In the Imperial City, there are two government offices in the Ministry of Rites, the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites is used as a tribute court, and the Ministry of Rites is located in Shangshu Province, diagonally opposite the Ministry of Punishment.

Xue Bai had been to the Criminal Department once, and he was no stranger to this area, but he was brought into Shangshu Province on this day, but he was taken to the Ministry of Rites.

"Chun Yu was negligent, and now he will bring the champion Lang for verification and place him in the Ministry of Rites."

"Cui Shangshu has already made arrangements, come here."

Seeing this, Xue Bai couldn't help frowning, realizing that this might be to strip him of his reputation first. In comparison, he would rather go to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.

The yamen of the Ministry of Rites was very large, and through the long corridor, he was led into a classroom room with only a window.

"Wait."

This was a long wait, and it was not until the sky began to get dark that the door of the class room was opened with a "creak".

Xue Bai sat there leaning against the wall and fell asleep, opened his eyes and saw Cui Qiao in a purple robe, so he stood up and saluted very thoughtfully.

"The student has seen the lord Cui Gong, and he has not had time to visit Cui Gong in Kede Middle School, which is rude."

"Don't be in a hurry to call the lord." Cui Qiao shook his hand and said, "I'm dizzy and mistakenly named you the champion." I have called you here today to check this matter. ”

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"Yes."

Xue Bai was not in a hurry, guessing that he should have a lot of time to wrestle.

Cui Qiao, as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, has an excellent demeanor, slowly sat down behind the table, and waited for the little official to spread out a few copies of the cangzhou method, before waving away the little official and talking about it.

"Look, this is your home?

"Yes."

"In this case, your father's name is 'Ling', and he is guilty of the title of this poem, why don't you avoid it?" Cui Qiao said: "This official was negligent for a while and made a big mistake." ”

Xue Bai said: "I was born as an orphan and lost my memory. was deliberately misidentified by Xue Ling, but in fact he was not his son, so there was no need to avoid it.

"Then this is wrong." Cui Qiao said: "It is Xue Bai, the son of Xue Ling, who refers to Chunqiu, not the lonely champion, and it is indeed the old man who made a mistake." Write a confession, and you and I will ask for guilt together. ”

He didn't want to get involved too deeply, so that Xue Bai admitted that he was the "son of Xue Rust", which was considered to be the completion of the confession.

Xue Bai still wanted to keep this champion, and asked, "I don't know, is there a precedent for this matter?" ”

"Precedent?

"Yes, there is a precedent for the candidate's family to be wrong and the candidate is on the list?"

"Naturally, no.

"So, Cui Gong wants to cancel my title of champion, I don't know which Tang law it comes from?"

Xue Bai was quibbling, Cui Qiao frowned, didn't argue with it, and asked, "You are not the son of Xue Ren?"

"Orphans, and orphans with lost memories." Xue Bai emphasized.

This tenacious attitude of not knowing life or death made Cui Qiao feel a little emotional.

"Shaft, do you have to ask for this champion?" Cui Qiao sighed, glanced at the door, and said: "You are the son of the rebel Xue Rust, an official slave who has fallen into a lowly position for the crime of rebellion, and pretended to be a son of a good family to participate in the scientific examination, this crime is indeed a violation of Tang Law." ”

He seemed to want to get to the point, and didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

"The old man is dying, and I will say a few words to you, a young man, before I go to Shi. The moon is full and the water is overflowing, and the benefits in the world are inexhaustible. You have all kinds of skills, you are famous, you are loved by saints, you are a blind date, and you are noble.

How many blessings must be given to such fame and fortune? You are still insufficient, looking forward to the title of the annuity list of the hair bundle, and it is strange that many people in Chang'an City hate you, how can you not be hated? ”

Speaking of this, Cui Qiao patted his knee, and the conversation changed to another matter.

"Let's talk about bamboo paper again, the old man Qinghe Cui's long house, my father is a generation of articles, there are indeed some paper workshops and bookstores in the clan, so there are many relatives and friends who hate you. But the old man really doesn't like bamboo paper? Wrong. My father has written countless articles, and if the paper is cheap, it can be widely learned, but I can't ask for it. However, everything is too much, you are too radical in your actions, and you are to blame for everything today. From the old man's selfish point of view, he doesn't want you to end up dying young, so I advise you to give up. ”

Xue Bai said: "I understand, Cui Gong's meaning, I should give in." I'm a rebellious official slave, and what I got is enough. ”

Too much, don't be greedy enough. I should let the champion out, and when I see the poem question, I should know how to give up the exam, indicating that I am convinced of your means; I should also let out the bamboo paper, and it is up to you to grasp what kind of books should be published, and what kind of price to set Cui Qiao shook his head, thinking that he didn't mean that.

