The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Li Qing'e didn't expect that Yan Chengjin would come to visit the mansion when her father was away. She looked a little shy: "Master Yan has been kind to my father. This new dress should be Qing'e's way of repaying Master."

"Give it to me. The young master won't wear it." He Neng happily took the new dress and tried it on himself.

Following the young master to the Yan Mansion, I got a new dress!

Since becoming an official, the young master has not eaten food or worn clothes given by others. All these things are his.

Wang Huan of the Wang Mansion envied him very much. Wang Huan was Wang Yue's coachman. He came to the Yan Mansion many times and became familiar with him.

Li Qing'e's face moved slightly, and she was about to say something but stopped. She heard from her father that Master Yan did not eat food or wear clothes given by others.

Yan Chengjin noticed her strangeness, so he said to He Neng: "Put it away for me."

Li Qing'e blushed a little and said: "Father went to the Imperial Examination Hall. If Lord Yan wants to see him, please come back in three days."

She was not married yet, and it would be a disgrace to her reputation if she stayed alone with Yan Chengjin for too long.

Li Qing'e was a polite person. Even if she wanted to have a long chat with Yan Chengjin, it would not be good without Li Dongyang.

Yan Chengjin nodded and said: "I just saw that it was cold and came to see you."

Coming out of Li's house,

He Neng held the new clothes with a happy face and said to Yan Chengjin: "Master, this dress is really good. It's just right for me to wear it tomorrow."

Yan Chengjin gave him a look and let him experience it himself.

He Neng understood instantly, and said with a wilted face: "I will help you wash it and put it away when I go back."

"Yes."

Yan Chengjin was a little relieved.

Three days later, the examination was over.

Yan Chengjin did not see Li Dongyang during the court session, so he must have been reviewing papers in the palace hall.

These days, Liu Jian has reported most of the important events in the court to His Majesty.

The Great Wall built in the northwest is already more than 500 miles long, from Gansu to Jiayuguan, winding along the border towns.

"Your Majesty, Duke Baoguo has submitted a petition to return to the capital to visit his relatives." Liu Jian looked up at Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi snorted, still remembering his disobedience, and said, "I issued an order that he was not allowed to return to the capital until the Great Wall was completed. What is he doing in Beijing!"

Duke Yingguo Zhang Mao usually stayed in the Beijing camp. He only went to the palace for the morning court after his cousin sent someone to deliver the petition.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Hui has made contributions in repairing the Great Wall. Why not let him return to the capital?"

Yan Chengjin pondered for a moment and said, "Duke Yingguo is right."

Liu Jian and others were a little surprised that this boy actually pleaded for Zhu Hui.

What they didn't know was that Yan Chengjin just wanted his father to come back to the palace for a physical examination.

When His Majesty agreed, he begged to let his father return to the capital.

Emperor Hongzhi fell into deep thought. At this time, several people pleaded for Zhu Hui and asked His Majesty to allow him to return to the capital.

"Just as the Duke of England said, he will be allowed to stay in the capital for two days."

Zhang Mao hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

At this time, Yan Chengjin's voice rang out: "Your Majesty, Anding Hou has been guarding the border for a year. He has no merit but hard work. Please allow him to return to the capital."

Isn't Anding Hou your father?

The officials looked strange and didn't say a word.

Emperor Hongzhi did not stop him and said: "Well, I think there is nothing to do in the northwest, let him come back."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly.

He found a strange thing when he went to court today. Zhou Yu was gone. I wonder if he ran to the northwest?

In the capital, people in the streets and alleys were talking about the winner of this exam.

Without a doubt, it was another battle between the north and the south.

The most popular candidate in the south was Xie Pi, and the most popular candidate in the north was Kang Hai.

Some people also said it was Song Jing.

Although Xie Pi and Song Jing participated in the provincial examination in Northern Zhili, they were both from the south, while Kang Hai was considered a northerner.

Yan Chengjin's sedan passed by the front gate street of the capital and heard the scholars talking about it.

…

In the Liangxiang library, Kang Hai and Xie Pi were very famous because of their poetry competition.

The scholars bet on Xie Pi and Kang Hai, but few people bet on Song Jing.

"Didn't your highness say that Song Jing would win the exam?"

Zhu Houzhao smiled and said to Yan Chengjin, "I believe Song Jing will definitely win the exam."

But he honestly bet on Xie Pi.

Many people bet on Xie Pi because he was the first place winner in Shuntian Prefecture.

