The study in the Xiangwang Mansion.

"How could this happen? Those gentlemen are still in Chaoyangmen? King Xiang was so disturbed by this sudden news that the ink on the wolf's hair dripped on the rice paper and was not found.

"The incident happened suddenly, and now I only know that King Yu has entered the palace with three leading gentlemen to face the saint" There was also uneasiness in this voice, and it was Cai Yan who spoke.

"My good fourth brother always likes to play the role of being ordered in danger!" King Xiang pressed the brush into the inkstone.

"This is obviously a good opportunity to show in front of the emperor, not only King Yu, but even the crown prince is also on the scene, Your Highness, I'm afraid this matter can't be good!"

"Cai Gongzi, this king has something I want to ask you for" King Xiang showed a meaningful smile.

Cai Yan was flattered and said: "His Royal Highness King Xiang is really too angry, His Royal Highness can just say something directly, and his subordinates will do their best!" ”

"Then please go back to the house immediately and see what Cai Xiang does!"

"To spy on my father?"

"Hey, it can't be said to be surveillance, after all, Cai Xiang is the prime minister of my Liang, and he has always been steady, but I'm afraid that Cai Xiang will need to coordinate in the end."

"Oh, Your Highness is right, since this is the case, Your Highness will definitely do what Your Highness says."

Seeing Cai Yan leaving, the smile on King Xiang's face gradually faded, and he hung up the frost and ordered: "Prepare the car immediately, this king will enter the palace!" ”

At the same time, the Lingwang Mansion, which is across the street from the Xiangwang Mansion, is very calm.

Contrary to King Xiang's restlessness, King Ling behaved indifferently after receiving the news.

"Your Highness, things have already gone in the direction we expected."

"It's too early to draw conclusions, Lord Zhang, although my father hates the fraud in the imperial examination, but then again, my father has always loved my fifth brother very much, and there is still Concubine Jingjia in the harem."

"Your Royal Highness, we didn't intend to bring down King Xiang in one fell swoop, King Xiang's strength is all over the court, and we still have a lot of ways to go if we want to completely defeat him."

"I'm not in a hurry, I have more time than theirs. Hmph, fifth brother, this time I'm going to see how to protect your people! King Ling commanded with some pride: "Lord Zhang, you go back first, and this king must also prepare and enter the palace." ”

When the crown prince and King Yu took Shizi all the way from the previous dynasty to the harem to ask for a meeting, Emperor Liang was in Qiluo Garden and Concubine Yingcun, and Cui Gonggong outside Qiluo Garden whispered: "His Royal Highness the Prince, His Royal Highness King Yu, Your Majesty is resting." ”

As soon as the prince heard this, he persuaded from the side: "Fourth brother, why don't we wait for our father to wake up?" ”

King Yu resolutely refused, "What time is it now, how can you wait until your father wakes up?" Brother Huang, didn't you see those menacing gentlemen outside Chaoyang Gate? If you delay any longer, something will happen! ”

"This is the Imperial Palace, how much of a mess can those powerless scholars make?" The crown prince still did not agree to meet Emperor Liang at this time.

"No matter how much my father blames him, I will bear it with all my might!" Ignoring the admonition of the crown prince and Gonggong Cui, King Yu strode to the gate of Qiluo Garden, pushed open the palace gate with force, and strode in. I saw Emperor Liang resting on the lap of Concubine Ying, and Concubine Ying was fanning on the side, hearing the palace maid's panicked call, she raised her head and saw King Yu with a frosty face, and screamed, which woke Emperor Liang up.

"What's wrong?" Emperor Liang opened his sleepy eyes and saw Concubine Ying looking nervously outside the courtyard, and followed her gaze to see King Yu standing outside the courtyard. King Yu saw that Emperor Liang was awake, and immediately saluted and asked for sin, "The son has something important to tell his father, disturbing the father, the son is willing to accept the crime, but I hope that the father will allow the son to finish the matter!" ”

Emperor Liang was obviously angry, and after listening to King Yu's words, he couldn't help but ask, "What is it that requires you to disturb me at this time?" ”

"Today is the day when the list is released, but the Shizi who went to Beijing for the examination tore up the imperial list because he suspected that the examination was unfair and angry, and gathered outside Chaoyangmen, asking the court to give an explanation!"

