Emperor Que Shaohua

The autumn of the 21st year of Tianyi was scheduled for August [-]th. The emperor issued a decree. Li Furen, the counselor of the General Administration Department and a scholar of Lingyange University, was the chief examiner, led by two deputy chief examiners, and twelve examiners.

Li Furen received the decree with three bows and nine kowtows, and then he burned incense, bathed and changed his clothes. On the same day, he entered the Gongyuan under the escort of the imperial guards, and did not come out until the end of the autumn.

On this day, when Luo Pingyuan finished his business and returned to the mansion, the sky was full of sunset in the west.He is busy with work now, it is difficult to return to Prince Jing's mansion at noon like before, but at night he still thinks about having dinner with Prince Jing, so for the evening entertainment, he said that he wanted to practice martial arts, and he declined all of them.

Since he returned to Los Angeles, he has always maintained a rigorous attitude, and now in the eyes of everyone, he feels that King Ning cleans up the household department and does not easily communicate with others. This kind of disposition is really rare.

General Wuying Zheng Mingyi once praised Emperor Tianyi: "Your Majesty sees that the Fifth Highness is highly skilled in martial arts. He never prides himself on martial arts, and never advances in arrogance. This level of concentration is even more difficult than practicing martial arts. No wonder His Majesty loves it so much. "

When returning home every day, if King Ning had no urgent matters, he would go back to Hanxiaozhai to change into homely clothes. Bailu or Shuangjiang had already sent a letter to King Jing, and he got up and went to Lancangju.

Today, he turned around the hill, and just as he ordered the guards to go down to rest, he saw a few people coming out from the direction of Lancangju from a distance. When he looked closely again, it seemed that Director Yang was walking slowly towards the gate of the mansion with the two of them. Come, obviously to see off guests.

There are quite a few people who come to see King Jing in the mansion, but most of them wear their sleeves in the wind and fly over the walls, and some even come here at night, and they don’t want to pay attention to whereabouts for outsiders. Not many were sent out by Yang Yue himself.Luo Pingyuan became curious, so he temporarily changed his direction, went straight there, and met the three of them by chance.

Yang Yue also saw his actions and couldn't avoid it, so he felt a little funny in his heart: His highness Prince Ning did not show any signs of dew when he was outside, but when he returned to the mansion, especially when he was in front of King Jing, he had shown this kind of behavior more than once. Wayward side too.

When he got close, he bowed and said: "His Highness Fifth is back."

When the two people around him saw King Ning, they also bowed to each other.Luo Pingyuan stopped by waving his hands. At this moment, he saw clearly that the other party was two young men dressed as scholars. The one on the right was 24. He was slender and handsome. He only felt familiar, and then he remembered that it was Lin Chen Zhao Mian I met that night when we went to Mingyue Tower to listen to the music together.That day, because of Bai Ruohan, they talked for a while, but they never expected to meet again in the Imperial Brother's Mansion.

He smiled and said: "Mingyue Tower, hurry up for a while, brother Zhao is always good, but is there another good work?"

"If you are white, how dare you show your love to your Highness?" Zhao Mian cupped his hands. Both of them are juren. According to the etiquette of the Yu Zhou Dynasty, when seeing the prince in private, he only needs to pay a half salute instead of bowing down. He said: "Several months I don't see, His Highness looks even better than before. Now that the exam is coming soon, I have put aside those idle works." As he spoke, he introduced his friends around him: "This is my classmate Chen Yuanfu, whose name is Heling, and has always been talented and learned. excellent."

Luo Pingyuan had been friends with Lin Chen for a while, and he had heard about Chen Heling from Song Xuhuai, saying that this person wrote splendid articles and had the talent to help the world. At this time, he was a little older, with a dark complexion and a good-looking appearance. It's not surprising, but his eyes are bright and bright, and he said: "I've heard of Chen Heling's talent and name, it's better to meet him than to be famous, but he also has to take the exam for this subject?"

