Historically, after Li Dongyang received an order to review the examination papers of the candidates, he "deposed" thirteen questionable papers, artificially depriving these thirteen people of their qualifications as tributes. Many historians speculated that Tang Yin's papers were probably the
Among those thirteen examination papers, Li Dongyang’s purpose of doing this was to calm the material debate——
You see, Tang Yin didn’t win, so we can stop criticizing this case, right?
Zhang Zhou reminded him like this because he was afraid that Li Dongyang was playing dirty tricks. Even though he had passed the exam, he was still dismissed.
However, thinking about it, Li Dongyang did not make much sense. Even if he did not win the Jinshi, he could still be selected to enter the court through tribute, and he would still go directly to the Hanlin Academy for review.
The Hanlin Academy is the back garden of the cabinet.
From Zhang Zhou's point of view, Li Dongyang would rather let him pass the Jinshi examination and be released from the six ministries to observe politics, rather than easily let him enter the Hanlin Academy and become the "preserver prime minister" of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Zhou probably told Xiao Jing what Li Dongyang might do.
"Mr. Zhang is saying that in order to calm the discussion among the scholars, Mr. Li Ge will... depose some tribute officials who have clearly won the prize?"
Xiao Jing asked in confusion, "After the inner curtain is opened and sealed, isn't it true that no further adjustments can be made?"
Zhang Zhou sighed: "That was in the past. This time it involves a vendetta issue. If Mr. Li Ge reviewed it, with his resourcefulness and caution, who knows what he would do?"
"I understand." Xiao Jing said, "In addition to meeting Mr. Li Ge, our family may also need to ask for instructions from His Majesty..."
…
…
Zhang Zhou originally wanted to say, just go and mention it to Li Dongyang, why do you need to ask the emperor for instructions?
It’s not like Li Dongyang did anything. If he just told the emperor like this, wouldn’t the emperor think that I’m a coward?
However, it seemed that Xiao Jing had no experience in dealing with matters such as imperial examinations. As the owner of Dongchang, he still had to ask the king for instructions on anything.
This also allowed Zhang Zhou to see that the factory guards of the Ming Dynasty did not have a high status during the Hongzhi period. Such factory guards made civil servants and generals frightened, and they would confiscate people's homes and exterminate their clans in an instant. This probably happened when the imperial power of the Ming Dynasty was extremely expanded.
period.
After Xiao Jing left, Zhu Lin received Zhang Zhou again, and then asked Ning Tong to talk to Zhang Zhou.
The general meaning is... you are here to confer a knighthood on my younger brother. The affairs of the eldest brother and the second brother should be handled separately, so as not to make people think that I covet the favor that my brother has received.
Doesn’t their second wife like to use women to do things? Then just listen to the second wife and let his wife do it.
"I'll take my leave."
Zhang Zhou didn't intend to say anything more to Ning Tong.
At most, Ning Tong would see off guests when going out.
When they arrived at the front yard, Ning Tong deliberately walked in front and blocked Zhang Zhou's path, and said in a reproachful tone: "Why do you keep helping him? His ambition is not here. By doing this, you are actually hurting him."
he."
Zhang Zhoudao: "Mrs. Zhu, no, I should call you Mrs. Anbianbo now. No matter how unreasonable you are, you can't get an advantage and behave yourself, right? I helped Zhijie obtain the title, and you said I was harming him... Do you want to say,
Did I hurt you too?"
"Before, I only had to be a little woman and not ask about things outside the window, but now I have to go out and deal with too much. But they obviously don't treat me as a family member."
Ning Tong got angry.
Others don't know Zhu Feng's habits, but the Zhu family does. In name, Ning Tong is Zhu Feng's wife, but who in the Zhu family doesn't know that the relationship between the two is nominal?
This kind of people in the Duke's Mansion are the most snobbish. Ning Tong probably has a very strong self-esteem and feels that she is being targeted all the time. She even feels that the way people look at her is wrong.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "In my opinion, Zhijie still cares about you very much."
"What did you say?" Ning Tong said angrily.
You clearly know the preferences of that boy Zhu Zhijie, and you actually say that he cares about me?
"Haha, madam, you might as well think about it. He could have put you in the boudoir without caring about your feelings and let you live in the small courtyard. But he didn't do that. He let you take charge of Zhu from the beginning.
Isn’t it because the business connection of the second wife of my family has made you appear in the public eye so that you can get more respect? Even if we can’t become a couple in name only, I think you should still be very good... friends.”
Zhang Zhou thought about the words and almost wanted to say that you are very good "best friends", but after thinking about it, it was more appropriate to use "friends" to describe the relationship between this strange couple.
Ning Tong was stunned for a moment.
Before, her mind was full of resentment. She felt that her family and Zhu Feng had harmed her and made her marry a vase man.
But after listening to Zhang Zhou's analysis, she seemed to feel that the heartless Zhu Feng really seemed to care about her, but maybe it wasn't the care of a couple, but more like a friend's care.
.
"You can be regarded as sharing weal and woe. He has gained status and shared it with you. If you feel that this is harming you and you want to escape, you can choose to divorce. You don't need to resent me every time you see me.
What does he bring?"
Zhang Zhou didn't want to talk nonsense with Ning Tong anymore.
This is a woman in her early twenties who is planning to live a happy married life, but is left a widow and full of complaints.
Too many words are wrong.
Besides, he wanted to go back quickly to make preparations for mining in Xishan.
Ning Tong frowned and said, "Are you teasing me? If I marry into the Chengguo Duke's palace, is there any chance of reconciliation?"
