The first place in the second class is Sun Xu, Tanhua Fengxi, Bangyan Lun Wenxu, and the champion Shen Xi.

This order of arrangement has been arranged after Feng Xi revealed that he is Tanhua, but most of the palace test examiners do not know what Li Dongyang wants to say to Emperor Hongzhi, but at this time, Zhu Youji's attention is all on the opening of the list eye scroll and the champion scroll, and he doesn't pay attention to others at all.

Liu Jian glanced at Li Dongyang and shook his head slightly, meaning not to let Li Dongyang step forward and touch his head.

"Bangyan, Nanhai County Lun Wenxu ......"

With the announcement of the name of the list, the final champion can be said to have no suspense, the champion volume that Zhu Youzhi admired very much, turned out to be from the thirteen-year-old Shen Xi, the son of Ninghua County, Fujian.

If Shen Xi is an ordinary candidate, then or the examination examiner of the palace will not have much opinion, but the key is that Shen Xi is only thirteen years old, and he was slandered as related to the question case because he got the yuan in the Ministry of Rites examination, and the case is still under trial, and the designation of Shen Xi as the champion at this time will definitely cause an uproar.

"Champion, Shenxi ......, Ninghua County"

Although there is no suspense, the house official still reveals the final suspense.

It stands to reason that the marking of the palace examination has officially ended here, but at present, some people among the hall examination examiners think that this order is extremely inappropriate, especially before the palace examination, the person in charge of the three law divisions who tried their best to pull Shen Xi down from the position of the examination and the yuan to appease the anger of the scholars, among them, Bai Ang's attitude is the most resolute.

Bai Ang came out of the list: "Your Majesty, Shen Xi, the son of Ninghua County, is young and inactive, and he has been criticized by the scholars for the examination of the Ministry of Rites. Taking the prodigy record as a model is useless in edification. This person can be demoted. ”

Bai Ang was already polite to say this, in his original opinion. Shen Xi was hit by Huiyuan at a young age, and no one believed him when he was not involved in the case. But after he saw Shen Xidian's old and spicy and calm stroke, he also knew that even the emperor would laugh at the matter of talking about the topic, and he just wanted the emperor to demote Shen Xi's name at the moment.

Judging from the current situation, Shen Xi's descent to the top of the list is not bad, and Yi Lun Wenxu's talent, character, and prestige are definitely the best candidates for the champion.

After the palace examination papers were opened, it was discussed to demote the champion. This is not in accordance with the rules. The emperor has already set the champion with his talent, and then changed the hexagram, and it is known that it does not make the world's scholars chilling?

But this kind of unspoken rule has existed in all dynasties, and the emperor does have the power to regulate the education of the people.

Just like the question of this palace examination "The Rule of Rites and Music", getting a thirteen-year-old champion will make the local examiners and the people think that the emperor likes to promote young people, and in the next few years, I am afraid that there will be all kinds of "prodigies" in the imperial examinations at all levels, which is a scene that the Son of Heaven does not want to see.

Zhu Youzhu heard Bai Ang's admonition and was silent for a while. As an emperor, the things to consider are far more comprehensive than ordinary courtiers, and now Shen Xi's ranking is only a word from him, but this is against the principle of fairness and justice after all. As an emperor, you can't let the minister feel that he is biased.

Zhu Youzhu is a monarch who is humble and acceptable, at this time he is more willing to adopt the minister's opinion, in fact, he is also playing the ball and leaving the matter to the minister to discuss, so that even if it is unfair in the end, he can feel at ease, this is the result of the discussion of the ministers, I just chose to adopt it.

"What do you think?" Asking the minister's opinion is almost Zhu Youji's habit. The examiners of the halls present had long been surprised.

To drop or not to fall, do you have to vote again?

Zhu Youzhu first looked at the three cabinet scholars. None of the three took a stand, at such a time. Not expressing his stance was actually regarded as a tacit acquiescence to the emperor's decision, and Zhu Youzhu then looked at the three Hanlin scholars.

