The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 69

"Your Excellency, I am Jiangnan Jieyuan, so is Zhang Zhou and Zhang Bingkuan."

Zhang Zhouliang revealed his identity.

Qi Qing was startled for a moment, then said in a suspicious tone: "My lord, don't laugh."

Zhu Feng flicked up his sleeves, and said loudly: "Why don't you believe me? My son is still the commander of the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Feng is the one who conducts thousands of households. How can I lie to you? Zhang Jieyuan also has important things to do when he comes to Beijing, how can he have time to follow him?" How can a group of people compare their talents and learning? A group of short-sighted people!"

At this time, Zhu Feng seemed to be hardened, and finally he no longer had to declare to the public that he was the second son of Cheng Guogong's mansion. He had a decent position, which sounded very good.

"Ah."

Seeing this posture, Qi Qing immediately wanted to run away.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Qi Yuanrong, right? Your Excellency, let's save a game for you. I, Zhang Bingkuan, will personally represent the Southern Zhili scholars and compete with the Northern Zhili students. That Tang Yin, you can wait for now."

"Aren't you... just kidding? With your reputation, if you go to a place and call out that you are Jiangnan Jieyuan, you don't need to save for this round, and there will be many people around you."

Qi Qing couldn't laugh or cry.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Although that's the case, I don't have any connections. It's better to publicize such things in advance. When I saw you, I felt that you have extraordinary vision. Meeting by chance is worse than meeting by chance. This game is still up to you."

Zhang Zhou admired Qi Qing's kind of scene. After he arrived in Shuntian Mansion, he did not have any interpersonal relationships among the scholars. If someone can help Zhang Luo, it would be best not to do it himself.

"You set the price, I set the time and place, you are responsible for booking the venue, and you contact me."

Zhang Zhoudao, "I think the Yuesheng teahouse outside the Guozijian is not bad. The place is spacious and bright. At noon three days later, the scholars from Beizhili were asked to arrive on time. I heard that Shuntianfu Township was trying to explain Yuan Sunqing, a 15-year-old boy. He is a young talent, and I just want to meet him."

"Remember that there will be no more than 20 people in the same room. There are too many people, you can help to screen them out. Talents with high knowledge are qualified to compete with me normally."

Qi Qing was surprised and said: "Three days later? 20 people? You... Can you bear it?"

Zhu Feng said: "This mother isn't going shopping in a brothel, you don't care if he can eat it or not? Just ask if you can handle it?"

"Yes, yes!"

Qi Qing was also a little confused.

Is this person Zhang Zhou? What if he is a liar?

After all the people are gathered together, it turns out that it is a fake, this is a big joke...

"A few days ago, I was in the Yuesheng Teahouse, and I met the second son of Beiyonglin Jijiu Restaurant. He knows me, and I will call him when the time comes."

Qi Qing suddenly felt a lot more at ease. Since someone knew him, he was not afraid.

"Zhang... Xie Yuan, how will we compare then?"

"Competitions are fine, but it's best not to compare the imperial examination articles. That kind of competition is still left to the examination room, and the main examiner and fellow examiners will make a public opinion. This one... is better than poetry and fu!"

Seeing that a large number of scholars have arrived downstairs.

A scheduled text meeting is about to begin.

Zhang Zhou didn't want to entangle with northern scholars too early, he said: "Turn around and tell Tang that if he doesn't get in this list, I will suppress him for the rest of his life, and let him restrain himself and prepare for the exam. By the way, he Is there someone named Xu Jing by your side? Let’s warn together! This Jiangnan scholar, it’s not his turn to come out and show off his might!"

……

……

Negotiate the matter with Qi Qing.

When Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng were riding in the carriage together, Zhu Feng was also somewhat proud: "Brother Zhang, you are finally going to show your skills! What you said earlier was really domineering, Jiangnan will not have a turn for Yayuan to come out! Yes! Did you say that? Hahaha..."

Zhang Zhou frowned and said, "I'm competing with others, why are you so excited?"

