Jiajing returned to the Western Garden to make elixirs. The officials of the Honglu Temple handed the golden list to the Minister of Rites Xu Jie. After Xu Jie opened it and checked it, he handed it to the Minister of Personnel Li Mo.
The ministers nearby also gathered around to watch the palace examination list. These ministers were very interested in this year's palace examination list. Long before the palace examination, they learned that Yan Song's nephew Ouyang Zishi would take part in this palace examination, and Yan Song was also in charge of the examination paper reading. It was said that when the palace examination papers were read, Yan Song's nephew was ranked first among the top. It was thought that this time the top scorer would be Yan Song's nephew Ouyang Zishi. Unexpectedly, when the results were announced in the blink of an eye, Yan Song's nephew would not even be ranked second or third.
If they said that Lord Yan was selfless, they didn't believe it. If Lord Yan was selfless, why did his nephew rank first after the examination of the examiner? Moreover, they heard that the first place winner, Zhu Ping'an, was only ranked eleventh after the examination of the examiner. He didn't even have the chance to be previewed by the emperor, but who would have thought that the emperor would be so kind as to examine the first twenty examination papers.
Some officials who dared to be angry with Yan Song but not to speak out were delighted to hear about the golden list this time. It could be said that Lord Yan was too clever and scheming, but he ended up costing his beloved life. In the end, not only did the other person become the top scorer, but his own nephew only got second place in the second class!
"Oh, Lord Yan, you must take this opportunity to see the golden list, because we will hang it outside the East Chang'an Gate in a moment." The official with a gray beard holding the golden list, with a smile on his face, waved the golden list in his hand to Lord Yan and asked very "sincerely". Li Mo knew the tricks of this palace examination very clearly.
It's almost provocative to bring up something that is not related to the topic.
Zhu Ping'an was somewhat curious about this official with a gray beard. Who was he? In this day and age, there were actually officials who dared to confront Yan Song in public.
"Ahem, Lord Li is really considerate and caring. I am already in my seventies, and my hearing is not so good. Just now, when I was singing the list of the palace examination, some people didn't hear it clearly. Lord Li's words really touched my heart. Thank you very much."
To the surprise of the official with the gray beard, when Yan Song, the Lord Yan, heard his words, not only did he not show any sign of anger, but his face flushed, and he looked at him with the eyes of a grandfather looking at his grandson, praising him for being filial to the elderly, and even readily asked to see the list of successful candidates.
For a moment, the official with the gray beard was a little stunned. Well, shouldn't this old guy be ashamed
Soon, a one-eyed fat man beside Yan Song came out from the crowd. All the officials consciously made way for him. Zhu Ping'an also recognized the one-eyed fat man. He was Yan Song's only son, Yan Shifan.
"Haha, Lord Li is thoughtful and filial. I thank Lord Li on behalf of my father." Yan Shifan walked to the official with a white beard with a mocking smile and bowed slightly. He performed the etiquette of a subordinate meeting a superior, but there was no respect on his face.
"Hmph." The official with the white beard snorted coldly and put the golden list in his hand into Yan Shifan's hand. Behind the official with the white beard, there were many other officials who looked at Yan Shifan with the same hatred of the enemy.
"In that case. Thank you very much..." Yan Shifan pulled the corners of his mouth and laughed loudly, and a gleam of sinister light flashed in his only eye as he looked at the official with white beard.
In Yan Shifan's mind, Li Mo is becoming more and more unrestrained. Wasn't it that when Altan Khan attacked the capital last year, you were ordered to guard the Zhengyang Gate? Wasn't it that the emperor promoted you to be the Minister of Personnel! It's been less than a year since you took the position of the Minister of Personnel, and you're already so restless. This old guy is even more rampant than Xu Jie. Since Xu Jie was beaten by his father last time, he has become much more sensible and has visited the mansion many times. I didn't expect that this old man Li Mo has become quite powerful and even has followers. It seems that it's time to discuss with my father and give this old man a hard time.
Yan Shifan took the golden list and returned to Yan Song, handing it to his father with both hands.
Yan Song took the golden list, opened it and looked at it, then walked towards the new scholars standing at the bottom of the steps with the golden list in his hand, his target directly aimed at Zhu Ping'an who had taken the top spot.
"You are the first person to win the top scholar award since the founding of our Ming Dynasty. You are more than 6 years younger than the youngest top scholar in our dynasty, Fei Hong from Jiangxi. You should know that Fei Hong was only 20 years old when he won the top scholar award, and you are only 14 this year!" The most powerful man in the Ming Dynasty except Jiajing walked up to Zhu Ping'an with the golden list in his hand, looked at Zhu Ping'an and spoke.
When Zhu Ping'an saw such a big shot as Yan Song coming up to him, he couldn't help but become much more respectful. He saluted with both hands and looked humble as if he was listening carefully to his teachings, although he didn't have the slightest good impression of Yan Song in his heart.
Yan Song was very satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's courtesy and politeness. He stroked his beard with his hand, nodded, and continued:
"You passed the imperial examination at a young age. This is due to the wisdom of our emperor. Of course, it is also inseparable from your own diligence and intelligence. I am honored to be the first examiner of this palace examination. When I first examined your test paper, I felt that it was extraordinary. However, fate plays tricks on people. Fortunately, the emperor is wise. You must not let down the emperor's sincere love for talents."
"I will follow your instructions, sir." Zhu Ping'an saluted with both hands and responded respectfully.
In the eyes of outsiders, Yan Song's heartfelt words and conversation gave off the feeling of an elder caring for the younger generation, and Zhu Ping'an was also very cooperative and polite. It was truly a loving picture.
"Hmph, birds of a feather! You are so young and yet you don't learn your lesson!" Li Mo, with his white beard, snorted coldly upon seeing this, looked somewhere else and said something in a roundabout way, then led several officials around this place and walked away.
"I am not feeling well, so the matter of posting the notice at the East Chang'an Gate will be handled by the Left Vice Minister." After walking a few steps, Li Mo bowed slightly, said a few words, and left with several officials.
"Sir Li, please take care. Take good care of yourself. The Ministry of Personnel will still need your care." Yan Shifan said with a smile to the backs of Li Mo and others who were leaving.
As soon as he finished speaking, it was obvious that Li Mo's steps staggered in anger. Yan Shifan laughed contentedly, with a sinister aura in his one eye, as if he was thinking about how to deal with this old guy who dared to go against his father.
When gods fight, mortals suffer!
When the city gate catches fire, everyone in the pond will suffer!
Hearing the words of the white-bearded official, "Birds of a feather, you're still young and don't learn well", Zhu Ping'an felt like crying but had no tears. This was completely a case of the fire in the city gate affecting the fish in the pond. An unexpected disaster came out of nowhere. He didn't do anything, but it seemed that he had offended a big shot who dared to be the enemy of Yan Song.
According to Yan Shifan, the Ministry of Personnel still needs Lord Li to take care of it. Damn, this official with a white beard could not be the Minister of Personnel. The Minister of Personnel is in charge of the promotion and assessment of officials in the country, and his position is the same as that of the prime minister.
Aren’t you too arbitrary? (To be continued.)