Chen Yuanfu made a bow: "That's true. It is my duty to serve the country with scholars. During the autumn period, all the talents of the country gather in Luocheng. Fanxi and I don't want to fall behind." He added, "His Royal Highness Ning Fengyi, I am also a long-time admirer. I heard that His Royal Highness Fifth Highness has clear judgment and has a firm mind. He is not deceived by false names and falsehoods. He has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the Holy One. Seeing him today, he really deserves his reputation." What he said was The words of admiration, but the attitude is neither humble nor overbearing,

Luo Pingyuan felt that there was a hint of soberness in his words, he just didn't care, and wondered to himself whether it was for the emperor's brother or state affairs, could it be that he had heard some rumors outside?

Since they met by chance, after exchanging greetings, they just passed each other. Luo Pingyuan watched the two young talents lead away from the mansion by Yang Yue, and went straight into Lancang Residence.

King Jing was standing under the tree in the courtyard, watching Qingming and Gu Yu remove the refreshments they had just received, his eyes wandered, as if he was thinking about something, even King Ning came in without seeing it immediately.

"Brother Huang doesn't practice Zen, how come you can enter samadhi while standing?" Luo Pingyuan smiled and said, "If you say you just learned it, even though the person who came just now is a talented scholar, he is a student of Confucianism. Knowing how to do this is the skill."

"It turns out that you met Fanxi and them," King Jing said with a smile when he came back to his senses, "I saw them once during the scientific examinations. Six years have passed in a blink of an eye, and the old man is going to enter the autumn again. I can't help feeling a little bit emotional." Said, gestured him to sit down.

"I met Zhao Mian once, and I feel that besides being very talented and knowledgeable, this person also seems to have a lot of experience in the world. Are they actually related to the emperor?" Luo Pingyuan took the hot tea from Gu Yu and asked casually road.

"Does Pingyuan still remember Taifu Zhang? Fanxi's words were taken by him himself." Luo Yanhua sat down on the other side of the table and said calmly.

At this time, Qingming came excitedly carrying a basket. The bottom of the basket was covered with lotus leaves, and it was filled with green and tender lotus pods, which were just picked from the small lake.Luo Pingyuan stretched out his hand to take one, and the fragrance was tangy to the nostrils, as expected, it was in line with the poem of the predecessors: "Bow your head and pick lotus seeds, the lotus seeds are as clear as water".

He nodded and said: "That Chen Yuanfu saw you for the first time today, he only said a few words, and then he was busy reminding me, lest I, a young emperor brother, bully you."

Jing Wang listened to Chen Yuanfu's just words, and there was a smile in his eyes, and then quickly disappeared.He thought of his virtuous mentor, Zhao Xiang, the servant of the Ministry of Rites who fought for his own reasons. The Zhao family was originally a famous family in Huxiang, with generations of scholars, but no one in the family has been an official since then.Chen Yuanfu was born in poverty and studied hard to become a talent.The two of them took the exam again, and they didn't know if they would be successful.

He said: "Zhao Mian's real name is Zhao Xun, but his Zhao family has undergone great changes. His biological father Zhao Xiang died early, so he had no choice but to adopt his uncle's family. The name Zhao Mian was also changed for him by Zhang Taifu."

He didn't speak very clearly, but Luo Pingyuan now knows a lot about the old things back then, and said: "Brother Huang, are you worried that the court will select scholars unfairly? The emperor has appointed Li Furen as the examiner. I heard that Li Shenzhi is well-known and economical." If you are full, you should not be narrow-minded when choosing the rankings."

