I'm so hard

Chapter 183 The Unprecedented Palace Examination (Big Chapter)

Xiao Jingye stood up and said: "Lord Liu, Shangguan is not happy with your private affairs, so let's not talk about it for now, we are here today for the sake of the imperial court."

Liu Chaotong was so angry that his face turned blue, he gave Shangguan a displeased look, and then sat down.

Shangguan was displeased with a confused look on his face: came for the imperial court?

Xiao Jingye looked at Shangguan displeased, and said calmly: "Shangguan is displeased, if you confess your crimes, I will beg your majesty to reduce your crimes based on your attitude of pleading guilty, if you are stubborn , I will punish you for your serious crime!"

"My crime?" Shangguan was displeased with his chest, and said confidently: "Xiao Xiang, have you made a mistake? In our Great Zhou court, there is absolutely no one who is more displeased with me than Shangguan who is honest and diligent. What am I guilty of?"

"Of course, Master Liu and I's concubine is just a small misunderstanding." Shangguan added displeased.

Hearing this, Liu Chaotong stood up abruptly, lifted a stool and was about to throw it at Shangguan in displeasure.

Xiao Jingye who was on the side quickly stopped him and said, "Let's do business first, and do business first."

"Shangguan is displeased. As the deputy examiner of this year's imperial examination, you, in the name of scientific examination, practiced corruption and colluded with Cai You, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, to put talented candidates out of the list and let people without virtue and talent be named. Listing on the gold list, is this kind of behavior worthy of the people of the world, and worthy of His Majesty's cultivation of you?"

"In vain, you are still an official through the imperial examination. Don't you know how difficult it is for a scholar to take the imperial examination. I am really ashamed to be with you!"

Liu Chaotong held the bench and said angrily.

And Xiao Jingye has been observing the expression of Shangguan's displeasure, he still can't believe that Shangguan's displeasure can do such a mediocre thing for money.

Shangguan was displeased and stunned for a while, and immediately pushed the sleeves of his arms, glared at Liu Chaotong and said, "Liu Chaotong, you fart!"

"I respect you as a deputy prime minister, and I have always treated each other with courtesy. Today, you dare to spout blood. My superior is displeased with how you have corrupted ink in the name of the imperial examination. If you can't produce evidence today, we Just go to face the saint!" Shangguan's displeased voice also became louder, and in terms of quarrels, he was never afraid of anyone in the whole week.

Liu Chaotong sighed, and said, "It seems that you don't shed tears when you see the coffin. Today, the old man will let you die to understand."

"Although I am one of the general judges of the imperial examination papers, I don't need to judge the candidates' files, but I accidentally saw a candidate's file. His poems and prose are very good. After reading his policy, I found that his writing is also extraordinary. Refreshing, it must be very suitable for His Majesty's taste, so I personally reviewed this test paper."

"After looking at the top twenty files selected so far, I found that there is no file for that candidate, and according to the results I gave him, he is definitely one of the top ten, although his post has been handed over. A blank paper."

"Such a weird thing happened in the examination room, and the mastermind behind it, who else can do it except you and Cai You."

As soon as he heard that Tie Jing handed in the blank paper, Shangguan was displeased and suddenly understood. It turned out that the test paper that His Majesty secretly made was discovered.

"Then is the examination paper Tianjia Bingzi No. [-]? The Shangguan asked displeased.

"Yes, you remember so clearly, do you admit that you are greedy for ink? Your Majesty really misjudged the person, alas!" Liu Chaotong said with a long sigh.

"Hahahaha..." Shangguan gave the two of them a displeased look, and suddenly burst out laughing.

Both Xiao Jingye and Liu Chaotong were taken aback, and then quickly took a few steps back, holding tightly to the objects beside them.

They vaguely felt that Shangguan's displeasure might be silenced later, after all, this was his home.

Shangguan laughed so displeased that he covered his stomach, and then asked, "Do you know who that examinee is?"

Before the two of them could speak, the Shangguan was displeased and said, "That's our emperor, he arranged everything for the subordinates to do."

Immediately, Shangguan was displeased and told Xiao Jingye and Liu Chaotong everything that Zhao Yan had told him.

Old Xiao Jingye blushed and said: "It turned out that His Majesty did it. We misunderstood Mr. Shangguan. Your Majesty always likes to play around, and this matter should not be publicized. Let it go like this, just pretend that this old man has never been here."

If it were placed on the first emperor, Xiao Jingye and others would definitely force the emperor to apologize on the grounds that the emperor did not salute the law.

Because in the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was another kind of power that was more powerful than the imperial power, and that was the law of the ancestors.

