"Good!" the middle-aged man praised, then glanced sternly at the young man from the Zheng family who was present.
Zheng Jiadalang met the man's gaze and quickly lowered his head.
Zheng Xuanyi followed behind his father Zheng Renji and wiped the sweat from his forehead due to running.
Zheng Renji was filled with anger.
As a "county family", the Zheng family of Xingyang is quite powerful in the local area.
Not only in Xingyang, almost every branch of the Zheng family had people serving as local officials, ranging from county magistrates to prefects.
But no one from the Zheng family has been able to hold a high position in the court for many years.
Originally, the Zheng family of Xingyang made great contributions when Emperor Wen of Sui replaced the Northern Zhou Dynasty. At that time, the spokesperson of the Zheng family of Xingyang in the court was Zheng Yi, who studied with Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian. This relationship should have been very stable.
However, Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty used the excuse of Zheng Yi's bad moral character to repeatedly torture and suppress Zheng Yi and the Zheng family of Xingyang who were behind Zheng Yi. The Zheng family of Xingyang was furious, but they could do nothing.
Although Emperor Wen of Sui restored Zheng Yi's title and official position when he was about to die, and gave him special honors after his death, the Zheng family was squeezed out of the court and never had the chance to return.
After the death of his father, Zheng Renji's lineage was also isolated from the central government. Zheng Renji's elder brother Zheng Qianyi had been guarding the border against the Turks and could not return to the Central Plains. Zheng Renji himself relied on his family's protection and served as a sixth-rank Tongshi Sheren.
Tongshi Sheren was responsible for the affairs of imperial decree and was usually held by celebrities. It was in this position that Zheng Renji met Li Yuan. He was also the one who arranged the marriage between Li Yuan and Zheng family of Xingyang.
The current emperor is building the eastern capital Luoyang, and Zheng Renji is trying to find connections everywhere to get the position of Yingyang Langjiang of Huanyuan Prefecture for his elder brother.
The Eagle General of Huanyuan Prefecture guards the Eastern Capital. Although his rank is currently the same as that of his elder brother, he can finally return to the prosperous Central Plains and no longer suffer from the wind and sand on the frontier.
Now the emperor's brothers are either dead or imprisoned, and his only close relative is his cousin Li Yuan. Although Li Yuan has not yet held a high position in the court, given the contradictory character of the Sui Dynasty emperors who were wary of their relatives but also favored nepotism, Li Yuan, the emperor's only cousin, will definitely be trusted and reused by the emperor.
In addition, the emperor claimed to be filial, and the more rumors of his patricide spread throughout the court and the country, the more respect he would show for his elders.
Madam Dugu was the emperor's only living close relative. Although she seldom asked the emperor for anything, it was precisely because of this that if she could help Zheng Qianyi put in a few good words to the emperor, his position as Yingyanglang in Huanyuan Mansion would be secure.
If it weren't for the fact that Zheng Qianyi and Zheng Renji didn't have a suitable daughter, they would have married her long ago, and why would they let the family members get away with it?
Zheng Renji looked at the young men of the Zheng family, feeling angry and disappointed.
The Zheng family of Xingyang who had some ability in this generation were all serving as officials in other places. The children they valued were basically brought with them to teach. The children who stayed in the ancestral home in Xingyang were either young, not taken seriously, or were side branches with low status.
Have these young people stayed in the ancestral home in Xingyang for too long and really thought they were local emperors, looking down on noble families like the Duke of Tang's Mansion?
Or did they not intend to be too rude, but were just too proud of their talent and lost to two six-year-old prodigies, so they lost their temper and lost their temper?
Maybe both.
Jung In-ki glanced at his son.
Zheng Xuanyi shrank his neck even tighter.
When Zheng Renji heard that his family wanted to test the talents and personalities of the two legitimate sons of the Duke of Tang's Mansion in order to gauge whether it would be easy to be a clan wife of the Duke of Tang's Mansion, he immediately recommended his son to "lead" this matter.
He was afraid that these young men of the Zheng family, who had been spoiled by the Zheng family's reputation, would look down on the second and third sons of the Li family.
I didn't expect my son to be so useless!
Fortunately, my son remembered my instructions and found me in time, otherwise I don't know how it would end.
"I've heard that the names of the two sons of Duke Tang's mansion are known all over Daxing City. Lord Li often boasts about them when we drink. Seeing them today, I find that they are indeed worthy of their reputation." Zheng Renji praised the second and third sons of the Li family with a kind smile, and then bowed to Mrs. Dou and said, "Madam Dou, I am sorry for being rude today."
