Chapter 315 Even if the whole world believes in you (1)
Fang Yingwu and Xiang Chengxian looked at the list in the Ministry of Rites and separated. Of course Fang Yingwu went home, while Xiang Chengxian wanted to find his uncle, Mr. Xiang, to feel proud.
Fang Yingwu walked around the Daming Gate and came to Xicheng. Before he reached the door of his home, he entered the alley and saw a crowd of people in front of his home from a distance. Firecrackers were going off. All the neighbors must have come to express their congratulations.
After Fang Yingwu appeared, congratulations came from all directions. He responded humbly to them one by one. When he entered the gate, his face almost froze with laughter.
A servant reported: "My eldest son, I am waiting for you in the hall, and there are also distinguished guests! I want you to go see him as soon as possible when you come back."
After hearing the words, Fang Yingwu went to the front hall. When he entered the room, he found two people sitting there. The owner was naturally his father Fang Qingzhi, but the old man who was the first guest did not recognize him.
However, although Fang Yingwu didn't know the person, he recognized the official robe. Judging from the official robe, the old guest was clearly a second-rank high-ranking official, that is, at the level of the Six Ministers.
Fang Qingzhi shouted to Fang Yingwu: "This is Mr. Zhou, the great patriarch of the Ministry of Rites. What are you doing in a daze? Come forward quickly to meet this distinguished guest!"
Fang Yingwu suddenly realized that this was Zhou Hongmo, the Minister of Rites who had just taken office, and he quickly came forward to pay his respects.
Years ago, the former Minister of Rites, Zou Qian, an old man from the same province who Fang Yingwu despised, became an official at an old age. Zhou Hongmo, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, became the minister, and Xu Pu, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy (the examiner of the current examination) He was promoted to the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.
After returning from the meeting, Fang Yingwu was still puzzled. Today is the day when the results of the examination are released. Why did Zhou Shangshu come to his own house when he is not in charge of the Rites Yamen?
Zhou Shangshu did not show any airs. He stroked his beard and smiled and said: "No need to be too polite, first I want to congratulate you on your high school graduation. In fact, I am here to be a matchmaker. I was entrusted by Liu Xiangguo of Wenyuan Pavilion, so I came to ask for a kiss. I'm very happy. Congratulations. It’s also a good story.”
Fang Yingwu was speechless. Liu Mianhua was the one who got on the list by himself, and then he asked the matchmaker to come to the door. His reaction speed was really one of the best.
Fang Yingwu couldn't help but think of a saying that was as quiet as a virgin and as active as a rabbit. When applied to Liu Mianhua, it was truly worthy of the name.
Although Fang Yingwu and Liu Ji had already negotiated the marriage in private, due to the tight schedule, they had not yet had time to officially start the six ceremony procedures.
Today, Zhou Shangshu came to act as a matchmaker, which means that the etiquette process will begin irreversibly. Instructing the Minister of Rites to play the role of matchmaker, the standards are really high. Liu Mianhua probably also wanted to express his sincerity through this.
After sending Zhou Hongmo away, Fang Qingzhi did not let Fang Yingwu go, but still called his son. He also waved away the servants on the left and right, and after making sure that there was no one around, he asked hesitantly: "Honestly, you know how? Yuan, where did it come from?"
Fang Yingwu just pretended that he didn't understand, and deliberately pretended to be stupid and said: "Where did it come from? Of course I got it through three hard-earned exams in Gongyuan. Is it possible that the imperial court will give me a Huiyuan for no reason?"
Fang Qingzhi patted the table gently. "Don't worry about him. As a father, you are not that confused. Didn't you use any tricks during the examination?"
Fang Yingwu squinted at his father, "Don't talk nonsense. Don't question other people's results without evidence."
Fang Qingzhi squinted at his son, "As a father, I am no more stupid than you. I have studied hard for more than ten years in a poor family. I didn't even get the first place in the Huiyuan exam that year! Your talent is only half a pound, and your study is even worse. The article is far away. How can I be a father? This is the biggest evidence!"
Fang Yingwu argued: "How can father compare like this? The exams are at this time and at that time. Each subject is different. There is a lot of luck!"
Fang Qingzhi said firmly: "I won't argue with you. Let's be honest. What methods did you use? You even got the first place!"
Fang Yingwu was filled with grievances and felt that he was even more unjust than Dou E. He almost swore to the sky: "Son, I definitely did not cheat in the examination room, nor did I follow anyone else's path!"
Then Fang Yingwu played the emotional card again, "No one outside suspected that my son was deceitful, but when he came home, he was repeatedly questioned by his father. It really made me sad and angry for my son. If my mother were here, it would never be more than that!"
After Fang Qingzhi had more contact with his son, he became immune. "As the saying goes, it is better to know a son than his father, but to trust a son is better than his father. Even if the whole world believes in you, I still can't trust you as a father. Besides, Yin Jian is first.
, Listening to the meaning behind Mr. Li’s words, I’m afraid you did a lot of tricks during the provincial examination?”
When it came to the provincial examination, Fang Yingwu felt really guilty and didn't want to get entangled in it, so he asked in a very heart-wrenching manner, "Well, father, wouldn't you just see your son win the imperial examination at a young age and become famous all over the world?"
You only learned Chinese style when you were in your thirties, so you feel unbalanced?"
Fang Qingzhi's original intention was to persuade his son to be righteous and not to indulge in intrigues. But at this moment, his gentlemanly heart was trembling with anger at Fang Yingwu's villainous heart, and he couldn't help but shout: "Unfilial"
Treason!"
At the same time, he raised his hand and was about to hit him. Fang Yingwu took the opportunity and ran away with his head in his arms while shouting: "My son is joking, father, don't take it seriously!"
Returning to his courtyard, Wang Lan and Wang Yu's two concubines and their servants greeted him and congratulated the young master for his high school. Fang Yingwu waved his hand and said, "Let me be quiet for a while."
He needs to take some quiet time. He has been in a state of excitement since he heard the news and has never been able to calm down. Now sitting in his study, away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, his mind has regained its composure and can calmly think about things.
.
The exam does depend on luck, but I know my own family affairs. It is a bit incredible that I can be lucky enough to win the first prize. Is my father's question wrong? Is there really someone behind the scenes? Who among the people I know has such great energy?
The examiner Xu Pu? First of all, he doesn’t have that friendship. Besides, Xu Pu has a good reputation and is a fair person. He should not give himself a Hui Yuan without any reason. Moreover, Mr. Xu is the benefactor who recommended Xie Qian, so there is no need to help Xie Qian.
He just wanted the son of his rival Fang Qingzhi to support him, but he had no such motive.
Examiner Li Dongyang? He also refused to be able to do so. Li Dongyang was only the examiner of the Chunqiu House and had no power to decide the ranking of the first class. He and the examiner Xu Pu did not seem to be in the same circle. Therefore, Li Dongyang lacked this ability.
Eunuch Wang suddenly appeared last night? It's even more impossible. How can eunuchs have any control over the affairs of the civil service system? If Wang Zhi had the ability to influence the rankings in the imperial examination, it would not have completely collapsed in a few years.
Through the elimination method, after much thought, Fang Yingwu felt that there was only one biggest suspect, and that was Liu Mianhua, the bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, who had both ability and motivation. (To be continued)