Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 11

All the examination papers have been sealed in boxes in the Gongyuan and moved to the Wenhua Hall for transcription.The ministers who graded the papers all went to the Wenhua Palace, and only waited for the transcription to be completed before going to circle them, so as not to compare the articles.Wu Yunpeng and other supervisors were in charge of collecting the examination papers, sealing them, and transcribing them. Gao Shiqi and his group of preface writers were careful.Wei Xiangshu secretly noticed that he didn't see Chen Jing's paper, so he said: "The lower officials thought that they should go up to the emperor, sealed and transcribed the remaining papers, and selected the best ones to avoid the regret of leaving the pearls behind!"

Several examiners said that this move violated the rules and was really inappropriate.But Li Zhenye said: "My lords don't know something, I understand what Lord Wei is thinking!"

Wei Xiangshu was about to make his point clear, so he said, "Master Li, don't need to insinuate, just say what you have to say."

Li Zhenye smiled and said: "Okay! Then I'll be straight! My lords, Chen Jing, a Juren from Shanxi, was suspected of being involved in a murder case. The emperor gave him an extra-judicial grace and allowed him to take the exam as an exception. But Chen Jing was resentful and deliberately defaced the exam papers. The ceremony of humiliating scholars! The invigilator Wu Yunpeng removed his examination papers as usual. It is this fellow townsman Chen Jing that Master Wei never forgets!" The examiners all looked at Wei Xiangshu and shook their heads, saying that this was not what Master Wei did.

Wei Xiangshu said: "Your official's innocence can show the sun and the moon!"

Li Zhenye was about to argue with Wei Xiangshu when Soni led Mingzhu and several guards came in.The courtiers in the palace guessed that the imperial decree must have arrived, and before the decree was announced, their knees began to bend down.

Sure enough, Sony announced the decree: "The emperor's word of mouth! Wu Yunpeng, the head of the Ministry of Rites, has done something wrong with the Gongyuan, and he will hand it over to the Ministry of Punishment for deliberation!"

The hall immediately fell to one knee, Wu Yunpeng glanced at Li Zhenye, his face was already pale.Li Zhenye avoided Wu Yunpeng's gaze and knelt with his head bowed.Two guards stepped forward and took Wu Yunpeng.

Soni said again: "The emperor also said that because Wu Yunpeng acted recklessly and deliberately made things difficult for his son, there may be some pillars of real talent and learning in the remains. He ordered all the remains to be sealed and transcribed before further selection!"

Li Zhenye hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "The emperor is wise, and the minister waits to obey the order!"

Sony looked at Li Zhenye with a cold smile, and said: "What else! The emperor ordered Li Zhenye, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, as the president of the examination, to allow Wu Yunpeng and others to act recklessly and recklessly. It is a big violation of the law. Let Li Zhenye be relieved of the post of president of the examination, and go home to wait. Dispose of it! Wei Xiangshu, the head of the Imperial Academy, will act as the president of the examination!"

Wei Xiangshu knelt down on the ground and said: "The humble minister is afraid to accept the decree!"

Li Zhenye was trembling all over, sweating profusely.After Sony finished pronouncing the oracle, he smiled and said, "My lords, get up."

The ministers thanked the saint and got up, only Li Zhenye was still paralyzed on the ground, unable to get up.

Mingzhu asked: "Master Li, why are you still kneeling?"

Li Zhenye said: "The minister deserves death for his crimes!"

Sony said: "The emperor hasn't convicted you yet! Go home and stay!"

Only then did Li Zhenye get up tremblingly, and cupped his hands towards Soni and Mingzhu.

Li Zhenye stayed at home like a dead person, lying on the bed and unable to get up.The butler walked to the bed and said softly, "Master, they are here."

After hearing this, Li Zhenye immediately got up and went to the living room.It turned out that the three people in Baiyun Temple were his servants, and they were already waiting outside.

Li Zhenye said: "Wu Yunpeng has been taken down. It's my fault that the old man didn't plan well. I don't want to implicate you."

A servant said: "Master treats us with great kindness, as long as you give an order, even if you want to lose your head, we will not hesitate!"

Li Zhenye shook his head and said: "Don't talk stupid things. You have to leave the capital as soon as possible, the farther you go, the better. I have prepared some silver here, enough for you to spend a few years outside. After the wind is over, I will let you I’m back! Standing behind this old man are all princes, Baylor, and ministers, I’m not going to fall if I say so!”

