A traitor

Su Qinglang is really dumb eating Coptis chinensis this time, he can't tell if he is suffering.

Originally, as for the results of the palace examination, it would not be difficult to see who gave the most gifts these days, whether it was a mule or a horse, it all depended on his words.

But the difficulty is that there are many gifts, and there are many people who give gifts. If you accept this one, you can't return that one, otherwise you will not only lose money, but also easily offend people.

However, as a result of the palace examination, the No. [-] scholar came in second place, and there were only three of them. Even if he had all the talents in the world, he couldn't squeeze all of them into the quota.

So our clever, courageous and courageous Mr. Su came up with a very efficient way——

On the day of the imperial examination, he secretly slipped a small note to Wan Yuzhen, telling her that he hadn't seen her for a few days and that he missed the concubine's beauty very much, so she asked her to call him to the palace to see her.

In this way, he can not only accept bribes, but also avoid the palace test, killing two birds with one stone, without leaving any clues behind.

If someone troubles him in the future, he can move Wan Yuzhen out and say that the imperial concubine's order must not be violated.

What kind of person is Wan Yuzhen? The prime minister is a human being, and she is an out-and-out vixen. As soon as Su Qinglang pouted his ass, he knew what shit he was about to shit.

So without further ado, he issued a decree directly, saying that he was inviting Su Qinglang to drink tea and listen to music, but in fact he was paid several thousand taels of silver.

Unexpectedly, after racking his brains and going around for half a day, the old emperor was waiting for him here!

Fortunately, there were not a hundred Gongsheng students who entered the palace examination in previous years, but dozens. Now that the candidates have been confirmed, there are only two champions and second places left, but they are just a pair of places.

However, Xu Jin quit again, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, absolutely not!"

Xue Qishan and Su Zheshan on the side also said: "Your Majesty, the new examination is a major matter related to people's livelihood and state affairs, how can it be so childish and make a hasty decision?"

The emperor narrowed his eyes, looked at Xu Jin, and said: "Xu Qing said so, is she going to make a decision on my behalf?"

See Xu Jin's head shaking like a rattle.Immediately afterwards, he looked at Xue Qishan and Su Zheshan and asked, "Where are Xue Qing and Su Qing?"

Xue Qishan and Su Zheshan acted in unison, kneeling on the ground with a plop, and hurriedly said: "Don't dare."

The emperor put on a straight face and snorted coldly: "Then listen to Su Qing's opinion. You can't handle things, but you have a lot to talk about."

Su Qinglang knelt on the ground, feeling his back hurting, the emperor was so angry that he forgot to ask him to stand up, he couldn't help but feel aggrieved.

He raised his head and looked at Jia Siqi who was standing next to the emperor. Although this fellow had the support of the Prime Minister, he just offended him and said that he was going to have his cramps skinned. If he recommended such a person, wouldn't he be out of his mind and caught by the door Kicked by a donkey again?

So he thought for a moment, and replied solemnly: "If you go back to the emperor, I will recommend Master Jia's son Jia Siqi."

The emperor was very curious, he groaned, and said: "I heard that this Jia Siqi had some conflicts with you a few days ago. Why, Su Qing wants to recommend him now?"

Su Qinglang nodded, and replied: "It is precisely because of this that I recommend Jia Siqi, otherwise, wouldn't I be criticized again, saying that my minister is avenging personal revenge?"

The emperor snorted, and said: "The people around you don't avoid relatives and enemies when they promote talents, it's for the sake of the country, it's for the country, it's good for you, I only think of your little reputation."

Su Qinglang chuckled, knelt down in front of the emperor again, and explained flatteringly: "The emperor forgives the sin, because that young master Jia said that I was a despicable and shameless dog official in the restaurant that day. He spoke righteously and with deep affection, thinking that if he dared to say that, he must be an upright and loyal official, so he recommended him to the emperor."

Jia Siqi's face changed drastically when he heard the words, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Xue Qishan and Su Zheshan also understood the meaning of Su Qinglang's words.

However, they didn't think that it was Su Qinglang who suddenly realized his conscience and wanted to be loyal to the emperor and love the people, but it was Jia Siqi's own lack of vision that made him fall into Su Qinglang's hands. These two dog-eat-dogs left them a good chance.

So Xue Qishan cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, this Jia Siqi openly talked about Mr. Su, this crime must not go unpunished."

Su Zheshan also said: "Your Majesty, this matter has caused a lot of trouble in the city. Everyone knows about it. It may be embarrassing for the imperial court. Please handle it with caution."

Su Qinglang looked at Su Zheshan, and was completely moved in his heart. After all, Dad is Dad. Although he said he disliked him, he still protected him at critical moments.

So he wiped away his tears, stretched out his hand and tugged at the hem of Su Zheshan's clothes, and said, "Father..."

The veins on Su Zheshan's forehead bulged, and resisting the urge to kick him away, he desperately tore out the hem of his clothes, gritted his teeth and said, "Shut up!"

Su Qinglang immediately shut up, and saw the emperor looked at Jia Siqi again, with a hint of consideration in his eyes.

Although the emperor was stupid, he was not a fool. That day Jia Siqi scolded Su Qinglang in the restaurant, if he were promoted as the number one scholar today, where would the Minister of Rites put his face in the future?

Even though he was backed by the right minister Qin Jian, among the second-rank senior officials in the court and a small Gongsheng, the judgment in the emperor's heart was naturally self-evident.

So, he snorted angrily and said: "In public, you openly framed the imperial court official. It would be good if you don't give him the death penalty, but you still want him to be the number one scholar?"

