Daming Palace, inner study room
Not long after, the internal eunuch came to report that Fang Huan, the Minister of Rites, Liu Zheng, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and the eighteenth bachelor of the Hanlin Academy were coming together.
He entered the hall of the inner study in darkness and bowed to the middle-aged emperor behind the case.
Several bachelors in the Hanlin Academy didn't know the reason. They usually buried their heads in papers. Not long ago, as fellow examiners, they read the examination papers.
Since Emperor Taizong of the Chen Han Dynasty, eighteen examiners were selected for the joint examination, and they were divided into eighteen rooms for marking. Most of them were edited and reviewed by the Hanlin Academy.
Because it is marking, the possibility of leaking the questions is actually minimal.
The person who finally leaked the question was the two examiners, one positive and two deputy examiners.
Emperor Chongping said: "Your Majesty must also know. When I heard that the drum was beaten, the scholars beat the drum to express their grievances. They said that there were leaks in the current examination. Since I came to the throne, I have held five or six examinations to recruit scholars. This is the first time I’ve encountered leakage issues!”
When Fang Huan heard this, his heart was shocked. He held up his hands and defended: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. The printing of the exam papers is completely confidential. How could the questions be leaked in advance? That person must be lying. Otherwise, with his talent and learning, there are Why don't you take the test yourself? Why do you want to ghostwrite for others?"
A layer of cold sweat broke out on his back, revealing the problem, what happened?
He remembered that he only told it to a nephew, which was considered to be the scope of the examination. How did it leak out?
Sometimes, when one person vents something, everyone vents something.
Xu Lu looked solemn and said: "According to the scholar's confession, Xu Ying gave him a full ten thousand taels of silver in order to get the same Jinshi in high school. However, the man was frightened afterwards, worried that others would find out in the future. Only then will the drums be beaten to complain and the matter will be brought to light."
Fang Huan knelt down and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I really don't know why I'm leaking this question."
Liu Zheng and a dozen Hanlin scholars knelt down together.
Emperor Chongping looked gloomy and ordered: "Xu Qing, bring the officials involved in the case to the Hanlin Academy for questioning and find out the details."
Xu Lu cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment and said: "Now the sergeant in the capital is in hot debate over suspected fraud in the imperial examination. Regardless of whether there is fraud in the court, it must be investigated to get to the bottom of it. Xu Qing, please deal with it properly, calm down the controversy, and don't affect the middle of the month." wedding."
Han Huang and Zhao Mo: "???"
Xu Lu cupped his hands and said: "Wei Chen has sent people to arrest Xu Ying and go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate for questioning. If we follow the clues, we should be able to find out who is behind the leak of the test questions."
Liu Zheng, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, had a change of expression. He thought for a moment, then raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, if the test questions are leaked, it seems that I heard this rumor not long ago."
"What rumors?" Emperor Chongping said.
Liu Zheng said in a low voice: "There are rumors in the capital that among the people admitted in the imperial examination, there are more candidates from the south of the Yangtze River than those from the north, and the top rankings in the palace examination are two-thirds of the candidates from the south of the Yangtze River. The ministers are also very puzzled."
Emperor Chongping was silent for a moment and glanced at Han Huang.
During the palace examination, Emperor Chongping was worried about side issues, but he didn't really pay much attention to it. The ranking was determined based on the ranking in the examination and the quality of the calligraphy of the policy papers written. This was actually a common practice.
Unless the emperor personally wants someone to be the top pick.
Han Huang's heart sank to the bottom and he looked at Fang Huan.
Is it true that there are cheating cases in today’s imperial examinations?
As for why he suspected Fang Huan, it was because Zhao Mo was a cabinet minister with good conduct, and Han Huang was well aware of it. As for Liu Zheng, who had a reputation for integrity, it was unlikely.
Han Huang really didn't know the fraud involved.
Because as the chief minister of the cabinet, he was recently worried about border affairs and the drought in the northern provinces, and besides, he was not the chief examiner.
Emperor Chongping said solemnly: "Send people to investigate thoroughly. No matter who is involved, get to the bottom of it!"
