The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Kesong said hesitantly: "My son is a little cautious in his actions. He always puts his mind on... ahem... he goes to bed before the hour of Hai every day. I think he is not very good."

What he said was the truth. Yan Chengjin went to bed before the hour of Hai every day. He was on fire at midnight and roosters roosters at dawn. It was the time for men to study. Which scholar dared to be like him? He was really lazy.

The only thing that made Yan Kesong feel relieved was that his son did not cause trouble and was considered to be a small rich man in the capital.

Cheng Minzheng nodded and said: "It doesn't matter. Mr. Dehui's son also failed many times. Look at him, he is still so open-minded. You should also be more open-minded."

What he thought in his heart was that your son did not do well in the exam, but my son did well!

My son took two of the top three prizes.

From then on, people all over the world knew that your Welcoming Pine was not mainstream after all and could not be orthodox. The poems and essays written by me, Cheng Minzheng, were the first-class in the literary world.

Yan Kesong nodded in response, but he felt a little sad in his heart.

In the deep palace, the high walls can block the bitter autumn wind, but they can't stop rumors. The eunuchs and maids in the palace are very talkative.

One is a high-ranking official, and the other is a small official famous in the capital. They compete secretly, giving the eunuchs and maids something to kill time.

As the rumor spread, even Emperor Hongzhi knew about it, so he said to Xie Qian: "The Imperial Examination Hall will be posted soon. I heard that there is a fight between two officials in the Zhanshi Mansion. I wonder who Mr. Xie is more optimistic about. I still remember that Mr. Xie said last time that because of the popularity of Jiangnan pleasure boats, there are many talented people. Speaking of which, Cheng Minzheng is also from Jiangnan, Mr. Xie should not lift a stone to hit himself in the face."

Throughout the dynasties, there have been more champions in Southern Zhili than in Northern Zhili. Cheng Minzheng is from Southern Zhili. Although his son took the exam in Shuntian Prefecture, he should also be counted as a Southern Zhili.

Your Majesty's words and deeds are of course not as simple as they seem.

Almost every civil official will go through three dynasties, and those who pass the examination will become the future assistant ministers of the prince. His Majesty attaches so much importance to it, and this is to help the prince select talents.

Xie Qian carefully speculated that on the surface, it was a fight between two officials, but behind the scenes, it implied other deep meanings.

It is also an opportunity to revitalize the reading atmosphere in the capital. The Welcoming Pine is deeply loved. If it wins, the reading atmosphere in the capital will surely flourish.

If it loses, the reading atmosphere will decline, and His Majesty may suppress the new school. In short, he will not sit idly by and watch the reading atmosphere in the capital be affected by the Welcoming Pine.

Xie Qian said: "I, of course, hope that Yan Kesong will win."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: "Mr. Xie is honest."

Yan's Mansion, the sun is shining.

After lunch, Yan Chengjin lay on the bed for a nap, but was awakened by a sobbing voice, which was getting closer and closer, and soon reached the door.

A big face came up to Yan Chengjin. Yan Chengjin was in bed paralyzed. He could not get up and was almost scared to death.

"Master!"

Yan Chengjin finally woke up with a cry. He opened his eyes and saw He Neng's big face facing him. "What's the matter?"

"They stole the master's property and handed it to outsiders at the back door. I caught them. I also caught the person who had an affair. This bag is the evidence of their theft. It's up to the master to decide." He Neng said.

Having his sweet dream disturbed, Yan Chengjin wanted to beat He Neng up, but it was not convenient to lift the quilt now.

There were three people kneeling in front of him, Chunxiao and Qianjin, and an old man in very simple clothes.

The old man begged for mercy, "It was all because of my greed. Please spare me, Master. I am willing to go with you to Shuntian Prefecture to be punished. Even if I am beheaded, I will not complain. You are so kind to take me in, but I repay you with evil. I am extremely ashamed, but I still want to be thick-skinned and ask Master Yan to spare me!"

This is... Old Wang whom I have never met, right?

According to the Ming Dynasty law, it is a capital crime for a private slave to steal the things of his master.

Chunxiao and Qianjin had already burst into tears.

