Li Rong's words made Pei Wenxuan stunned. Li Rong looked at the young man kneeling in front of him and said slowly, "Get up, if you and I are monarchs and ministers, you can kneel on me. If you treat me as a wife, you don't have to do this. I know you don't want to argue with me, but I don't need you to be so patient."
"I'm not a teenage and ignorant girl," Li Rong poured herself a cup of tea, "I won't change my mind because of your kneeling, it will only make me feel like you're forcing me."
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he felt a little at a loss for a while. After hesitating for a long time, Li Rong looked up at him: "Why, do you want me to help you?"
Pei Wenxuan got this and finally stood up. Li Rong patted her side and said softly, "Sit down."
Pei Wenxuan complied with her words and sat beside Li Rong. Li Rong was lying on the rocking chair, slowly rocking the rocking chair: "You think I won't agree with you to do this, do you know where I disagree?"
"This time, His Majesty's final intention is to set a quota."
"quota?"
Li Rong raised her eyes, but Pei Wenxuan didn't hide it from her, and said the truth: "From this year onwards, the number of people nominated by aristocratic families needs to be fixed. Or the candidates who were born in the imperial examination system must have a unified place to train here for at least one session. Years later, it was transferred from the official department to the various departments.”
The biggest problem with the imperial examinations today is that once Li Ming doesn't keep an eye on him, the officials of the poor family will not be able to reach the position of real power.
Daxia now includes two kinds of people in the poor family, such as low-level families such as the Pei family and the Qin family, and ordinary families that do not even belong to the family tree.
The so-called clan in Daxia is based on whether they are listed in the "clan genealogy".
Genealogy is revised every few hundred years and records the most recognized families in each region. The clan tree divides these aristocratic families into first, second, and third grades. Nobles of different ranks intermarry each other. If there is a leapfrog, it is a huge honor.
All families pride themselves on intermarriage with first-class families. And the children of first-class families, even if they don't marry for life, will not intermarry with lower-class nobles.
This centuries-old civil marriage method has built the family's absolute right to speak in the court. At that time, in order to balance the original nobles, the Li family and the Shangguan family of Fanyang in Youzhou brought the local surname at the end of the eight surnames into Huajing as a way to check and balance the southern surnames.
But after three generations, the Shangguan family was entrenched in the imperial court, inextricably linked with other aristocratic families, and countered the imperial power. Li Ming realized the drawbacks of balancing the family with the family, so he re-opened the imperial examination system from the experience of the previous dynasties. I want to balance the court through this method of selecting talents that is not limited by the family.
Li Ming forced the imperial examination, but the aristocratic family also has its own way, not to mention whether these ordinary children of the poor family can pass the imperial examination, even if they pass the imperial examination, the official position arrangement of hundreds of candidates every year is handled by the Ministry of Personnel, and all are released. Just go to a position where you are bitter, tired and have no future.
It is difficult to participate in the exam, it is difficult to pass the exam, it is difficult to become an official after the exam, and it is difficult to get promoted after the assignment.
If Pei Wenxuan didn't rely on Pei Lizhi back then, how could he be the champion
If Cui Yulang hadn't won the appreciation of nobles for his poetry and prose, his exam papers would not have reached Li Ming's hands.
This year, the imperial examination was handed over to Pei Wenxuan, and the palace examination was made a routine. This was to solve the problem of difficulty in the examination.
Restricting the number of places to be elected by aristocratic families, or uniformly stipulating the whereabouts of the imperial examination students in the first year of joining the WTO, is to solve the problem of difficulty in becoming an official.
After listening to Pei Wenxuan's words, Li Rong thought for a moment, and then she understood where they were going after the exam: "So, is the place where these graduates who graduated from the Imperial Examination will go in their first year is the Cabinet?"
The memorial hall was burned, and Li Ming immediately set up a memorial hall called the Cabinet.
At that time, they just thought that Li Ming wanted to let Zhezi not be controlled by the family and reach him, but now that Li Ming made this request, Li Rong realized: "Has the royal father already planned?"
