Lu Jing waited until the beginning of Shen and then went out to set off, and arrived at Feng's Mansion in less than half an hour, and then asked Lu Lian to send a post.

After a while, the housekeeper of the Feng Mansion went out to greet him: "Bachelor Lu, forgive me, my lord has not returned to the house yet, but the lord has already explained before going out, if the adult arrives, please go to the side hall for tea first." ”

After Lu Jing thanked him, he followed the housekeeper of the Feng Mansion to the side hall, drinking tea while waiting for Feng Yanji's return.

About half an hour later, Feng Yanji returned home and ordered someone to invite Lu Jing to the outer study.

After the greetings were over, Feng Yanji asked, "Why did Huai Jin ask about those vassal states?" ”

Lu Jing told the emperor about the Qianxiang Kingdom at the end of last year, as well as the advice he offered.

Feng Yanji showed such a look after hearing this, and said with a smile: "Sure enough, as the old man expected, when the emperor summoned me and Xu Daxue, I felt that this matter must be related to you, and only you can come up with such a clever plan in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty." ”

Lu Jing hurriedly said to himself: "The adults praised it falsely, the student just put forward an idea at that time, and the student didn't know about the rest of the matter." ”

Feng Yanji nodded and praised: "Huai Jin doesn't have to be too humble, when you were first snubbed by the emperor last year, I felt that it had something to do with this matter, and now it has confirmed the old man's speculation." ”

Lu Jing heard him mention his own affairs, and hurriedly got up and said respectfully: "Please give me advice!" ”

Feng Yanji nodded slightly and said: "The experience of the virtuous nephew is also simple, using the trade with the vassal countries to control the economy of various countries, you can solve the troubles of various countries without bloodshed, if this matter is achieved without worldly achievements, it is not an exaggeration to pay homage to the marquis, and you are so young, and you are the first to propose this plan, if you participate in this matter, it will inevitably be sealed because of merit, and it is not difficult to understand that the emperor has the intention to suppress the virtuous nephew for a few years." ”

Lu Jing sighed: "If this is the case, it is good, the student can just study to cultivate his will and temper his mind, but I am afraid that the student will anger the emperor because of other things, and I don't know how to resolve it." ”

Feng Yanji comforted: "The virtuous nephew doesn't have to be discouraged, even if it's not, it doesn't matter, after a while, the old man will try it, or he can clarify the emperor's thoughts." ”

Lu Jing had a plan to try, and he was afraid that the two would go against each other, so he hurriedly asked: "Thank you for your hard work for the students, the students are grateful, I don't know how the adults want to tempt?" ”

Feng Yanji said with a smile: "The old man has long wanted to recruit you into the household department, but the emperor has always valued the virtuous nephew and kept you by his side to cultivate, and the old man had to regret it. ”

Speaking of this, Lu Jing showed a thoughtful expression, and asked, "Isn't there a plan for the virtuous nephew?" ”

Lu Jing didn't hide it, and said directly: "At the end of the month, it is the big exam of Han Zhan Kedao, and the students are planning to pass the big exam to see the emperor's attitude towards students!" ”

Feng Yanji smiled after hearing this: "That's fine, with Master Song's personality, you will definitely be ranked first-class, and then the emperor will definitely have some arrangements for the virtuous nephew." ”

Lu Jing muttered: "What the students think is that they have to be ranked at the end of the second class. ”

Feng Yanji was a little surprised and said, "Why is this?" ”

Lu Jing explained: "Now it is impossible to determine the emperor's attitude towards the students, if they are ranked first, the emperor is likely to release the students, so that the students will have to leave Beijing for at least two or three years, or even longer." ”

Feng Yanji nodded after hearing this, it is indeed very possible, although he didn't understand why Lu Jing was reluctant to leave Beijing, but he didn't ask, and said after a while: "It makes sense for the virtuous nephew to think so, if it is ranked at the end of the second class, it may be more effective." ”

"That's what the students think." Lu Jing nodded, not surprised that Feng Shangshu could see that he was advancing by retreating, and whether it was for the Jia family, the Xue family, or because of Wang Ziteng, he couldn't leave the capital for a long time at present.

Feng Yanji said in a deep voice: "That's fine, now that the trade plan is progressing slowly, I think that the emperor will make a big move in the near future, and maybe he will use the virtuous nephew." ”

When Lu Jing heard this, he took the opportunity to ask where the current trade between the imperial court and various countries had progressed.

Feng Yanji said: "I have been collecting information from various countries before, and I didn't make a plan until the beginning of March, and two months ago it was delayed for a period of time because of the matter of the old lady, and it only began to advance in the middle of last month. Then he told the story in general terms.

The two talked for another quarter of an hour, and the people from Feng's house came to report that the dinner was ready, and Feng Yanji invited Lu Jing to the table to talk again. Lu Jing saw that it was ready, and he didn't make much excuses, so he sat down with him.

During the banquet, Feng Yanji saw that Lu Jing was a little reluctant to leave Beijing, so he promised him that if the emperor arranged for him to be released, he would find a way to recall him back to the capital.