Zheng Renji had been a guest at the Duke of Tang's mansion. Dou knew that he was a friend of her husband, so she gave him some face and said calmly, "Meet Mr. Zheng. Erlang, Sanlang, Mr. Zheng is a friend of your father, so you should call him uncle."
Li Shimin and Li Xuanba bowed, "Uncle Zheng."
Seeing that Dou didn't seem angry, Zheng Renji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The Zheng family has a long tradition of poetry and literature. They started to read and learn as soon as they could speak. The younger generations are all proud of their talents. In Xingyang, they really have no rivals. When they first saw someone who could rival them, they got too excited and lost their sense of proportion. Alas, their fathers were all officials in other places, and they only brought their children who were already studying with them. There are only women in the family, and they are too indulgent to them."
After Zheng Renji finished speaking, he glared at the young men again: "Do you think this is just a joke between brothers? There is always a teacher among three people. Even if the child is much younger than you, there may be something worth learning. So your family members compete in writing behind closed doors. Among peers, talent is considered instead of age. But these are guests! Do you want to spread the rumor that the Zheng family used more than a dozen people to compete with two six or seven-year-old children, and one of them is already an adult?!"
When Zheng Renji appeared, the feathers on the necks of the Zheng family boys, who were like fighting cocks, had retracted.
After listening to Zheng Renji's reprimand, they bowed and apologized to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba repeatedly.
Zheng Dalang is no exception.
He repeatedly bowed to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba and said, "It's my fault. I should have dissuaded my cousin, but when I saw him sad, I lost my mind."
Zheng Erlang, Sanlang, and Silang, who came with Zheng Dalang, also said, "Friendship is important, but it is impolite to treat guests poorly. We should be punished for neglecting one thing while focusing on another."
Dou's expression was still calm, but Li Shimin looked a little confused.
He didn't understand. The situation was tense just now, but now the carriage suddenly turned around and turned so quickly that the carriage almost flew out.
If you don't know what to do, ask Ah Xuan. Li Shimin immediately looked at Li Xuanba and asked.
Li Xuanba: [This Uncle Zheng is trying to smooth things over. Although he is apologizing to us, he is also giving the Zheng family boys who have been seriously disrespectful a way out. This shows that this Uncle Zheng should be someone who supports the marriage between the Zheng family and my family. Don't say anything, just listen quietly.]
Li Shimin couldn't believe it!
It has come to this, and the Zheng family and his family still want to get married? !
He looked at his mother.
Mrs. Dou had already regained her previous graceful smile. "The descendants of Zheng family of Xingyang, whose literary reputation is known all over the world, have ignored their age and are competing with them. Although I feel sorry for Erlang and Sanlang, I also feel proud and can't even get angry. Erlang, Sanlang, why don't you thank your uncle for the compliment?"
Li Shimin was still dissatisfied and refused to do as he was told.
Li Xuanba: [Listen to your mother, don't be stubborn. ]
Li Shimin took a deep breath, suppressed his depression, and bowed with Li Xuanba again in unison: "Thank you for the compliment, uncle."
Zheng Dalang's face looked very unhappy. Are these two really going to step on him to become famous? !
Although he was dissatisfied, he could not disobey the elders in the Zheng family, otherwise he would be punished by the family rules. He could only suppress his dissatisfaction in his heart and prepare to write a letter to his father in private to complain.
Dou said, "You should also thank the young men of the Zheng family. It is they who gave you two the opportunity to prove your talents. Thank you, brothers."
Li Shimin and Li Xuanba bowed and said, "Thank you, brothers from the Zheng family."
This time Zheng Xuanyi did not disappoint his father's hopes. He immediately returned the greeting: "No, no, it's us who are being rude."
Led by Zheng Xuanyi, the other young men of the Zheng family were also led to return the greetings and apologize again.
Dou said, "Okay, return the jade pendant. Playing is one thing, but taking other people's property is wrong. Even if someone else started it, you can't let your moral character deviate."
Li Shimin: "!!" What! I won the jade pendant with my own ability, why should I return it? !
Li Xuanba: [Listen to my mother.]
Li Shimin swallowed the rebuttal with grievance, and he and Li Xuanba returned the jade pendants one by one.
They returned the gifts one by one and bowed one by one.
The young man from the Zheng family had no choice but to apologize to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba one by one again.
Li Xuanba: [Tired.]
Li Shimin: [Ah!!!! ! ! ! ]
Li Xuanba: [Hahahahaha. ]
Li Xuanba couldn't help but laughed at his second brother's loud "Ah".
