The eldest son is fierce

The next day, the palace examination officially began.

Early in the morning, Tang Jing took Yan Shuangyu and Tang Hao to Tang Hua's yard to busy themselves inside and out.

For clothes alone, she tried on more than a hundred sets before choosing one. The hair crown, shoes, and bun were all tried on one by one before being matched together.

It took Tang Hua two hours to get dressed.

It was already daybreak, and the Tang painter standing in the courtyard holding a folding fan was handsome and elegant, a peerless young man.

"Oh, he is indeed my son. Just based on his temperament, no one in the palace can rival him."

Yan Shuangyu's eyes welled with tears as she said excitedly, "Today's new top scholar must belong to my son, right, Master?"

Tang Jing was also very satisfied with Tang Hua's outfit. He smiled and nodded, saying, "I personally taught Hua'er. His talent is naturally unrivaled and can surpass all other scholars in the world."

"Let's go. Today, as your father, I will take you to win the first place!"

Tang Hua raised her lip, looked towards the west courtyard with a playful look, and said, "Dad, do you want to tell Xiao Yi?"

"No need. Wait until you win the first prize and then come back to invite him to the celebration!" Tang Jing's smile faded. Tang Yi's mouth was too vicious, and he didn't want Tang Yi to influence Tang Hua.

However, after a night, no one in the Tang family noticed that Tang Yi and Tang Yin were not at home!

……

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.

Emperor Yanwen had just changed into his court robes when he summoned Ningchuan.

He couldn't wait to know what was going on in the prison.

"How did Tang Yi and Xiao Di get along last night? Did Xiao Di manage to subdue Tang Yi... well, subdue him?"

Emperor Yanwen had a smile on his face. He liked his son Xiao Di very much. Xiao Di was a free and easy-going man with his own opinions and ideas. However, he grew up away from home and had a bit of a gangster style.

However, it shouldn't be too difficult to subdue this kid Tang Yi.

As a result, Emperor Yanwen saw Ningchuan kneeling on the ground with a strange look on his face, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Emperor Yanwen suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart and asked, "What happened? Did something unexpected happen? Did Xiao Di fail to subdue Tang Yi?"

Ning Chuan didn't dare to hide it, and hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think...it wasn't the Fourth Prince who subdued Tang Yi, it was Tang Yi who subdued the Fourth Prince."

Ning Chuan recounted what he had seen last night.

Emperor Yanwen: “???”

Is this possible?

Emperor Yanwen pondered for a long time and sighed, "Alas, none of them is useful."

But he had indeed made a mistake. He hadn't considered the Fourth Brother's doting on Gao Yang, and he hadn't expected that Tang Yi would actually dare to call him by his name and endorse him...

"Your Majesty, when Tang Yi was imprisoned yesterday, he also helped the Jinyiwei select a Beidi spy."

Although he was unhappy with Tang Yi, Ning Chuan did not underestimate his achievements.

"Northern Di spy? This guy has such ability?" Emperor Yanwen was also speechless. This guy is really never idle wherever he goes!

Ning Chuan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the interrogation has already taken place, and this is the confession."

Ning Chuan took out the confession from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Diaosi: "This man's name is Wu Yong, a traitor to Dayan. He was a slave serving by the side of the Northern Di Khan. He relied on his own abilities to become one of the most trusted people of the Northern Di Khan."

"This time he sneaked into Da Yan in order to keep track of Da Yan's movements at all times."

"Also... during the interrogation, I received an unconfirmed piece of information. This is a matter of great importance. I request your Majesty's decision."

"Hmm?" Emperor Yanwen originally didn't care about spies. Great Yan and Northern Di would definitely fight, so it was normal to send spies to test each other.

But after hearing Ning Chuan's words, he realized that things might not be that simple.

After receiving the confession from Chen Diaosi, Emperor Yanwen frowned after reading it. "Northern Di and Eastern Yu are colluding to annex the northern border of Great Yan?"