The housekeeper had come over with a tray, which contained three red envelopes and four glasses of wine.The butler handed the red envelopes to the three of them, and brought a glass of wine to the master.The three men served the wine by themselves, and bowed their hands to respect the master.Li Zhenye said: "It happened in a hurry, so I can't see you off specially. After drinking this glass of wine, you can start your journey in the starry night when it gets dark."

After toasting, the three men had tears in their eyes, and only said that they would come back to serve the master in a few years.Li Zhenye watched them go out, but returned to his room to lie down.The catastrophe was imminent, Li Zhenye didn't feel sleepy at all, but his body was weak and unable to support himself.Just because he drank that glass of wine just now, and he usually doesn't drink much, he fell into a drowsy sleep.After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly heard someone shaking him.Opening his eyes, he saw that the butler was crying, saying that someone from the palace had come.

Li Zhenye stumbled and went outside, only to see Soni leading Mingzhu and others arriving again.Soni declared loudly: "The emperor ordered Li Zhenye, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, to preside over the imperial court's selection ceremony, but he was actually bearing the grace of God, and his behavior was filthy. It is extremely abominable! Arrest Li Zhenye immediately and hand over to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for deliberation!"

Li Zhenye cried to the sky: "Your Majesty, I have been wronged!"

Soni said: "Lord Li, whether you are wronged or not is up to your own law. You don't have to lose your composure. All the properties of Li's family are seized, men, women and children are not allowed to leave the house!"

The guards flew to each house, and everyone in Li's house burst into tears.After half an hour, a guard rushed in and exclaimed: "Suo Zhongtang, three corpses were found in the woodshed in the backyard!"

Li Zhenye's eyes turned white, and he fell into a chair and passed out.It turned out that Li Zhenye ordered the housekeeper to put medicine in the wine, poisoned the three servants to death and prepared to destroy the corpses at night, never thought that the court would bring people here so soon.Mingzhu already knew it in her heart, and whispered a few words in Sony's ear.Soni said: "Everyone in the whole house, take them all!"

The emperor ordered Sony and Aobai to jointly try the case, within two hours Li Zhenye had all been recruited.Knowing that Li Zhenye would be convicted so quickly, the emperor announced Soni and Aobai to enter the palace overnight.Soni said: "Li Zhenye confessed completely, but there are too many people involved, please ask the emperor to judge!"

After finishing speaking, he handed over the booklet, and eunuchs had already come to pick it up.The emperor leaned back on the chair, closed his eyes, did not read the booklet, but asked, "Who are involved?"

Sony faltered and looked at Ao Bai.Aobai said: "Not only Li Zhenye himself is bold enough to accept bribes, but there are also several princes and Baylors who greet Li Zhenye and insert notes, and there are ministers and even housekeepers in the palace who go through the needles. There are more than a dozen people in total, and there are more than [-] people who bribed tribute students! Henan Juren Li Jin was also killed by Li Zhenye's family!"

The emperor listened, and suddenly burst into tears, full of grief and indignation: "My lord, Baylor, are my uncles, uncles, and brothers! My dear flesh and blood! Those ministers, I always praise them and reward them! This world belongs to everyone! , not Fulin alone! They are wolf-hearted!"

The emperor cried and shouted, and suddenly put his hands on his chest, and spat out a mouthful of blood.Suo Ni and Ao Bai were frightened and kowtowed vigorously, shouting to the emperor to appease the anger, the dragon's body is important.Mingzhu was on the sidelines and told the eunuch to call the imperial doctor quickly.The emperor waved his hand and said: "Don't call me a doctor, I won't die in a while!"

The emperor wanted to pass the book, and when he watched it, his hands shook, and he cursed: "They all learned from the Han people! The Manchus use big swords and bows to distinguish themselves. They didn't have such bad habits as bribery and profiteering before." ! Less than 20 years after entering the Central Plains, the Han people have not learned the benefits, and they have learned all the nonsense! Check! Check him to find out the truth, let them die and understand!"

In the capital, chickens are flying and dogs are screaming, and everyone is talking about investigating the case in the examination room.The scholars in the happy forest were full of joy, and they only said that this time they could finally return justice to the world, even if they failed the ranking, they would be willing.Only Zhang Jian was uneasy, for fear that his affairs would be revealed.The inkstone he brought into the examination room was obviously hidden from God, and he was afraid that something had happened to Li Zhenye, and the matter of him asking Gao Shiqi to give the money would be pulled out.He wanted to go back to Shanxi first, but he had nothing to spend, so he wanted to hide at Zu Zeshen's house.He entrusted Dashun to the shopkeeper, only saying that he had something to go out for a few days.The shopkeeper only accepts silver and has nothing to say.

