"Mr. Yang Ge, are there any results for the palace examination? You can just report it to me tomorrow morning. Why do you need to come in person?" Zhu Si looked very impatient.
Yang Tinghe took the initiative to come to Qianqing Palace to ask for an audience, and also brought Mao Cheng and Fengxi with him. He was very coercive, which made Zhu Si very resistant.
The new emperor's attitude was completely different from yesterday when he went to check the files in person.
The reason why Yang Tinghe came to test the matter was that he noticed that the new emperor's behavior was abnormal when he went to Wenyuan Pavilion to read the papers yesterday, which made him feel that he might be closely related to someone among them.
Yang Tinghe said: "Now the rankings of the second and third class have been decided, the seal has been opened, and we are preparing to fill in the imperial list."
"oh!?"
Zhu Sidao said, "Both the second-class and third-class players have been decided, but there are only three people in the first-class class left? Does that mean there are still people in the second-class class who have not yet been decided?"
Mao Cheng took a step forward and said respectfully: "Everything has been decided."
Zhu Si smiled and said: "That's enough. There are only three people in the first class, so what's the problem?"
Yang Tinghe said: "It is extremely important when it comes to the candidate for the No. 1 Scholarship, so I ask your Majesty to make the decision in person."
With that said, Yang Tinghe asked Fengxi to submit the three examination papers that were still being sealed.
Zhu Si didn't want to read it at first, but he wanted to know whether Zhu Hao's test paper was among the three papers, so he tried to suppress his excitement and waved his hand to Zhang Zuo, who brought the three papers in front of him.
"This... should I decide?"
Zhu Si asked casually.
He saw Zhu Hao's paper at a glance, and the tension in his heart finally relaxed.
Yang Tinghe said: "Yes."
Zhu Si asked: "Who are they?"
Mao Cheng answered again: "There are still three people, namely Fei Maozhong from Jiangxi, Yang Weicong from Beizhili, and Zhu Hao from Huguang."
"who?"
Zhu Si's eyes widened upon hearing this, with a hint of anger on his face, "I said the last one."
When Yang Tinghe heard this, there was indeed a problem.
Mao Cheng repeated: "He is Zhu Hao, the son of Luzhou, Anhui, Huguang."
Zhu Si looked at the examination paper carefully and squinted his eyes. Yang Tinghe peeked his head and saw that the emperor had indeed looked at the paper that had the highest evaluation and was said to be "outstanding among all others". He immediately knew something in his mind.
Zhu Si suddenly turned to the copy next to him, picked it up and said, "Let this volume be the first prize."
This move left Yang Tinghe dumbfounded and unexpected.
Mao Cheng hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the article on the first paper has been appreciated by all the readers. His article is sophisticated and should be the first choice for the number one scholar."
Zhu Si frowned: "Didn't you let me decide? Now I have to make a decision, but you say this is the best, so why let me get involved? You can just make the decision yourself."
The emperor was angry.
Are you civil servants making fun of me?
You said you let me choose, but I chose you but you don’t agree?
Yang Tinghe nodded slightly, and when he looked at Zhu Si, Zhu Si glared at him fiercely.
Yang Tinghe was not annoyed at all and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, why don't you open the three papers and then sort them out."
Zhu Si stood up from behind the table, obviously not wanting to get entangled too much: "Although I have never presided over a palace examination before, I also know that the seal should be opened after the rankings are determined. The rules cannot be changed without authorization. I have to set an example... That's all. Mr. Yang Ge, which test paper do you think is worthy of the title of No. 1 Scholar? I will listen to you."
Yang Tinghe handed over his hand: "The holy precepts are inspiring. The veteran believes that, as His Majesty said, since it is determined by rules, the one with the highest evaluation will be the number one scholar."
Zhu Si's face was full of displeasure, but his heart was filled with joy.
He thought to himself, Zhu Hao was right. I skipped Zhu Hao's article and chose someone else's. Yang Tinghe must have thought that I recognized Zhu Hao's handwriting and wanted to retaliate against the Zhu family, so he chose Zhu Hao's article as the top pick.