Everyone's eyes fell on him.
Li Xuanba made up an excuse: "I was very angry before, but now I think about it, the game just now was also very interesting. I just feel sorry for my brother. I don't know how long his voice will be hoarse."
Li Shimin cooperated very well to cover for Li Xuanba. He made an aggrieved expression and said, "Ah Xuan, are you making fun of your brother?"
Li Xuanba nodded: "Yes."
Li Shimin pulled Dou's skirt and said, "Madam! Look at Xuan! Teach him a lesson!"
Dou laughed and said, "Okay, Madam, teach him a lesson. Sanlang, stretch out your hand."
Li Xuanba stretched out his hand.
Dou slapped Li Xuanba's palm lightly and said, "Okay, Your Majesty will help Erlang teach Sanlang a lesson."
After the fight between Dou, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, the atmosphere became a little better.
At this moment, a silly kid stood up and completely eased the atmosphere.
A chubby child who looked about the same age as Li Shimin and Li Xuanba hesitated for a moment, then took off the jade pendant from his neck and held it up to them eagerly: "You are all so awesome, can you accept my jade pendant and jade pendant and be my brother from now on? My father always says that I am stupid and without a brother to take care of me, I will definitely be taken away by a wolf in the future."
Li Shimin and Li Xuanba: "???"
Zheng Xuanyi quickly pulled the silly child back: "What did you say? There are so many brothers in the family, who are you looking for?" Who is this cousin? Why don't you have any impression?
The silly child was about to answer, and a female relative whose clothes were slightly older than the other female relatives rushed up, hugged the silly child in her arms, and apologized to everyone: "My child has been stupid and stupid since he was a child. He can't even recite the Thousand Character Classic. I'm sorry to make Madam Dou laugh. You are stupid again!"
The silly child bit his fingers, looking confused.
His silly look successfully made everyone laugh.
Li Shimin couldn't help laughing.
Li Xuanba didn't find it funny, but since everyone was laughing, he curled up the corners of his mouth politely.
The silly child glanced around at the smiles of the people around him and lowered his head.
Li Xuanba sighed inwardly; [Brother, clean the broken copper coin you found and give it to him.]
Although Li Shimin didn't understand why, he still did it.
After carefully wiping the copper coin on his sleeve, he stood on tiptoe and handed it to the silly child in his mother's arms: "This is for you."
The silly child's eyes lit up, and he quickly reached out and held the coin tightly in his hand.
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "When the Duke Tang's Mansion and the Zheng family of Xingyang become relatives, my second brother and I will indeed be your brothers. When you grow up, come and visit our house."
He remembered that this silly child was hiding at the back of the crowd and was pushed out by his brothers to compete with him. He could not even recite the Thousand Character Classic with a stammer.
During the competition, the silly boy held the jade pendant tightly with tears in his eyes. But after losing, he handed the jade pendant over with admiration on his face, causing everyone present to laugh.
When Li Xuanba was boiling water, the silly kid tried to help but was stopped by him.
With this silly look, Li Xuanba was really worried that he would get burned.
But at least the silly boy has this kind heart. Compared with other arrogant and rude children of the Zheng family, he can be considered a silly boy with a kind heart.
Li Shimin saw that Li Xuanba took the initiative to invite the silly child to his home, and he understood.
Although Ah Xuan would find a lot of excuses to cover up his soft-heartedness, he definitely just couldn't stand seeing these people laughing at a stupid kid who had done nothing wrong.
"What's your name?" Li Shimin gave the silly child his signature cheerful smile.
The silly child said: "Zheng Guang! Brother, my name is Zheng Guang!"
Li Shimin smiled and nodded: "I remember it."
The silly child smiled silly and his snot was running, which made everyone laugh again.
His mother smiled and cooperated with everyone else, and quickly wiped the child's nose.
Zheng Renji felt relieved when he looked at the child, whose family he couldn't remember but judging by his clothes, he should be from a remote branch of the family.
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The child's stupidity succeeded in completely easing the atmosphere.
When I get back, I'll find out who this child belongs to and give him some financial support.
Li Xuanba listened to the laughter of the crowd and his eyes drooped slightly.
Li Xuanba: [Brother, tell mom that your throat hurts badly and you want to go home.]
Li Shimin ran back to Lady Dou and said coquettishly, "My queen, my throat hurts a little. Can I go home now? I miss Yeye. Yeye is waiting for us to go home. He said that he would personally roast a lamb for me and Ah Xuan in the evening."
