In the next few days, Yan Shifan and other examiners began to mark the papers intensively.

In the evening, the Tribute Courtyard, in a room dedicated to marking papers.

"The dance is inky, and the bullshit doesn't make sense!"

After Yan Shifan finished speaking, he was quite angry and annotated the word 'dethroned' on the answer sheet in front of him, and then ordered someone to summarize the answer sheet in his hand into many waste papers on the side.

The officials in charge of marking the file on the side also felt the same way.

In recent days, I don't know how many answers they have reviewed, except for a few that are barely passable, the rest, even the most basic choice of words and sentences, has become a problem.

At this moment, I saw an examiner who was not sure of the scale, held the answer sheet, came to Yan Shifan, and said cautiously.

"Little ...... Elder Xiaoge, please take a look at this article! ”

"Well, show it to the official!"

Hearing this, Yan Shifan nodded, took the answer sheet from the official's hand, and began to browse carefully.

The article on the answer sheet is ordinary at first glance, but under the careful taste, it has a different artistic conception, and unconsciously, Yan Shifan has been immersed in it.

Seeing that Yan Shifan hadn't responded for a long time, the examiner couldn't help but panic, and immediately plucked up his courage and called softly.

"Little Pavilion Elder? Little Pavilion Old? ”

When Yan Shifan heard this, he suddenly came back to his senses, and immediately, he saw that his face was full of excitement, turned his eyes to the examiner, and said in a deep voice.

"This article is really wonderful, at first glance it is unremarkable, but if you look closely, you can detect that there is a different artistic conception in it!"

"Not only is the idea novel and the rhetoric gorgeous, but most importantly, this article is close to the topic!"

When Yan Shifan said this, he paused for a moment and turned to ask.

"Whose answer is this?"

When the examiner heard this, he didn't dare to slack off, and after rummaging for a long time, he finally found the original answer sheet.

Then, I saw fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, lowered his head, and said respectfully.

"Xiaoge Lao, this is Zhu Zaiyu's answer sheet!"

After listening to the examiner's answer, Yan Shifan suddenly had a thoughtful expression on his face, and said to himself silently.

"Zhu Zaiyu?"

Yan Shifan is no stranger to the name Zhu Zaiyu, Zhu Zaiyu is the ninth grandson of Emperor Taizu, and the son of Zhu Houhan, King of Zheng.

In the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing, Zhu Zaiyu's father, Zheng Wang Zhu Houhan, because of a letter to admonish Jiajing, not to take pills in order to live forever, was later demoted to a concubine, made a sect of people, and imprisoned in the high wall.

And now, Zhu Houhan's son, Zhu Zaiyu, participated in the exam specifically for the clan and nobles, and wrote a good article, standing out from the many clans and nobles who took the exam.

"Well, what should we do with this article next?"

Yan Shifan looked at the article with gorgeous rhetoric and novel ideas placed in front of him, and suddenly fell into a dilemma.

In Yan Shifan's opinion, Zhu Zaiyu's article, among the many answer sheets he has reviewed, can definitely be regarded as superior!

But if he sends this article by Zhu Zaiyu to the cabinet, will it anger His Majesty?

After all, Zhu Zaiyu's father, Zhu Zaian, once wrote to warn His Majesty not to take pills in order to live forever, which then provoked His Majesty's anger and was deposed as a concubine, in case His Majesty was angry with Zhu Zaiyu......

Time passed slowly, I don't know how long it was, I saw Yan Shifan's throat move, he looked at the answer sheet in front of him, as if he had made up his mind, his face was full of determination, and he said to himself silently.

"No matter what, you have to send this answer sheet to the cabinet anyway, and you should do a good deed!"

Then, I saw Yan Shifan come back to his senses, look at the examiner who had been waiting for a long time on the side, and commanded.

"List Zhu Zaiyu's answer sheet as the top class, and after the answer sheet is reviewed, send it to the cabinet together!"

The examiner saw that Yan Shifan, the chief examiner, had already made a decision, and immediately looked awe-inspired, and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, Little Pavilion Elder!"

"Hmm."

When Yan Shifan heard this, he replied imperceptibly, and immediately looked at the rest of the examiners in the room, and then asked.

"By the way, how many answers do you have left in your hands that have not been reviewed?"

As soon as Yan Shifan's words fell, the examiners on the side quickly responded.

"Little Pavilion Elder, there are still ten answer sheets left here!"

"Xiaguan here, there are still five answer sheets left that have not been evaluated!"

"Xiaguan here, there are still seven answer sheets left!"

"Xiao Ge Lao, there are still ...... left here in Xiaguan"

After summarizing it in detail, Yan Shifan found that there were only thirty or forty answer sheets left that had not been reviewed.

Then, I saw him facing everyone and commanded in a deep voice.

