such as Yue Linyuan

There will be an examination in February and a palace examination in March.

In the palace examination, Chu Yuezhi met Zhong Qingheng.

The scholar who was fair and clean three years ago, seemed to be as Liang Chen said, his whole temperament changed after traveling, his back became straighter, and even his eyes showed his transformation.

Three years ago, Zhong Qingheng's eyes were full of pride and condescension, but now Zhong Qingheng, who is in the palace examination, has calm and introverted eyes, more open-minded and open-minded.

This time the palace examination was planned by Chu Yuezhi, and Si Yuanting did not intervene.

The topic of the policy is the official system of the Tang Dynasty, Yu Chengzhou, Zhou Li, and the history and morality of the Qin, Han, Tang and Song Dynasties and the same customs: "The emperor must rule the world. There must be principles. Husbands who share my principles don't understand my heart. It has become a habit, unashamed of officials and overstepping the game to succeed, frivolous and eloquent but only virtuous. How many people have ever sought to follow the law and worry about the country like a family? Alas! The prosperity of literature is the decline of quality, and the words of brilliance are deeds. It has been recorded since ancient times. Therefore, the upper and lower levels add up the leftovers with empty words, and do nothing to cover up the responsibilities, and make up the same merits. The patrols are dispatched, but the officials still practice stealing, the education is propagated, and the scholar's customs are cunning. Relief is awarded, but the people are still poor. Su: Soldiers are heckled, but the attack has not yet begun; concerns are detailed, but there are still too many delays; labor costs are calculated, but the emptiness is still the same. The old rules are not kept, and the new edicts are not followed. It is difficult to seek treatment. , the effect will go far, sincerity is not enough to rely on, the law cannot be maintained, and I am not sensitive, unclear, and incompetent? Today, the world is vast, the population is numerous, the boundaries of the borders and regions, and the trends of food are different. Why does morality become the same as customs? Why do you have the same? You are familiar with the scriptures, history, and current affairs, and everything that is beneficial to governing the Tao will not be hidden in detail. I will see it personally."

A total of 210 people participated in the palace examination, and all Jinshi's answer sheets were more than a thousand characters. After reading all the answer sheets, Chu Yuezhi wrote "First Class No. 1" on Zhong Qingheng's answer sheet, that is, the number one scholar.

Chu Yuezhi's policy topic seems to cover a lot, but in fact the most core point has been pointed out at the beginning, that is, the way of the emperor to rule the world, what Chu Yuezhi wants to know is those who have experienced the reform of government and education After that, the first batch of new scholars learned a lot in the past few years, and how much their minds have been opened up.

Zhong Qingheng's answer sheet was the most comprehensive. He first mentioned etiquette as the basis for educating the people, formulating the code of conduct for the people, and law as a weapon to restrain the people. Whether it is law or law, they are actually tools and means to govern the country. Therefore, it is extremely important to select talents and appoint talents, let those who can improve the etiquette and law, and implement the etiquette and law according to the emperor's requirements.For this reason, the selection and assessment of officials is particularly important.

In addition, the formulation of etiquette laws should also listen to suggestions extensively, and constantly improve and amend them, but they should not be changed frequently, otherwise officials and people will be at a loss as to what to do.And if you want to accept hundreds of words, you should open up the way of speaking, that is, you should open up the freedom of speech of the people, but you should not let the shameful remarks that sensationalize the public praise. Opinion.

After the above points, he talked about the relationship between moral level and social atmosphere, and deduced that only by improving the cultural level of the people can a good social atmosphere be maintained. Originally, although the use of etiquette and law together does not change the meaning of etiquette, etiquette is a system, norm, order, and formula.

From the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, rituals were regarded as the law, and then to the Qin period, the law was independent of the rituals, so that Confucianism and the law were in opposition. After the Han Dynasty, the Confucianism and the law merged again, and the rituals entered the law, which is enough to see the rituals. The laws and regulations will change with the dynasties, and they will never be consistent. If there is a good etiquette and law, the most fundamental point is to put the people first.

In addition, the poor people in the local area have ten rooms and nine empty houses. They are extremely poor but have nowhere to complain. The reason is that there are still corrupt officials in the local area who need to be severely punished; In order to adjudicate the case, it is necessary to investigate the facts of the case clearly and clearly, and show it to the public, instead of covering up the darkness or even using power to bully and fool the people.

This answer sheet of more than [-] words can be said to have answered Chu Yuezhi's most satisfactory point. After reading it, Chu Yuezhi showed the answer sheet to Si Yuanting, saying that if he hadn't been present and invigilated the exam , he really couldn't believe that this answer sheet was actually written by Zhong Qingheng.

