The Red Mansions

Chapter 992 Emperor Chongping: There is suspected fraud in the current examination!
Palace Garden, Kunning Palace
Jia Heng and Empress Song had finished their brief conversation. At this time, the eunuch of the palace entered the hall and said, "Empress, King Qi, King Chu, King Wei, and King Liang are here to see you."

The four kings of Qi, Chu, Wei and Liang, who nominally referred to as empresses by their mothers, naturally wanted to congratulate empresses on their spring and autumn birthdays because of their filial piety.

After a while, the four kings entered the hall, took a few quick steps, knelt down to salute Empress Song, and said in unison: "The sons and ministers have seen the empress, and the empress is a thousand years old."

And behind the screen, the princesses also smiled at each other, showing the warmth of the sisters-in-law in front of their wives.

"Get up quickly." With a jaded smile on her face, Empress Song sent the eunuchs and female officials to support the four kings, and sat down on the embroidered pier lined up beside her.

At this moment, the four kings also offered some gifts.

After King Qi took his seat, he straightened his python robe, and glanced at Jia Heng who was sitting beside him with mung bean's small eyes. There was a strange color on his fair, slightly fat face.

Jia Heng also glanced at King Qi, his heart scoffed coldly, but his expression remained calm.

King Chu smiled and nodded to Jia Heng.

Since Ziyu returned to Beijing, it was the first time he saw Ziyu, and he would wait for another day to visit him.

King Wei and King Liang were talking in a low voice, and while the two brothers were chatting and laughing, King Wei Chen Ran mostly cast his eyes on the boy in the python suit, and there was eagerness in the depths of his eyes.

Empress Song looked at the four kings, and comforted her with a smile: "It's hard for you guys to deal with the affairs of the Ministry, but you can still come here to celebrate the birthday of the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother is very happy."

King Qi looked at the beautiful temptress, endured the nausea in his heart, because he was the eldest son, he took the lead and said: "Mother, I will be a son and minister, and I will be happy to hear about the mother's birthday, and the affairs of the government are not in a hurry. .”

The king of Chu and the kings of Wei and Liang also said a few auspicious words.

Jia Heng caught a glimpse of the three vassals and thought to himself, the Tianjia is really a scene of joy and harmony at the moment.

In fact, the oldest King Qi is only five or six years younger than Queen Song?

Well, but in terms of temperament, Queen Song has been well maintained, and she looks like a plump and beautiful woman in her 30s.

Jia Heng didn't dare to look more.

But this scene fell into the eyes of Princess Xianning, who was always looking at Jia Heng, her brows were frowned, and her clear eyes were covered with a layer of worry.

Compared with others who don't care about it, Princess Xianning, who tried out Jia Heng's hidden thoughts between the bed curtains, was inevitably a little anxious.

Princess Xianning's clear eyes flickered, and she secretly thought that she must find a way to divert her husband's mind.

Empress Song asked again: "Princess Chu is now in Jinling, has there been a letter recently? Is the fetus okay?"

Because Princess Chu Zhen Qing was raising her baby in Jinling, Empress Song naturally wanted to ask a question to show her concern.

The King of Chu smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager is worried, the princess sent a letter earlier, saying that everything is fine."

Empress Song nodded, and said: "Jiangnan is also good, it is suitable for confinement and childcare, let her give birth there and then return to Beijing before it is too late, come to the palace tomorrow to tell your father, you also go to Jinling to accompany her." with her."

"Thank you, Queen Mother, for your concern." The King of Chu said thanks.

Jia Heng listened to the two mentioning Mopan from the side, and felt strange in his heart.

Empress Song was right, he should go to Jinling to spend more time with Zhen Qing.

Empress Song glanced at King Wei, then turned to King Liang Chen Wei, and asked with a smile, "Wei'er has recently been watching politics at the Ministry of Punishment, how is it?"

Compared to when she greeted the King of Chu just now, her smile didn't reach her eyes. At this moment, Empress Song was asking Liang Wang Chen Wei, her eyebrows and eyes curved like crescent moons, and her smile floated into Li Rui's dimples.

"I have learned some criminal laws and regulations from Mr. Zhao Ge, and I feel that I have benefited a lot." Liang Wang Chen Wei said softly with a smile on his face.

Empress Song nodded, and said: "Study hard, Zhao Ge is always a learned man, and you should learn some principles of being an official and a man, and you will benefit from it in the future."

