Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The city of Kyoto was bustling with activity after the results were announced.

All the princes sent invitations to the top-ranked candidates in an attempt to recruit talents.

Even the wealthy and powerful families were not to be outdone and invited the students who made the list to their homes for banquets.

Each of the 600 people on the list received an invitation from one or more companies.

Some upright people choose to refuse, while others flock to it.

In short, human nature was fully displayed at this moment.

He has already been on the list. All he needs to do next is pass the palace examination and he will become a Jinshi, which means he will be a well-known figure in the Chu Dynasty.

For people at the bottom of society, this is an opportunity to make a leap forward, and it is also the upper class they have always dreamed of and wanted to enter.

On this day, starting from noon, all the major mansions in Kyoto City became bustling with activity.

The banquets continued, and the noise of gongs and drums echoed throughout the city of Kyoto.

This continued until the evening, with people in the mansion still beating gongs and drums to announce that the mansion had recruited new talents.

Prince Chu's Mansion, living room.

Chu Ning sat in the main seat with a calm look on his face.

It is now the hour of Xu, or eight o'clock in the evening, and it is long past dinner time.

But Chu Ning didn't eat, he was waiting for someone.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the side hall. Chu Ning turned around and looked, and saw who else it was but Shen Wanying.

Shen Wanying, who had already absorbed all the essence, had a fresh fragrance on her body, and her three thousand strands of black hair were casually placed behind her. She looked less scholarly and more feminine.

Under the candlelight, that exquisite face that could drive people crazy moved Chu Ning's heart, and he couldn't help but step forward and hold her hand.

"How did you come?"

Shen Wanying shook her head. "I heard that you haven't eaten yet, so I came to see you. I've been waiting for so long, but Deng Hongwen hasn't come yet. I'm afraid he has already joined other princes and will probably not come."

Knowing that Chu Ning was waiting for someone tonight, Shen Wanying did not ask him to have dinner with her.

It can be seen that Deng Hongwen has not appeared until now. Shen Wanying was worried that Chu Ning was hungry, so she came to persuade him in person.

In the entire palace, she was the only one who dared to persuade.

Chu Ning smiled slightly, took her hand and sat down, and said softly: "I am the chief examiner. Even if Deng Hongwen joins others, he dare not refuse my invitation."

The chief examiner is the teacher of all the candidates.

In this era, teachers are like second parents. No one dares to offend their teachers easily, as that would only bring them a bad reputation.

"Even so, you should eat something first. I know you haven't slept well in the past ten days in the examination hall."

Shen Wanying refused to give up and tried to persuade him: "Besides, who knows who Deng Hongwen is? What if he doesn't come?"

Chu Ning raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a wicked smile: "How about we make a bet, if he doesn't come tonight, I will listen to you from now on.

If you come, you will be on the bed tonight..."

Having said that, Chu Ning leaned close to Shen Wanying's ear and whispered a few words.

Shen Wanying's face flushed immediately, and she quickly pushed Chu Ning away and spat at him lightly:

"Bah, just dreaming about such a good thing!"

Who knew that just as he finished speaking, Ran Ming's voice came from outside the hall: "Your Highness, Deng Hongwen is here!"

Shen Wanying was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up: "You guys talk, I'll ask the servants to bring the wine and food."

After saying that, she got up and left.

Chu Ning grinned and said, "Don't forget to rinse your mouth~"

Shen Wanying's body trembled and she left even faster.

It was not until Shen Wanying left that Chu Ning shouted outside the hall: "Let him in!"

A moment later, Deng Hongwen, dressed in coarse linen clothes and with bright eyes, came into the hall.

"Student greets teacher!" Deng Hongwen bowed respectfully to Chu Ning.

Chu Ning laughed: "Don't be so polite. Everyone knows that I am not very knowledgeable, and you are already a champion now. If you call me teacher, I am afraid people will laugh at you."

But Deng Hongwen shook his head and said stubbornly: "Etiquette and laws cannot be violated. You are the creator of the imperial examination and the chief examiner, so you are the teacher of the students.

Besides, I don’t think Your Majesty is unlearned. I have read your previous masterpieces!”

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows: "Are you talking about the couplet that I wrote at my wedding? That was just given to me by the princess in advance."

But Deng Hongwen said in a deep voice: "No, the Princess of Chu is the most talented woman in our dynasty. With her character, it is absolutely impossible for her to do such a thing.

Moreover, even the Princess of Chu herself couldn't come up with the second line of the first line of the couplet "Smoke locks the pond and willows", so how could she be the one who came up with the first line?"

I have to say that Deng Hongwen is a very logical person.

No one noticed this matter at all, but Deng Hongwen was not in Kyoto City, so he was able to analyze the problem just by hearsay.

This is a talent!

Chu Ning has a love for talent.

"It seems that you are not the kind of person who only reads books of sages and does not care about worldly affairs!"

Chu Ning looked at Deng Hongwen with appreciation and chuckled, "I just wonder how you will choose among so many invitations this time?"

This made Deng Hongwen silent.

Fortunately, at this time, the maids came up with wine and food, which eased the atmosphere.

Chu Ning took the opportunity to smile and said, "Sit down, and talk while you eat."

But Deng Hongwen suddenly raised his head and looked at Chu Ning with a serious face: "Teacher, if the student makes a choice, how will you view the student?"

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows, feeling a little surprised.

The meaning of this statement is obviously that he has already defected to someone else.

"Everyone has their own aspirations. If you really make a choice, this king can only hope that you will achieve great things in the court."

Chu Ning did not choose to make things difficult for this person.

Firstly, this person is indeed talented. Secondly, it is a pity that such a good talent was killed without any crime.

But it was this sentence that made Deng Hongwen's eyelids twitch and a hint of excitement appeared on his face.

However, he quickly concealed this expression and replaced it with a helpless look.

"To be honest, the students have indeed made their decision!"

Deng Hongwen said in a deep voice: "I have been to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace and the residences of all the princes."

Have you been there?

So it's waiting for a good price?

Chu Ning was a little curious: "So you finally chose the person who would be most beneficial to you?"

Deng Hongwen did not hide his purpose and nodded, "Yes, although the crown prince offered a high position and generous salary, I finally chose the tenth prince!"

"Tenth brother?"

Chu Ning frowned: "Among all the princes, Brother Ten doesn't seem to have much advantage, right?"

Deng Hongwen nodded: "But the Tenth Prince gave me what I wanted most. He arranged a place for my parents to live in Yangzhou, so that I don't have to worry about anything."

Compared to high positions and generous salaries, Deng Hongwen's parents are what he cares about.

Chu Ning came back to his senses.

People always have weaknesses.

Although he is an upright person, Deng Hongwen's weakness is his parents.

The Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince and others mostly used common sense to bribe Deng Hongwen, but the Tenth Prince took a different approach and achieved amazing results.

"I see!"

Chu Ning nodded slightly, picked up the wine glass and said with a smile: "I wish you great success with Brother Ten. This glass of wine is for you!"

Deng Hongwen quickly picked up the wine glass and drank it all.

Then he bowed, turned around and left in a graceful manner.

Chu Ning looked at Deng Hongwen's departing back, squinting his eyes with an amusement look.

Deng Hongwen chose the tenth prince, so the following palace examination will be interesting.

The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince will never let it go!

The crown prince recruited the second place, Yang Wentao, the fourth prince recruited the third place, Liu Yunqing, and the first place was recruited by the tenth prince.

In the palace examination three days later, the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince will definitely want their men to win the top prize!

After all, the top scholar has to be chosen by the emperor.

As long as someone says a few good words, it might change the emperor's choice.

The show is on!