I ate soft rice in those years

The Imperial Academy quickly drafted the imperial decree and submitted it.

After a glance, Yan Bianzong picked up the national seal on the side, and raised his hand to cover it.

Just at this moment, a notification sounded from outside, "Senior Chu, please see me."

Yan Bianzong paused, put back the national seal, rolled up the imperial edict along the jade axis, and put it aside, "Xuan."

Chu Xiuyan held a scroll in his hand, and was wearing a jade-white Taoist robe with gold thread on the collar and wide sleeves. When the breeze blew while walking, the light and thin coat floated up, looking graceful and luxurious.

He walked slowly to Yan Bianzong, saluted, "kowtow to the emperor."

"You don't need to be too polite." Yan Bianzong held up a hand, glanced at the scroll in his hand, and said with a smile: "How can the son enter the palace today?"

Chu Xiuyan lowered his eyes and smiled slightly, "This time entering the palace is something interesting to report."

"Oh?" Yan Bianzong raised his eyebrows, and stretched out his hand to ask someone to bring a stool, "What's so interesting about the prince?"

Chu Xiuyan didn't sit down, but raised the scroll in his hand, held the lower end with the other hand, and slowly unfolded it.

The handwriting was slowly revealed, and the smile on Yan Bianzong's mouth stagnated and gradually faded.I saw that what was written above was exactly the same as the topic of the imperial examination.

"Xiuyan came across this question by chance today, and thought it was interesting. But he never wanted to hear Shuchang mention that it was similar to the imperial examination questions given by the emperor, so he thought it was weird, so he wanted to discuss it with the emperor." Chu Xiuyan has a straight posture Standing firmly in front of Yan Bianzong, his tone was meaningful.

Since the first emperor, there has been a law that strictly prohibits candidates from cheating in the examination room. Once they are discovered, they will be imprisoned, not to mention that the entire essay topic is leaked.

Yan Bianzong's eyes sank, and he said angrily to the side: "What's going on!"

The Hanlin scholars and father-in-law present knelt down one after another, not daring to breathe, "Your Majesty, calm down."

Chu Xiuyan beside Yan Bianzong's expression remained unchanged, "It turns out that there is indeed something strange about this matter."

Eunuch Ma raised his eyes to see the emperor's expression, and asked cautiously: "Where did your son get this scroll?"

"Teach Zhu Yuchang in front of the Shuchang Hall." Chu Xiuyan raised his eyes, rolled up the essay in his hand, and handed it to Yan Bianzong with both hands, "It is the uncle of Ning Zishan, an imperial examination candidate. Although there is no evidence to say that he took After taking this test question, Xiu Yan doesn't know what he answered, but I still ask His Majesty to think carefully about it."

Speaking of which, the imperial decree of silk brocade and cotton on the table case seems a bit conspicuous.Yan Bianzong glanced sideways, but didn't say anything, "Don't worry, my son. Although the answer is reasonable in this life, it can only be said to be mediocre. But if there is really a suspicion of fraud, it is natural that he will be punished severely as a warning. "

After finishing speaking, he threw the scroll in his hand to Eunuch Wu, "Go! Get someone to investigate this matter thoroughly, and anyone involved in leaking the question will be severely punished!"

Eunuch Wu hurriedly caught it, "Yes."

Chu Xiuyan raised the corner of his mouth, "The emperor is wise."

"The son has meritorious service in this matter, and after a thorough investigation, there will be rewards."

"Xiu Yan doesn't dare to take credit for it. He only hopes that the people who leaked the question will get what they deserve, and that it can be regarded as fairness to ordinary people." Chu Xiuyan leaned over, but how much of this statement was true and how much was false, he and Yan Bianzong felt the same. Ming Jing, "Actually, I have something to report to the emperor today."

Hearing his tone, Yan Bianzong suddenly had a bad premonition, "What's the matter?"

"The merchant ships have been abroad for several years, and they have gained a lot from trading with other countries. They have sent news yesterday that they will return to Beijing soon." Chu Xiuyan raised his eyes after speaking, and his amber-like translucent pupils carried a smile , "The emperor waits for a few days and will see me return to the fleet with a full load."

Hearing this, Yan Bianzong was silent for a while.

This is still a debt owed by previous dynasties.

"The fleet will return to Beijing soon", so how uncertain is this "soon day", hurricane?shipwreck?

In fact, it is not. The biggest uncertainty is Chu Xiuyan. He has the leadership of these merchant ships, and even the people who report to Yan Bianzong have his staff.As long as he said that none of these fleets returned, even if those merchant ships were intact and carried expensive tributes, Yan Bianzong still couldn't see or take them, but the state treasury's expenditure on it over the years would fall short.