No one can violate the rules set by the ancestors, but for Zhao Yan, Xiao Jingye is unwilling to pursue it deeply.

After all, this emperor is really excellent, and the prince of Dazhou hasn't been born yet!

"The old man suddenly remembered that there are still important things to do. You two can settle your private affairs by yourself. Remember, don't embarrass the officials of Da Zhou."

After all, Xiao Jingye looked at Liu Chaotong who was still carrying the stool, and strode out of Shangguan Mansion.

As the saying goes, the matter has nothing to do with oneself, hang it high, and then it is the private affairs of the two of them, Xiao Jingye is not willing to judge for the two of them.

He is not even willing to participate in such a mess.

Displeased, Shangguan turned his face to look at Liu Chaotong, and said with a smile: "Master Liu, now that the official has been cleared, can you put down the stool!"

"Hmph, Shangguan is not happy, you must tell the truth, what happened between you and my concubine?"

Shangguan was displeased and blushed slightly, and told the story.

In fact, this matter is not complicated, even a very clichéd plot.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, Shangguan was not happy to drink a few more glasses of wine, and then ran into Liu Chaotong's concubine Ziyan who was walking alone on the street.

Ziyan performed well in a vendor's lantern riddle guessing activity and defeated several literati in a row. Shangguan was displeased and couldn't help but became interested in it.

Of course, in his own words: I just admire Miss Ziyan's talent and learning, and I don't have any extravagant thoughts.

Then, Shangguan was displeased, so he went forward to attract Ziyan's attention.

But Zi Yan didn't pay much attention to him at all, Shangguan was displeased and insisted on sending Zi Yan home, Zi Yan couldn't hold him back, so she had to let him follow him, thinking that she would be safe when she got to the Deputy Prime Minister's residence.At that time, if I tell myself that I am a concubine of Liu Chaotong's mansion, the other party will definitely not dare to disturb her anymore.

Just as Ziyan wished, Shangguan Buyue learned of her true identity, apologized again and again, and then went home.

He thought the matter was over like this, but he never wanted to be seen by someone on the street who knew both Shangguan's displeasure and Zi Yan's identity.

This person was very gossip, and it was rumored in the street that the imperial censor had an improper relationship with the vice minister Liu Chaotong's concubine.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, concubines were free to give as gifts, so the news did not spread very far.

But Shangguan was not happy and always cherished feathers. After hearing about it, he immediately arrested that person and forbade others to spread such false news.

But today, when Shangguan was unhappy when he saw Liu Chaotong, this was the first thing that came to his mind.

After listening to Liu Chaotong, he believed that Shangguan was displeased, so he left immediately.

……

March [-], dusk.

The dossiers of the eighteen candidates appeared on Zhao Yan's dragon case.

Among them were three people whom Zhao Yan was familiar with. They were Shangguan Yuntun from Changdan City, Wu Wenyuan from Hangzhou, and Tang Buyi from Quanzhou.

Zhao Yan's task tomorrow is to conduct a palace test on these 18 people, and then select the top three, that is, the number one scholar, the second place, and the third place.

As for the following rankings, the examiners of Jixian Academy will decide based on the results of the test papers.

While sipping tea, Zhao Yan thought about what kind of test questions should be written to stump the 18 people.

But at this moment, all the inns in Changdan City were relatively quiet.

All the examinees knew that tomorrow was the day of the imperial examination, and tonight 18 people would be picked up by the people of Jixianyuan in a carriage, and they were the top [-] in the imperial examination.

Candidates are all looking forward to being able to sit in the carriage. Even if they can't be the No. 18, No. [-], No. [-], even if they become No. [-], their official career will be smooth after that.

At this moment, someone heard: "Quanzhou Tang Yi was picked up!"

Followed by.

"Ren Changyue of Yunzhou has been picked up!"

"Liu Jingming from Chuzhou was picked up!"

"Changdan Shangguan Yuntun has been picked up!"

……

As one piece of news came, the hearts of countless scholars kept heaving like waves hitting the reef.

Those who were picked up were extremely excited, while those who were left behind only hoped that they would not lose their names.

The next day, it was bright.

Headed by Shangguan Buyue, Cai You, and Liu Chaotong, together with more than [-] officials from Jixian Academy, they brought [-] palace examination candidates to Daqing Palace.

The Daqing Hall is the highest embodiment of royal etiquette. To some people, it is already a lifetime honor to be able to stand here.

Shangguan Yuntun looked at the candidates around him, and found that there were no serious signs, so he couldn't help being a little surprised.

