The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

The days passed slowly.

In October, Zhou Ziming finally gave the official order, letting Zhang Pingan be responsible for preparing for the mission to the Western Regions.

Zhang Pingan respectfully accepted the task. Now everything else was almost ready, except for the person to lead.

As the year draws to a close, the various government offices become busier and busier. Throughout the year, all the delayed government affairs must be completed before the year-end inspection.

Even a senior official like Zhang Pingan is very busy.

At the same time, some officials from other provinces who had completed their three-year term and needed to return to Beijing to report on their work also came to Beijing one after another.

It is also necessary to treat people to a meal and build relationships.

As an invited guest, Zhang Ping'an had no choice but to entertain people when he met one he couldn't refuse.

I'm really tired.

But the good news is that he will be able to see Lin Junhui again soon.

After returning to Beijing to report on my work this time, I believe my rank will be promoted one level. It would be best if he could stay in Beijing and be my colleague.

"This damn weather is getting colder!" Lord Wang said while looking out the window with a hand warmer in his arms.

In fact, Zhang Ping'an thought it was okay. There were fire dragons under the palaces in the palace. As the Privy Council was an important government center, it was natural that fire dragons were also lit.

It’s just that Lord Wang is old and lives a life of luxury, so he is very afraid of the cold.

"I don't know when it will snow," another person next to him said.

"According to the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, it is estimated that it will snow in about half a month," Zhang Ping'an replied after finishing the last stroke and putting down his pen.

"It's okay for you guys who live nearby, but we who live far away will suffer if it snows," someone said worriedly, shaking his head.

"You're not coming here in a sedan chair, so why worry?" Lord Wang shook his head and suggested, "How about we go have some mutton hotpot together after we're off duty?"

"Hey, this is a good suggestion. We should eat hot pot in the winter. It will warm our whole body after eating it," someone agreed.

"Ping'an, what do you think?" Lord Wang got support and turned to ask. Calling by name was also a way to show closeness and was not considered an overstep.

Zhang Pingan thought that he had nothing to do in the evening, so he nodded and agreed: "No problem for me. I haven't eaten hotpot for a long time, so it's a good time to change the taste! Wait a minute, I'll ask Lord Guo if he wants to go with us!"

In fact, everyone knows that Lord Guo will definitely not go. He has been busy interacting with people above him recently, hoping to make his daughter the prince's concubine.

Who has time to deal with their subordinates?

But whether the people above go or not is one thing, and whether they ask or not is another, so the necessary procedures must be followed.

As expected, after Zhang Ping'an went over and asked politely, he was politely declined by Lord Guo.

Looking at the blisters on the corners of Lord Guo's mouth, Zhang Ping'an felt worried for him.

After finishing their shift, everyone got on the sedan chair and followed Lord Wang all the way to the restaurant he recommended.

The location is quiet in a bustling city, the entrance is not conspicuous, but there is a different world once you go inside.

Several plum blossoms in the courtyard are in bud, emitting a pleasant fragrance.

Mr. Wang was an old customer, and the shopkeeper knew him and took a few people directly to the private room.

The room suddenly became warm after a fire dragon was lit. Everyone took off their cloaks and chatted while waiting for the food to be served.

The most concerned thing is the current prince's wedding.

For people of their status, eating can never be just about eating.

"The position of Crown Princess is already set in stone, and now the positions of the two concubines are also being fought over fiercely. Fortunately, I don't have any daughters of marriageable age at home to worry about. I see that Lord Guo's mouth corners are blistered with anxiety. It's really not easy," someone said.

This statement is full of gossip.

The highest-ranking official present was Zhang Ping'an, and everyone couldn't help but look at him, wanting to get some information from him.

Zhang Pingan waved his hands innocently. "Don't look at me. I don't have a wife to manage the household affairs at home. I really don't know anything about what's going on in the backyard. Instead of asking me, you might as well ask Lord Wang."

As everyone knows, Lord Wang has five generations living under the same roof. Although he is not the highest-ranking official, he has a large family and is definitely the most informed about this kind of gossip.

Everyone turned their attention to Lord Wang upon hearing this. Lord Wang drank a cup of hot tea calmly before slowly saying, "I think Lord Guo's eldest granddaughter is not completely hopeless."

"What do you mean?" Someone tactfully helped to add another cup of tea and urged.

"Although there are many people in the court who are of higher rank and more powerful than Lord Guo, such as the Cui family, the Lu family, the Qian family, etc., the daughters of many families are either not old enough or not of high status, and are not suitable. Lord Guo is working so hard, I think there is a chance," Lord Wang did not keep it a secret.

He could understand Lord Guo's thoughts very well. Although she was the prince's concubine, her identity was still very respectable when it was made public.

The most important thing is that the prince's position is now stable. If he can give birth to a legitimate eldest son first, he is likely to become the crown prince or even the next emperor.

How can this not make people excited?

In other words, his family didn't have a suitable daughter, and his family background was not good enough, otherwise he would have tried his best.

Zhang Pingan actually couldn't understand this idea and really didn't think being a relative by marriage was a good thing.

You should know that many relatives by marriage in history did not have a good ending.

Before Lord Wang could say anything more, the food arrived.

He kept his mouth shut cautiously.

After everyone had eaten and drunk some food, they had learned almost everything they wanted to know.

Zhang Ping'an knew that if Lord Guo could really get what he wanted, his position in the Privy Council would probably be more stable in the future, and he would have to be more cautious.