"Let's work harder, strive to finish the evaluation of the remaining answer sheets before dark, and send the qualified answer sheets to the cabinet!"

"The official has ordered someone to prepare the banquet, and we are waiting for you!"

As soon as they heard this, the officials in charge of marking the papers in the room couldn't help but speed up the marking as if they had been beaten with chicken blood.

After all, on weekdays, there are not many opportunities to have a relationship with Yan Shifan, the elder of the small pavilion!

With the efforts of everyone, before dark, they finally finished reviewing the remaining part of the answer sheet.

Subsequently, those answers that were assessed as qualified were immediately sealed and preserved, and the whole process must be handled by a special person!

Under the witness of Yan Shifan and the rest of the examiners on the scene, the boxes containing the answer sheets were all sealed.

The wooden boxes, under the strict escort of the guards, were soon loaded into carriages and marched in the direction of the cabinet.

Yan Shifan watched those guards leave, and since the beginning of the exam, the tense nerves that had been tense were also relaxed at this moment.

Then, I saw Yan Shifan summoning the officials and giving instructions.

"You go and tell the cabinet right away, and say that we have finished reviewing the answer sheet!"

"Yes, Little Pavilion Elder!"

After answering the call, the official did not stay in the room for too long, but left quickly.

After that, I saw Yan Shifan retract his gaze, turned around, looked at the officials on the side, and commanded.

"Okay, let's not have anything to do next, let's go, go to the banquet!"

"Yes, Little Pavilion Elder!"

When those examiners heard this, a look of joy suddenly appeared on their faces, and they immediately followed Yan Shifan's steps and walked away.

……

Forbidden City, Cabinet.

Although it has reached the time of the next duty, several members of the cabinet have no intention of leaving, because next, they will be responsible for the second review of the answer sheet, and then determine the ranking!

At the moment, the atmosphere in the cabinet is quite laid-back.

Yan Song was looking intently at the idle book in his hand, while Xu Jie was drinking tea by himself, and Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng on the side were closing their eyes to recuperate.

At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps from outside the cabinet, and I saw the official Xu who had been sent by Yan Shifan to report the news to the cabinet earlier.

After entering the cabinet, the official immediately looked in the direction where Yan Song and Xu Jie were, lowered his head, and reported respectfully.

"Old Yuge, the Gongyuan has completed the marking, and the answer sheet that has been recognized as qualified is already on the way!"

Hearing this, Xu Jie unhurriedly put down the teacup in his hand, waved his hand, and commanded.

"Well, got it, you go down!"

"Yes, Elder Xu Ge!"

Seeing that the purpose of his trip had been achieved, the official couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and immediately walked away.

After the official left, he saw Xu Jie retract his gaze, turned around, looked at Yan Song on the side, and then spoke.

"Xiao Ge Lao's side, he actually finished reviewing the answer sheet so quickly, it's really terrifying!"

When Yan Song heard Xu Jie's words, he immediately took his eyes off the idle book in front of him unhurriedly and said slowly.

"Where, Xu Ge is serious, besides, it's not the first time he's been an examiner, if he doesn't even have this bit of growth, how can he convince the public?"

When Xu Jie heard this, he couldn't help but laugh twice, and turned to respond to the Tao.

"Well, Elder Yan Ge has a point!"

After that, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and after a while, those answers that were recognized as qualified were all sent to the cabinet.

Several people looked at the wooden boxes that were sealed in front of them, their faces were full of solemnity, and then, the seals affixed to the wooden boxes were torn off by special officials in front of Yan Song and others.

After that, soon a subordinate stepped forward and distributed the answer sheets in the wooden box that were assessed as qualified.

Yan Song didn't start to review it immediately, but took out three from the bottom of the stack of answer sheets in front of him without a trace, and after roughly browsing them, he put them aside.

Since these answers have already been reviewed before they are sent to the Cabinet, they are marked by the examiners and are divided into three grades: upper class, upper class, and middle class.

Yan Song and others used this as a basis to conduct evaluations, and they spent a lot of time on the answers that were evaluated as superior, while those who were rated as medium answers, they just glanced at them a few times and looked away.

"Hey, this article is quite interesting, it really deserves to be superior!"

Just when everyone was still in full swing to review the answer sheet, Zhang Juzheng's exclamation sounded in everyone's ears.

When Xu Jie heard Zhang Juzheng's words, a look of curiosity suddenly appeared on his face, and he turned his gaze to Zhang Juzheng and spoke.

"Oh, there's actually a top-of-the-line answer sheet, show it to me?"

"Yes, Elder Xu Ge!"

The voice fell, and I saw Zhang Juzheng handing over the answer sheet in his hand to Xu Jie's hands.

After Xu Jie took the answer sheet from Zhang Juzheng's hand, he also began to browse it meticulously.