What he said meant was that others wanted to kill you Xue Bai, but the old man reminded you to protect yourself.

Xue Bai said: "If I give up the examination earlier, I will only delay the career of the imperial examination; If you are soft now, you will only lose your reputation and future; If you don't know how to do it, then investigate my background and let me die, right? ”

Cui Qiao said: "You were born in a lowly family, and you forged your life experience to become a jinshi, and the old man reminded you several times, you are still obsessed, is it the old man who is wrong?" ”

The so-called 'rebellious sins' are wrong in themselves.

Xue Bai said this, was silent for a moment, and felt that it was pointless to argue with the old man who presided over the Ministry of Rites, and said, "Because I am not the son of Xue Rust, I am one of the righteous sons he raised."

Cui Qiao was a little surprised, and carefully observed Xue Bai.

Xue Bai's reaction was very calm, and he said slowly: "Cui Gong was instigated, there must be many people who say that I am the son of Xue Rust, and this rumor is not a day or two." But it's really wrong, there is a big difference between the outer room and the righteous son.

"Really?

"The crown prince and the right minister have attacked me many times under this pretext, but they have not succeeded, because behind me is the concubine. This time, the right minister didn't dare to make a move, and Cui Gongmo was used as a knife. ”

Xue Bai's words concealed some threats, but he didn't make it clear, his attitude became more and more modest, and he continued: "How about asking Cui Gong to wait and see what happens for the time being?"

To wait and see what happens is to keep this title of champion.

Cui Qiao's eyes were dewed and pensive.

In his opinion, Xue Bai forged his life experience, committed taboos, and repented of his life experience for this champion, and he already had a way to die, even if the sage Kuanren did not kill Xue Bai, it was unlikely that he would be able to protect him again.

However, he really didn't have to rush to offend Yang Guifei, but he could completely clarify the sage's intentions.

"Do it yourself.

Xue Bai sent Cui Qiao away, knowing that his title of champion was retained for a few more days.

But what he is protecting is not only the champion, but his strength in the eyes of others. If Cui Qiao really deposed him today, he betrayed.

Many people will immediately realize that his holy favor is gone, the enemy will bite him more presumptuously, and some friends will also gradually reveal the essence of the whole thing in this conversation, and at the same time, this is also a problem that Xue Bai has always faced since his rebirth.

——How can the anti-crime scumbag survive and forge ahead in Datang?

In the prosperous era of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty, the slave and maid system that still exists, like the talent selection system for commoners and children of poor families, has never been a problem encountered by Xue Bai alone.

It's not that he is unlucky and always encounters these difficulties, but that thousands, countless slaves and maids have been tortured to death or their children and grandchildren can't be freed, it's that he is too lucky, as a rebellious scumbag, he can escape his fate and participate in the imperial examination with the poor people; It's not that he is unlucky, and he will be troubled in a thousand ways if he wins the champion, but he is too lucky to struggle out of countless people who can't get out in their lifetime.

The root cause of everything that happened to him was that he shouldn't be alive like him.

If he is a son of a family and goes to the prince with the evidence found in Liu Dong's house, he will definitely get a completely different treatment from that big vat. Everything will be different after that.

It's a pity that he wasn't reborn as a son. In this Tang Dynasty, what are the geometries of nobles, commoners, and slaves? How many slaves does a nobleman have to serve? When I opened my eyes, I was already extremely lucky to have such a body skin.

The rest of Ruth had to go on his own and find a way to change.

In the past, Xue Bai's method was to cover up; And at this stage, he must put an end to the cover-up.

It is impossible for him to be the son of Xue Ling for the rest of his life, and it is doomed to reveal his life experience, and it is best before becoming an official and taking power.

Once he grasps the power and Li Longji knows that he is cheating, he will never be as gentle as he is now, because the current Xue Bai is still harmless and weak, and his temperament is seen through and easy to control. No threat is the key to survival.

The purpose of pretending to be the son of Xue Ling was to gain a foothold in the initial desperate situation, and there was no choice at that time. Now, you have to think about the future, and you can't pretend to be someone else's son again and again, so the "orphan with amnesia" has become the best choice.