Zhang Qian arrived in front of Zu Zeshen's house, hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.The concierge thought he was coming to see the physiognomy, so he let him in.Seeing that it was Zhang Qian who came, Zu Zeshen was very enthusiastic, and said, "So it's Brother Zhang Qian! The imperial list will be released soon, and I'm waiting to congratulate you!"

Zhang Qian blushed and said: "Zhang is ashamed, I have something to ask, and I have the liberty to bother brother Zu!"

Zu Ze said deeply: "Brother Zhang Qian, what do you mean by this? You are a flood dragon that is about to come out of the water. My Zu will still count on you to hold on in the future. Tell me quickly, what can I do for you?"

Zhang Jian said: "Zhang didn't think well, and now he is so cash-strapped that he can't afford to stay in an inn!"

Zu Zeshen was very forthright, he laughed and said, "I thought it was such a big deal! Brother, don't ask for excuses, just say how much money you need?"

Zhang Jian said: "Don't dare to ask for money. If you don't mind bothering me, I will stay in your residence for a few days and just add an extra pair of bowls and chopsticks to me when I eat!"

Zu Ze clapped his hands deeply and said with a smile, "Okay, I'm really looking forward to it! Come on, please come in quickly."

After entering the room and taking a seat, Zu Zeshen observed his words secretly and asked, "Brother Zhang Qian, what seems to be on your mind!"

Zhang Ban was really flustered in his heart, thinking that Zu Zeshen had a clever plan, and was afraid that he would see through something, so he hurriedly said: "No, no, it's just that I feel abrupt and ashamed when I speak to you like this. Besides, brother Zu is a good planner, I Is there anything I can hide from you?"

Zu Zeshen pretended to be profound, and said: "Brother Zhang Qian doesn't want to say it, so I won't point it out!" Zhang Qian became even more flustered, saying only Weiwei.

During the conversation, it was inevitable that the case in the examination room this time was mentioned, and Zu Zeshen said: "I'm afraid there will be another bloody storm!"

Zhang Jian didn't want to talk too much, he just said: "If you commit a crime, you deserve what you deserve!"

Zu Zeshen said: "That being said, the truth is not so simple."

Zhang Qian said: "I would like to listen to Mr. Zu's advice!"

Zu Zeshen said: "How dare you! Li Zhenye is certainly greedy, but what he intends to run is the officialdom. When he collects money, he is actually recruiting disciples. Li Zhenye is the minister of the Ministry of Rites and an important minister in the court. As long as scholars can vote under his sect, What's the point of paying some money? Not to mention getting fame!"

Zhang Ban felt ashamed, and echoed, "Yes, there are quite a few scholars like this!"

Zu Zeshen said again: "I think that Li Zhenye still has his last resort. Those princes and ministers who entrusted him to take care of him, he dare not be perfunctory at will! His official hat of Minister of Rites is not so much given by the emperor as it is. It is said that those princes and ministers gave it together. It is not enough to please the emperor alone!"

Zhang Qian said: "Mr. Zu is really a great idea, Zhang admires it!"

Zu Ze laughed loudly, and said: "Where is it! People in this capital, whoever talks about the imperial court, have a book in their stomachs."

Zhang Ban couldn't help lamenting, and said, "I can smell the blood inside before I even entered the officialdom. What if I really get mixed up in it in the future!"

Zu Ze smiled deeply and said: "Brother Zhang Qian is confused when he said this. Scholars have been in poverty for ten years, and they only look forward to one day in high school, to show off their relatives and become famous. As an official, let's see how to do it. Just talk about Li Zhenye, who puts the Minister of Rites like this He doesn’t know how to do a good fat job. His disciples want to collect money, and he also needs to collect money. How can there be someone who doesn’t capsize? There is no official in the world who doesn’t accept money, it just depends on whether you accept it or not.”

Zhang Jian chatted with Zu Zeshen on his lips, but his heart was like ten thousand ants crawling, he was really flustered.

On this day, His Majesty Dan burned incense early outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the guards and eunuchs stood around a lot. It turned out that the emperor summoned Wei Xiangshu and other ministers who reviewed the papers in the hall.The examiners had already been waiting for the driver to come, and when the emperor sat down on the dragon chair, Wei Xiangshu went up and knelt down and said: "Congratulations to the emperor, the ministers and others are ordered to test the people in the world. Now that the papers have been read, a total of tributes have been collected. 180 and five people!"

(End of this chapter)