It is similar to the scene when the examiner was appointed before the palace examination, the first thing Hanlin wanted to protect was the interests of the students, and he could not let the unhealthy atmosphere of the imperial court affect the selection of scholars, and it could not be said that the candidates had to be demoted because they were young, and there was no such rule since ancient times.

"Your Majesty." Wang Wei stood up and spoke for Shen Xi, "The minister thinks that Shen Xi, the son of Ninghua County, can pass the two levels in the Fujian Township Test and the Ministry of Rites, and he will have the ability to excel, and he will be the pillar of the court in the future. ”

After Wang Wei finished speaking, Li Jie and Jiao Fang both nodded yes, on this issue, the three Hanlin scholars can be said to advance and retreat together.

And over there, the family members of the three law divisions are also in the same spirit, and Wang Shi, the secretary of Dali Temple, came out and said: "If you demote your name and use it, don't you be the pillar of the court?" This person is just a young man, even if he is a first, he will still have to wait for a few years before he can be entrusted with an important task, so it is better to leave the opportunity to someone who can be used by the court better. ”

Wang Shi's words, even the three Hanlin scholars are not easy to refute.

Shen Xi is too young to be released as a local leader for a while, at most he has reserved a talent for the future, so it doesn't matter whether he is the champion or not, even if he is a leader, it can be regarded as the emperor's favor.

Zhu Youzhu thought carefully about Wang Shi's words, nodded and said, "Then it will be demoted to the ...... list."

This was said plainly, with a little doubt, but before Emperor Hongzhi finished speaking, someone next to him walked out with a wat board and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks it's so inappropriate." ”

"Oh?"

Zhu Youzhu looked up at Ma Wensheng who came out and asked, "What does Ma Qing's family think?" ”

Ma Wensheng is the secretary of the military department among the seven secretaries, and logically speaking, his status should be under the secretary of the ministry of the secretary, but because of his meritorious work in pacifying the northwest, and he is a veteran of the four dynasties, he has a very high voice in the court. Ma Wensheng said: "The use of one person will not affect the education of the people, but a drop of muddy ink can make Qingtan dirty." Please think twice, Your Majesty. ”

Ma Wensheng did not directly express his opinion, but tactfully explained the disadvantages of doing so.

If you quietly and silently surrendered people before opening the seal, and no one knows, then that's it, and now in front of the courtiers, you actually veto the previous decision, and say it so eloquently, you can feel at ease, what does the scholar think?

Outsiders are either unconvinced by Shen Xi, thinking that he is young and does not have the attainments of being the champion, but under the principle of treating things and not people, he will demote the champion who has been appointed to the top of the list, which will make the scholar feel that the imperial examination is like a child's play, and even the emperor can change the order every day. How can you still have the heart to study?

At this time, Zhu Youzhu was a little unable to get off the stage, if he felt that Shen Xi was the best candidate in his heart, he would not ask the opinions of the ministers present. But now that he asked, Ma Wensheng's words were actually choking him. It's not easy for him to decide casually.

At this time, a person with weight in his speech is needed to come out to support him, and with the status and prestige of Qiqing, it can no longer play such a decisive role, only three cabinet scholars can come out to say this, among which the words of the first assistant Liu Jian are the most effective.

No matter what Liu Jian said, he was a veteran of the three dynasties, and it was almost instinctive to observe words and looks, and at this time he came out and saluted: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks." Since Ninghua County has been appointed as the champion, Shen Xi should be the champion, and the emperor will show his grace. ”

Zhu Youzhi glanced at Liu Jian, nodded and said, "In this case, let the matter be settled like this." The Ministry of Rites prepared the edict, and tomorrow it will be passed on at the time of the noon dynasty......"

The Ming Dynasty basically did not have an early dynasty, and the noon dynasty was the majority, which shows that not only the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was lazy, but even the ministers were also lazy, and it was not easy to get up in the morning when the nightlife was rich. It's not the same as the Qing Dynasty, you have to enter the palace before dawn in the early morning, and the emperor is mean. Even the ministers will suffer with them.

