After nightfall, the curtain inside the tribute courtyard.
Cheng Minzheng has just sorted out the marking order with several inner curtains and examiners. The people in each room have set the numbers and divided them into east and west rooms. Li Dongyang and Cheng Minzheng will be sitting in the Nangong. They are only responsible for the papers recommended by their respective examiners. Zhujuan, just mark and comment on it.
After completing all this, Cheng Minzheng was ready to go to bed and wait for the official marking to begin early the next morning.
But at this moment, Li Dongyang came to the bedroom where Cheng Minzheng was resting with a note that had just been handed in from outside.
"Binzhi, what's wrong with you?"
Cheng Minzheng was a little surprised to see Li Dongyang. After all, the exams would be marked the next day. Logically speaking, the two of them should meet less or not at all to avoid being said to be secretly collaborating on the exams.
Li Dongyang said: "Keqin, you don't need to participate in tomorrow's marking."
"Ah?" Cheng Minzheng said in shock, "Why is this?"
"Your Majesty just asked Dongchang to hand over the note. The specific reason was not stated clearly, but it is expected that His Majesty did so for a reason. It also stated that the matter was only reported to the inner curtain, on the grounds that you were not feeling well. As for the outer curtain official I and my colleagues in the DPRK and Central Government must cover it up, so... I can only be responsible for tomorrow's grading."
Li Dongyang has a quick mind.
Even if he didn't say it explicitly, he could actually see that the emperor's move was actually because of something involving Cheng Minzheng.
Such as... vend questions.
Previously, Cheng Minzheng could be said to have leaked the topic before the examination chief had even been decided. Now that the examination had begun and it was time to mark the papers, the emperor suddenly asked Cheng Minzheng to step aside without even explaining the matter to the courtiers. This is What to do?
In addition to letting Cheng Minzheng avoid suspicion, it was actually a kind of protection for Cheng Minzheng by the emperor.
If outsiders criticize Cheng Minzheng for colluding with the inside and outside to select some papers with agreed-upon questions and coded answers, then this attack would not be valid if Cheng Minzheng did not participate in grading the papers.
"Binzhi, how can I accept this?"
Cheng Minzheng, however, could not detect the reason behind this, so he just thought that he had suffered a great shame and humiliation.
As the chief examiner of the examination, when it came time to mark the papers, you actually had to leave him aside? Or did the emperor personally issue the decree?
Li Dongyang comforted him: "Logically speaking, no one can interfere with the affairs of the inner curtain now, but this is His Majesty's will after all. Even if you don't accept it, you must obey it! In order to make people less worried, you don't have to show up at the exam tomorrow. In the room, I will explain it to them for you!"
"Then why am I still here?" Cheng Minzheng was almost furious.
They didn't let me get tested. Why would I be embarrassed if I stayed in Gongyuan?
I want to pay tribute to the hospital!
Li Dongyang's attitude was very firm: "You are still the examiner of the general examination, and your identity cannot be changed. You can't go anywhere before the marking is over. If you have to show up in front of others, you can only circulate His Majesty's decree to the inner curtain official. You know. You weigh it yourself."
The words were almost a threat.
Now, to put it nicely, you are not feeling well and will not participate in the marking.
If you insist on making a fuss, you can only let your fellow examiners and others know that you are not sick, but have been ordered by the emperor not to participate in the marking.
It will be you who is embarrassed then.
Cheng Minzheng glared at Li Dongyang, feeling very unhappy but unable to do anything.
…
…
That night.
Zhang Zhou stayed in the palace and did not leave.
The emperor ate with him and even put vegetables in his bowl, which made him embarrassed.
Even after dinner, the emperor insisted on asking Zhang Zhou to talk about astrology and calculate the national destiny in the next few years, but Zhang Zhou could only shirk and perfunctory.
But at this moment, Queen Zhang arrived.
"Your Majesty, I will retire first." Zhang Zhou thought this was an opportunity.
You, a husband, are so irresponsible. You said it yourself. You had not cared about the queen for many days and left your beloved wife aside. How could you complete your plan to create a villain?
So you two, you two, hurry up and go to the world together!
Don't delay me from going home to practice gymnastics.
"You don't have to leave." Zhu Youtang said.
Zhang Zhou said awkwardly: "Your Majesty, when it comes to the emperor's family affairs, I should avoid suspicion."
Zhu Youtang sighed: "Actually, I don't need to see the queen. I also know that she is here to plead for Uncle Jianchang. Since you want to avoid it, go outside and wait first. Take Bingkuan to the side hall."
"yes."
After Xiao Jing accepted the order, he led Zhang Zhou's way.
…
…
Zhang Zhou left the palace gate and went to the side hall to wait. As for what was being said in the main hall, he didn't know.
When the emperor summoned him back again, it was only the time of one stick of incense, and Empress Zhang had already left. Judging from the emperor's look, it was as if his wife had never been here.
"As I expected, the queen is here to extend her life..."
Zhu Youtang still sighed with emotion, "I told her clearly that Yanling will still be in Fusi, Beizhen before February 22nd. The queen also asked me that if an earthquake is confirmed, she may still tell Yanling Regarding, how should I deal with Yan Ling... I did not answer her about this matter."
As he spoke, Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou, meaning, please come up with something for me.
Zhang Zhou thought.
This is the key. Why didn’t you ask earlier?
Simply locking someone up may be said to be a mistreatment, but is that actually called jailing? Good food and drink, if not seeing outsiders is considered a punishment, then the laws of the Ming Dynasty are really in vain.
