May 15th, sunny.

In Hanyuan Palace, Prince Shi Chongwei sat upright on the high seat and personally presided over the palace examination.

Looking down at His Royal Highness’s new royal blue shirt, the rustling sounds in the hall are like eating mulberry leaves, Shi Chongwei has the mood of a farmer’s harvest. These students are like crops in the fields, harvesting a batch of fulfilling the court every three years. Being able to step into the Hanyuan Hall is a lucky person among scholars. His excited faces are writing quickly, hoping to rank among the top, and be noticed by the prince, and from then on, they embark on the road to the sky.

The 336 tribute scholars, who have real talents and knowledge, are not necessarily mediocre even those who buy joints. Xiang Kaijie followed the path of the eunuch of the officials, Tang Wenzhong, but he studied hard for many years and received guidance from the wise master. He made his articles in a colorful way, and was quite prestigious among the current imperial examination students.

The palace examination is a strategy, "The court is restless on the border, so let's talk about the way to maintain the country's army in detail." This is a question drawn up by Emperor Shi Fangzhen. Two days ago, Shi Chongwei and Emperor Shi Shousheng went to Yanshan Villa Garden to pay homage, vaguely mentioning the rumors in the current Kejing to the emperor. Shi Fangzhen knew where the wind came from, but he was really powerless to inquire. He listened absent-mindedly to Shi Chongwei's comments, and his eyes fell on his grandson Shi Shousheng from time to time. The Queen Queen shouted "baby" with a look of doting.

After Shi Chongwei finished speaking, Shi Fangzhen asked Liu Weiguo to hand over the title he had already prepared to the prince, and instructed him, "The great ceremony of talent is a major matter of the country, and I know that there are some disadvantages in this. This is a accumulated problem over the past thousand years. I don't blame you, but you must be good at grasping the importance of the matter. You cannot let the world think that the imperial examination is unfair in order to win over the ministers. If you lose the hearts of scholars, you will be unstable."

After dinner, he returned. He met the eunuch of the officials at the foot of the mountain. Tang Wenzhong walked forward with a smile and greeted Shi Chongwei and Emperor Shi Shousheng. Shi Chongwei felt that the old eunuch seemed to be waiting for him. The four eunuchs in the palace, Shi Chongwei was closest to Liu Weiguo, followed by Tang Wenzhong. After all, Tang Wenzhong was an eunuch of the officials and was in charge of all the miscellaneous matters in the palace, and the prince couldn't help dealing with him.

In each imperial examination, Tang Wenzhong had to bring two candidates. Shi Chongwei knew that this old eunuch with a fat body and a flattering face was trying hard to get money. This time, I don’t know how much silver he sold the two places. Shi Chongwei frowned secretly, and there was no need to ask, this old guy was going to hit his wooden clock directly.

"Old Tang, you are getting fatter and fatter. It's hard for you to run up and down to serve your father." Shi Chongwei said sarcastically.

Tang Wenzhong's heart sank. The emperor was seriously ill and he had a good evaluation of being fat, so he should be killed. The prince's tone clearly showed dissatisfaction with himself, and he did not offend him. Tang Wenzhong knew that the emperor was seriously ill and might disappear at any time. If the prince was dissatisfied with him, he would be afraid that he would not be able to die after ascend the throne. During this period, he tried his best to please the Queen, just to think that if he died one day, he would be able to ask the Queen to go home to take care of his old age. If he really couldn't give up some money and property than to guard the tomb in the imperial tomb.

"Your Highness, long live the old slave in the other garden. I have to report some trivial matters to the prince." In a moment, Tang Wenzhong had already made an idea and told Shi Chongwei about King An of Chu to come to see him and Concubine Huang Shu. Shi Chongwei stood quietly and listened carefully, and was indeed very interested.

After Tang Wenzhong finished speaking, Shi Chongwei smiled and said, "Old Tang, you are the chief supervisor of the palace. You can't hide any big or small things. My father is in the villa in Yanshan. Don't disturb him in small things. If you have any questions, you might as well send someone to the East Palace to deliver a letter. I will naturally not forget your loyalty."