"His Royal Highness, before His Majesty asked you to establish the Inspectorate Division, he prepared the land, soldiers and money of the Inspector Division for many years. If you do not establish the Inspectorate Division, he will let Concubine Rou build it sooner or later. You gave him the establishment of the Inspector Division. The opportunity of the Secretary. With His Majesty's temperament, it is impossible for him to change the system on a whim."
"The opening of the memorial hall was an opportunity for him to build a cabinet. The cabinet was established to pave the way for the reform of the imperial examination system today."
Li Rong listened without speaking.
She suddenly realized that she actually didn't know Li Ming, just like back then, she didn't know Li Chuan either.
It's just that everyone in the royal family is wearing a mask, and Li Ming and Li Chuan have never really understood her.
"You think, I won't agree to the restructuring."
Li Rong thought for a while, then spoke slowly, but Pei Wenxuan didn't answer, Li Rong smiled: "I really don't agree."
"But this incident will not depend on His Highness's will. Either this time or the next time." Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes and looked at him, "This is the Emperor's will, even if His Majesty is dead today, any one has a little ambition. If the monarch goes up, he will pick up your Majesty's situation today."
Just like Li Chuan in the previous life.
When he sits on Li Ming's throne and overlooks this country, he will find that he is just the next Li Ming.
Li Rong sat without speaking. She felt like she was sitting on a carriage that was running all the way forward. She couldn't stop, and could only watch the carriage fall to the cliff and hit with blood.
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong in a daze, and he felt a little uncomfortable for a while.
In the last life, he had probably already quarreled with her.
He hates her stubbornness, hates her prejudice against the poor family, and the most hateful thing is that he likes her, but he likes this person, but he looks down on him in his bones.
It's just that he doesn't want to quarrel now, it's not easy for them to get here, and he doesn't want to argue with her again about this.
So he could only explain with some difficulty after a brief silence: "Rongrong, I know you feel that the imperial examination system can't select any good talents. But think about it, in fact, in the last life, many people around me were They are also very good from the Han family, right? The aristocratic family does have their character, and the teachings they receive are indeed not learned by reading a few books, so the recommendation system is still there."
"Bloodlines are important, but... we are all human." Pei Wenxuan forced a smile, "Look at me, I'm from a cold family, isn't it... good?"
Listening to Pei Wenxuan saying this, Li Rong turned her head slowly.
Her eyes were bright, and the moonlight fell on her amber eyes, which flowed silently like a stream.
She leaned back halfway, got up slowly, and put her lips on his.
Pei Wenxuan was stunned for a while, and then he heard Li Rong comfort him softly: "Don't be sad."
A kiss that stopped at first glance seemed to be just for comfort, she pulled back again, reclined on the reclining chair, and said gently, "Wen Xuan, I didn't take these so seriously, if I did take it so seriously, I wouldn't have liked you back then. ."
Pei Wenxuan watched Li Rongping lying on the rocking chair, the rocking chair rocked back and forth, she looked at the moonlight scattered in the void, and said slowly: "Everyone told me the importance of bloodlines and surnames, but I don't know why, I saw you back then. At first, I didn't even think about whether you were a poor family or an aristocratic family, I just thought, this person is really good-looking."
"His Royal Highness..." Pei Wenxuan said hoarsely, not knowing what to say for a while.
"I used to argue with you all the time. You always thought that I was prejudiced because I cared about family status. In fact, it was you who really cared about family status."
"I didn't agree with your reformation before. It's true that I thought the imperial examination system was too rigid, and you can also see that even if it was the imperial examination system in my previous life, there were more children from aristocratic families. It's just that I gradually changed my mind as I got older. The aristocratic family seems to be better because they get more resources, not who are born better or worse. So when you push schools in various places later, I will also fully support. I do not agree with your restructuring now, because too much urgent."
"Wen Xuan," Li Rong raised her eyes, "It's been a few years since your father, but you are still young. If Concubine Rou doesn't come today, what will you do?"
Pei Wenxuan was speechless for a while, but Li Rong replied affirmatively, "You originally planned to take the case yourself, right?"
"You and I are divorced, and if something happens, it won't implicate me. So you can consider two options. It's best if Concubine Rou takes over the case. If Concubine Rou doesn't, then you take over the case. , the father and emperor will fully support you when it falls, if it succeeds, everyone will be happy, but it doesn’t?”
