Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 49 All the heroes in the world are within my grasp!

The palace examination ended successfully.

The Minister of Rites Hu Yi respectfully presented ten examination papers to the emperor, asking him to select the top candidates. Zhu Qizhen was very excited as he examined the examination papers. He had never expected that he would be able to select the best candidates.

"All the heroes in the world are within my grasp!"

He felt a sense of pride. He carefully reviewed the ten examination papers and was deeply impressed by the talents of the examinees. Even the eight-part essay could be written into such a beautiful article.

In the end, he picked up his pen and named the top scholar.

"Yang Guifang!"

Zhu Qizhen has always had a good impression of this young scholar. He is not only highly skilled in martial arts and literary talent, but also has unique insights into the current problems of the court. As expected of the son of Yang Ge Lao, he will become a great man in the future.

He also noticed Li Bing's name, but his essay was slightly inferior in comparison and he failed to make it into the top three, being ranked seventh. Among the ten examination papers, the first place was for the top three, and the other seven were for the top seven of the second place.

"Present the list to the Queen Mother and let her take a look at it." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

"As you wish." Hu Yi nodded in agreement.

The matter of selecting the number one scholar should naturally be done by the emperor himself. Since ancient times, there has been no example of an empress dowager selecting scholars personally. The empress dowager did not dare to cross this line, otherwise she would be criticized by scholars all over the world and accused of wanting to follow the example of Wu Zetian.

"The palace examination is over. I want to hold a banquet in Wenhua Palace," Zhu Qizhen announced. "At that time, I will invite the top three candidates to come. I want to see them in person."

When Hu Yi heard this, he was overjoyed, because he knew very well that this reflected Your Majesty's deep regard for scholars all over the world.

……

The next day, Wenhua Hall.

There were more than a dozen tables in the restaurant, filled with all kinds of delicacies, the aroma was so delicious that it made people salivate. The hall was hung with red lanterns, and it was filled with joy.

The musicians sat aside, holding their instruments and playing cheerful music. The ministers took their seats one by one, chatting and laughing, drinking together, and celebrating this grand event.

Zhu Qizhen sat upright on the high platform, his eyes slowly swept over the ministers, then he stood up and laughed loudly, "When Emperor Taizong of Tang held the imperial examination for the first time, he was so excited that he ran outside the factory to watch the candidates from all over the country enter the examination hall, and said with great satisfaction: 'All the heroes in the world are within my grasp.' Haha, I feel the same as him at this moment. I have reviewed this year's examination papers, and the quality is excellent. These scholars will surely become great talents in the future."

When the ministers heard this, they all laughed, and the atmosphere became more harmonious. Zhu Qizhen saw that the time had come, so he waved his hand and said, "Then please invite this year's literary stars to come to the palace."

Soon, the eunuch led this year's top three candidates into the palace. All the officials' eyes were instantly focused on them. The top candidate, Yang Guifang, was dignified and charming; the second place was a middle-aged scholar, serious, calm and reserved. However, the third place candidate seemed a little rude, with a red face, as if he had just drunk some wine, and his body was slightly shaky when he walked.

The three men walked to the bottom of the steps and kowtowed respectfully to the emperor.

"Great!" Zhu Qizhen walked down the steps, came in front of the three people, and looked at them carefully, "I want to see what the literary stars of this dynasty look like."

The top two candidates raised their heads, but the third candidate was still lying on the ground. Zhu Qizhen walked in front of him, and the eunuch hurriedly stepped forward and pushed the third candidate.

The third place winner barely raised his head, his face still red and smelling of alcohol. Seeing this, Zhu Qizhen chuckled and said, "Third place winner, do you want to be the Li Bai of this dynasty?"

He said this to be humorous and to divert everyone's attention. After all, this man knew he was going to see the emperor, but he still drank, which was really rude. However, for scholars, some minor flaws are harmless.

"Your Majesty, I cannot be Li Bai." The top scholar held his head high and said bluntly, "But Your Majesty, you can be Emperor Xuanzong of Tang."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of all the officials changed drastically. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang? In the eyes of most people, that was equivalent to the king who lost his country. "Haha, it seems that you have some opinions about me." Zhu Qizhen smiled coldly, revealing a bit of majesty in his tone, "Tell me, what are your opinions."

……

The third place winner raised his head, his expression was excited, and he disregarded etiquette and denounced Zhu Qizhen, saying: "Your Majesty, although I am not talented, I dare to speak frankly. You like killing and have innocently killed loyal officials such as the Minister of Revenue Shen Gu. This move has really lost the support of the people! Moreover, you claim to be talented, but in my eyes, your talent is mediocre and it is difficult to be compared with the wise emperors of past dynasties!"

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the palace. All the officials looked at each other with different expressions, some were shocked, some were angry, and most were terrified. They never expected that this new scholar would make such a direct accusation against the emperor on such an important occasion.

Zhu Qizhen's face suddenly turned gloomy. He stared coldly at the third place winner, with a dangerous cold light flashing in his eyes. He did not get angry immediately, but after a moment of silence, he slowly said: "What a straightforward third place winner! In this case, let's compete and write lyrics and poems on the theme of rise and fall. The ancients wrote poems in seven steps, which was praised by later generations. Today I will imitate the ancients. I will go first!"

All the officials were secretly shocked when they heard this. A poem in seven steps? Your Majesty, please don't be impulsive. If the poem you write in the end is nonsense, then there will be no end to today.

"Come on!" Tanhua stood up staggeringly.

Zhu Qizhen walked down the steps and began to walk. He took seven quick steps and then began to recite:

the river is long and tempestuous, it was like a hero.

Success or failure turned empty.

Aoyama is still there, How Many Suns.

The white-haired fisherman Qiao Jiangzhu used to watch autumn and spring.

A jug of muddy wine meets together.

Many things from ancient to modern times are all being discussed with laughter.

……

"If there is a poem tonight that is better than mine, I will be cursed!" Zhu Qizhen spread his hands.

The whole place fell into dead silence!
Zhu Qizhen sneered in his heart. Fortunately, this was during the Zhengtong period, and the author of this poem had not yet been born. Comparing lyrics with a time traveler? I can still recite several poems.

"Good, good artistic conception, good words!" The Prime Minister of the Cabinet Wang Zhi praised.

The ministers seemed to have just realized what was happening and praised him highly. Zhu Qizhen's eyes fell on the third place winner and he asked with a smile, "How about it, third place winner? I'll give you one hour, no, a lifetime, can you write it out?"

The third place winner had a pale face and looked towards Duke Chengguo who was not far away. He was threatened by Duke Chengguo and came here on purpose to embarrass His Majesty the Emperor.

For the sake of his whole family, he has no choice but to fight!

"Two liters of wine didn't kill you, so you come to me and ask for death, right?" Zhu Qizhen's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Well, I'll grant your wish. Take him away and behead him!"

The chief minister of the cabinet, Wang Zhi, and the minister of rites, Hu Yi, and others hurried out and knelt down to plead for mercy, saying that the third place winner had drunk alcohol and was not sober-minded.

"Behead him!" Zhu Qizhen shouted.

The Jinyiwei rushed up and tried to drag Tanhualang away.

Weak request for votes
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(End of this chapter)