Chapter 380

124. Giving gifts is also involution

By the Xunyang River, there was a wharf where a large space had been specially cleared, and a large wave of officials was waiting.

There were many commoners stopping to watch the fun on the periphery, and the Jiangzhou officials who had been waiting for a long time began to whisper.

At the very front of the official group, there were roughly three groups, faintly distinct.

Wang Lengran and his subordinates; Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Prince's family; Rong Zhen, Mistress Miao Zhen, and other female officials, standing in the very middle.

"Someone come."

In the bleak autumn wind, Wang Lengran was the first to become impatient:

"Military Advisor Chen, why hasn't Qin Lao's ship arrived yet? Didn't your office report that it would arrive between 9:00 and 11:00 AM? What time is it now? Making the Prince and the Female Official wait for so long."

Chen You, who was behind, stepped forward, bowed to Prince Xunyang Li Lixian, Rong Zhen, and Mistress Miao Zhen, and then faced Wang Lengran with a bitter face:

"The messenger from Yangzhou said so the day before yesterday. The subordinate confirmed the itinerary with them repeatedly before reporting it to the adults... It should have arrived by reason, strange."

Wang Lengran was a bit restless: "Could it be that something happened on the road... Why is it late for no reason."

After speaking, he glanced at Ouyang Lianghan, who was standing with Prince Xunyang and his son not far away, his face a bit unhappy.

In order to welcome Qin Jingzhen today and leave a good impression on him, Wang Lengran spent a lot of money, consumed his energy, and prepared for a long time.

Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful scenery were all complete.

In particular, Wang Lengran learned from the Wei clan's news source that Qin Jingzhen was a gourmet who loved delicious food. Resting in prosperous Yangzhou, it's hard to say that there wasn't a reason for tasting all the delicious food in Jiang Nan.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, where the average life expectancy does not exceed fifty, living to seventy or eighty is already long-lived.

Other old men of seventy or eighty either have their teeth fallen out or walk with a cane. This Qin Jingzhen is different; he is even more outrageous than "Lian Po is old, can he still eat?" He is worthy of being a military man who has spent his life on the battlefield. It is rumored that he has a huge appetite at every meal and his body is tall and healthy.

This time, after the Empress discussed with the Government Affairs Hall, they dared to rest assured to use this old general, also because he is old but vigorous, and his state is different from ordinary old people.

Since he likes to eat, then cater to his preferences. Wang Lengran sent people to search for special delicacies from all over Jiangzhou.

As long as Qin Jingzhen gets off the ship, the subsequent arrangements are all complete, guaranteeing that he will have enough to eat, and he won't have to repeat the same dishes for ten days.

Wang Lengran has really racked his brains this time, and he feels that his sincerity is full.

In particular, all these actions of his were relatively low-key, hiding them from Ouyang Lianghan and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion. And just a few days ago, Ouyang Lianghan took Li Fusu, the newly appointed Jiangzhou Assistant Governor, down to inspect, and was not in the city.

Just now, when everyone gathered at the wharf in the morning, Wang Lengran glanced at it calmly and immediately became happy.

Sure enough, Ouyang Lianghan and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, apart from people and carriages arriving, did not prepare too many things to entertain Qin Jingzhen. Prince Xunyang Li Lixian should be taking the path of being humble to the virtuous, only bringing the Prince, his wife, and daughter to welcome him.

Wang Lengran sneered in his heart.

Qin Jingzhen is not some cold scholar or mud-legged person; he is a proper son of a Duke, a Guanlong noble.

Now that Qin Jingzhen has obtained the position of Grand General of the Jiang Nan Circuit, even the Prince of Wei has to consciously retreat and give up military power to welcome him with a smiling face.

Now, throughout the court and the public, the Qin family can be described as extremely popular.

If you don't take out something substantial, what's the use of being humble to the virtuous? Still thinking of winning over cold scholars like Ouyang Lianghan and others, relying on the name of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, and drawing big cakes?

These big cakes of blueprints, the Guanlong nobles' ancestors had already eaten enough when they followed the dragon.

Times have changed. Now they are the ones who have successfully cashed in the cakes their ancestors ate and have been fattened up. They have sat on the chessboard and can vote and bet among the candidates for the imperial successor, such as the Wei clan, the Xiang Prince's Mansion, and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, or sit and watch the tigers fight, following whoever wins.

If you don't take out some actual benefits and delicacies, why would people help you?

Still trying to fool people with light cakes like sincerity and sentiment?

Do you think people are obsessed with eating cakes?

Besides, if you really want to talk about sincerity, Wang Lengran feels that their Wei clan's sincerity is no worse than the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

As soon as Qin Jingzhen, who was idle in Yangzhou, was used by the Empress, the Prince of Wei's Mansion sent people to Yangzhou, under the name of delivering the Prince of Wei's message and handing over the military power of the expeditionary army, to contact the Yangzhou Qin family and faintly release goodwill.