"How difficult it was for you and Chuan'er to reform the system in the last life, don't you know? Why do you think I don't want you to move the family? Because after every change, there is turmoil. The turmoil between you and me is the life and death of the chess player, you guys Have you thought about what these turmoils are falling on the people?"
"In the years of Chuan'er's reformation, there were turmoil in various places, and battles in the court were fought again and again. You and I spent more than 20 years to cultivate and rest, but during the turbulence, how did the people live, don't you know?"
"His Royal Highness, it won't be like this now," Pei Wenxuan frowned, "His Royal Highness was in a hurry back then, so I put things to work today, and I moved forward slowly."
"If you push the family in a hurry, what about them?"
Li Rong stared at Pei Wenxuan, Pei Wenxuan was silent, and after a long time, he slowly said: "His Royal Highness, there is no change in this world, there is no price. But if it does not change, will the life of the common people be better? ?"
"They turned against it, and the people were miserable. But the army in the north was not paid enough, wouldn't the people in the north and the soldiers who died in battle not suffer? The people in the south had no money for disaster relief and repairing rivers every year, so wouldn't those victims suffer? The people at the bottom were born as slaves. For the people, you can’t do business, and you can’t be an official, you can only farm for generations to be enslaved by a family, isn’t it hard?”
"You really look like your father." Li Rong laughed mockingly, "Unfortunately, your father left early, otherwise he must be very happy to see you."
Pei Wenxuan was speechless, she vaguely felt that there was some moisture in this person's eyes, but it dissipated again.
The two looked at each other quietly, Li Rong looked at the person in front of her, and her heart trembled slightly: "I don't want to be your mother."
"His Royal Highness will not be my mother."
Pei Wenxuan laughed: "Whether it is successful or not, this matter is paving the way for the crown prince. His Majesty and the family will be weakened. The crown prince has Qin Lin's military power in his hands. When he ascends the throne, His Royal Highness..."
Before she finished speaking, Li Rong slapped Pei Wenxuan on the face.
Slapped in the room, Li Rong stared at him: "Who are you to me?"
"Is it my counselor or the dead man?"
Pei Wenxuan's face was slapped sideways by her, and he didn't dare to look at her, so he didn't move.
"Your life is so cheap? You risk your life so much, what are you doing to be my husband!"
"Rongrong," Pei Wenxuan said hoarsely, "it'll be alright."
"Whether there's anything wrong, did you ask me before you took the risk?" Li Rong looked at him and stood up, she lowered her head and looked down at the young man in front of her, "Do you think I don't care about your life, or do you Do you think your life and death have nothing to do with me?"
Pei Wenxuan didn't speak, Li Rong's tone slowed down, "You have heard a story."
Pei Wenxuan moved and looked up at her. Li Rong laughed: "There is a family in the east of the city. The husband and wife are childhood sweethearts. They love each other very much. After many hardships, life and death, they finally got together. But later her husband liked cockfighting, and took most of the family's silver money and secretly bought a cockfighting cock. , guess what?"
Pei Wenxuan didn't speak, he heard Li Rong's metaphor, he didn't dare to answer, Li Rong chuckled lightly: "The woman and her husband got divorced."
People who have been in love for more than ten years are not separated in life and death, but in the end they are separated because of a cockfight.
It is never the wind and the waves that consume the most feelings, but the bits and pieces in life that converge into a river.
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong looked at him, "your life is not yours alone. You are my husband and the father of my future children. Even if you are for me, you should tell me. If you Can't do it…”
Li Rong couldn't speak anymore, Pei Wenxuan looked at her, obviously he was looking up at this person, but at that moment, he felt that it was her who lowered her head.
He never thought that this person would bow his head for him, even at this moment, in her words, she carefully restrained and did not hurt him like before.
He suddenly discovered her transformation, her growth, they knew each other's weaknesses, and they used to stab each other mercilessly, but now she has also learned to restrain herself, and she can't even say the phrase "separation".
Pei Wenxuan stood up and reached out to hug the person in his arms.
