A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 292 The Grand Wedding (Seeking monthly votes at the end of the month)
Song Ji was a notorious playboy in the Song family of Ningling.

His facial features are adequate.

He swindled a lot of money from young women.

Especially after Song Ji became even more arrogant after his second brother passed the imperial examination.

He was proficient in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

He divorced for money.

Marriage is still for money.

Song Ji was very carefree during that period.

However, with the death of his second brother, the Song family lost its official "support," and no one indulged him anymore.

Even Grandpa Song's doting on his youngest son had its limits; it was time for him to realize his mistake.

Song Ji's reputation is ruined.

It would be much harder for him to swindle money from young women.

Not to mention that Song Xuan was "forced" to start his own household and support himself when he was only eight years old.

All of this shows that he had children purely for his own pleasure and had no intention of raising them properly.

This is also why Song Xuan was able to transmigrate into the body of a dying child.

Song Ji, the father, met Song Xuan's gaze.

He instinctively shivered, quickly stood up, and shouted:
"Young master."

Old Master Song and the magistrate of Ningling County paused for a moment in their wine glasses.

Song Kang, the second brother who was also a gambling addict, also lowered his head deeply.

His own grandfather had his leg broken because of Song Xuan.

Therefore, he felt more fear than anything else towards Song Xuan!
If his legs hadn't been trembling, he would have stood up like his father and called out, "My lord."

When Song Xuan left Lema Town for Song City, he took the opportunity to deal with the other two scourges.

Song Kang was the one who orchestrated the plan to collude with outsiders to rob Song Xuan of his property.

Because the father and son had checked their accounts, and both of them had been beaten with sacks over their heads more than once, it was obvious that Song Xuan had ordered it.

This kid has been ruthless since he was a child.

Now that he's become a top scholar and holds an official position, he can get others to deal with him with just a few words.

Song Xuan gave a forced, insincere smile.

He was used to the deep barrier that had grown between them.

This was something he did on purpose.

Do you really think that the title of the head of the three scourges of Lema Town was spread for nothing?

Song Hao sat to the side, and seeing his biological father say such things, his heart sank even further.

My third brother is very capable.

From now on, everyone will depend on him for survival.

However, Song Hao did not speak; he also deeply disliked his father and second brother.

Can you find a good person among gamblers?

what a shame!
Despite the official's call, Song Xuan didn't speak, but simply picked up his wine cup and headed to the next table.

In the Song Dynasty, officials were often addressed as "Guanren" by ordinary people.

The magistrate of Ningling County put down his wine cup.

The top scholar's relationship with his father is indeed exceptionally bad!

However, the top scholar started making a living at the age of eight, and I didn't have this idea when I was eight years old.

The magistrate of Ningling County sighed inwardly; faced with reality, he had no sympathy for Song Xuan's father.

It's impossible to tell the difference between the two kings.

Song Ji immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He sat down with a sigh of relief.

Although everyone congratulated him on having a son who would become the top scholar, Song Ji knew very well how bad the relationship between father and son was.

There was not a trace of fatherly affection left between the two.

However, Song Ji was still somewhat smug.

At least Song Xuan didn't even invite his mother.

I heard that when he passed the imperial examination with top honors, that woman came to see him once, but Song Xuan politely refused her.

After all, nowadays most families live together in male-dominated communities.

Song Xuan's mother, who had remarried, had become a daughter-in-law in another family, and she hadn't taken Song Xuan, who was like a burden, with her.

Grandpa Song felt it was inappropriate to invite her.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sir."

Old Master Song spoke a few words to the county magistrate.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter."

"Since ancient times, even an upright official has found it difficult to settle family disputes."

"Come, let's drink this cup together." The magistrate of Ningling County raised his cup again.

He doesn't get involved in such things. Didn't you see that even the top scholar didn't say anything?
He knew perfectly well who he was here for, not to show off!
Song Xuan then walked over to his "gang" of people, raised his wine glass and laughed heartily, telling them to eat and drink well.

Their sanitation team has been quite busy lately.

The public toilets at Yingtian Academy were so crowded that even cleaning them once a day wasn't enough.

"We wish the top scholar a speedy rise to the position of prime minister."

Zhen Guannan and the others were all smiles; people from the marketplace don't hold back when they speak.

In particular, the Song Dynasty did not engage in literary inquisitions among the common people, nor did it have any "anti-Song and restore Zhou" organizations.

