The New Year was over.
The third year of Hongzhi officially opened.
Empress Dowager Zhou was still beating around the bush and asking Zhu Youtang about the candidate for the empress.
Zhu You Tang did not give Empress Dowager Zhou a definite answer.
In his opinion, Ning Yan and Zhang Qin each had their own advantages. Zhu Youtang was still uncertain about who would be the mother of the world.
These days, Ning Yan would often stare blankly at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Zhang Qin rarely went to the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
However, compared to Ning Yan, Zhang Qin was much more scheming. She would often wait for Zhu Youtang in the imperial garden.
She seemed to be able to read Zhu Youtang's mind, and she would meet Zhu Youtang by chance every time in the imperial garden.
Zhu Youtang once thought that she had bribed the chamberlain beside her.
However, he later found out that Zhang Qin would wait for Zhu Youtang to pass by the imperial garden at a fixed time every day, regardless of rain or shine.
It was really difficult for her.
However, this was understandable. Once anyone in the harem entered the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, they would control the life and death of all the concubines in the three palaces and six courtyards.
Because the Empress had the right to arrange concubines for Zhu Youtang.
Just this power alone was enough to control the life and death of the concubines in the harem.
This was the reason why Zhang Qin tried his best to please Zhu Youtang.
She was very greedy for power. Unlike Ning Yan, who was pure and had few desires, her goal was too obvious. Moreover, she did not hide this desire in front of Zhu Youtang.
Her methods were also very powerful. She had a face that could bring disaster to the country and the people. In addition, she was sometimes strong and sometimes pitiful. Sometimes, Zhu Youtang could not control himself when he saw her.
This woman had really understood the man's heart!
……
"Huai 'en, guess who I will meet first when I go to the Imperial Garden?”
"Replying to the Emperor, it should be Consort De.”
Zhu Youtang smiled.”
"You won't be going to the imperial garden today. Accompany me out of the palace to take a look."”
"I'll arrange for the Brocade Guard and the East Hall to accompany you." Huai 'en's heart tightened.”
Zhu Youtang waved his hand." No need. With you here, I can rest assured."”
Huai 'en's heart warmed. The Emperor trusted him so much that even if he died, he would not let the Emperor suffer any harm!
……
Ever since Zhu Youtang crossed over to the Ming Dynasty, he had been in the palace for the past two years and had never seen the outside world.
Only after leaving the palace today did he see how prosperous the capital was.
Along the way, one could hear the sound of people shaking their heads as they read.
There were also many hawkers shouting.
"I didn't expect the capital to be so prosperous." Zhu Youtang laughed sincerely.”
"It's all thanks to my good governance." Wynne quickly flattered.”
Zhu Youtang rolled his eyes at him and found a small stall selling tofu pudding to sit down.
After eating a snack, Zhu Youtang got up and prepared to leave.
He saw a man paying the bill.
However, when he paid the bill, he secretly hid a few copper coins from the stall owner in his sleeve.
"Brother, are you one of the candidates participating in this year's exam?”
Zhu Youtang's voice suddenly sounded.
The man was stunned. He looked at Zhu Youtang and said,"Yes."
"Oh, what's brother's name?"
"Li Mingshan."
Zhu Youtang nodded." Since you're a juren, you should also be excellent in both character and learning. I wonder why you want to do something like stealing chickens and touching dogs?”
"What do you mean?" Li Mingshan asked angrily. Looking for trouble?"
Zhu Youtang smiled." I'm not looking for trouble. You're a stain. If you become an official, will there still be an honest government in Ming Dynasty?"”
Li Mingshan said unhappily," A dog taking a mouse and meddling in other people's business. I'll say it now. I'm definitely going to pass the Jinshi examination!"”
Upon seeing this, Wynne immediately prepared to explode.
However, he was stopped by Zhu Youtang.
Zhu Youtang looked at the lift and said seriously,""Li Mingshan, Mingshan. I'm also telling you that you won't be able to pass the Jinshi exam.”
Li Mingshan sneered." I've memorized all the difficult eight-part essay questions for this year's exam. How can I not pass?" Do you think you are the emperor? What a joke!"
……
Zhu Youtang returned to the palace and glanced at Huai 'en. He suppressed his anger and said,""Call Zhou Hongmo over and have him show me Li Mingshan's provincial examination paper.”
After a while.
The Minister of Rites, Zhou Hongmo, came to Yangxin Hall.
Along the way, he had been very puzzled. He did not know why the Emperor was suddenly concerned about the situation of a High Scholar.
Logically speaking, even if the Emperor was concerned about the examination, he should have waited for the results of the examination.
"Your Majesty."
"Yes."
Zhu Youtang took Li Mingshan's provincial examination paper and frowned for a long time.
"Lord Zhou, do you think there's a problem with this paper?”
Zhou Hongmo was a little puzzled and immediately said,""This person's eight-part essay writing is top-grade.”
Zhu Youtang looked at him expressionlessly.""And then?"
Zhou Hongmo was a little stunned and asked in confusion,""And then…and then…I'm stupid.”
Zhu Youtang's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and he said with a gloomy face,"How many times have you seen this kind of problem?”
"Ten portions? A hundred portions? Or a thousand?"
"I want talents to govern the country, not machines that specialize in eight-legged writing!”
Zhu Youtang's voice was not loud, but Zhou Hongmo could feel the anger suppressed in Zhu Youtang's heart.
"A provincial examination's Juren openly said in front of Zhen that he had memorized all the eight-part essay exam questions! He calmly told me that he would definitely win the Jinshi!”
"What use do I have for such a person?”
"If such a person becomes an official in the future, what's the difference between him and a piece of wood? How to govern the Great Ming Country?"
"Change the focus of this year's examination papers for me. The marking officer will focus on reviewing policy theory, there is no need to pay attention to the eight-part essay!”
Great Ming's examination was a national examination to select talents that was very characteristic of Great Ming.
The head examiner and the marking officer would always pay attention to the eight-part essay of the first round of the exam.
In other words, the first round of eight-part essay could determine the future fate of the student.
……
Zhou Hongmo was as silent as a cicada in winter.
The Tian Zi he knew in the past was always calm and composed.
But this time, in front of Zhou Hongmo, his expression changed drastically and he became extremely furious.
Zhou Hongmo didn't dare to be negligent and told the officials of the Ministry of Rites what the emperor meant.
Very quickly.
This decree concerning the future of the students was also issued in Bei Zhi Li.
Many students 'expressions changed drastically.
Just like Li Mingshan, students all over the country focused on eight-part essay. As for the policy theory behind it, they rarely considered it.
According to the past, policy papers were usually written casually. Anyway, the examiner did not pay attention to policy papers.
However, the sudden reform of the imperial examinations had thrown many people into disarray.
Some people wanted to rebel and spread rumors about the fishing boats to slander the court.
But how? The imperial court had only changed the criteria for official positions, which was within the rules. Who could complain?
However, they soon heard that the reason why the emperor changed the criteria for choosing officials was because of an imperial edict.
As for who that scholar was, they didn't know, but the eighteen generations of ancestors of that scholar must have been cursed by scholars.
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