, and he also said that he should act according to the rules. If he really didn’t have bad intentions, why would he come to me to ask for instructions?
"Mr. Yang Ge, do you have to insist on this?"
Zhu Si kept chattering, trying hard to make Yang Tinghe change his mind.
Mao Cheng hurriedly came out and said: "Your Majesty, when you read the examination paper, the one with the highest evaluation should be the top one, which is the national body. The second one will be the second one, and the third one will be the top one. Please judge by Your Majesty."
Zhu Si waved his hand: "Okay, let's take him as the number one scholar...who cares about him? I'll play another one in the morning tomorrow, so you can stand down."
…
…
Yang Tinghe returned to Wenhua Hall with Mao Cheng and Fengxi.
There was no communication on the road.
When he arrived at the Wenhua Hall, Mao Cheng couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Ge, what do you mean by your majesty?"
Yang Tinghe pointed at Fengxi, and Fengxi immediately retreated from the hall. As a result, only Mao Cheng and Yang Tinghe were left alone in the Wenhua Hall.
Yang Tinghe said: "Come and open the seal."
Mao Cheng then opened the three examination papers. According to the order of arrangement, they were Zhu Hao, Yang Weicong and Fei Maozhong.
"Ah? Why...that fourteen-year-old boy?" Mao Cheng was very surprised.
Zhu Hao’s article is so outstanding?
First he won the top prize, and now he is the top prize again?
Yang Tinghe said: "It seems that this boy has a lot of academic attainments!"
"But Jiefu...he..." Mao Cheng looked around and made sure there was no one else around, then reminded him in a low voice, "This is from Anlu, will it... cause criticism?"
In fact, Mao Cheng didn't mean "to cause criticism", but wanted to ask, will this person form a party with the emperor and not be able to be used by us?
Yang Ting and Dan Dan smiled and said: "One look at you shows that you know very little about this son. Not only is he a student in Anlu Province, but he also grew up in the royal palace since childhood, and has a close relationship with the current majesty..."
"ah?!"
Mao Cheng was really shocked now.
Yang Tinghe said: "But he is also the son of the Zhu family of the Qianhu family of the Jinyiwei. I specifically asked about this son's uncle. Now Zhu Wanhong, the Qianhu of the Jinyiwei, learned from his mouth that this son was arranged to be a companion in the palace since he was a child. He has always been there.
Serve as the court’s spy.”
Mao Cheng never imagined that there was so much inside story behind it, and was speechless for a moment.
"So Your Majesty, when you were in the East Pavilion yesterday, you looked different when you learned that this volume was ranked high. Your Majesty recognized his handwriting at a glance and felt repulsed. Today, you are determined not to choose him as the number one scholar."
Yang Tinghe expressed his judgment.
Mao Cheng asked: "Is it possible that Your Majesty has a close relationship with this son and that Your Majesty is pretending?"
A sneer appeared on the corner of Yang Tinghe's mouth: "I once asked the Queen Mother for instructions from Eunuch Zhang Yong, and learned that the death of the eldest son of King Xingxian that year was related to the Zhu family of Jinyiwei... Do you think your Majesty will trust the children of the Zhu family?"
Mao Cheng suddenly realized: "No wonder, His Majesty clearly recognized his name and knew him, but did not choose him as the number one scholar. It turns out there is such hatred, then..."
Yang Tinghe issued a warning: "Only you and I know about this matter, and we must not leak it to others."
"It's natural."
Mao Cheng wiped his hands with cold sweat.
Jinyiwei plotted to murder the eldest son of Prince Xing? That means the young emperor does not have much real power now, otherwise he would have ordered a thorough investigation, and many people would be implicated.
Yang Tinghe picked up Zhu Hao's paper again with a deep look: "In this way, such a young and talented man can be used by me."
