Chapter 253 Recommended Officials

Today is the last day of April, and it is also the day of the holiday. Since Li Qing became the Minister of Taifu Temple, he has been extremely busy every day. He almost fell asleep when he got home. He had such a rare day of leisure. Early in the morning, the inner house spoke out that the master did not see any guests today. This is no wonder. Since the popular statement of "One Qing, Two Yang, Three, Four, Pei, Wu Li" in the officialdom was released, crowds of people in front of Li Qing's mansion were almost every day, and people who recognized his disciples, made relatives, and worshiped godfathers were endless. Even the servants in his mansion went out to do business were surrounded by people, and there were many people who were stuffing money and stuffing, trying to pass a post from them.

In contrast to the bustle and chaos outside the mansion, the mansion is very quiet. Mid-spring is a season of colorful flowers and orioles singing and swallows singing. Peonies gradually fade away, but lotus flowers are blooming in full bloom. Li Qing and his wife and daughter stay in the garden together, enjoying a rare leisure time. His daughter Li Tingyue is already half a year old and can climb just now. At this moment, she is like a little monkey, hiking around Li Qing, extremely lively.

"You little mother! How old is you, you climbed onto your father's head."

While laughing, Yan'er carefully hugged her daughter who had finally climbed to Li Qing's neck, but the little mother grabbed her father's ear and refused to let go. She yelled and suddenly sobbed and started crying. Li Qing was suddenly panicked and carried her around her neck and walked twice, holding her with one hand, and comparing the other hand to a wing-shaped 'woo!~' and screamed, "Dad will fly for you, let's fly!"

Li Tingyue screamed in excitement, and her two little hands slapped her father's head hard.

Li Jingyan next to him was a little surprised and turned around and asked Lian'er quietly: "Sister, can chickens fly?"

Without waiting for the Liang'er to answer, Xiaoyu said smartly on the side: "I know, the young master must be talking about pheasants!"

At this time, the second butler Qian Fu came quietly and reported to Li Qing in a low voice: "Master, Brother Wu is here, are you waiting in the guest room?"

Although his voice was small, the curtain was still heard. She frowned and said, "Li Lang, didn't you agree that you would not be a guest today? Why did you make an appointment with someone again?"

Li Qing hugged his daughter from his neck, handed it to Li Jingyan, and then pinched her little face. Then he turned around and smiled and said, "It's Wu Xingsu's regular report, not a guest."

Li Jingyan took the child, but after hearing Li Qing's words, she was a little worried, "Li Lang, you have to be careful. If this kind of thing is exposed, the emperor will not be able to protect you."

Li Qing patted her hand gently, smiled slightly, turned around and walked towards the front yard.

The small reception room is next to Li Qingwai’s study room. There is no window around it. The wall is rebuilt with bluestone. It is usually discussed where the confidential matters are discussed. Several personal guards stand guard at the door.

Li Qing pushed the door and entered the room. Wu Xingsu, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately stood up. There was a handsome young man beside him, who had never seen him before. Seeing Li Qing's eyes falling on the young man, Wu Xingsu smiled awkwardly and introduced: "Governor let me take the liberty. This is a brother from the Yulin Army. Now he serves as a Sanwei Lang in the palace. He is the legitimate wife of the Wei family in Chang'an. He is also the lawless evil young man in Chang'an. He has now turned his evil spirit and is willing to join the Governor."

The young man quickly stepped forward and bowed half to Li Qing, "Wei Yingwu is willing to be loyal to the governor!"

"Wei Yingwu?"

Li Qing thought of this familiar name and suddenly laughed and said, "Do you know how to write poetry?"

Wei Yingwu was stunned and didn't understand why Li Qing suddenly asked this question, but he still answered seriously: "When I was young, I studied at home for a few years, but I hated reading. I went to the palace to be a guard at the age of fifteen. I can't write poetry!"

As he grew older, Wei Yingwu's desire to play was gradually fading away, and being a guard was not a long-term way, so he wanted to find a future for himself. So he found his former friend Wu Xingsu and asked him to introduce Li Qing to him.

At this time, Wu Xingsu, who was next to him, smiled and said, "Although Xiao Wei can't write poetry, he is the most knowledgeable one among us, and his handwriting is also well written. The last time the Zhuque Gate was his work." The implication was to tell Li Qing that he had joined his organization.