Those military leaders almost unanimously supported Zhao Kuangyin's ascension to the throne, and some were even impatient for it.

The Song Dynasty's domestic policies were also extremely lenient.

Otherwise, those merchants wouldn't dare to openly build their roofs higher than the imperial palace.

After all, their backing is getting stronger and stronger, who wouldn't be happy?
Not to mention that Song Xuan's father-in-law was Cao, the Privy Councilor.

Regardless of the policy of valuing civil officials over military ones, in their eyes, those were high-ranking officials who were out of reach.

Not to mention that Cao Li still had a certain degree of popularity among the people.

Song Xuan laughed a few times:

"It's too early to talk about that. The most important thing for you two is to get married and have children."

“Our private school will be built in a few years. When that happens, the other brothers will send their children over. I’d like to see who isn’t anxious.”

"Yeah."

Ji Hao wore an extremely excited smile.

Anyway, my wife is pregnant.

Following Song Xuan, there's no need to worry about food or drink.

No one dares to bully him.

There will be more than enough room to raise several children in the future.

A few years later, when they grow up, they can attend a private school without having to spend money.

If we could also pass the imperial examination early like my twelfth brother, our family would truly be blessed with good fortune.

Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing Song Xuan's words.

They all said they would hurry up and have a baby when they got home tonight.

We will never let Song Xuan enjoy the joy of the wedding night alone.

Even if they don't have a talent for studying, their children could become study companions with Song Xuan's offspring, which would be an excellent way out!

The worst outcome is still that the son follows in his father's footsteps.

I'll be a poop-scooping boy.

Moreover, everyone could predict that Song Xuan's future was limitless.

This is a rare opportunity for them to curry favor with a powerful figure.

Perhaps this will bring prosperity to the whole family.

Song Xuan was young and it didn't matter, but he then gave a warning to the group of people who were a little older.

If you want to have a child, you should quit drinking and exercise for six months in advance.

Otherwise, the child born in the future will be prone to illness and may have disabilities.

These people also acknowledged Song Xuan's medical skills.

"Did you all hear what Twelve Lang said?"

Zhen Guannan shouted:
"Especially those brothers who feel inadequate in bed, you should pay more attention in the future."

"Hahaha."

Everyone burst into laughter, each boasting that they were exceptionally good at it and that they had lasted a very long time.

Song Xuan greeted the group before heading towards the main table.

The Cao family was quite surprised that Song Xuan would host such a large banquet.

At this time, it was the direct descendants of the Cao family who arrived.

Other relatives, such as Cao Rui, and Cao's in-laws, were all preparing to attend in Tokyo.

At the very least, the topic of Mr. Sanwei's extravagant wedding should be brought down a bit.

The wedding of the Three Gentlemen will be held again, or something like that.

When Cao Yuan saw his brother-in-law Song Xuan coming over, he immediately grabbed the wine jar, wanting to have a good drink with him.

"You, Song Twelve, you kept this from me for so long."

With their leader Cao Yuan's words, the other brothers naturally followed suit.

"He always says he's a weak scholar, too frail to even kill a chicken."

Cao Yuan stood up.

Actually, he wasn't short, but he looked a bit thin standing next to Song Xuan.

"When I found out, I discovered that you could draw the Three Stone Bow like it was nothing, and you even managed to subdue all the hooligans in the entire Song City!"

Everyone looked at Song Xuan with smiles on their faces.

Cao Xu's eyes were full of admiration.

No wonder Songcheng has such good public security.

They were all dealt with by her brother-in-law, Song Xuan.

In addition, the Beggars' Sect was also controlled by Qu Ze.

What remains is truly a group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people who are unable to support themselves, acting as lookouts on the streets.

The rest were also eliminated.

Alternatively, they could work for a sanitation team to earn money.

Or Song Xuan would arrange for someone to take care of him, using his beggar identity as a cover.

"To be honest, I am a weak and bookish man."

Song Xuan sighed and said:
“I wouldn’t dare to hit someone easily. The things you mentioned, brother, were just something I started. It was Wang Gui who actually did the fighting. He’s extremely skilled.”

"After my wedding in Tokyo, he was going to join the Imperial Guard."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Cao Yuan put his arm around Song Xuan's shoulder:

"With your physique, brother-in-law, you could easily pass for a frail scholar."

"That's it."

"On another note, are hooligans really that skilled in martial arts?"

Song Xuan took a sip of wine and laughed, "Even if you were to fight three of us, you wouldn't be at a disadvantage!"