"Could it be that Mr. Yan failed the exam this time?" Shangguan Yuntun was a little frustrated. In his heart, the only person he could compare with was Yan Zhao.

But at this moment, Hangzhou Wu Wenyuan looked around proudly, and murmured in his heart: "It is estimated that this young master will preside over the court here in the future!"

The other scholars also looked at everything curiously, but more panic and fear.

At this moment, a shrill voice came: Your Majesty is here!
Swish!
Immediately, everyone knelt on the ground, knocking their foreheads to the ground, not daring to make any changes.

Zhao Yan sat on the dragon chair with a smile on his face and said, "Get up!"

Then, Zhao Yan looked directly at Shangguan Yuntun.

Of the 18 people here, Zhao Yan was the only one who really knew Zhao Yan.

After the eighteen scholars stood up, the first thing they did was naturally to take a look at this young emperor known as the Great Zhou Xiandi.

Shangguan Yuntun raised his head slightly, and also looked at Zhao Yan who was sitting on the dragon chair.

And when he saw Zhao Yan's face, he screamed instantly, and then quickly knelt down on the ground.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I... I lost my composure, please punish me!" Shangguan Yuntun said nervously.

He really didn't expect that the goal he always wanted to surpass would be His Majesty today.

"Get up, Shangguan Yuntun, you and I are old acquaintances, don't be so nervous!" Zhao Yan said with a smile.

Shangguan Yuntun stood up slowly, a sense of pride suddenly surged in his heart.

"I, Shangguan Yuntun, dare to compare with Your Majesty, so what is there in the world that scares me!"

The other scholars also looked at Shangguan Yuntun with envy. To be called by His Majesty's name was already a blessing for several lifetimes.

Immediately, Zhao Yan sat upright again, let Cai You on the side say a few words, and then continued: "Today, I have prepared a total of three test questions, and the best one will be selected as the number one, followed by the second place, and the second place." The second is Tanhua."

"First, let's look at the first question!"

As soon as Zhao Yan finished speaking, Hei Wa came in with several soldiers not far away.

In addition to the targets, the soldiers held eighteen firearms, all of which were eighteen.

Almost everyone had seen the lethality of firearms, and immediately subconsciously retreated a few steps.

Zhao Yan waved to Hei Wa, who immediately signaled for the soldiers to set up their targets.

And Hei Wa came to the center of the candidates with a firearm.

Zhao Yan said with a smile: "To be an official, you must have courage. My first test question today is to test your courage."

"Heiwa will test the use of firearms for you, and within a quarter of an hour after he shoots, you must be able to hit a target ten meters away. If you touch the edge of the target, it counts. If you can't do it, you can leave Daqing directly. temple."

Not to mention the eighteen examinees, even the officials in Jixian Academy have never seen Zhao Yan's examination method.

Immediately, Heiwa coughed dryly twice among the [-] examinees, then turned the firearm and said: "Everyone, let's say something first, this firearm will explode accidentally, if the firearm explodes, the person holding the weapon will definitely be blown up." If there are no bones left, and you die instantly, you have to make up your mind."

As soon as these words came out, the candidates around became tense, and some of their legs even trembled.

They have also heard of the explosive chamber of a firearm, which is a sharp weapon that can blow up half a house.

The eighteen examinees all remained motionless, observing Heiwa carefully, if they could not fire the firearm, they would be eliminated.

Hei Wa gripped the end of the firearm tightly, and then filled a gunpowder with a metal shell into it.

Toggle the bolt of the firearm.

Aim, shoot.

A spark flashed in front of Hei Wa.

Whoosh!
At that moment, it hit the bullseye.

Then it penetrated the target and bombarded heavily on the sheltered plank not far away.

boom!
A deep gash appeared in the plank.

Immediately afterwards, a firearm appeared in each of the 18 people's hands, and they began to practice.

"Start the timer!" Xizi shouted loudly.

Immediately, the eighteen scholars became flustered, and some of them didn't even dare to touch the other parts of the firearm, fearing that it would explode.

It is not difficult to hit the bull's-eye ten meters away. It is rare that these people can overcome their fear.

Shangguan Yuntuan has always been timid, the moment he held the firearm, his legs couldn't help shaking.

The current him, not to mention shooting with a firearm, can't even use the strength to pace.

And the others were not much better, as if they were holding a handleless big knife with blades on the front and back, and they didn't dare to put the gunpowder on the side into it.

After all, if you fail the exam, you can take the exam three years later.But if the chamber is blown up with a firearm, it is very likely that you will lose your life.

(End of this chapter)