Along the way, the sound of horses' hooves clattered in the ears, and the carriage drove quickly and smoothly down the lane.

His Royal Highness was surprisingly quiet all the way, and he didn't speak much, just put his hands on the edge of the window, looking at the scenery outside the window with a look of surprise, and occasionally let out a few exclamations when he saw something interesting.

That's right, His Royal Highness has been growing up in the palace, if it weren't for the Empress Dowager's permission to let her go to the Guozijian to have a look, I'm afraid she might not have the opportunity to go out of the palace to see the bustling and noisy market.

Everything out there is new and wonderful for a nine-year-old child......

I couldn't help but smile, thinking that this child was so innocent, and it was also a blessing, but I don't know if Wan'er was so eccentric and liked to play when she was so young, if so, it must be very cute.

I don't know why, looking at this little highness dressed as a little scholar, that sense of déjà vu arises again, what kind of feeling is this?

In a trance, I saw that half of His Royal Highness's body was about to lean out of the window, so frightened that I hurriedly rushed over and pulled His Royal Highness to my side and protected him in my arms.

If the car accidentally bumps, what should His Highness do if he goes out?

Alas, I blame myself for what I was stunned about, if something happened to His Royal Highness, how should I explain it to Wan'er?

Perhaps because he knew that his actions were too dangerous, before I could say anything, His Royal Highness admitted his mistake first, lowered his head and said with some shame:

"I'm sorry, Taifu, it's Jue'er's fault. ”

I am very pleased with this child's behavior, although she is a princess, she also knows the etiquette and knows right and wrong, which is really commendable.

I couldn't help but gently stroke her head, smiled and said:

"It's the Taifu who scared His Royal Highness, if His Royal Highness is not afraid of being tall or tired, then let's ride back later, Taifu will take His Royal Highness to the market to have a look, and buy some favorite gadgets by the way, I don't know what His Royal Highness thinks?"

"Really?"

Xiao Jue'er's eyes suddenly glowed, she had just seen the interesting little tiger doll, but the carriage was going too fast, so she could only lean out and want to see it more realistically.

"Of course, a gentleman's word, the horse is difficult to chase. ”

When Xiao Jue'er heard this, she almost danced, threw herself into my arms, hugged my neck, and said:

"Thank you, Taifu~"

Suddenly hugged by this little guy, it made me a little embarrassed, my face was slightly red, and I was secretly proud, it seems, I still like children!

Ha ha!

It didn't take long for us to come to the first school in the Northern Wei Dynasty - Guozijian.

The carriage stopped under the archway outside the Guozi Prison, and from here on, we had to get off the carriage and climb the stairs on our own, and slowly walk into the Guozi Prison.

After we all dismounted, I led His Royal Highness in front, and behind her there was always a chamberlain, and Ah Zheng asked him to watch the carriage wait for us near the archway.

After we climbed dozens of steps, we could see the first building, and in the center of the building was the statue of the Holy Master of Dacheng.

In "The Book of Rites: King Wen's Son", there is a saying: All scholars who are established must be laid by the first saints and teachers.

Therefore, the first thing that every student who enters the Guozijian to study and practice rituals is to worship the Holy Master of Dacheng, and only when he has seen the Holy Master can he be regarded as officially entering the Guozijian!

When I came to the statue of the Holy Master, I bowed respectfully to the Holy Master as if I was studying in the country.

When Xiao Jue'er saw my meticulous appearance, she was immediately in awe, and she also bowed to the Holy Master in the same way.

I looked at the appearance of the little hall bowing at a glance, and the corners of my mouth couldn't help but show a gentle smile, this child is indeed cute and interesting!

After the ceremony, Xiao Jue'er followed me inside, and asked curiously as she walked:

"Taifu, which immortal god are we worshipping just now?"

I couldn't help but smile slightly, thinking that although this girl had already been enlightened and studied, she had not entered the school like other scholars, and naturally she had never met the holy master Confucius.

