send the imperial doctor over to give his aunt a look, so that he can finally get the order."

Prime Minister Li Lun stood up and advised with a serious look on his face:

"Mother, what the two princes said is inappropriate. Talented people still need to be appeased. As for rewards, why not start with Ouyang Lianghan's aunt and confer a royal decree..."

Princess Changle also nodded in time.

Wei Jisi and Wei Sixing heard the words and had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"Can."

Empress Wei Zhao nodded lightly and asked again:

"What else? Isn't it too petty to add just one?"

Everyone was speechless for a moment.

At this moment, a palace attendant held a tray, walked in, lowered his head and reported:

"Your Majesty, the elder said that his memory is not very good. I was going to present something to Your Majesty just now. I only remembered it when I walked outside the imperial city and asked my slave to deliver it immediately."

"what?"

Empress Wei Zhao picked up a lone piece of paper on the tray with great interest and unfolded it.

"One poem and one article?"

She raised her eyebrows slightly.

Li Lun, who was warming himself by the fire, seemed to think of something and couldn't help but look up.

The Queen Mother inside the bead curtain seemed to be looking down at the manuscript for a while. At a certain moment, she chuckled softly.

"Old man, old man, you are really... really supporting this junior." He said with emotion.

"Your Majesty, what did the elder say?" Princess Changle asked curiously.

"It's nothing, I didn't say anything. The old man only sent me a poem about chrysanthemums and an article called "Teacher's Talk". You all know the authors of these two poems."

"who?"

After saying that, Empress Wei Zhao raised her head and said calmly without giving everyone time to chew:

"I know what to reward him."

The empress uttered two words, and silence fell into silence inside and outside the bead curtain.

Wei Jisi and Wei Sixing looked a bit puzzled.

Even Prime Minister Li Lun and Princess Chang Le stopped drinking and looked at each other, and they could see the surprise in each other's eyes...

A few days after New Year's Day, a Wenhua banquet hosted by the palace was in full swing.

At the annual Wenhua banquet, the empress received the scribes and scholars from Luoyang, as well as outstanding scholars selected from various places, and received articles praising his virtues that were circulated like snowflakes.

In the middle of the dinner, Xiang Wang Li Lun presented to the empress two anonymous works that were temporarily unknown in Luoyang.
To be continued...