klisemfg Chapter 1171 Chapter 1171
Chapter 1171 Chapter 1171
Xiao Bei originally planned to take his wife and children back to Jiangzhou. When he went to Zhengxian Pavilion to report to Pei Jian, Pei Jian paused for a moment, then sent someone to call Pei Hai over. After giving some instructions, he said to Xiao Bei, "I haven't heard that the emperor and the Ministry of Rites have made any changes to the examination next year. It will be held in spring as before. This way, it will only take seven or eight months. It's better to hold it in the capital."
Xiao Bei sighed, "My uncle is right. I have been out for several months. I am a little depressed after failing the imperial examination."
"Victory and defeat are common in the military. You are only in your twenties, and you don't need to lose your ambition because of one or two failures."
Xiao Beilian said he didn't dare.
"The imperial examination has always been a one in a million selection process. You can see that those who can go to Beijing to take the exam are not mediocre, but are all accomplished scholars. If you fail to make the list once or twice, you should calm down and try again."
Encouraged by his elders, Xiao Bei dared not disobey.
"Since Mr. Liu Zhi is in the capital, you should go visit him more often when you have time. Although he did not take the imperial examination in his life, he is knowledgeable and open-minded. If he can teach you a few words, you will benefit a lot."
A few years ago, Pei Jian was severely scolded by Jiang Qu because of the Pei Che incident.
But Pei Jian was not such a narrow-minded person who would hold a grudge against him. Instead, he admired the old gentleman very much.
Xiao Bei stood up and promised solemnly.
"The mansion is deserted, you and your wife should stay in Biluozhai, and if you have any ordinary matters, you can go to your elder sister. We are all one family, so don't be polite and distant."
"I have kept my uncle's earnest teachings in mind, but my wife Zhang is pregnant..." If I stay, I should give birth at home...
When Pei Jian heard this, he didn't take it seriously and was even a little happy.
"Since Huan Ge'er was born, we haven't heard a new baby cry in a long time. Can't I, your great-uncle, come and see such a happy event?"
When Xiao Bei heard this, he immediately bowed down.
"My uncle is open-minded and doesn't care about these red tapes. I am a bit pedantic. I think it is unlucky for a woman to bleed during childbirth. If I disturb the peace of the mansion, it will be my fault."
"What a lie!"
Pei Jian motioned Xiao Bei to sit down. "I have been a soldier on the border and killed countless enemies. I am afraid that is why the number of descendants in your family is very small. I have seen many deaths. Now that I am old, I would like to see a newborn baby. You and your wife should take good care of it."
Since his elders gave orders, Xiao Beisi had no choice but to obey.
"Besides, it's not just you and your wife who are here. Lingbai and his sister will be staying here after the New Year. He's on the list this year, and he'll take the palace exam tomorrow. If he can get a second-place Jinshi, whether he stays in the capital to study or goes out to be an official, we won't know until after the New Year."
After all, they are all of the same age. The Xu Lingbai siblings are humble and polite, so it would be beneficial for them to interact with each other more.
"Ling Bai is smart and thoughtful, and has extraordinary talent. I feel like he and I have known each other for a long time. Uncle, don't worry."
"You can go back and live peacefully. I have asked Dahai to do some research. If Longen Academy is suitable, you might as well go there and study hard for half a year."
what--
Sometimes great scholars would give lectures at Long'en Academy, but the opportunities were rare. Pei An also sent someone to ask, but they just said they were not recruiting.
I didn't expect my uncle to have thought of this so early. Needless to say, I was grateful. Pei Jian smiled sincerely and said, "Silang wants to help you, but he is now in the Hanlin Academy and doesn't have many connections. Jiang Buyi doesn't like him to run around for favors too early, so why don't I ask for you."
Back at Biluozhai, Zhang Fanghui and Li Ma were planning the return trip. Li Ma said, "I think the journey is hard, so why not wait a few more days until you get over your morning sickness before leaving. The weather is not good right now, either it's hot or it's raining heavily, so it's more difficult than on ordinary days."
"Mammy is right. When Silang comes back, I will discuss this with him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Bei had already walked around the screen and entered the inner room. "There's no need to clean up in a big way. My uncle has ordered that we wait until the next spring exam is over before we do anything."
Zhang Fanghui was a little surprised when she heard this.
"Uncle feels sorry for your long journey and the delay in your study. So, can't I take everyone back to Jiangzhou?" Zhang Fanghui thought that only Xiao Bei was left.
Xiao Bei knew she had misunderstood, and the corners of his lips curled up with a smile, "Uncle knows you are pregnant, and he only told you to rest assured and take care of the baby in the mansion. If you make the list next year, it will be a double happiness."
"Uncle..., you don't mind?"
"Whoa!"
Xiao Bei waved his hand, "My uncle didn't care about these things. Instead, he was very happy. He said that the mansion hadn't had any children for many years, and the birth of a baby was a great thing."
Zhang Fanghui used a handkerchief to suppress the sourness on her lips. "Thankfully, my uncle is so tolerant and generous. Otherwise, I would have had belated morning sickness these past few days. It was really tormenting."
Nanny Li had already asked the maid to prepare some sweetened sour plum water. Zhang Fanghui took a bite and immediately felt better.
“This soup is quite good.”
Nanny Li put away the cups and said with a smile, "The Fourth Young Master's wife found the prescription that Miss Hua wrote outside, but it's not a prescription, and there are some errors. There are no common herbs in it, just plums, maltose, roses, and icing sugar. It is said to be effective for morning sickness and acid reflux."
Zhang Fanghui nodded, "It's useful, thank you Guanzhou."
Xiao Bei thought of the joke about Song Guanzhou giving gifts and shook his head, "Luckily she was sincere, otherwise An Ge'er would have to worry."
“This is Guanzhou’s blessing.”
Zhang Fanghui held her belly and stroked it gently, "Eldest sister and Guanzhou are getting increasingly incompatible now, and I, as a cousin, shouldn't say too much. I heard that my eldest sister-in-law told me earlier that as long as the eldest sister doesn't figure things out, she'll have an easy life in this mansion."
"It's naturally better."
Xiao Bei took a sip of her cold tea, "My eldest cousin's wife is a widow, and she is calm and indifferent. I never compete with her. As for the concubines in her room, although my second cousin is a playboy and a womanizer, he is really a good person. They are all cautious and weak in character. They are like mice encountering cats in front of my eldest sister, and they can't do anything."
"That's true!"
"Guan Zhou is open-minded by nature, and he doesn't care about her petty things. He has never been impolite to her on weekdays, but he just doesn't like her no matter how he looks at her. I also asked An Ge'er privately, and he shook his head and said he didn't know."
"Of course I don't know. Silang knows it well. But what can I say to you and me? Not to mention us, I'm afraid I can't say anything to my uncle."
Xiao Bei listened to this and became even more suspicious. "What on earth is this? Could it be that my elder sister and aunt criticized Guan Zhou in the past? But everyone knows about this, and Guan Zhou also mentioned it, saying that he just moved on and didn't think about it anymore."
"enemy!"
Nanny Li brought in another dish of pickled plums in sugar frost. Zhang Fanghui took a bite with a silver skewer. Xiao Bei saw this and even without eating it, he felt the sourness was so bad that his mouth was watering. "Am I wrong?"
"Take you and me for example. You almost killed me in the past. Tell me, on what grounds would I say I don't bear a grudge?"