Palace Garden, Kunning Palace
Jia Heng and the Queen of Song finished their brief conversation. At this time, the palace eunuch entered the palace and reported: "Queen, the King of Qi, the King of Chu, the King of Wei, and the King of Liang have come to see you."
The four kings of Qi, Chu, Wei and Liang, who nominally addressed the Queen of Song as mother and queen, naturally wanted to congratulate the Queen of Song on their birthdays due to their filial piety.
After a while, the four kings entered the palace, walked a few steps quickly, knelt down and saluted Queen Song, and said in unison: "I have seen my mother, and my mother is a thousand years old."
Behind the screen, several princesses also smiled at each other, fully displaying the heavenly warmth between the sisters-in-law in front of the ladies of each family.
"Get up quickly." Empress Song smiled on her beautiful face and sent the eunuchs and female officials to help the four kings and sit down on the embroidered piers lined up beside them.
The four kings also presented some gifts at this moment.
After King Qi sat down, he straightened his python robe and glanced at Jia Heng who was sitting beside him with his small mung bean eyes. There was a trace of strange color on his fair and slightly fat face.
Jia Heng also glanced at King Qi, his heart sneered coldly, but his face remained calm.
King Chu smiled and nodded to Jia Heng.
This was the first time he saw Zi Yu since Zi Yu returned to Beijing, and he would wait until he visited Zi Yu another day.
King Wei and King Liang were talking in low voices. While the two brothers were joking, King Chen Ran of Wei mostly cast his eyes on the young man in the python suit, his eyes filled with eagerness.
Empress Song looked at the four kings, smiled and consoled her: "It's hard for you guys to come over to celebrate the birthday of the queen mother while you are handling the affairs in the office. The queen mother is very happy."
King Qi looked at the beautiful temptress and endured the disgust in his heart. Because he was the eldest son, he took the lead and said: "Mother, as your ministers, we are all delighted to hear about your mother's birthday. We are not in a hurry for government affairs." .”
The kings of Chu and Wei and Liang also said a few auspicious words.
Jia Heng caught a glimpse of the three sects and secretly thought that the Tian family was really enjoying themselves at this moment.
In fact, the oldest King of Qi is only five or six years younger than Queen Song?
Yes, but in terms of temperament, Queen Song was well-maintained and looked like a plump and beautiful woman in her thirties.
Jia Heng didn't dare to look any further.
But this scene fell into the eyes of Princess Xianning, who was always looking at Jia Heng. Her beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, and her clear eyes were covered with a layer of worry.
Compared with others who didn't care, Princess Xianning, who tried to find out Jia Heng's hidden thoughts between the curtains on the bed, was inevitably a little anxious.
Princess Xianning's clear eyes flashed, and she secretly thought that she must find a way to divert her husband's mind.
Empress Song asked again: "Princess Chu is now in Jinling. Has any letter been sent recently? Is the fetus okay?"
Because Chu Princess Zhen Qing was raising her baby in Jinling, Queen Song naturally wanted to ask to show her concern.
The King of Chu said with a smile on his face: "I am worried about my mother. The princess sent me a letter before me, saying that everything is fine."
Empress Song nodded and said: "The south of the Yangtze River is suitable for pregnancy and childbirth. It won't be too late to let her give birth to the baby somewhere before returning to Beijing. I will tell your father about it tomorrow. You can also go to Jinling to spend more time with me." with her."
"Thank you for your concern, mother." King Chu thanked him.
Jia Heng listened to the two men mentioning the millstone, and felt something strange in his heart.
Queen Song was right, he should go to Jinling to spend more time with Zhen Qing.
Empress Song glanced at King Wei, then turned to Liang Wang Chen Wei, and asked with a smile: "Wei'er has been observing politics in the Ministry of Punishment recently, how is it?"
Compared with when she greeted King Chu just now, her smile did not reach her eyes. At this moment, Queen Song asked Liang Wang Chen Wei, her eyebrows were as crescent-shaped, and her smile reached her dimples.
"I learned some criminal laws and regulations from Mr. Zhao Ge, and I feel that I have benefited a lot." Liang Wang Chen Wei said softly with a smile on his face.
Empress Song nodded and said: "Study hard, Zhao Ge is always a well-educated man, you can follow and learn some principles of being an official and a human being. You will benefit from it in the future."
While everyone was talking, the eunuch outside said loudly: "Your Majesty has arrived."
