Chapter 44

Yan Mingting saw the shock on his face that he tried his best to hide, and knew that he had guessed right.

Biaozi was supposed to be chosen by his parents, elders or a venerable person, but Zhao Yelan’s parents died in his early years, and Zhao Xuan was most likely to pick the words for him.

At first, when I heard the word “Mengting” from Zhao Xuan’s mouth, there was an indescribable sense of familiarity, but after careful study, I realized that Zhao Yelan’s reaction to this was not as if he was used to it, but as if he was caught off guard. Hearing this name, his expression changed unpredictablely.

Later in the hunting ground, he asked the other party why Zhao Xuan called him Mengting.

Zhao Yelan said it was a sign.

He yelled all the way, but every time he yelled, Zhao Yelan was very annoyed, until he returned home, he yelled Mengting in front of Butler Tan, Zhao Yelan was furious, as if he didn’t want to mention this name in front of outsiders.

So he didn’t mention it in front of outsiders anymore, and only occasionally called Mengting when the two of them were together, it was right for the fun of the two of them.

Changing his name since he was a child, even though he became a glorious ancestor, there is no ancestral hall in Zhao’s mansion to worship his ancestors… He has a vague guess, but he doesn’t want to delve into how many stories are hidden behind the name Zhao Mengting.

He firmly believes that human nature is inherently good. If Zhao Yelan can be driven into the abyss step by step, the story behind it must be heart-wrenching, so he doesn’t want to investigate secretly, lest the scars be **** uncovered again. The other party can’t afford it. It may not be able to face it calmly.

As soon as the two returned to the General’s Mansion, they saw Butler Tan and Gao Tan squatting on the steps, arguing endlessly.

Butler Tan: “Why did Mr. Zhao go to the brothel? It’s too outrageous, can’t you stay in the mansion honestly?”

“The brothel smells delicious, adults naturally like it.”

“Hey, your kid knows how to help your adults talk, do you know where that is!”

“Of course I know. I’m afraid you don’t. You’re too old to go.”

“Who do you look down on! Who wasn’t strong and strong when he was young?! When I was hanging out with girls, you didn’t know where to feed!”

“Old is old, only bragging.”

“Don’t you believe it! I can make my wife have a third child now, can you do it!”

“Of course I can’t. I don’t like your wife, so I don’t want her to give birth to me.”

“It’s unreasonable!” Butler Tan was so angry that his beard blew up, and he stood up to beat him, but he couldn’t beat him again, so he just put on a posture, waiting for him to admit his mistake.

At this time, someone grabbed his arm, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head and saw that it was the general, and immediately said to Gao Tan: “For the sake of the general, I don’t care about you, you brat.” !”

Xiao Gao ignored him, and stepped forward quickly, aggrieved: “My lord, you are back. If you don’t take me out today, am I still your favorite Xiao Gao?”

With a twitch of veins on Yan Mingting’s forehead, he let go of Butler Tan’s hand: “Aren’t you going to beat him? Go ahead.”

“Ah, this…” Butler Tan looked at him in embarrassment, how could he be beaten!

Yan Mingting dragged Zhao Yelan back to the room, leaving the old and the young looking at each other.

Butler Tan struggled for a while, and when he saw someone passing by, he hurriedly told the person to grab his arm and shouted, “Xiao Gao, if someone hadn’t stopped me, I would have asked you today to see what a treasured sword is not old without me. Those who dare not clean up!”

Zhao Yelan listened to the bickering of the two, so he simply closed the window and let them mess around.

Yan Mingting waited for a while, seeing that he had no intention of talking about today’s events, he had no choice but to order someone to boil water, guessing that he would definitely wash away this filth, but this clothes…

“Whose clothes are you wearing?” Yan Mingting has never seen him wear this kind of clothes, obviously they have changed, where did they change? brothel? snort!

“I don’t know.” Zhao Yelan replied truthfully, “This is a spare for the brothel, it should be new.”

Ah!

Yan Mingting sneered and said: “The brothel still has these spares. Don’t you usually annoy others to touch your clothes? Why do you wear brothel clothes whenever you want?”

“…Otherwise, do you think it would be more appropriate for me to come out in blood?”

Yan Mingting choked, went to the kitchen to urge hot water, took two steps on the spot, pulled away the servants in front of the stove, sat down on his buttocks, picked up the firewood and threw it in.

Moments later, a cloud of smoke rose from the kitchen.

“Is it on fire?!” Butler Tan smelled smoke from afar, and hurried to the kitchen.

Zhao Yelan also rushed over when he heard the sound, and as soon as he arrived outside the kitchen, he saw the servants pulling Yan Mingting out, and coaxed him: “General, just wait in the room, the hot water will be ready soon. No matter how urgent you are, it’s not such an urgent way, firewood is not burned like this, you should be careful to set the general’s mansion on fire.”

Yan Mingting turned back to look at them scatter the smoke embarrassingly, choking on the smoke in his throat and coughing unceasingly, at this moment, a pair of white jade boots appeared in front of him, he was stunned for a moment, and looked up at Zhao Yelan.