I smiled slightly, and then said slowly:

"That is not any immortal deity, but the teacher of those who study in this world, Confucius, the most holy master of Dacheng!"

"Oh, so we just met a teacher!"

"Well, respect the teacher, that's how it should be. ”

Xiao Jue'er nodded seriously, keeping in mind what I just said.

When we entered the inner courtyard, not far away, a chubby man in the official uniform of the Hanlin Yuan ran towards us, panting, and as soon as I saw the figure of the man, I knew who it was.

"Brother Yang, why are you in such a hurry?"

I couldn't help but smile and ask, his body is getting more and more round, and it is really a bit difficult for him to run like this.

Yang Anyuan directly ignored my ridicule, panting like a cow, and said:

"Huhu, I'm waiting for you, brother, you're finally here. ”

I looked at his sweaty and anxious appearance, could something have happened, what can happen to this country's eunuch?

"What's wrong?"

"Alas, it's almost quarrelsome, Hanlin Yuan and Guozijian ......"

Before he finished speaking, Yang Anyuan bent over and began to gasp again, and when he lowered his body, he saw Xiao Jue'er, who had been following me, staring at this beautiful child with some curiosity for a long time, and couldn't help but point to Xiao Jue'er and asked:

"Who is this little one?"

"The little son of a certain family. What did you just say? The people of the Hanlin Yuan and the Guozijian quarreled?"

In order to divert Yang Anyuan's attention and figure out what was going on, I urged him to hurry up and make his words clearer.

As soon as he heard that it was a prince, he happened to see the attendant who was following Xiao Jue'er, and Yang Anyuan closed his mouth very knowingly and stopped asking about the origin of the child's life.

He cleared his throat, shook his head, and said:

"They didn't quarrel, they argued about whether a student was shortlisted or not. ”

When I heard this, I frowned slightly and asked:

"But the four most talented students selected from the crowd have a problem?"

Yang Anyuan nodded and said:

"Originally, it was decided to select the four people with the best talent from the examination, but after selecting these four people, I found that one of them may not be suitable to be selected. ”

It's too ambiguous to say 'it may not be suitable'.

Since this person can be selected, it means that he is both talented and talented, but he really clicked on this person and found that this person is not suitable to be one of the candidates, hehe, if I guess correctly, this kid lost not because of talent, but because of his status.

"Well, let me guess what's going on, the individual doctors of the Hanlin Academy and the Guozijian must not approve of this child's selection, but the Guozijian priest wine and most of the doctors agree with this child's selection, what am I talking about?"

Yang Anyuan stared at me with an amazed expression, couldn't help but raise his thumbs, and said:

"High, really high. ”

I glanced at Yang Anyuan, asked briskly, and said:

"What's the child's name?"

"It seems to be called...... Li Yuan......"

Li Yuan: It's really that kid, I think it should be him.

Li Yuan, the child is about twelve or thirteen years old, and he is the most outstanding scholar in the Taixue Pavilion.

I also have some relationship with the Taixue Pavilion, and when I was on duty in the Hanlin Academy, I often went to the Taixue Pavilion to give lectures and lectures, and the number of students in the Taixue Pavilion was only about 20 people, so I knew exactly what their talents and qualifications were.

As for why they argued, it was just because of the old accounts between the gate lord clan and the Han clan that led to it, after all, most of the Hanlin Yuan were born in the gate lord clan, and they have always been above the top, and they have never looked at the Han clan in their eyes.

The reason why they agreed to let the Hanmen scholars also participate in this selection was that they felt that the children of the Gate Lords were superior to the Hanmen, and secondly, that the Guozijian had merged with the Taixue Pavilion, and the students of the Taixue Pavilion were naturally counted as the students of the Guozijian, and they were naturally eligible to participate in the selection of the Little Emperor's companion.

But what they never expected was that there were really talented people from poor families who could compete with the children of the gate valve.