Time passed slowly, I don't know how long it has been, but I saw Xu Jie reluctantly put down the answer sheet in his hand, and sighed to himself.

"I really didn't expect that in my Ming clan, among the nobles, there would be such a knowledgeable person, with gorgeous rhetoric and unique style, this article is really unique to read!"

"Elder Yan Ge, you might as well take a look!"

Yan Song, who was on the side, heard Xu Jie's words, and his face couldn't help but show a little curiosity, only to see him take the answer sheet from Xu Jie's hand and begin to browse carefully.

"Well, yes, yes, this article looks mediocre at first glance, but if you look closely, you can find that the idea of the article is ingenious, and the rhetoric is quite gorgeous, not inferior to those top articles!"

After Yan Song finished speaking, he stroked his beard and said to himself.

"Well, let me see who wrote this article!"

Subsequently, when Yan Song opened the name of this answer sheet and saw the name on it, he couldn't help but gasp, and immediately lost his voice.

"What, Zhu Zaiyu!"

As soon as Yan Song's words fell, everyone present changed their faces, because they were no strangers to the name Zhu Zaiyu.

This Zhu Zaiyu is upright, clever and intelligent, and is more proficient in music and music scores, so he is quite famous among the clans and nobles of the Ming Dynasty.

But the most fatal thing is that Zhu Zaiyu's father, Zhu Houhan, once in the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing, Shangshu admonished Jiajing and asked him not to take pills in order to live forever, which later provoked Jiajing's anger and was demoted to a concubine and locked up in the Zongren Mansion.

At present, everyone is in a dilemma, and it stands to reason that Zhu Zaiyu's article is enough to win the top spot.

But if Zhu Zaiyu is rated as the first like this, and when the list is sent to His Majesty, will it provoke His Majesty's anger and implicate himself?

Then, I saw Zhang Juzheng's throat move, looked in the direction where Yan Song was, and asked cautiously.

"Yan ...... Elder Yan Ge, look, what should I do next? ”

Zhang Juzheng's words fell, and the high arches and Xu Jies on the side also fell on Yan Song's body in unison.

After all, Yan Song is the first assistant to the cabinet, and at this time, he should be the one to make the decision.

After perceiving everyone's gaze, Yan Song's face was also full of tangled colors.

On the one hand, he didn't want to see such a good article in the dust, but on the other hand, he was also afraid, if Zhu Zaiyu's article was rated first, would it make Jiajing angry?

Then, I saw Yan Song take a deep breath, and after calming down his good mood, he looked at everyone and proposed.

"Alas, the old man can't make up his mind for the time being, so let's vote!"

Regarding Yan Song's proposal, after thinking for a while, everyone chose to agree, after all, there is no better way now.

Yan Song couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw that everyone had agreed to his proposal, and immediately, he saw him looking at everyone and said in a deep voice.

"Agree to evaluate Zhu Zaiyu's article as the first raise of hands!"

Yan Song said that he took the lead in raising his hand, and the rest of Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng also raised their hands in turn to express their agreement.

"Since everyone agrees, then the matter is decided, and Zhu Zaiyu will be rated as the first place in this exam!"

After Yan Song finished speaking, he glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice.

After this episode, everyone sped up the speed of marking, and after a while, the remaining answers were all reviewed.

Subsequently, Yan Song and others also officially determined the ranking of this exam.

"First place Zhu Zaiyu, second place Zhang Yuangong, third place Zhu Shitai, fourth place Xu Wenbi ......"

I saw Yan Song withdraw his gaze from the drawn up list in front of him and said slowly.

"Now that the list has been drawn up, without further ado, let's send it to His Majesty!"

When Xu Jie heard this, he sighed helplessly, and turned to speak.

"Well, I hope nothing goes wrong!"

"yes!"

As soon as Xu Jie's words fell, Gao Gong on the side looked at the list in front of him, which had been drawn up, and also sighed with emotion.

Immediately, I saw Xu Jie summoning the officials and commanding in a deep voice.

"Send this list to Your Majesty immediately, without delay!"

"Obey, Elder Xu Ge!"

When the official heard this, he didn't dare to slack off in the slightest, so he immediately leaned down and responded respectfully.

Zhang Juzheng watched the official walk away, only to see him lower his eyes, look at the ground carelessly, and muttered to himself silently.

"Zhu Zaiyu, that's all we can do, and the next thing is up to your creation!"

……

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

At this moment, Jiajing was sitting on the futon, his eyes seemed to be closed, and Lu Fang was waiting beside Jiajing as usual.

"Your Majesty, is this into a meditative state?"

Lu Fang looked at Jiajing, who was sitting motionless on the futon at the moment, tilted his head, and thought so.

Just as Lu Fang's thoughts were flying, I saw Jiajing finish meditating and slowly open his eyes.

Seeing this, Lu Fang immediately came to Jiajing and said softly.