First of all, it is real, this is Xue Bai's true identity, and no one can overturn it; Secondly, although it seems dangerous, he was only six years old when Xue Rust died, he had lost his memory, and he had no feelings at all, so it was easier for him to be loyal to Li Longji, so there was still life.

In addition, Xue Bai diverged his thoughts from this identity and realized that there was a possibility of impersonating Li Qian, so he should take advantage of this identity to confirm it now, and use amnesia as an excuse in the future.

No one would guess so much now, because very few people knew about Li Qian. It is even more impossible for Li Longji to have this association, because he knows that this grandson is dead, and even the name is given to other grandsons.

All in all, Xue Bai may survive if he recovers his true identity, and he can make a big fuss after Li Longji's death, so it is certainly worth taking a risk.

In a year, I took precautions in order to just cross the barrier of this class. If there were no accidents, he would have wanted to wait until Qujiang feasted on opera, but he could also fight this battle at any time.

Therefore, this is what Xue Bai has been doing - to enter the official examination as a lowly official slave.

"I'm going to be the top in my true identity.

"Xue Lang, are you crazy?

"There's no way back."

The next day, it was Yuan Zai who came to visit Xue Bai in the Ministry of Rites, and he was ordered by Yang Chen, so he was able to come in.

Yuan Zai was already under a lot of pressure, and his face became more and more uneasy when he heard Xue Bai say that he was a child raised by Xue Ru.

He frowned and paced, and said, "We only gave two of the three jinshi places we agreed with the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, but does Xue Lang know?" After they were admitted to the Jinshi, they all switched to the right phase gate. ”

"Because Brother can't give them an official position?"

"Is there a lack of office?" Yuan Zai sighed: "They know that you are taboo, and they are afraid of being implicated by you." ”

Xue Baiyun said lightly: "It's okay, it's not in vain, Brother A's forces have just begun to intervene in the imperial examination, for the sake of prestige."

"But if something happens to you, what reputation do you have?"

As he spoke, Yuan Zai pulled Xue Bai and whispered in his ear: "I came today because Yang Zhao looked for me yesterday."

Xue Bai smiled and asked, "He was co-opted?"

His attitude made Yuan Zai feel a little more at ease.

"Probably, Yang Zhao wants me to leave the matter of making bamboo paper to him, and Uncle Guo has agreed."

"How much profit did he give you?

"Xue Lang misunderstood, I didn't get any benefits. But Uncle Guo arranged it, how could I not agree. Yuan Zai said: "They are all comrades, it doesn't matter who does the errand, the important thing is that Uncle Guo is very worried about you." ”

"Me? What's the matter with me? ”

"It's just a year late to take the exam, but it's a big trouble to get involved in the Sanshu case. So, take a step back. ”

"It's too late, I've already confessed to the saint.

Yuan Zai was startled at first, turned his head sideways, rolled his eyes, and thought to himself.

He was thinking, since this is the case, why hasn't Xue Bai been robbed of the title of champion or even imprisoned? Is it because the saint is reluctant to give up this courtier who has repeatedly offered tricks? Or is it because it is involved in the Sanshuren case and wants to see the reactions of all parties?

What is the intention of the saint?

After leaving the Ministry of Rites, Yuan Zai first went to meet Yang Zhao to discuss the pricing of bamboo paper.

At the end, he couldn't help asking, "Does Yang Zhongcheng know the details of Xue Lang's matter?" ”

"Leave these intrigues alone." Yang Zhao shook his hand, pointed to the bamboo paper and said: "You and I are officials, as long as we do these practical things well, the treasury will be full and culture and education will flourish." The young man next to him, this is the words of a daughter.

Although what Yang Zhao said is reasonable, it is a pity that Yuan Zai does not have Yang Zhao's identity, so it is impossible to be so detached.

He was born in poverty, and he turned his back on Xue Bai's words too easily, and others in the officialdom would inevitably treat him as leniently as Yang Zhao, and he would soon become a villain.

Yuan Zai felt that he was about to find out the outline of the whole thing, just a little bit, for example, the follow-up impact of the Sanshu case, the huge interests involved in bamboo paper, where is the connection between the two.

He guessed that Yang Zhao should know something, and asked in a low voice, "Yang Zhongcheng, do you know Xue Bai's true life experience?" ”

"You really want to hear it?

"Yes.

Yang Zhao smiled slightly, beckoned, and said, "Don't regret hearing it, this matter has been rumored for a long time, he is actually the son of Xue Rust."

This is very subtle but very important from Xue Bai's own description, and Yuan Zai asked again: "Where did Yang Zhongcheng know?"