"Your Majesty, if there is any fraud, what should be done to deal with the scholars? Should we retake the exam?" Xu Lu pondered for a moment and then asked.
This is an emergency that tests political wisdom. If the exam is retaken, those who passed the exam based on their true talents and practical knowledge will have to take the exam again. If they fail, they will definitely feel resentful.
Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment and said: "First investigate the case, find out the fraudsters, put them in jail, and remove them from their honors. Then give the other successful candidates a new trial, and try to eliminate those who cheated, cheated, and cheated. In August, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, we will open another Enke ceremony to celebrate the victory over the captives, and spread the news to the outside world to quell the gossip in the capital."
Han Huang and Zhao Mo were slightly shocked.
Let's open Enke again and celebrate the great victory over the captives. We really can't do anything without the Duke of Wei!
Xu Lu looked solemn, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I obey your decree."
This is indeed a relatively good way to deal with imperial examination fraud, because those who originally passed the imperial examination can at least avoid the hassle by taking another imperial examination, while those who have not yet taken the imperial examination can still take the imperial examination again.
It was just to celebrate the headship of the slave chief and have an encore.
Zhao Mo felt a haze in his heart. If the imperial examination fraud was really discovered, someone must be responsible for it.
Emperor Chongping said calmly: "That's it for today. Han Qing will stay."
When Han Huang heard this, his heart was shaken. The other courtiers put on their faces, bowed and retreated slowly.
Emperor Chongping looked at Han Huang quietly and said nothing for a while.
Han Huang felt cold sweat seeping down his back, and he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Chongping suddenly said coldly: "Who does Han Qing suspect?"
Han Huang looked startled for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, I guarantee with my head that Zhao Bojian will not cheat on his superiors or deceive others in selecting candidates for the imperial examination."
Emperor Chongping said: "Is that Liu Zheng?"
Han Huang's lips twitched and he remained silent for a moment.
Emperor Chongping said: "Liu Zheng comes from a noble and noble background, and he is self-proclaimed. Although I don't like that he is ignorant of current affairs and not good at making changes, I know that Liu Zheng is a human being and will not be so willing to degenerate."
The difficulty in concealing any imperial examination scandal is that once it breaks out, it can be hidden almost immediately.
Han Huang's voice was hard. He lifted his official robe, knelt down, held an ivory wat tablet in his hand, and said after a pause: "Your Majesty, in this case of imperial examination fraud, the humble minister is in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, and it is his unshirkable responsibility."
Emperor Chongping stared at Han Huang for a long time and said slowly: "This matter has nothing to do with Han Qing. Han Qing has been busy taking care of the war in the north and the disasters in the provinces these days."
When Han Huang heard this, his voice seemed to be choked, and he said, "I thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."
Emperor Chongping's eyes flashed and he said: "Dai Quan, help Han Qing up."
Dai Quan was standing next to the curtain with his head lowered tightly. Hearing the words, he quickly responded and stepped forward to help Han Huang up.
Emperor Chongping waved his hand and said: "Han Qing, there is a continuous drought in the north. The day before yesterday, I ordered the Ministry of Household Affairs to rush to plant sweet potatoes, but the food for the victims must also be distributed as a whole. Gao Zhongping cleared the land in the south of the Yangtze River and carried out a whip method to resist resistance. It’s very big. I think it’s possible to do it in Bashu, but is it different from other areas in the south of the Yangtze River?”
Han Huang raised his hands and said yes, but felt his hands and feet were cold.
Is the emperor putting pressure on himself?
In fact, Emperor Chongping half listened to Jia Heng's words not to act too hastily and was still thinking about innovative strategies.
Because at the beginning, Jia Heng said in his inner study: "Taking advantage of great victory to innovate will lead to the great cause of the rejuvenation of China and the foundation of the Han Dynasty for all generations."
The emperor's body was not in good shape, and he was already feeling a little impatient.
Emperor Chongping stared at Han Huang with burning eyes and said: "Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the land annexation of the two provinces in Jiangnan has been shocking. Although Gao Zhongping was not radical in Jiangnan, he pointed out the ills and I deeply agree."
Han Huang said quickly: "Your Majesty, the south of the Yangtze River is a land of great wealth. Now the north is suffering from repeated disasters. I think we should not act too hastily."