Li Xuanba: "…" What roasted lamb? Second brother really speaks without thinking.
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "Mom, I miss my father too."
Dou took the ladder handed over by Li Shimin and Li Xuanba and said, "Erlang and Sanlang are young, and their father hasn't seen them for a long time. Before leaving today, I carefully reminded them to go back in time to roast the lamb. I'll take my leave now."
Zheng Renji winked at Mrs. Cui.
Madam Cui immediately stepped forward and said, "Let me see you off."
Dou said hurriedly, "How dare I trouble the old lady?"
Mrs. Cui smiled and said, "It's okay. I see these two children really like you very much. I wish they could stay with you for a while longer."
Dou said, "Then I will respectfully obey your command."
Old Madam Cui personally saw Dou off the door.
Zheng Renji is a stranger, and even though he just came out to smooth things over, it is still not easy for him to personally send Dou away.
He stayed where he was. Only after Dou left did his face darken.
"What on earth are you doing?!" Zheng Renji scolded, "If I hadn't happened to be in the mansion today, how would you have ended up? Do you still remember that the Zheng family is going to marry the Tang Guogong family?! Go back and reflect on yourself! I will write a letter to your father and let him deal with you!"
Zheng Renji waved his sleeves and left.
Zheng Xuanyi trotted away with his back hunched, following his father under the implicit "tattling" looks of the other young men in the Zheng family.
The women brought their own children and comforted them with heartache, saying that they had been wronged.
The silly child's mother quietly stepped back and wiped away her tears.
Little Zheng Guang stretched out his hand, and the copper coins in his palm were sweating from the grip he made: "Mother, I have a new brother, and he is very capable. Mother, you don't have to look for a brother for me anymore and go and sew clothes for others."
The woman's tears, which had just stopped, began to flow again.
She kissed her son on the forehead, who was dumber than other children due to a high fever, and did not answer him.
…
"I remembered!" Li Xuanba slapped his forehead.
Li Shimin was curious: "Ah Xuan, what did you remember?"
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "Nothing, I'll tell you when you're sixteen."
Li Shimin: "???!"
He jumped up to tickle Li Xuanba, but was pulled away by Dou: "The carriage is moving fast, don't play around."
Li Xuanba hid behind his mother.
He couldn't tell his second brother now that the silly boy named Zheng Guang was most likely your future confidant when the army was raised in Jinyang. He was only sixteen years old and went to the Qin Palace alone as a soldier.
Zheng Guang's political status was not high during the Zhenguan period, and there were few historical records of him. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, he led an army alone, but the glory was given to his deputy Xue Rengui. His talent and family support were both average.
However, every time Emperor Taizong of Tang promoted a meritorious official, he would mention his official position and title, and he also instructed Emperor Gaozong of Tang to let Zheng Guang be buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum, which shows that he liked him very much.
Zheng Guang, a member of the Zheng family of Xingyang, was closely attached to the King of Qin, and "lowering his status" to start from a small soldier and a low-ranking general. He found this historical material strange when he looked it up.
Judging from what happened today, could it be that Zheng Guang had also met his second brother in the original history?
Seeing that Li Xuanba ignored him, Li Shimin changed the subject himself: "Alas, isn't the Zheng family of Xingyang a famous family? Don't famous families know the rules? Is this their rule?"
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "Mom, father will still marry into the Zheng family, right?"
Li Shimin's eyes widened: "Madam, the Zheng family is so annoying, do we still want to marry them? No, I hate them."
Dou smiled bitterly.
Li Xuanba said expressionlessly, "Brother, do you know why the Zheng family is so arrogant? It's because of this. Even if they are unreasonable, others will not do anything to them for the sake of the Zheng family in Xingyang, and will continue to marry them eagerly."
Li Shimin held his head and shook it: "I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen, I hate the Zheng family! I don't want a daughter from the Zheng family to be my sister-in-law!"
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "Father wants the brand of Zheng family in Xingyang and their influence in the local area. Now, thanks to mother's wit, Zheng family agreed that we can use their children's reputation to become famous as an apology. The Duke of Tang's Mansion not only did not suffer any loss, but also gained a small profit. So father should be satisfied with today's trip."
Li Shimin held his head and continued to shake it: "What small profit? Without the Zheng family, can't you and I become famous? We are the second and third sons of the Duke of Tang, and we know a lot of powerful people! As long as we have talent, how can we not have the opportunity to become famous? Why do we need the Zheng family to make us famous? At worst, we still have the emperor's cousin! The emperor's cousin praised us personally, saying that we are better than the Zheng family? How can you say that as if we are taking advantage of the Zheng family!"
