The method mentioned by King Wei Liu Xu is not impossible, but it is extremely risky. Once the news leaks out, everything will be lost. It is not that King Wei has never thought about failure, but he cannot allow himself to think so much at the moment, and there is What better way than this? Even if there were, who would be loyal and give him advice now?
Du Zongting didn't know what to say at this time. What he didn't expect was that King Wei actually knew how to use dangerous tactics. It seemed that he had been forced into a desperate situation. Du Zongting began to hesitate about the task assigned by King Wei. Once he got on this ship, there seemed to be no way back. Trying to persuade King Wei now seems to be in vain. There is no turning back now. No matter what King Wei says, he can only nod his head and say "yes".
The night is dark, but the moon is still rising on the roof of the "Gaosheng Inn", and dim red lanterns are hung under the eaves.
When Lu Zuo returned to the inn, it was already dark. Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji were waiting for Lu Zuo to come back for dinner in the guest room. When they saw Lu Zuo looking strange when he entered the room, they asked him in unison what was wrong. Lu Zuo lowered his head and said nothing. After a busy day, although his stomach was empty, he had already forgotten about being hungry. Now when he saw the sumptuous food on the table, he remembered that he was already very hungry, so he went straight to the table. Sitting next to Yin Ji, when he picked up his chopsticks and prepared to pick up vegetables, he had no intention of eating. After hesitating for a moment, he gently placed his chopsticks on the table, then lowered his head and thought about something.
Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji looked at each other. This sumptuous dinner was specially arranged by the shop owner. The shop owner knew that Lu Renxiang and the others were nominated for gold medals today, so he specially gave them extra dishes for free.
Lu Renxiang felt strange, his brother was obviously very hungry, how could he not be able to take a bite? Is it because of the failure today? But when he saw that he had failed the exam during the day, he was still calm and composed. When encountering any major events on weekdays, his brother could say that the mountain would collapse without falling. How could it be so abnormal today, but he did not dare to ask more questions.
Yin Ji was more courageous and asked again nervously, "Master, has something happened?"
Lu Zuo looked worried, looked at the two of them, and then said calmly: "Something big might happen!"
"Something big happened? What happened? What could happen to such a good person!" Lu Renxiang couldn't bear to ask.
"Yes, Master, please don't scare me."
Seeing the anxious and concerned expressions of the two of them, Lu Zuo said, "The King of Wei may rebel!"
"Ah..." Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji were so stunned that they dropped their chopsticks on the table, then looked at each other dumbfounded and asked, "Are you sure?"
Lu Zuo shook his head, then stood up and walked to the window, then closed the window tightly, and finally sat back down again before saying, "I'm just guessing now!"
Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that he was just guessing. Lu Renxiang continued to ask: "Brother, how do you know?"
"Otherwise the Queen Mother wouldn't have come to see me in person today. It seems that King Wei is really at his wits end. Nothing has happened yet, so it's hard to say anything! But based on my understanding of King Wei, it's impossible for him to give up. .”
Lu Renxiang asked curiously: "Brother, will you be affected?"
Lu Zuo's originally plain face suddenly showed helplessness and anxiety, "It's hard to say..."
Yin Ji rolled up his sleeves, smashed the table with his fist, and said disdainfully: "If you are afraid of what he will do, whoever dares to arrest my master must first step over my body."
Lu Zuo then became concerned about Lu Renxiang and asked, "Are there any officers coming to see you today?"
"Yes, yes, the good news has also been presented! This afternoon I paraded with the other candidates. Tomorrow at noon, the emperor will give a banquet, and all the tributes who have been selected must attend!" Lu Renxiang couldn't restrain his excitement, his face She was overjoyed, but she tried her best to restrain herself. After all, her brother's failure this time had something to do with her. The top spot on this list should have been her brother's.
Yin Ji asked with a smile: "Then second brother will be able to see the emperor tomorrow?"
"Hey!" Lu Renxiang smiled and waved to indicate no, "This banquet is hosted by the Ministry of Etiquette, and the emperor will not come forward."
"Then what official position do you think the emperor will arrange for you next?" Yin Ji continued to ask innocently.
Lu Renxiang couldn't help but think about it at that moment, and then said: "What kind of official has to continue to participate in the civil service examination hosted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs at the beginning of next month? What position can be appointed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs if the candidate is successful?"
"Quan test? What is Quan test?" Yin Ji asked curiously.
"You don't even know about the Quan Examination!" Lu Renxiang scoffed, and then explained, "After the imperial examination, the person named on the gold list is called a Gongshi, but in order to advance to become a court official, the Gongshi must participate in the Civil Service Another set of examinations administered by the Ministry, that is, the Quan Examination. The Ministry of Personnel will arrange where you will serve based on the results of the Quan Examination. This Quan Examination tests your body, speech, writing, and judgment, which means you will be judged by your appearance and speech. , calligraphy, diction and so on..."
Yin Ji quickly interrupted Lu Renxiang, "Okay, okay, I don't understand it after all. The world of you scholars is really complicated. This exam is much more complicated than passing the test. I don't want to read any crappy books. I don’t understand that so many people failed the exam that day, and some actually cried like that, and some who passed the exam even fainted. I think it’s all for the same reason, and that is ‘officials are obsessed with their minds’. Look at my master, he is the calmest. I just don't care." Yin Ji said while looking at the master with admiration.
Lu Zuo had been silent on this matter for a long time. At this time, he also answered and asked Lu Renxiang: "Renxiang! Did you send someone back to report the news to my mother about being selected?"
"Yes, yes!" Lu Renxiang nodded repeatedly with a smile, "The government has also sent people. I have to see how the civil service examination goes. If I do well in the examination and can stay in Kyoto as I wish, I will buy a farm here. When the time comes, I will take my old mother over. If I am sent to another county, then I will go back to my hometown and see my old mother."
Lu Zuo nodded with satisfaction, "Now you have to study hard. The revival of the Lu family depends on you." When he said this, Lu Zuo remembered the words of his master's old friend Zen Master, he must survive this period. Two months, but it seems difficult to survive these two months now. What if we leave here? This thought has been struggling in my heart more than once, but wouldn't everything I did before coming to the capital be in vain? Now we can only take steps to make ends meet.
Seeing that his brother was unhappy, Lu Renxiang asked, "Brother, what's next for you? Are you still staying in Kyoto?"
"Well..." Lu Zuo nodded, "I can't go anywhere now. I came to Kyoto this time just to wade through this muddy water. Renxiang, just take part in the test and let the rest be done. "
