Everyone was stunned by Xuan Pinghou's actions.

What's going on? The dignified Xuanping Hou would actually tidy up the clothes for a candidate? This is not as simple as ordinary love, generally speaking, only people who are very close to each other, or people who value themselves very much.

Xiao Liulang's fame in the whole capital may not be great, but he is completely famous in the imperial examination circle, he was born in a poor family, but he tied for first place with the king of Anjun in the spring festival, which made him famous.

In addition, he is not good at walking, which makes people pay more attention to him.

He was very easy to recognize, after all, there was no second cripple who came to participate in the temple examination.

Most people's first reaction when they see him is, this kid is too good-looking, right? The second reaction was, "Why is it a cripple?" And after the two reactions, this little cripple was actually admitted to Huiyuan?

Everyone regrets, envies, and disdains him...... In short, emotions are mixed.

But no one present could have predicted that he would fall into the eyes of Xuan Pinghou.

That's right, even if Xuanping Hou showed his importance to Xiao Liulang, no one guessed the relationship between the two of them as father and son.

Everyone muttered secretly, isn't Xuanping Hou a military general? Isn't he the most despicable to those sour readers? How many outstanding talents have been produced in the spring of the past world, how can you not see Xuanping Hou favoring any of them?

What was it about this little lame man that moved Xuanpinghou that he made Xuanpinghou, who had never been in the early dynasty, get up early in the morning to come over and send him into the examination room?

Xiao Liulang still hasn't changed, and he can't see joy or gratitude.

Xuanping Hou was not annoyed, and still tidied up his clothes very vigorously.

Xuan Pinghou has never been a very competent father, he spends most of his time in the military camp and cares little about his son at home.

Xiao Heng can become a genius boy in Zhaodu, in addition to his talent, the rest is basically the credit of Princess Xinyang.

Princess Xinyang is a loving mother and a strict mother, she has read poetry and books since she was a child, she hopes that her son will be able to be full of wealth in the future, she taught him carefully, so there is Xiao Heng in the eyes of the world.

When Xiao Heng was very young, he waited at the gate of the mansion every day to recite poems to him.

But he always came back late, and Xiao Heng fell asleep on the threshold.

Otherwise, Xiao Heng had his back, he listened perfunctorily, nodded and said okay, Xiao Heng was very angry and said, "You didn't listen, you didn't listen!" I obviously memorized three words wrong! ”

The young and vigorous Xuanping Hou couldn't lose his face in front of his son, so in order to cover up his lack of knowledge, he would bluff and get angry at his son: "What's so great about reciting poems? A manly man, go into battle to kill the enemy, and defend the country is the ability! Can you wield a gun, or can you wield a knife? ”

Xiao Heng was very hurt.

Before Xuanpinghou learned how to be a good father, Xiao Heng died in that fire, and only he knows how much regret he regrets.

Xuan Pinghou looked at Xiao Liulang, who was expressionless, and lost his mind for a moment, but after a while, he came back to his senses, patted Xiao Liulang's shoulder, and pinched his sleeve again: "Go in." ”

The first time he sent someone into the examination room, he didn't have much experience, and he didn't know what to do, so he was dressed and learned from Mrs. Zhuang and Yuan Shoufu when he got off the carriage.

Xiao Liulang went in without looking back.

Du Ruohan was a little dumbfounded behind Xiao Liulang, he was the closest person to Xuanping Hou except Xiao Liulang, Xuanping Hou was taller, more handsome and chic than rumored, his gestures were noble, and his eyes were deep and heavy.

This is a man who can stand by his side and be afraid of the sky falling apart.

The aura was too powerful, and Du Ruohan felt like he was going to suffocate.

But such a powerful man stopped for Xiao Liulang and treated Xiao Liulang like a parent.

Du Ruohan is crazy to death, he is so jealous! What kind of shit luck did this guy go!

Xiao Liulang didn't know that he was gaining Du Ruohan's jealous little white eyes all the way, they entered the main hall of the Taihe Palace, and found their position according to the exam number, which was no different from the small exam.

