For the first time in his life, he participated in the palace examination papers, and it is naturally impossible to say that Wang Daokun is not a little apprehensive in his heart, especially his younger brother Wang Daoguan has won the title of the palace examination this time and entered the ranks of the palace examination, and the emotions of gains and losses in his heart are even heavier. He also hoped that Wang Daoguan could go further than he was at the beginning and rank among the top two, but he was afraid that this would arouse the outside world's discussion and suspicion, and he would be in the whirlpool of trouble. After all, once Tan Lun really has three strengths and two weaknesses, and the military department is still in a different position, his situation will be even more difficult, so in the period since the beginning of the examination, he doesn't even know how many more gray hairs he has.

Compared with the other elders of the Pavilion and the elders of the Hanlin Academy who participated in the reading of the papers, he was even more embarrassed by facing his fellow villagers and Xu Guo, the most promising scholar in the Hanlin Academy. Because Xu Guo's eldest son also wants to participate in the examination, he stuffed Wang Daoguan at the end of last year, hoping to review together, and also accept his younger brother's too lazy temperament, who knew that the result of this examination turned out to be Wang Daoguan's middle school examination, and Xu Jialang fell off the list! However, Xu Guo was ordered by the Son of Heaven to read the paper this time, and because he temporarily replaced Tan Lun, he was also able to be among them, but now he is looking up and looking down!

In just two days of grading, Wang Daokun only felt that it was unusually long. It was easy to survive until the twilight of the next day, and more than 20 copies of the papers selected by all the book readers were sent to the first assistant Zhang Juzheng. He saw that Zhang Juzheng had just swept it once, so he took the first twelve copies without objection, and after symbolically asking Lu Tiaoyang and Zhang Siwei for their opinions, he called all the paper readers to go to the imperial court to submit them together, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had read more than 20 of them, and there was no Wang Daoguan, and they were sorted according to the previous order. Wang Daoguan is likely to be in the bottom few of the second class. Or the top three of the best. It depends on how many people are taken from the second class.

After all, the number of second-class soldiers in each subject is not uniform, more than eighty people, less than forty people, for him, who is temporarily unable to affect the number of second-class soldiers, the uncertain factor is too great.

Everyone knows that now it is Zhang Ju's rightful power, and the imperial tour of Emperor Wanli is just a formality, therefore. Since Zhang Juzheng is not indispensable for his second son Zhang Sixiu to rank second in the second class, the other paper readers can be relieved. Especially the secret operation, Zhang Siwei, who ordered Song Xiyao as the champion, is even more impressive. No one expected that Emperor Wanli would not wait for the scroll reader to read these scrolls one by one, and directly ordered to open the seal. At this moment, the twelve names corresponding to the twelve volumes were directly revealed, and the expressions of many paper readers were really wonderful for a while.

Lu Tiaoyang and Wang Chonggu breathed a sigh of relief in unison. After all, their son was not placed in such a conspicuous position as the first twelve, so that the little emperor would not see it at a glance. After all, who can have the Empress Dowager Li with the Holy Saint. Zhang Juzheng, the number one person in the ceremonial supervisor, Feng Bao, is the aid?

Sure enough, I learned who the twelve volumes belonged to. After Emperor Wanli listened to a few volumes read in a serious manner, he suddenly said: "Shen Mao is the first. ”

Shen Maoxue's volume was originally second, but the Son of Heaven was the first since Chrysostom was the first, so Song Xiyao was naturally suppressed. For this result, Zhang Siwei didn't even blink his eyes, and his face didn't seem to change in the slightest, but only Wang Chonggu, who was familiar with him, knew that it was impossible for his nephew not to feel any frustration at the moment. However, this is not over yet, I only heard Emperor Wanli say in an unchildish voice: "Zhang Sixiu is the second." ”

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Juzheng immediately showed a shocked face, and hurriedly stopped: "Your Majesty, Zhang Sixiu is the second son of the minister, and the minister does not avoid the suspicion that it is too much to read the volume, and it is absolutely impossible to put it in the high position of the list!" ”

Wang Daokun also smacked his tongue secretly, but what made him even more terrified was that Emperor Wanli actually smiled and said seriously: "Mr. has made great contributions to the country, I have nothing to repay, and it is right to take care of Mr. and his descendants." It's just a role model, what is the way? ”

The rest of the readers were all stunned. Especially Lu Tiaoyang thought of the session three years ago, Zhang Juzheng's eldest son Zhang Jingxiu was off the list, although Zhang Juzheng didn't say anything at that time, he didn't need to choose Shu Jishi, and he was angry with the actual action of pressing Yuan Sun Ying in the second class. Now three years have passed, Zhang Juzheng's second son also participated in the examination, but not only did he appear on the apricot list, but the Son of Heaven even gave the Zhang family a list, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration. Zhang Juzheng has already made an arbitrary decision, and the Son of Heaven will continue to express his favor and support, if this continues, where can the cabinet tolerate the slightest dissent, and what is the value of his existence as a secondary assistant?

