Even though Zhu Si yawned repeatedly, he answered the questions asked by the court officials with ease, as if he knew all the affairs of the court.
Yang Tinghe did not say a word at the court meeting, and only at the end of the court meeting did Jiang Mian raise the issue of changing the questions in the imperial examination.
Zhu Si had previously sent the test questions proposed by Zhu Hao to the Ministry of Rites. Although there were no problems with the questions, the cabinet obviously wanted to re-write the questions.
Zhu Si frowned: "Is it because the questions I asked are not good? In the palace examination, I am not the one who personally tests the world's scholars? Why can't the questions I asked be used?"
Jiang Mian was retorted by Zhu Si and didn't know how to respond.
"If there is no problem, just use the question I asked, unless someone can accurately tell the reason why it cannot be used... I am tired and will retreat." After saying that, Zhu Si stood up and walked away.
Seeing the emperor's behavior, the ministers looked at each other.
After Zhu Si ascended the throne, the ministers were not used to it. Suddenly there was such an emperor who was diligent in government affairs. He held court meetings every day and often came up with his own opinions and opposed the cabinet, which made them tired to deal with it.
During the Zhengde Dynasty, Yanguan would go to court to persuade the emperor to be diligent and self-denial. Nowadays, it is difficult to have such an opportunity, and his sense of presence has been greatly reduced. Today, the emperor wanted to be lazy and leave the court early, and several officials from the Department of Science and Technology who usually couldn't find their way were in front of them.
Liang, now I finally have the opportunity to report to Yan Qin.
…
…
The meeting ended.
Jiang Mian caught up with Yang Tinghe and walked side by side. In fact, before the court, Jiang Mian felt that Yang Tinghe's proposal to change the test questions was unreasonable, but he could not refuse. Now he really hit a wall and felt a little uncomfortable.
"That question is of a very high level. Who drafted it? Did your Majesty summon people from Hanyuan? Did your Majesty mention it during the banquet yesterday?"
Yang Tinghe asked a series of questions.
According to common sense, the emperor rarely personally set the questions for the previous palace examinations. The Hanlin Academy drafted several questions in the emperor's voice for the emperor to choose. This is also one of the responsibilities of the Hanlin bachelor.
Jiang Mian shook his head, his expression a little strange, implying that "it's better to ask your son."
Now that the Jing Yan Ri lectures have been restored, Yang Shen has re-entered the Hanlin Academy. Although his position is not high and he is only a Hanlin editor, because he is the son of the chief minister, he basically participated in the Jing Yan Ri lectures.
Yang Shen currently serves as the Japanese lecturer, allowing the young emperor to accept Confucianism subtly, and at the same time, he plays the role of monitoring the new emperor's words and deeds.
Yang Tinghe had some confusion on his face: "Before the court meeting, I spoke with Yuan Zhongde and exchanged views on the current situation. From what I can see, Yuan Zhongde's level is relatively limited. It is not like he can assist the new emperor. His majesty must have hidden staff around him."
, should be investigated carefully...this matter is quite urgent."
After these days of contact with the emperor and being angry several times in the court, Yang Tinghe finally felt that there must be a strong opponent hidden behind the emperor.
Jiang Mian asked: "But is this person capable of rivaling the ministers in the cabinet?"
Yang Tinghe shook his head: "Not necessarily, but he is good at creating opportunities for the new emperor to find faults and arouse the suspicion of the emperor and his ministers. This person may have evil intentions and should be eliminated early!"
After hearing this, Jiang Mian thought to himself, you think your opponent is too powerful, so you define him as evil, right?
At least Jiang Mian didn't feel that there was any strong opponent here.
Maybe it's just an imaginary enemy created by Yang Tinghe?
"But... where to start investigating?"
Jiang Mian asked.
Yang Tinghe said: "Why don't you test Yuan Zhongde and get a few things from his mouth? I clearly understand that civil servants should abide by the rules and should not try to use tricks, let alone cause instability in the political system due to conflicts between the monarch and his ministers. This matter is urgent, so please go and deal with it as soon as possible.
