Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 209: His Majesty the Emperor is not convinced! Xiong Tingbi is helpless!

Although the probability of having the same name and surname is indeed very high, this time, it didn't happen!

Zhang Yunxiu made the list. Although his ranking was not at the top, it was not too far behind either. He was ranked just above the 100th place.

This position should be inconspicuous, but Zhu Yijun saw the name at a glance.

Isn’t this a kind of fate?

……

No one knows whether it is fate or not, but Zhang Cheng wants to die anyway.

Zhang Cheng could only kowtow and apologize to the Emperor, while shouting "damn it" in his heart.

Zhang Cheng really suspected that he had seen a ghost. After all, he was the one who burned the essay paper of Zhang Yunxiu's last exam with his own hands!
But not long ago, he was not giving up and spent money to take a look at Zhang Yunxiu's ink scroll that had been sealed.

When Zhang Cheng saw with his own eyes that the paper he had burned to ashes reappeared in front of him, he was completely dumbfounded...

If this isn't a ghost, what else could it be?
Things have already happened, and according to the Emperor's temperament, he must get to the bottom of it.

The East Depot did find out something, but the result was so great that Zhu Yijun turned green in shame.

Because in the final results, the person who was most likely to help Zhang Yunxiu "commit fraud for personal gain" was actually the examiner whom Zhu Yijun thought was the least likely and the one he was most satisfied with, Zeng Chaojie!

According to investigation, when Zhang Yunxiu handed in his paper, Zeng Chaojie, who rarely left his position as the chief examiner, actually left his seat in a very rare way!
He didn't leave earlier or later, but disappeared at this critical moment. It's hard not to be suspicious.

In addition to this clue, at the end of last year, that is, after Zhang Yunxiu passed the autumn examination, the matter of Zhang Chonghui bribing officials related to the examination was also implicated.

This matter caused a lot of uproar last year, and Zhu Yijun also knew about it. However, after knowing it, he just laughed it off at most.

After all, the highest amount of bribe Zhang Chonghui offered at the time was only five taels of silver, and any normal official would not accept such a small amount of money.

Even if he accepted it, what would happen? Would he agree to do something like this for Zhang Chonghui, which might cost him his life, just for a few taels of silver?
An official of the Ming Dynasty was willing to sacrifice his life for a few taels of silver. If anyone believed this and it got out, it would be laughable!
Zhu Yijun knew that there must be something fishy going on, but since things had come to this point, it would be useless to investigate further.

Zhang Chonghui can bribe everyone from top to bottom.

But as the emperor, Zhu Yijun could not arrest and interrogate all those who had confiscated the money or even those who might have accepted the money just for a few taels of silver.

After all, this matter was originally something that he, the emperor, wanted to do secretly. If he investigated such a shameful matter, he would probably find out everything before he could find anything...

No matter what, things have already happened. The Ministry of Rites has even written the imperial edict to be posted tomorrow and is waiting to post it at dawn.

At this point, it's too late to do anything.

You can't send someone to the Ministry of Rites overnight to erase Zhang Yunxiu's name, right?
Although this is tantamount to taking off pants to fart, it is not impossible, after all, the imperial power is supreme.

However, if this is the case, the Emperor's way of doing things will not only attract discussions from his subjects and the people, but he will also be known as a "stingy" person.

How could the Emperor, who has always been very concerned about his reputation, be so petty?

You know, in order to show his magnanimity, he not only restored the two brothers of the Zhang family to their official positions, but also gave Zhang Yunxiu a house and arranged a marriage for him!
How can this not be considered God’s grace!

Even if he was extremely reluctant, now, as a "magnanimous" emperor, he might have to give Zhang Yunxiu another title of Jinshi!
"Someone, go get Zhang Yunxiu's paper!"

Zhu Yijun refused to believe it. He wanted to see how well Zhang Yunxiu's essay was written. He didn't believe that Zhang Yunxiu could pass the imperial examination on his first try!
If he could pass the exam even though his paper was mediocre, he would have to investigate the examination carefully to see if there was any favoritism or cheating!

……

After reading Zhang Yunxiu's essay paper, Zhu Yijun was speechless.

He just sighed in his heart without saying a word:

"As expected of a white turtle... it really is a turtle that lives on..."

……

The next day, the results of the examination were posted.

The place where the results were announced was packed with people, and there was no way to get through.

However, despite such chaos, there were still many excited scholars who risked their lives to squeeze into the surging crowd, wanting to see with their own eyes whether they had passed the exam.

Those who won the prize were naturally very happy. Some of them were so happy that they burst into tears on the spot.

On the contrary, many of those who didn't win didn't cry. They just left quietly and melancholy. Only they themselves knew the loneliness in their hearts.

Zhang Yunxiu also wanted to squeeze in to take a look, but Zhang Chonghui stopped him and said:

"There's no need to go there in person. Just find an attendant who knows your name and go and see it. We'll just wait."

Zhang Yunxiu was very anxious, and although he was a little reluctant, he still did it.

