Women Wearing Men: The Growth Path of the Bastards of the Aristocratic Family

Two days later, the three ministers of the Ministry of Punishment, the Procuratorate, and the Dali Temple reported the results of the investigation to Emperor Jingfeng.

"...After investigation, the entire examination process, from the drafting of the questions, invigilation, to the marking of papers and the determination of the admission list, was all in compliance with the regulations, and no illegal or fraudulent incidents were found. The results of some candidates who failed the examination were reviewed by the cabinet. At the same time as the review was conducted, the relevant examiners gave detailed reasons for dismissal, which were indeed well-founded, and it was not because of malicious rejection..."

With a dull pain in his head, Emperor Jingfeng stroked his temples lightly, suppressing the impatience in his heart, and waited for Gu Yuanhui to finish the long series of investigation results before he asked casually: "According to the wishes of the three lovers, three hundred tributes Behind the unbelievable result that scholars in the south accounted for 260% and only 39% in the north, is there no fraudulent behavior?"

Beads of sweat rolled down from the temples, Gu Yuanhui suppressed the itch, and said with difficulty: "...according to the current results, it is indeed the case."

Although it is absurd, although it is unbelievable, this is the truth, the truth that no one can change.

Gu Yuanhui himself couldn't explain why it happened like this, why after three years of recuperation after the locust disaster, the gap between the northern scholars and the southern scholars became wider and wider.

Is it because the level of the northern scholars this year is extremely poor, while the southern scholars are extremely good?Or is it because the style of writing in the north has been inferior to that in the south for many years, forming a vicious circle, leading to the decline of culture and education in the north?Or because of something else, Gu Yuanhui doesn't know.

This is sometimes the case in the world. When looking for the cause of an event, among the many possibilities, it is the most absurd and outrageous one that is the truth.

It is a pity that at present, such a truth is not what the majority of scholars—especially the majority of northern scholars who have failed the rankings—want to see.

"I forgive you for not daring to cheat."

After a long silence, Emperor Jingfeng briefly commented on the results of the investigation, and then he sighed and asked: "The result is out, but the three lovers, do you think scholars in the world can accept such an investigation?" result?"

"'There were no violations and frauds in the process', which is tantamount to telling everyone that the scholars in the north just couldn't pass the exams in the south. The so-called fraud is a rumor fabricated by them after they failed the exam. Hit the northern scholar in the face?"

Speaking of this, the coolness in Emperor Jingfeng's eyes gradually grew, and his voice became cold: "Besides, what they said is not unreasonable. With such a large gap in the admission ratio, if things go on like this, will there be any northerners in this court? My Great Xia , wouldn’t it become only half of the country in the south?”

The three of them were startled, and hurriedly knelt down shaking their bodies, not daring to breathe.

Emperor Jing Feng calmly closed his eyes, raised his hand and said: "Forget it, I didn't mean to scare you, the plan for now is to quickly come up with a solution, get up."

The three stood up, with a faint chill in their hearts, and they dared not speak for a while.After a long while, seeing the impatience between Emperor Jingfeng's brows becoming more and more obvious, Xi Jin, the censor of the right capital of the Inspectorate, had no choice but to stand up and say:

"I feel that northern scholars will definitely be dissatisfied with the announcement of the results like this. Why don't we use the locust plague as an excuse to say that the people's livelihood in the north is in decline, culture and education have not yet been restored, and the court is kind and lenient, and we will hold another test for the northern scholars. Enrolling three hundred tributes separately, so as to satisfy the northerners and retain the original number of tributes, should be the best way to achieve both."

Dali Temple Minister Huang Zongheng frowned when he heard the words, and said: "Master Xi only thinks about the scholars, but has he ever thought about the court? Six hundred tributes, after the palace examination, there will be six hundred Jinshi. There are so many in the court." Give them vacancies? If you pass the Jinshi exam, you have to wait for the vacancy like a Juren, I'm afraid they will make more troubles in the future!"

Seeing that Xi Jin had nothing to say, Huang Zongheng turned around and cupped his hands towards Emperor Jingfeng, and said calmly: "According to what I see, we still have to keep the admission quota for a total of [-] tributes. Will try and re-enroll.”

Gu Yuanhui disagreed and said: "There is a certain element of luck in the admission of the exam. It doesn't mean that you can only prove your strength if you pass the exam every time. For those scholars who have already passed the exam, they may not be able to pass the exam again. Now we have to cancel it." Do you think they can agree to their admission qualifications? At that time, it will just be another group of people making trouble."

"What's more, judging from our investigation results, there is no fraud in this exam, which means that the more than 200 southern scholars were admitted by their own abilities. If there is another exam, the number of places in the exam for southern scholars What should we do more? How should we explain it then?"

Huang Zongheng was so blocked that he became angry, flicked his sleeves in displeasure, and said in a blunt tone: "Then ask Gu Shangshu, what's your opinion!"

Gu Yuanhui said: "In my opinion, it is better to keep some of the tribute places that have passed the exam, and then conduct another exam for the northern scholars, and distribute the remaining places to them. Satisfied the northern scholars."

Huang Zongheng disapproved: "How much to keep? How much to distribute? Please, Mr. Gu, make it clear. There may be a difference in the result if there is a difference in the number of places. I am afraid that it will not satisfy the two groups of people, but will make the two groups of people dissatisfied! "

Gu Yuanhui tried his best to talk to him in a friendly voice: "How to allocate can naturally be negotiated in detail. At present, we must quickly stabilize the mood of the scholars, otherwise we will not be able to come up with the charter, so we will continue to procrastinate. I am afraid that the more procrastination will become more serious."

When the two were arguing, Xi Jin interjected again: "In my opinion, it is better to recruit [-] tributes from the north alone. Even if there are not enough official positions, we can let them stay in the Imperial Academy first..."

……

Hearing the quarrel between the three, Emperor Jingfeng's headache showed signs of violent attack again. He clapped his palms impatiently to calm the three of them down: "Once the imperial court issues an announcement, it cannot be changed. Instead of us here To measure how to satisfy the scholars, it is better to release some news first, to test their tone, and if there is something wrong, the court can adjust it at any time."

"According to Gu Qing's method, keep the top 150 tributes admitted this time, and remove the 150 behind. After half a month, another general examination will be held for the northern scholars, and the remaining 150 tributes will be recruited from it."

Speaking of this, Emperor Jingfeng added: "Also, since the investigation results have come out, it has been proved that there is no fraud in the imperial examination, except for Cai Zhichuan and other chief examiners and deputy examiners, some innocent officials at the bottom can be released first, so as to avoid the court People in the middle are panicked."

"Okay, that's it for today, you go down."

When Emperor Jingfeng spoke, the three of them naturally did not dare to refute, and replied: "I will take my leave."

After the three of them left, a Flying Fish Guard quietly appeared. Emperor Jing Feng's expression turned cold, and he ordered: "When all parties relax their vigilance in the past two days, let me find out what's going on with the test set. , must find out the main messenger behind the scenes."

"Yes, my subordinate understands."