Subsequently, Xu Liang secretly said that it was dangerous. If it weren't for Xu Liang's deliberate arrival earlier today, he wouldn't have been able to intercept the Ministry of Rites before the court meeting, then, according to the plan of Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, he would have submitted the performance today, and the candidate for the next palace examination examiner would be Wen Tiren.

Li Tengfang is a trustworthy person, since he promised Xu Liang to wait for another day, he did not speak from beginning to end at the court meeting.

After the dispersal of the dynasty, Xu Liang accompanied Li Tengfang out of the Jinluan Palace, and suddenly heard a call: "Li Shangshu stays." ”

Xu Liang and Li Tengfang looked back and saw Cabinet Minister Wen Tiren shouting with a smile.

Li Shangshu and Xu Liang hurriedly stopped and saluted. Li Shangshu asked, "What does Wen Ti Pavilion command?" ”

Wen Tiren suddenly looked kind, stepped forward, and said to Li Tengfang: "Lord Li, this palace test is the first palace test of the Chongzhen Dynasty, and His Majesty and the cabinet attach great importance to it. The official also wanted to hear about Master Li's plans for the palace examination. ”

Xu Liang's expression moved when he heard this, and he looked at Wen Ge Lao in disbelief. However, Elder Wen Ge ignored Xu Liang's meaning. So Xu Liang said to Li Shangshu: "Master Li, since Elder Wen Ge has something to do with you, then the lower official will leave first." ”

Li Shangshu bowed his hand to Xu Liang with an apologetic face. After Xu Liang walked away, Wen Ge said with a smile: "Master Li, please follow the old man to the cabinet duty room to discuss in detail." ”

Xu Liang went out of the noon gate alone and got into the carriage back to Guanglu Temple. In the carriage, Xu Liang was pondering Wen Tiren's intention of suddenly calling Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. Wen Tiren is an old fritter who has been in the court for decades, and his every move is full of deep meaning, he is looking for Li Shangshu, most of it is for the examiner.

All the way back to Guanglu Temple, Xu Liang found Shen Congliang, the young secretary of Guanglu Temple, and instructed: "Lord Shen." You write an excerpt on the preparations for the Qionglin Banquet, and I will take it to the Ministry of Rites for a while. ”

When Shen Congliang heard this, he didn't need any reason, he arched his hand, and immediately went back to the house to write the recital.

Xu Liang sat in the room and waited for about half an hour, and Shen Congliang presented a piece of ink that had not yet dried. Xu Liang glanced at it casually. Seeing that nothing was missing, he held it in his hand and walked out instead.

When I arrived at the Ministry of Rites, I happened to see Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, getting down from the official sedan chair. Xu Liang greeted him and said, "Master Li." ”

When Li Shangshu saw that it was Xu Liang, he couldn't help but smile slightly, waved his hand at Xu Liang and said, "Lord Xu, have you been waiting for a long time?" ”

Xu Liang smiled: "That's not true." Xia Guan estimated that it was time for Lord Shangshu to return to the ya, so he rushed over from Guanglu Temple. ”

Li Shangshu and Xu Liang walked in side by side, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites who passed by along the way met their own Lord Shangshu. They all stopped and bowed their hands.

Li Shangshu nodded in response to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, and said to Xu Liang: "Elder Wen Ge called this official to the selection of the chief examiner for this palace examination. It seems that the cabinet also attaches great importance to this palace test, and Wen Ge has no details about it, so he asked for a good meeting. ”

Xu Liang hummed lightly, which was a response.

Li Shangshu glanced back at Xu Liang and said, "By the way, Elder Wen Ge also asked why the official did not recommend the chief examiner of the palace examination to the emperor for a long time. I can't help it. He presented the proposed recital to Elder Wen Ge. ”

When Xu Liang heard this, his face changed. He sighed lightly, looked at Li Tengfang a little nervously, and asked, "After Wen Ge Lao read it, did he say anything?" ”

Li Shangshu looked up and thought for a while, and said, "Elder Wen Ge is basically satisfied. It's just that he is a little strange that the official holds the recital but does not play it. ”

Xu Liang was even more nervous in his heart, staring at Li Shangshu. "What about that?" he asked....... How did Lord Shangshu respond? ”

Li Shangshu said as a matter of course: "This official is just telling the truth. ”

Xu Liang couldn't help but sigh softly. Li Shangshu looked at Xu Liang strangely and asked, "What's wrong?" Well, that's what the official said, but what's wrong? ”

Xu Liang smiled bitterly: "My lord reports according to the truth, but there is nothing wrong with it." Just ......"

"Just what?"

Xu Liang sighed lightly: "It's just that Elder Wen Ge has never had a good impression of Xiaguan. Now he knows that it was because of the matter of the lower officials that the adults were delayed. Most of them will hold a grudge against the lower officials. ”

When Li Shangshu heard this, he also sighed softly, and said regretfully: "In this way, it is that the official is not thoughtful. ”

What Xu Liang could say, he could only smile bitterly.

The two entered Li Shangshu's office room, and after the host and guest sat down, Xu Liang presented the recital prepared by Shen Congliang to Li Shangshu, and Xu Liang explained a little.