Li Qing nodded slightly. Wei Yingwu was also a figure after the Anshi Rebellion, but he knew that Wu Xingsu brought Wei Yingwu to him today, but in fact he wanted to introduce this eyeliner from the palace to him.

"Come on! Sit down and talk." Li Qing smiled and sat down with a smile, but hesitated for a moment, his legs stretched straight and refused to sit down.

Li Qing smiled and didn't force him. He sat down first, and asked Wei Yingwu again, "Young Master Wei is in the palace~"

Wei Yingwu immediately interrupted him, "The governor called me Xiao Wei!"

Li Qing waved his hand, smiled slightly, and continued: "What is Xiao Wei's responsibility in the palace?"

"Report to the governor, I was originally a guard in the court. After the emperor moved to Xingqing Palace, I became a guard in the inner palace, mainly responsible for the safety of the imperial concubine."

Li Qing picked up a hollow white jade ball from the table, stared at it for a long time, and then smiled faintly: "Then let me ask you something. Ten days ago, the day when the emperor summoned the ministers related to the imperial examination case, did Yang Guozhong ask for a meeting with the imperial concubine?"

Wei Yingwu thought about it intently, shook his head slowly and said, "There is a rule in the palace that the harem must not meet foreign relatives in the court. I happened to be on duty that day, and I didn't see Yang Guozhong. Instead, the sister of the imperial concubine, who is now the Lady Guoguo, has come in the afternoon and met the emperor with the imperial concubine. She stayed in the palace that night."

"As expected, the Yang family is retreating to advance!" Li Qing sneered secretly. It seemed that Li Longji really planned to reuse Yang Guozhong in the future, otherwise he would not have protected him like this now.

"From the future, follow me and read more books when you have time. You will have a day to make a name for yourself in the future."

Li Qing patted his shoulder gently and said with a little commanding tone: "You should pay special attention to the movements of the Yang family in the palace. As long as there is news, you must inform Wu Xingsu in time."

Wei Yingwu was overjoyed. Li Qing meant to formally accept him. He immediately knelt down and replied loudly: "I am obedient to the order!"

At this time, a guard's voice came from the door, "Governor, Mr. Qian is asking for a visit if you have something to do."

"Let him in!"

Li Qing turned around and said to Wu Xingsu: "It's a period of calm now. You might as well look farther. There are many talented people in the world. Don't just focus on Chang'an, do you know?"

Wu Xingsu immediately bowed and bowed, "Sir, please obey the order!" He then turned his eyes on Wei Yingwu, took him to say goodbye to Li Qing, and quickly left the mansion from the side door.

At this time, Butler Qian had already arrived at the door and whispered: "Master, the doorman is here to report, Du Fu, whom you specially instructed, is asking for a meeting outside."

"Oh! Du Fu is here."

Li Qing, who was bowing his head and thinking, suddenly turned around, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he hurriedly said, "Take him in!"

After pausing, Li Qing called Mr. Qian again, "Take him to my study."

After a moment, Du Fu hurriedly walked into Li Qing's mansion under the guidance of the housekeeper. His eyes were filled with flowers like brocade and water and fish were fat, but Du Fu turned a blind eye to all this. On the contrary, his eyes were filled with worries.

He naturally came for Li Bai's affairs. Yesterday he visited Fang Guan, the new Minister of Rites, and wanted to ask him to talk to Li Bai and beg him to be a local official. Unexpectedly, Fang Guan was silent for a long time but suddenly said, "Send him away!" and almost drove him out of the mansion. Du Fu, who had not received a clear reply, still did not give up and came to look for Li Qing early in the morning, wanting to find him a way out for his old friend. If it still doesn't work, he will go to find Sining King Li Lin.

As soon as Du Fu and the butler arrived at the entrance of the study, Li Qing came out and held his hand and comforted him repeatedly: "Brother Shaoling, I already know about the imperial examination. I hope the festival will be mournful and follow the changes. Don't be discouraged by this."

Du Fu smiled bitterly. He had been busy with Li Bai's affairs these two days, and he had already left his misfortune behind. When Li Qing mentioned it, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and a feeling of loss suddenly surged in his heart.

"It is normal for me to fail to get a reputation, but the unfairness of the imperial examination really disappointed me. I have decided not to take the exam and go back to my hometown to farm."