Tang Wenzhong secretly let out a cold sweat. It seemed that this disaster had passed. He was hesitating whether to tell the prince whether to take care of Xiang Kaijie and Ai Xin. His stepson Tang Changfu told them what he meant. Both of them were willing to add more silver to get a good ranking, which made Tang Wenzhong regret it. Is the price he gave a little lower?

Shi Chongwei smiled first and said, "Old Tang, do you have something to do? You might as well say that if Gu can do it, he will agree to you."

Tang Wenzhong was overjoyed. This was the reward the prince gave him. It was good. It was not Tang Wenzhong's personality. He immediately reported the two names to the prince with a timid face and said with a smile, "Crown Prince, these two are relatives of Lao Nu. They are both people with real talents and knowledge, and are loyal to you. Otherwise, Lao Nu would not dare to recommend talents to you. Your Highness, Lao Nu has read the articles of these two, but they are all the top ten pillars."

Shi Chongwei laughed in his heart. Fatty Tang is just a rough understanding of literature. Can he understand the quality of the article? The top ten pillars, haha, Fatty Tang is very heart-warming, I don’t know how much money he has sold for the top ten rankings. Fatty Tang has gained countless wealth in the past few decades, and the eunuchs and maids in the palace hate him so much that they hate him. If the father hadn’t been concerned about his old love, he would have been unable to sit still as the eunuch in the civil service. Shi Chongwei thought that if he could confiscate the property collected by Tang Wenzhong, it would have solved the court’s urgent need.

The third position on the second row on the left is Xiang Kaijie's seat. Shi Chongwei's eyes flashed over the young master who was writing quickly. After returning to the East Palace from Yanshan Villa, Shi Chongwei deliberately asked the examination papers of the top 20 people in the Ministry of Rites to present the exam papers, and Xiang Kaijie actually had Xiang Kaijie's name.

After reading Xiang Kaijie's answer sheet, Shi Chongwei secretly praised him. Not only did he write well in the article, but he also wrote well in the poems, and he did have the top ten talents. What satisfied Shi Chongwei the most was Xiang Kaijie's name. Kaijie, a good omen, and he has been unlucky this year. If Xiang Kaijie performs well in the palace examination, you might as well use this name to celebrate."

…………

May 17th, Wenhua Palace.

Xue Suren, Minister of Rites, presented the results of the palace examination today, and presented the articles on the top ten palace examinations. According to convention, the emperor should enclose the top three, namely the top scorer, the second scorer and the Tanhualang. The emperor has the order and is replaced by the prince. In fact, Shi Fangzhen intends to establish authority for the prince and win over the imperial examinations. These people will become loyal supporters of the prince's rule in the future.

Shi Chongwei's eyes swept over the list. Among the top ten names, there was "Xiang Kaijie". I don't know if this Xiang Kaijie is really capable or bribed the Grand Secretary who reviewed the papers. Shi Chongwei first took Xiang Kaijie's test papers to read. Xiang Kaijie's article "... The granaries are empty and the money is insufficient, so the country should not be able to defend... If the order is heavy, the king will be respected, and the king will be safe; if the order is light, the king will be humble, and the king will be in danger... If the army wins, it will be used by the people, and the army will be victorious; if the people use it, it will be used by the orders, and the people will be used by the people..." Xiang Kaijie's article talked about Shi Chongwei's heart. If the country wants to be stable, it is necessary to respect the power of the king, strictly enforce discipline, and all officials will be obeyed, and the army will be prohibited, and the king's will be implemented. Only in this way can the country be rich and the people be strong and achieve the cause of kingdom.

"Okay", Shi Chongwei praised, and took a pen to circle Xiang Kaijie's article, and looked at the articles of several others, and circled Lingzhou Juzi Guan Wenhua as the second place, Chenzhou Juzi Ma Fengqi as Tanhua. This Ma Fengqi is Mao Huacheng's disciple. Mao Huacheng has made a lot of efforts as the chief exam this time, so Shi Chongwei naturally has to pay back. Li Donghong is also in the top ten, and Shi Chongwei thought about it and put him in sixth place.