After listening to King Yu's proclamation, Emperor Liang angrily smashed the cup in his hand, and suddenly stood up and rebuked loudly: "Bold! Dare to tear the emperor's list, dare to come to the palace to make trouble, what are the guards doing?! ”

"Father's anger! The opening of the imperial court is to put fairness in the first place, and at this moment there is a suspicion of fraud in the imperial examination, and the imperial court must definitely deal with it carefully, otherwise it will chill the hearts of the world's scholars! ”

"You mean there is fraud in this Beijing Entrance Examination?" Hearing the word "fraud", the anger in Emperor Liang's eyes was obviously more obvious than before, "Yun Qi, you make it clear to me!" Yesterday, the Gongyuan also showed me the volume of the top three, why did it become a fraud in the imperial examination today? ”

"The specific ministers are not clear, whether there is fraud still needs to be thoroughly investigated, the most important thing at this moment is to appease the gathered gentlemen, give them an explanation, and let the gentlemen disperse first!" King Yu suggested, paused and added: "Back to my father, three of the leading students have already entered the palace with their sons. ”

"You're getting bolder! It's been on the side for too long, and I don't even understand the rules of the palace! Emperor Liang's face flushed angrily, and Concubine Ying hurriedly comforted him on the side.

"This matter is the son's own opinion, and he also asked his father to surrender, but the son-in-law also did it to calm the raging anger of the princes, so that the princes of the world can see that the court still loves and cherishes talents, and let the princes see the determination of the court to never tolerate fraud in the imperial examination!"

"Oh? So, you have good intentions, but I blame you? ”

"The sons are wrong first, and let the father deal with it, but at this moment, I hope that the father can see that it is not easy for the sons to go to the exam and forgive them!"

"Do you want me to see them?"

"The ministers don't dare, they just need their father to pass on an edict, indicating that the imperial court must thoroughly investigate the inside story of this Beijing examination, if there is really fraud, the relevant people will be severely punished, and the world will be fair!"

"Okay, I depend on you, King Yu!"

"Erchen is here!"

"Spread my message: The imperial court must find out whether there is fraud in the Beijing examination, and let the gentlemen retreat quickly, otherwise the royal forest guard will be killed!"

King Yu replied with a little surprise: "Erchen takes the order!" ”

Just as King Yu was leaving Qiluo Yuan, he was stopped by Emperor Liang, "Immediately let the prince, King Xiang, King Ling, and the relevant people of the Beijing Entrance Examination come to Chengyuan Palace to see me!" ”

"Yes!"

When he walked out of Qiluo Garden, the prince was the first to rush forward and hold King Yu's arm, and asked with concern on his face, "What's wrong?" Fourth brother, my father didn't blame you, did he? You didn't tell my father that I was here too, did you? ”

King Yu patted the prince's hand holding his arm and comforted: "Brother Huang, don't worry, my father doesn't know that you are also there, at this moment I am going to Chaoyangmen to persuade those troublemakers to quit." Passing on the father's edict, the imperial brother needs to go to Chengyuan Palace immediately to wait. ”

Then King Yu turned to the three gentlemen who had been standing in the distance and waited: "Three, I have already reported the situation to the saint, and the saint has stated that he will thoroughly investigate the Beijing examination and return the world to justice, and I will go to Chaoyangmen to explain to those scholars like you, are you three willing to go together to help me persuade them?" ”

The three Shizi all nodded in agreement, and it was with their persuasion that King Yu finally said that the troublemakers gathered outside Chaoyang Gate temporarily faded. Looking at the backs of the gentlemen leaving, the apprehension in King Yu's heart still did not decrease at all, because he immediately had to take the three leading ladies to Chengyuan Palace, what kind of situation would happen there, he was really not sure after being away from the capital for a long time.

When King Yu walked into Chengyuan Palace with three scholars, the crown prince, King Xiang and King Ling, as well as the five examiners of the Beijing Entrance Examination, were all present, and Emperor Liang, who was sitting firmly on the dragon chair, closed his eyes, everyone was holding his breath, and the entire hall was unusually quiet, so quiet that even they could hear each other's breathing.