Zhao Yelan handed him a brocade handkerchief, but he didn’t take it in embarrassment, thinking that it would be over after a few coughs, and there was no need to bother to cover his lips and nose.

Unexpectedly, the other party wiped his face.

He looked at the other party in surprise, and then saw that a piece of the white veil was black.

Yan Mingting noodles are like the bottom of a pot, the bottom of a real pot.

He immediately rushed to the nearby well, and looked at his appearance by the moonlight. He didn’t know when a few pot ashes were added to his face, which really made his handsome appearance look ugly!

Zhao Yelan couldn’t help laughing: “Can I wipe it properly now?”

Yan Mingting fetched a basin of water and put it aside, just about to take his handkerchief, but withdrew his hand, and simply smashed the jar, “Wipe it for me.”

“Who is used to you.”

Yan Mingting tilted his face towards him, making it clear that he wanted him to wipe it: “Mengting, wipe it…Mengting!”

Zhao Yelan looked around and saw that everyone was busy in the kitchen and no one noticed, so he gritted his teeth and squatted down to wash the veil, and wiped his face viciously: “Is this why you said you won’t investigate?”

“What’s the matter? I can’t do it if I just call you out? You are too domineering.” Yan Mingting shook his legs triumphantly.

Zhao Yelan: “That’s not as good as your scoundrel.”

After wiping the cold well water from side to side on his face, Yan Mingting looked at him refreshed and smiled.

After rescuing the kitchen, Butler Tan came out and saw the two of them flirting with each other by the well. He really couldn’t understand why Mr. Zhao left the general at home and went to the brothel to look for wild flowers. Is it really just for tea?

At night, Zhao Yelan was lying on the bed with his eyes open in the dark, thinking about the day when he would leave and what to do, when he suddenly heard Yan Mingting ask: “When you killed that person today, there was still a bustard in the house.”

Zhao Yelan opened his eyes: “What?”

“It looks pretty.”

“Ok.”

“She wasn’t frightened by you?” Yan Mingting asked tentatively, “Or, did you actually know each other a long time ago?”

It was only after Yan Mingting walked out of the brothel that he realized something was wrong. It was a huge brothel with the door closed, but he could easily enter it, as if he was waiting for him. And Zhao Yelan executed a person so quickly in front of a woman, on her territory, that woman would not change her face, and still not care, there must be a problem.

Zhao Yelan thought for a moment, knowing that it was impossible to hide it, so he simply confessed: “Yes, I know.”

“How did we know each other?” Yan Mingting asked curiously, it couldn’t be because of regular customers, could it?

Zhao Yelan didn’t answer, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, but fortunately Yan Mingting didn’t ask any more questions.

Early the next morning, Li Yucheng came to visit. After waiting in the lobby for a while, he saw Zhao Yelan coming out wearing an official uniform. He hurriedly stood up and asked, “Brother Zhao, I was drunk yesterday. I didn’t know until I woke up.” Yan Mingting came to the brothel to look for you, are you alright?”

“What can I do?” Zhao Yelan walked towards the gate.

“It’s fine, then can you help me with a group of younger brothers?”

“That girl is not your good match. You are not the only one who is waiting to redeem her, and she is absolutely loyal to you. You should die as soon as possible, so as not to cause trouble. You can rest assured that your father will pay you back.” You arrange the marriage, your father is the best person in this world to you.” Zhao Yelan said, got into the sedan chair and disappeared into the street.

Li Yucheng was stunned for a while, then left in disappointment, but heard someone calling his name, and when he looked back, it was Yan Mingting who had returned from morning court.

“What are you doing sneaking around here?” Yan Mingting asked.

“Who is sneaking around…” Li Yucheng muttered, and was about to run, but was picked up by the other party.

“Can you live in peace for two days, boy? You are either gambling or whoring all day long, trying to **** off your father?” Yan Mingting appeared to be teaching Li Jinyu a lesson, but in fact he was itching with hatred. Take Zhao Yelan to the brothel. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he punched him twice.

“Otherwise, what can I do? Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…” li yucheng put his head in his hands, “my father never allowed me to read and write since i was a child, and also forbade me to join the army. i also want to do something to make him happy what!”

Yan Mingting understood Li Jinyu’s desire to protect him, but he did not agree with excessive protection. No father would like his children to endure hardships, but some hardships must be eaten.

When a person grows up, it is easy to go astray without doing something serious. Li Jinyu can protect him for a while, but he cannot protect him forever.

Yan Mingting said: “Aren’t you good at eating, drinking and having fun all day long? You should have some understanding of these trades, why don’t you start some business?”

“Ah, to do business… My father is the right minister, but I am a merchant, will it hurt his face?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Mingting patted his head hard: “Have you lost his face less? If you don’t want to suffer, you can say you can’t bear it. Find any excuses and go aside, don’t block my way.”

