Jingming

Chapter 28

The big driver entered the city. At this moment, in an inn in the capital, a group of scholars were more excited than others.

"The new king is finally about to succeed. Everyone, it's been more than a year!"

It is said that when one of the three great happiest events in life is being named on the Gold List, this group of scholars had already experienced that kind of ecstasy last year: they were all winners of the 15-year Ritual Examination of Zhengde.

But after the ecstasy, there was more than a year of depression: because the emperor was seriously ill after his southern tour and returned, the palace examination, which was supposed to be held after the Ministry of Rites examination, has been delayed until now.

They are no longer removed from the palace examination, and all of them are already quasi-jinshi, but their current status is still only Gongsheng after all, and they have not been admitted.

"The Talent Ceremony is a major event, and the imperial examination must be scheduled for next month." One of them smiled and teased another thin scholar, "Brother Cai, your bad luck has come to an end. Liang Ge I have always appreciated your talent and learning, and you two are from the same hometown. This time, Mr. Liang Ge went to Anlu to welcome the new emperor with his rare body. He only needs to mention your name before His Majesty, and Brother Cai will be on the rise. It's nothing to worry about."

The scholar waved his hand in embarrassment: "Mr. Liang Ge is just sympathetic to the twists and turns in his academic career. It depends on the essay and ranking on which list you will be listed in the palace examination and what position you will be given temporarily."

"Fortune and misfortune depend on each other!" The Gongsheng students were excited not only because the imperial examination was finally about to be held, "It is extremely rare for Your Majesty to succeed the Datong as the son of a vassal prince! Although we are Gongsheng students of Zhengde Xinsike, we will be His Majesty." The first Jinshi I got! There has always been an emperor and a courtier..."

Gong Sheng, who is called Brother Cai, is named Huang Zuo, and he and Liang Chu are both from Guangzhou.

Huang Zuo, who is now 31, has grown up as a teenager. When he was six years old, his tutor told him that he had nothing to teach him, and asked him to go home and study on his own.He finished the homework before the imperial examination at the age of 11, but after that he officially embarked on the road of scientific examination, but it was a rough time for nearly 20 years.

He was already the head of the court examination, but because of the grievances between the two inspectors, he re-examined the college exam. Huang Zuo, the original case leader, was not allowed to take the exam alone.

Later, I got to know Yuan in the township examination, but how far is Guangzhou from the capital?Huang Zuo missed the Ritual Examination in the spring of the following year.

Three years later, my father passed away on the way, and I went home to observe my filial piety.

The next subject, this time I was sick, and I couldn't continue the exam halfway through the exam.Huang Zuo once felt disheartened, and it was Liang Chu who encouraged him, a fellow countryman, to try again.

Then it was last year, and this time it was even more speechless: Huang Zuo lost his guide, and he was not allowed to participate in the examination according to the regulations.If Mao Cheng, Minister of Rites, hadn't made a special case, Huang Zuo would have to delay for another three years.

After finally becoming a Gongsheng student with the No.18 name, the palace examination was delayed again and again.

During this period of time, Huang Zuo was dubbed Kodao's nemesis by many of his classmates, either with ridicule or complaints.

Now that the opportunity finally came, Huang Zuo sat by the window and looked at the impressive guard of honor of the emperor in the distance, looking at those people in red, green and green official clothes.

When he went to thank Liang Chu after high school last year, Huang Zuo knew that he had been placed at the top of the list, and was changed to No.18 only after he had objections.

At this moment, Huang Zuo sincerely hoped that the new monarch would be a bole.

……

Among the big books, the academicians of the Hanlin Academy also looked at the big man in front of them with different eyes.

The ranks of the bachelors and scholars of the Hanlin Academy are low, but the places where talents are stored have always been reserved for the best in each subject.As a close minister of the emperor, after the establishment of the cabinet, a de facto threshold has been formed over the years: non-Hanlin can not enter the cabinet.

Now that the new emperor will be enthroned, the emperor and the courtiers will be more vividly reflected in this emperor who was originally the son of the vassal king.

Among the four cabinet ministers, Yang Tinghe is 63 years old, Liang Chu is 58 years old, Jiang Mian and Mao Ji are both [-] years old.

In a few years, the court does not know how many opportunities will appear.

Now these Hanlin scholars are all trying to figure out what kind of articles Xinjun likes, what kind of people he admires, and what kind of knowledge he admires.

For a 15-year-old emperor, Jingyan is indispensable.In addition to important ministers giving lectures, academicians of the Imperial Academy also have the opportunity to attend lectures and lectures!

Among these people, there is another person who has just turned forty.

He was Yan Song, who was second in the top two and fifth in the overall ranking in Hongzhi's 18th year. He entered the Imperial Academy as a concubine at that time.