On May 19th, the gold list was posted, and Yongchang City was in a big uproar. The top 50 of the 336 tribute scholars were almost all from powerful families. The list was angrily angrily. Someone threatened to beat the drum to report the imperial examination. Some people said frustrated, "The imperial examination was the prince personally presided over it. Who will complain to? I will admit it."

The people watching the fun next to them are not afraid of big troubles. They commented on who is the nephew of the marquis, who is the descendant of the uncle, and who is the aristocratic family. The more they talk about those poor students, the more angry they become.

As the top scholar, Xiang Kaijie's identity was naturally soon known. His sons of officials and scholarly families seemed nothing compared to other powerful people, and finally gave those disciples a little comfort.

When Xiang Kaijie learned that he was the top scorer in high school, he was completely confused. Although he had dreamed of winning the top scorer many times, when the good newsman delivered the wedding invitation to him, he still said "hehe" like a fool. The manager who was with him was clever and took out the money to send the good newsman, arranged a banquet to thank those who came to congratulate and chat with him.

When Huang Xi learned that Xiang Kaijie had won the top scorer, he couldn't help laughing and said softly, "God helps me, Tang Wenzhong's death is not far away."

Xiang Kaijie was in full bloom at Liansheng Inn. Officials from the Ministry of Rites notified him to go to Hanyuan Hall at the time of Mao tomorrow to participate in the Golden Hall Celebration Ceremony. Then he went to the city to praise the officials and enjoyed honor in the cheers of the people in the capital.

In the Chuan Palace, Shi Chongjie looked at the list and sneered, saying, "The emperor's brother sells great favors, and all the fame and fortune of this subject are sold to the powerful and powerful children. Xiang Kaijie bought the top scholar for 42,000 taels of silver, which is easy to trade."

Huang Xi said softly, "This Xiang Kaijie took the path of Eunuch Tang. Eunuch Tang is a person around Master Long Live. The prince gives him face, so he must be careful."

Shi Chongjie felt secretly in his heart. The eunuch in charge of all matters in the palace. He could not hide any movement in the palace. When he colluded with the prince, the mother's mother would not get any news in the palace, and every move would reach the prince's ears. The sword eyebrows were secretly raised, and Shi Chongjie's murderous intention was set on, and Tang Wenzhong could not keep it.

Huang Xidong's tricks were intended to Tang Wenzhong, and said quietly, "The prince used this imperial examination to win over officials. If the prince did not have any reaction, he would probably be disappointed."

Shen Wenqing also said, "Yes, the prince should raise his arms and shout, so that those waiting and watching ministers, disappointed sons, ordinary people can see the prince's righteousness."

Huang Xi said, "I will let someone secretly reveal the fraud of Xiang Kaijie and others, and create a strife in the capital. Zhang Changlin and others are still in the capital. You might as well let them go to the Censor's Office to report to the Censors and ask Doctor Huang to report to the Emperor and find out the truth."

A few of these candidates were from the Chuan Prince's Mansion. Shen Wenqing said, "Tomorrow, the Golden Palace will be celebrated, and all civil and military officials will gather together. The prince may as well go to watch the ceremony. At that time, Zhou Chongrui and others will be unfair. The prince will take the opportunity to uphold justice, and then go to Yanshan Villa to meet the saints, tell the emperor about the evils of this imperial examination, and by the way, tell the matter of Eunuch Tang to Wansui, and since Eunuch Tang turned to the prince, he would be unkind."

Shi Chongjie hesitated and said, "My father is seriously ill, so he goes to be surprised or has any accidents."

Shen Wenqing said anxiously, "It's urgent. If the prince and Eunuch Tang collude, the prince will separate himself from Yanshan Villa. Instead of surrendering, it's better to fight for the death."

Bianchen

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Chapter completed!