Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 48 Qi Zhen, tell me about studying abroad in Wala?
After Zhu Qizhen's words, all the candidates were convinced to boycott the exam and decided to take part in the palace exam. Those who failed the exam could only pack up and go home and come back three years later.

When Zhu Qizhen read history books in his previous life, he could not understand why the imperial examination was held every three years. After this experience, he felt that it was reasonable to hold it every three years in ancient times.

In this era, transportation was inconvenient, and it took candidates several months or even half a year to take the exam. If it was held once a year, it was not practical. For the court, holding the imperial examination frequently also meant that more manpower and material resources were needed to organize and manage the examination.

"Your Majesty, the palace examination will be held in ten days." Minister of Rites Hu Yi reported respectfully.

"Mr. Hu, you have worked so hard during this period." Zhu Qizhen raised his hand, his tone revealing concern.

Hu Yi was once imprisoned in the imperial prison for selling exam questions. Of course, Zhu Qizhen had already ordered the Royal Guards to treat him well and did not let him suffer. But even so, for an old man in his seventies, the environment of the imperial prison was enough to make him feel tortured.

"Your Majesty, I am so grateful for your trust in me." Hu Yi bowed sincerely again.

During the time he was imprisoned in the imperial prison, he thought that His Majesty would be unfavorable to him because he did not make a clear statement between the Queen Mother and His Majesty, and often supported the Queen Mother's decision. But he did not expect that the Jinyiwei did not torture him, and said that His Majesty had specially taken care of him.

After being released from prison, he learned that the case of selling exam questions was actually manipulated by Cheng Guogong. As an old official who had served four dynasties, he understood that some people disliked him for being old and occupying a position.

"Mr. Hu, the palace examination has to be handed over to you." Zhu Qizhen laughed loudly, "I believe this spring examination will be fair. I am still waiting to select the number one scholar."

"I obey your command." Hu Yi saluted again.

Zhu Qizhen was full of anticipation for the upcoming palace examination. As a "fake" emperor, he would have the opportunity to select scholars from all over the world.

After Hu Yi left, Shi Biao came in hurriedly, his face looking terribly gloomy.

"Your Majesty, Duke Cheng really...deserves to die!" Shi Biao bowed, "I took the Jinyiwei to the Duke's Mansion to get the butler. Duke Cheng showed the butler's body and said that he hanged himself because of fear."

Zhu Qizhen's eyes were cold, and he snorted, "Kill him to silence him! When he took the initiative to plead guilty, it was already arranged."

Shi Biao's eyes were blazing with fire. "Your Majesty, please issue an order. I will lead my men to surround the Duke's Mansion and take him to the Imperial Prison. Once he is in the Imperial Prison, I will definitely interrogate him to find out what he has done wrong."

"No!"

Zhu Qizhen waved his hands, not seeming to be in a hurry at all. "He is a Duke. How can you arrest him without any evidence? By then, the ministers will petition to abolish the Jinyiwei. Next, you have to establish the evidence of Duke Cheng's crime."

"Yes!" Shi Biao nodded and left.

Zhu Qizhen curled his lips into a sneer.

It is not so easy to kill a duke. Moreover, he has to use Duke Cheng's crimes to negotiate with the Queen Mother.

……

Mobei.

Although winter has passed, the cold wind still howls. A weather-beaten man is wielding a hammer to reinforce the tent. His rough hands are covered with thick calluses.

Who could have expected that this person was the legitimate emperor of the Ming Dynasty? He had been in Mobei for nearly a year, and from the outside, he had completely integrated into the life of the people of Mobei. Compared with the decadence when he first arrived, he now looked stronger, with a gleam of brilliance in his eyes from time to time.

"Your Majesty, it's windy outside, please go into the tent and take shelter." Yuan Bin walked forward and advised.

"Mr. Yuan, I can still handle these little things." The Zhengtong Emperor responded with a smile, "During this period, thanks to Mr. Yuan. Under your guidance, I have become much stronger and no longer afraid of the cold."

"It is all due to your Majesty's hard work that you have achieved today's small success," Yuan Bin praised.

He witnessed the emperor's change, from the initial decadence and fear to the calmness and sincerity of today. Even when facing the Khan on the grassland, the emperor did not panic at all. Gradually, he won the respect of the people in Mobei. Among them, Yesen's younger brother Boyan treated him with great courtesy. Boyan was very respectful to the Ming emperor trapped in the enemy camp and often came to visit him.

"Boyan is here." Yuan Bin raised his hand and pointed.

The Zhengtong Emperor looked up, greeted him enthusiastically, and laughed, "Brother Boyan, did you hunt something good this time?"

Boyan bowed and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the Ming court has sent someone to see you."

The orthodox emperor was stunned at first, then shook his head: "No!"

"The person was sent by your mother. His name is Xu Bin," Boyan added.

"Xu Bin?" The Zhengtong Emperor frowned slightly. This name brought back his childhood memories. He had heard his mother mention Xu Bin as a useful talent and a relative of hers.

……

Half an hour later.

When Xu Bin entered the tent, he looked up and saw the orthodox emperor with a beard and a rough face. He knelt down quickly and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty...you have suffered."

The Zhengtong Emperor looked coldly: "Do you believe that I am the emperor? Isn't there a Zhu Qizhen in the Ming Dynasty?"

Xu Bin's eyes were filled with tears, and he cried, "Before I left, the Queen Mother told me the truth. She has always known that the emperor in the palace is a fake, and you are the emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

The Zhengtong Emperor's hands trembled slightly. He finally realized that his mother had not given up on him. After coming here for a year, he had figured it out. In the previous crisis, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, his mother would not recognize him.

"Did my mother ask you to come and take me back?" asked the Zhengtong Emperor.

"It's not the right time yet." Xu Bin bowed, "The Queen Mother is working hard to push it forward, but it will take time. Because Mobei is about to be in civil strife, the Queen Mother is worried about your Majesty's safety, so she sent me to protect you."

The Zhengtong Emperor picked up the wine glass on the table, took a big sip, and laughed: "I can protect myself now!"

Xu Bin seemed to have remembered something, and leaned closer to ask in a low voice: "Your Majesty, is the imperial seal with you? The Queen Mother said that this is extremely important."

A gleam of light flashed in the eyes of the orthodox emperor. He reached into his clothes and took out something and placed it on the table.

"It's the Imperial Seal!" Xu Bin was overjoyed when he saw it, "Great!"

The Zhengtong Emperor put away the imperial seal again and said in a deep voice: "Xu Bin, tell me about the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, especially the fake emperor."

Xu Bin took a deep breath and began to speak.

An hour later, the orthodox emperor's eyes were filled with pain, and he laughed at himself: "So, that fake emperor did a better job than me!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured. With the Queen Mother here, he is just a decoration." Xu Bin said, "When we take you back, it will be the perfect time to replace the fake emperor. Everything will go smoothly."

Emperor Zhengtong turned his head and looked at Yuan Bin, his eyes full of expectation, because Yuan Bin had a large army at his command, which made him more confident.

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(End of this chapter)