"Son-in-law, see father!" King Yu knelt down and saluted, "Return to my father, the princes of Chaoyangmen have been persuaded to retire, and the sons and sons came to meet with three princes." ”

The three ladies saw King Yu kneeling down and hurriedly knelt down, although an hour ago they were in high spirits outside the Chaoyang Gate, but at this moment in such a depressing atmosphere, it was the first time to see the face of the sky, and it was inevitable that they would beat the drum in their hearts.

Hearing the voice of King Yu, Emperor Liang opened his eyes and looked at the kneeling people for a while, and then said, "Flat!" ”

"My son thanked my father!"

"The grass people thank the emperor!"

"You three are the ones who took the lead in making trouble?" The anger contained in Emperor Liang's voice sounded creepy through the tone of yin and yang. And the gentlemen no longer had the righteous words outside the Chaoyang Gate, and two of them were obviously a little shocked by the bearing of the Son of Heaven, and they didn't reply for a long time, only the one among the three was still quite brave, and replied stubbornly: "The grass people...... Precisely...... This year's Beijing examination will be a test! ”

"What's your name?"

"The grass people's name is Tan Qian" This man named Tan Qian is very bold, he hurriedly pushed the two people next to him, and the two people replied tremblingly, "The grass people's name is Zhang Shi, and the grass people are Li Ming." ”

"I heard that you made trouble, and you tore up the list?"

"Yes...... Indeed"

Emperor Liang slapped his palm on the handle of the dragon chair fiercely, "Bold!" The list can be torn at will! ”

The sudden change in the wind and clouds made the three gentlemen so frightened that they all knelt down involuntarily, and the two of them were already trembling with fear.

"Grass People...... The grass people know that tearing up the list is a felony...... But...... But we have no choice but to do it! ”

"As a last resort? How compelled to tell me in detail, if there is half a lie, immediately put to death! ”

The three of them buried their heads lower, and replied, "Yes...... It's ......."

King Yu looked at the three scholars, his eyes full of worry and regret.

"Caomin went to Beijing to take the exam just to seek fame, but ....... But ten years of hard work in the cold window can't withstand the money of the powerful, and he is resentful for a while, so he ...... Hence ......"

"That's why you tear up the list!"

"Your Majesty! The grass people know that they are wrong, and ask the emperor to be gracious! ”

"What did you just say? Do you mean that someone cheated in the imperial examination? ”

As soon as Emperor Liang said this, Cheng Bobin, Hu Ziming and others couldn't help but tremble, and everyone present turned their eyes to the three people kneeling on the ground.

"Grass People...... Caomin also heard about it at the beginning, as early as before the exam, there were rumors among the ladies that someone had bribed the examiners of this examination, and they would definitely be on the list......" Tan Qian quietly turned his head to look at several examiners on the side, and continued: "Originally, we didn't believe it, but until today, the list was released...... When the list was released, several names of the legend were indeed on the list. ”

Hearing Tan Qian's narration, Emperor Liang's brows tightened more and more, "Which names?" ”

"Yes...... Yes, the grass people remember Sun Jincheng, Lei Xinyang, Wu Zhe, Ma Daochuan, and others..... I can't remember anything else. ”

"These people you are talking about are all the top three in this Beijing examination, and their articles have all been read by me personally, are you doubting me?"

"The grass people don't dare! The grass people don't dare! Tan Qian kowtowed and begged for mercy while constantly bumping his arm against Zhang Shi beside him, Zhang Shi lowered his head, gritted his teeth and raised his head and said, "Your Majesty!" The grass people are not suspicious of the emperor, but because of ...... Because the grass people and Nama Daochuan are fellow villagers, his knowledge and grass people are clear, and he has never even had a township test! ”

"What? You repeat! When he heard that he had not even passed the township test but was now able to rank among the top three, Emperor Liang's eyes widened, both unbelievable and incredible.