While everyone was talking, the eunuch outside said loudly: "Your Majesty is here."

The four kings in the hall, as well as Gao Ming's wife and concubines behind the screen, were all shocked.

Emperor Chongping entered the hall with a warm smile on his face, apparently in a good mood today, and stepped into the palace.

"I've seen my father (the sage)." The four vassals and Jia Heng all came to greet him.

Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong also came over, greeted Emperor Chongping, and said, "Your Majesty."

Emperor Chongping nodded, and then turned his gaze to Jia Heng who was not far away, his expression softened a little, and he said with a smile: "Zi Yu is also here."

Jia Heng stood up and bowed to Emperor Chongping, saying: "I have seen Your Majesty."

Emperor Chongping said: "Ziyu is free from courtesy, and it's the Dragon Boat Festival today, so I'm more at ease. Isn't there a dragon boat prepared at Taiye Pond, and you can enjoy lotus flowers. Let's go and see together later."

Jia Heng cupped his hands in thanks.

King Qi, King Chu, King Liang and other vassals looked at Emperor Chongping and Jia Heng who were talking, with different thoughts.

Princess Xianning took Emperor Chongping's arm and said in a charming voice, "Father, my son wants to go for a walk outside with Mr. Chanyue and my sister."

Emperor Chongping said softly: "The palace is not as lively as the outside."

Princess Xianning rarely acted coquettishly and said: "Father."

Concubine Duan Rong frowned, and subconsciously wanted to object, but after thinking about it, she felt that there was nothing wrong, and said: "You and Chan Yue are preparing for the wedding these few days, don't be too crazy. "

Princess Xianning smiled with clear eyes, and said softly: "Mother, don't worry, Chanyue and I will pay attention."

I will pay attention to it, and it will not be darkened before marriage.

Song Yan next to Shen's took her mother's hand, obviously wanting to play with Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue.

Shen nodded with a smile on her face, which was her approval.

At this time, Jia Heng didn't wait too long, got up and said goodbye to Emperor Chongping, and the other four vassals were ordered by Emperor Chongping one by one.

Celebrating the birthday of the lord of the sixth house is originally a battlefield for women.

Princess Xianning got up slowly and sent Jia Heng out of Kunning Palace with Li Chanyue.

In the palace road with high vermilion walls, pomegranate blossoms poke out a few branches occasionally, casting dark shadows in the summer.

Jia Heng and Princess Xianning walked together, the summer morning was already scorching hot, and after a while, their clothes were wet with sweat, and their cheeks were profusely sweaty.

Jia Heng turned to look at Princess Xianning, and said softly, "Xianning, where are we going?"

"Let's go to Mr.'s house to play. Most of the people at home are waiting impatiently. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival." Princess Xianning said with a smile, "Besides, I haven't seen my cousin for a long time. I also want to see you." Go meet her."

Jia Heng paused for a moment, thinking in his eyes.

Secretly thought, Xianning's play may have other meanings.

Just as he walked to the palace gate, suddenly there were bursts of drumming from a distance, dense as raindrops, with a sense of urgency and urgency.

"This?" Jia Heng frowned and said, "Is this the sound of Dengwen's drum?"

Princess Xianning frowned, with a look of surprise on her clear and beautiful face, she said: "Sir, who is playing the drum on this Dragon Boat Festival?"

"Since the Dengwen drum was felled, the censor has strictly guarded it and kept people away from it. I don't want anyone else to cut the Dengwen drum." Jia Heng said.

Just as the delivery port of the mailbox for letters and visits is facing downwards, after Jia Hengfa Deng Wengu and the court disputes, someone was on guard.

Jia Heng thought for a moment, his heart moved slightly.

Maybe this is Xiaoxiao's arrangement?
Princess Xianning said: "Sir, why don't we go and have a look?"

Jia Heng said: "Just send someone to inquire about the situation, don't need to join in the fun, or, why don't you go to your bedroom to rest for a while?"

Li Chanyue said: "Cousin, let's take a rest in a palace first, it's really hot right now."

Princess Xianning nodded, then took Song Yan's little hand, and said, "Let's go, cousin Yan'er."

Song Yan was looking curiously at the direction where Dengwen's drum sounded, and she nodded quickly in response.

At this moment, beside the Dengwen drum next to the palace gate, a young scholar in a blue long gown put down the drumstick in his hand and looked up at the majestic palace in the distance. There was no anger on his young face.