Facts have proved that there are still people as calm as Zhang Chonghui.

For example, Wen Tiren, who once again took the initiative to come up and chat with me.

"Minghe, what a coincidence." Wen Tiren smiled with surprise.

"Yes, what a coincidence." Zhang Chonghui replied casually.

Coincidence? What a coincidence.

It was such a misfortune that we met on the day when the results were announced and everyone was there to join in the fun.

Seeing Zhang Chonghui's perfunctory answer, and not even the intention to introduce Zhang Yunxiu's identity, Wen Tiren did not seem embarrassed. He turned to look at the crowded crowd and said with a smile:
"Minghe, look at these people, they are desperate to squeeze in to check if they have made the list.

Does it sound like those court officials who try their best to climb up the ladder, even if it means using any means necessary?

Look at those people who failed the exam, sighing and groaning, and who didn’t even dare to raise their heads when they left.

Doesn't it resemble those people who may have been in the limelight for a while, but eventually they will be forced to step down?"

Zhang Chonghui glanced at Wen Tiren, who still had that gentle smile on his face, still staring at him quietly.

In the eyes of many people, people like Wen Tiren are almost always considered to be very gentle and polite, easy to get along with, and without any bad intentions.

However, Zhang Chonghui did not think so. Although he had seen many smiling tigers, this was the first time he had seen such a young smiling tiger.

"Changqing, we are not that familiar with each other yet. It is a bit presumptuous for you to say such things to me." Zhang Chonghui said directly without any concealment.

When faced with twists and turns, sometimes hitting the straight ball is the best way.

Wen Tiren seemed to be hit hard, and immediately apologized with a sad face:
"I'm sorry, it was indeed my fault. After all, this is only the second time we've met. It's all my fault."

Looking at Wen Tiren's hypocritical look, Zhang Chonghui almost thought that he was possessed by Gu Xiancheng.

"Hahaha, no problem, no problem." Zhang Chonghui suddenly changed his previous cold attitude and introduced Zhang Yunxiu to Wen Tiren:

"Changqing, I almost forgot to introduce you. This is my uncle. He also participated in this year's imperial examination."

After Zhang Chonghui's "belated" introduction, Zhang Yunxiu and Wen Tihen, the future colleagues and accomplices, began to introduce themselves.

Just after the introduction, the Zhang family follower who went to check the list came back, running towards them, shouting excitedly:

"I won! Master! I won! I got the 100th place!" Zhang Yunxiu finally felt relieved when he heard that he won. However, before he could celebrate with Zhang Chonghui, he was surrounded by the crowd that suddenly swarmed over him!
"What a handsome new scholar! Are you married? Do you have an engagement? My daughter just got married this year, she is in her prime. Hey, hey, hey, why are you pushing me?"

"What do you mean I squeezed you? It was obviously me who saw this young man first! By the way, young man, the fortune teller said that my little girl is born to be a lucky woman for her husband. Take a look..."

"..."

For a moment, Zhang Yunxiu was surrounded tightly by the "son-in-law catcher" who had been lurking around for a long time!

Even though Zhang Yunxiu repeatedly replied that he was already married, there were still those who were unwilling to give up and wanted to catch him as a son-in-law and said - their own daughter could be a concubine!
At the side, Zhang family's followers realized that their master was harmed by their loud voices, and hurried forward to rescue him!
At the same time, Wen Tiren, who was watching the fun from the side, smiled and joked to Zhang Chonghui, who was also watching the fun:
"Your uncle is really popular, but I think when you pass the list, there will be more people looking for a son-in-law."

"Haha, that's impossible." Zhang Chonghui replied with a smile: "I won't take the imperial examination."

"Oh?" Wen Tiren asked curiously, "Why?"

Zhang Chonghui answered casually: "Because I don't want to."

"But you are still so young." Wen Tiren showed regret. Just when he was about to persuade him, the follower he sent to check the list came back.

"Master! I got it! Master! No. 46!"

The voices of the Wen family's followers were no quieter than those of the Zhang family's followers.

Therefore, with this loud shout, even though he had many followers to protect him, Wen Tiren was still targeted by the crowd who came to catch his son-in-law!
"Minghe, help me!"

Wen Tiren reached out to Zhang Chonghui for help, but Zhang Chonghui just smiled at him and turned to talk to another person.

Wen Tiren originally wanted to stay a little longer, but given the current situation, he had no choice but to leave the place quickly.

As for Zhang Chonghui... he is not in a hurry, there will be plenty of time in the future!
At the same time, Zhang Chonghui was looking at Xiong Tingbi who came to greet him and asked:

“Fei Bai, do you really not want me to ask someone to help you check the list? If you keep waiting like this, you may have to wait a long time before everyone leaves.”

"It's okay, just wait a bit." Xiong Tingbi straightened his burly body and said meaninglessly:
"If you win, your name will always be there, it won't grow wings and fly away. If you don't win, it doesn't matter if you read it earlier, it will just make you sad earlier."