!”
…
…
Jiang Mian felt that Yang Tinghe was making a fuss out of a molehill, but he was always the chief assistant, so he could only follow the instructions and go to Yuan Zonggao to test.
Yuan Zonggao did not have much talent for governing the country, but he still knew that the people around the new emperor could not be betrayed casually. Even when he was asked about the inside story of the Anlu Palace, he kept it secret. He turned around and informed Zhang Zuo of the matter, who informed Tang Yin and Zhu Hao.
here.
"Your Majesty was too tired last night. Our family suggested early in the morning that it would be inappropriate to leave the palace today, so as to reserve time for Mr. Zhu's palace examination in two days. We can talk more after the palace examination."
What Zhang Zuo means is that Zhu Si will not be busy leaving the palace these two days.
Tang Yindao: "What Eunuch Zhang said before, did you mean that the cabinet has suspected that there is someone around your majesty?"
"Uh... Mr. Yuan didn't say much. I can't guess. I don't know what Mr. Jiang Ge meant by those words. Maybe that's the case." After Zhang Zuo saluted, he said with a smile, "The new memorial will be sent in the afternoon.
Come here, you two, let’s say goodbye first!”
Tang Yin really wanted to say, didn't he mean to reserve time for Zhu Hao to prepare for the imperial examination? If the emperor doesn't leave the palace, then he shouldn't send memorials, and should Zhu Hao be allowed to rest?
…
Zhang Zuo left.
Tang Yin reminded: "Be careful, the cabinet has been alerted, and they can find you with just a random check."
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Mr. Tang was found on you, right?"
Tang Yin rolled his eyes and didn't want to talk to Zhu Hao.
"Oh, if Mr. Yang Ge knows about my existence, I will probably be in a lot of trouble in the future. He will definitely define me as a traitor who instigates disharmony between the king and his ministers. He will knock me down with public opinion first, and it will be difficult for him to do it again in the future.
When it comes time to turn over, I can only rely on His Majesty's support and be a traitorous minister. It's really difficult."
Zhu Hao sighed.
Tang Yin frowned: "Isn't that true? How can Mr. Yang Ge become a bachelor of the First Academy of Sciences when he is so incompetent?"
Zhu Hao said: "This is the rule that civil servants pay attention to. Regardless of your ability, you should be ranked based on seniority... Take Prince Xing's Mansion as an example. There have been several teachers before and after. If you really want to rank based on seniority, I don't know where I will be ranked? I'm afraid my status is not even that of Gongsun Feng.
Yuandu is quite inferior, right?"
"Well, that's true. You gain trust in the palace. Firstly, it's because you have a good relationship with the new emperor. Secondly... you have outstanding abilities and have done a lot of practical things for the palace."
Tang Yin's evaluation is also fair.
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Sir, I have been in the palace for a long time and know the inside story. But Mr. Yang Ge doesn't know this. How can he be sure that I have this ability? In his eyes, I am just a fledgling boy who has never been an official."
I have been, and actually made plans to help the new emperor target civil servants. How do you think I will be evaluated in his stereotype?
"A capable minister? Forget it, I'll be polite if I don't get thrown into the eighteenth level of hell by him! It's better for you, sir, to help me take the responsibility. If someone from the cabinet really finds out, why don't you, sir, step forward and help me carry it?"
Say everything was your idea, sir."
Tang Yin said: "So you want me to go to the eighteenth level of hell, right?"
"Ha ha!"
The master and apprentice couldn't help but laugh at each other.
After laughing, Tang Yin sighed with emotion: "But you are right. If the cabinet really wants to find out who is behind your majesty, I can only do it with my old bones. I will die half dead and don't care about the false reputation, let alone the stigma.
When you and I get to know each other, I will do something for you."
Zhu Hao looked at Tang Yin with admiration.
This old boy still has some conscience and is willing to stand up for himself to prevent disaster?
