vstars Chapter 277 New Year's Atmosphere
Chapter 277 New Year's Atmosphere
As soon as Zhou Chang sat down in the study, Zhong Yu came to report on the various situations inside and outside the palace.
Relying on the **Hong in the south, despite various restrictions, he still opened three medical clinics and drug stores in three places before the New Year.
Zhou Chang sighed in her heart. She still had no impression of what this person looked like.
If I have the chance to meet you, I would thank you in person.
Zhong Yu also talked about internal and external accounts.
After listening for a long time, Zhou Chang finally understood something: don't expect to get back the money you spent. In the first place, that money was not used to make money from business, so you might as well not hold out any hope.
Chen Yuan and ** Hong from Yidanxing are in the north and south respectively. This year, they will not come back to celebrate the New Year due to work.
Zhou Chang thought about the various benefits he didn't get as a worker in his previous life, so he wanted to compensate them: "Then I'll trouble Mr. Zhong to give them a big red envelope as a token of my appreciation. Of course, everyone in the mansion has been busy for a year, so they should also be given a big red envelope."
"I would like to thank Your Highness on their behalf." Zhong Yu rarely relaxed his brows, feeling very pleased.
"Crackle, crackle..." Just as he spoke here, the sound of firecrackers was heard outside the study courtyard and outside the east wall of the palace.
"Is the parade of Prince Xian not over yet?" Zhou Chang looked towards the window in the direction of the voice. Naturally, he could not see anything, but he discovered that red window grilles had been pasted on the window without him noticing.
Whether King Xian comes back or not has nothing to do with her, but the sound of firecrackers from morning till now is really annoying.
Zhong Yuben, who was easily frightened, did not react this time. Instead, he thought for a moment, "Your Highness, this shouldn't be the firecrackers to welcome Prince Xian back to the city. According to the time, the imperial examination was reopened this morning and the results were announced for the second time. Now should be the time for the good news to be sent down. I guess someone has passed the exam and is celebrating."
"So fast?" Zhou Chang remembered that he was still taking the exam a few days ago, and the results came out after just a few days. The efficiency of the Ministry of Rites was surprisingly high this time.
Zhong Yu shook his head slowly as usual: "Alas, it is fast, but I don't know whether it is good or bad. I heard that it was the idea of the Minister of Rites, and it was also calculated by the Tianjian Division. It said that if the result of the competition can be determined before the New Year, it will be of great benefit to the next year."
Last time, Zhou Chang solved two major issues, "imperial examination fraud" and "selling official positions and titles" within one day, without consulting Zhong Yu before or after the matter.
But afterwards, Zhong Yu still got a general idea from Shouhou and Gao Yuan, and was naturally very pleased. He even came to Zhou Chang to ask about the details.
Zhou Chang couldn't explain how she knew so much inside information, so she could only gloss over it vaguely. This was also the reason why she didn't discuss it with Zhong Yu in advance.
However, Zhong Yu was very pleased to learn that Zhou Chang had accepted the white flour buns and the golden Pi Xiu from Zheng Tu just to obtain evidence. He almost burst into tears, but Zhou Chang had to comfort him.
"This may also be related to the prince." Zhong Yu smiled with relief, but his frown still couldn't be completely relaxed.
Zhou Chang didn't understand: "Is it related to me?"
Zhong Yujiu said, "In addition to the shanty towns, most of the people in West City are poor, and there are also many poor scholars. There has always been no shortage of scholars with good knowledge, but because of cheating incidents, most of them failed. I heard that when the results of the re-examination were announced this time, many poor students were admitted as they wished, and many of them lived in West City. I guess there should be quite a few near the palace."
Outside, the sound of firecrackers was getting louder and louder, and the noisy voices of people were also heard.
Zhou Chang couldn't sit still any longer: "If that's the case, then we should go out and see what's going on."
Zhong Yu was also happy about this and stood up and followed him out.
The two of them walked out of the study, turned onto the corridor, and headed towards the back door of the front hall. Just as they walked through the "gateway" of the front hall, Manager Fu came in from the west side door.
Fu Ming saw Zhou Chang from a distance and walked quickly over to salute.
Zhong Yuze said, "Why are you so late, Manager Fu? I'm afraid you got delayed on the way."
"That's right," Fu Ming shook his head and smiled bitterly, "When I left home in the morning, I encountered the announcement of the imperial examination results. A large number of people went to the Imperial Examination Hall, and there were a lot of people and cars coming and going. In order to avoid it, I thought it would be okay to leave a little later. As a result, when I really went out, I encountered Prince Xian entering the city, and the road was closed for a long time. However, there were only three days left before the New Year, and a lot of good things happened on this day."
"Since it's already late, Manager Fu will have to stay in the palace for a while longer." Zhong Yu obviously knew in advance that Fu Ming was coming.
Fu Mingze said, "It doesn't matter how late it is. The New Year is coming soon anyway, and there is basically nothing going on in the pharmacy."
Zhou Chang didn't know why the two met, but Prince Yi's consciousness popped up at the right time to give a hint: "Ah, since you two want to reconcile the accounts next year, just go quickly and don't accompany me."
So the two of them took their leave.
Zhou Chang entered the front hall from the back door alone. Passing through the "gateway", two rows of big red lanterns came into view. Not far away, servants were walking back and forth, all wearing brightly colored new clothes.
It was so prosperous and I felt dazed, and my heart suddenly felt warm.
After so many years, I didn’t expect that after traveling through time, I would be able to feel the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year at home again.
Zhou Chang went down the steps and was about to go to the gate when Skinny Monkey suddenly ran in from outside the gate, followed by Uncle Qiu who was limping.
As soon as the skinny monkey saw Zhou Chang, he shouted, "Your Majesty, come and see, it's so lively outside."
"Is it the parade of successful candidates?" If Zhou Chang hadn't been annoyed by the sound of firecrackers, he would not have been willing to join in the fun.
"No, no..." The skinny monkey didn't even wait for his breath to catch his breath, "We are all here to thank the prince."
"Thank me?" Zhou Chang was stunned.
The thin monkey grinned, "Your Highness, there are many scholars outside, some who passed the exam and some who didn't. I just asked them, and they said that they heard that they could take the exam again this time, and it was Your Highness who facilitated it behind the scenes, so they came here specially to thank you."
It is said that rumors spread the fastest, but if there is no deliberate publicity, why would this news spread so quickly?
Zhou Chang was still puzzled, but he didn't know if there was another plot behind it, so he kept walking: "Let's go and take a look."
"Your Highness, wait a minute." Uncle Qiu blocked him with the wine jug. He would never let go of the wine jug no matter what season it was throughout the year.
"Uncle Qiu, do you think there is something wrong?" Zhou Chang always felt uneasy about this.
Uncle Qiu was a little embarrassed: "It's not inappropriate, but Your Majesty..., there are so many people outside, especially at such a sensitive time. You are of noble status, so it's better not to show up."
Zhou Chang didn't think about the issue of his noble status, but the matter of retaking the imperial examination was indeed a sensitive one.
If there was someone organizing behind the scenes and making such a big show to thank Prince Yi, it would indeed be unusual.
"Uncle Qiu is right. Monkey, take a few soldiers with you and disperse all the people." Zhou Chang already had concerns, and now that Uncle Qiu said so, she had to keep a low profile.
"Yes, Your Highness." The skinny monkey had no choice but to agree. Then he turned around and greeted the palace soldiers who were still near the gate.