It turned out that the payment of this invitation was: Peony Garden, Gongsun Young Niang.

Cui Youfu echoed: "That's, that's, this grandson's peony garden is very famous, it's a pity that Cui didn't go once." ”

Cui Gengqing sighed "hmm" and said, "This official only hears of the name of the peony garden, but he doesn't know much about it. What is interesting about this peony garden, please introduce it to the housekeeper. ”

"If you ask me this, it's the right person." Cui Youfu said: "Speaking of this peony garden, of course, I have to mention the grandsons first." The world thinks she is an illicit prostitute, but this statement is not very accurate, in fact, she did not sell herself to anyone. ”

Cui Geng hesitated a little and said: "But as far as this official knows, Gongsun Youniang has been performing on the painting boat since she was fourteen years old. If it weren't for prostitutes, what family's parents were so ruthless as to allow their daughters to do such a living when they had no worries about their own lives? ”

Cui Youfu smiled deeply and replied: "It seems that Cui Kaogong is very clear about the past of Gongsun everyone." In fact, no one knows who Gongsun's parents are, only that since she appeared in front of the world, the entire painting boat has only looked at her. ”

"Then about her origin, torture the people on the boat, isn't it...... Well, it's the official who wants to be left. ”

As soon as Cui Geng thought about it, he understood that his proposal was not very reliable.

Without it, Gongsun Youniang didn't commit any crimes, she just entertained people with singing and dancing, who was full of food and support, to investigate the origin of a Qing~Lou woman?

However, the reality is darker than Cui Geng thought.

Cui Youfu said: "Lord Cui's consideration is not completely unreasonable. For example, some children of rich families will use all means to beg the hearts of the Gongsun family, so they will use some off-the-counter tricks, such as forcing the people around the little lady of Gongsun to be drugged, such as using the power of the local government to persecute ......"

"And then?"

"The people around Gongsun are quite skilled in the art of attacking, and the average rich son will steal chickens and not lose a handful of rice. There are also some people who are too powerful, and the Gongsun family can't afford to provoke them, so they sail away and let them catch up. ”

Cui Geng said: "Then why did everyone come to Luoyang now?" There is a dragon and a crouching tiger here, and everyone in Gongsun may not be able to run. ”

"Where, Cui Kaogong is thinking too much." Cui Youfu said: "Think about it, everyone is almost thirty years old this year, and it's okay to act on the spot." Which person who can get on the stage would want to bow hard to her overlord? It's not shameful enough to spread it. In addition, this woman also came with a request, so she took refuge in Zhang Changshi. ”

"What do you want?"

"This ...... And let the old slave sell it first, anyway, this matter is very tricky, and even Zhang Changshou is very difficult. When the time comes, I can't say it, Gongsun everyone is sick and rushes to the doctor, and they will ask for you. ”

Cui Geng smiled: "It seems that you old man is thinking of a way, let me go to the peony garden to take a look." Okay, don't ask, don't ask, now you say peony garden. ”

"Yes!"

Then, Cui Youfu told the origin of the peony garden.

After Gongsun Youniang defected to Zhang Changzong, because of her singing and dancing ability, she was ordered to open this peony garden.

There are not only many peonies in the peony garden, the scenery is pleasant, but also the food is exquisite, the accommodation is gorgeous, and all the visitors are not charged.

Of course, not everyone can enter such a good garden.

Men who want to enter this garden, or high-ranking officials, or famous talents, or tributes from various states, if they are all not, and feel that their two strokes are not ambiguous, can also take the initiative to ask for the examination. As long as you show enough talent, you can enter.

As for women, there is less exquisiteness, or for noble status, or for beauty like flowers, or for outstanding literary talents, you can do it.

With such a selection, soon after the opening of the Peony Garden, it became the best place for upper-class social exchanges in Luoyang City. Many talented people are eager to enter the park for a visit and seek the appreciation of nobles.

In addition, countless women are eager to catch a golden beetle son-in-law, countless nobles want to get talented subordinates, and countless hungry ghosts want to find a suitable target...... Everyone takes what they want, and the peony garden is now more and more prosperous.