Li Yucheng hugged his head and stepped aside. When he saw him enter the mansion, he suddenly stepped forward and stood at the gate and shouted: “Yan Mingting, I’m sorry! Anyway, I was the one who felt sorry for you before, and I will take your advice. Think it over!”

Yan Mingting turned his head and saw that he had turned around and ran away: “You brat.”

In the Imperial Academy, Wang Guisheng was obviously isolated. Only Ruan Xian occasionally took the time to chat with him, and most of the time he acted alone. When he asked others for the classics he needed, he could only get an extremely perfunctory answer.

After a few days, he was somewhat frustrated. He came to a corner of the pavilion and sighed alone. Depression and loss were intertwined, which made him very disappointed with the current situation.

At this time, he saw Zhao Yelan was alone by the window under the eaves not far away, bending over to pick up a pen, not knowing what he was writing.

He got up and walked to the window. As soon as he stood still, he realized that he was drawing a map of the Xuan Dynasty. He was a little puzzled, but the other party spoke first: “What? Do you feel wronged?”

Wang Guisheng said truthfully: “I don’t think I’m wrong. It’s obvious that they are too pedantic. Why don’t they just face their own mistakes?”

“This is the Imperial Academy, and you are both Jinshi. You have arrogance, so do they. You think they are wrong, and they think you are wrong. Why do you have to stick to it? What does it do to you? benefit?”

“But if you blind your eyes, you will only stagnate, don’t think about making progress, and don’t do practical things for the people. What is the meaning of being an official?”

“But you are only a sixth-rank, a junior who has just entered the officialdom, trying to correct their mistakes, isn’t it too aggressive? Why should they listen to you, a brat? You have no power over them, and you can’t compromise The true ability they are convinced can fulfill your so-called official morality for you with just a word of mouth?” Zhao Yelan didn’t want to talk too much to him at first, but wanted him to feel the danger of the officialdom again, so that he would know what he had just said. The truth is easy to break, but his time is running out, “If you still want to blame others, find a cool shade and stay there, don’t bother me here.”

Wang Guisheng pursed his lips and said after a long time, “Then what do you think I should do?”

“Go and learn from him how to deal with the world.” Zhao Yelan raised his chin in a certain direction.

Wang Guisheng looked over and saw that Ruan Xian was listening to the lectures of those old scholars. He didn’t know what he said, and asked those old pedants to stroke their beards and laugh, and then took the initiative to mention some knowledge.

Zhao Yelan sighed when he saw that he was finally willing to let go of his face and ask Ruan Xian for advice.

Of these two, one was too tactful, but lacked real talent, so he put the idea of ​​making a fortune on the people around him, coaxed everyone, and had a greater chance of ascending to heaven together.

The other is too arrogant and upright, ambitious and talented, but too withdrawn in his actions, and the officialdom cannot be prospered all the way by virtue of integrity.

The two of them are good partners who can learn from each other. If they can make use of their strengths and avoid their weaknesses, they can also assist the emperor in the future to solve the big mess left by the previous emperor.

After leaving the government office, he took the money bag and bought all the way from the street to the end of the alley, Mingji’s steamed buns, Huichunlou’s drunken shrimp, Jinxuan’s silk, street gadgets… accidentally bought too much.

After returning to the mansion, he also found a few servants to move things from the sedan chair.

“My lord, why did you buy so many things all of a sudden?” Seeing the scene, Butler Tan had everything, and also helped carry it.

“Be careful.” The things in the bag fell, and Zhao Yelan picked them up. They were two candied haws. I happened to see them on the side of the street, so I bought some.

Butler Tan turned back again, saw the candied haws in his hand, and suddenly realized: “I see, my lord, you are preparing this as a birthday gift for the general!”

Zhao Yelan paused: “Birthdate?”

“Yes, it will be the general’s birthday in six days.”

Zhao Yelan looked down at the candied haws, shrunk his fingers slightly, and frowned slightly—is it unlucky to “die” before his birthday?

Forget it, it’s not too late for these few days, and it won’t be too late to “go” after Yan Mingting’s birthday.

“Hey, general, where are you…?” Butler Tan seemed to have seen Yan Mingting appear at the gate just now, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Yelan looked at the door together with him, and said, “You must be presbyopic.”

At the corner outside the gate, He Cuizhang whispered, “General, why are we hiding?”

“Nonsense, didn’t you hear what they said about the birthday gift?” Yan Mingting rubbed his hands, stood on tiptoes, looked into the courtyard, and looked at the things that the servants came in and out of, “I’m sure Zhao Yelan gave me all those things. Prepared congratulatory gift, if I go out now, won’t I smash his well-prepared surprise?”

“That makes sense… let me see what the adults have prepared?” He Cuizhang also stood on tiptoe, looked into the courtyard, and reported in a low voice, “He has two candied haws in his hand!”

Did not run away!

It must be a congratulatory gift for him, Yan Mingting secretly clenched his fists.

He Cuizhang: “Hey, Xiao Gao asked for one.”

Damn Xiao Gao!

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The author has something to say:

Xiao Gao: Huh? Where are you looking for me? ? ? ? ? ?