Lu Jing was extremely grateful for this and frequently toasted and thanked him. After the banquet, the two chatted for a while before Lu Jing said goodbye and left.

After Lu Jing went home, he told Daiyu about today's trip to Fengfu, chatted again, and went to Yinglian's room to rest in the evening.

In the next few days, under the arrangement of Lu Jing and Daiyu, Dr. Zhang and his wife Guo Shi diagnosed everyone in Lu and Lin Prefecture one by one, and sure enough, it was found that many people had minor illnesses, and several people had hidden diseases.

However, Lu Jing, Daiyu, Lu Zhiyu, Yinglian, Aunt Luo, Li Wen, Li Qi, Zijuan and others are extremely healthy, and Lin Ruhai's body is also recovering well.

The subordinates of the Lu and Lin mansions, whether they were found to be sick or not, were extremely grateful to Lu Jing Daiyu, and they had a stronger sense of belonging to the Lu family.

On June 15, Song Xuequan, Jin Yue, and Hu Zenglin summoned everyone from the Hanlin Academy to the conference hall, and Lu Jing was also among them.

When Song Xuequan saw that everyone had arrived, he announced that the Yuan Yong 10th Han Zhan Kedao Examination would be held in ten days, and the exam venue was in the Ministry of Rites.

Everyone was either nervous or excited, and some aspiring bachelors were looking forward to getting good grades and getting promoted; And those officials who lacked confidence and this year's Ji Ji Shi were nervous, especially those Shu Ji Shi, who were almost short of breath, after all, the time to decide the starting point was coming.

Those old Hanlin who did not report any hope for his career were like dry wells and did not care; Lu Jing's face was also calm and unfazed, and he was more concerned about whether Master Song still remembered last year's agreement.

After Song Xuequan explained the matter, he instructed everyone again, and then let everyone disperse.

Lu Jing also dispersed with everyone, but he was not in a hurry to leave the Hanlin Academy, and planned to talk to Song Xuequan, but before the time for a cup of tea, Song Xuequan sent someone to invite.

When Lu Jing arrived, he saw that Song Xuequan was the only one left in the room, so he bowed and saluted.

After the greetings were over, Song Xuequan invited Lu Jing to sit down, and said apologetically: "The old man is really ashamed of failing to help Huaijin recover." ”

Lu Jing hurriedly said: "The seniors don't have to be like this, the seniors were able to intercede for the late life, which was already a great kindness, and the later life didn't know how to repay it, not to mention that the road to the career was not smooth sailing, and it was common to have ups and downs, and it was also an indispensable experience for the later life." ”

Song Xuequan sighed: "Having said that, but with your talent at home, the old man really feels sorry. ”

Lu Jing shook his head and said: "Thank you for the concern of your predecessors, as the so-called Sai Weng lost his horse and knew whether it was a blessing, when his career was smooth before, the younger generations often had pride and complacency, and now the younger generations are more able to calm down and be more determined in the face of difficulties." ”

Song Xuequan nodded and praised: "Those who set up great things in ancient times not only have supernatural talents, but also must have perseverance, you can have such a detached mentality, and you will have some achievements in the future." ”

Lu Jing said humbly: "Thank you seniors for your praise, I dare not be ashamed in my later life." ”

Song Xuequan continued: "Huai Jin doesn't need to be humble, last time the old man promised you that if you win the prince of Qianxiang, the old man will promise you a condition in this big exam, what are your requirements for the ranking?" ”

Lu Jing was not surprised that Song Xuequan was able to manipulate the ranking of the big exam, in the past, some old Hanlin were afraid of downgrading and did not want to be promoted, so they would discuss the ranking with the master of the academy before the exam, so he said: "The late students want to be ranked in the second class later, no promotion or demotion, no honor and no shame is enough!" ”

Song Xuequan was surprised when he heard this: "Why is this? If you are in the first class, not to mention promotion and reinstatement, it is much better to seek release than in Beijing. ”

Lu Jing heard that it was a fluke to say secretly, if he really put himself in the first rank, maybe he would really be released out of Beijing, and said busily: "The younger generation is consciously impetuous, and wants to study at the level and temper his mind." ”

Song Xuequan didn't believe Lu Jing's excuse, and persuaded him a few more words, seeing that he was resolute, he had to sigh: "In this case, when the time comes, you only need to use the word 'An' in the sixth sentence, the word 'Ru' in the seventh sentence, and the words 'Ju' and 'He' in the eighth or ninth sentence." ”

Lu Jing instantly understood when he heard this, it turned out to be a method of 'opening up joints' to cheat, this method is very common in the imperial examination, before the exam, the examiner and the candidate check the words on the joints of the examination paper, and the candidate only needs to write the set words somewhere in the article when answering the question.

In order to make it easier to identify, three or four words are usually typed, even if these words are placed in the middle of the sentence and the bull's head is not in the horse's mouth, it does not matter, so that whether it is a vague name or a transcription, it can be safely won.

Whenever this method of the imperial examination is popular, Lu Jing also knows a lot, and even sees a lot, so he thanked him, chatted a few words, and left.