The morning has not dispersed, the bells and drums are ringing, and there are already more than 100 tributes in jade-colored silk clothes and wide-sleeved soap edges standing solemnly outside the Jianji Palace, and they are the candidates who will take the court examination this spring.

Not all of them are young faces, some of them have white temples and full of vicissitudes, but all of them are energetic and high-chested, although among these people, not all of them are destined to be able to rise to the top of the ranks, and most of them may only set foot in Miyagi for the only time today. But this does not dampen the enthusiasm of these scholars, the world is full of Confucianism, when through the many passes, one day can stand in front of the Jianji Palace, become the protégé of the Son of Heaven, this has lived up to ten years of hard study, who cares if it is a lifelong camp in the future?

Lan Ting also looked up at the magnificent hall in front of him, at the top of the mountain with golden glazed tiles and heavy eaves, where his great-grandfather and grandfather once stood, and today, like his ancestors, he finally arrived at the foot of the Dragon Gate.

But his heart was calm, and he knew that although he was standing here, he had not yet achieved his ambition.

In fact, over the years, he has not wavered without hesitation, what is his ambition? The road to fame and fortune in the economic career was contrary to the aspirations he had absorbed since childhood, and he also wondered at that time why his grandfather guided him to follow the path of alienating utilitarianism, and at the same time pushed him onto the path that seemed to be completely different from the ambition he had established.

It wasn't until during these three years, when he was mourning, that he closed his door and pondered deeply, that he was thorough.

The road does not determine where you will arrive, and the ups and downs of the sea may not be able to maintain a pure heart, just as the ancients had a habitat in the mountains and rivers, but what they seek is nothing more than a shortcut to the south.

In the midst of the crown, you must live without the smell of mountains and forests; Under the forest spring, it is necessary to Huailang Temple's Jinglun, which is the meaning of the word "don't" given by his grandfather, hoping that although he has embarked on a road full of utilitarian temptations, he has never forgotten to be calm and quiet.

Therefore, today's palace test is not the ultimate test for him, but after jumping through this dragon gate, the real test can be regarded as begin.

With the sound of praise, the tributes marched into the hall, under the feet is the gold bricks, the north side of the carved lacquer throne, although the seat is empty, but no one dares to look directly at the dragon chair that represents the supreme authority, they can only continue to listen to the praise, solemn silent, three kneels and nine knocks, the most universal sight, but also the seal painting, vermilion sandalwood pillar, some people just heard the examiner on behalf of the holy decree, has been excited to tremble.

The Ninety-Five Emperor was only promoted to the throne and received a salute, and the heavy government affairs made it impossible for him to stay in the Jianji Hall all day, but this year, the emperor specially ordered the grandson Qin Yu to be invigilated in the Golden Palace. This prince of a country is only fourteen years old this year, and his immature shoulders are actually a little unable to support the gorgeous dress, and the five-colored and nine-color crown on his head has not added much majesty to this young man, but he seems to have worked very hard to stabilize his posture, so that his round eyes oozed gloom.

But gloom does not mean majesty.

If spring returns here, she will definitely observe that there is also a cinnabar mole on the grandson's face, located at the corner of the upper mouth, and she will sigh that the heavenly family is the heavenly family, how can the children and grandchildren have cinnabar moles as a sign of manifestation, as if it is a secret detention to prevent fakes.

In fact, how could the young prince be willing to stay in the Taiji Palace, and spend the whole day with these uninteresting tributes in his opinion, he didn't understand that so many examiners were present, and there were dozens of eunuchs around, who dared to dance on top of the Golden Palace? Can you add more eyes to him?!

The truth is not that Taifu has never taught,

It's that His Royal Highness Taisun didn't listen carefully at all.

The selection of scholars and officials is an extremely important event for the governance of the country, and the emperor let the grandson invigilate the examination is also to show the importance of the court examination.

"Where is Zhao Lanting sitting?" The seemingly bored grandson suddenly asked the eunuchs beside him.