"Xue Bai's life experience was determined by the saint on the night of the last yuan, and others didn't dare to say it in the open, but those princesses and concubines often said it in private.

"Then we set a price for bamboo paper this time, but I don't know how many people share the profits?"

"How?" Yang Zhao asked rhetorically: "Do you think you are less?"

Yuan Zai hurriedly responded: "I don't dare to be too little, but I don't know if I should take it, how about waiting for two days?" It didn't take long for us to find out.

Princess's Mansion in Xianyi.

Yang Xun walked into the main house and said, "Yan Niang, something happened." ”

"Don't bother me, don't you think I'm noisy?"

"I don't dare." Yang Xun stepped forward and quickly said, "Xue Bai was taken to the Ministry of Rites, and he hasn't come out all night. I inquired about him, and it turned out that he had really revealed himself to the saint. ”

"Huh?"

Li Yanniang was immediately annoyed and said, "At that time, I complained to the sage, but he didn't admit it. Now I coaxed me to stop talking, but he revealed himself and deliberately went against me, right?!

"Xue Bai may not have done it on purpose." Yang Wei groaned: "Zhang Wei is likely to do it on purpose. ”

"What the hell does he mean?

"If I guess, Zhang Po used the advantage of bamboo paper to instigate everyone to deal with Xue Bai, so that he could kill himself and take himself out. Unexpectedly, Xue Bai was also hard, it was a difficult bone to gnaw. ”

"And then?

Yang Yun asked Yuan Zai to meet Xue Bai, and he had some aftertaste. The Yang Party is now keeping Xue Bai's champion, but we are going to be instigated by Zhang to compete with the Yang Party.

"Eat dog intestines." Li Yanniang was immediately furious.

She actually didn't deal with Princess Ning, after all, Princess Ning and Li Heng were compatriots. Therefore, she has always looked at Zhang Po not very well, but Zhang is too popular, and it is inevitable to deal with him.

This time she was used by Zhang Po, and she immediately decided to step on it.

The method is still the old way, and it is just a small talk when entering the palace.

"My daughter has already said it, Xue Bai is Xue Ru's son, everything my daughter said is true, but my father didn't believe it, and I punished my daughter...

Li Shiniang said that she was excited, but she didn't notice that Li Longji's face was gradually unhappy.

It was Gao Lishi who interrupted: "The princess should not be arbitrary, this matter has not yet been decided, not to mention that no one has ever said that Xue Bai is the son of Xue Rust, but that he is the son of the raised." ”

Li Yanniang realized that she had said the wrong thing, and she couldn't care about the difference between her righteous son and the outer room for a while, so she hurriedly made amends, and then sued.

"It's still my father's wisdom. The daughter was so stupid that she was almost deceived by Banniang. After her concubine Zhang We secretly placed another house to contain the rebels, after being discovered, she planted people in her daughter's mansion. is worthy of being the son of the prime minister, and he has a lot of eyes. This time, too, Zhang We were probably worried that this matter would not be hidden, and used others to help him extinguish his mouth, we drank at Li Tan's house, Zhang Si said that Xue Ling owed her a thousand yuan, so Zhang We came up with an idea, saying that it was easy to use Xue Ling to deal with Xue Bai, and instigated the children of the Li family of Zhaojun and the Cui family of Qinghe to take Xue Bai's property.......

This has been said for a long time, and Li Yanniang can't wait to plant all the bad things over the years on the husband and wife of Princess Ning Qin and Zhang We.

also said that the current dark gambling houses in Chang'an City were all opened by Princess Ningqin, I am afraid that it is to make money for her brother.

"I've heard it, go back.

"Yes." Li Yanniang happily retired, waiting to see Zhang Po being punished.

Li Longji sat there, always with a casual demeanor, and after she left, he said in an unsurprising tone: "Look, it's this group of restless people."

"Sage Mingjian."

"These sons and daughters of mine." Li Longji sneered: "Did General Gao see it?" Da Lang looked honest, and secretly asked Siniang to help him gather talents; Banniang has had a lot of eyes since she was a child, and robbed Siniang's husband; and Eighteen Niang's stupid and bad appearance...... One after another, whenever they saw a piece of meat, they flew around like flies. ”

"The saint is angry." Colliers said: "It's just a quarrel between brothers and sisters."

"I said why they were making a lot of trouble around a Xue Bai, it turned out that they were all trying to use the old things to provoke my anger and deal with my brothers and sisters. In the end, only Zhang Po is the most honest.