Li Rong wanted to resist, but the moment his temperature invaded, she felt a little sore in her eyes. She tried her best not to cry because of this grievance, and she clenched her teeth and was taken into his arms by him.
"It's my fault." Pei Wenxuan said in a low voice, "I won't make any assertions in the future. I will discuss everything with you, and we will discuss it together."
Li Rong didn't speak, but Pei Wenxuan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, with a gentle voice: "I didn't expect that my Highness is so good, my little man's heart, Your Highness forgive me."
"Bright words."
Li Rong scolded him lowly.
Pei Wenxuan smiled, he straightened her clothes, and said gently, "Your Highness, shall I take you back?"
Li Rong was stunned for a while, she looked up at him, she thought, according to Pei Wenxuan's temperament, she should be asked to stay overnight.
She had already thought about how to refuse, but Pei Wenxuan offered to send her back.
Before Li Rong could react, she saw Pei Wenxuan took a jacket from the side and put it lightly on her. After finishing her clothes, he took a lamp, took her hand and pushed the door out. , as if nothing had happened, and asked her softly, "Where did Your Highness come from tonight?"
"You're next door," Li Rong was dragged out by him, she whispered, "I bought it."
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he couldn't help laughing, but he was afraid that she would be angry, so he didn't say anything, just put the smile on his face.
It was almost April, and the night wind was still a little cold. She wore Pei Wenxuan's coat and walked with him on the promenade.
Pei Wenxuan blocked the wind for her and followed the path of the courtyard. The mansion has not been completely renovated, and many places have not yet been lit. Li Rong was afraid that Pei Wenxuan would not know the way, so she said, "There is a ladder in the backyard, I will climb over there."
"Your Highness has worked hard."
Pei Wenxuan's heart seemed to be soaked in the most comfortable warm water, and even his whole body couldn't help but soften up.
The two walked side by side. Pei Wenxuan seemed to be protecting a child. After a long silence, Li Rong said slowly, "Aren't you going to leave me?"
"I do want to stay," Pei Wenxuan smiled, "but I made a mistake tonight and stayed with Your Highness, for fear that His Highness would think that I was trying to cover up those things. There are elegant things under the bed and should not be mixed up in these things. ."
When Li Rong heard this, she turned her head to look at him, the white single shirt outlined his tall figure in the night, the gentleman was like a pine and a bamboo, all of which was sparse and elegant.
Li Rong couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment, Pei Wenxuan's appearance, no matter how many years he looked at, would not seem to lose his color.
Pei Wenxuan didn't notice that Li Rong was lost, and he continued to say: "I will inform Your Highness in advance about everything in the future and discuss with Your Highness. If Your Highness is willing, you can also inform me of Your Highness's plans. Your Highness is right. They are husband and wife, different from the previous life, everything should be discussed. I am not His Highness’s ally, I am His Highness’s husband and the father of His Highness’ children.”
Pei Wenxuan said, turned his head, met Li Rong's eyes, smiled and said, "I haven't learned this well, and I hope His Highness will teach you more."
Li Rong saw his smile and listened to him talking about her identity, and for some reason, she felt a little warm on her face, she turned her head and gave a low response to hide the embarrassment.
Pei Wenxuan noticed that she seemed to be a little shy, although he didn't know why, he also thought it was very cute, he didn't expose her, he turned his eyes thoughtfully, and looked forward with a smile.
When he got to the backyard, he saw a ladder built by the wall. Pei Wenxuan went over with Li Rong. He put down and waited, holding the ladder and protecting Li Rong to climb up.
Li Rong climbed two steps and turned around again.
At this time, she was a little taller than Pei Wenxuan, and she called out, "Pei Wenxuan."
Pei Wenxuan raised his head, looked at her suspiciously, and said softly, "Huh?"
It was at that moment that Li Rong suddenly lowered her head and kissed him. Before Pei Wenxuan could react, she conveniently climbed up and waved, "Let's go."
Pei Wenxuan looked up at the girl who disappeared by the wall, and couldn't help raising his hand to touch his lips.
After a while, he smiled slowly.
He couldn't wait.
It is better to plan early and marry this person back home.