Upon hearing Song Xuan's words, Cao Yuan immediately straightened his chest.

If he can't even beat a scoundrel, then he's a useless member of the Imperial Guard.

Cao Liyong knew of Song Xuan's archery skills and also knew of his desire to make a name for himself in the Northwest.

After all, the Song and Liao dynasties had signed an alliance, so wars were rare.

Unless the Song Dynasty wanted to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, or the Liao Dynasty was not satisfied with the small amount of money paid in the treaty.

After all, there were rumors every year that the Liao Kingdom would invade Tokyo.

However, it's not so easy to make achievements in the Northwest.

The main reason was that Cao Li was not very confident in the Song army.

Despite the small size of the Western Xia population and territory, it was able to defeat a Liao army of 500,000.

It can be described as a victory of the weak over the strong, which immediately boosted Li Deming's reputation.

Especially in the Northwest, if you can fight, you have more say.

After all, in the past, it wasn't up to Li Jiqian's branch of the Li family to make the decisions.

Zhao Guangyi demanded that Li Jipeng's relatives within five degrees of kinship come to Tokyo as hostages.

Li Jiqian lied to the Song Dynasty envoy, claiming that his wet nurse had died, escaped, started his own business, and raised a banner to rival the Song Dynasty.

The legitimate military governor of Dingnan, Li Jipeng, was given the name Zhao Baozhong. Before his death, he said that his son was of poor character and begged to be exiled to Chunzhou.

However, Emperor Zhenzong thought he was delirious from illness and refused to agree. Instead, he sent his son to Yongzhou as a deputy governor and assigned a military supervisor to oversee him.

His grandson, Zhao Congji, is now a minor official in the palace, just like Cao Yuan, standing guard for the emperor.

This path was an important promotion system for military personnel in the Song Dynasty.

It can be said that Cao Yuan, Zhao Congji and others were promoted in order of their positions as palace guards, and then passed through the ranks of left and right attendants, eventually reaching the high position of military governor.

However, this track is too winding, and very few people can reach the top step by step.

Yang Wenguang started guarding the palace when he was fifteen or sixteen years old. He didn't get promoted much until he was over forty when Di Qing took him out to make a name for himself.

Zhang Shide was actually quite pleased with Song Xuan's talent in both literature and martial arts.

After all, military men of the Song Dynasty could not be completely trusted.

The lingering effects of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period are too strong.

However, if civil officials understand military affairs, they will certainly not give orders recklessly in the future, and will be able to effectively control impulsive military men.

The imperial court will surely give him an important position.

But there were very few people like that in the Song Dynasty.

The academy could not possibly cultivate someone like Song Xuan, who was proficient in both literature and martial arts.

Scholars are quite pragmatic.

Everyone studied hard for ten years, all hoping to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi.

As for learning martial arts, or rather, practicing archery, I have neither the inclination nor the energy.

Others may not know that the unspoken rule of the Song Dynasty was to control the military through civil administration, but don't they?
Li Di and Song Qi, who were accompanying him, stared wide-eyed.

Little did they know that Song Xuan could also draw a three-stone bow.

Song Qi learned that Songcheng was safe because of Song Xuan.

Song Xuan reformed those impoverished people, getting them to take up the business of cleaning latrines.

Song Qi knew he couldn't do that.

But inviting them all to Song Xuan's wedding today was truly beyond Song Qi's imagination.

Are we all on the same page?
As for the Three Stone Bow, Song Qi had never heard of it at all.

Li Di was completely clueless; he was new here and knew nothing!
"All right."

Cao took over the topic:

"What are you doing, a mere Imperial Guard, trying to outdo a down-and-out? If you're really ambitious, you might have a chance to smash the enemy's head when you go to guard the border."

Cao Yuan chuckled twice before sitting down.

Cao Liyong looked at Song Xuan:

"Twelve, I thought you had just a lot of friends, but I never imagined you had so many!"

"I made quite a few friends while working away from home when I was young."

Song Xuan poured himself a glass of wine and then toasted his father-in-law.
"On such a joyous occasion, please invite them over for a celebratory drink."

"Hahaha."

Li Di burst out laughing; he was laughing at Yan Shu's good luck!

Cao Yuan's words were definitely not empty talk, indicating that Cao Shizhong was already aware of Song Xuan's behavior in Songcheng.

However, Cao Yong did not expect that the largest group of Song Xuan's friends were not his fellow students, but many common people without official positions.

