Royal rice bug, worm worm!

At the beginning of Daye’s founding of the country, the imperial examination system was not yet perfect. There was no palace examination, only a re-examination by the Ministry of Officials. Those who passed the examination could be appointed officials.

Therefore, the first name on the gold list can be called the "No. [-] Scholar", and the answer sheet of the champion man is called the "No. [-] Scholar".

Li Mujin recited the policy theory, which came from the number one scholar paper.

At that time, the chief examiner showed Li Hong the test papers of the top three and asked him to name the first one.

Li Hong chose this one without hesitation, precisely because of the saying "The people are water, and the king is a boat".

Li Hong said seriously: "Jinniang, tell me again, what is the name of this candidate?"

Li Mujin said nervously: "Qin Yu, his name is Qin Yu."

"Not Zheng Si?"

Li Mujin blinked, "Zheng...isn't my uncle the number one scholar? How could he use wine to relieve his worries at the snack shop?"

Wei Yu confirmed: "It was Qin Yu who told you that he wrote this theory, instead of hearing it from somewhere?"

"He didn't say it, but he recited it all." Li Mujin affirmed.

Li Xi heard the signs and asked, "Could it be that uncle told that Qin Yu?"

Wei Yu shook his head, impossible.

There is an unwritten rule among the candidates that they will never disclose their answer sheets before the results are revealed, not even to their close relatives, let alone strangers.

Li Hong's face was very ugly, but he still suppressed his emotions and looked at Zheng Jiarou.

Zheng Jiarou said softly: "Don't worry about me, just do it."

Li Hong pursed his lips, how could he ignore it?

His wife has suffered too much for him, for their son, and for the Zheng family who is not worth it. If he can no longer consider her, he will be a husband in vain.

"You don't have to think about how to choose me, and you don't have to think about the honor and disgrace of the Zheng family. The honor is earned by yourself, not given by others."

Zheng Jiarou took a step forward, gentle but firm: "I am not only the daughter of the Zheng family, but also the queen of Daye, the mother of a country, the justice that you and Shu Yun want, the justice that the students want, and I want it too."

Li Hong shook her hand tightly, turned around and ordered: "Take Qin Yu and Zheng Si to the Tai Chi Hall."

At the end, I added a sentence: "Quietly, don't make too much noise."

Fei Longwei took the order and left.

Li Hong and Wei Yu pleaded guilty to the Queen Mother and moved to the Tai Chi Hall.

Li Xi leaned close to Zheng Jiarou's ear, winking, "Don't worry, mother, I'll make your little eyeliner, and I'll come over to tell you if there is any movement."

Zheng Jiarou was amused by him, and nodded gently.

Li Xi turned his head and coaxed the Queen Mother to laugh out loud, and then she was relieved a little and hurried to the Tai Chi Hall.

As soon as he arrived, Fei Longwei brought Qin Yu and Zheng Si with him.

Qin Yu had already sobered up and changed his clothes. He didn't look slumped or resentful after failing the rankings. Instead, he was calm and stable, neither humble nor overbearing, which made people look up to him.

Zheng Sinian was over thirty, with clear eyebrows, at first glance he looked a bit like Zheng Jiarou and his siblings.Although he was the number one scholar in high school, he didn't show any arrogance, and always smiled kindly.

Li Hong didn't let anyone talk to them, and when he entered the hall, he pushed people to the desk and asked them to silently write the strategies and theories for the exam.

Although the two were puzzled, they didn't dare to ask more questions, so they wrote back to back.

Qin Yu quickly finished writing, and then, like during the scientific examination, he turned the test paper on the desk, lowered his hands, and sat respectfully on his knees, waiting for someone to collect it.

Zheng Si was a little slow, as if he was not sure about some allusions, so he drew a mark with a pen, and he finished writing without delay.

The inner eunuch held up the test papers of the two of them and showed them to everyone.

Li Hong and Wei Yu were both taken aback.

Qin Yumo's paper was indeed the same as the one awarded by the examiners, word for word.

Zheng Si was not. Although the viewpoints of his policy papers were excellent, they had nothing to do with Qin Yu's.

This is the most puzzling.