Of course, the grandson is not ignorant of Lan Ting, in fact, because of the urging of Queen Shen, the grandson often visits the Taishi Mansion for a period of time, but he obviously does not really want to get close to the children of Zhao Men, after the death of Zhao Taishi, Lan Ting mourns at home, these three years, the grandson is rightly obedient and does not bother, it has been three years of not seeing, and there are nearly two hundred tribute students present today to take the exam, and they are dressed exactly the same, and the grandson is too lazy to go to Lan Ting's seat in person.

"It's in the third column." The eunuch counted with his feet: "The seventh line." ”

Lan Ting was looking at the policy question issued at this time, trying to discuss whether the so-called national policy of selecting grain chiefs in various districts should be abolished, he frowned slightly, of course, it was not for this policy topic that was greatly unexpected, in fact, although the policy topics of the Golden Palace Court were not all chosen by the Son of Heaven, but because of the importance attached to the scholars, since the accession to the throne, the current temple examination was personally made, so naturally it was impossible to leak it in advance, and the candidates had no way to get the questions in advance.

However, because of Lan Ting's trip to Fenzhou, in view of Jiao Manshi's suspected murder case, and Shi Liangxing and his henchmen who relied on apportionment of grain chiefs to obtain heavy bribes, in fact, they had already written a policy to complain about the heavy pressure on the people of the prefecture and county caused by the grain chief system, which had far deviated from the original intention established by Taizu at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. But he has no official position and no position, and his policy cannot reach the heavens, but it is only submitted to Xu Ge Lao for a look, and Xu Ge Lao immediately said that this system has become a harm to the people and should be abolished.

How easy is it to abolish the appointment of a grain chief? Not only will it harm the interests of local officials, but it will also cause difficulties for the household department, where will the funds for the huge amount of escort taxes come from every year? Before this fund is resolved, the empty abolition can only lead to endless debates in the court, and the emperor is in a dilemma.

Xu Ge Lao even proposed to reduce the vassal king Fenglu and use this fund to alleviate the plight of the people.

To say that since the founding of the country, the prince has been hereditary and replaceable, and the princes, county kings, generals and other clan relatives have enjoyed the blessings, which is indeed a huge burden for the imperial court, Xu Ge Lao proposed to reduce the prince's Lu to alleviate the difficulties of the people is indeed for the benefit of the community, but this will definitely offend a large number of clan relatives, they are all Qin family nephews, are relatives of the emperor, and they think they are superior, and they should enjoy the glory and wealth of course, who dares to shake their interests, that is against the heavenly family, and it is the crime of chaotic ministers and thieves who should be punished.

And although today's saint is aspiring to purge officialdom and rejuvenate the society, his skills are far from ruthless enough, and his compassionate heart will also take into account the distant and near relatives, if Xu Ge Lao must cut the vassal king, Lan Ting really doesn't know how the emperor will decide in the end.

Today's policy topic of the grain chief system seems to show that the emperor is in a dilemma.

How to answer, Lan Ting must think deeply.

It was because he hadn't started writing for a long time, and he frowned and thought about it, and suddenly asked: "Uncle Cousin is the person with the highest voice at the top of the list this spring, why does he seem to be stumped by the topic?" ”

Although most of the tributes around him were concentrating on answering, His Royal Highness Taisun's question still attracted a lot of sideways glances in the examination room, and the prince representing the royal family called the candidates for their personal feelings, which was really suspected of violating the fairness of the scholars.

Lan Ting hurriedly avoided the table and saluted: "Return to Your Highness, be respectful to the court, and be cautious first." ”

Taisun raised the corners of his lips and smiled: "Lonely listeners to the voices of the public, everyone said that this spring's champion is none other than my cousin, I don't know if my cousin also has this kind of self."

Letter. ”

"Don't dare to be complacent, do what you can."