The palace examination is only one day, only one exam, the paper is sent at four o'clock in the morning, and the paper is collected in the afternoon, and the paper can be submitted in advance, and those who are not allowed to eat are not allowed to bring their own dry food in the middle.

The candidates who have passed the township examination and the general examination are all in good physical condition, and they will not be hungry for a day, and the only thing they are worried about is that they will not perform well.

After all, today is the emperor's personal invigilation, and the emperor will come over after the morning dynasty, but no one knows how long the early dynasty will be, in case he writes and writes, the emperor suddenly appears behind him-

That scene is quite creepy to think about.

After a series of prosperous pilgrimage procedures, the examination officially began, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites distributed the examination papers to each candidate, and the Scholars of the Ministry of Rites, Honglu Temple, and four cabinet scholars sat on the stools on either side of the front of the examination room, and a pair of tables and chairs were placed in the middle, which should have been reserved for the emperor.

In addition to these invigilators, there are also Praetorian Guards and eunuchs on duty in the hall, so although there is no separate examination booth, it is difficult to cheat under so many pairs of eyes.

Moreover, the question is not a dead question like the Sutra, and there is little point in cheating.

Xiao Liulang quickly got his own test paper, which was a question from the emperor - asking the emperor's government and the emperor's heart, why do you govern the country in peace?

After experiencing the proposition of cutting the feudal domain and Changxian, this question is much milder, at least the answer will not be wrong, at most it is whether the content of the lecture has a practical effect.

It's okay to talk about it, as long as the writing is gorgeous enough; It can also be to the point of the times, and the flag is clear.

The emperor is selecting talents, but none of them have ever been officials, to put it bluntly, they are all on paper, the emperor does not expect a palace examination to solve the problem that has not been solved by hundreds of civil and military officials, otherwise what would so many experienced court officials do?

The emperor really wants to see the pattern of a candidate.

The prime minister can hold the boat in his belly, how big a person's pattern is, how wide the road will be in the future.

Most of the candidates are not aware of this, and they are racking their brains and scratching their ears and cheeks to think of new ways to govern the country and secure the country.

Xiao Liulang didn't put down the pen in a hurry, he typed a draft first.

He doesn't actually have a habit of typing drafts, but drafts are an important piece of evidence when checking grades, and he usually keeps one or two drafts.

After about an hour, he carefully worded, deleted, and reduced, and after about an hour, he began to formally answer the questionnaire.

This is a policy question, and before answering the question, you must have a minister to say that you are answering the emperor's question.

"The minister is right:

When the ministers heard that the emperor was in control of the universe, there must be the actual government of the manager, and then they could restrain the crowd, which was intricate, and there was the rule of Yongxi; There must be a solid heart of advocating the rate, and then you can quench the hundreds of workers, vibrate the general affairs, and have the principle of Zhenzhilong.

Establish a discipline outline, the law of the law, hang the surface of the elephant Wei, focus on the order of the Jia, the first in the rock corridor Chaoning, scattered in the Zhusi Baifu, and in the corner of the county, the latitude of the warp, the giant fiber, all not prepared, full of tight, no leakage is also.

What is Solid? Vibration laziness, encouragement of shrewdness, from the depths of the depths, from the secret, from the palace Mu Qing, the wind in the hub of Banggi, infused in the frontier, the fall of the harmony, the spiritual mind, all unimpeded, the skin shape, no strong is also ......"

Xiao Liulang mainly emphasized the importance of governing the country according to law and implementing empirical evidence, and that laws and regulations must permeate the people, and the voice of the people must also reach the heavens.

At the same time, it also proposed to educate the people by learning Confucianism, vigorously punish corrupt officials and corrupt officials, and enrich the treasury.

Of course, he also emphasized that the emperor is the Son of Heaven, and everything he does is ordered by Heaven - to set up an official position, it is the emperor who appoints virtuous people for heaven; Getting rid of a treacherous evil is the emperor's crusade against the guilty for heaven.

