Chapter 654 Chapter 653 Awkward

In March of the second year of Longqing, many things happened.

However, in Wei Guangde's opinion, the most important things were actually two: the crown prince's canonization and the Wuchen imperial examination.

Coming out of Zhongji Hall, Xu Jie held the yellow list in his hand. From this moment on, the Jinshi of this year was determined.

Although there was an outlier like Luo Wanhua, the other rankings were similar, and Wei Guangde could accept it.

However, for the Ministry of Rites, the matter was not over yet. There were also the ceremony of announcing the names of the candidates, the banquet of honor, the ceremony of paying homage to the Confucius Temple, and the official appointment activities.

However, there were rules and regulations. Wei Guangde had gone through them at the beginning. He just asked about the preparations and felt relieved.

When he returned home that day, he saw several carriages parked on the street opposite the door as soon as he got off the carriage.

The location of the Wei family was a not very wide alley. The opposite wall was the residence of another official, but the main door and side door were not opened here.

What did it mean that these carriages were parked by the wall?

Whose family?

Wei Guangde was suspicious, but he still stepped into the gate.

As mentioned before, no matter who Wei Guangde was going to visit, he would send his family to send an invitation in advance. In fact, this was also the rule for visiting during this period.

On TV, there were long queues in front of some powerful and wealthy houses, and many people brought gifts. In fact, it was rarely seen in the capital.

There was only one possibility for such a situation, that is, the owner of the house was promoted, and someone would come to visit a few days after receiving the imperial decree, because there were too many visitors, so there was a queue.

As for the Wei family, there were also many people who came when they were promoted several times, but it was not as spectacular as the spectacular scenes of standing all over the street in TV dramas, or it was actually a more exaggerated depiction.

"Zhang Ji, do you have guests at your house today?"

Wei Guangde had not walked a few steps into the gate when Zhang Ji came to greet him.

"Master, the eldest son of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion just came and said a few words. Madam asked me to come out and prepare the carriage."

Zhang Ji replied.

"Oh, then I'll go in and take a look."

The current Duke of Dingguo, Xu Yande, inherited the title of Duke of Dingguo in the eighth year of Jiajing, and has been in poor health for the past few years. He did not attend the last two court meetings, and even did not attend the palace examination.

According to the news sent back by Xu Jianglan, he has been bedridden for nearly a month, and I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left.

Sure enough, when Wei Guangde went in, he saw that Xu Jianglan's eyes were red, and standing next to her was Xu Wenbi, who was holding an idle position in the Five Military Commander's Office.

Wei Guangde was still wearing the second-rank official uniform of the court, but since he was at home, he naturally couldn't put on any pomp. Instead, he took the initiative to bow to Xu Wenbi and said, "Hello, cousin. I wonder how my uncle is doing? I heard from my wife a few days ago that my uncle was ill. I was busy with official duties and never got around to visit him. Please forgive me."

"Shandai, you're back."

Xu Wenbi also bowed in return, but his voice was a little hoarse, saying, "The Ministry of Rites has been busy these days. You have to preside over the joint examination, the palace examination, and the crown prince's canonization, so you are naturally very busy.

My father is afraid that his time is running out, so he asked me to gather the relatives in Beijing. He wants to see everyone again, so I'm here to bother you."

The Dingguo Mansion and the Weiguo Mansion are from the same lineage. Although the Dingguo Mansion has long since branched out and formed a huge family, the Weiguo Mansion only has this one relative in the capital.

Xu Yande wanted to see his relatives again, so the Xu family's boys naturally notified everywhere.

Although they occupied the title of Duke of the State, many families in the family considered them elders in terms of seniority.

Even though they were of noble status, they dared not act rashly.

Although the Wei family was of the same generation as them, when Xu Yande was in good shape, he treated the Wei family with courtesy. At that time, Emperor Longqing had not yet ascended the throne.

Xu Wenbi was not a fool. Now Wei Guangde was different from the past. He was already a close minister of the emperor. There were rumors that he might enter the cabinet in the next one or two years.

Although the influence of the nobles was still huge, they could meet the emperor and complain to the emperor, but they had lost their original power.

And because of the lack of power, they were even more reluctant to offend the Wei family.

This time, the eldest son of the Xu family came to the Wei Mansion in person, which was considered to be giving enough face.

Xu Wenbi, if nothing unexpected happened, would be the next Duke of Dingguo.

Knowing the purpose of the visit, Wei Guangde looked at Xu Jianglan with red eyes and just nodded.

The two children were handed over to Wei's mother to take care of. After the carriage was harnessed outside, they went directly out of the Wei Mansion and got on the carriage.

"My eldest brother said before that my uncle has written a suicide note. I'm afraid..."

Xu Jianglan followed Wei Guangde from Nanjing to Jiujiang, and then from Jiujiang to Beijing. It was a long journey, and she could only communicate with her family in Nanjing through letters.

