In order to prevent fraud and prejudice, the emperor and the examiners must cover up their names when marking papers, whether it is the general examination or the imperial examination.
According to the traditional rules, one has to wait for all the examination papers to be judged, and then reveal the names. As for who will be the champion, it depends on the emperor's mood. It was because that year's No. 2 was really mediocre that the emperor swapped Liu Qingyun's and No. 2's rankings.
However, the rules are dead, and people are alive. Since the emperor wants to know who the top scholar is, none of the officials below will go against the emperor's intentions, and immediately the senior scholar Chen will personally submit the test paper. The name reveals…
Grand Master Chen's eyes widened to the extreme, and he looked dumbfounded, as if he had seen a ghost, and he didn't speak for a while.
"Master Chen..." another adult beside him reminded in a low voice.
Only then did Master Chen come to his senses, bowed to the emperor with a complex expression and said, "Your Majesty, this person is Huang Hetai."
After the words fell, there was silence in the Golden Luan Hall. The emperor and several officials couldn't believe their ears, and they were also stunned. Even the emperor couldn't react for a while.
How is this possible? !
This article with substance is actually written by that Huang Hetai!
But isn't he a "stupid bag"
"Hurry up! Show me this paper again!" the emperor said anxiously, with an indescribable feeling in his heart, mixed with joy and worry.
The emperor read the paper again, and this time he read almost word by word.
He used taxes as the topic this time, and he was somewhat selfish, thinking that Huang Hetai had written a similar topic before, so it wouldn't be too bad. I passed by He Xini, but I didn't expect that Huang Hetai's article was so amazing and innovative. It was just a young man in his early twenties who was too late to read the Four Books and Five Classics, but he was already thinking about state affairs and people's livelihood, and he was not inferior to those who could minister…
The corners of the emperor's mouth finally opened, he put Huang Hetai's paper aside, and continued to read other people's papers, but with Huang Hetai's articles in the front, even if there are brilliant ones behind, compared with the former, they will be To be inferior is to speak in general terms at best.
After reading the papers for more than an hour and a half, the emperor simply asked Chen Dashi and other reviewers to continue reviewing the papers, and selected the best ten papers to submit, and then he would appoint the top three in the royal batch.
After everyone finished reading the papers, it was almost noon.
After the emperor selected five papers out of ten and spread them out on the imperial case, he couldn't help hesitating.
Today's imperial examination is no longer as simple as selecting a virtuous person...
If he chooses Huang Hetai as the champion, will it cause the candidates to be angry again? !
But if you don't order it, wouldn't you be wronged by this amazing and brilliant masterpiece!
The emperor stared at Huang Hetai's paper without blinking, hesitating. At this time, a middle-aged man with a goatee walked out of the several graders below the hall. It was Li Hanlin.
Li Hanlin walked into the hall, bowed impassionedly to the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, this Huang Huiyuan is worthy of being the top name in this subject. He has outstanding talents and knowledge, and is full of knowledge. No one can match this subject. Those rumors of favoritism and fraud are really rumors in the market, and they are extremely absurd." !"
Chen Dashi and the others at the side looked at each other, and they were also touched, and they all showed relief.
With their identities, it is very likely that they will become the chief and deputy examiners of the examination in the next few years. If those students who failed the exam would always accuse the examiners of cheating, who would dare to be the examiners? ! How else to choose talents for the court? !
Grand Master Chen also came out, and said seriously: "Master Li is right. Presumably after this palace examination, those literati and students who made trouble will naturally have nothing to say." This time the turmoil subsided.
The emperor was stunned, thoughtful: Yes, this palace examination was originally intended to quell the rumors of fraud, so now it's just right that he hand-picked Huiyuan as the number one scholar? In this way, who would say that the Enke test is a fraud for personal gain.
A flash of determination flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he finally made up his mind. He picked up the wolf brush on the side, and with a flick of a pen, he delineated the top three candidates.
After a stick of incense, hundreds of examinees dressed in tribute uniforms stood on the Golden Luan Hall again, waiting for the good news.
In a solemn atmosphere, Eunuch Liu personally issued an edict on behalf of the emperor, announcing that the No. 1 Scholar, No. 2, and Tanhua in the current discipline were Huang Hetai, Guo Ziang, and Weng Wenliang respectively, and they would be awarded Jinshi and the title. Jinshi held a hairpin banquet.
All the students' hearts sank when they heard this, and they almost doubted whether they were dreaming, their faces were filled with shock.
