Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination

Chapter 153

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On this day, the emperor of Chenghua finally stopped watching the new version of "Pipa Ji" presented by Gao Baihu.

It's not because the memorials of the imperial censor are so useful - those memorials have not been presented to the imperial court, and the eunuchs who are sensible and sensible have been screened out by the supervisor of li. The main reason is that the emperor has watched several episodes of "The Pipa Story of Wang Yaoniang". He has eaten too much fish and meat, and it is time to change his taste and listen to some new dramas.

At this time, the courtyard of the Jiaofang just came in, and it was also a new drama circulating in the market, so the emperor naturally wanted to give it a reward.

But since it wasn't presented by Gao Baihu, he still had to ask, "Have you ever arranged it? Are there any new scenery?"

Qin Chang, the eunuch, said attentively, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, how could you dare to perfunctory the play presented to Yulan? This play sings about the events of the Peony Pavilion. The pavilion is not bad, and the big bushes of peony flowers are made, and the servants can't tell the truth from the fake!"

Eunuch Gao pursed his lips and smiled silently - he was just building a pavilion, how clever of a cloud, fog, rain and snow, he was embarrassed to brag to the emperor.

However, the emperor saw a lot of clouds, fog, rain and snow, and occasionally he would also look at the down-to-earth pavilion. Hearing Eunuch Tan say that this play was made up by Liu Ge Lao Li, and it was about the old family affairs, and his interest suddenly increased.

Isn't the matter of Ge's hometown more cordial than Jin Yiwei, whose name has only been heard two or three times

The emperor said happily: "Yes, present it."

Although it is not as convenient for Jiaofang to enter the play as the bell and drum division, this play has been prepared and dedicated to the emperor.

After waiting for a few moments, the servant came to report to the emperor to move him.

The court has already dragged on, and I have read the memorials sent by the cabinet. It is time to enjoy new dramas. The emperor happily drove to the theater, and was waiting to watch the play, but a small servant who did not open his eyes came to report. Qin Chang went out to listen to his report, and came back after a while, took out a memorial from his sleeve, and presented it to the emperor with both hands: "Mr. Dongliu has sent the memorial, the servants dare not delay, please Your Majesty."

The memorial of the cabinet is naturally different from others. The emperor does not give face to the censor, but must give face to the gentleman. The emperor looked at the stage that had been arranged, and the pavilion was in full bloom with peonies, and said lightly, "Stop reading."

After reading the memorial, let's start the play.

Qin Chang opened the memorial and read it wrongly in a cadence. In the memorial, the emperor asks the emperor to reduce extravagant expenses, save selfish desires, keep away from the petty people, and not to be fascinated by lewd voices and lust; he also advises the emperor to get close to courtiers, be good at accepting criticisms, and reopen the feast of the scriptures to cultivate one's self-cultivation... After all kinds of clichés, only On the topic.

He wants to ask the emperor to abolish the official.

It is unrealistic to completely abolish it, as long as the Jin Yiwei, who has recently started because of the drama, can be dismissed. If this matter is not dealt with, I am afraid that in the future, everyone will follow what he has done, find someone to make a joke and praise him, and then communicate with the minister to present the play to the imperial court, in order to make a fortune.

If such a thing deceives the Holy Spirit and becomes a step for treacherous villains to enter, who should be entrenched in the court? Where should the righteous gentleman stand!

Liu Cifu's memorial sounded golden and jade, and it was all over the court. It seemed that he was going to attack Wan'an and Liu Ji all these years, and he was unable to reform the government. He endured Wang Zhi, he endured Xichang, he endured Li Zixing, endured Jixiao... Will he endure the small camps who are about to enter the imperial court? !

Full of passion, it almost came out through the paper, and Qin Chang was also sweating profusely when he read it. Eunuch Gao almost clearly pointed out that his adopted son, Gao Baihu, entered the drama to seek officials for others.