Seeing his scholarly agitated, Li Qing couldn't help but feel funny in his heart. He hurriedly invited him into the house first, and then ordered someone to have tea. Then he smiled and said, "Actually, the imperial examination is just a background. Look at the position of Li Xiangguo, what kind of fame does he have? And the people in front of you, even the juren are in high positions, and they are promoted and wealthy. The key is ability, not only to be competent for a position, but also to have a higher position waiting for you. So if Brother Shaoling doesn't want to take the scientific examination again, then take the path of recommending officials."

Speaking of this, Li Qing stopped talking and secretly looked at Du Fu's facial expression. Since he said this, he had actually expressed his willingness to be Du Fu's recommendation and send him to his career. As long as there was a happier or yearning on his face, he would speak directly and not let the future poet saint make things difficult for him, but Du Fu's expression was a little heavy, which made Li Qing swallow back the words he was about to say.

"Let me go ahead!" Du Fu sighed. Li Qing's implicit expression was clear. He understood that he also wanted to wear black veil and embark on the career of officialdom? But in the case of difficulties of his friends, how could he ignore it halfway?

"Yangming must have known that it is really unfair to lose Qinglian's Hanlin position. He has the talent and knowledge that shocks the world and makes ghosts cry. The huge court cannot tolerate his seven-foot body. I came to my door today to ask Yangming to help, and then talk to the emperor or let him be a local official so that he can display his talent and knowledge."

After Du Fu finished speaking, he looked at Li Qing with a gaze. If he was like Fang Guan, he would swear that he would never step into this door. However, Li Qing did not drive him away, but stared at a lotus tree outside the window and was in a daze. After a while, he smiled softly, turned around and said sincerely: "Brother Shaoling, it's not that I don't want to care. Do you know what is the reason for Li Taibai's demotion?"

Du Fu shook his head, "I don't know, please say something to Yangming."

Li Qing slowly stood up and walked to the window. He stared at the hibiscus flowers like flames, and said in a low voice: "Taibai was demoted. On the surface, he offended the prince-consort Zhang Ye, and was gathered by him to collectively impeach most of the Hanlins. On the surface, he looked at the dissatisfaction of Gao Lishi, but these were not the fundamental reasons."

"What is the fundamental reason?" Du Fu asked blurted out. He didn't know what Li Qing said about Gao Lishi at all. He only knew that it was the prince-consor Zhang Ye who framed him, but never expected that even offending Gao Lishi was not the main reason.

Li Qing suddenly turned around and stared at Du Fu and said, "The fundamental reason is that he shouldn't have visited King Yong. He also said those bastards who support King Yong. How could the emperor be blind? As soon as he left, King Yong ran to the emperor to sue him. If he hadn't had a little fame and made the emperor swear to the rat, he would have become a ghost under the knife. Can he still allow him to drink and go wild?"

Li Qing's words shocked Du Fu, and he stuttered: "Are you saying that Qinglian participated in the battle for the position of prince?"

"Yes!" Li Qing said decisively: "The position of the prince is so sensitive. He has no ability to protect himself, so he ran to talk nonsense. Of course he would be demoted. I thought he should be glad. After all, his neck is still on his head and he is granted gold to return home. This is already a light punishment. If he still has no idea what to do and still asks for office, which will cause the emperor's anger, it will be at least a prison disaster."

Speaking of this, Li Qing took out a three thousand guan box ticket from his arms and handed it to Du Fu and said, "Acquaintance is my little wish. At least, let Brother Taibai drink without worries. If you have any worries, please come and find me."

Li Qing's words made Du Fu's heart cool to freezing point. He knew that what Li Qing said was true, and he also understood that Li Bai had no hope anymore. He felt sad and sighed. He took the bill of exchange in Li Qing's hand in a daze, wanted to say something but stopped, his mouth twitched, said goodbye and turned around and was about to leave.

Li Qing stopped him and said with a smile: "Brother Shaoling, don't he have any plans?"

Du Fu's feet stopped, and he suddenly realized, "Li Qing comforted Li Bai but refused to him. Does he still have the idea of ​​recommending himself in his heart?"

Li Bai's affairs had just been put aside, and Du Fu's thoughts quietly returned to himself. Can he go to the official career and use his ambitions well? Time passed by and the imperial examination was slim, and Du Fu, after a setback, gradually became realistic. Retiring to the mountains and forests was just a moment of anger. If he had the opportunity to enter the officialdom, how could he give up easily?

Li Qingxiang saw through Du Fu's thoughts, and he slowly walked up and smiled, "Brother Shaoling will go home first, and within ten days, people from the Ministry of Personnel will come to find you."

"Thank you so much!"
Chapter completed!