But this is the Golden Luan Palace, no one dares to risk his official career!
The students could only keep silent, most of them were aggrieved, their fists were tightly clenched on their sides, their veins were bulging, and many students standing behind stared at Huang Hetai in front with burning eyes.
Huang Hetai didn't seem to be aware of it, he stood proudly, his eyes were clear and far away, the corners of his slightly raised mouth revealed a trace of relief, a trace of self-satisfaction, and said in his heart: Your wisdom is the best in the world, even if you are thousands of miles away, those in the capital No matter how much the ghosts, ghosts, and snakes jump about, and plot and plot again and again, the situation still hasn't escaped from the young master's control!
After that, it was some routine work, and the students knelt down to thank them. Leaving Huang Hetai aside, most people are quite complacent when they think that they can jump into the dragon's gate and embark on an official career through this.
Doubt, dissatisfaction, joy, pride... All kinds of contradictory emotions permeated the Golden Luan Hall, intertwined into a strange atmosphere...
At the same time, the good news that the emperor pointed out the champion, the second place and the third prize was spread out of the palace gate as quickly as possible, and the young servants who were standing by at the gate of the palace immediately returned to their respective mansions after receiving the good news.
In Nangong Mansion, Nangong Mu and Nangong Sheng are in Nangong Mu's outer study, anxiously waiting for the result of the palace examination.
They all knew that the fate of Nangong Mansion was life or death, and this was the end of the game.
"Second Master, Eldest Young Master..."
After a while, a sound of chaotic and eager footsteps came from outside the study, running out of breath.
Nangong Mu and Nangong Cheng were shocked immediately, and the young man in green clothes quickly entered the study, and said: "Second Master, Eldest Young Master, Eldest Uncle just ordered someone to bring the news that the imperial examination is over, and the emperor ordered Huang Hetai The No. 1 pick, Guo Ziang and Weng Wenliang at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively."
Neither the second place nor the No. 1 pick this time were among the top three in the test, but such things are very common and nothing serious. For example, the second place in the last general examination performed mediocrely in the palace examination, and was reduced to the top 20 and 30th.
only-
Huang Hetai turned out to be the number one scholar in this subject? ! Both uncle and nephew looked at each other in disbelief.
In any case, for Nangong Mansion, this is definitely a good thing.
Both Nangong Mu and Nangong Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.
After gathering his composure, Nangong Mu said to Nangong Cheng with some puzzlement: "Cheng'er, we have also read Huang Hetai's article. It is really mediocre. It is luck to be a Gongsheng student, but it is a bit reluctant to be a champion."
Nangong Cheng also felt the same, and asked hesitantly: "Second uncle, do you think it is the emperor's intention?" Maybe the emperor wanted to protect their Nangong mansion, so he specially hand-picked Huang Hetai as the champion of the current department to block the crowd. mouth
"..." Nangong Mu's lips moved, but it still turned into a sigh. Speaking from the bottom of his heart, he thinks it is unlikely, if the emperor really has the ability to protect the Nangong family, the situation would not have developed to this point...
But Huang Hetai won the first prize!
Thinking of this, Nangong Mu hesitated again. Could it be true what his nephew said
Both uncle and nephew were puzzled. At this moment, there was another sound of footsteps outside, and another servant came in hurriedly, and said, the Fifth Prince has come down.
His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince? ! Nangong Mu and Nangong Cheng were even more shocked, vaguely guessing that Han Lingfan's trip might also have something to do with Chunwei.
The fifth prince is here, and they, the courtiers, should go out to greet them,
The uncle and nephew hurriedly got up and went out of the study room. From a distance, they saw Han Lingfan striding towards them. His figure became thinner, but his expression was beaming with joy.
Although Nangong Mansion has been closed for self-examination these days, Han Lingfan is the prince, more likely the future prince. If he wants to enter Nangong Mansion, who would dare to stop him!
After the three of them greeted each other, Han Lingfan couldn't hide his joy and said to Nangong Mu: "Master Nangong, have you heard about the results of the palace examination?"
Nangong Mu bowed back with a smile: "His Royal Highness Fifth Prince, I and my nephew have just heard about this." Then, he stretched out his hand to make a petition, and invited Fifth Prince to sit in his outer study.
"Now I can finally rest assured!" Han Lingfan said with a smile while striding into the study, "Since Huang Hetai is the top student in high school, the suspicion of brother Ling's fraud can also be cleared..."