Can Yan Bianzong blame him for this?

The salt industry, silk weaving, iron making...these are all thanks to Chu Xiuyan, and he can't move them.

When Chu Xiuyan came over today, Yan Bianzong knew why he came, but he didn't expect him to be so tough.

It seems that Chu Wenlin is destined to join the cabinet.

Yan Bianzong raised the corners of his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes, "I have a son."

Chu Xiuyan on the opposite side narrowed his eyes slightly, and his smile deepened, "Then Xiuyan is here to congratulate the emperor in advance."

Yan Bianzong sneered inwardly.Congratulations on what?Congratulations that you will have an eyeliner from a family by your side again?He raised his hand, "Eunuch Ma, send the son out of the palace."

"Yes." Eunuch Ma raised his hand, "My lord."

When he reached the gate of the palace, Chu Xiuyan turned his head, "From now on, I won't bother my father-in-law, it's important to serve the emperor."

Only two people could understand the meaning of the words, Eunuch Ma nodded slightly, "Your Majesty, go slowly."

He watched Chu Xiuyan go away, walked back into the hall, and saw that the Hanlin scholar had begun to write the imperial decree again, "Your Majesty, I have asked someone to inform you about the leak."

After hearing this, Yan Bianzong was speechless, holding the dossier, looking out the window with deep eyes,

-

The day when the list was released was also a beautiful spring day, and the notice was posted in the Shuchang hall. When Chu Wenlin arrived, there were already many people waiting here. The central billboard was covered with a red curtain, and there were guards around. guard.

While waiting quietly, Ning Zishan next to him looked over from time to time and showed a provocative smile, but he pretended not to see it.

Not long after, the old eunuch in the palace that day, that is, Eunuch Ma, came out. He looked around, his eyes paused on Ning Zishan, and then ordered to the guard next to him: "Let's lift the curtain."

The guard nodded, pinching the bottom of the red curtain and lifting it up.

The generals are usually those who have both ability and morality among the Jinshi. The outstanding ones will be kept in the Imperial Academy, and even can enter the cabinet, and the others will be sent to various places as scattered officials.The person who ranks first will become the first candidate for the next cabinet, and will study and train under the current chief assistant.

All the common people present can say that no one does not want this position, but there can only be one number one, as long as they can stay in the library, they are lucky.

When the red curtain was lifted, everyone was looking for their name from bottom to top. For a while, some people were happy and some were worried.And Ning Zishan didn't even look at the bottom, he looked directly at the top of the list, but the three words above gave him a blow.

How can it be!Ning Zishan opened his eyes wide, his mind buzzing.

Ning Zishan looked at Chu Wenlin who was beside him, his eyes were full of disbelief, how could it be him.

Obviously those questions are all correct, he memorized them all in advance, he should have a chance of winning!

He hurriedly looked again, only to find that his name was not on the entire list.Eunuch Ma had already begun to proclaim the imperial decree, and everyone knelt down.

But at this moment, Ning Zishan's heart was full of turmoil, as if he had expected something, Ning Zishan's back felt a little cold, he stepped back a few steps in a hurry, but was stopped by someone.

Ning Zishan looked back and saw two guards blocking the way.

Eunuch Ma handed the imperial decree to Chu Wenlin, and then looked at him, "Ning Zishan, you are suspected of cheating in the imperial court, and you have been temporarily dismissed from office, and now you are pressed back to await trial."

"No, it's not me." Ning Zishan shook his head, and wanted to turn around and run again, but was hit in the hollow of the leg by the guard with a long stick, and fell to his knees in pain.

Holding the imperial decree in his hand, Chu Wenlin was still a little surprised to see Ning Zishan being carried away.He didn't expect that Ning Zishan would take the risk. If you know about cheating, you will be punished at least, and you will be assigned to the frontier army at worst.

Before he could think about it, many people around had come to congratulate him. Chu Wenlin smiled lightly, thanked him, and left.

After leaving the Imperial Academy, Chu Wenlin breathed a sigh of relief, and saw a familiar carriage outside.

He was stunned for a moment, a slender white hand stretched out from inside and opened the curtain, only his slightly exposed golden gauze robe could be seen outside, and then he heard a sound like pearls falling on a jade plate, "how?"

Chu Wenlin laughed. Although he looked indifferent in the crowd just now, he was actually not without joy in his heart. After all, he had been studying for half a year at night, so he would not be happy with the results.

He approached Chu Xiuyan with the corners of his eyes bent, his smile was as warm as the spring at this time, "Worth living up to my son's respect, Wen Lin got what he wanted."