Zhu Feng said with a smile: "I always thought of you killing northern scholars to the point of losing their helmets and armor. They admire you so much... This is because you can face other people's provocations and feel confidence boosted."

"You think I can win?"

"Of course! With your talent, Jiangnan Jieyuan, others don't know your ability, how can I not know? My current fame is still earned by you. Even His Majesty and the Prince respect you. How can I win a few people? Are you talking?"

Touted by Zhu Feng.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, it almost made me flustered.

No wonder since ancient times kings and treacherous ministers like to have a lot of flatterers around them. It turns out that listening to people's flattering is so refreshing.

"Where is it? Since it is a competition, there are always winners and losers. Besides, there is no first place in this essay. Sometimes it is difficult to judge the level of talent. It is you, the heroic figure, who is the talent among the young nobles, not as good as you ah."

"Brother Zhang is self-effacing. If you make a move, you must outshine the crowd..."

Business blows.

The more you blow it, the more exciting it will be.

……

……

At night, inside the Imperial Palace, Kunning Palace.

Empress Zhang had asked people to reheat the food twice, and waited anxiously for a long time, but her husband was still nowhere to be seen.

"Empress." Zhang Yong came in to salute.

Empress Zhang asked anxiously, "Where is Your Majesty?"

Zhang Yongtong reported: "Eunuch Chen, the supervisor of ceremonies, said that your Majesty is teaching the prince in the Wenhua Palace, so he will not come over for dinner today."

"Wenhua Palace?"

Queen Zhang frowned.

Even if my husband is concerned about the prince's schoolwork, he always calls him to Qianqing Palace or Kunning Palace to take the school exam. Why did he go directly to Wenhua Palace today, and didn't even go back to "home" after dark?
"Who else will accompany His Majesty?"

Empress Zhang was naturally afraid that there might be some court lady who would attract her husband's liking, so she deliberately found an excuse to teach her son.

Zhang Yongdao: "Eunuch Dai, Eunuch Xiao, and the servants of the Eastern Palace are all here."

"Then you go and urge me to say that my palace violated the peace today, and I have something in mind. Please come back as soon as possible, Your Majesty."

"Yes."

……

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

At this time, the lamps have been held, and the Wenhua Hall is brightly lit.

A group of eunuchs are still cleaning up the various markers on the sand table and returning them to their original positions.

And Zhu Youtang and his son were sitting in front of a temporary small table at this time. The father and son were sitting on a small bench holding a rice bowl. In front of them were two dishes, one fish and celery fried meat. The father and son ate deliciously.

"...Father, I don't underestimate you. In terms of marching strategy, I have a way..."

While eating, Zhu Houzhao boasted about the rice grains flying across.

In the previous few rounds, Zhu Youtang only won once, and it was still a narrow victory.

The rest... was actually won by his son.

Although in terms of strength on paper, Zhu Youtang still yields to his son like Zhang Zhou, which means that he is not as good as his son in terms of soldiers, horses, food, etc., but it also makes him very depressed when he loses.

Why did Zhang Zhou win but he lost?
"Eat fast! Eat more meat and don't be picky eaters. I heard that you don't even eat fish with bones. Do you know that I couldn't eat fish if I wanted to! Only when you are full can you have strength."

In order to alleviate the embarrassment of losing the game, Zhu Youtang could only change the topic.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Father, haven't you been established as the prince since you were young? The prince wants to eat fish but can't eat it?"

"Different."

Thinking of his childhood experience, Zhu Youtang's expression became depressed, and his hands trembled unconsciously. Obviously, that experience was like a nightmare for him, "Do you think it's the same as today, and you are the only prince? Do you know that your imperial grandfather has How many concubines? What is their attitude towards me? Sigh!"

At the end, Zhu Youtang sighed heavily.

As a prince, but he grew up eating a lot of food. He was recognized by his father as his ancestor at the age of five, and his mother died immediately when he was established as a prince. When he was growing up, his parents were absent, and he was always in fear, fearing that he would be poisoned.