"Come."

Li Di raised his glass and said, "On such a joyous day, the top scholar should have a few more drinks."

"Thank you, Prefect Li. I am an old acquaintance of yours."

Song Xuan drank it all in one gulp.

"The top scholar impressed me three years ago, and I never expected him to be the same three years later."

As the local prefect, Li Di was quite respectful.

After all, the only time they had contact before was during the "Dou Chou Case".

Li Di had served as prime minister, but was dismissed by Ding Wei through abuse of power.

When competing with Ding Du for the position of Hanlin Academician, Ding Du, being a member of Lü Yijian's faction, was promoted with Lü Yijian's help, thus preparing for his promotion to Vice Prime Minister.

As long as the Hanlin Academicians are from Lü Yijian's faction and there are enough of them, they have a very good chance of rising to the top.

Li Di, who lost the competition, was able to obtain the lucrative post of Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture through Wang Zeng's arrangement.

Song Qi was also aware of what Li Di had said.

However, at that time, he was riding high and paid no attention to Song Xuan, this "distant poor relative" with no good reputation.

Li Di and Cao Liyong also belong to the same camp.

Because neither of them were close confidants of the Empress Dowager.

"Come on, come on, have some food! This cooking is really good."

Cao Yongli didn't want his son-in-law's abilities to become known to others, so he still needed to take precautions.

Song Qi's older brother, Song Xiang, was a staunch confidant of the Empress Dowager.

Among the newly appointed scholars, none could compare to his treatment.

When the auspicious time arrived, people were specially assigned to greet them.

Originally, Zhang Shide was supposed to do this, but he was getting old and was panting a bit, so he felt he shouldn't bring bad luck to the newcomer.

Therefore, they invited Li Di, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, to serve as the master of ceremonies.

Li Di was somewhat surprised. He had simply come to attend the banquet and hadn't expected to be given such an assignment, but he didn't refuse.

At this moment, Song Xuan's courtyard was filled with people, both upstairs and downstairs, even on the walls.

In the courtyard, a wedding hall draped with blue cloth curtains was set up, with shrines to Heaven and Earth and ancestral tablets.

The blue cloth had already been laid out on the ground, as part of a ritual to prevent the bride from stepping on it.

The outfits of men in red and women in green.

The newlyweds perform the "handkerchief" ceremony.

Song Xuan held a knot made of red and green satin, and walked backwards, holding one end, to guide the bride, Cao Qing, to step over the saddle (symbolizing peace) and across the blue cloth strip or felt mat laid out at the threshold (the custom of "passing the mat").

Li Di, as the master of ceremonies, sang:
"Bye! Rise!"

Song Xuan and his wife first bowed to Heaven and Earth, then to their parents, and finally bowed to each other as husband and wife.

Except at this time, ordinary people are not allowed to worship heaven and earth.

That was reserved exclusively for the Emperor of the Song Dynasty.

Local officials could only worship the local mountains and rivers; many other mountains and rivers, such as Mount Tai, were not allowed to be worshipped there.

You are not qualified.

In the later stages of the struggle between Li Di and Lü Yijian, Li Di said he wanted to pray to the emperor for a good harvest and to offer sacrifices to the mountains and rivers of Yanzhou, but Emperor Renzong of Song directly ordered him to stop.

Cao Liyong smiled with satisfaction.

This completes the ceremony; the next step is to escort them to the bridal chamber.

Madam Cao quickly instructed her maid to step forward and cut a lock of hair from each of her daughter and son-in-law's sides, tying them into a "joined bun," and then tying them into a brocade pouch with colorful thread—this was the "tying of the hair" ceremony.

We should share the same bed in life and the same grave in death.

This brocade pouch containing the "wedding vows" will be taken to my coffin in the future, barring any eventual divorce.

"It's done!"

After Li Di shouted loudly, it was followed by shouts from the crowd.

"Send to the bridal chamber."

"Entering the bridal chamber."

Even Zhang Fangping came to join in the fun:

"Twelfth Brother, congratulations on being able to hum in your sleep now."

A joke unique to the two of them. Song Xuan smiled helplessly: "Don't be envious of your brother's path of no return."

"Once I return to Tokyo, I will certainly look for a suitable one."

Zhang Fangping had no doubt that if he were to marry into a military family, he would have to make sure he wasn't overwhelmed by the choices.

Amidst cheers and blessings from the crowd, Song Xuan, holding Jin's hand, led Cao Qing into the master bedroom on the second floor.

