Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 309: Fence-Sitter (Additional chapter for Fantuan's return to see the leader of Yueguan)

Yang Yuan drove to the bank of Jinghu Lake, and occasionally saw pilgrims going to "Miaoxiu Temple" to burn incense.

There are also many tourists visiting Mirror Lake.

Although there is a lot of undeveloped land in this area, it also attracts a lot of tourists.

Wen Tian brought the construction engineer and was gesturing at the 15 acres of land belonging to the Yang family. When he saw Yang Yuan, he hurriedly led the construction engineer over.

Yang Yuan listened to Wen Tian and the construction engineer explain the design ideas to him. For example, the buildings of the houses are basically the same, so there is nothing much to say.

However, Wen Tian's idea of ​​connecting to the river, leading to Jinghu Lake, and building a small lake in the manor, so that the boats moored in the lake can sail directly from Yang's house into Jinghu Lake, made him feel enlightened.

However, Yang Yuan still could not accept that such a big house was not used at all. After thinking about it, Yang Yuan proposed to the construction engineer that he should build some street-facing storefronts next to the street adjacent to "Miaoxiu Temple".

Yang Yuan thought that he could build some shops here in the future, which he could use for his own use or rent out.

Running a spice shop, incense and candle shop, rouge and powder shop, etc. here is just right for the many women and tourists here.

Since they were using their own store and had no rental costs, they let the maids and servants who stayed behind in the manor to look after the store. Even if they were not aiming to make money, they could still save on the expenses of these servants.

After hearing this, the builder began to write and draw on the blueprint to write down the boss's ideas.

At this time, a light carriage drove out from Miaoxiu Temple.

There were three women in the car, one was a plump beauty, and the other two were dressed in black clothes and eating noodles in clear soup. The three of them sat side by side, like a peony, with two lotus flowers, one blue and one white, on its left and right.

Yang Yuan saw that it was Dan Niang and Qing Tang in the car, so he walked over.

When Dan Niang saw Yang Yuan, she showed a happy expression on her face. She bowed to him and said, "Prince Wang."

The driver stopped the car when he saw this.

Yang Yuan glanced at the plump beauty and smiled, "Where are Master Dan'er and Master Tang'er going?"

Dan Niang replied, "I was invited by Madam Tian to go to the residence of Mr. Qiao of the Transportation Bureau to receive a vegetarian meal."

Yang Yuan had just come back from Qiao Zhen's place and after some contact, he had a good impression of this person.

He already had the clue of Shanyin Military Commander, so there was no need to investigate Qiao Zhen again.

However, it was naturally inconvenient to say this idea at this time, so he nodded and said, "I see, my mansion is about to be built, and in two days I will have to trouble you to help me perform a ritual to exorcise evil spirits and pray for blessings. I won't bother you any more at this moment, please, two little masters."

Yang Yuan retreated to the side of the road and bowed with a smile.

Qingtang sat at the outermost side of the car, with a little finger delicately placed on her lips, her eyes as rippling as spring water as she looked at Yang Yuan.

Ever since he hooked up with his master's grandfather behind his master's back last time, Xiao Qingtang seems to have developed some strange attributes.

She felt it was particularly exciting to do it secretly in front of Dan Niang.

Mrs. Tian smiled and nodded to Yang Yuan, and the car continued to start.

Madam Tian retracted her gaze and said to Dan Niang, "Master Dan'er, who is this young master?"

Dan Niang replied, "This young man's surname is Wang, and he is from Longshan, Lin'an. When he came to my Miaoxiu Temple to pay homage a few days ago, he said that he had bought a house here. Here, it is this piece of land. He wants Miaoxiu Temple to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for him."

"I see." Mrs. Tian agreed with a smile.

Mrs. Tian did not notice Qingtang's little action, and Dan Niang's behavior was flawless.

But a woman's intuition still made her feel that there was something wrong between the two parties.

At least, there is something wrong with this young master of the Wang family.

When it comes to the groundbreaking ceremony, more people go to the Taoist sect than to the Buddhist sect. And among the Buddhist sects, more monks are chosen than nuns.

This young master of the Wang family not only looked for a nunnery, but also looked for a nun with unshaved hair to help him perform rituals. This is a bit funny.

Although Mrs. Tian had never heard of the saying "The drunkard's intention is not to drink", she understood that the young master of the Wang family had bad intentions.

Mrs. Tian felt relieved that she had chosen to invite Master Daner to come when the master was not at home.

If my master sees this, there might be a little sister competing for food in the trough in the future.

……

That night, Yang Yuan explained the second part of "Sleeping Dragon Technique" to Emmanuelle Belle.

The first part is the foundation of "Zhelong Gong", and the second part is the most important practice.

Yang Yuan considered telling her the next chapter in three days, but just as he started, Wen Tian knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Master, I want to see Qiao Caosi from the Transportation Department."

Yang Yuan was immediately delighted. So fast?
Who said that Qiao Zhen is irresponsible? This man is very decisive and efficient in doing things!