The emperor of Chenghua snorted softly, asked someone to help him up, and said lightly: "Don't do any secret affairs. Gao Pangbian got up, and tomorrow, I will go on my behalf, Zhenfusi, and see thank you..." See how he did, Take out something to block the mouths of the censors, and also ask the gentlemen to save two folds.

Eunuch Gao kowtowed, got up from the ground neatly, wiped his tears and responded in a low voice.

The emperor asked Qin Chang to take down the memorial, so he almost didn't even want to watch the play. However, Qin Chang had been preparing for too long for him to see the play, so he could not tell him to leave, so he quickly persuaded: "The court is too busy, why don't the emperor look at the happiness of the scholars and the people outside?"

Mr. Liu Ge has just sent a memorial to sweep the emperor, and when he sees Mr. Liu's appreciation of peony, it is far less cordial and interesting than before. But the pavilion is well built, and the peony is well done. For the sake of the scenery, you have to watch a show.

The emperor nodded slightly, and Qin Chang called out loudly.

The first ones on the stage were a few young scholars, wearing black gauze square scarves, all kinds of splendid straight bodies, and some light and gorgeous gossips were blaring out of their mouths. Gradually, he said that Liu Cifu had a third son, who had graduated from the township exam, Yayuan, who was outstanding in learning, had a beautiful character, often traveled with prostitutes, and was the first-class romantic figure in Beijing.

A young man said that today's peony is just right, and he wants to hold a peony banquet and invite him to enjoy the fragrance.

The emperor has been used to watching the new "Pipa Ji", in which people die within a few songs, and the background changes after a few sings. Then I watch this kind of slow and leisurely singing, and there are traditional musicians who are familiar with the old Binbai. The play was a little annoying, and he asked Qin Chang, "When will Young Master Liu come on stage?"

Liu Gongzi soon came on stage.

On the stage, Liu Gongzi was wearing a robe, the scarf on his head was slightly crooked, followed by a few prostitutes around him, stood on the stage, and first boasted about his background - the son of the old man in the Jingzhong Pavilion, his elder brother was also in the court, and he was raised in the middle of his youth. The future is easy to reach, who can compare with him in the capital

After that, he began to sing that he didn't want to let go of the spring, and was confined in the library, taking advantage of the spring to invite all the beauties he frequented to enjoy the peonies.

The person who wrote this book was originally listening to Liu Gongzi's romantic affair with prostitutes, and wrote a song to make fun of it. But before taking the stage, a small servant grabbed the actor who sang Xiaosheng and asked him to add a sentence. A word that vaguely means that the prostitute beside him also had a dewy relationship with Liu Gelao.

The father and son gathering together is a big scandal. If the emperor sees it, Liu Jue will resign, and he will have no face to stay in the court.

It's a pity that the sentence had to be arranged so that it could be shaken out "inadvertently", but the emperor didn't have the patience to read it. He had just called Liu Cifu on the transcript and scolded him for a while, but when he saw that Elder Ge's own son was so flirtatious, he couldn't laugh no matter how many gags he added.

He can't promote a Jinyiwei who does practical work. How can such a prostitute openly travel with prostitutes as a good official

Gentlemen always like to say that it is not good to pass officials, but they only think about how the civil servants are and how they are, but they don't think about him, the emperor - he really is the kind of person who promotes talents for the sake of a play. Are you faint

He had asked Zhu Ji and someone who had read Xie Ying's dossier before he was promoted to be a probation officer. Just because he was the emperor and watched a folk play, using the insinuation of the people in the play? Just because he never ordered the cabinet to issue a decree, but the central decree of the great companion of Wynn

These ministers are against the decree of officials, it is the emperor's authority to promote and appoint desirable people!

The emperor waved the actors to go down, and coldly ordered: "Call Mr. Wan, Mr. Xi Liu, come."

It was getting late at this time, Wan An and Liu Ji hurried to the corner door, but they couldn't go in. They could only ask through the door, "What is your majesty's will to summon ministers?"

