"Where is He Qiu? It's almost dark today, why haven't you seen him come back yet?"
"He? He wakes up early and stays late all the time. He won't come back until the second watch. Brother-in-law, let's not wait for him. Let's eat first." Through chatting at the dinner table, we found out that He Qiu was actually the chief examiner of this year's provincial examination.
There were indeed too few officials in the new dynasty, and even the prime minister had to share multiple responsibilities. Song Che thought that was just right, and asked him to report the cheating in the imperial examination.
After dinner, Song Che settled in the guest room. Second watch. The servant came to tell He Qiu to return home and agreed to meet Song Che in the study.
He Qiu held the candlelight and sat behind the study, holding the book and concentrating on it. He was so serious that Song Che didn't react until Song Che walked to the table. He quickly closed the book and turned away to prevent Song Che from reading it.
"Is this a wordless heavenly book? You won't even take a glance at it." Song Che said with a smile. He Qiu said: "This is the test question for this year's Jinshi imperial examination. If it is leaked, you will be beheaded." Song Che laughed and moved to the side to sit down.
He Qiu opened the test paper again, pondering it carefully, sometimes shaking his head, sometimes sighing. It was obvious that he was not satisfied with this test paper.
It's no wonder. After all, he was the number one scholar in the past, so his requirements for examination questions will naturally be relatively high.
"I heard that there are a lot of places for imperial examinations this year. Why are you so harsh? We should give more opportunities to these students who have studied hard for ten years." Song Che said.
He Qiu said: "It is precisely because the imperial court lacks a cornerstone that the selection must be more stringent. If rotten mediocrity is allowed to enter the palace, it will only affect the country's destiny."
"You really think so?"
"if not?"
"As the chief administrator of this imperial examination, haven't you ever heard of the 'door packages' and 'exchange money'?" Song Che mentioned this intentionally.
He Qiu immediately frowned. Song Che then recounted the gossip he heard from the accountant today.
"Pa!" He Qiu slapped the table and stood up, furious: "That's unreasonable!" Song Che squinted and smiled, and hurriedly advised: "Master He, don't be angry yet. It may be a folk fabrication and has no basis..."
"How can wind come from an empty hole, and how can there be waves without wind?" He Qiu quickly asked: "Who is secretly accepting and giving bribes?"
"You ask me?" Song Che shook his head,
"You are the director of the imperial examination, and I am a passing businessman. You don't know, so how can I know?" He Qiu put down the test paper, walked up to Song Che, and pushed his shoulder: "Brother-in-law, the best scholar in the imperial examination is the best in the world. When it comes to big things, you come to me late at night and you are definitely not just chatting. You must have a way to find those corrupt officials, right?"
"Hey, don't call me brother-in-law. I'm not satisfied with you as brother-in-law at all." Song Che put aside He Qiu's hand and scolded: "You get up early all the time and don't want to see your wife and children first when you get home. At a glance, I am not marrying my sister to you so that she can stay alone in an empty house."
"This..." He Qiu walked to the window and sighed to Yue Xing: "Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to achieve at the same time. How could I never want to be at home with my parents, wife and children? But the government is busy with political affairs, and I am the head of hundreds of officials. How could I Can you spare the time?" He looked at Song Che again, his tone mostly complaining: "Besides, brother-in-law, didn't you also leave a whole house of wives, concubines, and children to go out on business?" Song Che smiled and said, "Why don't we stop here tonight? , you go back to your room to spend time with your wife and children, and tomorrow morning, dress up as a Confucian scholar taking the exam, and we will go catch corrupt officials together."
"Are you sure?"
"It will happen!"... The next morning. He Qiu took off his official uniform, put on a Confucian robe, a Jieyuan turban, and a trunk on his back. In order to play the role well, he also had his beard trimmed. At first glance, he was really a man who came to Beijing to take the exam. What a handsome young man!
"Lingzhi, look, about four or five years ago, your husband was dressed like this when he went to Beijing to take the exam. Hahaha..." Song Che joked, pointing at He Qiu who had finished his disguise. Dressing up, Song Che actually had an idea in his mind
"Ning Caichen" looks like. Ganoderma covered her mouth and laughed secretly,
"After shaving, he looks like a completely different person. If I didn't look carefully, I wouldn't have recognized him..."
"Exactly, it's a joke!" He Qiu said with a blushing face: "I was originally an Imperial College student at that age. I was dressed in a brocade Confucian robe, with jade trees facing the wind. I never knew how to write the word "down and out". But at least one thing has not changed, that is, he is very shameless. Thinness, and a arrogant temper.
"Hehehe..."
"Ms. sir, when you come to Beijing to take the exam, you must be courteous and courteous to others. The slave family is looking forward to your triumphant return from high school." Lingzhi followed the example of the little lady and sent her affectionately.
He Qiu squinted and smiled, and replied calmly: "Don't worry, madam, when I get the top spot in high school, I will definitely abandon this wretched wife like you!"
"you dare!"
"Okay, okay, don't get too involved in the drama. Mr. He, let's set off quickly, shall we?" Song Che dragged He Qiu into the carriage and drove towards Suyunzhai.
In the morning at Suyunzhai, the doors and windows were half-opened, and the sound of books was ringing. All the Confucian scholars were studying hard.
"Congratulations... congratulations, Mr. Song... Boss Song!" Shopkeeper Liu greeted the noble man.
"Shh..." Song Che made a silent gesture,
"Don't make any noise, so as not to disturb other people's study." He asked again: "Wang Zhipeng didn't come to cause trouble, did he?" Shopkeeper Liu said: "I came to the store yesterday evening. He wanted to attack with pairs, but it's not as good as Mr. Liu. I made a good deal, asked for trouble and left." Song Che nodded and asked Boss Liu to lead the way to the superior guest room where Liu Xingnan was staying.
Knock on the door. The person who opened the door was book boy Lu An.
"Sir, Boss Chen is here to see you!" Liu Xingnan quickly put down the book and came to the door to introduce Song Che and the others into the house.
This first-class guest room in No. 1 is really extraordinary. The living room and bedroom are separated from each other. You can't hear the sound of reading outside at all.
"Brother Chen... I thought we would never meet again. Are you not a businessman?" I don't know if Song Che knew her secret. Not only did the title change to
"Brother", even the tone of his voice changed slightly.
"I just set off in the evening, so I came to see you. Oh, by the way, let me introduce you," Song Che pulled He Qiu aside and said with a smile: "His name is 'Gong Qiu', he is my relative in Suzhou. He is also a candidate this year." Liu Xingnan bowed politely.
"Brother Gong is wearing the Jieyuan Lun scarf. He must be the best in Suzhou. I'm disrespectful." He Qiu couldn't bend down, so he just hummed softly.
"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot about the business. Brother Liu, my brother-in-law and I came here this time to share a good thing with you." Song Che said with a smile.
"Oh? What's the good thing?"
"Brother Liu, have you ever heard of the 'door packages' and 'extra money' that are popular among candidates recently?" After all, Song Che is not a candidate, and He Qiu is a fake candidate. If you want to find out who is accepting bribes, you should find someone Liu Xingnan is the perfect candidate to help real candidates.