The four kings in the palace and Madam Gaoming and the concubines behind the screen were all shocked.
Emperor Chongping entered the hall with a warm smile on his face. He was obviously in a good mood today and walked into the palace.
"I have met Father (Holy Lord)." The four vassal princes and Jia Heng all came to pay their respects.
Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong also came over, greeted Emperor Chongping and said, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Chongping nodded, then turned his gaze to Jia Heng not far away, his expression softened a bit, and he said with a smile: "Zi Yu is here too."
Jia Heng stood up, bowed to Emperor Chongping and said, "I have seen your Majesty."
Emperor Chongping said: "Ziyu is free from the ceremony. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, so I feel more at ease. There is a dragon boat prepared at the Taiye Pond. You can enjoy the lotus flowers. Let's go and see it together later."
Jia Heng cupped his hands and thanked him.
King Qi, King Chu, King Liang and other vassal kings looked at Emperor Chongping and Jia Heng who were talking, with different thoughts.
Princess Xianning took Emperor Chongping's arm and said in a charming voice: "Father, I would like to go for a walk outside with my husband and sister Chanyue."
Emperor Chongping said softly: "The palace is not as lively as the outside."
Princess Xianning said in a rare coquettish manner: "Father."
Concubine Duanrong frowned and subconsciously wanted to object, but after thinking about it, she felt there was nothing wrong and said: "You and Chan Yue have been preparing for the wedding these days, don't go too crazy. "
Princess Xianning had a smile on her face and said softly, "Don't worry, concubine. Chanyue and I will pay attention."
I will pay attention and won't have a dark knot before marriage.
Song Yan, who was next to Shen, pulled her mother's hand, obviously also wanting to play with Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue.
Mrs. Shen nodded with a smile, which was regarded as approval.
At this time, Jia Heng did not wait long and stood up to say goodbye to Emperor Chongping. The other four vassal princes were mentioned one by one by Emperor Chongping.
Celebrating the birthday of the Lord of the Sixth House is originally a battlefield for women.
Princess Xianning slowly got up and walked out of Kunning Palace with Li Chan Yuexiang and Jia Heng.
In the palace corridor with high red walls, pomegranate flowers occasionally stick out from a few branches, casting dark shadows in the summer.
Jia Heng and Princess Xianning walked together. The summer morning was already hot. After a while, their clothes were soaked with sweat and their cheeks were wet with sweat.
Jia Heng turned to look at Princess Xianning and said softly: "Xianning, where are we going?"
"Let's go play at your husband's house. Most of the people at home are waiting impatiently. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival." Princess Xianning's eyebrows were as crescent-shaped as she chuckled and said, "Besides, I haven't seen my cousin for a long time, so I want to Go meet her."
Jia Heng's expression paused for a moment, with thoughts in his eyes.
He secretly thought that Xianning's game might have another meaning.
Just as he walked to the palace gate, he suddenly heard the sound of drums from a distance, as dense as raindrops, with a sense of urgency and urgency.
"This?" Jia Heng frowned and said, "Is this the sound of the Dengwen drum?"
Princess Xianning frowned, a look of surprise appeared on her pure and beautiful face, and said: "Sir, who is beating the drum on this Dragon Boat Festival?"
"Ever since Dengwen Gu was defeated, the imperial censor has strictly guarded it and not let anyone get close to it. We don't want anyone to attack Dengwen Gu again," Jia Heng said.
Just as the delivery port of the petition mailbox faces downwards, after Jia Heng's attack and the dynasty disputes, someone was on guard.
Jia Heng thought for a moment, and his heart moved slightly.
Maybe this is Xiaoxiao’s arrangement?
Princess Xianning said: "Sir, how about we go and take a look?"
Jia Heng said: "Just send someone to ask about the situation. There is no need to join in the fun. How about going to your palace to rest for a while?"
Li Chanyue said: "Cousin, let's find a palace to rest first. It's very hot right now."
Princess Xianning nodded, then took Song Yan's little hand and said, "Let's go, cousin Yan'er."
Song Yan was looking curiously in the direction of the sound of the Dengwen drum. After hearing the words, she quickly nodded in response.
At this moment, next to the Dengwen drum next to the palace gate, a young scholar in a blue cloth gown put down the drumstick in his hand and looked up at the majestic palace in the distance. There was a look of dissatisfaction on his young face.
Several palace guards and servants from Zhou Fang had already gathered around.