Qin Chang handed out the emperor's handwriting, which read "Liu Gongzi Appreciating the Peony" in six large ink-smeared characters, followed by a very rude sentence: "Sir, you should reflect on yourself."

At the beginning of this year, there were meteors, white air, and thunderous sounds in the sky, which seemed to be a sign of disaster. Emperor Chenghua wrote to the three members of the cabinet, "Sirs should be introspective." In just a few words, it can be seen that in the eyes of the emperor, how serious Liu Jue's crime is.

The flesh on Wan An's face trembled, and he asked in a low voice, "Has your majesty finished watching that play?"

Qin Chang sighed: "I only read half of it. Before the old handbook came in, His Majesty was a little displeased when he saw it. When watching the play... It was only when Liu Gongzi brought a prostitute on the stage that he was shocked."

It's a pity that Jun's anger was too early, otherwise there would be that "Juyu" remark, and the emperor would no longer have the possibility of recalling his old love and calling him back to the court.

The three of them chatted for a while, Wan and Liu were about to return to the duty room, and Qin Chang suddenly stopped them and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty read Liu Cifu's memorial and seemed unhappy, and asked Gao Liang to see Xie Zhenfu tomorrow. Manage criminal matters. In our family's opinion, the better he does, the more sparse he will be..." The more selfish he became, and the more unreasonable Liu Xu seemed to make trouble.

Wanxin understands. After thinking for a while, he asked Qin Chang for the script of the play. He picked a suitable place to write the words that should have been heard by the emperor. After drying it all the way, he brought it back together with the emperor's handwriting and gave it to him. Liu Jue.

The next morning, Liu Jue went to the book and begged for a break.

The word "Jufeng" is too poisonous.

He got the courtyard book and the emperor's handwriting yesterday, and he knew that there must be Wan An, Liu Ji and Zhongguan conspiring to frame him. But it was an indisputable fact that his son was drinking with prostitutes, and he even asked Leren to write and sing. He didn't even want to let outsiders know the word "Jufeng", and he couldn't justify it in his letter.

If the Son of Heaven is willing to believe him, he will naturally keep him; if he doesn't keep him... he will still be able to save some face when he leaves, and he will also be treated as an official by the cabinet.

If on weekdays, the elders of the pavilion and the six court officials wanted to serve, the emperor would have to keep them in office. But this time, when the emperor was furious, he didn't hold back at all. He immediately agreed to his book, allowing him to return the post to his home, and to send eight men and eight men for his use.

Liu Jue got the imperial decree, and was really disheartened, so he asked to bring the third son who caused the trouble and the younger son who was under ten years old to his hometown together.

This time, he was not taken for granted, nor was he completely wronged, neither was it generous, nor was he sad, and the scene was rather awkward. Yang Yiqing was in Zhongshu, and met with the elders in the morning and evening. He often brought Liu Xiaogong, who was also a member of Zhongshu, into the palace. It was considered a friendship, so he went to explain a few words to Liu Jue.

Liu Jue remained silent.

Yang Yiqing couldn't scold the "Pipa Ji" as a bad thing—that play was presided over by his senior brother, and the Hanlinists arranged it according to folklore. Whether the content or the lyrics, in his opinion, it was completely beyond reproach.

The only bad thing is that it is so well arranged in all aspects that it makes Liu Gongzi a negative model.

He could only comfort Liu Cifu: "This junior has inquired about this matter in the ban, and the play was actually not a hindrance. It's just that His Majesty was in a bad mood at the time... In a few years, His Majesty will calm down and your lord will be able to come back again."

Liu Jue shook his head: "Wan An and Liu Ji will not allow me to come back in the future. You young people don't have to play and complain for me. I, Liu, taught such a frivolous son, and my eyes are just staring at me. Others, what face to complain about! I only hate that I fell into the trap of the two traitors Wan Liu in order to gain a reputation at the time!"