Although Zhang Juzheng repeatedly humbled his resignation, Emperor Wanli did not let go, and the matter was settled. Seeing that the third place was set for Zeng Chaojie, Song Xiyao actually fell directly to the second class, and Huiyuan Feng Mengzhen only won the second place, Zhang Siwei squinted his eyes slightly, and he couldn't tell what mood he was in.

Shen Maoxue and Wang Fulin walked in Liaodong at the beginning, sharing the same fate of life and death, and Wang Fulin's adopted son made a marriage contract with Shen Maoxue's niece, and the two families were obviously a good family. And the champion can directly grant the Hanlin Academy to revis, the most noble, as short as fifteen years, as long as twenty years, who can say that Shen Maoxue will not enter the cabinet?

The top three of the first class were set, and the next was the second class, but it was the same as the second year of Wanli, only fifty-seven people, but Wang Daoguan was very lucky to squeeze into the last train of the second class, but he was hanging at the end of the list, which made Wang Daokun sad and happy. The age difference between himself and his younger brother is more than ten years, and he has always been regarded as a half-son, and now his younger brother is not only named on the gold list, but also ranks second, and the Wang family finally came out of a jinshi after Wang Fulin. As soon as he thought of this, he thought that Jinbao was already a lifter, and he couldn't help but regard Wang Fulin as a lucky star.

If it weren't for Wang Fulin to reason with the facts, persuade him not to point fingers at Zhang Juzheng, be simple in official affairs and literature, and collect the habits of celebrities and gentlemen, I am afraid that he would not be able to do it as a waiter a long time ago, how could he still be today?

Wang Daokun was certainly happy in his heart, but when Wenhua Hall read the official banquet, he didn't know how many people didn't eat this meal. However, they had to stay in the Ministry of Rites for another night, and only after the morning was made before they could go back to their respective homes, so after the feast, when the officials returned to the Ministry of Rites, they naturally talked in twos and threes according to their usual circles and friendships. Wang Daokun saw that Xu Guo and Shen Shixing had a conversation in front of him, and Shen Shixing went to talk to Zhang Hanpan, the secretary of the ministry, leaving Xu Guo alone. I couldn't help but hesitate. At this time. All he could hear was a voice in his ear.

"Who will try to win who will not win, that's not something you can control, the main test is Zhang Siwei, can't you see through his tricks? Xu Weizhen is not the kind of person who has no measurement and no eyesight, he is frank and open, I don't understand, what are you lacking in? Seeing Wang Daokun turn his head, his face was still a little unnatural. Yin Zhengmao suddenly hated the iron and said, "This time I read the papers, you look at the full hall of so many people, the Jin Party has Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu, but the She Party has the three of us, for so many years, how can there have been such a situation?" ”

As fellow villagers in the same year, the relationship between Wang Daokun and Yin Zhengmao was originally relatively close, and at this time he was finally sobered up by these words. However, he didn't have time to go to Xu Guo's side. But I saw that Xu Guo had already walked over by himself, and he greeted him and Yin Zhengmao as calmly as usual. Then she nodded at him.

"Brother Nanming, why have you been hiding from me for the past two days, as if you had done something wrong?" Xu Guo asked straight to the point, and when he saw that Wang Daokun's old face was slightly red, he laughed and said, "Could it be that my eldest man will try to fail the list?" He's only in his early twenties, even if he takes the exam again in three years, it's still too late, and how many people are like your nephews. Although Brother Ling said that he was a little lazy, my eldest man said that he had an excellent understanding, and the imperial examination also depends on luck, this time one is lucky, and the other is unlucky. ”

Saying this, Xu Guo glanced sideways at Wang Chonggu, who was talking to Chen Zhan, the imperial history of the left capital, not far from the left, and said with a smile: "Anyway, in three years' examination, I won't meet Zhang Siwei again." ”

Hearing this, Wang Daokun finally realized that Xu Guo was really innocent, and the accounts were all counted on Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu, and while feeling relieved, he couldn't help but say with some shame: "It's me who misestimated the mind of Brother Wei Zhen because of myself." ”

Yin Zhengmao saw that Wang Daokun and Xu Guo, who had never been embarrassed, had uncovered this stubble, he smiled, and then asked in a low voice about Tan Lun's condition. Speaking of this, Wang Daokun was naturally in a low mood, and even Xu Guo was a little sympathetic. After all, who can stand the feeling of a political enemy suddenly pressing on his head and becoming a top boss? Although Wang Daokun planned to push Zhang Xueyan before, they also knew it, but it is undeniable that even if Zhang Xueyan has become famous over the years, for Wang Chonggu, who contributed to my tribute and really made great contributions to Anbei, there is too much difference in both merit and qualifications.