Zhou Fang's several palace guards and servants had already surrounded him.

At this time, Zheng Yong, the supervisory censor who was guarding the Dengwen drum, said sharply: "According to the law of my great man, Fa Dengwen drum requires thirty sticks before handing over the pleadings to the emperor. Young man, how old are you?" Courage! Come and take it!"

As he said that, several guards with big arms and round waists approached, grabbed the scholar, and dragged him aside to prepare for execution.

"I have a grievance report, I have a pleading paper!" The blue-clothed youth leaned against the board, but stretched out a hand, and shouted loudly.

As soon as this remark came out, the faces of the guards holding the torture sticks all changed, and they looked at Zheng Yong, the censor.

Zheng Yong said in a deep voice: "Go and report to the Holy Majesty, and continue the execution."

He motioned to the two guards to take the pleading paper, and then read it with lowered eyes, his face gradually becoming serious.

On the pleadings, it is impressively written that the scholar Chai Youjie sued Zhao Mo, the cabinet scholar of the current dynasty, Fang Huan, the minister of rites, Liu Zheng, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and eighteen fellow examiners of the Imperial Academy, for leaking the test questions. It is the shooter who wrote the text in advance.

I didn't know it was an imperial examination question before, but I was a ghostwriter for a fellow Jinshi Xu Ying. Recently, I heard a discussion among scholars, and then I realized that it was an imperial examination question. Later, I received 2000 taels of silver from Xu Ying as a thank you.

"This is a major case of imperial examination fraud!" Zheng Yong was shocked after reading the pleadings.

Since Chen Han founded the country, there have been dozens of subjects for the admission of scholars, and there have been two cases of fraudulent imperial examinations at the level of the township examination, but this is the first time that the level of the general examination has been involved.

Zheng Yong scowled and asked, "This is a big matter, can you guarantee the truth of what you wrote in the pleadings?"

The blue-clothed youth said: "My lord, the student's letter is written on paper, and the student wants to see His Majesty."

Zheng Yong looked dignified and looked at the little official at the side. Both of them looked at each other in blank dismay, both aware of the seriousness of the matter.

Just when the two of you were looking at me and I was looking at you, two young inner eunuchs hurried over from the direction of the palace gate, and asked Zheng Yong, the supervisory censor, "Today is your mother's birthday, where did you come from?" Beating the Dengwen drum? You have disturbed the clean ears of the empress, have you ever felt guilty?"

Zheng Yong hurried up to meet the general, and said with a smile on his face: "This father-in-law, a scholar beat a drum and said that he wanted to express his grievances, but the officials and others couldn't stop him. Here is a pleading paper, saying that he is this year. In the Bingchen examination, the test questions were leaked, and there was an imperial examination fraud case."

The white-faced, beardless young father-in-law was also a little flustered when he heard the words, and said, "Will the exam be leaking? The exam has been over for more than a month, but the ignorant and unruly people are slandering?"

Zheng Yongdao: "The person who filed the complaint is a scholar from Jiangsu Province, who confessed that he had done the examination questions a few days ago."

The inner prisoner frowned, and said in a low voice: "Let the guards be guarded first, and bring the pleading paper, and our family will present it to the palace immediately."

Zheng Yong hurriedly passed the folded paper over, his heart was covered with a thick haze.

The young eunuch didn't say much, and trotted all the way towards the palace.

At this moment, Emperor Chongping in Kunning Palace also heard the sound of Dengwen drum from outside, and his brows gradually frowned.

Empress Song was surprised: "Your Majesty, is this the sound of Dengwen's drum?"

All right, why is there a drum sound here?Who has grievances to sue?
And Chen Cheng, the King of Qi who was sitting on pins and needles below, his eyes darkened, clearly recalling some bad memories.

If it hadn't been for Jia Heng's son Faden Wengu, the Dongcheng incident wouldn't have come out, he wouldn't have been rejected by his father, and he wouldn't have made dangerous plans in the future.

At this time, Dai Quan heard the news from the young eunuch, and quickly came to the front, saying: "Your Majesty, there is a case who sued the current imperial examination for fraud, and the pleadings have been delivered."

With that said, hand over the pleadings.

Emperor Chongping took the pleading paper with no expression on his face, and began to read the words written in Guange style on it, his face changed.

Empress Song asked with concern: "Your Majesty?"

Emperor Chongping said coldly: "There will be an examination in this subject, and there is suspected fraud!"

