Since the spring rain, Wang Gui expected that Emperor Zhao Zhen's mood had improved a lot, so he chose this time to come to see him.
This is also the experience of Wang Gui's attendant for many years. He chooses an emperor to face the emperor when he is in a good mood.
Moreover, Wang Gui also knew how to measure things appropriately. In the two days after the provincial examination, scholars who passed the provincial examination have been coming to visit him, wanting to express their gratitude for the 'admission'.
However, Wang Gui rejected them all and said that the country selects scholars by passing the examination and selects people for officials... He is just reporting to the public and has no intention of giving any favor to his own family.
Wang Gui's move was also a rule set by Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin.
Scholars were not allowed to call tribute officials their benefactors or teachers, and they themselves were not allowed to call themselves disciples. This was a change from the bad habit since the imperial examination was introduced in the Tang Dynasty. Because the provincial examination was a gift from the emperor, and the Song Dynasty also established a palace examination system in which the emperor presided over the examination, from then on Jinshi claimed to be disciples of the emperor.
In the words of Taizu of the Song Dynasty, in the past, most of the names of families were chosen by powerful families. I personally came to test it and corrected all its shortcomings.
The reason is still the difference between scholars and common people. The Song Dynasty cracked down on the clan politics since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, used people to control it, and realized the talent from poor families.
On this point, Wang Gui had an excellent sense of proportion. After the provincial examination, he refused all candidates to visit and gave all the power to recruit scholars to the emperor. Wang Gui also posted a notice in front of the mansion, informing the public that he would refuse private visits to successful candidates.
After completing these two points, Wang Gui took the provincial examination list to the emperor.
Now there are pavilions on all sides of the palace, and the curtains are drawn up, allowing some wind and rain to blow into the palace.
As for the emperor Zhao Zhen, wearing a light yellow plain robe, he was painting and calligraphy in the palace.
The emperor painted and painted when he was in a good mood, and painted when he was in a bad mood. This was his way of relieving his emotions.
Wang Gui saw the emperor's decorations and knew that the emperor was frugal by nature and did not like luxury. He often wore a very worn-out piece of clothing, but he still wore it.
For example, this plain robe on his body was the third time he had seen him in several years.
In addition, Zhao Zhen often dealt with government affairs until late at night. Once he wanted to drink mutton soup, but he was hungry all night and refused to say anything. When Queen Cao found out, she asked why she didn't ask the imperial chef to take care of it. Zhao Zhen said that after he drank mutton soup tonight, the imperial chef would prepare it every night. Hundreds of sheep would be slaughtered in a year. How could he bear it and be willing to do it?
Once Zhao Zhen was seriously ill, Wang Gui and others frequently went to the palace with Prime Minister Wen Yanbo and others to attend him. However, they saw that all the royal awnings and mattresses where the emperor lived were of poor quality and had not been replaced for a long time.
Zhao Zhen often warned the prime minister that these are the people's blessings and I dare not waste them lightly.
After accompanying him for many years, Wang Gui was a little moved when he saw the emperor's frugality, but then he said seriously: "I will report my orders to your majesty."
Zhao Zhen said without raising his head: "Scholar Wang, what do you think of this spring rain?"
Wang Gui glanced outside and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, good rain knows its time, and spring will happen."
"Xueshi Wang said it was a good rain, and I agree," Zhao Zhen kept saying to Fan Zhen in his writing: "Xueshi Fan, after I heard that you were a fellow scholar, you ordered your grandnephew not to take the exam. Do you want to avoid suspicion like this? ?”
Fan Zhendao said: "The veteran has been entrusted by His Majesty to serve as a tribute to his colleagues, so he dare not bend the law for personal gain. It's okay for my grandnephew to wait a few years for him to take the exam again. The imperial tribute exam is the big plan."
"If I remember correctly, your great-nephew is named Fan Zuyu!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, that's right."
Zhao Zhen said: "This is really difficult to handle. If I want to use you as a tribute candidate for the next subject, should I make your great-nephew wait for another subject?"