And being selected to be the little emperor's companion means that he will become a very important figure like the emperor's right-hand man in the future, if Li Yuan is allowed to be elected, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be a second Cui Tingyou, so the Hanlin Academy and others are strongly opposed to letting Li Yuan be selected afterwards.

I can't help but sigh, it seems that the view of the portal is deep-rooted, and it can be easily changed without integrating a Guozijian or Taixue Pavilion!

This time I kind of understood, Yat-sen sent someone to invite me over to settle the dispute, alas, what a thankless job!

"I see, so let's take me to see what happens to a situation. ”

"Good. ”

When Yang Anyuan heard this, he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and happily led the way ahead.

I turned my head and looked down at Xiao Jue'er, and said softly:

"Your Highness will walk around the academy if you are bored later, but don't go too far, if the Taifu can't find you, he won't be able to take you to the market on horseback." ”

As soon as Xiao Jue'er heard that she was riding a horse to the market to play, she nodded happily.

I saw that this child was well-behaved, and I was a little relieved, and then I gave a few instructions to the waiter behind Xiao Jue'er, and said:

"Just take care of His Royal Highness. ”

The chamberlain replied respectfully:

"The minion is awake, please rest assured. ”

I nodded, and then followed behind Yang Anyuan and went with him to see the situation.

When I arrived at the door of the Jingshi Hall, I saw that the doctors of the Hanlin Academy and the Guozijian were all gathered together, and the head of the Hanlin Academy, Che Huai, and the Guozi Priest Jiu Yixian were sitting upright in the hall, and they were silent, and the Hanlin Academy and the Guozijian stood in a bunch, and saw a group of scholars quoting scriptures here, arguing with each other.

It's really a heated debate!

I can't help but secretly say to myself, don't look at this group of scholars who seem to be gentle and polite on weekdays, but if they really fight, they have the momentum of ruffians on the street, and it won't be over if they don't beat each other to the point of bleeding.

If I go in like this, will I be innocently involved and beaten?

Ah, the so-called gentleman doesn't stand under the dangerous wall, or take the opportunity to slip away?!

I was thinking about slipping away, and Yang Anyuan immediately stabbed me in the back, only to hear him shout:

"Gao Yushi has arrived!"

As soon as this thing shouted, the audience suddenly fell silent.

I grabbed Yang Anyuan's collar and was about to clean him up, but I found that countless eyes suddenly shot at me behind me, I couldn't help but shiver, and then I let go of Yang Anyuan's collar with a natural face, and swept Yang Anyuan's shoulders with a gesture, as if dust had fallen on it.

Then, with a peaceful smile on his face, he bowed to everyone very politely and majestically, and said:

"You're polite. ”

Hearing that the most favored courtier in front of the Empress Dowager was greeting, everyone present changed their faces to be gentle and submissive, clasped their fists one after another, and responded with a smile:

"Gao Yushi is polite!"

"Haha, polite, polite. ”

I walked through the crowd with a smile and a greeting all the way, until I reached the main hall, and Che Huai and Yat-sen had already stood up to greet me for a long time.

As soon as I got closer, Che Huai rushed up to meet me, talked with me quite cordially, and said happily:

"Senior brother, I have been waiting for you for a long time, and I haven't congratulated Senior Brother on his promotion to the Imperial History?"

Hey, if I'm not mistaken, Che Huai is obviously much older than me, and he calls himself 'brother' at this time, which is almost really ......

I hurriedly showed a flattered look, clenched my fists and said:

"It's Gao Chen's to keep the brothers waiting for a long time, Gao Chen also has to congratulate Brother Che on his promotion to the position of head of the Hanlin Academy!"

As soon as he heard this flattery, Che Huai was overjoyed, and said with a smile:

"Rejoice, rejoice!"

At that time, Zhou Wenzhishi, who was still the head of the Hanlin Academy, returned to his hometown to retire, and Che Huai, with my assistance, took over the management of the Hanlin Academy and became the new head of the Hanlin Academy.