Xiao Liulang didn't find out that this question was really difficult until he wrote it, and the ease when everyone first got the test paper was gone, everyone was immersed in writing, and no one handed in the paper in advance.

Xu was so engaged in writing that even the emperor stood behind Xiao Liulang for a while, and Xiao Liulang didn't notice it.

From the emperor's point of view, only one of Xiao Liulang's brains could be seen.

The emperor didn't look at it for too long, he didn't have the bad taste of adding pressure to the candidates in the examination room, he just came in, and happened to pass by Xiao Liulang, and saw Xiao Liulang's handwriting with a beautiful hand.

He glanced at it hurriedly, and the handwriting was good.

I looked at the candidate's name again - Xiao Liulang.

Oh, is that the poor student who tied for the first place with King Anjun?

There is a cane next to him, is he injured or disabled?

In fact, the officials elected by this dynasty are a bit face-looking, mainly because the appearance of Xuanping Hou alone has raised the emperor's aesthetics of civil and military officials, and he will be released if he is too ugly for a few years.

The emperor was a little disappointed when he saw the crutches, and he was worried that the other party was not good-looking.

It's not that the emperor just looks at his face, the old sacrificial wine doesn't look good, he can still be photographed by the emperor, it's really that the strength of the old sacrificial wine is too strong.

The Emperor quickly walked past Xiao Liulang and sat down on the chair at the front.

The invigilators knew that the candidate had been noticed by the emperor, so they didn't know whether the impression was good or bad.

After the emperor sat on the invigilator seat, he didn't pay attention to Xiao Liulang, after all, it was too far away to see clearly.

He asked people to take the recital, and while invigilating the exam, he silently reviewed the recital, and stayed until the end of the exam.

The candidates got up and saluted the emperor, and the emperor picked a few random candidates and asked a few questions, and the grandsons of King Anjun and Yuan Shoufu were all ordered.

Xiao Liulang was not ordered.

At three o'clock, everyone left the palace.

Don't look at the test for only one day, but everyone is more tired and tired than the township test and the spring test.

Except for a few candidates, most of them have never seen the emperor in their lives, and under the same roof as the emperor, they almost can't even write.

"I'm so nervous." Feng Lin's back was soaked.

His exam number was relatively high, and he sat in the first row, which was really under the emperor's nose, but he didn't dare to look up at the emperor, for fear of being punished for a big crime of disrespect.

"I feel like I failed the exam, and I don't even know what I'm writing until I get to the end."

He said dejectedly.

Du Ruohan comforted: "Don't be discouraged, everyone is the same as you, Your Majesty has forgotten what is in his mind when he comes." ”

The Emperor was quite sympathetic to them, and came after noon, when everyone's drafts were almost ready, otherwise he would have sat there from the beginning, and made sure that half of them would not even be able to type the drafts.

When the emperor stood behind Xiao Liulang, he was also startled, the two of them were next to each other, Xiao Liulang was in front of him, he could smell the ambergris on the emperor's body, and his scalp was tingling with nervousness.

However, thanks to being stimulated by Xuan Pinghou early in the morning, it seems that his ability to bear it is a little stronger.

"How's Rokuro doing?" Feng Lin asked Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang said: "It's okay, everything I think has been written." ”

Feng Lin asked Du Ruohan and Lin Chengye again, and their performance was normal, but the subjectivity of the policy question was too great, and whether they could be admitted to the Zhengbang Jinshi still depended on the preferences of the examiners.

This is not something they can control, they can only do their best to obey the destiny of heaven.

The group returned home.

In the Taihe Palace, the examiners began to mark the test papers, with the Ministry of Rites Shangshu and Honglu Siqing serving as the principal and vice presidents, and the four cabinet scholars serving as the graders.

The top twenty in the overall ranking will be sent to the emperor.

A good performance in the Chunyu exam does not mean that the palace exam can also be done well, it is part of being able to withstand the emperor's coercion and play steadily, and it is also part of it that happens to meet the field that he is good at.