At this time, Zheng Yong, the supervisory censor who was guarding Dengwen Drum, said sternly: "According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, Dengwen Drum requires thirty sticks before handing the writ to the emperor. Young man, you are so big." How courageous! Someone come and take it down!"
As he said that, several big-bodied officers came forward, grabbed the scholar, and dragged him aside to prepare for execution.
"I have a grievance to report, and I have a petition!" The young man in blue stood next to the board, stretched out a hand, and shouted loudly.
As soon as he said this, the expressions of the several officers around him who were holding torture sticks changed, and they looked at Zheng Yong, the censor.
Zheng Yong said in a deep voice: "Go and report to the Holy One and continue the execution."
He motioned to the two officers to take the paper, then lowered their eyes to read it, their expressions gradually becoming serious.
On the petition, it was clearly written that the scholar Chai Youjie was suing Zhao Mo, the scholar of the cabinet, Fang Huan, the minister of rites, Liu Zheng, the scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and eighteen fellow examiners of the Hanlin Academy, for leaking the test questions. According to his own admission, this move It’s the gunman who wrote the article in advance.
I didn't know before that they were imperial examination questions, and I ghostwritten them for Xu Ying, a fellow Jinshi scholar. Recently, I heard the scholars discuss it and found out that they were imperial examination questions. Later, I received two thousand taels of silver from Xu Ying as a thank you.
"This is a major case of imperial examination fraud!" Zheng Yong was shocked after reading the completed paper.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China by Chen Han, dozens of subjects have been opened to obtain scholars, and there have been two cases of imperial examination fraud at the provincial examination level, but this is the first time it has been involved at the joint examination level.
Zheng Yong made a serious face and asked: "This is a serious matter, can you guarantee that what you wrote in the petition is true?"
The young man in blue said: "My lord, the student's petition is true. The student wants to see the Holy One."
Zheng Yong looked solemnly and looked at the clerk on the side. They both looked at each other and realized the seriousness of the matter.
Just as the two of them were looking at each other, two young internal eunuchs hurriedly ran from the direction of the palace gate. They shouted at the censor Zheng Yong and asked: "Today is the 1000th birthday of the empress. Where did these people come from?" Beating the Dengwen drum? You disturbed the purity of the Queen's ears, can you afford to suffer?"
Zheng Yong hurriedly greeted the general and said with a smile on his face: "This father-in-law, a scholar beat the drum and said that he wanted to file a serious grievance. The subordinates and others could not stop him. I handed over a petition and said that this year In the Bingchen National Examination, the test questions were leaked, and there was a case of imperial examination malpractice."
When the fair-faced, beardless young father-in-law heard this, he was also a little flustered and said, "The exam questions have been revealed? The exam has been over for more than a month, but ignorant and cunning people are making random accusations?"
Zheng Yongdao: "The complainant is a prominent official in Jiangsu Province. He admitted that he had done the examination questions a few days earlier."
The eunuch frowned and said in a low voice: "Let the generals take custody first and bring the papers. We will present them to the palace immediately."
Zheng Yong quickly handed over the folded paper, his heart filled with a thick haze.
The young eunuch didn't say much and trotted towards the palace.
At this moment, Emperor Chongping in Kunning Palace had also heard the sound of the Dengwen drum coming from outside, and his brows gradually furrowed.
Queen Song was surprised and said: "Your Majesty, is this the sound of the drum sound?"
So good, why is there a drum sound? Who has a grievance to redress?
The King of Qi, Chen Cheng, who was sitting on pins and needles below, his eyes darkened, clearly remembering some bad memories.
If it hadn't been for Jia Heng's son Feng Dengwen Gu, the incident in Dongcheng would not have been exposed, he would not have been rejected by his father, and he would not have made dangerous plans in the future.
At this time, Dai Quan learned the news from the young eunuch, and quickly came closer and said: "Your Majesty, there is an examiner accusing the imperial examination of fraud, and the petition has been delivered."
Saying that, hand over the petition.
Emperor Chongping took the paper with an expressionless face and began to read the words written in Guange style, his expression changing.
Queen Song asked with concern: "Your Majesty?"
Emperor Chongping said coldly: "There is a suspicion of malpractice in this examination!"