"But Jiefu, after all, this son is from Anlu Prefecture. I'm afraid that the rumors outside will be bad. He is not old. How can he convince the public among the new scholars? Ranking first can already enter Hanyuan, but he is still the top scholar...
Couldn’t it be...alas!”
Mao Cheng had something to say that he was embarrassed to say. The emperor was clearly resisting Zhu Hao as the number one scholar, but you still insisted on it. You clearly didn't give the emperor face!
Yang Tinghe said coldly: "I'm just doing things according to the rules, why should I be afraid?"
…
…
The ranking in the palace examination is determined.
That night, Zhu Si couldn't wait to tell Zhu Hao the good news and acted extremely excited, as if he himself had won the top prize.
All the elderly people present at Prince Xing's Mansion came forward and congratulated Zhu Hao with smiles on their faces.
Tang Yin sighed: "A fourteen-year-old boy, you have won three yuan in a row... No, you have won six yuan in a row. You can be said to be the first person in the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Hao, you deserve the appreciation and cultivation of your teacher."
When he was putting money on his face, Tang Yin began to regard himself as Zhu Hao's enlightenment teacher.
There was not much joy on Zhu Hao's face. He blinked and asked, "Isn't there any unusual behavior on Mr. Yang Ge's side?"
"Who said no?"
Zhu Sidao said, "Yang Ting and that old man actually took advantage of the palace examination to run to my Qianqing Palace with the Minister of Rites and the Imperial Academy. They really regarded the palace as their own home! Fortunately, Zhu Hao, you reminded me that I
Pretending to recognize your name, but not choosing you as the top pick, guess what? The old man actually told me that everything should be done according to the rules, and the top pick can only be you... But the old guy didn't know that he had been plotted to death by us.
dead!"
Zhu Si was extremely angry when he spoke.
Apparently Yang Tinghe went to Qianqing Palace today to ask for an audience, which completely angered him.
Although Zhu Si could refuse, Yang Tinghe's move showed a kind of arrogance of "How dare you not see me", which was what made Zhu Si embarrassed.
Zhu Hao said: "It doesn't matter whether he is the number one scholar or not. As long as he feels that there is a grudge between me and His Majesty, he will be allowed to stay in the capital in the future."
Zhu Si asked in confusion: "But Zhu Hao, why did the old man named Yang insist on following the rules when I said I wouldn't choose you?"
Zhang Zuo was also very surprised: "Yes, Mr. Zhu, we really don't understand this. When His Majesty asks, we don't know how to answer."
Zhang Zuo deliberately "gives up" in front of Zhu Hao.
He belittled himself in this way because he knew that Zhu Si believed that Zhu Hao's strategy was unparalleled in the world. If he pretended to be superior, he would leave a bad impression on the new emperor that "you are insincere and want to compete with Zhu Hao", so it is better to
Lifting up Zhu Hao and belittling himself in front of others shows that he is open-minded to learn and has great respect for Zhu Hao.
Zhu Hao said: "Because he takes it for granted that I and the Zhu family behind me are one, and the Zhu family stayed in Anlu to monitor Prince Xing's palace, so he has a grudge against His Majesty."
"Really? Haha." Zhu Si obviously also knew this statement, but with Zhu Hao around, he didn't think the worst of the Zhu family, but thought it was fun.
Zhang Zuo, however, looked embarrassed: "This may not be good for Mr. Zhu's reputation."
Zhu Si waved his hand: "What's wrong? If people surnamed Yang think that Zhu Hao is a member of the Zhu family of Jinyiwei, they will relax their vigilance. Maybe they even think that Zhu Hao will join his party. Then Zhu Hao successfully fights
Entering their interior, whenever there is any plan, Zhu Hao will respond immediately and take advantage of it...it's exciting just thinking about it!"
Zhang Zuo shuddered after hearing this. If that day comes, Yang Tinghe will be in bad luck.
Zhu Si raised his arms: "In any case, I will have strong support in the court from now on. Finally, I will no longer fight alone. With Zhu Hao here, the time will not be far before those old men go home to farm! I'm waiting.