Li Yuanyin spoke very politely: "Then there is Father-in-law Lao." With that, he lifted the hem of the flying fish suit and knelt down obediently.

Ji Qingwen saw that Li Yuanyin's dignified Jinyi guard commanded the servants to kneel, and knew that his knees today were tough, so he also knelt down.

The eunuch tiptoed to the door of the Qianqing Palace, knocked on the door carefully, said a few words to the inside, and then trotted back, with a smile on his face: "This is Master Ji, right?" The emperor announced that you should go in immediately! ”

Ji Qingwen entered the palace for the first time, and he didn't understand all kinds of rules, so he asked ignorantly: "What does this mean, am I going to go in to see the emperor?" ”

Li Yuanyin said: "That's what it means, Ji Gongzi should be careful not to touch Tianwei." As he spoke, he turned his head and asked the eunuch, "How does the lower official act, and does the emperor have any will?" ”

The eunuch said, "Not really. However, the miscellaneous family thought that Master Ji was brought in by Master Li, so naturally he would have to be taken out by Master Li, so it was better for the miscellaneous family to move a Mazha for you, and you can sit next to it and wait, okay? ”

Li Yuanyin asked, "Is this convenient?" ”

The eunuch replied with a smile: "It's okay, it's night, and no one has come to interrogate." Even if someone asks a lot, just with the flying fish suit on Master Li, he can explain it clearly. ”

Li Yuanyin was relieved at this time, and after thanking the eunuch, he stood up and flashed to the corner.

Ji Qingwen saw that the senior officials of such a key department as the commander of Jinyiwei did not dare to act rashly in the palace, and his heart was even more nervous, he stood up tremblingly, and followed the eunuch to the gate of the Qianqing Palace, but he didn't know how to call the door.

The eunuch was also a good person, and when he saw this, he hurriedly reminded: "Old Master Ji and the Emperor are inside, waiting to see you!" Why don't you hurry up and report your name? ”

When Ji Qingwen heard this, he hurriedly announced his name loudly: "Ji Qingwen ......" but he didn't know how to say it.

A slightly immature voice came from inside the door: "Is it Ji Qingwen outside the door?" Okay, no more formality, just come in. ”

The eunuch smiled all over his face and flattered: "Master Ji is worthy of being a celebrity in front of the emperor, and he doesn't even have to be restrained by the big gift, why don't you hurry in and face the saint?" In the future, you will soar, take care of the miscellaneous family, and the miscellaneous family will be inexhaustible for a lifetime. ”

The eunuch chattered, but Ji Qingwen didn't listen to a word, as if in a dream, he gently pushed open the door in front of him, thought about it carefully, and then decided to take his right foot, cross the threshold about half a foot high, and finally came to this Qianqing Palace.

The entire Forbidden City was shrouded in darkness, but I don't know how many lights and candles were lit in this Qianqing Palace, illuminating the entire palace brightly, making Ji Qingwen, who had just stepped into the palace, a little difficult to adapt to the rapidly changing light for a while - his eyes were illuminated by the strong light, and even his brain was shaken a little dizzy.

But I heard a scolding voice in my ears: "Ji Qingwen, why don't you understand any etiquette?" When you see the emperor, don't you know that you have to kneel three times and bow nine times? The voice was very majestic and decisive, and there was a bit of affection and familiarity in it.

Ji Qingwen's mind was still confused at this time, and he blurted out: "Didn't the emperor tell me not to be formalized just now?" Why do you still have to kneel? ”

The voice said: "The emperor is exempted from bowing outside your palace, but you are not exempted from kneeling three times and bowing nine times." What's more, long live is inevitable, it is the kindness of the Lord of men; You can't do it, that's the duty of a courtier. Why don't you still salute? ”

These words were so refutable that Ji Qingwen couldn't refute them.

Before Ji Qingwen crossed, when he saw his mentor and leader, he nodded his head the same; And the Ming Emperor in front of him is much more powerful than those self-righteous mentors and leaders.

Thinking about this, Ji Qingwen was immediately relieved, and fortunately, after he crossed over, he also learned a lot of ancient etiquette, and repeated the usual big salute to his father and officials three times, and the three bows and nine bows were completed.