Yang Yuan hurriedly signaled to Bei'er to step aside, then stood up and went out to greet him.

"Brother Qiao, thank you for taking care of me so late at night."

Because they were outside, Yang Yuan did not expose Qiao Zhen's official status.

Yang Yuan invited Qiao Zhen into the living room, and Wen Tian tactfully prepared tea.

"No need, no need. Qiao will leave right after I finish my business. The government has issued new table method and lowercase number method. Qiao will go back and urge all the officials to be familiar with their use."

Qiao Zhen took the opportunity to express how busy she was, then turned to Yang Yuan and said with a shameful look on her face: "Erlang, I am sorry that I have failed to live up to the trust of the Wuguan."

Yang Yuan's heart sank. Was this something that was not done properly?

Qiao Zhen said with a puzzled and indignant look on his face: "When the court was about to be dismissed, I stopped the official business at hand and rushed to the Duzuoyuan."

At this time, Wen Tian still made tea and brought it over. Qiao Zhen took it with both hands and nodded slightly.

Qiao Zhen continued, "Qiao told me about the intention to borrow the craftsmen, and I thought that Commander Shen would give me this honor, but who would have thought..."

He frowned and asked doubtfully, "Erlang, when did you offend Master Shenxi?"

Yang Yuan's heart moved, and he asked, "Why, is Shen Xi involved in this?"

Qiao Zhen said angrily, "That's right! Shen Xi instructed Commander Shen of the Capital Works to not care about your affairs. To be honest, I am ashamed to say that my little face is not as good as Shen Xi's in front of Commander Shen."

Yang Yuan's mind was moved, and he said, "Could it be that Shen Xi... and Commander Shen are from the same family?"

Qiao Zhen said: "If not for this, Qiao, a deputy transport envoy, should have more face than Shen Xi."

Yang Yuan asked doubtfully, "But doesn't our dynasty have a system of appointing officials from other places? If Commander Shen is from the Shen family..."

In order to prevent officials from sacrificing national interests and seeking personal gain for their relatives and neighbors while serving in their hometowns, successive imperial courts, through constant exploration, summed up a rule: local officials must serve in other places.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, this rule only stipulated that people from the county were not allowed to hold official positions in the county.

During the Song Dynasty, the regulations were further refined based on the actual drawbacks that had arisen. Local officials not only had to avoid their native place, but they were also not allowed to serve as officials if they owned real estate in a place other than their native place.

For example, if Yang Yuan was no longer a Beijing official but was sent to a remote place, he would definitely not be assigned to Shanyin.

Because he bought land and property in Shanyin, even if his native place was not in Shanyin, he could not be an official in Shanyin.

Qiao Zhen said with a fake smile: "This Commander Shen is a judge assigned to the Capital Court by the Ministry of Justice.

Although he is a member of the Shen family, when he took the imperial examination, he used... ahem, Erlang, you must have heard of the method of 'impersonating', right? "

Fortunately, Yang Yuan had just passed the imperial examination and knew some tricks of cheating. Although Qiao Zhen's words were a little cryptic, he still understood them as soon as he heard them.

Jiangnan has always been a prosperous region with many scholars. This means that it is much more difficult for scholars in Jiangnan to take the imperial examinations than in other places due to the limited admission ratio.

Therefore, some scholars from the south of the Yangtze River would try every means to move their native place out and impersonate the native place of others from other places.

However, assuming one's nationality was not just to make it easier to pass the imperial examination. For many children from wealthy families, there was another reason.

Because they had to serve as officials in other places, scholars from the Jiangnan region, once they passed the imperial examination, would be assigned to serve as officials in remote areas such as the southwest and northwest.

But what if he was originally from the southwest or northwest region and passed the imperial examination? Where would he go to serve as an official?

Therefore, some wealthy families spend money to change the native place of their children, not because they cannot pass the exam, but to gain an advantage when allocating official positions, which is why they become "college entrance examination immigrants."

Yang Yuan never thought about the second reason. He just thought that Commander Shen was a loser who couldn't pass the exam and cheated, and he couldn't help but feel contempt for him.

Such mediocre talents, who can't even pass the exam, take advantage of the loopholes in the imperial examination by "impersonating others". It's really a shame for the country...

Huh? I think I cheated too?

The crow doesn't mind the pig's blackness, so forget it.

Yang Yuan nodded and said, "So that's how it is. Shen Xi and I did have some issues, although it wasn't my fault..."

Qiao Zhen was filled with shame, and he smiled bitterly, saying, "No matter what, I have greatly lost face this time, and I am really ashamed of Erlang. I cannot accomplish this matter, and I am truly sorry."

Yang Yuan quickly stood up and said, "Brother Qiao, you are so busy with official duties, but you can still go and help me immediately. I will be grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Although the matter was not accomplished, it was also due to the conflict between Wang and the Shen family. Brother Qiao, you have been embarrassed by it. It is Wang who should feel bad. Brother Qiao, please do not take it to heart."