Saying that, facing Queen Song's surprised gaze, he said in a deep voice: "How can I say that something is wrong, I don't think there is really a fraudulent case, it is clear that the imperial court is paying attention to side affairs and not paying enough attention to the imperial examination, so I have the idea of ​​falsification, How can we allow them to give and receive privately in the national talent ceremony? Hateful!"

Empress Song said softly: "Your Majesty calm down."

The kings of Chu and Wei who were sitting next to each other looked at each other.

Emperor Chongping's complexion was as cold as ice, and he said in a deep voice: "Dai Quan, summon Xu Lu, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, to the palace for an audience."

This kind of imperial examination malpractice is usually intervened by the procuratorate, so as to conform to the code system, instead of entrusting everything to Jinyifu, and it involves a cabinet minister, so it is not good for Jinyifu to lead the investigation.

Dai Quan's heart trembled slightly, and he bowed his hands to Emperor Chongping.

Jia Heng, Princess Xianning, and Princess Qinghe were about to go to the palace gate, and sent the female officer to inquire. After a while, the female officer went back and said, "Your Highness, someone beat the Dengwen drum and said that it is today. There are leaked questions in the subject examination ahead of time, and His Majesty is sending people to investigate."

Princess Xianning's eyes moved slightly, and she said softly: "Sir, it seems that there is a fraud in the scientific examination this year?"

Jia Heng said: "I just returned to the capital, and I didn't expect to encounter such a thing."

Xiaoxiao obviously found the key witness, and used this to deal a severe blow to the Zhejiang Party.

In any case, even if Zhao Mo, a scholar of the cabinet, was involved in the case, once the imperial examination fraud case came out, there would at least be an ending of reprimanding and leaving the cabinet, otherwise it would not be enough to calm public opinion among scholars.

Because once the matter spreads, the scholars in Beijing who have not yet returned to their hometowns are bound to be furious and the public opinion will boil.

Because this is an opportunity to stand up.

Although the chances are slim, what if the imperial court retakes the exam?

Just as Jia Heng expected, the frustrated candidates who were originally detained in the capital gathered together in twos and threes after hearing the news, or spread by someone with a heart, discussing the leak of Bingchen's imperial examination questions.

Today was the Dragon Boat Festival, and some frustrated Juren drank alcohol. After a few words of incitement, the bustling crowd headed for the yamen of the Ministry of Rites and the Gongyuan.

The soldiers and horses of the five cities and the officials of the Yamen of the Jingzhao Mansion naturally sensed the storm that was about to blow, and reported to their superiors one after another.

The new Jingzhao Yin Rao Yizhou, who is in his early forties, was originally a procurator in Guangdong. After he was transferred to the capital at the same level, he relied on strict law enforcement as his foundation, and planned to order his servants to go to the Gongyuan to persuade scholars.

At this moment, many failed candidates had already gathered at the gate of the Gong Yuan.

There are 4000 people who take the exam every year, and they often take one-tenth of them. Even though many of them have gone back, many of them are still stranded in Beijing.

"Brother Meng Jian, I just said that the final ranking is a bit weird. It turns out that the test questions have already been leaked, and we are still kept in the dark." A scholar said angrily.

A dark-skinned scholar, with the green skirt on his head shaking because of his excitement, echoed: "In this case, the southerners have taken two-thirds of the second-class, so I think it is very famous. on the road."

"The chief examiner, Mr. Zhao Ge, was originally the governor of the south of the Yangtze River. Of course, he is partial to the southern candidates!"

"I heard that Guan Huan, the deputy examiner, is also from Jiangnan."

"No wonder, does this mean that all the princes in the temple are from the south?" A young man said angrily.

For a time, the crowd was raging.

In other words, Juren who could read books was originally a small and medium-sized landlord, but now he has become an official reserve. After the scholarly public opinion became louder, he was not afraid of the government.

Several northern scholars said one after another.

Rao Yizhou listened to the scholars who were making noise, his heart was covered with a thick layer of haze, he opened his arms and said: "Everyone, don't be impulsive, the imperial court will give you an explanation."

"Master Rao, now that the Dengwen drum is ringing, it is clear that the leak of the question has been confirmed. Let's not talk about anything else, we must retake the exam!"

"re-examine!"

As the crowd shouted, some unsuccessful candidates began to shout.