Li Shangshu is an old minister, and he is actually more familiar with the matter of the Qionglin banquet, and after looking at the folds presented by Xu Liang, there is no problem, and he praised Xu Liang with a smile.

Xu Liang was polite, and asked casually: "Speaking of the candidate for the chief examiner of the palace examination this time, the lower officials are also a little curious, which adult is Shangshu going to recommend to the emperor?" ”

Li Shangshu smiled and said to Xu Liang: "Lord Xu is not an outsider, so the official will say it directly." Originally, the chief examiner of the palace examination should have been served by the Ministry of Rites. It's just that the official himself has just taken over the Ministry of Rites, and no matter how senior he is, compared with the former Ministry of Rites and the current Cabinet University scholar Wen Tiren, it is far from it. In addition, a while ago, Shoufu Zhou Ge Lao once approached the official alone, hinting that he would raise the specifications of the chief examiner of the palace examination. I think Zhou Shoufu means that he hopes that the cabinet scholar will serve as the chief examiner of the palace examination. ”

Li Shangshu said a lot in a row, and his mouth was a little dry, so he picked up the teacup and drank two sips of tea, then looked at Xu Liang and said, "According to Zhou Shoufu's meaning, this official recommended Wen Ge Lao on the fold. Well, Wen Ge Lao watched the official's performance, and he himself was very satisfied. ”

Xu Liang said secretly: Sure enough!

Seeing that Xu Liang was so concerned, Li Shangshu asked with a smile: "Lord Xu, what do you think of this official's approach?" Saying that, Li Shangshu couldn't help but feel a little proud: "This official recommended Wen Ge Lao, which can not only block the mouths of the courtiers, but also satisfy Lord Shoufu." It's the best of both worlds. ”

Xu Liang pondered for a while, nodded slowly, and said, "Lord Shangshu's method is also wonderful. However, the lower officials thought that in addition to their qualifications and prestige, the previous examiners of the imperial examination should also be exemplary for the court. Be a teacher. You should be a role model. ”

Li Shangshu looked at Xu Liang suspiciously, and couldn't help but wonder if Xu Liang had any deep meaning in saying these words. Just from Xu Liang's words, he didn't say anything wrong. Li Shangshu nodded and responded: "Lord Xu is right, but it is also reasonable. ”

Seeing this, Xu Liang chatted with Li Shangshu for a while, and saw an official from the Ministry of Rites come in to report on his work. I saw the opportunity to say goodbye.

The next day's pilgrimage meeting arrived as scheduled. The ministers were surprised to find that today's cabinet minister, Wen Tiren, was quite high-spirited, with no wrinkles visible on the top and bottom of his newly changed court clothes, his hair in a neat bun, and his complexion ruddy, which was difficult to conceal his excitement.

He couldn't help but be excited, yesterday at the recital of Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, Wen Ge Lao saw his name written on the name of the recommender of the chief examiner of the palace examination. Although the first assistant Zhou Yanru has promised that he will help him win the chief examiner of the palace examination. However, when he couldn't see the final result, Wen Ge Lao was still not sure in his heart, and it was not until he saw the twists and turns of the Ministry of Rites that Wen Ge Lao was sure in his heart. The chief examiner of the first palace examination of the Chongzhen Dynasty can bring great political capital to Wen Ge Lao! Think about it, the champion of the first palace test, Tanhua, Jinshi will see himself in the future. They all have to be called mentors. And these officials, in a few years. can grow into an official of the Chongzhen Dynasty, speaking of which, they are all protégés of Wen Ge Lao!

Naturally, there were other trivial matters discussed at the court meeting, but Wen Ge Lao was so excited that he didn't hear a single thing clearly. Seeing that the matters that should be discussed were all discussed, the Jinluan Hall fell silent for a while. Elder Wen Ge knew that the time had come! took a look at Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

In the court. People who have the same feelings as Wen Ge Lao, there is also Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple. Xu Liang went to the court, and he was originally a soy sauce player, and it was not his turn to speak from Guanglu Siqing, who was in charge of the banquet, to speak, so Xu Liang simply started from beginning to end. They all paid attention to the cabinet minister Wen Tiren, and looked at Wen Ge's demeanor one by one.

When Elder Wen Ge gave the envoy of the Ministry of Rites a look, Xu Liang knew that Elder Wen Ge couldn't wait, so he nodded slightly towards a seven-rank person in the hall.

Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, received the eyes of Wen Ge Lao, so he stepped out, arched his hand towards Emperor Chongzhen above, and just opened his mouth, he suddenly heard a voice behind him: "Weichen has a book!" ”

Elder Wen Ge couldn't help but be taken aback, and looked back at the person who came out of the crowd. After staring at it for a long time, Wen Ge suddenly remembered that this new official who had filled the vacancy in May did not have any imprint.

Li Shangshu listened, because the Ministry of Rites had already opened his mouth in front of him, he only retracted his foot that poked out, thinking that he would speak again after the matter was finished.

