Palace.

Princess Xunyang came running, and after seeing His Majesty, she played in the palace.

Seeing the little girl playing happily and smiling crisply, Emperor Jin Yuan's mood also improved, and he laughed heartily from time to time.

Besides, Sima Shao, with his family, drove the carriage and transported the model to the palace gate.

The palace people who were waiting here stepped forward to lead them into the palace until they reached Weiyang Palace.

Although this palace is large and vast, it gives people a sense of oppression and heaviness, or majesty and awe.

With Sima Shao's lazy salted fish temperament, he doesn't like the feeling of being in the palace, and he is a little shrunken and can't let go.

The guards passed the message, Emperor Jin Yuan summoned, Sima Shao entered the palace and bowed to Emperor Jin Yuan.

"Father, my eldest brother feels that the imperial examination of this dynasty is not perfect, and it is far from being a real 'selection of talents for the country'.

Princess Xunyang squatted towards Emperor Jin Yuan, and said crisply: "Besides, the founding ministers around my father and the emperor are either promoted to knights with military merits, or awarded medals with tricks, and how many of them are on the right path for the imperial examination?" Not all of them are wise and knowledgeable people, and they are rewarded for meritorious deeds and hired by quantity. ”

Emperor Jin Yuan looked at the little girl with a milky voice, but talked about it, and couldn't help laughing.

Sima Shao also laughed and stretched out his hand to beckon, "Little sister, come here." The major affairs of the court, the important ministers and nobles, are not easy to discuss casually. ”

Princess Xunyang pouted, walked to the eldest brother's side, and said, "That's right, I'm not wrong." The imperial examination is not only to open up talents for the imperial court and recruit talents for the emperor, but those students not only ask for recommendations from the family of the gate lords, high-ranking officials and magnates, but also do not decide the choice and ranking of the results of the imperial examination, so what is the fairness of the imperial examination? ”

The imperial examination of the Jin Dynasty followed the Sui and Jin dynasties, and it was still in the early stage of exploration, and there were bound to be many problems.

"There are policies at the top, and countermeasures at the bottom", and it is impossible for the family of gatekeepers to regard the imperial examination as sacred, and they use the power in their hands to intentionally or unconsciously leave some leeway when formulating the relevant regulations.

As a result, there are people in the court who are good officials, and there are people in the court who are easy to compete for the first.

The imperial court's Kodi can often openly give favors, and there are piles of champions in wealthy families and civil and military families, and it is naturally difficult for middle and lower-class scholars to compete for the first place, and even difficult to admit.

It can be said that the essence of the imperial examination in the Jin Dynasty was only the redistribution of power within the upper society, and it was the division of power between the Shu clan and the wealthy clan in the upper society.

And to ask for recommendations from the gate valve family, high-ranking officials and magnates is to take the exam to artificially increase the possibility of the rank and strive for the ranking, edit their daily poems and texts, write them into scrolls, and send them to the powerful before the exam, in order to recommend, and then form a fashion.

"Recommendation is also a method of selecting talents, but, Xunyang, you also have a point!"

Emperor Jin Yuan put away the smile on his face a little, but he still didn't take it too seriously, "Xunyang, then I will test you, how can you improve it?" ”

Princess Xunyang blinked and thought about it, shook her little head, and said, "This, I don't know. ”

After a pause, she turned to say: "Big brother can see the drawbacks, and there must be a way to improve it." Those who don't want to go through the imperial examination can also be outstanding talents, and their father will be able to reward them for their merits and talents. ”

Emperor Jin Yuan laughed, turned his head to Princess Xunyang in Sima Shao's arms and said: "Xunyang, you are talented and intelligent, and you also have knowledge, you can be said to have a brother and a sister!" ”

Sima Shao doted on his sister in his arms, wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, and asked, "Who taught you these?" ”

Princess Xunyang shook her head and said, "I guessed it from my daily conversation. The eldest brother doesn't like to read dead books, but does practical things to benefit the country and the people. ”

Sima Shao felt that it was useless to reason with his little sister, and the key was still on himself, so he only stroked his little sister's head and smiled silently.

......

"It's very cold, Shao'er, you and Wang Xiang will go into the palace with me to rest for a while! Let's talk. "Emperor Jin Yuan ordered someone to fetch the stove and sent out an invitation.