At this time, she was not wearing a veil, but using a fan to cover her face. This was because Song Xuan recited a poem about removing the fan.

Therefore, the bride's elegant makeup can be seen at this time.

The crowd cheered and watched as the two of them went inside.

A large number of children followed, because Li Di was also asking the Creator to scatter the tent song.

Many new copper coins and fruits were thrown onto the wedding bed, prompting the children to scramble for them.

It symbolizes many children and blessings in the future.

After several rounds of grabbing, Li Di had nothing left to give away, so he chuckled and told all the children to go outside.

He personally closed the door behind him. Soon, Song Xuan and the other person would drink the nuptial wine and then consummate their marriage.

Since it was on the second floor, it wasn't good to eavesdrop on the walls; I just stood in the corridor.

Cao Liyong instructed his three married sons to guard the gate and prevent unauthorized people from disturbing the peace.

Especially the wedding night pranks, with activities like "teasing the bride and groom".

Song Xuan had quite a few brothers, but their relationship with him was generally lukewarm.

After all, he has someone like his father around.

The other cousins ​​were all afraid that their children would be led astray.

It's good that the eldest son was adopted out.

The second son inherited his father's mantle and became a gambling addict.

The third brother, Song Xuan, was even worse.

But having become the "number one of the three scourges of Lema Town," how could he allow his child to play with Song Xuan?
Of course, Song Xuan also doesn't like playing with children.

Who would have thought that the despised Zhou Chu would transform into the top scholar of the Song Dynasty, who achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations and even married the daughter of the Privy Councilor?

Such a contrast caught Song Xuan's relatives off guard, leaving them somewhat bewildered.

In other words, Song Xuan's cousin had the advantage of being close to the source and benefited from the advantages brought by his nephew.

If you want to enjoy this kind of benefit again in the future, it will be very difficult to find another opportunity.

After all, we weren't really familiar with each other before!

Cao Qingyao was both excited and nervous because her mother had given her a book on the way here.

It records some of the sexual positions and postures related to the Duke of Zhou's rites, such as how to give birth.

In these kinds of situations, the teaching is usually rushed, and then students learn through hands-on practice and figuring out more experience on their own.

Nowadays, Cao Yong's family doesn't have that kind of custom, so he first lets the maids test Song Xuan's quality to see if he's good enough.

After all, the Cao family hadn't been in power for very long and hadn't yet developed the bad habits of a "powerful family."

Even when Zhao Zhen got married, palace maids personally taught him how to have sex, ensuring that the emperor knew how to conduct himself in bed.

Song Xuan took off his hat, along with the flower.

He still didn't quite understand the custom of men wearing flowers in their hair.

Song Xuan placed the gold belt on the table as well, glancing at the somewhat nervous Cao Qingyao:
"Have you eaten?"

"I ate something."

"Come on, have something to eat to tide you over."

Song Xuan beckoned Cao Qing over and said, "Why don't we just drink some wine? Your stomach is burning."

"it is good."

Cao Qingyao walked over with a flushed face and sat down at the round table.

There was food in the room, just so the young couple could replenish their energy.

Song Xuan leaned back in his chair, pondering how to develop more of his own people in the future.

Despite the fact that Wang Zeng, as the prime minister, subtly held more power than Lü Yijian, Lü Yijian still expressed his submission.

However, Lü Yijian was secretly making arrangements, and many important positions were filled by his people.

Song Xuan had already incurred the wrath of the Lü faction, and he never imagined that such a matter could be easily overlooked.

The Lü faction was also "relying" on the Empress Dowager, and their main target was Empress Dowager Liu E.

Should I write a bizarre story about "the prince being replaced by a raccoon dog" to test the waters?
It remains to be seen whether Zhao Zhen can accept this fact and quickly understand the reasons behind it, thus putting on an act of ignorance in front of Liu E.

This can shatter something you've believed in for over a decade, something many people find hard to accept.

Cao Qingyao ate while glancing at Song Xuan, who was resting with his eyes closed.

She never imagined she would get married so soon.

Because she always felt that this marriage was a completely unexpected and delightful surprise.

They didn't even give her enough time to react. Now they're married, just waiting for the final step: drinking the nuptial wine and practicing the trivia taught in the picture book in bed.

"My lord, won't you eat something?"

Cao Qingyao saw Song Xuan start pouring wine and panicked for a moment.

"I already ate outside."