That feeling made Zhu Youtang feel uncomfortable just thinking about it.

Of course, after he became emperor, some people said that Concubine Wan Gui showed no signs of harming the concubines and children in the inner palace, but Zhu Youtang knew very well that it was after Concubine Wan Gui lost her fertility.

Zhu Youtang only met his father when he was five years old in the 11th year of Chenghua. At that time, Concubine Wan Gui was already 45 years old. Before that, Xianzong's children either died in their mother's womb or died shortly after birth.

Later, after the birth of Xing Wang Zhu Youzhu in the 12th year of Chenghua, Xianzong seemed to suddenly have a burst of fertility, and children were born one after another.

"Father, you should also eat more fish." Zhu Houzhao hurriedly added vegetables to his father's bowl.

Learn to be a good boy.

Zhu Youtang nodded.

The father and son were enjoying their time together, when Dai Yi came over and preached: "Your Majesty, the empress said that the phoenix body is against harmony, please go back."

Zhu Youtang said: "Prince, did you see it? Your mother thought I was going to do something, so she came to remind me."

"Father, please go back early." Zhu Houzhao seemed to understand his mother very well.

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "Are you in a hurry to let me go?"

"It's time for Erchen to listen to the story and go to sleep. Ha... so sleepy."

Zhu Houzhao was indeed tired.

If he always plays one thing, he will get bored, and there are wonderful martial arts scripts waiting for him to listen to in the evening.

"Story? What story?" Zhu Youtang put down the bowl and chopsticks, and made a serious face.

Now Zhu Houzhao knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, and hesitated for a long time to explain clearly.

Zhu Youtang immediately called Liu Jin and others. Liu Jin was worrying about falling out of favor, so he took the opportunity to speak ill of Zhang Zhou: "... Zhang Jieyuan wrote a few scripts for the prince, which were sent by the young master of the Zhu family a few days ago. , before the prince goes to bed every night, he will ask his servants to tell him..."

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "I just thought that Bing Kuan has the demeanor of being a teacher, why would he use these things to tease the prince? Where is the script?"

Liu Jin was about to get it, but after being glared at by Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin felt chills down her spine.

In the end, Liu Jin just took out three booklets, of which there was only one story, less than half the length.

"Shooting the Condors..." Zhu Youtang sized him up by candlelight, his brows furrowed.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Father, these are just a few stories."

Zhu Youtang didn't open it, and put the hand holding the book behind his back, and said with a straight face: "Tomorrow, no one is allowed to perform a military exercise with him in the sand table, and those who violate it will be kicked out of the palace! The master's book must be taken away!" After the homework is finished, find someone to send me to check! If you are a little slack, just wait!"

After finishing speaking, Zhu Youtang was no longer the kind father he was before, with a ferocious look on his face, he walked away in a huff.

Zhu Houzhao stood there, the light in his small eyes could kill.

"His Royal Highness, when His Majesty asks, this servant has no choice but to answer. No, this servant will bring out the "Shooting the Condors" that you have already heard, otherwise...even if someone asks you later, this servant will say that you have never seen it..."

Liu Jin is still pretending to be pitiful.

Zhu Houzhao said annoyedly: "Hmph! I'll deal with you later, that's what I used to open a bookstore with Zhang Zhou to make money. I hope Zhang Zhou has another original copy, not just this one... that would be terrible." Already!"

……

……

Zhu Youtang came out of Wenhua Palace and was about to go to Kunning Palace.

He really hasn't done this kind of thing like staying out at night in these years, which is a bit like a good man in the old days.

"Your Majesty, I just sent a message that there are several memorials, and you must make up your mind to write and criticize them." Dai Yi said.

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang took advantage of the night to look at the book in his hand. He wanted to throw it away, but he couldn't bear it, and he was a little curious, so he held it in his hand and said: "Then go to Qianqing Palace on the way, there won't be much delay. when……"

(End of this chapter)