Since she came to Beijing, she just followed the wishes of her father, Duke Wei, Xu Pengju, and made friends with the Duke Dingguo's mansion, hoping to gradually repair the relationship between the two families.

But later, the meticulous care of the Duke Dingguo's wife made her feel the warmth of home, and the old Duke Dingguo was also good to her. She unconsciously regarded the Duke Dingguo's mansion as her mother's home in the capital, and would go there every now and then.

"It's nothing. Life, old age, sickness and death are all destined by heaven. The old Duke has great blessings. It was just a false alarm at that time."

Having no impression of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Wei Guangde naturally had no idea about Xu Yande.

However, from the last time he saw him at the court meeting, and then not showing up at important court meetings, Wei Guangde also knew that his illness was probably not light.

Ancient medical technology was like this. Chinese medicine can only cure the root of the disease, but it is slow to take effect and is always inferior to Western medicine in emergency treatment.

Despite this, Western medicine did not appear at all in this era. It is not that it did not appear in the Ming Dynasty, but that it did not appear in the West.

Over there, they have just entered civilized society from the days of eating raw meat and drinking blood.

He kept comforting Xu Jianglan along the way, thinking about this at the same time.

Xu Wenbi should inherit the title soon, but I don't know what he is like. As long as he is not a frivolous person, it should be fine. I just don't know what the other brothers in his family are like.

"I think my cousin is steady, but I don't know what the temperaments of his brothers are like?"

Wei Guangde asked casually.

At the beginning, he didn't care about the Duke Dingguo's Mansion, so he didn't know the details of Xu Wenbi's brothers, but at this time, he couldn't not ask clearly.

Xu Jianglan glanced at him, and although her eyes were red, her eyes were very smart. She seemed to know what he meant and said, "The other brothers are all illegitimate children. Although they are a little neglected in discipline, they won't cause much trouble."

"Oh, haha. I worry too much."

Wei Guangde actually thought of the Duke of Wei's situation, so he asked this question.

He knew that Xu Wenbi had brothers, but since he was the only legitimate child, it was nothing.

When they arrived at the Dingguogong Mansion, Xu Wenbi led the way to the backyard and visited Xu Yande on the sickbed.

In front of the door, they saw two groups of relatives who came to visit first. After Xu Wenbi introduced them, they exchanged a few words and then went into the house.

The old man looked more haggard than before at the court meeting, with a withered face and sunken eyes, almost like a different person.

After the greeting, the wife of the Dingguogong asked him to sit aside, and then Xu Wenbi took Xu Jianglan's hand and said a lot of things, probably saying that the biggest regret was that he had never been to Nanjing to visit his brothers of the same generation, and he had never worshipped the ancestors' tombs, which was really a sin.

He also called Xu Wenbi and told him that if he had the opportunity, he must go to Nanjing to visit his uncle in Nanjing and take him to the tomb of the King of Zhongshan to worship.

Whether it was the Weiguogong Mansion or the Dingguogong Mansion, they all relied on their ancestor, the Zhongshan Wuning King, the Weiguogong Xu Dafu, and so on.

In addition, Xu Jianglan was asked to come to the mansion more often as usual, but no one said that they should take care of each other.

Wei Guangde knew very well that they were relatives, so some things should be said without hesitation.

After leaving, Wei Guangde stopped Xu Wenbi and asked, "Have you sent any news to the palace?"

"I sent a note for sick leave for the palace examination a few days ago, and the emperor sent the eunuch and the imperial physician to see me."

Xu Wenbi replied, and at this moment he seemed very calm and capable.

"What did the imperial physician say?"

Wei Guangde asked again.

"It was said today that all my father's wishes can be met."

Xu Wenbi replied.

Wei Guangde knew what he meant, but after thinking about it, he said, "Have you sent someone to invite the imperial physician Xu Changling to the mansion?"

"The imperial physician Xu has been here, and he also said..."

Before Xu Wenbi finished speaking, his tone became a little choked.

Wei Guangde saw this and didn't say much, but just reached out and patted his shoulder.

In fact, Wei Guangde still misunderstood. Xu Wenbi was really sad at this time, half because his father might be in danger, and the other half because he still wanted to play for a few more years.

As the legitimate son of the Duke of Dingguo, he had naturally married a long time ago, but his heart was not at peace.

He was naturally calm and capable in the mansion, but he was still a nobleman outside the mansion, eating, drinking and having fun like other noble sons.

If his father died, he would inherit the title and go to the Five Military Governor's Office on time to do his work.

Many people think that most of the nobles in the Ming Dynasty stayed at home to eat and wait for death after losing power, but this is actually wrong.

The nobles all had jobs, but many of their powers were hollowed out, but the rules were still there.

For example, several dukes, all of whom held the title of governor in the Five Military Governor's Office, still had to report on time every day.

It's just that the official business was generally handled in half an hour, and then they found an excuse to leave the yamen, and continued to report on the next day to handle some official documents.