Song Xuan patted his belly:

"I'm just a little thirsty. Take your time eating. It's a long night, and the party outside hasn't ended yet. I haven't even locked the door. No rush."

"Then pour me a cup too, sir. I'm afraid you'll drink it all and won't be able to fulfill your mother's instructions."

Song Xuan smiled, poured Cao Qing a glass of wine, and then filled the special double-gourd cup with wine.

This is the vessel used for drinking nuptial wine.

The room's soundproofing is indeed only so-so.

The noisy drinking games were already starting in the courtyard; it was the men from the latrine-collecting team having a drinking contest.

Song Xuan achieved such success.

They were genuinely happy!

In particular, Song Xuan is loyal and protective of his own, as long as they don't dare to break the law or violate regulations.

As the daughter of a military general, Cao Qingyao was straightforward and asked the question that had been on her mind for a long time.

"My lord, have you truly fallen in love with me at first sight?"

Hearing Cao Qingyao's question, Song Xuan grinned:
"I rejected even the prime minister's daughter without hesitation. What do you think?"

Cao Qingyao couldn't help but smile when she heard Song Xuan's question.

"Let's drink."

After Song Xuan and Cao Qingyao drank from the double-connected gourd cup, Cao Qingyao took it.

You should also place the cups and saucers upside down under the bed, one facing up and the other upside down; if they are arranged in a yin-yang pattern, it is considered an auspicious sign.

Cao Qingyao stared intently, but upon realizing it was an auspicious sign, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Song Xuan with delight.

"Let me take off that headpiece for you, it might get stuck in your hair later."

"it is good."

After all the headdresses were removed, Song Xuan hugged Cao Qingyao tightly.

Cao Qingyao felt goosebumps rise on her arms, her body stiffened for a moment, her mind went completely blank, and she completely forgot the practical actions in the drawing.

It wasn't until Song Xuan picked her up and gently placed her on the bed that Cao Qingyao subconsciously swallowed.

The noise outside did not affect the operations inside.

Cao Liyong sat in the chair, holding a small wine glass in his hand, unable to contain his smugness.

If I had had a child earlier, perhaps I could have witnessed my eldest grandson's remarkable achievement of passing the imperial examination.

That would be a legendary achievement, producing two top scholars in the imperial examinations.

There were several such examples in the Song Dynasty, including the Zhang Shide father and son who were sitting nearby.

Song Qi was pulled aside by Old Master Song to speak with the magistrate of Ningling County.

Li Di sighed:

"I heard that Xia Song has been appointed as the deputy privy councilor. It seems that he will have a chance to become the prime minister in the future."

"It's difficult."

Cao Liyong didn't mince words: "He and Lü Yijian don't get along well."

Zhao Zhen admired Xia Song, but how could such an important position be promoted without the approval of Empress Dowager Liu?

Ultimately, Xia Song is also one of Empress Dowager Liu's men, but he is skilled in political maneuvering.

The two are now allies of interest, working together to maintain Empress Dowager Liu's authority.

However, Lü and Xia were by no means "parties".

Lü Yijian wanted to be the leader of the traditional scholar-officials, but Xia Song did not want to submit to Lü Yijian and eat the leftovers of a middleman.

The two of them could have joined forces, but Lü Yijian, in order to monopolize power, repeatedly suppressed Xia Song.

Even during Fan Zhongyan's reforms, Lü Yijian died, and Xia Song became the core of the conservative faction. He joined forces with Zhang Dexiang, a former subordinate of Lü Yijian, to attack Fan Zhongyan and protect the vested interests of the group.

However, Lü and Xia were still not true allies.

Their relationship is more of a temporary collaboration and competition in the power struggle.

Now that Xia Song has come to the central government, he wants to seize "power" from Lü Yijian.

Lü Yijian did not support Xia Song becoming the next prime minister of the Song Dynasty, the "decision-maker".

Even if Xia Song wanted to "choose" and had others to support him, Lü Yijian would not agree!
This is why, even though the two are currently on the same side, Cao Yong still believes that Xia Song will not continue to rise in rank.

Li Di glanced at Cao Liyong and thought that Cao Liyong was not confused.

For the past two years, there has been a rumor in the court that Cao Liyong has become a nice guy, and apart from military matters, he has no good ideas.

However, when it comes to military matters, his vision surpasses that of others.

When Xia Song's matter was brought up at this moment, a single sentence revealed that he had been hiding himself all along.