As he spoke, he faced Empress Song's surprised gaze and said in a deep voice: "Why do I say that something is wrong? I didn't expect that there was actually a fraud. It was obviously that the imperial court was paying attention to side affairs and did not pay enough attention to the imperial examination, so I actually had the idea of fraud. How can we allow them to give and receive privately in the national talent promotion ceremony? How hateful!"
Queen Song said softly: "Your Majesty, please calm down."
The kings of Chu, Wei and other vassals sitting next looked at each other in confusion.
Emperor Chongping's face was as frozen as ice, and he said in a deep voice: "Dai Quan, summon Xu Lu, the censor of Zuodu of the Procuratorate of the Capital, to come to the palace for an audience."
In such imperial examination cases, the Procuratorate usually intervenes to comply with the legal system, instead of leaving everything to the Jinyi Mansion. Moreover, the matter involves a cabinet minister, so it is not easy for the Jinyi Mansion to take the lead in trying the case.
Dai Quan's heart was slightly awe-inspiring, and he raised his hand towards Emperor Chongping.
Jia Heng, Princess Xianning, and Princess Qinghe were about to leave for the palace gate. They sent the female officer to inquire. After a while, the female officer left and returned, saying: "Your Highness, someone beat the Dengwen drum and said that it is today." There are leaked questions in the National Science Examination in advance, and His Majesty is sending someone to investigate."
Princess Xianning's eyes moved slightly and she said softly: "Sir, it seems that there is a cheating case in this year's scientific examination?"
Jia Heng said: "I just returned to the capital. I didn't want to encounter something like this."
Xiaoxiao obviously found a key witness and used this to give the Zhejiang Party a severe blow.
No matter what, even if Zhao Mo, the cabinet scholar, is not involved in the case, once the imperial examination fraud case is revealed, it will at least end in being reprimanded and resigned from the cabinet, otherwise it will not be enough to calm the scholarly public opinion.
Because once the incident spreads, the sergeant in Beijing who has not yet returned home will inevitably become furious and public opinion will boil.
Because this is an opportunity to turn around.
Although the chance is slim, what if the court retakes the exam?
As Jia Heng expected, the frustrated candidates who were originally detained in the capital gathered in groups of twos and threes after hearing the news, or in other words, because of the spread of the news by interested people, discussing the leak of Bingchen's imperial examination questions.
Today was originally the Dragon Boat Festival, and some frustrated people even drank. After being incited by a few words, the bustling crowd headed towards the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites and the Gongyuan.
The officials of the Wucheng Military and Horse Department and the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen were naturally aware of the impending storm and reported it to their superiors one after another.
The new Jingzhao Yin Rao Yizhou was in his early forties. He was originally the inspector of Guangdong. After being transferred to the capital at the same level, he took strict law enforcement as his foundation and planned to order the officers to go to Gongyuan to persuade the scholars.
At this moment, many failed candidates had gathered around the gate of Gongyuan.
There are three to four thousand candidates who take the exam every year, and one-tenth of the number is often taken. Even though many candidates have gone back, many are still stranded in Beijing. They are gathered in front of Gongyuan, discussing the exam questions.
"Brother Meng Jian, let me just say that the final ranking is a bit weird. It turns out that the test questions have been leaked long ago, and we are still kept in the dark." A scholar said angrily.
A dark-skinned scholar, with his hair swaying due to emotion, echoed: "In this department, the southerners have taken over two-thirds of the second-class jobs, so I feel that they are very famous. The problem is that the southerners are evil." Road."
"The examiner, Mr. Zhao Ge, was originally the governor of Jiangnan. Of course he was partial to the southern candidates!"
"I heard that Huan, the official deputy examiner, is also from Jiangnan."
"No wonder, do you mean that all the princes in the temple are from the south?" a young official said angrily.
For a time, the crowd was furious.
In other words, Juren who can read were originally small and medium-sized landowners, but now they have become reserve officials. After the public outcry in Shilin, they are not afraid of the government.
Several northern scholars said one after another.
Rao Yizhou listened to the noisy scholars, and a thick layer of gloom fell over his heart. He opened his arms and said, "Everyone, don't be impulsive. The imperial court will give you an explanation."
"Sir Rao, now that the drums are ringing, it is obvious that the leak of the question has been confirmed. If we don't talk about anything else, we must retake the exam!"
"re-examine!"
As the crowd shouted, some failed candidates began to shout.
Rao Yizhou felt his heart tightening and said to Hong Mingshan, the general judge on the side: "Send someone to report it to the superiors."