Fan Zhen said resolutely: "Just wait a little longer."
Hearing Fan Zhen's words, Wang Gui couldn't help but glance at him.
Zhao Zhen made a few final sketches, then put them aside and said to Fan Zhenyan: "I trust the loyalty of the Qing family, and I also want to have more loyal ministers like you in the court. Let him take the next subject!"
"Old minister, I accept the decree and thank you for your grace." Fan Zhen said with a moving face.
While talking, Wang Gui held up the provincial examination list, which was presented in front of the emperor by two chamberlains beside Zhao Zhen.
The emperor walked up to the list and looked at it, and then said: "They are all famous people for a while, and they are well-deserved. This department of the Qing family has brought me many virtuous people, and they will all be the pillars of this dynasty in the future!" "
With the words of the Emperor, the three examiners were overjoyed.
Wang Gui said: "Your Majesty's desire to demand talented people has been sensed by heaven. Therefore, this provincial examination can be said to be a thousand people advancing hard, thousands of heads moving, and the world's virtuous people rushing from all directions to serve Your Majesty. This is not the merit of your ministers." , it is truly a blessing from heaven.”
Zhao Zhen asked several ministers about the details of the provincial examination. The emperors of the Song Dynasty were very concerned about recruiting talents, and Zhao Zhen was even more so. This was the ancestral method, which controlled the power of hiring people, and at the same time eliminated the disadvantages of powerful people holding the power of hiring people.
After asking some questions, Zhao Zhen smiled and asked seemingly casually: "I heard from the outer court that there was a scholar who had a group of butterflies flying on his scroll. He refused to leave and kept his name on him repeatedly. Is this true? of?"
Wang Gui thought to himself, could it be that you, the emperor, did this deliberately?
Wang Gui said: "Reporting to your Majesty, this is indeed the case. This was witnessed by several of our examiners."
Zhao Zhen asked: "Who is it that the butterflies care about?"
Wang Gui said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the second chapter of this provincial examination."
Wang Gui previously ranked Zhang Yue second in the provincial examination. He did it on purpose.
If you rank first, how can you live up to the emperor's reputation? Therefore, he himself must leave this right to the emperor.
But now it sounds like the emperor did it by chance rather than on purpose.
Wang Gui thought to himself, had he misunderstood the emperor's intention?
Wang Gui decided to tell the truth: "Previously, Xueshi Fan wanted to put this volume as a failure, but Wang Zhongcheng insisted on putting it first."
"Why is this controversial?"
Fan Zhen came forward and told Zhang Yue's reasons for speaking frankly. Zhao Zhen said: "A gentleman's words are not out of place, but Scholar Fan's words are reasonable."
Wang Chou said: "Your Majesty, this Zhang Yue is the scholar who became a three-character poem before, but later declined his background twice. In my opinion, this man is young and energetic, and his words are unavoidable and straightforward, but he also wants to criticize the evils of the times. , if everyone’s actions and words are not up to the mark, how can the court hear the truth?”
Zhao Zhen said: "I remember his poems and poems. The common people were eager to learn when they were young. They were poor and had no way to read the books, so they borrowed them from the book collection house and wrote them down by hand, counting the days to return them..."
"I still remember his three-character poems and articles. He is a man of literary talent and kindness. I wanted to give him a family background at first, but now it seems that I have given in. Is he really a member of the Xi Gong clan? Why is his family so poor? "
Wang Chou said: "Reporting to your majesty, although this Zhang Yue comes from the Zhang family in Pucheng and is of the same clan as Zhang Wenjian, he is from the Shu clan. When he was young, his family was poor and it was difficult to make a living by studying, so he worked as a book servant for a living. This is true. A child from a poor family."
Wang Chou thought that the purpose of the imperial examination was to select poor scholars and break the monopoly of the powerful families from the Sui and Tang Dynasties to the Five Dynasties.
However, the scope of this poor family is a little wider. For example, Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu, whose fathers are officials, are also considered poor families.
But Zhang Yue is more genuine.