However, a candidate like Xiao Liulang, who had tied for the first place with King Anjun, got the emperor's idea, not to mention that the emperor specially stayed by his side for a while in the palace examination.

Therefore, if his test paper is not in the top 20, the emperor will definitely ask about it, and it is likely that he will have someone take his test paper over to see how he fell out of the top 20.

After all, it will be presented to the emperor, and the emperor will look at the candidate's handwriting, but before presenting it to the emperor, the name will be simply blurred, in other words, the examiners will not see the candidate's name.

But if you want to see it sincerely, it's not difficult.

What's more, after the small test, some candidates' handwriting examiners have already written it down.

Xiao Liulang's test paper soon arrived in the hands of Honglu Siqing, he recognized it at a glance that this was Xiao Liulang's words, and Mrs. Zhuang had already given an order not to let Xiao Liulang suppress King Anjun.

If Xiao Liulang's article is not brilliant enough to pose a threat to King Anjun, Honglu Siqing will rest assured that he will be placed in the top twenty.

Obviously, Xiao Liulang's article is too brilliant.

This is an article that no examiner can find fault with any taste, and it is definitely a huge threat to King Anjun.

In the interval between meals, Honglu Siqing quietly went to Gongfang.

Near Gongfang, Mrs. Zhuang had been waiting for a long time.

"How?" Mrs. Zhuang asked.

"I haven't changed it to King Anjun yet." Honglu Siqing said, "Only Xiao Liulang's was changed." ”

Mrs. Zhuang handed him a piece of scratch paper from his arms, which was written by memory after King Anjun returned to his home, and it was almost the same as the test paper of the palace examination.

After reading it, Honglu Siqing's expression became solemn: "The examination papers of the two are evenly matched. ”

No matter what you want?

Mrs. Zhuang frowned, thought of something, and asked, "What's the matter with Xuanping Hou?" I see that he seems to have a crush on this? ”

Honglu Siqing said: "Taifu, you ...... I'm afraid I didn't take a closer look at Xiao Liulang's appearance. ”

Mrs. Zhuang was puzzled: "What's wrong with him?" ”

is too good-looking, and was taken by Xuanping Hou? But although Xuanping Hou is romantic, he is not good for men.

Honglu Siqing said: "He looks like the deceased little marquis, and the lower officials were really shocked when they saw it for the first time, maybe it was because of this that Xuanping Hou favored him." ”

Mrs. Zhuang sneered: "If your son is dead, will you find someone who looks similar to replace him?" ”

His Majesty intends to suppress the dealer, if there is really someone who is not on par with King Anjun, His Majesty is unlikely to choose King Anjun as the first, and before today, His Majesty is unlikely to choose Xiao Liulang as the first.

Xiao Liulang's background is too poor, if he is too popular, he will be hated, if the emperor really cherishes Xiao Liulang, he will not give him the champion.

His Majesty will appoint another person as the champion, if the ministers have objections, His Majesty will move out Xiao Liulang's test paper, saying that he didn't take the first place like this, how can King Anjun take the first place?

As for the champion's test papers, His Majesty will not let people see them.

This is the court, this is the examination room!

However, Xuanping Hou came forward.

He is telling everyone that Xiao Liulang is the person he wants to cover, whoever dares to touch Xiao Liulang must be weighed first.

Sooner or later, this matter will reach His Majesty's ears, and His Majesty knows that Xiao Liulang has a backer, so he has no worries.

A cold light flashed in Mrs. Zhuang's eyes: "This kid is scolding my grandson on the one hand, and Xuanping Marquis on the other, so a good one!" What the old man looks down on the most is this kind of person who is in Cao Ying's heart and Han in Han! ”

After five days, all the papers were marked.

The first twenty were put in a box by the Ministry of Rites and sent to the emperor.

The emperor is in the Jinluan Palace, and the distance is not far away.

However, as soon as the Ministry of Rites Shangshu walked halfway, he met the oncoming Xuanping Marquis.

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu was slightly surprised, early in the morning, why did Xuanping Hou enter the palace again? Has this guy been out of bed lately?