The more Han Lingfan talked, the more excited he became, his eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands and praised: "This Huang Hetai is really amazing! He is so tolerant and courageous!"
Hearing the fifth prince's words seemed to mean something, Nangong Mu and Nangong Cheng were both suspicious, looked at each other again, and thought: I don't know what amazing thing Huang Hetai did to get the fifth prince. The prince's comments.
Han Lingfan casually sat down on an armchair by the window, picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip of hot tea, then raised his eyes to meet Nangong Mu's suspicious gaze, and smiled mysteriously. Slowly continued: "After the results of the palace examination today, in the Jinluan Palace, although those students did not dare to make trouble, many of them were still unconvinced. I heard that when the number one scholar, the second place, and Tanhua paraded across the street, the unconvinced students were on the street Surrounded Huang Hetai, said he was not convinced, and insisted on arguing with him. As a result, from ancient times to the present, from policy theory to poetry and prose, from pasting scriptures to Moyi, from oral examinations to policy questions, four books and five classics, poems and songs, Huang Hetai has no one Knowing everything, he is indeed a genius in the world."
As he said that, Han Lingfan was in a very happy mood. He looked radiant and energetic, and said in his heart: The imperial examination selects talents, and it is precisely such outstanding pillars of the country that are selected!
Happy, really happy!
Nangong Mu and Nangong Cheng's uncle and nephew became more surprised the more they heard it, but they still felt that the whole thing was too mysterious. Why did such an earth-shaking change suddenly take place
Nangong Mu bowed again, and asked respectfully: "Your Highness Fifth Prince, the ministers are under house arrest in the mansion, and their eyes and ears are blocked. Does Your Highness know the details of this incident?"
Han Lingfan glanced at the little eunuch next to him, and the little eunuch immediately smiled and said, "Master Nangong, the villain personally went to inquire about this matter, and the villain knows best."
Then, the little eunuch spoke incessantly.
After the palace examination, Jing Zhaoyin personally draped red hairpins for the first-class and third-ranking scholars outside the palace gate, and said that the first-class and third-ranking scholars walked out of the palace gate like stars and the moon surrounded by drums and music guards, and paraded across the street , the streets outside are so bustling, probably because of the various rumors in the capital recently, which attracted many interested people to pay attention to this year's palace examination, and today's street parade is even more lively than in previous years.
However, Zhuangyuan Lang and the others were stopped not far from the palace gate. Thirty or so students walked out from the side of the road regardless of the obstruction of the Imperial Forest Army, and stopped in front of the champion, second place and Tanhua horses parading the street, clamoring for dissatisfaction. He kept saying that Huang Hetai had no talent or virtue, and was an arrogant and rude idiot. In "The Doctrine of the Mean", "the gentleman is the mean, and the villain is against the mean. The gentleman is the mean, and the gentleman is moderate; the villain is also the mean, and the villain has no fear." To satirize.
At the moment, the whole street is in an uproar, too. The fact that Zhuangyuan Lang was stopped while parading in the street was unheard of for hundreds of years!
Originally, the Royal Forest Army wanted to expel all the students who made trouble, but Huang Hetai didn't expect Huang Hetai to reply, "The fate is called nature, the willfulness is called Tao, and the cultivation of Tao is called teaching." He even said that since they refused to accept, he Let them accept their challenge and let them know how high the sky is and how deep the sea is, so as not to be like a frog at the bottom of a well not knowing that there is a sky beyond the sky, and there are people beyond people!
So, the students sent several representatives to question Huang Hetai on the street.
However, the other party is eloquent and knowledgeable. Four books and five classics, poems and songs, all of them are well known, and they are all familiar with scriptures, history, poetry and poetry.
The students failed one by one, and in a short period of time, Huang Hetai, under the eyes of everyone, changed from an idiot to a man of profound knowledge...
Whatever he saw with his own eyes that day, no one questioned his true talent and learning.
The little eunuch was served by Han Lingfan's side. Naturally, he was articulate, clever and clever, and the listeners were immersed in it as if they were in the scene.
In the end, he said in admiration: "Today Huang Zhuangyuan has killed all directions, killing all those students, and those students finally left in despair amidst the boos all around..."
"Good! Good refutation!" Nangong Cheng, who was usually calm, couldn't suppress the impassioned heart at this moment, couldn't help clapping his hands and praised, a spark of hope faintly ignited in his heart. Maybe this Huang Hetai will become a nobleman in Nangong Mansion...
