Chapter 1 Hey, there is no female companion by his side
Chapter 1 Hey, he doesn’t have a female companion by his side
In the third year of the early Tang Dynasty, Chang'an City.
After the curfew, the streets of Chang'an looked particularly empty in the lonely night.
There were only a few music houses and brothels, and bursts of laughter could be heard from time to time.
A young man in a green robe sneaked out from the back door of the most famous Zuixianju in Chang'an City, rode on a strong horse at the door and galloped towards the palace.
On the way, several government officials and imperial guards who wanted to intercept him gave way after seeing the token he showed.
Tai Chi Palace, Li Zheng Palace.
The bedroom of the Queen's eldest grandson Wugou.
A lean, middle-aged man was walking anxiously back and forth in the hall.
"Shimin, maybe that news is just a rumor spread by rogues in the market out of jealousy. As the king of a country, it's really too much for you to be so anxious..."
A clear and gentle voice came from behind the curtains of the bed.
Immediately afterwards, a crisp, lotus-like arm poked out from the curtain, revealing a face that was stunningly beautiful, elegant and refined.
Li Shimin looked back at Empress Changsun, a bitter smile flashed across his face.
It was only when he was facing the woman he loved most in his life that he could reveal his true feelings.
"Mr. Guanyin, you don't understand. The rumors of fraud in the imperial examination are so fierce. Behind them must be the instigators of those wealthy families who are dissatisfied with the imperial examination."
When Empress Changsun heard the word "family", she could not help but frown slightly.
She has long known the strength of the "Five Surnames and Seven Families" in the Tang Dynasty.
People from aristocratic families always put the interests of their family before the interests of the court.
However, because of their deep roots in various places and the numerous disciples, former officials, relatives and friends in the military and political circles, the imperial court had to rely on them to implement many local decrees.
And the imperial examination reform that Li Shimin vigorously promoted this time violated the "nine-grade Zhongzheng system" that they had always advocated for selecting candidates based on their family background...
"I, if I don't send someone to find out clearly the background of these new scholars this year, I will really feel uneasy!"
Li Shimin sighed, a trace of depression flashed across his eyes.
"Your Majesty, this servant is back. According to what I found at the Jinshi banquet party in Zuixianju..."
The young man in green clothes outside the gate of Li Zheng Palace said this, his face was full of anxiety.
"Um?"
Li Shimin was furious and opened the door, staring directly at the personal eunuch dressed as a young man in Tsing Yi with a pair of tiger eyes.
The personal eunuch is called Wang De, who was born in the former Sui Dynasty and has been with Li Shimin for decades.
"This... that, this slave has little knowledge..."
When Li Shimin glared at him, Wang De was speechless and speechless.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said angrily: "Quickly summon Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, and Gao Shilian to accompany you before entering the palace. I want to see with my own eyes the true level of these so-called new tributes! By the way, there is also Shu Bao!"
"
After a while, Changsun Wuji and Du Ruhui, Gao Shilian and Cheng Yaojin, who looked confused, met in front of the palace gate.
Before the four of them could discuss anything, they saw Li Shimin, who was dressed in ordinary military uniforms, leading several Jinwu guards in ordinary clothes out of the palace with livid faces.
Except for Cheng Yaojin and Changsun Wuji, they are all smart people. Naturally, they will not rush to harm Li Shimin. They just speculate in their hearts.
And Cheng Yaojin obviously hasn't figured out what happened yet.
The lights in Zuixianju are brightly lit and there is a lot of noise.
There were a few particularly loud sounds that were particularly harsh.
"Brother Liu, you ranked first and third in this competition. I wonder if you have any masterpieces for tonight's grand event to give to my peers?"
"Hahahaha, to be honest, this talented man just thought of a wonderful piece of music some time ago. I will recite it, and you guys will listen carefully!"
"Everyone be quiet and listen to Brother Liu's masterpiece!"
As a sound of slamming on the table was heard, Li Shimin, who was standing at the door with his hands behind his hands and an expressionless face, couldn't help but pause in his steps.
Even Chang, Sun and Wuji showed serious expressions.
Cheng Yaojin glanced at the three of them and quickly imitated their example.
Even he knows that these Gongshi are all carefully selected seed candidates for this year's imperial examination.
Taking the top three in the first-level examination as an example, if you are lucky, they are all great talents who may be selected by Li Shimin as the number one scholar in the palace examination!
…
Inside Zui Xian's residence, cases were arranged in twos and threes in various directions.
The tables were piled with delicacies, fine wines and fine food. A group of young people of all shapes and colors each held a beautiful half-dressed woman in their arms.
"Ahem, "Song of Snow" - Liu Dasheng."
As the voice fell, a young man with rich clothes and rich robes, a fat head and big ears pushed away the woman in his arms, stood up from the table, and looked like he was pointing out the country and impassionedly.
"There is an abstraction on the river, and a dark hole on the well.
A yellow dog’s body is white, while a white dog’s body is swollen.”
After finishing the poem, the house of Zuixian became silent.
The stiffness in Li Shimin's face softened slightly, and he subconsciously made a complaint.
"It seems that not all the tribute students I selected for this imperial examination are idiots like Liu Dasheng..."
"Ahem, what your Majesty said is true. Then, does that mean that Liu Dasheng deliberately acted ugly just to liven up the atmosphere?"
Gao Shilian blinked and quickly agreed.
"This is so true."
Changsun Wuji stroked his beard under his chin and agreed seriously.
Du Ruhui had a strange look in his eyes, glanced at the two people beside him, and became silent.
Cheng Yaojin wanted to say something, but when he saw Du Ruhui's appearance, he had the rare wisdom to shut up.
Just as Changsun Wuji finished speaking, deafening cheers of applause suddenly came from the Zuixian Residence.
"Brother Liu is a great talent!"
"Brother Liu, this poetic talent, really deserves to be ranked first, third, and third. Wang is convinced!"
"Wait a minute, since Brother Wang has written such a good poem, how can I, Mr. Chen, not show my shame to add to the fun?"
"Brother Chen is ranked second in the first class, and Xiangbi's masterpiece is even better than Brother Liu!"
"That's right..."
"Since Brother Liu Xian is named after Yongxue, Chen might as well recite a song in the name of Yongxue. Please enjoy it!"
""Ode to the Falling Snow"—Chen Heng."
"Something is flying in the sky, and there are piles here and there.
Could it be that the Jade Emperor built a golden palace? Sifting the ashes of the earth, sifting the ashes of the earth."
"good!"
"This poem is great!"
"Brother Chen, as soon as this poem was published, it described all the romance of Luoxue. In the next five hundred years, no one will dare to use Luoxue as the title again!"
"..."
Different from the compliments in Zuixianju, and the involuntary nodding of Cheng Yaojin, Changsun Wuji and the other three who could not clearly see the expressions on Li Shimin's faces looked at me and I looked at you, all with strange expressions on their faces.
"boom!"
"What a bunch of losers!"
At this time, Li Shimin finally couldn't bear it anymore, cursed lowly, kicked open the door, and strode into Zuixianju.
As soon as he broke into Zuixianju, Li Shimin's eyes were instantly fixed on a young man who was teasing and drinking while leaning against the southeast pillar.
The young man was dressed in white, unparalleledly handsome but drunkenly. He looked at the group of Gongsheng students who were vying to praise him, his eyes half-opened and half-closed full of ridicule.