"Your Majesty!"

"Hmm."

When Jiajing heard this, he responded imperceptibly, and then slowly got up from the futon and sat straight on the dragon chair.

After a while, I only heard a rush of footsteps, and after a while, I saw a Xu official step into the Qianqing Palace.

After entering the Qianqing Palace, the official knelt on the ground tremblingly and trembled.

"Enlightenment...... Your Majesty, the cabinet has already decided the specific ranking of this exam! ”

After the official had finished speaking, he carefully took the list from his sleeve and held it high above his head.

Lu Fang didn't wait for Jiajing's command, and immediately stepped forward to take the drawn up list from the hand of the Xu official, and when the afterglow of his eyes caught a glimpse of the first name on it, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"What, the first place is Zhu Zaiyu!"

As the person who has been with Jiajing for the longest time, Lu Fang naturally knows about Zhu Zaiyu's father Zhu Houhan, and then, I saw him suppress all the chaotic thoughts in his heart, came to Jiajing's side, and said respectfully.

"Your Majesty!"

"Hmm."

After Jiajing took the list from Lu Fang's hand, he looked at the official, waved his hand, and commanded quite casually.

"Alright, it's none of your business, you can leave!"

"Compliance...... Yes, Your Majesty...... Your Majesty! ”

When the official heard this, he immediately left the Qianqing Palace with great gratitude.

After the official left the Qianqing Palace, Jiajing withdrew his gaze and looked at the list in his hand, which had been drawn up.

"First place Zhu Zaiyu, second place Zhang Yuangong, third place Zhu Shitai, fourth place Xu Wenbi ......"

Soon, Jiajing finished browsing all the contents on it, only to see that he put the list aside casually and did not speak for a long time.

And Lu Fang, who was waiting beside Jiajing, looked uneasy.

I saw that he glanced at Jiajing without a trace, and a gloomy color suddenly appeared on his face, and he said secretly.

"Damn, what did Yan Song do with them, how did they add Zhu Zaiyu's name, don't they know that they ...... at the beginning?"

Then, I saw Lu Fang looking at Jiajing and cautiously asked.

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, is there any problem with the ranking of the exam, do you need a slave ......maid?"

"King Zheng gave birth to a good son!"

When Jiajing said this, the conversation changed, and he asked Lu Fang next.

"Lu Fang, is King Zheng still in the Zongren Mansion?"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, his face was full of shock, and then, after organizing the words in his mind, he gave a response.

"Enlightenment...... Your Majesty, self-...... Ever since King Zheng was demoted to a concubine by you, he has been locked up in the Zongren Mansion! ”

After listening to Lu Fang's report, Jiajing was silent for a long time and said slowly.

"That's it, you can go to the Zongren Mansion in person later, release him from the Zongren Mansion, and in addition, let him be reinstated, plus eight hundred stones!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, his expression immediately turned grim and he replied in a deep voice.

At this moment, although Lu Fangming was extremely calm on his face, his heart had already set off turbulent waves.

He couldn't figure out whether Jiajing had premeditated it, or whether he had made a temporary decision after seeing the outstanding performance of Zhu Houhan's son Zhu Zaiyu.

But one thing that Lu Fang can confirm is that from today onwards, King Zheng's status in the hearts of the Ming clan and nobles will be significantly improved.

The reason is very simple, because his son Zhu Zaiyu won the first place in the examination specifically for the clan and nobles, and won the first place, and he will definitely be reused in the future!

Then, I saw Lu Fang gather his mind, turn his gaze to Jiajing, and carefully ask for his opinion.

"Then Your Majesty, the slave maid will go to the Zongren Mansion now?"

"Well, you can go over now!"

When Jiajing heard Lu Fang's words, he nodded, gently rubbed the dragon head carved on the dragon chair with his hand, and commanded.

"Obey Your Majesty's orders, the slave maid will go to the Zongren Mansion and release King Zheng from inside!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, he planned to leave, but who knew that he had just taken a few steps before he was stopped by Jiajing.

"By the way, bring this list drawn up by the cabinet with you and give it to King Zheng to take a good look!"

When Jiajing's words fell, I saw Lu Fang pause suddenly, turned around, respectfully took the list from Jiajing's hand, and turned to speak.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After that, I saw Lu Fang carefully put away the list, and left the Qianqing Palace without looking back.

As soon as Lu Fang walked out of the Qianqing Palace, a breeze blew by, making people feel very comfortable.

Then, I saw Lu Fang raise his head and look at the sky, in the sky, there was nothing but a full moon.

Occasionally, the bright moonlight peeked out of the clouds and fell to the ground, and Lu Fang's shadow was also clearly visible under the illumination of the moonlight.

"What a gratifying congratulations!"

After Lu Fang sighed, he withdrew his gaze and quickened the pace of his feet.

(End of chapter)