But then Emperor Zhengde ascended the throne, Liu Jin became the most powerful in the world, and Yan Song retired from office and returned to his native place, staying in his hometown of Fenyi County, Yuanzhou Prefecture for ten years.

Yang Tinghe, the chief examiner in the 18th year of Hongzhi, once invited him to return to office, but he refused.

Some people said that he was looking after him, but he understood the danger of the court at that time.

When eunuchs gain power and the emperor has prejudice against civil servants, it is really not a good time to work hard.As Yang Tinghe's disciple, Yan Song might be on the cusp of charging ahead.

Even five years ago, the power of eunuchs had been suppressed a lot. When Yang Tinghe invited him to return to office, he agreed. After returning to Beijing, he has only stayed in the noble Imperial Academy.

But now, Yan Song's mind finally came alive.Yang Tinghegui's support as the chief assistant is another contribution. Over the past month or so, the efforts to eliminate the bad government and suppress the power of eunuchs have been great, which is quite brilliant.

The most important thing is that Yan Song is already 40 years old!
He has accumulated so many years, how long can he wait?

……

When Dajia Lubo was about to arrive in front of Daming Gate, in a small courtyard inside the Xizhimen Gate of the capital, the owner Zhang Ji knelt in the yard tremblingly, and asked tremblingly, "I don't know if the heavenly official is coming, the students are so rude, the humble house is rough, I don't know... ..."

"Zhang Xiucai, this can't be done. Our family is not here to proclaim the decree." The man in eunuch costume smiled and helped him up, "Zhang Xiucai also knows that His Majesty will ascend the throne soon. We are slaves Yes, I have to help the master to think about things first. The Empress Dowager ordered the servants to pre-select some gentlemen in Beijing. I heard that Ling Qianjin is very beautiful and well-educated, I wonder if I can let our family meet first?"

Zhang Ji's face suddenly changed when he heard the words, and he hesitated and replied: "How can a little girl get into the eyes of the heavenly family. This heavenly official..."

The eunuch's face darkened, and then he smiled and said, "Zhang Xiucai, I'm just pre-selecting some gentlemen. Our family is serving the Queen Mother's order. Can Zhang Xiucai know that if the daughter has both talent and appearance, next year's draft will enter the palace? There is a great chance to be the mother of the world. At that time, Zhang Xiucai will be an earl."

How can Zhang Ji refuse in front of the people personally arranged by the Queen Mother?

He knew where the woe had begun.

Over the past year, many servants from powerful families have visited several times, but Zhang Xiucai prevaricates them with the excuse that his wife is dead and his daughter is still in the filial age.

During this period of time, there was nothing he could do. How could he, a scholar who failed repeatedly, compete with those dignitaries?
Just thinking that his precious daughter would be taken as a concubine by those notorious dignitaries, Zhang Xiucai refused in every possible way.

I don't know which relatives and friends saw the daughter of Fu Xiao at the funeral of the dead wife, so they spread the word.

Unexpectedly, it has now spread to the palace again.

The ignorant and panic-stricken Zhang Qinghe was stared at by the eunuch uncomfortably for a while, and after the disturbed father sent those people out, he asked in fear, "Father, what happened?"

Zhang Ji sighed sadly, looking at his fourteen-year-old daughter who was beautiful.

There is glory and wealth in the harem, but it is also dangerous.

Now it is the Empress Dowager Zhang who sent people to pre-select Shuren, no doubt to choose some with outstanding appearance, so as to influence the new monarch who is not a parent.I don't know how many unpredictable dangers there will be.

Zhang Ji knew that with his daughter's talent and appearance, it would be very difficult for her to escape this catastrophe.

The most important thing is that her daughter's reputation has already spread faintly in the market.If the draft really starts next year, Shuntianfu will also come over, right?

He only wished he hadn't said a good marriage to his daughter earlier.

"Father...could it be...a talent show?" Zhang Qinghe was smart, seeing her father's expression, and thinking of the eunuch just now, her fair face became even whiter.

Zhang Ji covered his face in fear: "It's late...it's already entered the register, and it's the pre-selection ordered by the Queen Mother herself. Even if you want to hide, you will anger the Queen Mother."

Although Zhang Qinghe has both talent and looks, she was at a loss for what to do with this big change.

Zhang Ji's guess was correct. Ever since Zhu Houcong was determined to be the emperor, the Empress Dowager Zhang had already arranged for the pre-selection of Shuren.

When Zhu Houcong approached the Daming Gate step by step, some of the families who had been contacted in advance were ecstatic, some were in doubt, and some were terrified.

For those who are wholeheartedly thinking about their daughter's future happiness, who doesn't know that the Forbidden City is a giant beast that devours life?

Now, Zhu Houcong passed the Daming Gate and entered the scope of the imperial city.

Right in front of him was Chengtianmen, which he was familiar with but unfamiliar.

　Thanks to Li Dong and I for being silly x for the 200 point reward!Will add another chapter later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)