Hong Mingshan also looked a little frightened. Hearing this, he responded and quickly moved away from the crowd.
Above are the cabinet and even the palace.
"Sir, there is a fight between the scholars from the Ministry of Revenue and the police officers." A police officer who looked like a headhunter came over out of breath, with a look of panic on his face.
At this moment, these words were heard by the people who gathered around Gongyuan, and the crowd became even more angry.
"Let's go to the Etiquette Department."
"Go to the Etiquette Department!"
Rites Yamen——
Han Huang, the Minister of Rites, was in the cabinet and not in the office, while Fang Huan, the left minister, celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival at home.
Therefore, in the yamen of the Ministry of Rites, only Zhou Tingji, the minister of rites, was sitting in the yamen to take care of things. He was holding a book and reading in the yamen hall. Suddenly, he heard a small official reporting that scholars from outside were busy and crowded around the street. He looked calm and said: " If the scholars cause trouble, they are not allowed to approach the government office, and in addition, send someone to report it to the elder."
"Sir, why don't you go and see the scholars?" the little official asked.
"What are you seeing? Anyone who goes to see her at this time will get into trouble." Zhou Tingji said with a frown.
As time passed, the officials in front of the Rites Yamen began to conflict with the scholars, and the two sides started to have physical conflicts from pushing and shoving.
As the Juren who came from Gongyuan joined in, the officials from the Rites Yamen could only call the soldiers from the Wucheng Army and Horses Division to closely guard the Hubu Yamen.
In this way, the confrontation lasted until midnight.
In the inner study of Daming Palace, there was complete silence, you could hear a pin drop, as if a storm was brewing.
Xu Lu, the imperial censor of Zuodu, Shi Jie, the minister of war who was on duty at the military aircraft office, Han Huang, the chief minister of the cabinet, and Zhao Mo, the cabinet minister, all stood silently holding wat tablets.
An eunuch panted and ran into the palace and said, "Your Majesty, Juzi besieged Gongyuan. Later, there was a conflict in the Ministry of Rites, and Juzi went to the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites. Many people were injured."
Emperor Chongping's face was gloomy, his eyes wandered over the ministers standing with wat tablets in their hands, and he said: "Qing Zhao, what happened to the leaked questions in the scientific examination this time?"
Zhao Mo cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, from propositioning, printing, archiving, and reviewing, every step is under the joint supervision of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Ministry of Rites. It was not until the day before the exam that the questions on the classics and meanings were finally discussed. Wei Chencheng didn't know why. It’s so easy to reveal the problem.”
"You are the examiner? You don't know how to tell the questions?" Emperor Chongping asked, his eyes darkening slightly.
Zhao Mo felt a shiver in his heart. Although he knew that he should admit his mistakes first and then say things differently, he didn't think that the questions in this exam would be leaked because he decided the final questions himself and then handed them over to Fang Huan. , Liu Zheng et al.
In fact, if there is really a fraud case, it will definitely have an impact on Zhao Mo's reputation. This is obviously something that Mr. Zhao Ge, who cherishes feathers, cannot tolerate.
Han Huang looked solemn and said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The imperial examination is related to the selection of candidates for the country. If there are any doubts, you can send someone to investigate and clarify the truth so that we can set the record straight."
Zhao Mo cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the imperial examination scandal cannot be based on one side of the story. Maybe there are people who failed in the examination and are dissatisfied and deliberately spread rumors to cause trouble."
Han Huang frowned and sighed secretly. Bo Jian was still too upright. Once the imperial examination scandal was confirmed, he would inevitably be implicated.
Emperor Chongping said: "Xu Qing, what did that scholar ask?"
Xu Lu said: "Already in the prison of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Wei Chen thought that in addition to finding out the person who bought the documents from him, if he wanted to find out this section, he only needed to let the scholar re-examine the questions he made. Copying the article and comparing it with Jinshi Xu Ying's article can also confirm one or two things."
Because the papers for the general examination are not likely to be published unlike the palace examination, all the papers for the general examination will be closed after review.
Emperor Chongping's face was expressionless and his voice was cold: "According to your words, we will immediately interrogate and compare people. We will summon Fang Huan, the Minister of Rites, Liu Zheng, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and Hanlin, the eighteenth room of the Hanlin Academy, to the inner study. Ask questions.”
When Dai Quan heard this, he raised his hands and said yes.
(End of chapter)