Sima Shao wanted to go in, but he really didn't want to be alone with Prime Minister Wang, so he politely declined: "Erchen didn't dare to be rude, so he waited for Your Majesty outside." The father did not care about his sons, but went to the temple to rest. ”

Emperor Jin Yuan hesitated for a moment, called the palace people, went to fetch a few fur coats, and also sat down in the shade of the tree, and greeted Sima Shao.

"Sit down! I've never seen you so polite or frightened. ”

Sima Shao smiled and sat down unceremoniously.

"Your Highness is sixteen years old this year, but he has already won the gold science champion by himself, which can be called a real talent." Wang Xiang smiled and said: "Compared with other gentlemen, I don't know how much stronger?" ”

"The king praised it." Sima Shao said modestly: "Those who are gentlemen may not be talentless, as for what this king is talented, it is just a little clever." ”

"Oh?"

Wang Xiang pretended to be surprised and said: "This little wisdom can get the top prize of the Golden Branch, what about the great wisdom?" Your Highness, can you explain this to the official? ”

Sima Shao pondered for a moment and said: "I think that great wisdom may be divided into two kinds, one is the ministers of pillars such as Wang Xiang and Li Zhongshu, who have the great wisdom of governing the country and handling government affairs;

The other is to behave in the world, such as grandmother, queen mother, talent in the harem, but indifferent, the reputation and favor that should be obtained, is not the same? ”

After a pause, Sima Shao said concludingly: "Buddhism has a cloud: to fight is not to fight, and not to fight is to fight. Lao Tzu said: Good is like water, and water is good for all things without fighting. The king's experience: What should be mine is mine, no need to fight; It's useless to fight if it's not mine, so why force it? My lord, do you say yes or no? ”

Wang Xiang was still smiling at first, but the more he listened, the more he felt that Sima Shao seemed to mean something, not simply explaining what great wisdom was.

But Sima Shao didn't look like he was teaching him to order him, and the final experience was even more joking.

Whether you understand it, or don't do it, Sima Shao feels that he has done his best.

With the incomparably tempting throne in front, how many people can be calm and wait for the pie to fall from the sky and hit their heads?

"His Royal Highness's knowledge is really profound, and he is proficient in the language of Buddhism and Taoism."

Wang Xiang collected his heart and praised with a smile: "Self-humility is a little cleverness, but the lower officials see it as great wisdom." ”

"Greedy for money and idle, where does the great wisdom of the subordinate get from?"

Sima Shao smiled self-deprecatingly and said: "Vulgar is unbearable, miscellaneous and impure, and a certain person is still self-aware." ”

"Your Highness is so humble."

......

Back in town.

Sima Shao was happily eating roast duck and barbecue with Zhang Jun, Gu Chang and others in his own hot pot restaurant, drinking wine in a big gulp, so happy.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside.

Sima Shao didn't care at the beginning, the hot pot restaurant, the business place, it is inevitable that there will be some disputes.

It's also common to get drunk or dissatisfied with the service.

It's just that the movement is getting louder and louder, mixed with the sound of broken dishes and loud scolding.

Even Zhang Junmo and Gu Chang listened attentively, their faces were different, and Sima Shao, as the owner of this hot pot restaurant, couldn't sit still.

"Wait a minute, let's go down." Sima Shao got up and made an excuse to go and see what was going on.

"Please take care of yourself."

Zhang Jun knew that Sima Shao had something to do with this shop, and knew that he was going out to do peace, but it was inconvenient to go with him.

Sima Shao frowned when he left the box, and asked the shopkeeper with a displeased expression: "What is the matter with such a noise?" ”

The shopkeeper hurriedly stretched out his finger and said, "Your Highness, the guest who came from nowhere, originally booked a private room to eat and drink." But when the gang came, they thought the room was small, so they opened the screen and merged one room, but they still refused to give up, smashing dishes and bowls, and making a lot of trouble. ”

Sima Shao rolled his eyes, waved his hand, motioned to the shopkeeper, guards and others to follow, and walked straight to the troublesome private room.

This private room is not small, open the screen, and if it is connected to the private room next to it, you can sit two tables of people.

And there are only five or six of these villains, which is too small, that is, pretending to be looking for trouble!

Sima Shao stood at the door, raised his eyes to observe it first, and immediately judged that one of the masked young men was the leader, although these people were all exquisitely dressed.

"A broken hot pot restaurant, my prince deigned to come to taste, so dare to arrange it like this?"

A guy who looked like the leader of the guards slapped Xiao Er, and shouted: "Coax all the guests away, my prince has covered this hot pot restaurant today." ”

As soon as he heard that it was the prince, Xiao Er was so frightened that he didn't even dare to wipe the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, just a strong accompaniment. The hot pot restaurant also had guards who rushed to hear the sound, but they stood at the door and didn't dare to step forward.