Rao Yizhou felt his heart tense, and said to Hong Mingshan, the judge beside him: "Send someone to report to the superior."

Hong Mingshan's expression was also a little apprehensive. Hearing the words, he responded and quickly pushed aside the crowd.

Above is the cabinet and even the palace.

"My lord, the scholars from the household department are fighting with the officers." A police officer who looked like a headhunter came over out of breath, with a look of panic on his face.

But at this moment, this sentence was also heard by the disciples who surrounded the Gongyuan, and the crowd became even more angry for a while.

"Go, go to the Ministry of Rites."

"Go to the Ministry of Rites!"

The yamen of the Ministry of Rites——

Han Huang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, was in the cabinet, not in the government office, while Fang Huan, the left servant, was celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival at home.

Therefore, in the yamen of the Ministry of Rites, only Zhou Tingji, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, was sitting in the yamen to supervise the affairs. He was reading a book in the yamen hall, when he heard the little official report that the scholars outside were bustling and crowded around the street, his face was calm, and he said: " If the scholars make trouble, they are not allowed to approach the department, and in addition, send someone to report to the old man."

"Sir, do you want to see the scholar?" said the little official.

"What are you seeing? Anyone who goes to see him at this time will cause a commotion." Zhou Tingji said with a frown.

As time passed, the officials in front of the yamen of the Ministry of Rites had clashed with the scholars, and the two sides started physical conflicts from pushing and shoving.

As the Juren from the Gongyuan joined in, the officials of the Ministry of Rites could only call in the soldiers of the Wucheng Bingma Division to guard the yamen of the Ministry of Households.

In this way, the confrontation continued until noon.

In the Daming Palace, in the inner study, there was complete silence, and a needle could be heard falling, as if a storm was brewing.

Xu Lu, the censor of the Zuo capital, Shi Jie, the minister of the military department who was on duty at the military plane, Han Huang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Zhao Mo, the cabinet minister, all stood silently holding wat boards.

An internal eunuch ran into the hall panting, and said: "Your Majesty, the son besieged the Gongyuan. Later, there was a conflict in the Ministry of Rites, and the son went to the office of the Ministry of Rites. Many people were injured."

Emperor Chongping's face was gloomy, his eyes wandered over the ministers standing holding the wat board, and he said, "Qing Zhao, what's the matter with leaking questions in this scientific examination?"

Zhao Mo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, from proposition, printing, archiving, and reviewing, every link is under the supervision of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Ministry of Rites. It was not until the day before the exam that the subject of the scriptures was finally discussed. I really don't know why. How can you let the problem go."

"You are the examiner? You don't know how to vent the questions?" Emperor Chongping asked with gloomy eyes.

Zhao Mo's heart trembled. Although he knew that he should admit his mistakes first, and then share his opinions, he didn't think that there would be any leaks in this exam, because the final questions were decided by himself, and then handed over to Fang Huan. , Liu Zheng et al.

In fact, if there is a fraudulent case, it will definitely affect Zhao Mo's reputation. This is obviously something that Mr. Zhao Ge, who cherishes feathers, absolutely cannot tolerate.

Han Huang looked serious, and said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The imperial examination is related to the selection of talents by the country. If there are doubts and shortcomings, the department will send personnel to investigate, clarify the truth, and set the record straight."

Zhao Mo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, you can't just rely on one-sided facts about the fraudulent imperial examinations. Maybe there are people who failed in the exams, who were dissatisfied and deliberately spread rumors to make troubles. It's unknown."

Han Huang frowned and sighed secretly. Bo Jian was still too upright. Once he was found guilty of the imperial examination fraud case, he would inevitably be implicated.

Emperor Chongping said: "Xu Qing, how did the scholar ask?"

Xu Lu said: "Already in the prison of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, I think that apart from finding out the middleman who bought the document from him, if he wants to find out this section, he only needs to ask the scholar to review the questions he made. Copy the article once and compare it with Jinshi Xu Ying's article, and you can confirm one or two."

Because the papers of the general examination are not like the palace examination, which may publish the test papers, after the examination papers are reviewed, they will be closed.

Emperor Chongping's face was expressionless, and his voice was cold: "According to Qing's words, immediately interrogate and compare, come and call Fang Huan, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, Liu Zheng, the head of the Imperial Academy, and the eighteenth room of the Imperial Academy, to the inner study. Ask."

When Dai Quan heard the words, he bowed his hands and said yes.

(End of this chapter)