Zhang Zhou shrugged: "Other families can't do it, but if you don't mention it to Zhu Zhijie, how do you know it's impossible? But whether you reconcile or divorce him, your reputation will be ruined. It depends on your choice! Farewell, next time
If I have a chance, I will give you the rest of that book..."
"..."
Ning Tong was also a little speechless.
Even if Zhang Zhou made a very outrageous proposal to her, he still remembers the book?
But thinking about it again, it seems that I am quite similar to the people and things in the book.
"Then can you tell him for me?"
Zhang Zhou had already taken a few steps, but Ning Tong's words made Zhang Zhou stop.
Zhang Zhou turned around, frowned and looked the woman up and down, shook his head with a wry smile, and gave her a look that said, "Why don't you do it yourself if you have something to do? You need to pretend to be an outsider." Without answering, he just led her away.
…
…
Qianqing Palace.
General Dai Yi reported to Zhu Youtang in detail the suggestions of the Ministry of Rites and the Cabinet on the Huan proposal.
"...The Ministry of Rites has asked for a memorial, and Chang must have heard about it, so I present this memorial. However, I am afraid that what I have heard may not be true. Moreover, the list has not yet been published, and I don't know whether the person who pointed out the truth has ever picked it up? As I said,
He ordered Li Dongyang, together with the Five Classics and the examiners, to read through the red scrolls in the field and take them from the public to take them from the public to discuss with them. The date for the opening of the exams was also changed to the 29th of this month.
or the second day of March..."
Zhu Youtang frowned: "Didn't I explain in the court earlier that Cheng Minzheng did not participate in the marking? Since he has not marked the marks, how can he give and receive privately during the marking?"
Dai Yi answered cautiously: "The officials in the court know it, but outsiders don't know. This is what Hua Chang Shenzi said. This is probably also the appeal of the candidates in the same examination."
In fact, Dai Yi was also reminding the emperor that it was best not to publicize the matter of Cheng Minzheng stopping grading in advance.
Because civilian scholars will feel that the imperial court knew that Cheng Minzheng had problems, but still let him take the exam, and after the exam was over, he deprived him of the authority he should have as an examiner... Why should we not let us discuss something that the imperial court is suspicious of?
"Yes." Zhu Youtang suddenly thought of something and nodded, "The previous suggestion made by Bingkuan was also to stop marking the papers on the grounds that Cheng Minzheng was unwell. He did not even inform other internal officials of the matter. It seems that I was anxious again. Already."
Isn’t it?
Dai Yi wanted to say.
Zhang Zhou suggested that you let Cheng Minzheng withdraw from the examination in a low-key manner. As a result, your majesty became anxious and told the ministers about it in the court.
A bit bad.
Zhu Youtang said: "But this allows those ministers to know Bingkuan's prediction on this matter. They know that Bingkuan will not be involved in the issue, so why not tell them?"
Dai Yi stared.
Can it still be like this?
In your opinion, which one is more important, your Majesty, is it to calm disputes and stabilize the government and the opposition, or is it more important to exonerate your brother Bingkuan? No need to ask, Your Majesty has already chosen the latter.
Dai Yixin said, no wonder those civil servants had such big opinions on Zhang Zhou, because His Majesty did everything possible to help Zhang Zhou. When will I get such treatment?
Not long after, Xiao Jing sent someone back to deliver a note to Dai Yi, and then Dai Yi went over to explain Zhang Zhou's hidden worries to the emperor.
Zhu Youtang frowned and said: "If it is true as Bingkuan said, Mr. Li will discard the selected test papers from the inner curtain according to the standard of calming material disputes, I am afraid it will make the situation worse."
Dai Yi was thinking to himself again, Your Majesty, you are worried that Li Dongyang will depose Zhang Zhou's paper, so that's why you said this?
Even if Mr. Li Ge wants to reject some papers, he will always have standards. He will discuss it with fellow examiners, and he will definitely deal with the matter and not the person.
Zhu Youtang didn't care about that. He said: "As for the inner curtain of Ling Gongyuan, since Cheng Minzheng is not involved in grading papers and selecting articles, once the selected papers in the inner curtain are not sealed or removed, anyone who has any doubts can Report it and keep the record, and then send someone to investigate in detail."
"yes."
Dai Yi didn't dare to make casual suggestions anymore.
He could also see that now Zhang Zhou's words were whatever he said. Even if Zhang Zhou was a candidate for this examination, the emperor would not mind letting Zhang Zhou participate deeply in it.
"In addition, the release of results for this general examination will be postponed for five days and moved to the second day of March."
Zhu Youtang still listened to the advice of the Ministry of Rites and the Cabinet, and asked Dai Yi to write a written reply to the memorial, and changed the date for the release of the results.
Dai Yi asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, now that Tang Yin, Xu Jing and Hua Chang have been sent to Fusi, Jinyiwei North Town, do you want to strictly interrogate them? There is also Bachelor Cheng..."
Dai Yi wanted to remind the emperor that among the people involved in the case, there seemed to be a "fish that slipped through the net." Cheng Minzheng, as the most critical figure, was still hanging around behind the scenes.
"Let Cheng Minzheng temporarily resign and go back to his hometown to live at leisure. The rest of the matters will be discussed separately after the results are obtained."
Zhu Youtang also seemed very tired.
The affairs of the court made him unable to keep up mentally, which was also related to the fact that he had not taken Li Guang's elixir recently.
But now Zhu Youtang knows that it is not an elixir, but a poison.
No matter how uncomfortable it is, you have to get through it.