The emperor wants to dig up the roots of the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River. This cannot be compromised. If he really has to conquer the southeast, then the country will really be in danger.
Emperor Chongping's face showed a hint of complexity, and he whispered: "This is what Jia Ziyu said when he returned to Beijing."
When Han Huang heard this, his eyes were focused, and his heart was filled with turmoil.
Did Duke Wei also say this? It's really an old man who seeks the country.
Emperor Chongping said: "Jia Ziyu has the talent to manage the country and help the world. I think if he can go to the south of the Yangtze River and support Gao Zhongping to implement it in the south of the Yangtze River, he should be able to accomplish this."
Han Huang: "???"
"Your Majesty, since the Duke of Wei feels that the matter is difficult and urgent and should be slowed down, why would he go south to support this national policy?" Han Huang pondered for a moment and advised: "Your Majesty, the border dangers are still uncertain, so it is not appropriate to attack the corruption with a heavy knife."
In the end, it was even a bit heartfelt.
Emperor Chongping glanced at Han Huang and said, "I think this matter can be tried, and Han Qing doesn't need to worry."
When Han Huang saw this, he couldn't persuade him any more.
After Han Huang left, Emperor Chongping's eyes showed contemplation under his thin eyebrows, and he murmured in a low voice: "There is something fishy about this matter. Is the imperial examination scandal coming out at this time, or is it a scholar's defeat?"
Although this incident gave him the opportunity to put pressure on the Zhejiang Party again, he always felt that there was a layer of fog hanging over it.
Dai Quan, who was not far away, did not respond. He just held his breath and did not disturb Emperor Chongping's thinking.
Although Emperor Chongping was suspicious, he could not figure out the reason. He just sat down again and picked up the memorial to review.
Just when the atmosphere in the inner study of Daming Palace was depressing——
Tangli Palace, where Princess Xianning originally lived, was filled with a leisurely and relaxed atmosphere.
At this time, the female officer cut the watermelon, tooth by tooth, and placed it on the small table.
Jia Heng picked up a toothmelon and ate it gently. It was sweet in the mouth and the melon juice flowed horizontally.
He couldn't help but raise his eyes to look at Song Yan, who was a little cramped in her hands and feet not far away, and asked, "Cousin Yan'er, why don't you eat?"
In fact, compared to Xian Ning, who is beautiful and graceful, she looks like a goddess with long, straight black hair.
Song Yan is slightly shorter, but she does look a bit like her aunt, Empress Song. She has fair skin, thin eyebrows and big eyes, bright eyes with autumn waves, a beautiful nose and mouth, especially the facial features, eyebrows and eyes, which are similar to Empress Song. Well, to put it another way, it does feel a bit like the youth version of Queen Song.
Of course, she is not as stalwart as Queen Song.
Princess Xianning glanced at Song Yan, who had picturesque features, and persuaded with a light smile: "Yan'er, eat."
Yan'er's cousin is really similar to her mother.
In fact, although Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong are sisters, their faces and temperaments are quite different. On the contrary, as a niece, Song Yan is quite similar to Empress Song.
Song Yan said "hmm", picked up the watermelon and took a bite. A pair of clean white teeth appeared under her pink lips.
Her mother taught her to be a lady, and it was not easy for her to eat in front of other men.
Thinking like this, absent-mindedly, she choked on the melon juice. The girl's face, as white as snow, turned slightly red. She kept "coughing" and felt ashamed for a moment. Then she saw a handkerchief handed to her from the other side. come over.
Song Yan's crystal jade face was stunned for a moment. She looked at the young man with bright eyes. When she met the warm gaze, she quickly lowered her eyelashes and said, "Thank you."
At this time, Princess Xianning's bright eyes flashed and she said with a smile: "Sir, I also choked. Do you have any other handkerchiefs?"
Jia Heng: "..."
You've been choked a lot. Which time didn't I give you a handkerchief?
Listening to Princess Xianning's joking words, Song Yan's snow-faced cheeks flushed slightly, she quickly handed over the handkerchief and said, "Cousin."
Princess Xianning had a thoughtful look on her face and said softly: "Cousin Yan'er, keep it for yourself. After cleaning it, return it to others."
