As soon as the words "favoritism and fraud" came out, the Qiande Hall could no longer remain quiet.
Everyone's faces were filled with disbelief and jaw-dropping.
After a while, someone started whispering softly.
After the brief shock, Yang Huai came to his senses and maintained his external image well.
Although I don’t know why His Majesty is so angry, and I don’t know why His Majesty believes that Hu Yan is engaging in malpractice for personal gain.
However, the development of the situation now is quite different from what he expected.
Even better.
That being the case, why not do it?
Yang Shao was even more happy. Hu Yan had made His Majesty so angry. Doesn't that mean that the position of offering wine in the Imperial Academy was already in his pocket?
Wei Qing's face changed drastically. Although he didn't know the reason, he absolutely believed in his apprentice, so he took a step forward and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, although Hu Yan is a little poor, his life is not bad."
"He has always had a reputation for being honest and upright, let alone such a big event as Chun Wei. I understand that he would never dare to do anything for personal gain. Please be aware of everything, Your Majesty."
Emperor Renxuan didn't say anything after hearing this. He just threw the examination paper in his hand under the steps, and then said coldly: "Read it yourself."
When Hu Yan saw this, his heart suddenly trembled.
The examination papers were reviewed by him, the president, vice president, and eighteen examiners.
In terms of content and ranking alone, there is no flaw, and His Majesty is even less likely to think that he is engaging in malpractice for personal gain.
So the mistake must be in the candidate’s name and place of origin!
After stepping forward to pick up the examination papers, Hu Yan quickly looked at Gong Yuan's name and place of origin.
He vaguely remembered that His Majesty felt angry just after seeing this.
He was particularly puzzled at first. It was just a tribute yuan. There was one every three years. How could it make the emperor unhappy?
However, when the name and place of origin came into view, he froze instantly.
The next moment, his pupils contracted and his eyes dilated. He held the examination paper in front of his eyes and read it word by word.
Name: Shen Liangfu, place of origin: Huainan.
Southern...Southern people?
How could Gong Yuan be from the south?
How can this be!
This is absolutely impossible!
And it was not the Huainan poet, nor the Jiangnan prodigy, but Shen Liangfu.
Who is this Shen Liangfu?
For a moment, Hu Yan froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.
Not only did he see this scene, but Wei Qing and Yang Huai standing in the front row also saw it.
Both of them are old foxes who have been in the officialdom for decades. Compared with Hu Yanlai, the city is much deeper.
But now, everyone is frowning.
A look of surprise visible to the naked eye.
Could this Shen Liangfu be a reclusive man with great talent?
I don't know whether he is better or worse than the Huainan poet.
However, the position of Gongyuan is just an exception. Why is Your Majesty so angry?
"Hu Yan, hurry up and take a look at the exam papers at the back." Seeing Hu Yan standing there stunned, Wei Qing frowned and reminded.
Now is not the time to be in a daze!
When Hu Yan heard this, he immediately woke up and began to read the next exam papers.
The second person, Zhen Renyi, was originally from Jiangnan.
The third person, Chen Chuge, is from Jiangnan.
Fourth A, Zhou An, native of Huainan.
The fifth person, Gu Xingwen, was originally from Jiangnan.
…
Eleventh A, Huang Zutai, native of Huainan.
The first eleven people were all from the south.
No, to be precise, they are all from Jianghuai County!
this...
For a time, the entire Qiande Hall fell into unspeakable absolute silence.
Everyone held their breath, not daring to breathe.
Yang Huai looked surprised and secretly looked at Hu Yan.
He found that there were times when he misjudged the wrong person. Hu Yan usually seemed indifferent to fame and wealth, but he never expected to be so bold.
Dare to commit acts of favoritism and malpractice.
And all of a sudden, there are eleven!
You know, the last time someone accepted a bribe, only five committed fraud.
Good guy, you have more than twice as much as others.
That is the crime of confiscating a family and exterminating a clan!
For a moment, Hu Yan even looked at him with pity.
Children from poor families are really afraid of poverty.
Once you get an opportunity, you will do whatever it takes, regardless of the consequences.
I never thought about it, but I ruined my own future.
Wei Qing looked at this scene and stood dumbfounded, speechless for a long time.
There was even a moment when he began to wonder if he had trusted the wrong person.
After all, given the differences between the north and the south of Daqian, it would be a fantasy to say that the top eleven were all from Jianghuai counties, even if they were all from the south.
Apart from the fact that the examiner engaged in malpractice for personal gain, there is basically no other explanation.
But after all, Hu Yan was his disciple who he had carefully taught for more than ten years. After he became a talented person, he has always been with him. He knows very well what kind of person he is on a daily basis.
So I quickly concluded that there must be a hidden secret.
Just when he was about to ask for mercy, he heard Hu Yan, who was kneeling beside him, say in a hoarse voice:
"His Majesty!"
"I am brave and loyal to the country. This spring, I am even more conscientious and do not dare to make any mistakes."
"What's more, I, the president, vice president, eighteen examiners and twenty people live and eat together."
"There is absolutely no chance of accepting a bribe."
"Furthermore, the incident of accepting bribes in the imperial examinations in the past few years is still vivid in my mind. Even if I really want to commit such favoritism and malpractice."
"How could it be done so hastily and clumsily."
"So that the first eleven are all from Jianghuai County?"
"Therefore, I put the black gauze on my head and the head on my neck as a guarantee that I will never accept bribes or engage in any malpractice for personal gain. I ask Your Majesty to be aware of everything."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Hu Yan lying on the ground, his forehead colliding with the ground, making a thumping sound.
Emperor Renxuan frowned slightly when he heard this. He tapped his fingers on the dragon chair, as if in deep thought.
At this time, Wei Qing, who had been reading the exam papers for a long time, also stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, judging from the humble minister's opinion, I'm afraid there is something fishy about this matter."
"Tao Lai."
"Just now, Wei Chen has roughly read through these eleven examination papers."
"I found that except for Gu Xingwen, the fifth person, the other ten people's eight-part essays, strategies, and poems are all somewhat similar."
"Of course, it's not that the content is similar, but the format is similar."
"In normal times, this would not be a big problem."
"But unfortunately, these ten people are all at the top, and even beat out all the candidates in the north."
"In this way, the doorway is a bit big."
"In my humble opinion, I am afraid that these ten candidates have some problems themselves, and it is not Hu Yan's fault."
"I suggest that we retrieve the resumes of these ten candidates and check them in detail before making a decision."
After saying that, Wei Qing retreated.
A good minister should never make decisions for the emperor, but only give advice.
However, as soon as he said these words, before Emperor Renxuan could react, Yang Huai could not sit still.
He didn't speak just now because the matter was serious and Hu Yan's punishment could not be avoided. His Majesty made his own decision.
If you step in at that time, you will inevitably get into trouble.
But now that Wei Qing is about to take out Hu Yan, how can he continue to give in?
Dang Ji stood up and said: "Wei Chen thinks that what Prime Minister Wei said is inappropriate."
"Eight-legged essays and poetry texts have established rhythms, and everyone writes according to this rhythm. Why do you only say that these ten people have problems, but not all candidates around the world?"
"Could it be that you want to use your position as prime minister to smear someone's name?"
"Furthermore, even if there is really something wrong with these ten people, why didn't Hu Yan, as the chief examiner of Chunwei, notice it in advance? This allowed the matter to evolve to this point!"