Today, the housekeeper Cui Youfu is so enthusiastic, in fact, there is also Zhang Changzong's intention to hope that Cui Geng will go into the peony garden to see if there are any suitable people in it.

After listening to this, Cui Geng thought for a moment and said, "If the official is not mistaken, outsiders don't know that Zhang Changzhi is the financier behind the peony garden?" ”

"That's natural, Chang Chang's reputation...... There are many misunderstandings about this. In the eyes of outsiders, the backer behind the Gongsun family is actually the master of Zong Chuke. ”

Cui Youfu introduced this, and Cui Geng guessed Zhang Changzong's plan without leaving ten.

In general, Zong Chuke is a very contradictory person.

First of all, he has to call Wu Zetian an aunt, which is a standard imperial relative.

Secondly, he is indeed quite talented. It can even be said that in today's prime minister's team, except for Di Renjie, who is seriously ill, it can be said that Zong Chuke is the most talented.

And the most critical thing is that Zong Chuke was first dismissed for impeaching the Zhang brothers, and then defected to the Zhang brothers as prime minister.

Therefore, people will not have any resistance to entering the peony garden.

As for what happens after entering the peony garden? If it is a really talented person, Zhang Changzong will give it a solicitation. To be honest, people who are really hard-headed and dare to resist Zhang Changzong's recruitment are really rare. Don't you see, none of the "Four Friends of the Article" ran away, but they were all included in Zhang Changzong's pocket?

In addition, it is not easy to live in Beijing, and the peony garden solves the living problems of many poor tributes after entering Beijing. If one day, Zhang Changzong is ready to rebel and announce this matter, many people will inexplicably accept his favor, and they will be embarrassed to oppose it again, which can be called killing two birds with one stone.

Thinking of this, Cui Geng said: "The housekeeper said so, the official is really more and more interested in the peony garden, Cheng, you reply the letter on behalf of the official, I will definitely go to the appointment on time." ”

"The old slave obeys!"

……

……

The peony garden is actually not far from Cui Geng's house, and three days later, Cui Geng and Wei Shifang walked into a car, walked around, and went straight to the peony garden.

When I arrived at the gate of the peony garden, I handed the invitation card over, and a beautiful little man said: "It turned out to be Cui Kaogong, and the grandson has already ordered it, please come with the little one." ”

Cui Geng said: "But go to see Gongsun everyone? ”

"Not really." The little guy bowed slightly and said, "Today's banquet is called the Dragon Gate Banquet, and what I obtained is the meaning of "Fish Leaping Dragon Gate". Not only will you participate, but also all the scholars in the peony garden will participate for your appreciation. Therefore, I also asked Cui Kaogong to move to Fanghua Garden, the scholars have been waiting for a long time, and the grandsons will arrive later. ”

"I see, lead the way."

"Yes!"

The peony garden covers a wide area, and Cui Geng walked straight for about a quarter of an hour before arriving at the "Fanghua Garden".

This garden is built next to an artificial lake, and the flowers in the garden are mainly peonies, but there are also other flowers. With an octagonal pavilion as the center, a large open space was temporarily opened up, and dozens of colorful sheds were set up for scholars from various states to sit.

The scholars from all the states of the world who come to Luoyang to take the examination are called "Juzi" or "Gongshi", and there are about 100 people in total.

Of course, it is impossible for the Peony Garden to wipe out all these people, but the scale of a total of four or five hundred people is really shocking.

You must know that, in the final analysis, public opinion in these years is in the hands of readers. The views of these four or five hundred tributes can cause public opinion to be far more intense than that of ordinary prime ministers, and it is also more than the two newspapers of "Great Zhou Royal Daily" and "Shendu Times", and perhaps only Cheng Junjian can compare with them.

"Tianguan Examiner Wailang, Zhigongju, Cui Ying has arrived!" As soon as Cui Geng arrived at the door, the handsome little guy who led the way shouted. The so-called "Zhigongju" is a temporary position, which means that he is the chief examiner of this Gongshi.

All the tributes fell to their knees and said, "See Cui Kaogong!" ”