Nangong Mu's face was also full of smiles, and the atmosphere in the outer study was much more relaxed and relaxed.
Han Lingfan took another sip of hot tea, and said with a smile: "Master Nangong, after this experience, neither the court nor the students and ordinary people can deny that Huang Zhuangyuan is worthy of his name, so no one will say anything about Mr. Nangong again." cheated."
Both Nangong Mu and Nangong Cheng's eyes lit up, showing surprise. It seems that Nangong Mansion has passed the most difficult hurdle.
Nangong Mu hurriedly bowed his head and said, "I am ashamed to make His Highness worry about the Nangong family."
"It's the imperial court's great fortune that the matter ended like this." Han Lingfan casually raised his hand to signal Nangong Mu that you don't have to be polite, and sighed, "Father is also very happy. It is the blessing of Dayu, the blessing of the imperial court."
"What Your Highness said is true." Nangong Mu Ying said, feeling that half of the boulder in his heart had fallen. Now, after the gold list is posted, the fraud case should be able to give an explanation...
The dark clouds over Nangong Mansion seemed to gradually dissipate, and a few rays of bright sunshine shone down...
Outside the Nangong Mansion, the entire capital is still immersed in the hustle and bustle brought about by the palace examination. Those students who intercepted the champion in the street but lost the battle have already spread the word, and people everywhere are talking about it. Talking about this matter, and more and more exaggerated, some people swore that those students were so ashamed that they knelt down in front of Zhuangyuan Lang to apologize in the street; He said it as if Wenqu Xing descended to earth, saying that this was a good omen for Dayu.
All kinds of mysterious rumors are spreading.
On that day, the articles of the top three candidates in the palace examination were posted on the wall of the palace examination. To pick a bone, those literati want to see whether this new top scholar really has a talent for writing and singing.
On this day, the gate of the Tribute Academy was blocked, and the students who had read the article could not let go. They read the No. 1 Scholar’s work repeatedly, pondered, discussed, debated, or bowed down, or were convinced, or fell into despair...
In just half a day, the rumors about cheating in the Enke examination gradually subsided, but some people still expressed jealously that the emperor must protect the Nangong family, and the topic of the palace examination was determined by the emperor. There is no fairness!
But these extreme remarks did not cause any storms, and more people wondered why Huang Hetai, who was just a straw bag half a year ago, suddenly became a blockbuster. In just half a year, Huang Hetai suddenly became enlightened, and the chances are really slim. Even if he has the ability of photographic memory, this endorsement and making a fuss are two different things!
The answer soon appeared at the hairpin banquet the next day.
Not only those literati and students who were good at things were curious, but the emperor also felt strange. He asked in public during the banquet: "Zhuangyuan Lang, I have read your old work on taxation. Did you actually write that article?"
As soon as these words came out, the ears of the Jin Luan Hall were pricked up, and the eyes of the Jinshi and officials were also curious.
Huang Hetai, who was wearing the uniform of the number one scholar, stood up unhurriedly and replied: "Back to the emperor, the students are ashamed, the academy is boring on weekdays, and the students are watching closely at home, so the students simply let the servants teach for them. Those articles in the academy It's all done by the student boy."
He said he was ashamed, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised. There was no shame at all, but a hint of casualness and wantonness.
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then pointed at Huang Hetai and said with a smile: "Well, you are the number one scholar, you are so lazy in your studies, and you have won the first prize, what should you do to those students who are studying hard?!"
He seemed to reprimand him, but everyone present could tell that the emperor liked this talented young champion very much. It seemed that this Huang Zhuangyuan's career in the future was likely to go straight up.
At the Hairpin Banquet, many officials looked at Huang Hetai with subtle expressions. As for the students, they all had complicated expressions. This young scholar can write articles comparable to those of a scholar, which shows that he is unpredictable and profound.
The faces of the students turned blue, red, and white, as if they had knocked over a paint tray. They were colorful and wonderful... The ones who can compete with them are probably Han Lingguan and Han Lingfu sitting on the right hand of the emperor. .
As soon as the two brothers saw Huang Hetai, they wished to cut to death the person who ruined their good deeds, but now they could only hold back their anger...
Throughout the banquet, both of them were absent-minded.
After returning to Prince Gong's Mansion, Han Lingfu couldn't suppress the indignation in his heart anymore, he grabbed an inkstone on the case and threw it out.
Boom—
The inkstone hit the floor and made a dull sound, not only did not alleviate the anger in his heart, but it burned even more vigorously like adding fuel to the fire.