After this discussion, the final ranking was finally decided, the ministers bowed and then retired, from the beginning of the palace examination to the end of the grading ranking, three days before and after, all the examiners were a little anxious, especially the ranking on the third day, which was the simplest of all the processes, but made so many twists and turns.

Come out of the canopy hall. Bai Ang and Ma Wensheng, who were still arguing in the court just now about whether they should retain Shen Xi's top position, were already smiling at this moment. I'm talking about some private matters that have nothing to do with the court.

Zhou Jing stepped forward quickly, occasionally accosting. The atmosphere was harmonious.

As a courtier, you basically have consciousness, no matter how red-faced you fight in the court, gossip or gossip after you come out, everything is as usual, and you will not turn your face because of different opinions. The court is actually a stage, and when you are on it, you have to play your respective roles well, and in private, everyone is still friends.

Just imagine, Bai Ang, who is a high-ranking scholar of the criminal department, can he be guilty of scheming with a new science and technology scholar?

Regardless of whether you Shen Xi has the champion or not, the champion of all dynasties, it is difficult to climb to a high position such as Shangshu of the Criminal Department, not to mention that Bai Ang is already close to Zhishi, he just wants to stick to the last shift and make the emperor feel that he is a responsible courtier.

As soon as the ministers came out of the Huagai Palace, they saw an official of the Zhan Mansion hurrying to the East Palace, and when they saw the three cabinet scholars and the six secretaries coming out together, the official hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Although this official is only a fifth-grade official, even Liu Jian and Li Dongyang also returned the gift, Zhan Shifu is responsible for the daily teaching of the prince, plus this person was once the Japanese lecturer of Emperor Hongzhi, and he was born in the Hanlin Academy, as long as he coincidentally entered the cabinet. Moreover, this person is the champion of Chenghua for 17 years, named Wang Hua.

Wang Hua is not famous in history, but his son Wang Shouren can write a brilliant stroke in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

"Isn't this Dehui?"

Last year, the prince went out of the pavilion to study, and Emperor Hongzhi gave Li Dongyang the crown prince Shaobao, the title of secretary of the Ministry of Rites and the scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion to be responsible for teaching the prince, and before that, Li Dongyang had a good relationship with Wang Hua, and stopped and asked with a smile, "Do you want to go to the East Palace to give a lecture to the prince?" ”

Wang Hua was holding the "Book of Songs" in his hand, and when he heard Li Dongyang's question, he nodded hurriedly, and then asked curiously: "Shaobao, this is just from the Huagai Palace?" ”

Xie Qian and Wang Hua also have a good relationship, Wang Hua was admitted to him when he took the tribute, but now there is something to do, just smiled and nodded to Wang Hua and passed, and the other ministers basically just said hello and walked away quickly, only Li Dongyang sighed with a little regret and said: "Ling Lang is ranked seventh in the second class." ”

When Wang Hua heard this, there was no disappointment on his face, but he was very happy, and hurriedly saluted: "This is a blessing for children!" When Shao Bao has time to go to the house, let the child personally thank Shao Bao......"

Li Dongyang's appreciation of Wang Shouren, Wang Hua has long known, and Li Dongyang is the main examiner in this session, and his son will have to call Li Dongyang a mentor in the future. Having a cabinet scholar as a tutor will be of great help to my son's future career.

Wang Hua Huan Hai has been up and down for many years, although he was born as a champion, but because he has no backer, he is now just the right Yude of Zhan Shifu's right Chunfang, teaching the prince on weekdays, or presiding over the Shuntianfu Township Test, the future is unpredictable, but if his son can have Li Dongyang to take care of him, his career will be bright.

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PS: Fourth Update!

Thank you for your kindness, today's monthly pass and reward have broken records...... If it weren't for the lack of health, the Son of Heaven really wanted to break out every day Thank you!

I will repay the country as a countryman, and the affectionate and friendly son of heaven remembers, and when his body improves slightly, he will recover and explode! Bow deeply! (To be continued.) )