Not to mention that the emperor seemed to like the poem Tongsanchuan from a distant background, otherwise he would not have recited it casually.
Wang Gui said: "Not only Zhang Yue, but the top three in this provincial examination, Jiang Yan, Wang Kui, and No. 10 Huang Lugu came from poor families."
For example, the number one scholar in the Song Dynasty was by default awarded to children of poor families, so there was a saying that "no children of officials were selected". So most of the top picks in the imperial examination are actually among the top three in the provincial examination.
Fan Zhentu said: "Does Master Wang know if Yue is getting married in this chapter?"
Wang Gui hesitated for a moment and did not reply.
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Oh, I look at the family situation. This son is only seventeen years old. He got engaged so early. I wonder who is so discerning?"
Fan Zhen reported back: "Your Majesty, if my inquiry is correct, Zhang Yue and Wu Chong, the current transit envoy to Huaidong, have already made an engagement."
Wang Gui and Wang Chou glanced at Fan Zhen in unison.
"It's Wu Chong." Zhao Zhen thought a little after hearing this.
Fan Zhenze said: "Your Majesty, the so-called poor people are not really poor people."
Wang Chou said: "Wang Kui came third in the provincial examination. Fan Xueshi originally wanted to be the first, but he is engaged to the niece of Prime Minister Zhao Wen. So he can't be called a poor scholar?"
Fan Zhen was lustful, and Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "What do you think, Bachelor Wang?"
Wang Gui said: "Reporting to your majesty, when the rich prime minister was not yet in the position, he was appreciated by the prime minister Yan Yuanxiangong and became his son-in-law. This has never been short of bole."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "I read the article on the provincial examination. Zhang Yue, Wang Kui and Jiang Yan are all better than others. Speaking of Fuqing, Wu Qing knew someone in Hanwei and married him to a daughter. I will return I admire their vision in choosing a son-in-law. At least I am far inferior to them."
When Wang Gui saw Zhao Zhen's sudden sadness, he knew that he was thinking of his favorite Emperor Fukang.
Emperor Fukang has been with Song Renzong for the longest time and is his most beloved daughter. Because Song Renzong has always felt guilty about his biological mother, he has always been very kind to his natal family. Later, Emperor Fukang was betrothed to the sixth son of Li Yonghe, his biological mother's younger brother, at the emperor's discretion.
However, the two became extremely discordant after their marriage. In the fifth year of Jiayou's reign, Princess Fukang suddenly rushed back to the palace at night and cried to Song Renzong about how badly the consort treated him.
However, the matter of opening the palace gate at night was severely criticized by Sima Guang, Wang Tao and other admonishers.
Under the pressure of Yanguan, Song Renzong not only failed to stand up for his daughter and punished the consort, but instead punished Princess Fukang and dismissed everyone around her.
Princess Fukang was greatly stimulated and committed suicide several times. Song Renzong was heartbroken when he found out, and the matter became a worry for him.
Wang Gui and the other three did not dare to say anything more, but saw that Song Renzong had already calmed down and said: "The two Qing families are public-spirited in recruiting scholars. I know that. You don't need to argue anymore."
Fan Zhen and Wang Chou heard that they were arguing over the imperial court and expressed disgrace, and then the three of them withdrew from the palace.
After Wang Gui said goodbye to the emperor, he went to Ouyang Xiu's house.
Two days after the provincial examination results are released.
Zhang Shi asked Zhang Qiu to find Zhang Yue, but learned that the other party was not in Taixue, nor did he go drinking and socializing with his classmates in Taixue.
Even the classmates didn't know where Zhang Yue had gone.
It turned out that Zhang Yue hadn't gone anywhere in the past two days, but was living near Taixue, in the house arranged for him by the Wu family.
Before Zhang Yue passed the provincial examination, he went to this house only a handful of times.
But after passing the exam, Zhang Yue didn't go anywhere, and even refused to socialize with his classmates, and stayed in this house with Huang Lu to prepare for the imperial examination.
The palace examination is scheduled for February 27th.
Before that, there are still more than twenty days to work.
