In the fifth year of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, who was nearly seventy years old, decided to open the imperial examination. This is the first imperial examination in nearly 200 years, so it has gathered an unknown number of candidates from all over the country. Zhu Zhang is one of them.

Zhu Zhang was only twenty-five years old at the time, which was a good year. He won the first place in the township examination and the meeting examination all the way, and then went to the famous palace examination.

Before the palace exam, all the exams were named, so no one saw Zhu Zhang's face before the list was released.

When the young Zhu Zhang stood in front of the Taihe Hall for the first time, the young Zhu Zhang was still very nervous. While waiting for the temple examination to begin, many officials came to greet him, but strangely enough, everyone left disappointed when they saw him.

Although the behavior of these people was very strange, Zhu Zhang didn't care. Because he knew that he was born ugly, but this skin and appearance were given by his parents, and he could not do anything. Besides, along the way, he relied on learning, not appearance.

Soon the palace test began, and Zhu Zhang lowered his head and answered in the upper hall. Everything went so smoothly. When the answer is completed, the hundred officials evaluate the article. Everyone was amazed by his article, and felt that this person must be a Wenqu star. Zhu Zhang, who was kneeling on the ground, was naturally very happy, and he was very confident in the article.

I don't know how long it took, after His Majesty and the hundred officials finished appraising the articles made by the students present, Zhu Zhang heard the words that changed his life.

"Look up." Taizu, who was sitting on the dragon chair in a very happy mood, said to the people who participated in the temple examination on the ground.

Zhu Zhang raised his head excitedly, this was the first time he had witnessed the appearance of the Son of Heaven, who was so solemn. It's just that the Son of Heaven seems to be afraid.

From the moment Taizu saw his appearance, he was so frightened that he stood up from the dragon chair and said in a panic: "Is this person a human or a ghost?" ”

Zhu Zhang was also frightened by Taizu's reaction, so much so that he didn't lower his head for the first time.

Hu Changlin, the chief examiner on the side, hurriedly came out and said, "Your Majesty, this person is the first person in my Daming Kingdom to connect with the three yuan. Although this person is ugly, his articles are very wonderful, and he is a talent that has not been encountered in a century. ”

At this time, Taizu was frightened and did not reply immediately, so another scholar, Wang Wenzheng, immediately came out and said: "Your Majesty, this person is so ugly, how can he be the first champion of my Ming Kingdom." If the Gentiles see it, they will not be laughed out. ”

As soon as Wang Wenzheng's words came out, the officials quarreled, and for a while, there were constant quarrels in the hall. Taizu came back to his senses, signaled the hundred officials to be quiet, and then promulgated the decision that changed Zhu Zhang's life.

Zhu Zhang suddenly changed from the first champion of the Ming Kingdom to the first of the top three in the first imperial examination of the Ming Kingdom. From the champion to the same jinshi background. Since then, an insulting name "Zhu Tong Jinshi Origin" has followed Zhu Zhang's life.

In the Ming Kingdom, Jinshi can be an official directly, but he can only queue up with Jinshi. Zhu Zhang, who came from a poor family, finally got through, even if he was only born in the same jinshi, he was willing to wait.

But the wait is three years. Because the person who was born in the same Jinshi of the Ming Kingdom was selected as an official by his appearance, Zhu Zhang failed to become an official for three consecutive years.

Until one day, a man knocked on his door. The only king with a different surname in the Ming Kingdom, the righteous son of Taizu, and Wang Shouyi, the king of Liang who had great military achievements.

Wang Shouyi, who was still a general at the time, said to Zhu Zhang: "I'm going to pacify Liangzhou, is Mr. willing to abandon Wen and follow me with me?" ”

Zhu Zhang, who had been waiting for too long, agreed without thinking about it this time. Since then, Zhu Tongjinshi has disappeared in the Holy Capital. A swordsman who claimed to be the ghost of the Ming Dynasty appeared in Liangzhou.

In the small courtyard where the ghost of the Ming Dynasty was, Zhu Zhang and Xie Yuanming sat opposite each other, and Xie Yarong stood behind Xie Yuanming. Li Mingyi moved a small stool and sat under the eaves of the yard by himself, and nibbled on the roast duck and duck legs he had just bought.

Xie Yuanming spoke first: "Mr. Zhu is really outside, he didn't go to see his colleagues when he returned to the Holy Capital City, but he hid in seclusion in this old turtle mountain. ”

Zhu Zhang said: "I am a ghost of the Ming Dynasty, how can any colleagues who are willing to see me without official or position." ”

Xie Yuanming took a sip of tea and said, "What a good one who has no official or position. This has no official position and is still making waves, and you are the only one who is a Ming ghost. ”

Zhu Zhang chuckled and said, "Staff Xie is planning to deduct his hat when he comes up?" How can I, an idle man, make waves? ”

Xie Yuanming was prepared early and said, "Yes, you are an idle person, but you have sent my niece over thousands of miles. Should I thank you? ”

Zhu Zhang didn't seem to hear the sarcasm in Xie Yuanming's words at all, and said: "Thank me, you don't have to, you better thank the apprentice." It was he who saved your niece by chance. ”

Xie Yuanming saw that he still refused to admit what he was doing behind the scenes, so he said: "It seems that Mr. Zhu still refuses to admit it." Yarong, tell me about what you've seen along the way. ”

"Okay, Uncle Six." Xie Yarong said, "After I escaped from the Xie family, I went all the way to escape the pursuit of the Vulcan Sect. had to dress up as a man, and it wasn't until Suzhou that he was caught up by the Vulcan Sect. ”

"In the wine shop in Suzhou, before the Vulcan Sect appeared, Li Mingyi just came to me. He didn't sit in so many positions, but he actually sat in front of me? And then he actually said a ridiculous reason for me to invite him to drink, and drove away the Vulcan Cult for me? Don't you think it's all too abnormal? ”

Along the way, in fact, Xie Yarong had already begun to suspect Li Mingyi's motives, but because she was alone and helpless, she had to rely on Li Mingyi to come to the Holy Capital.

Li Mingyi, who was sitting under the eaves on the other side, couldn't sit still, and interjected: "I'm idle, I'm idle, find a reason to teach two tricks to the god of fire, you take care of me." ”

Xie Yarong wasn't angry, she just said, "Okay, even if you're idle, you should leave after getting my hairpin, why do you want to help me come to the Holy Capital?" ”

Li Mingyi said without thinking: "You gave money, one hundred taels." ”

Xie Yarong sneered: "I didn't have any money at that time, what people in the rivers and lakes would send me to the Holy Capital City for a boundless promise?" Don't you think there's something wrong with your motivation? ”

Li Mingyi said shamelessly: "I am poor and have never seen money, of course I have to risk it for the one hundred taels." ”

Xie Yarong directly pierced: "Yes, a person who has never seen money actually rides a Xiliang horse, and he loses it when he says it." I only promised to give a hundred taels, but he lost a Xiliang BMW worth 100 taels. ”

Speaking of this, Li Mingyi instantly lost his temper and said: "You are embarrassed to say that you haven't given any money!" ”