"That's impossible! Dayan and Dongyu just signed a non-aggression pact, and the prime minister responsible for signing the pact hasn't even returned to Dayan yet. How could Dongyu be colluding with Beidi?"

Emperor Yanwen did not believe that although the various alliances between Dongyu and Dayan were signed by Prime Minister Zhao Hui at the border, it was he and the Emperor of Dongyu who pushed this matter forward.

This was a remarkable political achievement for Emperor Yanwen, and he could announce it to the world as soon as the prime minister returned to Kyoto.

This will be the highlight moment for him, Emperor Yanwen!

Now they're claiming the alliance was fake? Are Dongyu pretending to build a plank road while secretly attacking Chencang? Are they plotting to join forces with the Northern Di to carve up Da Yan?

"Hmm? Was it that bastard Tang Yi who did this?"

Emperor Yanwen snorted coldly. Tang Yi had the same opinion at the beginning.

But as soon as the words came out, Emperor Yanwen rejected it himself. If it was done by the prime minister or a powerful minister in the court, it would be understandable.

Tang Yi, that kid doesn’t have that ability yet.

"Go, call the spy to me. I will interrogate him personally."

Emperor Yanwen did not listen to one side of the story and immediately asked Ningchuan to go back and bring the person back so that he could personally try him.

The consequences of this matter are too serious and we cannot be careless in the slightest.

A quarter of an hour later, Emperor Yanwen arrived at the Zizheng Hall.

After what happened just now, Emperor Yanwen was in a very bad mood. Seeing the smiling faces of the civil and military officials in the court, as well as those top-ranked officials who were involved in the matter, he felt extremely unhappy!

Especially when he saw Tang Jing and his son enjoying everyone's flattery, he became even more furious.

The ministers and the candidates for the palace examination saluted. Emperor Yanwen said coldly, "Today we will not discuss politics, but only the palace examination."

"Previously, the young poet wrote a passionate poem called 'Man Jiang Hong', which made me decide not to give in to the Northern Di anymore."

"However, you still think that we should negotiate peace with the Northern Di, so much so that I issued an imperial decree ordering the Ministry of War to rectify the slackness of the troops and the Ministry of Revenue to organize supplies."

"Very good, I will give you this opportunity!"

Emperor Yanwen stood up and scanned the entire audience.

When all the ministers met his gaze, they almost subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.

Emperor Yanwen snorted coldly and said, "Today's palace examination... My question is, what would happen if I went to war with the Northern Di?"

"Use this as the main theme and write a poem or lyrics."

"The one who writes well will be the top scholar!"

Hearing this, the faces of the ministers changed immediately, and the hall was filled with murmurings.

"What? How can this be a topic?"

"Your Majesty, are you making things difficult for us, or for those top-ranked scholars?"

"How can your Majesty be so unfair? I refuse to accept it!"

The officials were furious.

However, Emperor Yanwen made it clear that he was just venting his dissatisfaction.

The Ministry of War was not diligent in its preparations for war, and the Ministry of Revenue was slack in its preparations for war, which had angered the emperor.

If I can't write a good poem of persuasion today, things may not end so easily.

Moreover, it has to be a poem comparable to "Man Jiang Hong"!

This is really difficult. Even they can't do it, let alone these newly graduated top-ranked scholars.

Tang Jing also looked unhappy, thinking that the emperor was going too far.

How many people in the world can write poems like "Man Jiang Hong"?

"Your Majesty, minister..."

Tang Jing subconsciously stood up and wanted to refute.

Emperor Yanwen looked over with cold eyes.

You old thing, you allowed your son to abuse your daughter. I haven't settled accounts with you yet, and you still dare to talk nonsense.

Tang Jing was met with Emperor Yanwen's death gaze, his body stiffened, and he changed his words on the spot.

"Your Majesty is wise and wise. I have no objection..."