Since Jiayou refused to give up in the palace examination in the second year of his career, many Jinshi candidates have disapproved of the palace examination.
It's true that in palace examinations, it is generally not possible to give up, but if the examinee really wants to die, there is no way to stop him. It is like insulting the emperor in the paper, no one can save you, and you will definitely be punished.
There is another level which is the fifth level.
As we all know, after the palace examination, all candidates are divided into five grades.
First and second class, awarded with passing grade. The third class is awarded by birth. The fourth and fifth grades are awarded to people of the same origin.
However, instead of giving up on being left behind in the palace examination, the first and second classes were changed to pass, the third and fourth classes, and the fifth class were the same.
Among them, there are articles in the fifth grade that are really poorly written and make major mistakes, such as accidentally writing the emperor's name, etc., so they will still give up.
However, this possibility is still too small for scholars who have passed the provincial examination.
Therefore, many candidates feel that they have already won the title of Jinshi, and they have been playing outside all night long these days, going in and out of brothels.
I have been depressed for ten years, and now it is human nature to relax.
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu stayed behind closed doors, studying here.
You Xi can do anything. Now there are only more than twenty days before the imperial examination. After ten years of hard work, do you still care about these few days? If I work harder this time, it will be a perfect end to my study career.
As for becoming an official, if he wasn't so ambitious, Zhang Yue thought he could let himself go.
With the high salaries of officials in the Song Dynasty, Zhang Yue could fully experience what freedom of wealth was. For a young man who works all day long after graduation, talking about feelings and ideals, is it just a dream?
It's a pity that Zhang Yue is a time traveler. The pain of time travel is that you will know what this nation will encounter in a few decades. In what year was Jingkang?
Although Zhang Yue was studying in hiding, he did not lack any etiquette. He asked Tang Jiu to bring letters to Zhang Heng, Chen Xiang, Ouyang Xiu and others, saying that he was preparing for the palace examination and would visit him after the palace examination to express his gratitude for so many years of cultivation. Grace.
Brothers Wang An, King Anli, Lu Zhidao, Zeng Gong, Su Xun, Han Zhongyan, Wen Jifu, etc. also wrote letters one by one.
With so many people wanting to meet Zhang Yue one by one, it was hard to do anything, so he had to send a group text message.
Chen Xiang, Ouyang Xiu, and Zhang Heng all responded generously and shared their experiences in the palace examination.
During this period, Zhang Yue from the Nine Dynasties of the Tang Dynasty went home. Zhang Yue learned that since that day when he was ordered to capture his son-in-law, his family had been almost violated by the matchmaker from Bianjing.
Zhang Yue was also filled with emotion when he heard the news. His mood at this moment can be summed up in two lines of poetry.
It’s easy to understand the saying that after ten years of being cold and no one asked, once you become famous, the world will know it.
There is also a saying that the flowers gradually become more charming, so Asakusa can have no horse hooves.
Among the thousands of flowers, I only picked one peony. As for the other flowers, why bother lingering over and over again if I don’t pick them.
People are often wary of big things and never make mistakes, but they often stumble on small things.
The Wu family had treated Zhang Yue with great respect before, but now that he has gained the upper hand, even if he has no intention of regretting the marriage, he would be complacent because many dignitaries came to propose marriage, and could not understand his own weight for a while. The mentality of selling at a high price or using it to suppress the wife's family is disrespectful to people. The Wu family has underestimated themselves from then on. Not only did they let down Wu Chong's appreciation for themselves, but they also failed to live up to the seventeenth mother's treatment of her. Admiration.
Zhang Yue has already made up his mind to do this. At this time, he can reassure the Wu family and eliminate worries, so that he can go all out to prepare for the imperial examination.
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu came to live here to give the Wu family an explanation in advance so that they could feel at ease. Now they were entrusted to their brother and second aunt to discuss the matter of coming to propose marriage.
Zhang Yue made up his mind to come to propose marriage, and he became the hands-off shopkeeper.
It's not that I don't care, it's that there is nothing more urgent than preparing for the palace examination in more than twenty days.