"Li Canzhi's academics are a bit old-fashioned, but he is indeed upright and a trustworthy person, which shows that the father attaches great importance to this autumn." King Jing said, Emperor Tianyi wanted to rectify Chaogang and dismiss a group of officials, of course he would I am more concerned about a group of new Jinshi that can be used in today's examinations, "But the twelve-room examiners are inevitably mixed. In the past, Heling was the first of the five chiefs in Shaoxing Prefecture in the examination of Zhongxiangping Prefecture in the past. The Jiangnan culture is prosperous. , with his two talents, they both failed in the scientific examination in Beijing. They were once disheartened, and they didn't even finish three years ago. Now that they have finally met to retake the examination, I am a little worried, because they once prevented them from being named on the gold list People, now the power is not small."

"Who is the emperor talking about? But the people in the seal and gold in the past?" Luo Pingyuan asked. But betrayed Langhuan, and now occupies a high position in the court, who would it be?Unexpectedly, he remembered that the little order Bai Ruohan sang in Mingyue Tower was written by Zhao Mian:

"Life is so lonely, the rainy evening locks the sorrow, the place where the wine wakes up, the moon is like a hook, and the willows are lingering by the lake;

Tasting and sighing for a long time, I asked with a smile when I would climb the tower again. The wish was not fulfilled. "

"You think right, you are indeed the old man who betrayed Langhuan back then." Jing Wang seemed to see what he was thinking, and said slowly, "If Zhao Mian and others are willing to bend and stretch for refuge like many other students, If you are working together, you should have already gained fame and become an official in the court by now."

He paused for a while before saying, "Ping Yuan, do you still remember the suicide note you asked me the day before yesterday?"

Luo Pingyuan was thinking about it, and couldn't help being startled when he heard the words, of course he remembered.These days, whenever he has spare time, he can't help but think about how he can find evidence for the old case and vindicate his grievances.

Then he thought of someone: the so-called Rupin's suicide note presented by Concubine Han Gui to Emperor Tianyi should not have been written by the concubine's mother, so who did she find to imitate Rupin's handwriting?After many years, the person who copied the handwriting may have been silenced long ago, but after tracing, maybe some traces can be found.He expressed his thoughts to the emperor, but King Jing changed the topic at that time and did not answer. Now that he mentions it, could it be related to this imperial examination?

Luo Pingyuan then nodded and said: "Brother Huang has already found out who the person who forged the letter is? Is he still alive?"

King Jing was silent for a long time, when Luo Pingyuan thought he would not answer, he heard him say indifferently: "Xue Songnian, the master of seal and gold orders, is proficient in classics and history, good at writing and ink, and can write hairpin small script with both hands."

Among the Twelve Orders of Langhuan in the past, the Suzerain Jiang Biyao thought that Li ink and seal gold were the most difficult to establish a good order, because these two orders were mainly about literary talent and learning.Limo attached great importance to the way of sages and sages and the principles of governing the country, so they set up academies, hired eminent Confucianists, selected and funded poor children who studied based on their personal qualities and qualifications, so that they could work hard and even participate in the imperial examination.Seal and gold are partial to miscellaneous studies, and calligraphy and painting of gold and stone, Mo Gong and mathematics are also ways to help the world.Since the second order aims to reserve talents for the country and to prevent students from forming cliques in the court, the empress set two regulations: for students from poor families who should be helped, only observe and correct their character from the sidelines, and do not deliberately guide or restrict them The content of what you learn and think does not force your ambition.No matter whether you want to seek an official through the imperial examination, or teach and teach, write books and study, let it be natural; Li Shu did not raise his name.

Xue Songnian's family was poor since he was a child, but he was born in Langhuan, and he was ranked among the top two in the second list of Jinshi.However, he chose to take over Zhuan Jin back then, so he declined the appointment of the imperial court. Instead of being an official, he established a West Wind Painting Academy in Luocheng. Yi, after more than ten years of business and friendship, apart from concealing the identity of the master of seal and gold, he is already a celebrity in Los Angeles.