Jia Siqi panicked and quickly knelt at the emperor's feet, shaking like a sieve.

Seeing this, Su Qinglang said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Jia is also young and frivolous, and he has some misunderstandings about this humble minister, so we can't completely blame him."

The emperor fell silent, thought for a moment, and finally sighed: "Forget it, since your father has worked so hard and devoted himself to the country, Prime Minister Qin will guarantee you, and Qing Su will intercede for you later, so I will not argue with you. From now on, you should learn your lesson, and if you do it again, I will never show mercy!"

In the end, under Su Qinglang's "recommendation", Jia Siqi retreated to the second place, and the honor of champion fell firmly on Mei Liusheng's head.

After the champion was selected, Su Qinglang was left by the emperor to talk for a while, and when he came out again, he saw Mei Liusheng waiting under the willow tree at the entrance of the imperial garden.

He strode over, with the wind blowing from his sleeves, and he was self-styled, he cupped his hands and said, "Oh, it's such a coincidence that I can meet Brother Mei again after we passed by just now."

Mei Liusheng stood quietly, watching him walking towards him, an intoxicating smile gradually appeared on his heroic brows.

With his head in his mouth, he replied in a deep voice, "Unfortunately, I'm waiting for you."

Su Qinglang was taken aback for a moment, and then Mei Liusheng continued: "For today's matter, thank you Brother Su for speaking out and helping in secret."

Su Qinglang was stunned again, everyone in the civil and military courts knew that he, Su Qinglang, could only tell tales and add insult to injury, had he ever spoken out and helped secretly?

Besides, I clearly recommended Jia Siqi just now, and I have been speaking for him all the time. Could it be that this Mei Liusheng was too excited to win the first prize, so that his mind was amused?

He waved his folding fan and said: "Brother Mei misunderstood, the position of number one scholar is decided by the emperor and chosen by the emperor, it has nothing to do with me."

This sentence is telling the truth. If the emperor really wants Jia Siqi to be the number one scholar, with Jia Siqi's conditions and background, plus the previous letter from the prime minister, the decision can be made in the Golden Luan Hall just now. In the garden, come to find him, the Minister of Rites who just had a conflict with Jia Siqi?

Who is Su Qinglang? The dog next to Qin Jian, right minister, can still swear a few words if someone else's dog bites someone. If he is bitten by his own dog, can he blame himself for not being a thing?

Therefore, what he said earlier seemed to be following the emperor's will and casually recommending a champion candidate, but in fact it was just pushing the boat along the way and giving the emperor a step up.

Mei Liusheng smiled, pursed his lips and said, "No matter what, I have to thank Brother Su."

Actually, Su Qinglang's impression of Mei Liusheng was much better than that kid Jia Siqi, who was capable, assertive, cool-headed, and well-informed.

The officialdom is no different than others, a mixed dye vat, like Jia Siqi in everything, his heart is higher than the sky, and his life is lower than paper.

She brags when she has nothing to do, but when she has something to do, she is just a coward with a stomach full of poems and books. She has no guts and no backbone.

Another example is Brother Lu Xun, who speaks without thinking, and has a straighter temper than the bamboo poles in the back mountain. If it weren't for his talent and the support of his uncle Pei Yan, who is the left minister, this kind of person would be in the opera. He was killed as soon as he came out.

He sized up Mei Liusheng and asked, "Now that you know my identity, Brother Mei, is there anything you want to tell me?"

People need face, trees need bark, Su Qinglang's reputation is comparable to that of dung, but he has a big heart and never cared about it.

It's just that that day, he, a treacherous official who was a disaster for the country, finally met someone who could talk to him, and when he was asked his name, he blurted out "Brother Su" is not because he couldn't tell, but he just didn't want to give it to him. The short encounter only added some regrets.

Mei Liusheng seemed a little puzzled, and after a while, he smiled and replied: "I still remember, I still owe Brother Su a good meal..."

Su Qinglang was startled, then suddenly laughed, closed the folding fan, tapped him on the shoulder, and said: "Okay, just based on this sentence, I, Su Qinglang, you are a friend!"

Mei Liusheng asked in a gentle tone, "Then... tomorrow I will hold a banquet at the restaurant to celebrate, I wonder if Brother Su would like to show you some face?"

Su Qinglang asked: "Who are the people attending the banquet?"

Mei Liusheng replied: "I have no relatives or friends here. There are not many people, just a few scholars who went to the exam with me."

Su Qinglang thought for a while, then waved his hands and said: "Forget it, I have some things to do tomorrow, and besides, you and I are alone, so we can try to be quiet."

After a pause, he asked again: "I don't know where Brother Mei lives. If you are free, I will go to congratulate you tomorrow night."

Mei Liusheng said: "The New Moon Inn in the city will definitely wait for Brother Su to drive by."

The two walked out of the imperial garden together, they only cared about the scenery on the way, but they didn't say anything, and soon came outside the palace, they saw a carriage parked beside the Baiyushi Bridge.

Su Qinglang said: "I'm sorry, Brother Mei, I still have places to go today, I'm afraid I won't be on your way, otherwise I can send you off."

Mei Liusheng smiled and replied that it was okay, only to see Su Qinglang bid farewell to him, turned around and got on the carriage, and walked along the long street of the imperial city towards the Prime Minister's Mansion.

And he, standing outside the palace gate, watched the carriage go further and further away, and after a while, he turned around and looked at the towering palace wall behind him, wondering what he was thinking.