Che Huai himself is a person who is well versed in the way of officialdom and is very familiar with the wind and camels, and this time he admits that I am in love with the Hanlin Academy, and he is grateful to me, and Ermo has been smooth sailing recently, as if he has become a celebrity in front of the Empress Dowager, and his future prospects are unlimited. Che Huai's biggest weakness is that his family is weak, so he feels that finding a big tree to attach to is the way to go smoothly.

Looking at his attitude towards me, it is clear that I have probably become the tree he wants to cling to!

After greeting Che Huai, I saluted Yixian again and said:

"Brother Yixian, I've been waiting for a long time. ”

Yixian and I can really save that set of red tape, as long as we follow the gentleman's friendship and be honest.

Yixian is also free and easy, no matter how the people in the hall quarrel, his indifferent expression does not change at all, which is really admirable.

"It's good that Brother Gao Xian is here. ”

Yat-sen's answer is also sincere and straightforward, which shows that he is worthy of being a frank gentleman, but it is really a bit unrighteous to ask me to go to the Guozijian to solve such a thorny dispute.

After saying that, someone added another one with me, since this place is the place where the prince of the country is studying, he divided the guests and the host to sit down, and when the tea was about to come up, I also thought of a way to deal with it, so I smiled and said to the people present:

"All the brothers are the leaders in the literary world in Beijing today, and Gao Chen admires them a lot. Therefore, when he entered the inner hall, he heard the brothers arguing and refuting, arguing with reason, and arguing about the wonderful remarks of Bogu, Gao Chen greatly appreciated it, and also felt that this situation was quite a hundred schools of thought contending with the sons of the pre-Qin Dynasty. I just don't know why the controversy between the brothers came about?"

Obviously, it sounds like they are praising them, but they don't think it's the same thing at all, not to mention that what they are arguing about has nothing to do with academic discussion, and what is even more hateful is that they have been arguing for so long and this Gao Yushi has no idea what they are arguing about.

My praise and disapproval made everyone present sigh one after another, and after looking at each other for a moment, they all fell silent in shame.

If this group of them really argues for academics, no matter how noisy they are, it is also something worthy of the respect of scholars, but now they are arguing in court about whether a poor scholar is qualified to be selected as a companion, and they almost beat people in court for this matter.

Seeing that they were all quiet, I thought I didn't need to beat around the bush, so I said bluntly:

"Gao Chen knows what your brothers are arguing about, so Gao Chen just wants to ask a few questions first: First, the students who are selected based on their excellent examinations, this method of selecting talents, did you all agree at that time?"

When the people heard my question, they answered with their hearts, and they said:

"It's true that we all agree. ”

Hearing this, I nodded and said yes, and continued to ask:

"At the time of the examination, can there be unfair and unrighteous behavior, and when the case is read and finalized, can there be unclear and illegal things?"

Listening to my words, it seemed that I suspected that there was fraud in this examination, and the examiners and markers stood up one after another to prove their innocence.

"Hey, this is definitely not, our invigilators are strict and self-disciplined, and there is no suspicion of partiality. ”

"That's right, let's not say that the exam papers don't record names, not to mention that we are reading the papers with many people reading and batching at the same time, and the terms determined are only determined after everyone agrees. ”

"Yes, we can all prove that this exam is fair and rigorous. ”

......

Hearing that everyone in the hall spoke out one after another, I also asked Che Huai and Yixian for advice respectively, and they nodded their heads one after another to indicate that what the people in the hall said was true.

I raised my hand to signal everyone to be quiet, put on an expression of trust and said:

"Well, since the method of selecting the candidates for the examination is a recognized method, and the examination process is also fair and strict, then the four students selected are the recognized candidates of the brothers. In that case, there is no need to argue!"

As soon as they heard my words, everyone was speechless, and those who were originally against chose to remain silent, while those who chose to support saw hope and looked expectant.