"Yes...... Ma Daochuan is a child of a rich family, and he doesn't know how to learn, but his father has always hoped that he can make his high school shine on the lintel, these things are well known in my hometown, the emperor can send someone to inquire, and the grass people are not lying! ”

Emperor Liang tightened the handle of the dragon chair, and as the muscles of his face gradually tensed, the wrinkles became deeper, "How do you explain?" ”

Liu Yi had clearly felt that Emperor Liang's gaze was looking in his direction, as the chief examiner, he was duty-bound, and was about to go out to reply, but he heard a sound behind him, and when he looked back, it turned out to be Zhong Lin who had fallen to the ground with a thud, trembling all over.

"Your Majesty! Weichen is forced, Your Majesty! "The sudden scene made the atmosphere of the scene freeze suddenly." Weichen did accept the money sent by Ma Daochuan, but ...... Wechen are all forced, this is not Wechen's original intention! ”

"Make it clear to me!" Emperor Liang asked with a strong suppression of anger.

"Wechen are all ...... I was forced by Lord Cheng and Lord Hu! Zhong Lin poured out with a crying voice.

Cheng Bobin and Hu Ziming didn't expect Zhong Lin to come to such a meeting at this moment, and hurriedly knelt down in a panic, Cheng Bobin said: "Your Majesty, the minister is wronged, the minister doesn't know why Lord Zhong slanders the minister so much!" Hu Ziming also shouted injustice: "Yes, the emperor, the minister is also wronged!" ”

"They quibble! The emperor, since the death of Old Master Fu, the Gongyuan has been in their hands, and they want to cling to Sun Shangshu and Lei Yushi, so they decided to include the only son of Sun Shangshu and Lei Yushi in the top three; They also sell official titles, and Ma Daochuan and Wu Zhe bribed them with money! If Wechen doesn't join, they will threaten to disadvantage Wechen and Wechen's family! ”

"Zhong Lin, you have to talk nonsense!" Cheng Bobin was so angry that his beard blew up.

"Lord Zhong is not talking nonsense!" Chen Kangji, who had been standing aside without saying a word, knelt down on the spot, did not look at Zhong Lin, nor at Cheng Bobin and Hu Ziming, and looked at Emperor Liang with a pair of eyes without evasion, "Lord Zhong is not talking nonsense, Weichen can prove it." ”

Chen Kangji's actions were the most surprising to be Cheng Bobin, a layer of sweat was already oozing from his forehead, he didn't even turn his head, and his breathing had begun to be short.

"Wechen is a subordinate of Chengda, and many of the things that Chengda does are done by Wechen. The money sent by Ma Daochuan and Wu Zhe was received by Wechen, and now it is hidden in Wechen's mansion. Not only the two of them, but Lord Cheng and Master Hu also received money from the other eight gentlemen, and it was all in the minister's mansion, and the emperor could go to search at this time. Chen Kangji spoke flatly and expressionlessly, as if he was stating a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.

"Chen Kangji, you!" Cheng Bobin was excited, angry, and frightened for a while, but he was speechless, and he was trembling all over.

"Your Majesty!"

As soon as Hu Ziming spoke, he was stopped by Emperor Liang.

"Shut up! Someone! ”

"Your Majesty!" Han Ruxun, the captain of the Imperial Forest Army, walked in quickly to listen to the order.

"Immediately send the Imperial Forest Army to search Chen Kangji's mansion!"

"Yes!"

Just as the guards of Chengyuan Palace strode out of the palace, a palace maid standing in the corner of the palace turned around and left quietly, and walked quickly to Zhang Han Palace.

"Concubine Niangniang!"

Concubine Jingjia was already fidgeting in the palace, and when she saw the eyeliner she arranged in Chengyuan Palace, she hurriedly asked: "I heard early in the morning that the emperor left Qiluo Yuan in a hurry, but it has something to do with the trouble of Shizi this morning?" ”

"Back to Niangniang, Niangniang's expectations are good, the slave maid heard that it seemed to be a fraud in the imperial examination, the emperor was furious, and he was furious at Lord Cheng and Master Hu in court!"

"Cheng Bobin and Hu Ziming?" Concubine Jingjia frowned and thought for a while and ordered: "Quick, immediately go and send a message to ask Cai Xiang to go to Chengyuan Palace!" ”

"Slaves obey!"