"The prince came out of the palace all the way, but he encountered such troubles, it was a certain poor arrangement, forgive the sin."

A young man bowed his hand to Sima Yu to apologize, and when he turned his head, he glared at Xiao Er angrily, and scolded repeatedly: "I also went to coax everyone away, annoyed the prince, and burned down your hot pot restaurant." ”

Sima Shao heard clearly, his eyes narrowed, and then he looked at the young man in the lead, and he knew who this guy was.

Sima Yu, his youngest brother, was loved by Emperor Yuan of Jin since he was a child, and was crowned king at the age of two.

Sima Yu was also the prince of the emperor's admiration, and was carefully taught by Emperor Jin Yuan when he was a child, and he was very insightful in governing the country, and he also served as the regent all the year round.

But in his impression, the Eastern Jin Dynasty was a dynasty with chaotic gate forces, and soon after the founding of the country, the powerful minister Hengwen took control of the government and supported Sima Yu to come to power, but unfortunately Sima Yu had no brains and no power, just a puppet emperor.

Sima Shao suddenly pursed the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a malicious smile.

Then, his face sank, and he reprimanded a few hot pot restaurant guards: "What are you afraid of, listen to the order for a while, and fight when you should fight." If something happens, His Royal Highness will bear it. ”

Seeing that the guards looked at each other and did not respond, the shopkeeper snorted and scolded: "Your Highness's words, dare not listen?" What a guts! ”

"How dare the little ones!"

The head of the guard hurriedly bowed down to show his loyalty, and said, "With His Highness here, I am not afraid of big things." Whether it is to fight or to rush, His Highness commands. ”

Sima Shao nodded with satisfaction, pointed to the guard-like guy who beat people, and ordered, "Take him down first." ”

The guards only hesitated slightly, and the shopkeeper had already strode forward, pulled out Xiao Er, and punched the guard in the stomach.

This punch can be described as sudden, and the guard was caught off guard, and was immediately beaten to the point of hunching his back and bending his back, and the pain was like a shrimp wilting downward.

The shopkeeper didn't give up, grabbed this guy's hair with one hand, dragged it with one hand, and pulled it in front of Sima Shao.

Sima Shao smiled viciously, and swung his fist into the guard's face a few times, until this guy's mouth and nose were bleeding.

He kicked again before waving his hand and instructing the guards, "Drag it away and throw it out." ”

"Yes!" The guard's answer was heartily answered, and his movements became swift.

The sudden change stunned everyone in the private room.

Even Sima Yu's eyes widened, and he was speechless in shock for a while.

"Bold!" One guy reacted very quickly, stepped forward and stretched out his hand, and scolded angrily: "You can know that you have committed the crime of driving......

"Take it and throw it away."

Sima Shao's order became shorter and shorter, and he seemed to feel tired when he said one more word, and the squirrels in front of him were like a useless piece of garbage in his eyes, and he would throw it away.

The shopkeeper grabbed this guy by the collar and shook it hard. The guy staggered a few steps, but before he could stand firmly, another guard stepped forward and grabbed him, dragging and pulling, and the extremely angry cries gradually faded away.

"Who are you, you are so bold that even His Royal Highness Sima Yu dares to offend, you can know that his crime is not small."

threw two guys in a row, and the arrogance of these people suddenly subsided, and a guy with oily hair and pink face had the courage to reprimand, but he retreated and looked very inward.

"Shut up, get out of here!"

Sima Shao waved his hand impatiently, and the shopkeeper and others rushed up, pushing and shoving, driving these guys out.

Sima Yu didn't move, sitting in the chair, both angry and confused, staring at Sima Shao.

Sima Shao took a step and walked straight in front of Sima Yu, staring at this younger brother without blinking.

That's right, I read you right.

After confirming his eyes, Sima Shao strengthened his opinion, straightened out his clothes, bowed forward, and whispered with a smile: "You are so bold, dare to make trouble here with me?" ”

"Big... Big brother, listen to me..."

Sima Yu blinked, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes, he understood the meaning of Sima Shao's words, his mouth opened into an O-shape, and he couldn't speak for a while.

Before he could figure out how to cover it up, a fist appeared in front of him, getting closer and bigger, and smashed into his face.

Sima Yu screamed in pain, snot, tears and blood gushing out.