Yan Chengjin asked He Neng to open the package and saw that it was the cotton-padded jacket that he had found in his cabinet a few days ago. At this time, it had been washed by the sisters and no longer had the musty smell.

Winter was about to come, and the sisters knew that their father did not have thick clothes for the winter. A thousand layers of coarse cloth were not as good as a jacket. It happened that Yan Chengjin did not want his old clothes, so the sisters washed them and asked their father to come and get them.

Thinking that it was something I didn't want, I didn't know that it was also considered stealing.

Yan Chengjin sighed secretly, the sisters' craftsmanship was really delicate, they actually sewed a layer of coarse cloth outside the original jacket, a bit like a quilt.

Yan Chengjin threw the package in front of Lao Wang: "This young master doesn't want this tattered jacket anymore, if you want it, just pick it up, don't cry anymore, and disturb this young master's dream."

It seems that the house rules of the Yan family should add a rule that 'even if it is extremely urgent, you are not allowed to disturb the young master's lunch break'.

He Neng felt a little distressed: "Young master?"

"If you bother this young master again, I will throw you into the pond and feed you to turtles!" Yan Chengjin said.

After receiving the open gift from the young master of the Yan family, Lao Wang thanked him repeatedly, and seeing that the young master Yan had already lain down to sleep, he kowtowed to the bed a few times, picked up the package, and quietly left the room.

Yan Chengjin didn't make things difficult for them, so He Neng naturally didn't dare to act rashly, and obediently sent him out of the Yan family.

Two days passed in a flash, and the Shuntianfu Imperial Examination Hall was quite lively. The results of the provincial examination were about to be posted. The scholars dressed up and went to the Imperial Examination Hall early to reserve a seat. If they went too late, they couldn't even squeeze through the gate.

After the weather turned cooler, Emperor Hongzhi moved the court meeting place to the warm room.

The chief examiner Wang Ao wrote the list and personally delivered the list. All the officials looked at the red paper in Emperor Hongzhi's hand.

There were two people who were most nervous in the hall. The first one was Xie Qian. In the last court meeting, he used Jiangnan as an example to persuade Emperor Hongzhi not to suppress the new faction. This meant that he bet on Yan Kesong to win. The censors were eager to try, and they had written their memorials, waiting to impeach him.

The other one was naturally Cheng Minzheng, but his face was calm. It was just the announcement of the list, what was there to be nervous about.

Emperor Hongzhi looked relaxed and looked at the list in silence.

However, after looking at it for a while, why did he show a playful smile? Cheng Minzheng couldn't help but wonder, did I lose? This is the most unpleasant thing about your majesty. He likes to pretend to be confused when he knows the truth.

Emperor Hongzhi asked with a smile: "Mr. Xie, who do you think will win the fight between the two officials?"

Seeing that Xie Qian dared not say anything, Li Dongyang helped him out and said: "Since your majesty is asking Mr. Xie, I dare to guess that Yan Kesong should win."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled heartily: "Mr. Li, you are indeed as good as a god."

With a plop.

"Why did Mr. Cheng fall down? Hurry up and call the imperial physician!"

…………………………

Yan Chengjin did not go to see the list. There were many people in the Imperial Examination Hall, and it was very likely that he would be trampled. If he was recognized by the tea faction, he might be beaten.

On the other hand, when Cheng Minzheng woke up again, he heard that the champion of Shuntian Prefecture was Yan Chengjin. He sat on the ground weakly and cried loudly.

I lost, I lost again!

I just want to seek a reputation, why is it so difficult? God treats me unfairly, treats me unfairly!

Cheng Zitang stood aside with a face full of shame. He won the third place in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination, which was good, but he lost in the end.

"Dad took leave and did not go to the palace these days to teach you secretly. I never thought that you would be so disappointing. How can Dad save his face... How can Dad face the officials in the Zhanshi Mansion tomorrow?!"

"My son knows his fault. Please punish me." Cheng Zitang said and handed over the cane obediently.

Cheng Minzheng looked at his son and couldn't do it after all, so the father and son hugged each other and cried bitterly.