Xuanping Hou smiled faintly on his handsome face, and said politely: "Where is Li Shangshu going?" ”

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu said: "I want to send an exam paper to Your Majesty." ”

"Oh, it's out." Xuanping Hou raised his eyebrows and reached out to touch the box containing the exam papers.

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu took a step back, and his face sank: "Xuanping Hou!" What are you doing! ”

Xuan Pinghou smiled faintly: "Ben Hou will see if you have done anything on the exam paper." ”

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu frowned: "What nonsense are you talking about!" We are all examiners appointed by His Majesty, how can we do such a thing? Aren't you afraid of cutting off your head? ”

Xuanping Hou said: "I'm afraid that some people are really not afraid." ”

"Who is not afraid of Xuanping Hou saying?" Mrs. Zhuang walked over leisurely.

Xuan Pinghou turned around and glanced at Mrs. Zhuang with a smile: "Yo, Mrs. Zhuang is here." ”

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu bowed: "Mrs. Zhuang." ”

Mrs. Zhuang bowed his head in return, and then he looked at Xuanping Hou: "Is Xuanping Hou dissatisfied with Li Shangshu?" Or is it dissatisfied with the Cabinet? Or is it dissatisfied with Your Majesty? ”

Xuan Pinghou smiled faintly: "Don't buckle your hat too much, Ben Hou just wants to see if these test papers have been tampered with?" ”

The only one in the world who dares to question the cabinet like this is Xuan Pinghou.

Mrs. Zhuang said: "If Xuanping Hou doesn't believe it, just see it yourself." ”

Li Shangshu looked at Mrs. Zhuang in surprise, and Mrs. Zhuang said: "This official believes that Xuanping Hou will not take the opportunity to manipulate the candidates' test papers, although Li Shangshu let Xuanping Hou see it, what happened is the responsibility of this official." ”

Speaking of which, Li Shangshu is not good not to show Xuanpinghou.

Xuanpinghou opened the box and flipped through every test paper, and there was a vague name on the test paper, but he still recognized Xiao Liulang's words now, after all, he had read it many times in private.

He saw Xiao Liulang's test paper.

Mrs. Zhuang looked at the test paper, then at Xuanping Hou, and sneered: "Is there a problem?" ”

Xuan Pinghou glanced at Mrs. Zhuang deeply.

Mrs. Zhuang said frankly: "If there is nothing to do, these examination papers will be sent to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty is still waiting to be reviewed." ”

Xuan Pinghou put down the test paper, hesitated for a moment, and stopped his suspicious gaze at Mrs. Zhuang for a moment.

Mrs. Zhuang was unmatched from beginning to end.

Xuanping Hou finally left Li Shangshu, and he also stepped out of the palace.

Looking at his back in vain, Mrs. Zhuang smiled coldly.

knew that it would be like this, he had already guarded against Xuanping Hou, did Xuanping Hou really think that what he saw was Xiao Liulang's exam paper? The handwriting is exactly the same, and even the content is much the same, except that it has been modified in a few key places.

Xuanping Hou, a reckless man, couldn't see it.

Don't underestimate these small details, they are enough to anger the emperor.

So, what's the use of being in the top twenty?

Xiao Liulang may not even be able to pass the second-class jinshi exam!

Mrs. Zhuang proudly walked out of the palace.

His carriage was waiting at the gate of the palace, and when the servants saw him coming, they hurriedly opened the curtain for him, and he was in a good mood and got into the carriage with a smile.

But he never expected that there was a person sitting in the carriage!

Mrs. Zhuang trembled in fright: "Xuanping Hou?!" ”

What does his coachman eat? How did you get Xuanping Hou to come up?

"Someone!" He snorted.

Xuanping Hou said lightly: "Let's go." ”

The carriage was gone.

Mrs. Zhuang's face turned white, he lifted the curtain and looked at the coachman in the front seat, only to find that the other party was not his own coachman at all.

What about his coachman?

Where did it go?

His carriage had been parked at the gate of the palace, and there was a Praetorian Guard, how did the Marquis of Xuanping get his coachman out of his bag?