"Also, the so-called unpredictable weather is unpredictable...... Just as yesterday was still bright in spring, how could I expect that there would be wind and sand today. Taisun stared at Lan Ting deeply: "If there is really a case, I hope that my cousin Mo is too frustrated, and this is all a tempering given by God." ”

Not far from the Lanting seat, there was a Gongsheng who had passed the age of the year, and inexplicably curled the corners of his lips, as if he was determined to win.

The Zhu family in Kyoto, on this day of wind and sand roaring, swept away the gloom for several days.

Uncle Zhu returned from visiting a friend, and rushed straight to the old lady's study, almost missing a close encounter with a green-waisted handmaid, so Uncle Zhu hurriedly took a step back and apologized: "I rushed to greet the old lady, but I almost collided with the girl." ”

The maid glanced at her uncle, and she was very depressed: "At this time, the old lady is just convenient, so the old lady should say hello." ”

Uncle Zhu's eyebrows couldn't help jumping slightly, but he didn't dare to say more.

When he entered the house, he saw that the old lady was still buttoning his collar, and glanced at the wrinkled brocade mattress on the Luohan bed, Uncle Zhu's eyebrows jumped again, and he hurriedly told the old lady the good news he had inquired about: "Zhao Lanting is famous, thinking that Lianzhong Sanyuan is like taking something in his pocket, but this time, he really responded to a sentence that the arrogant and disobedient person will fall from heaven, and he will fall heavily when he ascends!" ”

"What do you mean by that?" The old lady was immediately interested.

"This session of the exam, the fifth person reciprocated, his uncle turned out to be the aunt and cousin of the Duchess of Song Guo, so he went through the path of Song Guogong, just this year the emperor ordered His Royal Highness the grandson to invigilate the examination, the princess has repeatedly assured Song Guogong that the champion will be able to take the middle and reciprocate, Gong Shangshu is a transparent person, how can he disobey the will of the grandson? Zhao Lanting missed the top of the gold list this time, and it depends on whether he can still question the favoritism of the Taisun and the Song State Mansion! ”

The old lady stroked his beard and smiled slightly: "He even won two yuan, and there is no celebration banquet, this is holding back a mouthful of strength to ask for three yuan and the first, if it is really successful, it may be possible to prosper in the official career, but once it is lost, it is actually difficult to match the fame, then it will become a laughing stock in the world!" Moreover, Ren is back and forth against the crown princess's father, how can His Royal Highness allow him to be overtaken in the same year? Lan Ting's official position in the future will be overwhelmed by Ren reciprocating force for the rest of his life! ”

"Isn't that? In the same year, sometimes although it was said to be watching and helping each other, but in the battle for the leader, water and fire were incompatible, and it was impossible to guarantee that His Royal Highness Taisun would simply exclude Zhao Lanting from the Sanding Armor in order to completely suppress Zhao Lanting, then he would have a lot of fun this time. ”

"After all, Lan Ting is Sanniang's own flesh and blood, how can you be an uncle so happy?" The old lady frowned pretendingly: "After the palace test, we will pass on the roll call, let's go to the Taishi's Mansion to appease and persuade him, he is young and vigorous, and there is no one in his eyes, we as elders can't hate him because of this, even if it is for the sake of your sister's feelings, he should be taught to suffer from this twist and turn, and he should reform himself, but don't give up on himself." ”

"The father is right, it is the son who is frivolous." Uncle Zhu immediately stood up and was obedient to the training.

The old lady looked at her son with great satisfaction, and stroked her beard and said seriously: "Tell Qingyu about this, so that he can learn a lesson from it, and don't let him fall down, a defeat is nothing, you should work hard, and wait for three years before going to the test field!" ”

Speaking of this, the old lady suddenly woke up: "Hurry up, hurry up, and then back up the generous gifts, I will visit Gong Shangshu in person in a few days, after this time, His Royal Highness Taisun will definitely support him, if he can introduce us to him, I am afraid that Qingyu will not be able to make a high school gold list in three years?" ”