If Zheng Si wanted to cheat, he must have memorized Qin Yu's answer sheet early in the morning, and he would never write another answer sheet as calmly as he is now.

Zheng Si was quite naive. He scratched his neck and read Qin Yu's writing quietly. The more he looked at it, the wider his eyes widened. Finally, he couldn't help exclaiming: "This, this is impossible!"

Li Hong said in a deep voice: "Where is it impossible?"

Zheng Si pointed to Qin Yu, then pointed to the paper in the inner eunuch's hand, and said, "The students are less talented, but they can also see that Qin Sheng's answer paper is much better than mine, so it shouldn't be on the list!"

Wei Yu asked sharply, "Why did you draw a circle on your answer sheet?"

Zheng Si scratched his head, "I was too nervous during the scientific exam, so I finished it in a hurry. If I think about it now, I'm not sure if I wrote it like that..."

Wei Yu nodded, then looked at Qin Yu again, "Why is your word for word correct?"

Qin Yu held his hand and said calmly: "To tell the truth, Shaoqing, this strategy is not a temporary play by the students in the examination room, but was written when you and King Rui went to Hebei for disaster relief. At that time, it was just a prototype. Polish it up, read it silently several times back and forth, and write it down.”

This is not surprising, this year's exam questions are related to the disaster in Hebei.

Zheng Si was still wondering, "It shouldn't be, such a good article should be the first name!"

Wei Yu asked: "Are you sure, you have never seen or written this article?"

Zheng Si affirmed: "If I can write such an article, I won't have to pass the exam three times."

Li Xi picked Wei Yu's belt, and asked quietly: "Is it because my brain is not working well, why is it that I can't understand more and more?"

Wei Yu sneered, "Some people's brains are 'too easy'."

In the Taiji Hall, Cui Yuan and Gu Zhi arrived in a hurry before the matter was clarified.

Something happened outside the palace.

Some people maliciously spread rumors, saying that Qin Yu's answer sheet had been changed, otherwise he would not be on the list.

There are also people who transcribe the policy theory he "unintentionally" recited in the tavern, and pass it on to the students. Anyone who reads it feels that this kind of literary talent is not inferior to the number one scholar.

"Impossible." / "There is a conspiracy."

Li Mujin and Qin Yu spoke in unison.

Li Mujin remembered very clearly that the tavern was very deserted, with only her and Qin Yu as guests.

Although Qin Yu was drunk at the time, he was not so unconscious. With his volume at that time, only Li Mujin could hear it.

So, there is no way this article was leaked "accidentally" in a tavern.

Cui Yuan said in a deep voice: "There are also rumors that Zheng Si used Qin Yu's article fraudulently, which is why he got the first name."

Immediately afterwards, Zheng Si's family background was picked up—the empress's cousin, the prince's cousin.

The most notable thing is the relationship between him and Wei Yu - when Wei Yu was studying Zheng's clan, he had two senior brothers who were close, one was Zheng Wei, and the other was Zheng Si.

So far, things have become very clear.

This is an inning.

The opponent's purpose was not at all to be the number one scholar, nor was it to target Zheng Jiarou, but to destroy the "obscure name system", smear Wei Yu, obliterate his prestige among the students, and hinder the pace of the poor and common people replacing the powerful.

Li Hong slammed his fist on the book case, "Investigate! Even if the sky of Chang'an is pierced, we must investigate to the end!"

The whole city was shocked.

The candidates, examiners, Hanlin editors, and Anding Army involved were all taken back to the Hanlin Academy. Regardless of whether they participated or not, they were locked up for interrogation.

Dali Temple and the Ministry of Criminal Justice jointly handled the case, and the top leaders of the other three provinces, five ministries, eight temples, and fourth prison supervised the trial, and Li Hong and Li Xi both sat in charge.

In such a battle, the Heavenly King and Lao Tzu dare not make a move.

The people behind the scenes panicked even thinking about it. They never expected that Li Hong would have such determination, nor did he expect that he would not care about Zheng Jiarou and Wei Yu's reputation at all.

What they didn't expect was that the people in the town were very calm, unlike before, when they ate melons, they became angry and talked a lot.

After this year of big melons and small melons, the common people are calm.