The job of reporting for duty is not acceptable unless you don't want the title. After all, this is in the capital, and there is the feared Censorate nearby. The censors there take turns to inspect the various government offices.

If you don't want to report for duty, you can just stay at home with your girlfriends, eat and wait for death, and then wait for impeachment.

Once or twice will not affect the title, but if there are too many impeachments, the emperor will have an opinion and it is not impossible to reduce the title.

Their titles are fought for by their ancestors. If they lose or are reduced in their hands, how can they face their ancestors?

Therefore, the nobles should also get up early and report for duty in the government office like the civil officials, and then count their own time, find excuses to leave the government office and go home to catch up on sleep, or go to a place to have fun in groups of three or five.

However, Xu Wenbi is now a guard of honor and still holds the position of Red Helmet General. It doesn't matter if he drinks and spends money with other princes on weekdays, but it will definitely not work if he inherits the title of Duke.

Undoubtedly, this is a shackle on him.

He was the only legitimate son, and he couldn't escape the title, so he really didn't want to inherit the title so soon, and he sincerely hoped that his father would live a long life.

Wei Guangde also saw that Xu Wenbi was completely different at home and outside.

He also knew the style of these young masters and envied them, but he couldn't do it.

He stopped doing these things after Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, and he was afraid of being caught.

As for what he had done before, I didn't see that there was a general amnesty for the ascension of the new emperor and the enthronement of the prince. It was just that officials who drank wine and played with money were all within the scope of amnesty, as long as they didn't do it during the funeral ceremony.

It was already late when he went home, but there was a lantern of the Wei Mansion on the carriage with his official title on it, so naturally no night patrol officers dared to block the road.

The night ban was only for civilians.

Early the next morning, there was a knock on the door of Wei Mansion, and Duke Dingguo’s Mansion sent someone to announce the funeral.

The Wei Mansion had already prepared. Wei Guangde sent someone to send a note to the Ministry of Rites, and went to the Duke Dingguo's Mansion first, asking his wife to go there later.

The Duke's Mansion had also made preparations for the funeral in private. When Wei Guangde arrived, white sails were hung all over the house.

After Wei Guangde went to worship as a junior, he stayed here for the time being and had some leisure time. That is to say, Xu Wenbi and his brothers took turns to keep vigil.

Not long after, the palace also received a memorial from the Xu family and sent people to pay homage.

"Eunuch Chen."

The visitor was of high status. He was the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch of Chen Hongsi, and also served as the director of Dongchang. Wei Guangde had to be careful when he encountered him.

I don’t know if it’s the influence of watching TV or novels, but I always feel that Chen Hong is not a good person.

For such people, don't provoke them if you can.

"Master Wei is here too. Oh, by the way, you are related by marriage to Duke Dingguo."

Chen Hong also smiled and said, "I will go to worship first and finish the emperor's errands first."

"Eunuch Chen, please."

Zhu Xixiao came on behalf of Duke Chengguo. After meeting Wei Guangde and saying a few words, he was led into the mourning hall to pay homage.

According to him, his brother Zhu Xizhong, Duke of Chengguo, would come over later.

The British Duke Zhang Rong came directly, presumably because he had nothing to do. Later, other noble families and people from the palaces of the central and central ministers came to express their condolences one after another.

Wei Guangde was like the steward of the Dingguo Palace. Visitors would go over to talk to them, say a few words, and then introduce them.

In the afternoon, Gao Yi, the Minister of Rites, came over. After paying his condolences, he came out and said to Wei Guangde: "Tomorrow morning, the ministry will discuss the posthumous title for the old Duke. You have to go back to the ministry. You don't have to worry about other things. Anyway, I have the following People act according to the rules.

You are here, representing both you and the Ministry of Rites. "

"Thank you for your understanding."

Wei Guangde cupped his hands and said.

In the following days, Wei Guangde, both a junior and a representative of the Ministry of Rites, participated in the funeral ceremony of Duke Dingguo. During this period, he had more contact with dignitaries in Beijing.

At the last court meeting to discuss the opening of the sea, the Xungui Group sat on the sidelines and did not take sides at all.

But Wei Guangde felt that although the nobles had their power taken away, they still had many people.

It seems good to stand up and join in at critical moments.

Therefore, during this period of time, he also intended to interact with the Dukes, Marquises, and Uncles, which would naturally be taboo in normal times.

But it's different now, it's reasonable to contact them.

He was busy until Xu Yande was buried in the Ma'anshan ancestral tomb outside Fuchengmen, and then he returned to his original state. However, the connection with the nobles had been established, so his work was not in vain.

When Wei Guangde returns home, the next thing he will face is the group of disciples.

The deputy chief examiner of the general examination, he selected Jinshi, no, there should be quite a few Gongsheng students.

But to be honest, Wei Guangde was not yet thirty years old at this time, and many of the students he ordered were older than him, so it always felt a bit awkward to meet them.

Looking at the posts from Zhao Zhigao, Hu Laigong and others in his hand, Wei Guangde's mouth twitched.