There may indeed be villains in this world who are born with evil thoughts, but there are also some pure-natured people who can wake up and understand the ugliness of this world after experiencing the beatings and experiences of the world, and are willing to write for the sword to break through the darkness.

Governing the country is to let the people live and work in peace and contentment, not to satisfy the selfish desires of the superiors, let alone to let the narrow minds of the superiors imprison the people, so it is necessary to brainstorm, adopt practical and feasible good ideas and good strategies for governing the country, formulate guidelines, establish disciplines and promulgate laws and regulations, so that Officials at all levels have laws to abide by, and those who are dishonest officials should be severely punished. Only when the people have no injustice can auspicious ways be born. The people respect and love the monarch and believe that the officials assigned by the court will know the law and act according to the law; In the past, only in this way can we achieve peace and stability, the king loves the people, the people are loyal to the king and respect the king.

As for etiquette, whether it is the legal system adhered to by the Legalists or the benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith passed down by Confucianism for many years, in fact, as long as it is conducive to maintaining social order, the essence should be discarded and the dross should be used.

Zhong Qingheng won the title of First-Class Scholar, and was awarded the Imperial Academy Compilation, Official Consort Sixth Rank. His main responsibilities were to compose the annals, record the emperor's words and deeds, give lectures on scriptures and history, and draft manuscripts related to ceremonies.

According to the previous official examination regulations of the Ministry of Officials, the batch of Jinshi led by Zhong Qingheng will be assessed after three years, and they will be assigned after passing the examination.

So in the eighth year of Yanqing, after passing the official examination, Zhong Qingheng was awarded a bachelor's degree, in charge of making edicts, annals of history, and literary affairs, to examine and discuss the system, to correct texts, and to prepare for the emperor's advisor.All major political affairs, grand ceremonies, and gatherings of ministers will be decided with the ministers.

Wanshou Festival is the birthday of the emperor, which means longevity without bounds.

It's just that Chu Yuezhi was not very interested in his 40th birthday, and after the palace examination in March, he ordered Wanshou to keep everything simple.

The palace held a longevity banquet, with 41 dishes in total, and a song and dance performance was also arranged as usual, but at the banquet, Chu Yuezhi didn't even watch the singing and dancing. He just asked Si Zhuxi who was beside him as if he suddenly remembered something: "Xixi?" , How many years have you been a queen?"

"Your Majesty, it's the eighth year of the banquet, and the concubine has naturally been the queen for eight years." Si Zhuxi was still at the banquet because of his scruples, and was very cautious about Chu Yuezhi's title and self-proclaimed.

"Eight years..." Chu Yuezhi turned the golden wine glass in his hand and said thoughtfully, "I have delayed you for eight years."

Si Zhuxi was slightly stunned, he didn't expect Chu Yuezhi to say this, so he said: "Your Majesty, if you are drunk, let the concubine accompany you back to the bedroom?"

Chu Yuezhi just shook his head, he looked at the clear wine in the glass in his hand, remained silent for a moment, then raised his head and drank it down again.

At the beginning of this longevity banquet, a group of courtiers offered gifts. Si Zhuxi, as the empress, naturally also presented gifts. These years, he resolutely refused to draft, and there was only one empress, Si Zhuxi, in the harem. He has a deep affection with Si Zhuxi and his wife, and will never add even one more person to the harem.

He did not choose the draft, which also put an end to those courtiers who wanted to use their daughters to become foreign relatives and then become powerful officials. Although the marriage between the royal family and the aristocratic family can create actual benefits, it is a double-edged sword. Once it is not well controlled, it will only be controlled. He was coerced by foreign relatives and important officials, and there were many lessons in the history of the previous dynasty, so he was unwilling to step on this trap.

He was going to control the clan and nobles and nobles, so how could he give them the perfect opportunity to be in the harem draft?Isn't this shooting yourself in the foot?

Furthermore, it is said that there is only one queen, Si Zhuxi, in this harem, but no one who guards the palace knows that the one who really gets along with the emperor is always Si Yuanting, the chief assistant of the cabinet.His harem could only accommodate Si Yuanting and Si Zhuxi, any more would be an eyesore to him, and it would add trouble to himself.

In the past eight years, Si Zhuxi's reputation as a virtuous person has accumulated enough. Before that, he had arranged a good show where Si Zhuxi persuaded him to draft at the Qianqiu Banquet, but he flatly rejected him. Xi Shan was jealous and unvirtuous so that he would not let him expand the notoriety of the harem.

