My name is Chang An, your name is Gu Li

"Where is Minister Chen?" Li Longji shouted at this time.

"I'm here." The Minister of Rites stepped out and bowed.

"How many candidates went to Beijing last year?" Li Longji asked.

"Your Majesty, there are a total of 128 students from other places, and 371 local tribute students," replied Minister Chen.

Li Longji asked again: "How many people in our imperial academy will take the imperial examination?"

Minister Chen replied, "Your Majesty, a total of fifty-eight people."

Li Longji nodded and said, "Today is January 21st, so let's set the date of this year's Spring Examination as February 15th. What do you think, Minister Chen?"

"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with what you said."

"Then send an order to the Secretariat to draft an imperial edict and start preparing for the spring examination. At the same time, February 15th will be the official day for the examination," Li Longji gave the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Minister Chen, do you have anything important to report?" Li Longji asked again, "If not, then everyone in the Ministry of Rites can go back and make preparations."

"Yes, Your Majesty, long live the emperor." Several officials from the Ministry of Rites present saluted Li Longji and then took their leave.

The Ministry of Rites and the Secretariat were also very efficient. At noon, the Secretariat had prepared the imperial edict. Then the Ministry of Personnel posted the yellow silk imperial edict on the board in front of the imperial city gate, and the Ministry of Rites also arranged the preparations and began to prepare the test questions.

Chang An also left the Imperial College after school at this time. Since Wubenfang was close to the imperial city, he also noticed the literati coming and going on the street.

He felt a little confused, but he didn't think too deeply about it - his wife was still waiting for him at the door, so he decided to go home first. He quickly got into the carriage with Huaiqin, lowered the curtains, and prepared to set off when he suddenly heard a voice outside the carriage calling him:

"Brother Yonghe, please stay!"

Chang An was stunned for a moment, then he lifted the carriage curtain and looked out the window. At this time, Wang Wei and Gao Shi also rode over on horseback.

"Brother Mojie, Brother Gao." Chang An frowned slightly and said, "Shall we talk while we walk?"

"Okay." Wang Wei naturally knew how anxious Chang An was to go home, so he smiled and nodded in agreement.

The carriage started moving, and Wang Wei and Gao Shi followed on horseback. At this time, Chang An asked, "Brother Mo Jie and Brother Gao are here to see me at this time. Is there something going on?"

"That's right. The imperial edict for the spring examination was posted on the imperial edict at the gate of the imperial city just now." Wang Wei replied.

"Originally, Gao Shi was just going to take a look at the imperial edict and then go back to review, but he happened to meet Brother Wang, so he came to the Imperial College with him to find you." Gao Shi also said.

"It just so happens that we will pass by the gate of Anrenfang, and it will be on the same route as Brother Yonghe."

"The imperial edict has been posted?" Chang An raised his eyebrows and asked, "Does that mean you should also prepare to take part in the Spring Examination?"

"That's right." Wang Wei nodded, "We are also here to inform Brother Yonghe."

Chang An nodded and continued to ask: "When is the Spring Examination held?"

"February 15th, three consecutive days of examinations." Wang Wei replied.

"Three consecutive days of examination? If I finish writing in advance, can I not come for the rest of the time?" Chang An didn't know much about the details of the imperial examination, so he could only ask Wang Wei, who had participated in the examination once.

"Of course you can, but Brother Gao and I are not yet at the point where we can leave early." Wang Wei said, "It's not a bad idea to stay a little longer and check more."

Chang An gave him a noncommittal expression, then said with a smile: "Whether Brother Mo Jie and Brother Gao leave early or not, I will prepare a small feast for you two at home after the Spring Examination."

"Going to Brother Chang's house? Having dinner with Dr. Chang and Madam Zhou again?" When Gao Shi heard that they were going to Chang An's house for dinner, he felt a little scared again, because the looks from Chang Wenmeng and Chang Wenqing before made him feel strange.

"That's not the case. It's just me and my wife." Chang An replied with amusement.

"That's good." Gao Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chang'an, Wang Wei and even Huaiqin all laughed. They certainly knew why Gao Shi asked this question.

"Brother Gao, don't worry, there will be no one else there by then. Come with confidence, I will prepare some delicious food for you that you have never eaten before!" Chang An said.

"Then I would like to thank Brother Yonghe first." Wang Wei simply did not refuse and said.

When they returned to the gate of Anrenfang, Wang Wei and Gao Shi bowed to Chang'an, said goodbye and left. Chang'an also ordered the carriage to enter Anrenfang.

When she got home, Gu Li was waiting at the door as usual, but the expression on her face was a little strange. When she saw Chang An coming out, she also called out "Chang Lang".

Chang An got off the carriage and walked straight up to him and asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"no……"

Gu Li knew that Chang An would ask her this question directly. She pointed outside and said with an embarrassed look, "Your Highness is here."

Your Highness?! Chang An raised his eyebrows and turned his head to look at the street in front of the door. In front of his carriage, there was another luxurious carriage parked. The yellow body of the carriage almost indicated the owner of the carriage. There were tassels hanging on the roof, so ostentatious, for fear that others would not know that the current prince had come to his house.