Song Yan said "hmm" and took a peek at the nonchalant young man, not saying much else.
At this time, Li Chanyue Zangxing Yunyue's eyes were bright and she said softly: "Mr. Xiao Jia, when will we go to the house?"
Jia Heng said softly: "I'll be there in a moment. You should also identify the door in advance."
Li Chanyue said: "When Mr. Jia was away in Beijing, my cousin and I went there many times."
Jia Heng took the little princess's hand naturally and asked, "Has your mother written to you in the past few months?"
He actually wanted to inquire about the details of this imperial examination scandal.
He didn't know much about Xiaoxiao's arrangement.
Li Chanyue was a little shy. She glanced at Song Yan and said, "Mother sent a letter and asked about Mr. Xiao Jia's war. At this moment, I don't know if I have received the news that Mr. Xiao Jia's class teacher has returned to Beijing."
While several people were talking, an eunuch entered the palace. With a flattering smile on his fair face, he bowed and said, "Your Royal Highness, Your Majesty summons Duke Wei to come over."
Jia Heng put down the watermelon rind, took the handkerchief delivered by Li Chanyue beside him, wiped his mouth, and said softly: "Xianning, I'll go over first and come back later."
Princess Xianning responded and watched Jia Heng leave. Then she pulled Song Yan aside and said, "Sister Yan'er, I will teach you how to dance with Chan Yue later."
Song Yan still held a handkerchief in her hand. After hearing this, she put down the watermelon and said, "Yes."
At this time, Jia Heng followed the eunuch to the inner study and walked along the palace road. Just when he reached the front hall, he was suddenly stunned. He saluted the beauty coming from the palace road and said, "I have seen the queen." My dear, the queen is a thousand years old."
Empress Song, surrounded by several maids, came from the palace corridor. Under the summer sunshine, the graceful and graceful beauty, the golden hairpin in a bun on the temples and the earrings on the earlobes, shone brightly, setting off the beautiful scenery. Zhang's plump and charming face is graceful, gorgeous and charming.
Compared with Song Yan's youthfulness, Queen Song's eyebrows and facial features are more gorgeous, with fair skin, small facial features, a glistening autumn wave between the willow eyebrows, and luscious red lips.
"Ziyu." Empress Song looked at the young man in the python suit and said with a slight smile on his snow-skinned face.
Jia Heng cupped his hands and said, "Is the Queen going to see the Holy One?"
"Didn't your Majesty just go to the inner study after hearing the drum sound? It's noon now. I'm going to call your Majesty to go to the Queen Mother to say hello." Empress Song stepped forward and painted lightly. The beautiful eyes with rose red eyeshadow looked at the young man, with a slight smile on the corner of his mouth, and said: "Ziyu, you are following Xianning, shouldn't you call me Queen?"
Jia Heng quickly lowered his eyes, his heart skipped a beat, and said, "I don't dare."
Why does this Empress Song have a sense of familiarity with a royal sister teasing a little puppy?
A gorgeous beauty, doesn’t she know how charming she is when she walks?
Under the white and greasy delicate neck, the plump and trembling flesh contains the fragrance of powdered flesh. It is the aroma that comes from the long-term fragrance of orchid and musk, because after the light sweat covers it, the trace of summer sweat is extremely... The faint smell of sweat floats to the nose, almost making people drunk.
Like Xianning's black silk fishing net, and then make a hole...
Well, you can't think about it, it's going to explode.
It's all Xianning's fault. They were too messy in bed earlier.
Of course, Empress Song's joke was not inappropriate, because in her eyes, Jia Heng and Xianning were going to get married soon, and they would soon become a family.
"That's all." Empress Song looked at the young man in the python suit with a calm face and divine eyes, and smiled, but also restrained his lively and flirtatious attitude.
She didn't know what was wrong just now. When she saw this young man, her mentality seemed to be a little younger. Fortunately, she didn't lose her composure.
In a few days, Ziyu will get married to Xianning. They are also outsiders, just nephews.
Thinking of this, the beauty's heart calmed down and she didn't feel anything strange.