In addition, the Wei clan also found out that Qin Jingzhen's eldest granddaughter, Qin Ying, was not yet married and was waiting in her boudoir, and was recently arranging her marriage.

After the Prince of Wei learned this, he specially chose the topic in his letter that a certain outstanding son in the Prince's Mansion was of the right age and lacked a good match, hinting to the Qin family.

In order to facilitate this matter, the Prince of Wei's Mansion specially wrote to Wang Lengran, asking him to act as a matchmaker in Xunyang City today...

All kinds of things, for today, Wang Lengran is fully prepared.

Especially when he came over this morning and took a look, the Xunyang Prince's Mansion really didn't prepare anything.

If both sides welcoming him didn't prepare, or both prepared, that would be fine.

But now, green leaves set off red flowers.

One side is fully prepared with delicacies and gifts, welcoming him warmly.

While the other side has no welcome gifts or ceremonial arrangements.

Comparing the two.

From the guest's point of view, which side appears to value him, and which side appears to slight him, the cold and warm, near and far, are already obvious.

However, Wang Lengran did not completely let down his guard.

Last time at the birthday banquet prepared by Xie Xue'e, he was turned over by Ouyang Lianghan's broken umbrella gift and slapped in the face in public, which he still remembers vividly.

To prevent Ouyang Lianghan from secretly preparing a painting by the Saint of Painting to please Qin Jingzhen again, the Wei clan also spent a lot of money to purchase a painting by Wu Daozi in Chang'an and sent it to Wang Lengran, as a meeting gift for this morning, which is both elegant and expensive...

This preparation of Wang Lengran was naturally seen by Li Lixian and Li Fusu, who came lightly. The father and son understood the stakes and were naturally anxious.

Involution, this Wei clan is even involuting in gift-giving!

They hurriedly let Princess Wei Mei take people back to the Prince's Mansion to prepare heavy gifts. Although they might not be able to compare with the wealthy and well-prepared Wei clan, at least they couldn't lack attitude. The original thin meeting gifts couldn't be taken out at all.

Originally, the father and son Li Lixian realized too late, and it was too late at all.

But who could have thought that Qin Jingzhen's ship would be late, and after 11:00 AM, it was still not arriving.

Seeing that the meal time had passed and it was almost afternoon, there was still no sign of any Yangzhou ship on the Xunyang River.

And the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, which realized it later, took advantage of this time to bleed painfully and prepare gifts and arrangements.

This made Wang Lengran's brows frown even more tightly, and he became impatient and unhappy.

"Hurry up, don't just stand there stupidly, hurry up and send someone to investigate, see if there is any urgent letter sent to the Jiangzhou Government Office... In case something happened to Qin Lao on the road, delaying the court's major event of suppressing the rebellion, none of us can afford the consequences!"

His tone was urging.

"Yes." Chen You took the order and retreated, sending someone back to the Jiangzhou Government Office to investigate.

Ouyang Rong turned a deaf ear to these little thoughts of Wang Lengran today.

Just now, Li Lixian and Li Fusu let Wei Mei supplement the gifts and arrangements, and he thought about it, but didn't go to stop it.

Ouyang Rong was wearing a snow-white cloak today and a fox-white fur shawl, both sent by the Xunyang Prince's Mansion. At this moment, he was standing in the cold wind, looking at the river scenery, with his hands in his sleeves, waiting quietly.

Ouyang Rong didn't speak, but Li Lixian and Li Fusu exchanged glances.

They looked back and saw Wei Mei, who had returned after arranging things, and relief appeared in their eyes.

Wang Lengran flicked his official sleeves, snorted coldly, and paced with his hands behind his back.

On the other side, Rong Zhen and Mistress Miao Zhen looked at each other without speaking, but Mistress Miao Zhen turned around and left with several female officials.

Just as everyone on the wharf was frowning or waiting anxiously.

Chen You ran back hurriedly:

"Found him!

"Prince, Prince Assistant Governor, Senior Secretary Ouyang, Marshal Qin... he has already arrived at the Jiangzhou Government Office, and asked the subordinate to call you back to discuss the major matter of suppressing the rebellion."

Li Lixian, Li Fusu, and Wang Lengran were all stunned.

Mistress Miao Zhen stopped her investigation and looked at Rong Zhen in surprise.

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly:

"Why is there no ship at Xunyang Wharf?"

"Marshal Qin seems to have disembarked at Mount Shuangfeng, and has already entered the city."

Chen You sighed and answered, and everyone lost their voices.

Woo woo woo, late a little... There will be a big chapter at twelve o'clock, I won't muddle through, accompanying the brothers to cross the year

(End of chapter)