Li Xuanba shrugged: "This is indeed the truth of the world. Second brother, have you not read the history books until the Northern Qi Dynasty?"
Li Shimin, who was holding his head and shaking, paused: "It's almost there... Hey, Xuan, don't rush me."
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "I'm not rushing you. In each generation, the Zheng family of Xingyang will select the most talented person and send him to the court with all the strength of the family. He is the spokesperson of the Zheng family in the court. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the spokesperson of the Zheng family in the court was called Zheng Daozhao. He was the leader of the literati of the time, and everyone praised his style."
Li Shimin kept holding his head: "And then?"
Li Xuanba rolled his eyes. "His eldest son, Zheng Yanzu, was greedy for money and committed adultery with his cousin. His granddaughter first married Guangping Prince Yuan Ti and then married Gao Huan, committing adultery with her own son. She is obscene and rude, and her reputation is known all over the world."
Dou covered her face and said, "Ah Xuan, you...ah!"
Li Shimin held his head and exclaimed: "Wow!"
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "When the Sui Dynasty was first established, Zheng Yi was the leader of the Zheng family in the court. Zheng Yi was extremely greedy and extremely unfilial to his stepmother. He neither allowed his stepmother to return to her parents' home nor supported her. He drove her out of the mansion to fend for herself. Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty could not stand it and gave him the "Book of Filial Piety" and demoted him to a commoner."
Li Shimin held his head and exclaimed again: "Oh my God!"
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "Zheng Yanzu was a general of cavalry and a minister of ceremonies when he was alive. After his death, he was given the titles of governor of the three states of Yu, Yan and Ying, Duke of Sikong, and governor of Yuzhou. Zheng Yi was reinstated during his lifetime and was given the posthumous title of 'Da' after his death. Their bad reputations are well known to everyone, but people still say that the Zheng family of Xingyang has a clean family tradition and noble family background, and their children are role models in the literati community."
Li Xuanba took a deep breath and said, "Zheng Yanzu's daughters are still being chased by suitors. Everyone curses Zheng Yanzu and Zheng Da Che for being lewd and rude, while praising Zheng's daughters for their noble character and being suitable for marriage."
"Do you understand? Brother, the nobleness of a noble family is due to their plaques. People praise them only because of that plaque, not because of how noble or excellent they really are. Noble families control the most pens, and those famous articles are all for them to brag about to each other."
"Others need to demonstrate noble character and outstanding talents to join them, but they themselves do not need to do so."
"It's like the Nine-Rank System. A low-rank scholar must be extremely outstanding to be in the emperor's eyes, while a high-rank scholar is considered high-rank even if he is mentally retarded."
"Oh, a family with a clean and upright tradition? The more famous the family, the less rules there are, because they don't need to abide by the rules. They are the ones who make the so-called rules of the famous family!"
Li Shimin put down his arm that was holding his head, squeezed next to Li Xuanba, and touched his brother's head.
Li Xuanba: "…What are you doing?"
Li Shimin said, "Ah Xuan, don't get excited. I know you are very angry, but don't get excited. You are not in good health. You will feel uncomfortable if you get too excited. You will also get tired if you talk too much. Come, follow me and take a deep breath."
Li Xuanba: "…I'm not excited."
Li Shimin nodded: "Yes, yes, come, take a deep breath, and then calm down. Why not just close your eyes and sleep for a while with your brother?"
Li Xuanba turned his face away: "No sleep."
He took small, deep breaths. Li Shimin used his sleeve to wipe the sweat off Li Xuanba's face.
Dou sighed deeply and felt extremely tired.
She forced herself to speak, "I have inquired about the reputation of your future sister-in-law. She is a virtuous woman, not a villain who relies on the false reputation of the Zheng family. Don't worry. Mother will definitely seek justice for you for what happened today. She will not stop until the Zheng family bleeds."
Li Shimin nodded: "I believe in mother. Ah Xuan, quickly say you believe in mother! Don't be angry, don't get excited anymore."
"I'm not angry, nor excited." Li Xuanba said weakly, "Of course I believe in mother...ha...hmm."
He calmed down and felt really sleepy.
Li Shimin pointed at his shoulder and said, "Go to sleep."
Li Xuanba lay down on his mother's lap and closed his eyes.
Li Shimin laughed and scolded: "You are so good, Ah Xuan, you still complain that my shoulder is uncomfortable, right?"
The corners of Li Xuanba's mouth curved up slightly.