Jia Heng plastic surgery calmed down his expression, changed the topic and said: "Mother, let's go see the Holy One."
When the queen travels, she usually takes her nanny and female officials with her. She also has to pay attention to her manners a lot of the time.
Empress Song nodded her head and looked thoughtfully at the young man with downcast eyes. For some reason, her mood was a little brighter. Her plump and beautiful face smiled brightly and said, "Let's go. It's already noon." , it’s time to have lunch.”
"Zi Yu, Ran'er just said that because of the Jinke fraud case, the princes in the capital went out of the palace to suppress the ground. Isn't that a problem?" As Queen Song was walking, she suddenly turned her face. , asked softly.
Jia Heng said: "Don't worry, Madam. Scholars are all candidates with a common reputation. Even if they are filled with righteous indignation, they will not do anything radical. Once the imperial court comes forward to clarify the issue of imperial examination fraud, it will calm down."
Empress Song seemed to say "Oh" and said with a smooth voice, "I think so. This is the first time in many years that there has been any fraud in the imperial examination."
Jia Heng did not dare to look at Empress Song, and reminded her softly: "But there have always been cases of fraud in imperial examinations."
Empress Song glanced at Jia Heng with her beautiful eyes under her beautiful eyebrows, and suddenly said coldly: "During this period, Wei'er went to the Ministry of Justice to observe the government and learned a lot from Mr. Zhao Ge, but he still wanted to go The capital camp can help his father to take care of the captives."
Zhao Mo was the chief examiner, and according to Ran'er, Mr. Zhao Ge deliberately supported him in joining the East Palace.
On the contrary, Mr. Han Ge was a little ambiguous.
Your Majesty is too taboo about matters after death. How can this be done for the sake of the country of the ancestors of the Han Dynasty?
Besides, when there is another chaos in the Central Plains...
Well, it’s really hard to think about this at this time.
However, it would be great if Wei'er could go to the capital camp. Your Majesty, why are you so guarded against your own flesh and blood?
The beauty has a dignified manner and a beautiful smile, but she is also complaining deep in her heart.
In other words, the empress had a grudge deep in her heart, which was that Emperor Chongping had not set up the East Palace for a long time, and she didn't know what she was thinking.
In terms of raising children, this beauty gave birth to the two kings of Wei and Liang for Emperor Chongping. In addition, she also married her own sister, and Concubine Duanrong also had a son and a daughter.
It is said that King Wei should have established the East Palace.
Listening to Queen Song's words, Jia Heng vaguely understood what this mature woman meant. Did she want him to help talk to her later?
As for Jingying, well, don’t even think about it.
And the Empress of Song Dynasty didn’t know that the imperial examination scandal was originally a matter of Xiaoxiao helping him to attack the Zhejiang Party?
Jia Heng did not answer. He glanced at the plump and plump figure under the scarlet dress and changed the subject: "The King of Liang has an upright temperament and hates evil as much as hatred. It is appropriate for him to observe politics in the Ministry of Punishment."
Empress Song was walking slowly. After hearing these words, she glanced at the young man who was half a step behind and looking down at the road. The young man walked over vaguely, his phoenix eyes under his curved eyebrows narrowed, and he couldn't help but smile. He curled his lips imperceptibly.
I thought to myself, what a little fox.
At this moment, Jia Heng couldn't see the cute little gesture of the mature beauty, otherwise he would have agreed on the spot.
Even so, I smelled the fragrance of Queen Song's flesh all the way without squinting, and my mind was as empty as possible.
While the two were talking, they were approaching the study room in the Daming Palace.
"Your Majesty, the Queen and Duke Wei are here." An eunuch came into the palace to report.
"Is Ziyu here?" Emperor Chongping was reviewing the memorial. For a moment he didn't realize that there was Empress Song. He raised his head and said, "Let him in."
Not long after, Jia Heng walked quickly into the palace, saluted the middle-aged emperor and said, "I have seen your Majesty, long live, long live, long live."
Emperor Chongping looked gently and said with a smile: "Zi Yu."
Then he glanced at Queen Song in surprise and said, "Zitong, you are here too."
Queen Song: "..."
What is your Majesty's look like? She shouldn't be here, right?