Zhang Chonghui did not persuade him any further. Instead, he pointed to Zhang Yunxiu, who was still being surrounded and pulled by the crowd of people trying to catch him as a son-in-law, and took the initiative to introduce him:

"Fei Bai, did you see that? That man is my fifth uncle. From now on, he and you will be the same age."

Xiong Tingbi followed Zhang Chonghui's gaze, feeling relieved to meet another fellow villager. However, the tall and rude man lowered his brows slightly and said:
"It doesn't have to be my colleagues. I may not be able to win..."

Seeing Xiong Tingbi's unconfident look, Zhang Chonghui smiled and said, "Don't worry, you will definitely win."

"Hahaha, then I'll borrow your good words, Minghe!" Xiong Tingbi laughed heartily:

"It doesn't matter if I don't pass. I can just wait another three years! Back then, I took the exam for the third time before I passed! I'm used to failing the exam!"

Xiong Tingbi smiled and spoke very naturally, as if he was already accustomed to failing the exam and didn't care at all.

Little did people know that beneath his stubborn appearance, his heart was filled with bitterness.

Xiong Tingbi was not like most people who could afford to go to school. They either had a special teacher to teach them, or at least had a private school to attend.

Xiong Tingbi did not. In his early years, he mainly relied on self-study. It was not because he was eccentric, but because of one word - poverty.

Xiong Tingbi's family was very poor. He was taller than his peers since he was young, and he was also good at fighting. He should have been a rough guy.

But Xiong Tingbi's father did not think so. He thought that his son, apart from not looking like a scholar, had a great memory and was so serious about reading that he would hang a few books on the horns of the cattle even when he was herding them.

So, with the support of his father, the ignorant Xiong Tingbi began his formal study career.

He lived up to everyone's expectations and passed the examination to become a scholar at the age of nineteen and became a student of Jiangxia County School.

Xiong Tingbi, who became a scholar, was very outstanding among his many classmates in Jiangxia County School. He always ranked among the top in every exam.

This also allowed the poor Xiong Tingbi to receive poverty subsidies from the county school.

Otherwise, he would have starved to death like other poor people in the Jiangxia famine that lasted for three years.

With his excellent grades and the "food allowance" provided by the county school, Xiong Tingbi successfully survived the three years of famine that killed countless people.

However, there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the world.

When Xiong Tingbi came to the provincial capital, which was larger than the county, with great expectations to take part in the autumn provincial examination, he failed miserably for the second time in six years!
Under such continuous dimensionality reduction attacks, it would be a lie to say that it is not painful.

Xiong Tingbi's heart was somewhat damaged. Sometimes he even thought that he was not as smart as his father said, and he was not so suitable for studying...

Even though his family members were comforting him, saying that he was still young, there were many people in their seventies or eighties who had not yet passed the imperial examination.

Xiong Tingbi thought about it and felt that it made sense, but...his family situation didn't seem to allow him to continue taking exams like this...

As bad as it gets, it rains all night. At this time, heavy rain poured down on Xiong Tingbi's head.

His father passed away.

Xiong Tingbi will never forget the sadness and helplessness his father felt before his death. He was sad because he knew his own end was approaching, and he was helpless because he died without seeing his son succeed.

The pillar of a family fell just like that. In Xiong Tingbi's eyes, all the lamentations of Xiong's father before his death made him, as a useless and unfilial son!

A poor family, a guilty man, a hopeless career, and a family that could starve to death at any time.

It turns out that sometimes, when things get bad enough, they hit rock bottom and bounce back.

In the 25th year of Wanli, Xiong Tingbi, who had just finished mourning for his father, came to the provincial capital again to participate in the triennial provincial examination.

This time, he won!
And he is the first place winner!
This year, he came to Shuntian Prefecture in the capital to take part in the first imperial examination in his life.

This time, he got it right too!

It was the time and the fate. When Xiong Tingbi saw his name on the spring list with his own eyes, he was completely stunned.

Perhaps he was too happy, so happy that this eight-foot tall man burst into tears in public.

He cried and said to his father who died in the underworld with resentment:

"Dad, I won. I won in one try this time..."

……

On this crowded day when the results are announced, some are happy and some are sad.

The happy people can finally get drunk to their heart's content, and after waking up tomorrow, they can devote themselves to the palace examination that is coming up.

Those who are worried can only get drunk all night. When they wake up tomorrow, they have to study again for another three years and wait for the next spring examination.

At the same time, all the central officials of the court already knew the list of candidates for the Spring Examination.

The news that Zhang Juzheng's son had won the imperial examination 'again' caused everyone to talk about it!
Zhang Yunxiu has already become a Gongshi, so the next step is definitely to become a Jinshi!
After becoming a Jinshi, given Zhang Yunxiu's age and qualifications, and with Yu Shenxing in charge of the cabinet, it was very likely that Zhang Yunxiu would enter the Hanlin Academy and become a prime minister!

Now, many people can't sit still anymore!

So, a 'biting chaos' began!

(End of this chapter)