However, these people were wrong.

According to historical records, Xie Pi failed the exam this year, and only passed the exam in the 18th year of Hongzhi, and his father and son were ranked third.

The person who might win the first place is Kang Hai.

Or Song Jing.

Yan Chengjin heard that after Yang Yiqing was sent to the northwest to suppress bandits, Kang Hai became depressed.

Kang Hai, like Li Mengyang, was a disciple of Yang Yiqing.

"Lao Gao, can I exchange some silver with you for my mare?" Zhu Houzhao felt that it would be a pity not to make money.

The list will be announced tomorrow morning.

Yan Chengjin said: "Your Highness's mare, I am not interested, but I advise Your Highness not to bet all the silver on Xie Pi, otherwise..."

"What else?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

"Otherwise... Your Highness will have to sell popcorn for a year."

Zhu Houzhao thought about it, and put the silver down, waiting for the list to be posted tomorrow.

The next morning, in Fengtian Hall,

the weather gradually warmed up, and the morning court was moved from the warm room to here.

Emperor Hongzhi was sitting on the throne, looking at the ministers, in a very good mood.

Liu Jian bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, King Shang Zhen of Zhongshan in Ryukyu sent Cheng Lian, the righteous doctor, to pay tribute."

Yan Chengjin's heart was slightly moved, Ryukyu would soon be in trouble again.

Wang Shangzhen was showing goodwill to the Ming Dynasty at this time, but he was just thinking about borrowing troops and seeking asylum.

With a smile on his face, Emperor Hongzhi snorted and said, "Ryukyu has paid tribute to our dynasty again. Well, give back brocade and silk, and the Honglu Temple will host a banquet to entertain them, which will not lose the etiquette of our dynasty."

"I obey your order."

Seeing that no ministers had anything to report, Emperor Hongzhi said, "I remember correctly, today is the day to post the notice, why are you still meeting Li Qing's family?"

Xiao Jing said cautiously, "I will go and urge them?"

Emperor Hongzhi saw half of his head outside the hall, and after seeing him, he shrank back in shock.

Yan Chengjin observed carefully and followed his gaze, only to see Zhu Houzhao lying at the door of the hall.

He must have pledged the silver yesterday and couldn't wait to wait for the red list.

"Cough!"

Emperor Hongzhi coughed dryly, and the ministers thought he was not feeling well, and advised him to take care of his body.

Outside the palace, Zhu Houzhao waited eagerly, looking around.

At this moment, a man in crimson official clothes hurried over to the courtyard outside the Fengtian Palace.

"Here you are, go and intercept the red list for me!"

Liu Jin was in a dilemma and said, "Your Highness, that's Lord Li."

Zhu Houzhao shrank back when he heard this. He didn't dare to intercept Li Dongyang's red list. In the palace, besides Emperor Hongzhi, he was most afraid of the three cabinet masters, especially Li Dongyang.

After thinking about it, he felt something was wrong.

"What are you afraid of? I have a favor to Master Li and have helped him cut..."

"Your Highness!"

Li Dongyang stood behind Zhu Houzhao with a dark face. Zhu Houzhao swallowed the rest of his words and said, "Master Li, is Xie Pi the champion of this year's exam?"

Li Dongyang ignored him, holding the copied red list, and strode into the palace.

"Your Majesty, the results of the joint examination are out. Please take a look."

Xiao Jing walked down quickly, presented the red list, and spread it in front of Emperor Hongzhi.

Xie Qian was a little nervous, looking at the red list with his mouth slightly open, and his toes unconsciously lifted.

Li Dongyang looked at him with a complicated look.

Yan Chengjin pondered for a moment, he hoped that the person who won the first place was Song Jing.

After a moment, Emperor Hongzhi said with a smile: "This Song Jing, is it the Song Jing who made the astronomical telescope and the Red Barbarian General?"

Zeng Jian was a little excited, smiling and said: "Your Majesty, it's him, Song Jing is my disciple, I neglected to teach him on weekdays, I wonder how he did in the exam?"

Emperor Hongzhi looked at the list and read it softly: "The first on the list is Song Jing."

Outside the hall, Zhu Houzhao hugged the palace door and hit his head, Liu Jin cried anxiously: "You can earn more money if you lose it, the palace door will be broken by you."

The ministers looked at each other, what is the prince doing?

Only Yan Chengjin knew that Zhu Houzhao had lost all the 2,000 taels of silver and the mare that he had taken back from the loom factory...