Qiao Zhen said shyly: "Erlang is generous and can understand Qiao's difficulties, Qiao is satisfied.

Alas, Qiao has to go back to the government office. I have to work all night to learn the table method. I won't delay any longer. Goodbye, goodbye."

"Brother Qiao, wait a moment."

Yang Yuan asked someone to do something for him, and even though the other person was busy as a whim, he still did his best to help him.

As a result, because he had a feud with the Shen family and the official who was in charge of the Duzuoyuan was a member of the Shen family, things didn't get done. How could he blame others?
Yang Yuan was moved and hurried into the inner room.

When he came to Shanyin, he prepared three visiting gifts, just in case of need.

When I visited Lu's house before, I gave Lu You a set of fine inkstones and two kilograms of good ink. I still have two sets on hand now.

Yang Yuan hurriedly took out a set and wanted to give it to Qiao Zhen.

When Qiao Zhen saw this, neither of them was willing to accept it. One of them insisted on giving it to her, while the other insisted on refusing, and they were arguing until they were both blushing.

Seeing this, Yang Yuan had no choice but to give up, but he admired Deputy Envoy Qiao's character even more.

He had really wronged the person before. This person was not only a corrupt official, but also a capable official with very good official character.

Yang Yuan escorted Qiao Zhen all the way out of the inn, thanked him profusely, and then politely watched him go away.

Qiao Zhen gently lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and saw that Yang Yuan was still standing at the door of the inn. After the carriage drove away, she chuckled and lowered the curtain.

Qiao Zhen said leisurely: "Let's go back home!"

He leaned back, closed his eyes, tapped his knees lightly, and began to sing a piece of opera:
"How can a person live well in this world? Just be a blade of grass on the wall. When the wind blows, it will fall down. But you will have food, clothes and a full stomach..."

Yang Yuan watched Qiao Zhen's carriage go away, sighed softly, and returned to the inn.

That Shen Xi is really a person of no character. Just because someone doesn't want to "change wives" with you, you deliberately take revenge?

However, Yang Yuan really had to compete with him, because he had to use these craftsmen from the workshop.

It was not to compete with Shen Xi, but only in this way could he get those suspicious craftsmen without alerting any parties.

Now it seems that the only thing to do is to go to Prince Yongjia.

When the time comes, he will tell Zhao Yu, Prince of Enping, about his relationship with him. I think Zhao Shicheng, Prince of Yongjia, will definitely give him face.

With Zhao Shicheng's presence, even a small courtyard house could not be a problem for him.

Because he still had this trump card in his hand, Yang Yuan was not panicked. He just felt a little aggrieved that he had wasted a favor from Deputy Envoy Qiao.

When Yang Yuan returned to the room, Bei'er had already taken the gift, which Qiao Zhen had refused to accept, back to the inner room.

Seeing Yang Yuan coming back, Bei'er asked worriedly, "With Shen Xi interfering, can this plan still be implemented?"

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "It's okay, I still have a relationship that the Shen family can't suppress, I just didn't want to bother them, after all, our status is too far apart.

Now it seems that I will go to visit him tomorrow. Come, let's practice the Hibernating Dragon Technique first."

Since the next part of the exercise was too complicated, Yang Yuan only taught her one route today. This route was from the Dazhui point on the back all the way down to the Pushan point on the ankle.

In order to make it easier for Emmanuelle Belle to understand, Yang Yuan still had to give her personal "instructions".

Because this time the meridian runs from the top of the spine all the way down to the ankles, the two of them returned to the inner room.

Belle lay on the couch, and Yang Yuan pointed out and explained the acupoints one by one.

The finger moved gently downward in a smooth curve until it reached an astonishing fullness, as smooth as water flowing over rocks in the water, but the feeling from the fingertips was like lightly tapping jade in the palm of the hand.

Belle was stimulated by the vague feeling, and her toes curled up tightly due to the slight itch.

But Belle secretly glanced at Yang Yuan, and saw that Yang Yuan had a serious expression and was explaining very seriously, and she couldn't help feeling ashamed.

She is a Knight of the Holy Rose, Guardian of the Holy Cloth, and an honorable lady, but she doesn't have as much self-control as Mr. Yang.

Yang Yuan only touched the Pu Shen acupoint on Bei'er's ankle with his fingertips, and then said calmly: "At this point, this meridian has formed a cycle of its own.

Well, now that you have a photographic memory, start practicing. Don't forget to write down everything you learned and felt before midnight."

After Yang Yuan finished speaking, he stood up and said with a smile: "I'm going to walk on the street, you start!"

Without waiting for Belle to try to persuade him to stay, Yang Yuan turned around and left, waving his sleeves without a trace of reluctance.

The door creaked and closed in one go.

Belle lay on the couch, biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, and a sense of resentment suddenly welled up in her heart.

Is Mr. Yang really a gentleman? Or does he just look down on me?
Otherwise, how could he not be moved at all in this situation?
Belle has always been a little conceited because of her beauty, but now she can't help but doubt her own charm.

(End of this chapter)