"Could it be that Prime Minister Lü is capable of making such a decision?"

"If he can't make the decision, can you be kicked out and become the prefect?"

Cao's rhetorical question immediately put Li Di on the defensive.

He had thought he would be promoted to Hanlin Academician, and his next step would be to the central government.

The relationship between Li Di and Liu E also improved somewhat.

Who would have thought I'd be kicked here, with the excuse of gaining more experience?

"I'll get some experience!"

Li Di was immediately enraged by Cao's actions.

“Lord Wang is not one to form cliques, but Lord Lü is different.”

Cao Li put down his wine glass:

"So if Prime Minister Wang can no longer serve as prime minister, Prime Minister Lü can continue to serve as prime minister. What do you think?"

Li Di was once a prime minister.

Although he had grievances against Lü Yijian, he couldn't help but admire his abilities.

Unfortunately, despite being the top scholar, he lacked the quick wit and intelligence of others.

One slow step leads to a slow step at every step.

Li Di believed Cao Liyong's words, but he felt more frustrated because he realized that he couldn't even see things as clearly as Cao Liyong, a mere warrior.

How will I be able to fight against Lü Yijian in the court in the future?

"you're right."

Li Di admitted helplessly, "I don't have any good solutions right now."

"some."

Cao Yong put down his wine glass and stared intently at Li Di. The wine had a bit of an effect on him, giving the impression that he was about to talk nonsense after drinking too much.

But Li Di was somewhat curious:

"Minister Cao, what plan do you have?"

"Whether it's Lü Yijian or Xia Song, what they rely on is nothing more than the Empress Dowager of the current dynasty."

"The Empress Dowager often had the same thoughts as Empress Wu, and you can see it in her behavior."

"Therefore, if you, Li Di, want to gain a foothold in the court and oppose Lü Yijian and others, you are actually opposing the Empress Dowager's power."

"Then there is only one way: get close to the Emperor!"

"Get close to the emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Li Di fell into thought; he did want to.

Unfortunately, the current government is just a puppet.

The fact that he was not Empress Dowager Liu's biological son was kept secret for so long without being leaked, which is enough to show Empress Dowager Liu's skill.

"The officials have grown up."

Upon hearing Cao Liyong's words, Li Di immediately perked up.

Given Cao Liyong's status, he certainly wouldn't speak without a purpose.

Song Xuan was the top scholar appointed by the emperor and was summoned by the emperor many times.

What they said to each other is probably unknown even to Song Xiang, the Imperial Diarist.

So, what Cao Liyong revealed today is the Emperor's idea?
Li Di was still somewhat hesitant, wondering if the Emperor already knew about his identity.

"What does the Emperor mean?"

"What could the Emperor possibly mean?" Cao Li waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't think about those things. I'll just ask you if you're willing to spend your whole life serving as an official outside the capital, never to return to the central government to work for the government again!"

Li Di was naturally unwilling.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be so full of complaints.

Li Di nodded, indicating that he would think about it.

Cao Liyong was too lazy to say anything more to him.

Li Di also felt that with Wang Zengzhi around, they could eventually bring him back to Tokyo.

Anyway, since these are allies being courted, and no one else is hearing what we say today, we can just not acknowledge it.

If Li Di were to tell anyone, who would accept him in the future?

Song Dynasty officials had to declare every day that they would not form factions, but was that even possible?

The relationships are complex and intertwined; at most, they won't be needed when one's entire family is exterminated.

The Song Dynasty generally did not have the opportunity to use the punishment of executing nine generations of a family against its officials.

The lively banquet didn't end until late at night.

Tao Hong and his men tidied up; they would set up a stall on the street again tomorrow at noon, and then it would be up to the others to take care of things.

The Song family members who came all stayed at inns.

Song Ji had also drunk quite a bit, and at this moment he felt unsteady on his feet, as if he were floating on clouds.

Of his three sons, only Song Xuan is married so far.

Song Hao was adopted out; he had originally accepted being chosen as a son-in-law by the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

As the brother of the top scholar and ranked high, he was robbed.

However, Song Hao always wanted to win the top scholar title, so he didn't agree to any of them and wanted to wait for the best offer.

As a result, it ended up being stuck with me.

Since he failed the imperial examination, the families who wanted him as their son-in-law have calmed down.

Some people are stuck at the threshold of the imperial examination their whole lives.

Seeing Song Xuan's extravagant wedding, Song Hao secretly clenched his fists, determined to pass the imperial examination and bring glory to his ancestors!
But my grandfather walked at the front of the line, a smile on his face.