It's better to go to Lingyun Wing! But the problem is that the situation between the two Guangxi has not yet been completely stabilized, Ling Yunyi is a flamboyant and arrogant person, and he is Zhang Juzheng's party of the same year, so I am afraid that it will be difficult to reach the sky in one step.

"Wait until tonight, and then discuss it when we get back."

As the highest official among the three, and at the same time the most senior, with outstanding achievements, Yin Zhengmao could only spit out such an answer. In this regard, Wang Daokun was secretly glad that after Ye Junyao came up with that bad idea, he didn't think about the possibility of Yin Zhengmao being transferred from the household department to the military department, after all, in that case, he, the squire of the military department, would also have to move his nest, and both sides would start over, which would be a big loss.

On the night before the release of the list, I don't know how many people didn't sleep well, and I don't know how much news was sent to all parties through the Ministry of Rites, so that when the next day, when the palace testers gathered together to wait for the rumors, many people already knew the rankings in advance. Among them, there is Shen Maoxue, who was knocked on the door urgently in the middle of the night. Knowing that he had won the champion, Shen Maoxue, who had always been calm, was in a state of insomnia throughout the second half of the night, and had to wash his face with well water in the morning.

But now that the excitement has passed, he knows very well how he came to be the champion. In all fairness, once every three years, there will be an exam, and the person who can win the yuan or the champion will rarely be unpopular, and most of them are the examiners and even the talents of the old scholars, of course, such people have more than one in each session, but a few or more than a dozen alternatives, the specific ranking depends on the personal performance, the three points look at the wrestling of the big guy behind it, and four points are to see the temporary intention of the Son of Heaven. Therefore, at this moment, he didn't feel sorry for Feng Mengzhen in his heart, but he secretly sighed that he had studied hard for many years, but it was difficult to resist the blue eyes of the powerful.

And if it weren't so coincidental to meet Wang Fulin when he traveled to Jizhen, would he still have such good luck?

If Wang Fulin knew what Shen Maoxue was thinking at the moment, he would definitely scoff at it. Mr. Jiang Qifang, who taught Zhang Juzheng's sons, served as the commander of Xuancheng County, and Shen Maoxue, who came from the Xuancheng family, must have already entered Zhang Juzheng's sight, he just advanced the process and deepened the relationship, that's all.

After a rumor, a few families were happy and a few were worried. Shen Maoxue, who was wearing red and flowers, didn't have time to say a word to the other same years, and he didn't even have the time to say hello to his friends Feng Mengzhen and Tu Long, so he was sent home by the umbrella cover ceremony. And Huang Bang was sent to the left gate of Chang'an, and of course the Jinshi went back to their respective homes. And the paper reading officials, who were also locked up in the palace for three days and three nights, were finally able to leave the palace. No matter how high and powerful they are in the yamen, they are only courtiers in the palace after all, how can they be comfortable at home?

And Wang Daokun waited for Wang Daoguan, who had just passed through the rumor, and the brothers left the palace from the left gate of Chang'an. At the left gate of Chang'an, the two of them just saw the scene of countless people watching the transcription before the yellow list. Wang Daokun thought that he had experienced it back then, Wang Fulin had experienced it, and now it was Wang Daoguan's turn, he finally forgot about those troubles, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and it was not until Qi Buping hurriedly stepped forward and called the master, the second master, that he was shocked to come back to his senses. However, the first sentence that Qi Buping said made him immediately surprised after he was stunned.

"Master, the little official is back."

Wang Daokun and Wang Daoguan both have sons, but they are both very young, and they have always been called young masters in the family, and the entire Wang family of Songming Mountain, who is affectionately called a petty official, is only Wang Fulin, although he is no longer the age of being called a petty official. Wang Daokun didn't have time to ask more, and immediately got into the small sedan chair carried by the two, Wang Daoguan was even more anxious, and directly led a horse over, and ran away without waiting for Wang Daokun to set off.

When he came to the door of Wang's mansion, Wang Daokun was too anxious to step over, and he was even tripped when he stepped over the sedan pole. Even so, he didn't pay attention to it, and it wasn't until he was almost in his study that he slowed down. At this time, he heard Wang Daoguan's signature hearty laughter from inside.

"Good boy, my eldest brother and I are so worried that our gray hair is falling to the ground, and as soon as you come back, you will solve it quietly! I don't have to do it anymore, I don't have to do it, I just give way to you! ”

Although he was keenly aware that Wang Fulin should have solved a thorny problem, Wang Daoguan's open-mouthed mouth almost made Wang Daokun crook his nose. He walked quickly to the door of the study, opened the curtain and went in, and shouted: "You look like an uncle, you know how to talk about it!" (To be continued.) )