Che Huai, as the head of the Hanlin Academy, naturally put the interests of the children of the gate lord clan first, seeing that the people under the hall were speechless, if he didn't come out to speak at this time, he was afraid that he would become a sinner for the ages of the Northern Wei Dynasty at that time.

"Senior brother, don't you know, one of these four people is a student of the Taixue Pavilion......"

Che Huai originally wanted to name that person as a child of a poor family, but for the sake of face, he failed to break this layer of window paper.

He felt that I was also born in the clan of the Gate Lords, so naturally he would not allow the children of the Han Sect to have the opportunity to get close to the center of power in the imperial court.

I smiled faintly and swept around the hall, everyone's eyes were focused on me at this moment, waiting to see my attitude and position, if I didn't have pressure, it would be impossible, after all, this matter projected the grievances and grievances between the gate lord clan and the Han clan ......

That's why I said, it's a thankless job!

I sighed slightly, and then I said:

"Your brothers' worries Gao Chen knows, but there is one thing Gao Chen wants to remind you that the Empress Dowager's decree is clearly written, select the best and the best. ”

As soon as these words came out, I wanted to remind this group of people that in this selection, identity and status are not the first place, but talent and conduct are the first.

"Your brothers uphold the will of the imperial court to open a test in the country, and publicize the good name of our dynasty to love the virtuous and virtuous, and you also live up to the trust of the imperial court, be fair and strict, and select the best, and should be an example for the courtiers. But today, if we deprive a scholar who has been shortlisted for the re-election because of the personal grievances of the scholars, and vent his personal anger with such a fake business, Gao Chen will think that he will be disdainful, and all of you here have ever thought that if this matter is spread out, where is the prestige of the court, and where is the face of the court?"

I said this word so loudly that many people present were ashamed.

After a pause, I continued:

"Fang Cai, Brother Che said that a student of Taixue Hall ...... Regardless of the fact that the Taixue Pavilion has long been merged with the Guozijian, and the students of the Taixue Pavilion are also the students of the Guozijian, which cannot be argued. More importantly, who among these four students will be fortunate enough to become the companion of His Majesty the Emperor, will be selected by Gao Chen based on the four talents to learn and behave. ”

"Brothers, please rest assured, Gao Chen will uphold the Empress Dowager's will, select talents and talents for the imperial court, and live up to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty the Emperor!"

I have already made it so clear that no matter what the final outcome of this matter is, I am willing to bear it with all my might.

Since some people are willing to take responsibility for this matter, they don't have to worry about the adverse consequences of this matter being implicated in themselves.

Then they just have to wait and see what the end result is.

If the Hanmen scholars fail to pass guò, they will naturally be happy for the gate lord clan, but Gao Chen will inevitably be criticized by those poor men and the world's scholars; if the Han men scholars pass guò, the gate lord clans in the court will never sit idly by, at that time, I am afraid that no matter how Gao Chen is favored by the empress dowager, he will also become the mortal enemy of the gate lord clan!

No matter what the final result is, Gao Chen is not a human being inside and out......

All of you here are understanding, and after hearing my statement, everyone expressed their willingness to follow my final choice.

The people in the hall agreed, and I looked at Che Huai and Yixian again.

This time, it was Yixian who stood up first and made his position clear, saying:

"Brother Yixian Xingao!"

Yixian's short sentence is that regardless of gains and losses, he is willing to go with me on this trip to the troubled waters.

I smiled and returned the salute with a fist.

Che Huai thought about it cautiously, and finally said respectfully, saying:

"It's up to Brother Gao!"

This is really what Che Huai, who saw the wind and rudder, said, knowing how to be neutral and self-protecting, which is not a bad thing.

I smiled, then stood up and said:

"Since this is the case, then quickly send someone to summon those four students into the hall, and Gao Chen will personally test the talent and character of these four students!"

......