Today can be considered a day of glory for our ancestors.

They will return to their hometown together tomorrow, take the bride to pay respects at the ancestral graves, and then return to Tokyo to hold the wedding ceremony.

The second son, Song Kang, was just like his father, a gambling addict, and no one wanted to arrange a marriage for him.

However, after Song Xuan became the top scholar in the imperial examination, it is unknown whether any family, out of respect for Song Xuan, would try to curry favor and push their daughters into a pit of fire.

"Father, have you heard?"

Song Kang walks a little slowly because his leg was broken.

"what?"

Song Ji felt honored today, as many people came to flatter him.

"My sister-in-law's dowry filled ten large boats, which are currently docked at the pier."

"A dowry of ten ships?"

Song Ji let out a burp: "No wonder he's the Privy Councilor, he's really rich!"

"Yes, we should be able to see it when we take the boat home tomorrow."

Song Kang also sighed.

How carefree it would be to send yourself on a boatload!
But he only dared to think about it; he never dared to say it aloud.

The third brother's influence in Songcheng is much stronger than it is in Lema Town.

Now that he has an official position, he is truly someone you can't afford to offend.

Old Master Song cared a lot about Song Ji and his son, and because he distrusted them, he wanted to avoid causing trouble for Song Xuan.

Tomorrow, when we drink the tea offered by the new bride, it's best to avoid any unexpected trouble.

I'll have to give him a talking-to later.

Zhang Shide and the other teachers did not stay long. After drinking, they were invited by Zhang Shide to return to Yingtian Academy together.

After all, the letter from the former dean, Fan Zhongyan, had been sent back.

The issue of tuition fees for students enrolling outside the designated area still needs to be discussed further.

Ji Ying looked doubtful: "Dean Zhang, is this really feasible?"

"Both students and teachers can benefit from this move."

Zhang Shide sighed: "The main problem is that more and more students are coming to study abroad, and the academy doesn't have that much money to spend."

"Not even Song Xuan's place?"

After all, Song Xuan used to be the one who provided the most prizes. In recent days, due to the popularity of his status as the top scholar, a large number of people have gone to Song Xuan's bookstore to buy lottery tickets and other similar items in hopes of bringing good fortune.

With sales visibly increasing, how could we not have money?
"Do you think it would cost a lot of money and grain just to feed six or seven thousand people for one lunch?"

"The queue at the cafeteria takes two hours. We've steamed several large pots of rice, but it's still not enough. We need to keep steaming."

After Zhang Shide said this, no one said anything more.

The more people there are, the more carts there are.

The toilets reserved for these teachers were often occupied.

Wang Zhu agreed with Song Xuan's method:

"Gentlemen, Song Twelve's business acumen has been thoroughly proven."

"It is not harmful for the academy to accept a group of students who have entered by paying a lot of money."

Those who were teachers understood.

Even students who are admitted through normal examinations may never pass the palace examination and become Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), let alone those who pay to get in.

Zhang Shide nodded:

"Wang Zhu has already said that I am old and it doesn't matter whether I eat more or less."

“Some of you have experienced the academy’s difficult times, when you couldn’t even support your wives and children. How could you teach students with peace of mind at the academy?”

"We will naturally follow the dean's arrangements."

Ji Ying has never experienced it, but she doesn't want to:
"But how do we publicize it?"

"Furthermore, we would appreciate it if the dean could provide a pricing plan."

"this?"

Zhang Shide was really not good at this kind of thing, so he looked at Wang Zhu, hoping that he would take care of the details.

If too little is asked, it will increase the burden on the academy; if too much is asked, there is a risk that no one will come, and the academy's financial pressure will not be alleviated.

Wang Zhu was not intimidated: "Gentlemen, how much money do you think is appropriate? After all, whether the money is too much or too little, the goal cannot be achieved."

They are skilled at teaching and nurturing students, and are not afraid of it at all.

But when faced with this kind of pragmatism, not only are they collectively at a loss, but they also can't keep up with the thinking.

Therefore, no one made a sound.

Zhang Shide also felt that he really had no ideas, and he was not good at this.

Wang Zhu watched the group staring at each other and sighed inwardly.

When Dean Fan was in charge, how much did he worry about?

Ji Ying quickly offered a suggestion:

"Since it was Song Twelve's idea, and he has a talent for business, why not ask him for details?"

(End of this chapter)