"When did you come?" Chang An asked with his mouth twitching.

"It's probably before noon." Gu Li said, "His Highness said he came to see Chang Lang, but since Chang Lang is still in the Imperial College, I entertained him first."

Chang An touched Gu Li's head and said with a smile, "Are you afraid to face His Highness alone, Madam Gu?"

"A little bit..." Gu Li nodded, and then Chang An smacked him on the face.

"Let's go in first, His Highness is still waiting." Chang An took Gu Li's hand and went straight in.

When he returned to the courtyard, he saw Li Ying squatting in front of the loquat sapling he had planted, seemingly thinking about something. The eunuch standing behind him saw Chang An and Gu Li coming back, and said:

"Your Highness, Mr. Chang is back."

At this time, Li Ying also stood up, turned around and saw that Chang An was indeed standing there, so he shouted, "Chang Yonghe, you are back!"

"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. May His Royal Highness live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years." Chang An and Gu Li also saluted him and bowed to greet him.

"No need for that, no need for that," Li Ying quickly stepped forward and helped Chang An up, "You won't have to perform formalities when you meet me in private in the future."

"I wonder if Your Highness has come here suddenly today and I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person." Chang An asked.

"No problem." Li Ying pointed to the loquat sapling over there and asked, "Just now, when Chang Yong and you were still here, I asked Madam Gu about this sapling."

"I am so ashamed." Chang An put down the book box and asked Huaiqin to take it into the room.

"If Your Highness doesn't mind, we can have a chat in the pavilion." Chang An smiled and stretched out his hand to lead him to the pavilion.

"it is good."

Li Ying walked into the pavilion first, and then Chang An and Gu Li followed in and sat opposite Li Ying. At this time, snacks and candies were already placed on the table in the pavilion.

"Chang Yonghe, did you make this candy yourself?" At this time, Li Ying took out another piece of candy and put it in her mouth.

"These are just some small things for my wife to eat. They're nothing." Chang An smiled and said.

"Forget it, let's not talk about such trivial matters." Li Ying clapped his hands and asked:

"Chang Yonghe, do you know why I can come today?"

"I don't know." Chang An shook his head.

At this time, Li Ying took out a yellow object from his sleeve with a smile. After Chang An and Gu Li saw the object clearly, they immediately stood up and knelt down.

What Li Ying held in his hand was an imperial edict!

He put away the smile on his face, stood up, handed the imperial edict to the eunuch beside him, and then knelt beside Chang An. The eunuch cleared his throat and read aloud:

"Men: The evil money issue is the root of the evil of the Tang Dynasty, which has brought disaster to the country and the people. It has been a long time since it was dealt with. Thanks to the strategy of Changfu Dalang, the evil money issue has been dealt with effectively. In addition, you have great talent, you are still in your early twenties, and you are a man of worldly talents. Although you are in a low position, your heart is for the country, and you are really a loyal person. Considering your filial piety and loyalty, you have made contributions to stabilizing the country. I hereby confer the title of Changjia Dalang An as the founding county earl of Zhongli County, and grant him the title of Jikang Earl, ranking fourth rank, with a fief of 700 households and a thousand acres of permanent farmland. The owner shall implement it!

On January 18, the eighth year of Kaiyuan… The Minister of the Secretariat… The decree is as on the right. Please submit it. The decree shall be issued to the outside for implementation. Please speak with caution. The decree is acceptable… Please submit it. The decree is as on the right. Please submit it…

January 21, the eighth year of Kaiyuan, down.

Chang An was stunned. He was conferred a title just like that? But he had to accept what the emperor said. He knelt down and moved forward twice, raised his hands, took the imperial edict from the eunuch, and said at the same time:

"Thank you Lord for your kindness, long live my emperor."

After receiving the imperial edict, Li Ying and Chang An stood up.

"Why are you still standing there, Earl Jikang? Hurry up and put the imperial edict away." Li Ying said with a smile.

Chang An and Gu Li were still confused at this time. After hearing Li Ying's words, Chang An hurriedly held the imperial edict in both hands and placed it in the center of the room.

He returned to the pavilion. Only Gu Li was still standing there in a daze, as if she had not yet come to her senses. When Chang An came to her side, she slowly spoke:

"Is Chang Lang... conferred a title?"

"Yes, and Madam Gu, you are now the wife of Earl Jikang." Li Ying said with a smile.

At this time, Gu Li's eyes were shining with excitement, and Chang An gently pulled him back to his original seat.

Chang An asked at this time: "May I ask Your Highness, why is the Lord today..."

"What else could it be? The imperial edict also said it: it's because you, Earl Ji Kang, have made contributions in combating the evil of money." Li Ying said.

"But this edict was issued in secret, and even Prime Minister Song didn't know about it."

"Awarded secretly? Why?" Chang An asked again.

"Of course it's to protect you!" Li Ying said with a smile again.