Mrs. Zhuang looked at the other party angrily: "Xuanping Hou, what do you want to do?" ”

Xuan Pinghou sneered: "Put Xiao Liulang's test paper back, otherwise, your horse will be frightened, Ben Hou can't guarantee whether you can land safely, after all, you don't know martial arts, right?" ”

Mrs. Zhuang was stunned: "You ......"

Xuanping Hou said: "I want to ask how Ben Hou found out?" Ben Hou doesn't understand the exam papers, but Ben Hou still understands you, Mrs. Zhuang. ”

Mrs. Zhuang was choked with a blue face, and the arrogance of Xuan Pinghou often made people think that he was a reckless man, but look at what he did today!

They almost left the palace one after the other, and Xuan Pinghou didn't have time to arrest people after checking the test papers, that is to say, before checking the test papers, Xuan Pinghou was sure that he would move Xiao Liulang's test papers, and arrested King Anjun early!

Mrs. Zhuang gritted his teeth: "You are so bold!" ”

Xuan Pinghou: "Each other." ”

Mrs. Zhuang snorted coldly: "You...... Do you think this will threaten the official? ”

Xuanping Hou spread his hands: "No, just to give you a suggestion, since you don't want it, then Ben Hou still has a copy to give you." ”

A layer of foreboding swelled up in Mrs. Zhuang's heart.

The carriage quickly stopped, on an empty official road, and there were no pedestrians back and forth, except for a carriage that stopped opposite the two.

Mrs. Zhuang lifted the curtains, and someone in another carriage also lifted the curtains, revealing King Anjun, who was tied up with five flowers and gagged with a cloth.

King Anjun looked at Mrs. Zhuang excitedly, and his mouth was hmmmming, and he couldn't say a complete sentence.

Mrs. Zhuang was almost shocked by Xuan Pinghou's audacity: "Do you know what you're doing?" You are not holding the imperial court hostage, you kidnapped the county king of Zhaoguo! ”

Xuan Pinghou leaned lightly on the back of the chair and looked at him for a long time: "So? ”

There was not a hint of fear in his eyes.

Arrogant like a wild horse that can trample everything at any moment.

Mrs. Zhuang actually doesn't take care of it, it's all the crime of cutting off the head, it depends on who can get to the end.

Mrs. Zhuang clenched her fists and glared at Xuan Pinghou.

Xuanping Hou said casually: "Ben Hou doesn't have much patience, so I'll tell you again in the end and send the test papers back." ”

Zhuang Taifu never admitted that he had moved the test paper, but this did not seem to affect Xuanping Hou to threaten him, and Zhuang Taifu felt that he was a show and met a soldier, and he couldn't explain it reasonably.

If he is a literati, he can still go around and around to get the other party in.

Xuanping Hou will not.

He won't give you a chance to go around the bend at all.

Mrs. Zhuang had a deep sense of powerlessness, but he didn't admit defeat so quickly: "Xuanping Hou, don't be too arrogant!" ”

Xuan Pinghou looked at Mrs. Zhuang and raised his finger lightly.

In the other carriage, Chang Jing pulled out a dagger and stabbed it in the thigh of King Anjun without hesitation.

Blood burst out, King Anjun gritted his teeth, but still made a terrible sound from his teeth.

Mrs. Zhuang suddenly changed color: "Heng'er! ”

Xuanping Hou lazily leaned against the wall of the car, raised his eyebrows and said, "Remember, this is arrogance." ”

Mrs. Zhuang was so angry that she trembled, and her whole person jumped like thunder: "You're not afraid of making trouble?" My grandson is dead, do you think you don't have to pay for your life? ”

Xuanping Hou smiled coldly: "Do you think Lao Tzu will be afraid?" ”

Mrs. Zhuang was stunned.

------Off topic------

Two more in one.

Note: The original text of the exam paper is from the palace examination paper of Zhao Bingzhong, a candidate in the Ming Dynasty, and part of the translation is from Sohu.com-Calligraphy Lecture Hall.