"Anything that involves Wei Shaoqing and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, don't jump to conclusions."

"That's right, Wei Shaoqing doesn't look like a person who cheats for personal gain."

"Oh, it's just that he is so kind, there are always bitches who want to harm him."

"Sit and wait for a slap in the face."

"Drink tea and wait."

"..."

The only ones who were incited were the candidates who failed the exam, especially those from poor families. Seeing Qin Yu's essays being replaced would inevitably hurt them.

Some people sincerely criticize the officialdom, and some people feel that there is a problem with their ranking, and they gather in front of the Imperial Academy every day to discuss explanations.

Before the case was found out, the officials of the court made up for most of it. In the end, even the Queen Mother couldn't help but worry.

"If there are too many black hands behind the scenes and they cover each other, what should you do?"

"Then they will all be beheaded." Li Hong said firmly.

The queen mother said again: "Well, let me ask you again, what if they join hands and push Wei Xiaozi as a scapegoat?"

Li Hong sneered: "If you dare to treat me as deaf and blind, you must be prepared to pay the price."

The queen mother sighed softly: "What if the involvement is too deep and the foundation of the country is shaken?"

"If we keep them, we will truly shake the foundation of the country." Li Hongdao.

"Mother, I used to be silent and inactive. I was indeed afraid of them. Now it's different. Xiaobao has grown up. Cui Yuan, Gu Zhi, Zhiniang, Wei Yu and other loyal ministers and generals have grown up. I have confidence and I must Make a move."

"it is good."

The Queen Mother beckoned and asked Dou Qingtai to fetch a token, which was similar in shape to Princess Jinyang's Black Bat Token, except that this one was golden.

"This is the 'Huangwei Army' left to me by the late emperor. I will lend it to you for the time being. I will use it to do things that can't be done on the surface. Just one thing, you have to agree."

"Mother, please tell me."

"Don't kill too much, just think it's for Chuchu, and...the one in Changning's stomach."

Li Hong nodded his head, "My son would like to obey my mother's order."

Li Mujin was not idle either.

She felt that she provoked this incident, which caused Qin Yu to be locked up and Wei Yu to be scolded by the failed candidates, and she blamed herself very much.

She did everything possible to sneak into the Hanlin Academy to see Qin Yu, but she didn't know what to say when she met, she just apologized blindly.

Although imprisoned, Qin Yu is still gentle and amiable, "The county magistrate's righteous words gave me this opportunity for a retrial. The students are so grateful, how can they deserve the word 'sorry'?"

Li Mujin curled her lips and said, "Don't be too optimistic, if this doesn't work out, you will be the biggest and roundest target, and you will most likely be caught in a sieve."

Qin Yu smiled, not wanting her to continue to blame herself, so she casually asked about things outside.

Li Mujin then told about the students making trouble at the gate of the Imperial Academy.

Qin Yu pursed his lips and said, "This won't work, but you will follow the wicked way. County lord, can you do me a favor?"

"What's busy, you say?"

Li Mujin wished that she could be of some use.

"Help me deliver a letter." Qin Yu said, then tore off a piece of the hem of the clothes, and bit his fingers after tearing off.

Li Mujin hurriedly grabbed his hand, "What are you doing?"

Qin Yu trembled all over, blushed and said: "Students need to repair a book, please ask the county magistrate to pass it on to a friend, but there is no pen and paper in the room..."

"I have it!"

Li Muqin let go of his hand very naturally, and then took out a stack of plain paper and an inch-long eyebrow pencil from his arms.

Qin Yu shook his empty hands, and said, "I never thought that the county magistrate would be so eager to learn that he would carry a pen and paper with him..."

"You're boasting wrong, I'm the worst student in the whole academy." Li Mujin smiled and stuffed things to him, "My eldest sister asked me to bring them, but I didn't expect it to be really useful."

Qin Yu was startled, and couldn't care less about the turmoil of his heart, and hurriedly asked, "Is Sister Ling the King of England?"

Li Mujin nodded.

No wonder.

Qin Yu immediately understood why Li Mujin could come in the heavily guarded Imperial Academy. It turned out that the King of England released the water in private.