In fact, he hated the courtiers of those aristocratic families who tried their best to cram people into his harem. One by one, he argued that the emperor should spread branches and leaves for the royal family and spread his heirs, and said that only in this way could Daheng Kingdom be kept safe.

Year after year, he worked tirelessly on the manuscripts, and then he finally got annoyed, and directly exploded in the early court, asking if they wanted him to have ten or eight children, so that when the prince grew up, they could stand in line and start the party struggle for the throne, It's better to send him another ending of being usurped by his own son to satisfy the courtiers?

These courtiers don't think about how to bring prosperity to the Daheng Kingdom and how to give the people a better life, but they will sell their daughters for glory all day long, making their daughters victims of the power struggle.How many women who entered the harem ended well?Fighting for a lifetime, life and death are all for the lintel of the family, even if you are not favored, as long as you have a position, you can stay in the palace for the rest of your life, but how sad it is to be at the mercy of others and be treated as a pawn without self.They don't have family affection in their hearts, and they want to drag him into the water as a heartless and indifferent emperor. If they really get what they want, Daheng Kingdom will really be unsustainable!

Chu Yuezhi was extremely bored with these things. A few days ago, a courtier who didn't know how to live or die secretly poked on the ground to test whether there was no intention of drafting this year. He called back without a word of approval, and then On the morning of the second day, I asked the courtier if he wanted to send a few beauties into the palace so that he, the emperor, would indulge in wine and sex and ignore state affairs, so that as a courtier, he could "make his name in history"?

Nowadays, he is probably not used to these ministers who are not involved in human affairs. The new ministers headed by Zhong Qingheng have all passed the exams and have been granted official positions in a legitimate way. He has been waiting with Si Yuanting for the past few years. Wait again, after careful training for so long, it's time to get up and punish those courtiers who know how to rely on their relationships but don't care about the people.

Putting down his wine glass, Chu Yuezhi was not in the mood to eat food at all. He raised his hand and waved it twice, and Wang Zhong came up behind him. He confessed: "I'm tired. If you continue to confess, those who just offered gifts and rewards are almost gone." It's almost over, the birthday banquet will be over in a while. I drive back to Xiefang Hall, I have the chief assistant in my heart, and it's not safe to sit here. And tomorrow morning, I will skip it, but you have another Pass the decree to Zhong Qingheng, and I will summon him in the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Two days ago, Si Yuanting taught Chu Shen alone, but later he ate crushed peanuts by mistake when eating alone with Chu Shen. Si Yuanting was allergic to peanuts and had an attack on the spot. He felt chest pain in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and felt that something was wrong. He hurried to the study hall, and when he arrived, Imperial Physician Lu had just finished administering the acupuncture for Si Yuanting.Si Yuanting had been taking good care of his health for the past eight years, but now he was allergic to crushed peanuts, which caused him to suffer from asthma. He fell into a coma for more than an hour, and he almost passed away.

Afterwards, it was clear that the newcomers to the imperial dining room hadn't memorized the dietary taboos of the masters, and that's why things went wrong.He is an emperor who rarely punishes palace servants, but this time he was really furious. The new palace attendant was dragged down and beat on a board. And reduced the salary of the owner of Shangshan Supervisor for half a year.

Si Yuanting has been caring for these two days, and he has been worried for two days, so he doesn't have much joy on today's birthday.

"Slave obeys the order." Wang Zhong had already expected that Chu Yuezhi would leave the table early again, and had already arranged it. Now that Chu Yuezhi opened his mouth, he immediately took the order and asked the people below to prepare to drive.

Si Zhuxi also knew that Chu Yuezhi cared about Si Yuanting, and she visited Xiefang Hall every day these two days.

Chu Shendu followed Si Yuanting in terms of allergies, so if Si Yuanting hadn't tried it first that day, it would have been Chu Shendu who was allergic to crushed peanuts by mistake.So Si Zhuxi was always suspicious about this matter, but seeing that Si Yuanting didn't say much after waking up, and Chu Yuezhi didn't continue to pursue it, she had no choice but to press it temporarily.

Hearing Chu Yuezhi's confession to Wang Zhong at this moment, Si Zhuxi, as a queen, naturally withdrew with Chu Yuezhi.

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The author says:

The policy questions in this article are part of the policy questions on the first day of March in the 13th year of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di Yongle, and the record of the policy questions in the 26th year of Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun Wanli.

The arguments mentioned in the article are just my personal thoughts and conclusions after reading a few books. There is no absolute right or wrong. Discussion is welcome.