Zhu Hao thought about it and decided that it would be good to push Tang Yin out to the public as soon as possible. He should consider letting Tang Yin become an official instead of hiding behind the scenes and acting as a shadow staff.
Isn't it also part of his transformation to let Tang Yin come out of the mountain, be an official in an upright manner, and become the central pillar of the court?
…
…
The cabinet wanted to investigate the shadow staff behind the new emperor, but for a while there was no result.
Zhu Hao was on guard from the beginning. He was careful when entering and exiting, and his anti-tracking ability was first-class. In addition, with Tang Yin as a cover, if he really found out, I am afraid Yang Tinghe would not believe that it was a fourteen-year-old boy who was making plans behind the emperor's back.
?
I just want to use your deep-rooted awareness of seniority and your stereotyped prejudice against young people to become my protective color, so that no one can doubt me.
The imperial examination will be held soon.
Zhu Hao originally wanted to see Zhang Cong again and discuss the issue of the gift with him.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone in such a hurry.
Zhu Hao would not send anyone to follow Zhang Cong. After all, after passing the Jinshi examination, the two of them would become officials in the same court, and it would be more convenient to find him then.
Zhu Hao estimated that Zhang Cong was actively preparing for the exam at the moment, probably studying hard behind closed doors in an effort to make a breakthrough in the exam.
It was very difficult to become an ordinary Jinshi at Zhang Cong's age and make a difference. At most, he would be transferred to a local official after spending a few years in the Sixth Ministry. It is estimated that he would be an official in about ten years.
In the Ming Dynasty, you have to be an official early, otherwise you will have to overwhelm a large number of officials just because of your qualifications. Not everyone has a prime minister who is like his father.
On the contrary, if you pass the first-level exam and enter the Hanlin Academy to serve, maybe one day luck will turn and you will be appreciated by the emperor and rise to the top. That's why Zhang Cong attaches so much importance to the imperial examination.
May 14th afternoon.
There is less than one day left to prepare for the upcoming palace examination.
Zhu Hao met Sun Ru who was studying in the Imperial College.
"...Sir, I would like to introduce you to a good friend named Zhang Lin. He is the Imperial Academy's supervisor and comes from Nanjing."
Sun Ru actually came to see Zhu Hao with a friend he had just met.
Zhu Hao was startled when he heard this and was curious. Wasn't Sun Ru very close to those Hui merchants before? Why did he get to know a supervisor from Nanjing in just a few days? The friendship was so deep that he wanted to bring him back.
Is it time to meet Mr.
"Student Zhang Zichuan, I have met Mr. Zhu."
Zhang Lin saluted respectfully.
To be honest, this person is truly talented and handsome. He is only about twenty years old. At first glance, he belongs to the "young and promising" type.
Zhu Hao asked: "Do you know me?"
Zhang Lin said: "Brother Sun has always praised him for having a great gentleman. From his mouth, the students learned that Mr. Zhu has now passed the imperial examination and will be named on the gold list tomorrow, so he came here because of his fame."
Zhu Hao glared at Sun Ru, as if questioning, "You didn't reveal my identity, did you?"
"Sir, this Brother Zhang is really good at learning. He is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. Many people in Guozixue admire his knowledge. It's just that this time... he failed in the examination... I told him that after following Mr., I passed the exams for students and candidates.
, he admired me very much, so he wanted to... come and discuss knowledge with Mr.
After listening to Sun Ru's words, Zhu Hao probably felt why Zhang Lin was so interested in him.
Sun Ru is the kind of bastard who knows nothing at first glance.
This kind of jerk is just like what Fan Yikuan said back then. Studying is simply a waste of youth. It is better to go back early and inherit the family business and become a wealthy businessman.
But just such a piece of rotten wood that cannot be carved has been cultivated by Zhu Hao to become a scholar in a few years, and now he has entered the Imperial College, with unlimited future. Zhang Lin of course wants to see what this master behind him is capable of.
To be polite, call me Mr. Zhu.
The worst chance is that he will come to find trouble and have to compete head-on with Zhu Hao in terms of knowledge.