If he didn't make a mistake, could it be understood that the King of England also wanted him to do something?

Or is it... a saint?

Li Mujin couldn't think so deeply, and was immersed in her little thoughts, "You can also see that I am not only the worst in the entire academy, but also the worst in the entire Fuwang Palace."

"The county lord is warm and straightforward, pure, kind and lovely, and his appearance and heart are unmatched, so there is no need to underestimate himself so presumptuously." Qin Yu blurted out.

Li Mujin's eyes sparkled, "You really think so? I'm pretty and cute?"

When he said it, Qin Yu regretted it, not because he regretted praising Li Mujin, but because he felt that he had insulted her.However, seeing Li Mujin's happy face, he was relieved and nodded affirmatively.

"The county lord is the most beautiful."

"very beautiful."

Li Mujin blushed blushing, seldom twitched, "Hurry up, write your letter quickly, stop talking nonsense."

Qin Yu pursed his smile and did as he was told.

This letter was written to a classmate of his Taixue, a student named "Yan Liang".Yan Liang's aptitude is a bit worse, and he didn't finish this year, so he wasn't involved in it.

Qin Yu stated in the letter that it was Wei Yu who took the lead in asking for a thorough investigation of this matter, so it is impossible for him to lead, and reminded the students not to be used by others.

At the end, he specifically said that Zheng Si is a gentleman, and he was also kept in the dark about this matter.

Yan Liang is also a gentleman, and he and Qin Yu cherish each other and trust each other.He recognized Qin Yu's handwriting and token, and immediately went to do it.

This person is usually very popular among the students, and he has some appeal.

He took out all his savings and organized a bureau for Qin Yu, inviting more than a dozen candidates who were able to speak well, let them eat and drink, relax their vigilance, and then read Qin Yu's letter in public.

Qin Yu is really a talent, and he speaks very well. He clearly talks about the benefits of the vague name system. At the same time, he intercedes for Wei Yu, Shengren and Zheng Si. To the ears of the candidates, it seems that he is thinking of them. Don't make them scapegoats.

The next day, the number of candidates who went to make trouble at the entrance of the Imperial Academy was reduced by half.

On the third day, there were only a few left here and there, and most of them were entrusted by the people behind the scenes.

On the fourth day, there was none.

"At the end of the day, I would like to thank Third Sister. If she hadn't 'risked her life' to meet Qin Yu, this matter would not have been resolved so easily."

Li Xi leaned against the door with his legs propped up, eating sour pears and chatting with the people inside.

Wei Yu was imprisoned in the Imperial Academy, and he begged Li Xianzhi for a long time before allowing him to come in, but he couldn't see Wei Yu, so he could only relieve the pain of lovesickness through the door.

I don't know when, Wei Yu stopped talking, and it was Li Xi who was always talking.

Li Xi is not lonely either. While chewing pear meat, he muttered: "Brother Shuyun, tell me, is that Qin Yu interested in my third sister? I have already noticed that something is wrong, you little boy, how dare you covet me?" Sister..."

There was still no movement inside.

Li Xi finally realized something was wrong, "Brother Shuyun, why don't you speak?"

Finally, Wei Yu cleared his throat.

Li Xi hurriedly turned around and looked in through the crack of the door, "Brother Shuyun, do you have a bad throat? I'll ask you to bring you some pear soup later, and chrysanthemum tea..."

Speaking of chrysanthemums, he smiled: "Brother Shuyun, you have to get better soon, we have to go hunting in the mountains, and we have to go to the bridal chamber in advance. I bought two new boxes of Koukou Xiaohua, which are fresh and delicious." Exciting..."

"Just don't let the stinky father know, don't even think about getting married in August—eh? Brother Shuyun, why are you coughing? No, I want to go in and have a look!"

The door was pushed open with a "bang", Li Xi stepped in and froze immediately.

Li Hong stood at the front with a gloomy expression.Behind them are Cui Yuan, Gu Zhi, and several elders with white beards.

His elder brother Shu Yun was under the custody of his elder sister, unable to speak.

Li Hong said sadly: "You are right, there is no need to get married in August."

Li Xi shrank his neck tremblingly: "Then, when?"

"It's the Year of the Monkey!"