Emperor Chongzhen was happy when he saw Ji Qingwen finish a set of big gifts, and said: "Actually, I don't lack you to kowtow these heads, it's just the first time we meet to let you know how to respect and humility." Come, I'm just about to speak to you. ”

After Ji Qingwen bowed three times and bowed nine times, it was as if he had done a set of broadcast gymnastics, his muscles and bones were stretched, and his brain was a lot clearer, and he took a few steps forward and looked up, he was dumbfounded, and asked, "...... You...... Are you the emperor? ”

"Bastard! You talk to the emperor like this? "The stern voice again.

Ji Qingwen turned his head to look, and the person who spoke was an old man in civilian clothes, but his appearance was extremely familiar—his eyes were deep, and his face was full of beard—it was the old man who shared a table with himself in the "Liansheng Inn", and sent away the Jinyi guard who came to arrest him in a few words.

He looked to the other side, but saw a man in official uniform sitting diagonally next to the emperor, that is, the middle-aged man who was angry and scolded at every turn.

At this time, Ji Qingwen suddenly realized, and said: "Ha, I understand, it turns out that a few of you went to Liansheng Inn for a private visit!" ”

The old man reprimanded angrily: "It's good for you to know about this matter alone, and you can't tell outsiders." Otherwise, you will be killed, and you will regret it! ”

He said this murderously, and the slightest trace of warmth in his original tone was even more gone, and Ji Qingwen was stunned when he heard it, and he only replied with the word "yes", and he couldn't speak anymore.

Emperor Chongzhen said nonchalantly: "Teacher Sun, you are scary again. The private interview of Weifu is my own opinion, and if it is known to others, it is also my responsibility, what does it have to do with others? What's more, when I went to the Liansheng Inn, I was to observe the people's feelings and public opinion, and to test the talents, and it was not Emperor Zhengde to visit the Dragon and Phoenix Shop, so what was there to be afraid of people knowing? ”

The "Teacher Sun" listened, nodded in agreement, but persuaded again: "Holy Lord, this matter is okay even if it is done occasionally, and if you do more, there will inevitably be flaws, and you need to be cautious and careful in the future!" ”

Chongzhen replied, "Got it." However, this micro-service has also gained a lot, didn't I get a talent like Ji Qingwen? ”

Teacher Sun glanced at Ji Qingwen and said, "The emperor knows that he cherishes talents, and his ministers are happy for Daming Sheji and the people." But this Ji Qingwen will try to really not be true. Regardless of the fact that not a word was written on the three test papers, only a puddle of ink was left. If the minister had become an examiner more than ten years ago, he would have changed his reputation and let him take the exam again from Xiucai. ”

Chongzhen's face was also tight, and he said: "Ji Qingwen, your background has already sent someone to investigate, and I know that your fame was also bribed by your father, so you must also be mediocre." The three questions in the current examination are all written by me personally, and according to your knowledge, it is indeed not easy to answer them thoroughly, completely, and bring forth the new. ”

As he spoke, Chongzhen actually had a smug smile on his face.

When Ji Qingwen heard this, he thought that Li Yan, who had read poetry and books and had outstanding talents, commented on these three exam questions as just "mediocre", and only felt that the young Emperor Chongzhen was too conceited about himself......

However, although he thought so in his heart, he couldn't say so, so he had to bow his head and answer the word "yes".

But I heard Emperor Chongzhen say again: "It's a pity! If you can answer the three questions on the exam paper, then even if the examiner sees that you can't pass, I can bring you up again from the paper, and I can take the palace exam anyway. As for the palace examination, I am the examiner, and if I want to take you in the first place, I can take you in the first place......"

Ji Qingwen was stunned when he heard this - in Xi'an City, his father Ji Guangming was excited because he had walked through the door of 9,000 years old; Unexpectedly, three months later, it was Chongzhen Long Live who wanted to cheat for himself - this is the so-called "blue out of blue"......

Emperor Chongzhen was sighing, but he heard the "Teacher Sun" answer: "Your Majesty, although Ji Qingwen doesn't understand the rules, he has a lot of knowledge from the world, and his character is not bad. The emperor might as well be eclectic and give him a background, presumably this dog will definitely be able to repay with death. ”

Ji Qingwen was originally a gentleman walking sideways in Xi'an City, and when he heard this old man scolding himself with a "dog talent" on the left and a "dog talent" on the right, he was a little unhappy in his heart. But he is now in the Forbidden City, the core of the world, and in front of him is Emperor Chongzhen, the co-owner of the world, so he has to suppress his anger again, bow his head and wait quietly for the arrangement of fate.