Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 33: This is the imperial examination. I want to select several talents.

Chapter 33 This time in the imperial examination, I want to select several talents

In the Qianqing Palace, the Empress Dowager dismissed all the serving eunuchs and palace maids and summoned Sun Jizhong, Marquis of Huichang, alone.

"Brother, this fake emperor has begun to interfere in government affairs." The Queen Mother's brows revealed deep worry. "The ministers don't know the truth yet, but as more and more people support him, I'm afraid he will be difficult to control in the future."

It turned out that she had only revealed the matter of the fake emperor to her brother Sun Jizhong.

Sun Jizhong's face became even gloomier when he heard this. "Today, the fake emperor has shown his authority in the court. I guess some ministers must be secretly happy, thinking that the emperor has finally made some progress. But they don't know that this emperor is actually a fake."

Queen Mother Sun took a deep breath, with a myriad of thoughts in her mind.

Some time ago, she sent envoys to Wala to redeem the captured Zhengtong emperor, but Yesen asked for a ransom of five million taels of silver.

If the amount was not large, the harem might be able to raise the money on its own and quietly resolve the matter. But five million taels was a huge sum, and even the concubines in the harem could not afford it. Once the silver from the national treasury or the inner treasury was used, the ministers would definitely find out and come forward to stop it.

What's the point of spending such a huge ransom for a fake emperor?
"We still need to continue dealing with Yesen," the Queen Mother said in a cold tone, "Only if he believes that the emperor in his hands has lost his value, will we have a chance to redeem him."

"In this case, we must try to restrain this fake emperor during this period of time." Sun Jizhong frowned and said, "For now, fortunately, the six ministries are still following the arrangements of the Queen Mother."

A sly smile suddenly appeared on the Queen Mother's lips: "However, if we can use him to solve the current land annexation problem, it would be a good thing."

"The Queen Mother wants to use the fake emperor to deal with those vassal kings?" Sun Jizhong was shocked.

"It's not just the princes, but also the princes and ministers!" The Queen Mother said coldly, "If this continues, the rebellion will not only be in Guangdong and Guangxi, but the people in the Central Plains will also rise up."

Sun Jizhong nodded thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, he does have the courage! Besides, doesn't he want to establish his own prestige?"

The Queen Mother's lips curled up in a sneer.

……

It is spring now and the capital city is full of spring colors.

In the city, willow branches sway gently, and tender green buds dot the flexible branches, swaying in the wind.

On both sides of the street, tender green grass sprouted out of the soil. On the moat, the ice and snow melted, the water surface sparkled, and a few wild ducks swam leisurely.

Zhu Qizhen left the palace incognito, holding a sesame seed cake in his hand, and hummed as he ate:

After eating the steamed buns and big sesame cakes, I finished eating the sesame cakes before going to the court.

Hey, hey, hey, go to the court, go to the court.

There is a big sesame seed cake placed in the court.

Eat it, drink it, and after eating, the sun will come out.

Come out, the sun will be warm when it comes out!

It is said that this is a ballad that Emperor Taizu hummed while eating sesame seed cakes. Zhu Qizhen has recently been studying "The Veritable Records of Taizu" and has begun to imitate Taizu in his words and deeds.

"Zhu Chongba started with a bowl and ended up with a country." He muttered as he walked, "I started better than him, right? The fake emperor has much better conditions than him."

After eating the pancake, I stood at the street corner and looked around. I found that there were suddenly many more scholars in the capital. There were old and young people, carrying bags and holding books in their hands.

After asking around, he found out that they were all here to take part in the Spring Examination.

"College entrance exam." Zhu Qizhen clapped his hands. "Great! I just happen to need some people. This time I have to select some talented people to use for myself."

He strode towards an inn, ready to chat with the scholars who were going to take the exam. After entering the inn, he found a seat by the window, ordered a pot of wine and three dishes, and started drinking by himself. The people sitting around him were all candidates from all over the country. They were discussing this spring exam.

"No one needs to go to the Prime Minister Wang Zhi's place. He is closed to visitors. Ordinary people should not even think about becoming his master."

"It's the same with Minister of Rites Hu Yi! He is the one presiding over the Spring Examination this time, and he is also closing the door to visitors."

"This is a good thing. It means that this Spring Examination is fair! No one should think of doing anything wrong!"

……

Zhu Qizhen listened and observed secretly. He found a scholar sitting under the window next to him, reading a book in his hand, and turning a deaf ear to the discussion.

"Brother." Zhu Qizhen called out to him, "We're going to have a lot of wine today, how about we drink together?"

The scholar smacked his lips, stood up and sat down opposite him, spreading his hands and smiling: "Brother, then I won't be polite. To be honest, I haven't eaten meat for a month."

"Eat as much as you want!" Zhu Qizhen said proudly.

The scholar did not hesitate to drink the wine, and then ate the meat in big mouthfuls, asking: "Brother, what is your name? I will remember this wine, and I will treat you someday."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and clasped his fists: "Qiantang Zhu Wushi!"

He made up a name, he couldn't say his name was Zhu Qizhen. The scholar laughed and said, "Brother, your name is very domineering. I am Li Bing from Shandong."

Zhu Qizhen was stunned. Could it be such a coincidence?

Li Bing? The one who led the army with Wu Jingbo Zhao Fu to conquer the Jianzhou Jurchens during the Chenghua period?

"Brother Li, why don't you go to pay respects to the high officials of the court like them?" Zhu Qizhen asked with a smile.

"I would like to." Li Bing smiled awkwardly, "but my pockets are empty. I heard that it would cost five taels of silver to see the Shangshu's doorman, which is enough for me to eat for a long time."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

It seems that this Spring Examination is not clean either. However, the Minister of Rites Hu Yi does not seem to be a corrupt official.

……

"Brother Li, you are here." A voice came.

A young man came over. He was handsome and elegant, which amazed Zhu Qizhen.

Li Bing invited the young man to take a seat and introduced him to Zhu Qizhen: "Brother Zhu, this young man is called Yang Guifang. He has a great background. His father was once a minister of the Jinshen Palace and a cabinet minister."

Zhu Qizhen was puzzled because there was no Grand Secretary with the surname Yang in the court.

Yang Guifang looked about 18 years old, but she was very calm. She spread her hands and smiled, "My father Yang Rong has passed away for ten years. Who still remembers him?"

puff~
Zhu Qizhen spit out a mouthful of tea, and was shocked: "You are the son of Yang Ge Lao? No, isn't the son of Yang Ge Lao Yang Gong, the Minister of Shangbao?"

Yang Guifang looked Zhu Qizhen up and down, her lips curled up slightly, "Brother Zhu knows a lot about the court. My brother is indeed the Minister of Shangbao. I am the youngest son of the Yang family, born to the second wife. Haha, when I was born, the fortune teller said that I was unlucky, so my father sent me to Shaolin Temple. I grew up in Shaolin Temple."

Zhu Qizhen had a good impression of Yang Guifang. Although she was young, she had a calm demeanor. When she talked about embarrassing things, her eyes were clear but like a cold pond.

"Come on, our acquaintance is fate, let's drink." Zhu Qizhen raised his glass.

I’m just asking for votes!


(End of this chapter)

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