He gnashed his teeth and brought his two sons back to his hometown. When Yang Yiqing returned, he went to Li Dongyang's house to talk about it, and said with a bit of pity: "I also read the book about Liu Gongzi rewarding peony, but it's actually a scholarly affair. It's nothing. It's a pity that he caught up with Liu Ge's remarks and disobeyed him, and his son was not up to his expectations. Comparing the two, the sage became angry and sent him home. "

Li Dongyang shook his head and said worriedly: "Liu Cifu is just a bit irritable, but he does not lose his loyalty and patriotism. Now he is also being pushed out by Wan An and Liu Ji, and there are only two people in the cabinet. It can be seen that the imperial court will become darker and darker. already."

After sighing for a while, he said, "I just hope that Xie Zhenfu can control Jin Yiwei, so that they can always be as righteous as when they patrol under his command."

Cui Xie happened to come in to hand in his homework, and he heard them say the words "Xie Zhenfu" outside the window, so he walked in and asked, "What are the teachers and uncle talking about 'Xie Zhenfu', is it the Xie Zhen the disciple recognizes? The messenger?"

Yang Yiqing said with a smile: "The child's family, what is the relationship between the court and the court? The Taizu has an order, and your students can't discuss politics.

Cui Xie said, "The disciple is a student, not a student. The court didn't say that a student is not allowed to discuss politics... It's okay for the uncle to hide it from me, and the teacher can't hide it from me, right?"

Li Dongyang took his paper, looked at the dense and neat words on it, felt a little satisfied, and played the paper and said, "Xie Zhenfu has nothing to do. It's something happened to Liu Cifu who impeached him."

Liu Cifu... What to do to impeach Xie Ying? Xie Ying didn't do anything, she was all alone!

Cui Xie's cheek muscles tightened, and he frowned and asked, "Master Xie has never done anything wrong, but he is only a 4th-grade seder. How could it be impeached by Master Second Assistant? I hope the teacher will explain in detail what happened."

Li Dongyang sighed: "Master Liu called Wan An and Liu Ji to be framed, and now he has returned to his hometown, and that Xie Zhen has nothing to do with it. My junior brother and I just lamented that the upright people in the dynasty are withering, the villain is in power, and we don't know the future. How To."

Wan'an, Liu Ji, Liu Cifu... Aren't these three the famous Sange Lao? Why are you still intriguing when it's all over the paper, what are you doing to impeach Brother Xie, and wait for Xinchao to step down together

Xie Ying, who is so clean and honest, can't be considered a decent person even if he is impeached!

Cui Xie rolled his eyes at the second assistant secretly, and said sternly, "Where has the righteous person gone? In front of the disciple, there are two loyal and upright ministers, the weapons of the country. They saw them in the palace and at the teacher's house, and even more so. It is full of virtuous talents. In the next two years, there will be worthy ministers in the court, and no one will be elected, and there will be no 'paper paste three pavilions old, clay sculpture six Shangshu'!"

In two years, it will be the Hongzhi Dynasty, and sooner or later these two big bosses will be able to become the elders of the cabinet. People like them who don't judge heroes based on their origins, and who don't have nothing to impeach good people who can do things, are considered upright gentlemen!

Li Dongyang rolled up the roll of paper and waved at him, telling him to go back and recite Mr. Yichuan's article - this child is really bold, how can he praise and criticize the important officials of the court so much

Yang Yiqing watched him go out arrogantly, put his hands in his arms and smiled, and said to Li Dongyang, "Why should you be too strict with him? They should have a lot of energy at a young age, better than those who are only ordered by Shangguan. He is strong. Not to mention that he has a good relationship with Xie Zhenfu... Let's not say anything about the scene, now the emperor believes in Zhongchangwei even more. With such a clean person in charge of the prison, at least he can protect some unfortunate people who are framed. upright ministers of..."

He whispered: "I heard from the inner court, that Xie Zhenfu took great care of the prisoners after he took office, and cleaned up the case files from the beginning, but I didn't see him immediately Afu Wanjia and the two elders... I'm really glad Mr. Liu didn't impeach him. Down with him."