"Your Majesty, I am really in trouble." Zhang Zhou shook his head.
It means that I am a good person, and I have never thought about how to punish Zhang Yanling because I did not target him, so Your Majesty, you asked the wrong person.
Zhu Youtang said: "Not only is God warning me that I don't know how to recognize people, but it is also warning me that I am too indulgent towards Zhang's relatives. I have to do something to calm the world's discussion. In fact, I am not... Alas! Let me do something. I can’t say.”
I want to punish, but I don't want to punish too much. It is best to punish myself with three cups, but let outsiders think, "Wow, Emperor, you really know how to reward and punish."
Zhang Zhouxin said, "How about just thinking about good things?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, neither imprisonment nor exile is suitable for Jianchang Bo. Then why not let him go to the northwest to join the army?"
"Join the army?" Zhu Youtang frowned.
During the Ming Dynasty, many honorable men and nobles joined the army, but relatives joining the army... no matter how you hear it, it doesn't make sense.
They know how to fight nonsense, and when they go to the northwest, they just don't do business and cause trouble.
Zhang Zhou said: "Wang Shilang is in the northwest, and I don't think he will be able to teach in a while. Even Zhu Zhijie can teach well under him. Why not let Jianchang Bo go and have some experience? Your Majesty also said that Pingjiang Bo Chen Rui is no longer useful and I want to bring him back, but the Northwest still needs some honorable ministers to guard it."
Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "I am even more worried about Yanling leading the troops."
Although the emperor favored the Zhang brothers, he was not stupid.
Asking Zhang Yanling to lead troops in the northwest is no different than leaving the northwest to the Tatars.
When the time comes, it will definitely be Zhang Yanling who will lose whatever he wants.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "I have been with Wang Shilang for a long time. Just give him a name and not give him the authority to mobilize troops."
Zhu Youtang thought about it for a while and hesitated.
Dai Yi on the side smiled and said: "Your Majesty, this suggestion is not impossible. Think about it, this will allow Jianchang Bo to practice more, and even the Queen... will have expectations?"
Dai Yi almost said, "We are just fooling the Queen. We know that Zhang Yanling will definitely be tortured into adulthood when he goes to the northwest, but the problem is that other nobles can't grab this opportunity."
Give him a chance not only to give His Majesty an explanation to his subjects, but also to keep the Queen from making a fuss.
Such a good strategy, why shouldn't it be used?
"Yes." Zhu Youtang nodded, but did not make a decision immediately, "Let's discuss it later. Bingkuan, I haven't finished talking to you about the previous matter, let's continue."
…
…
Zhu Youtang took Zhang Zhou and talked very late, and finally fell asleep at the desk.
Later, Dai Yi and others helped him to the dragon bed, where he undressed and went to bed.
Zhang Zhou was relieved, thinking that he would definitely not be able to leave the palace, so he could only find a place to spend the night.
"Mr. Zhang, why don't you go to the supervisor's duty room and spend the night first?" Dai Yi came over and said.
Zhang Zhou said: "No need, just find a place where I can take a rest. Speaking of which... I'm really tired."
Dai Yi sighed: "You are tired, aren't we and others tired? But in order to make His Majesty feel at ease, what does this tiredness mean? You don't know that His Majesty has not been so happy today for a long time."
Zhang Zhou was ashamed.
Being dragged into a discussion by the emperor like this is not a good sign.
Do you want a personal life?
"Please, Eunuch Dai, can you please find a place for me to put on my clothes and sleep," Zhang Zhou said.
"Please." Dai Yi smiled and showed Zhang Zhou the way.
…
…
Early next morning.
The ministers began to enter the palace one after another towards the Meridian Gate.
There was a very important topic that day, which was to reward meritorious military generals in the northwest. The most important thing was to give Wang Yue the title of Marquis of Weining or Uncle Weining.
"Mr. Liu Ge, have you heard any rumors about vending titles?"
Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, specially approached Liu Jian when entering the palace and asked in a low voice.
Only Xie Qian could hear this.
Liu Jian shook his head, not saying that he didn't know, but still didn't want to pay attention.
Xie Qian asked: "Is it a question for the general examination, circulated in advance?"
Xu Qiong said: "I don't know yet, but it seems that the source of this matter lies with Cheng Huangdun."
"Haha, there is no conclusive evidence, and you openly frame the important officials of the court. Those scholars are really spoiled by arrogance!" Xie Qian said this with a smile.
Apparently even Xie Qian didn't want to believe that Cheng Minzheng would be involved in the leak.
What are the benefits to Cheng Minzheng of leaking the topic? Does Cheng Minzheng lack money or reputation? You have to be purposeful in doing things. It seems that Cheng Minzheng has no convincing motive for leaking the issue.
What's more, Cheng Minzheng has been criticized once before for the so-called vendetta issue. Is it true that Cheng Minzheng is not afraid of death and knows that he is on the cusp of the storm, so he must buck the trend?
Liu Jian changed his previous attitude of rarely expressing opinions on court affairs, and commented: "If it is just the opinions of scholars, you don't need to take it to heart. Everything will become clear after the results are released."
Xu Qiong said: "I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until then. There has been a lot of rumors outside. The officials of Kedao have gone to ask questions. I heard that there are still people checking the details of the vend question. I'm afraid that in the next two days, there will be no internal examination. Before the people behind the curtain come out, something might happen!"
(End of chapter)
