However, as the crown prince, if Li Hong doesn't know how to answer, then he doesn't have to answer, because he has his own courtiers to serve him, and he will definitely not let him bother as the crown prince.

Ma Zhiyuan saw that Li Hong couldn't squeak immediately, so he took over the conversation and said, "Your Majesty, just now before Your Majesty and Niangniang came to the future, the old minister was admonishing His Royal Highness the Prince, and it was precisely because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had read Li Rizhi's article. ”

"Oh? Why is that? The emperor didn't understand the meaning of these words, and looked at Ma Zhiyuan suspiciously.

Ma Zhiyuan said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent, he heard that Li Rizhi is a scholar who broke the case of Jidouguan, so he actually wants to make a name for Li Rizhi, saying that Li Rizhi's article is better than His Royal Highness's own!" However, the old minister thought that this move was inappropriate, even if His Royal Highness had brotherly love and was willing to thank Li Rizhi for His Royal Highness King Yin, but there was no need to use such a way, and the praise for Li Rizhi should be decided by His Majesty and Niangniang! ”

These words are righteous and strict, but they are solid sycophants, not only in praising His Royal Highness the Prince's article well, far surpassing Li Rizhi, but also in Kua's Royal Highness the Prince's special consideration of brotherhood and friendship for his younger brother, and finally there is another way, saying that Li Rizhi should still be rewarded!

Ma Zhiyuan owes Li Rizhi a favor, and now that he is so helpful, this favor can be regarded as being paid off.

Sure enough, after listening to Ma Zhiyuan's words, Emperor Long Yan was very happy, and said with a smile: "Yes, Ma Aiqing's advice is very much, Hong'er, even if you want to thank Li Rizhi, you don't have to use this method, your article is far better than Li Rizhi, anyone with a discerning eye can see that you forcibly make him famous, I'm afraid it will embarrass him!" ”

Empress Wu also said: "Hong'er, then Li Rizhi is the first and second place in this scientific examination, guess who the first place is?" ”

Ma Zhiyuan didn't tell Li Hong about the ranking of the scientific examination just now, as soon as Empress Wu said this, Li Hong knew that he was the first in the first class, and he felt very embarrassed.

In fact, when this scientific examination began, Li Hong just wanted to see the topic of this scientific examination, and heard that the topic of this scientific examination was reviewed by the queen mother, so he wanted to see the topic, so he sent Tong Guinu to ask.

Tong Guinu soon got the question, so he made a paper himself, saw the question, and answered it casually, isn't this also a normal thing, but Tong Guinu plucked him, saying that he would mix this paper into the scholars' papers, compare with the scholars, and see how Li Hong's article is.

Li Hong was a young man, and he didn't feel that there was anything out of place in this matter, he was the crown prince, the legitimate heir to the throne of the Tang Dynasty, and there was nothing out of line, so as soon as Tong Guinu pouted, he agreed.

Tong Guinu immediately went to do it in person, Tong Guinu made a move, then this matter became very simple, and as a confidant of Queen Wu, Tong Guinu naturally wanted to tell Queen Wu what happened.

So Empress Wu knew about this, but Empress Wu pretended not to know, firstly, she wanted to make the emperor happy, and secondly, she also wanted to consolidate Li Hong's status as the crown prince, so that everyone in the world knew that Li Hong was absolutely qualified to be the crown prince, and it was not necessary to change other princes, and other princes could not compare to Li Hong!

Li Hong is not the eldest son of the emperor, and the emperor used to have a prince, but because of the relationship between Empress Wu, the original prince was abolished, Li Hong is the eldest son born to Empress Wu, Empress Wu is in power, and Li Hong became the prince.

It is precisely because Empress Wu has killed the previous queen and the former prince that she is afraid that her son will also be abolished, but if the name of the prince's benevolence spreads all over the world, then even if she falls out of favor in the future, it will be difficult for the new queen to abolish Li Hong, which can be regarded as a rainy day.

Li Hong's mouth moved, and he said, "Is the queen mother asking about the first place?" Erchen can't guess this! ”

After all, he is still a young man, although his heart is quite high, but his face is thin, let him brag about himself, saying that this prince's article is the best in the world, he is really embarrassed to say this kind of thing.

Empress Wu smiled slightly and said, "It's a scholar named Hong Li, Hong'er, do you recognize this Hong Li?" ”

The emperor laughed and said, "Hong'er, this Hongli is your pseudonym, right?" Tong Aiqing has already told her father and mother! ”

The emperor is far inferior to Empress Wu, he didn't sell it at all, he only cared about his own happiness, anyway, he has always been happy with himself, and today he is so happy, the more promising Li Hong is, the better, this may also be related to the fact that he has nothing in his life, he has always been unvalued when he was a prince, and he doesn't want Li Hong to be like this!

Li Hong's face turned red, and he said a little shyly: "Could it be that Erchen is the first in the first class of the undergraduate?" That, but I'm sorry Li Rizhi! ”

If he didn't let Tong Guinu stuff his paper into the candidate's paper, then the first place in the first class this time would be Li Rizhi's, and Li Hong would not be an official, so this time he was really sorry for Li Rizhi, after all, the first place in the first class is still very beautiful for the scholars!

The emperor smiled and said, "Well, I want to compensate Li Rizhi well, Empress, this matter will be left to you!" ”

Empress Wu nodded slightly, Li Rizhi should make up for it, he first saved Li Lun, and now he has consolidated Li Hong's position as the crown prince, and he is really a lucky star for his two sons, she is very satisfied with Li Rizhi now, of course she has to reward it well.

The emperor praised Li Hong again, said a lot of things, said that he was hungry, so he ordered someone to pass the meal, Ma Zhiyuan was very good at patting, and the emperor was so comfortable that he was left to eat together, and the examiner Wailang and the two deputies also borrowed it and were also retained.

During the banquet, Empress Wu secretly tried it, if the official department was to be replaced, then she would first consider losing Ma Zhiyuan, and Ma Zhiyuan was so excited that he ate an extra bowl of rice!

Empress Wu signaled to the examiner Wai Lang, this time the first place in the first class should be Hong Li, but who Hong Li is, there is no need to explain, and there is no need to show up, let the people outside guess it, and in the end they will always guess the head of His Royal Highness the Prince, and the reputation of the prince will spread all over the world sooner or later.

In this era, there are no titles, such as champion, list, and tanhua, but only the first place, the second place, and so on, which is the official title.

Therefore, Li Rizhi should be the second place in the first class, but he is not the eye, but if he can boast on behalf of the new science and technology scholars, then he can be called Tanhualang, which is the most beautiful person in the first science and technology at this time.

At this time, Tanhualang did not refer to the third place in the scientific examination, this title has nothing to do with the ranking of the scientific examination, but refers to the youngest and most handsome Jinshi.

After the meal, the emperor and Empress Wu left happily, the examiners Wailang and Ma Zhiyuan also left, and only Li Hong and Tong Guinu were left in the Chongxian Pavilion.

Li Hong said: "Lone always feels sorry for Li Rizhi, Tong Qing, can you find Li Rizhi, let him come to the East Palace, talk to Lone, Lone wants to get to know him well!" ”