"What's going on?" Above, Emperor Chongzhen looked at the Ministry of Rites that I was looking at, but he couldn't remember the name of this person, so he pointed at him awkwardly and asked.

Respectfully bow your hand in the matter, and present a piece of folding with both hands. When the eunuch Wang Chengen of Bingbi folded the music over, and Emperor Chongzhen began to look through it, he said with a straight face: "The Ministry of Rites and Rites gave Liu Neng in the matter, and impeached Wen Tiren, a cabinet scholar, as a cabinet scholar, he should be an example for the officials of the court!" However, Wen Tiren, as a pavilion elder, did not know how to clean himself, and often lingered in the willow alleys of the flower street, several popular Oiran in Beijing City, all of whom had been rewarded by Wen Gelao, and what was even more infuriating was that just two months ago, Wen Ge Lao actually married a prostitute as the seventh concubine! Weichen thought that what Cao Ge Lao did like this was really ashamed of the respect of the dignified elders! Wen Ge's old virtue is at a loss, and the emperor is willing to be honest with his ministers, and he will be reprimanded! ”

The Ministry of Rites named Liu Neng gave the matter, every time he said a word, Wen Ge Lao's face turned dark, and when Liu gave the matter to finish speaking, Wen Ge Lao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, looking at the eyes of Liu Ge in the matter, he couldn't wait to swallow him alive.

The ministers of the court, after listening to Liu's impeachment speech, couldn't help but snicker, and several noble generals laughed happily.

In fact, most of the officials in the DPRK and China more or less like to drink flower wine and play with the mood, which of the capital Oiran in the photo, staying for one night, leaning on the jade or something, is basically not a big problem. In fact, in private, the officials in the capital once used the favor of a certain popular oiran as a beautiful story.

However, these things, after all, are contrary to the spirit of the Great Ming Law, and they can be done in private, but they must not be put on the table. After all, on the Da Ming Law, it is written in black and white.

Moreover, in the two hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, even the most fearful and disliked officials of science and Taoism have been impeached for a variety of strange charges, and they rarely talk about these romantic things. It's not that the officials of the Ming Dynasty have a high level of consciousness, they are upright, and their sleeves are clean or something, on the contrary, it is really because everyone is not clean in private, so don't say anything about anyone, hello, hello, everyone, no one will attack others with this kind of thing.

However, this Liu not only said it solemnly, but also used it to impeach a cabinet minister in power!

That's hilarious!

The whispering of the ministers in the hall became louder and louder, and after Wen Ge Lao became the elder of the pavilion, his face was much thinner, he snorted heavily, stood up, and bowed his head to Emperor Chongzhen above: "Your Majesty, the old minister...... The old minister was wronged......"

When Emperor Chongzhen encountered this kind of thing, he couldn't cry or laugh. I had the intention to cover up this ugly thing about Wen Ge Lao, but all the ministers in the hall were talking in whispers, and they couldn't hide it if they wanted to. Helplessly, Emperor Chongzhen said to Elder Wen Ge: "That...... Wen Aiqing, huh...... The state affairs are heavy, and the elder Ge is also old, so you should pay attention to take care of your body. ”

"Poof!" Emperor Chongzhen really encountered this situation for the first time, and the reprimand was also plausible, covering up, wanting to cover up, as soon as his words fell, a military attache couldn't hold back and laughed. Then, after a second or two, the ministers in the hall burst into laughter.

Wen Ge's old face was white and red for a while, his eyebrows and beard trembled with anger, and he glared at Liu Zhi resentfully, and arched his hand towards Emperor Chongzhen: "Old minister...... Your Majesty Xie cares! ”

Emperor Chongzhen also laughed, waved his hand at Na Liu, and said: "Okay, then who, step aside, don't take this kind of thing to the court in the future!" ”

"Yes!" Liu Qi was like a nobody, and retreated as if nothing had happened.

"Quiet!" Bingbi eunuch Wang Chengen shook off the dust and shouted at the ministers, so the snickering laughter of the ministers gradually became quieter.

Then, Emperor Chongzhen's eyes turned around among the ministers, fell on Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and asked with a smile: "Li Aiqing, what do you do?" ”

Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, suddenly found himself in a difficult situation at this moment. He was originally going to present a recital and recommend the chief examiner of this palace examination to Emperor Chongzhen. According to what he wrote on the recital, the chief examiner was Cabinet Minister Wen Ti-jen.

However, Wen Ge Lao has just been exposed to the loss of morality, this, how can he be the chief examiner and a teacher?

"Li Aiqing?" Emperor Chongzhen saw that Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, looked entangled and embarrassed, and couldn't help but ask out loud again.

"Huh? The emperor, the minister, the minister......" Li Tengfang is outstanding.

Xu Liang saw Li Tengfang like this, and with his understanding of Li Tengfang, it was not clear that this Lord Shangshu wanted to back down again, so he decided to push Li Shangshu again.

"Your Majesty, Lord Li, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, should be going to report to the chief examiner of the palace examination." Xu Liang came out of the crowd and said to Emperor Chongzhen, but he looked at Li Tengfang with a smile and asked, "Lord Shangshu, yes or no?" (To be continued.) )