But who knows, people's hearts will change so completely with the passage of time and the influence of ears and eyes. When Xue Songnian, who was willing to be indifferent to fame and wealth in the past, began to be keen on official positions, longing to be a marquis and a prime minister, and to be an extremely personable minister. of?He hid it very deeply and almost never revealed it. Maybe it was because he met too many princes and nobles in Los Angeles; maybe he saw young students who had been trained by Langhuan and entered the court one after another through the imperial examination, while he was still a white man. Or maybe it was Zhang Yuandao, a good friend who was studying in the same class back then, who became a bachelor of Lingyange and was selected as the emperor's teacher.

"If he wanted to be an official so much, he would have resigned as the envoy. Why did he betray his benefactor and do such an unfaithful thing?" Luo Pingyuan said.

"I think he wants a shortcut, and he's not willing to go through this official path from the beginning. Standing with Concubine Han at an important juncture, playing a vital role, in exchange for skyrocketing, is his choice." Luo Yan Hua said quietly.

When her mother was framed, she tried every means to send a sentence, only five short words: "That's Xue Songnian."

There was another reason why the former master of seal and gold, and now Xue Fuzheng would betray the master and seek glory, but he didn't say it.There are layers of hidden pain buried under the past, and he doesn't want to touch it too deeply.

"Xue Songnian resigned from the post of Commander after his mother's accident, saying that he no longer wanted to follow the traitor, and then turned to the prince." He just told Luo Pingyuan, "This person can climb to his current position, with his ability , It's not time to deal with him yet. Ping Yuan, it's not easy for you to concentrate on doing what your father told you, so you don't need to think about it."

While talking, the golden crow sank in the west, the wind passed by the verdant forest, King Ning sat with his brother, who was full of thoughts, and the table was full of green lotus pods that were elegant and fragrant, but the lotus heart was bitter.Time flies, and the years are like water, taking away the former prosperity of the Langhuan Twelve Orders, but those intertwined prosperity and withering, loyalty and betrayal, and the lonely tomb under the peak of fame and fortune will never be remembered by the living. Even if Xue Songnian made up thousands of reasons for himself, it is impossible to cover up and eliminate his sins.

Zhao Mian and Chen Yuanfu have stayed in Los Angeles for most of the time in the past few years. There are a few close friends who are in a similar situation to them, and they all live together in the classroom opened by a teacher surnamed Sun. .Chen Yuanfu and the rest of them all came from a poor family and were cultivated by Langhuan. Only Zhao Mian had a prominent family background, and then suffered major changes.

On the second day, Luo Pingyuan sent his subordinates to hold his own letter, inviting them to stay in Prince Jing's Mansion temporarily.Anyway, he had met Zhao Mian, and even Luo Junping knew about it, so if he came forward to invite him, it would save the students from having any connection with King Jing on the surface.He understood in his heart that it was probably because seeing King Jing returned to the court that these students made up their minds to go to Qiuwei in the present department. Whether it is the prince or Xue Songnian, on the surface they are full of vigor, benevolence, righteousness and morality, but secretly they are all Anything can be done.Therefore, after thinking about it, they are placed in the mansion, at least no one will tamper with them before entering the tribute courtyard.

However, when the letter was sent, only Zhao Mian came to Prince Jing's Mansion again, politely declined in person, and said with a smile: "He Ling and the others don't want to disturb each other. We live in a safe place now. If we make a big move to live in the mansion, we will recruit people instead. Yanmu, although I try my best to persuade him, but Heling's ideas are too big and it's hard to persuade them to change. Thinking about it, I still stay with them and feel at ease, so I have no choice but to live up to the kindness of His Highness the Fifth Highness."

A literati has his own strength of character, Luo Pingyuan can't, and it's hard to say clearly that this is actually the meaning of King Jing. The relationship between himself and the emperor's brother is not what others see on the surface, so he can only let it go.He looked at the back of Zhao Mian going to Lancangju, and always felt that he should know some inside information, but he was the same as himself, so he couldn't be the first to tell the truth.