The boudoir is filled with the smell of medicinal herbs.
"Madam, Alang is back and went directly to the study."
"I'm back." Wei Yun quickly stood up, asked people to take care of Yan Yan, and rushed to the study.
The servants in the house seemed very restrained, because the mistress had given strict orders not to talk nonsense, especially what happened the night before.
After opening the door and seeing Yan Zhenqing, Wei Yun finally calmed down her restless heart, and said in a tearful tone: "Lang Jun, Sanniang almost had an accident..."
Yan Zhenqing originally had a solemn look on his face, but when he heard this, his hands shook and he wrote a bad word.
"What happened?"
"On a spring day, I was busy with housework, which made Sanniang panic... If it weren't for Xue Bai's help, Sanniang would have died."
Yan Zhenqing breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that her daughter was safe.
In this spring, things happened frequently, which made him breathless.
"The master believed that the root cause of Sanniang's illness was a lack of heart, and said that her master Qixuan Zhenren was a holy hand in this world and might be able to cure Sanniang."
Wei Yun then told the good news and asked with expectation: "Will Mr. Lang go to ask for help from Master Qixuan?"
Yan Zhenqing had heard of the name Qi Xuanzi Wang Bing, but he had never seen Wang Bing travel around the world and meet such noble people as Princess Yuzhen.
At this time, I can only nod and try my best.
Wei Yun also knew that it would be difficult to invite an expert from the eighth-grade county captain's family to take action. After thinking about it, she reminded: "If Lang Jun is free, he should go and express his gratitude to the master. There is also Xue Bai, so why not just accept this student?"
How?"
Yan Zhenqing was distracted and asked: "That boy...he has been at home these past few days and has not gone to cause trouble, right?"
"He has always tried his best to help us, what trouble can he cause? Mr. Lang always thinks of him as too naughty."
"Alas."
Wei Yun looked around and saw that Yan Zhenqing hadn't changed her clothes at all in the past three days and two nights, she hadn't even trimmed her beard, and her eye sockets were much darker.
"Something happened?"
"Well, Dr. Zhen was in Gongyuan that night, and I saw him... Someone died in Gongyuan at that time."
"It's the Gongyuan again." Wei Yun was really frightened by the spring turmoil, "It's really a ghost in Jinke."
Yan Zhenqing took his wife's hand and patted it gently, the look of thought in his eyes getting thicker.
He just came back from Gongyuan and heard a lot of news. He was worried when he thought that Xue Bai followed Du Fu to visit Li Shizhi not long ago, and it happened to be the day when the song "Song of the Eight Immortals in Drinking" came out.
"As soon as the first month passed, Ge Nu started again. I sent someone to remind the boy not to go anywhere these days and to be more honest."
"I'll go right away."
Wei Yun knew that her husband had said this, that he would keep Xue Bai's kindness in mind and was willing to protect him, so she quickly sent people to Xue's house.
Yan Zhenqing took a deep breath, picked up the pen again, and continued writing the unfinished verdict.
Duanli's eight-point regular script is a little rushed, and the word "xieti" is left behind "I suspect Li Yan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites".
~~
In a house in Tongyifang, Du Wulang was held down and drank several glasses of wine, becoming slightly tipsy.
He shook his head and looked sideways. He saw a fat little lady peeking at each other from behind the screen. She was actually quite cute.
"Isn't your wine too strong?"
"Although Mr. Lang has been selected, if you want to be an official, you won't be able to manage the staff without hundreds of strings. The old man happens to have quite a lot of family resources."
When an old man in brocade clothes finished speaking, a servant came over and whispered in his ear: "Alang, I asked you repeatedly, but he really didn't make the list..."
When the evening drum sounded, Du Wulang was finally released.
He breathed out a sigh of relief and walked across Zhuque Street. He met several scholars in green shirts who were walking with him, and they all looked at him.
"Du Langjun?"
"Hey, do you recognize me?"
"Brother Du is polite, and I would like to pay tribute to Zhang Tongru in Hebei Township." An old scholar with a downcast expression and a stooped figure came forward to salute and said respectfully: "I am fortunate to have seen Brother Du and Zheng Taixue, Su Siye drinking."
"No, no, just call me 'Wu Lang', Brother Zhang."
Zhang Tongru still looked respectful and asked with concern: "I wonder why Brother Du is so... disheveled?"
"Oh, don't mention it. I wanted to go to see the list for Brother Zimei and Brother Cishan, but I was misunderstood and was caught by the list. I finally escaped."
"Brother Du has always been with famous people, and he is really charming." Zhang Tongru said with a smile: "After I failed, I ran out of money and planned to return home. But I heard that there would be a re-examination, I don't know whether it is true or not?"
"Ah? I don't know either."
Zhang Tongru bent over, pursed his lips nervously, and asked, "Can you ask Brother Du to take us to see Brother Cishan?"
Du Wulang was still in a daze, but he couldn't resist the pleas of these humble village tributes, so he scratched his head and agreed.
Arriving at the gate of the Imperial College, many officials gathered there had heard that Yuan Cishan lived in Du Wulang's residence, and they all gathered around and talked about it.
"Du Qi is here!"
"Wulang, I heard that Brother Cishan has followed the left prime minister to contact Zhu Gong to apply for a re-examination. Is it true?"
"I went to Changlefang, and they were all dispersed by the Jinwu Guards. Genu ordered the tributes to return home."
"..."
The disciples were talking to themselves, and Du Wulang stood there in a daze. He looked up and saw that the night was falling and the evening drums had died down. It must be too late to go home.
He sighed and asked: "Have you all eaten?"
Although Zhang Tongru was shabby, his eyes were sharp and he hurriedly said loudly: "Gentlemen, please listen to Brother Du's arrangements. Only when you are full can you have the strength to discuss."
Du Wulang had no choice but to take out his wallet and ask someone to go to the restaurant across the street to buy biscuits that could feed sixteen people.
Seeing that most of these were tribute from the common people, he had no choice but to discuss with the disciples, take out the bedding from the dormitory, and spread it in the lecture hall to rest for the night. He didn't know anything else, but he could take care of others.
When the hot biscuits were delivered, the tributes were already hungry and devoured them.
Zhang Tongru was chewing the biscuits, and a few crumbs fell to the ground. He immediately wiped them with his hands, put them in his mouth and ate them.
Du Wulang then handed over another piece of Hu cake, and Zhang Tongru quickly accepted it with a smile.
"Brother Du laughed. The imperial examination cost too much. I was copying scriptures in Shengyefang and barely making ends meet. It was difficult to buy paper and ink. My mother, wife and children at home haven't heard from me for many years. I don't know if I starved to death. Alas, Jin Ke is here again.
After failing, I had to beg along the road to return home..."
A disciple sneered and said, "What if you get the first prize? You still have to deal with the selection of civil servants. Can you get it? Why don't you return home early and hope for a re-examination?"
Zhang Tongru looked timid, but he was a bit stubborn at heart. Otherwise, he would not have been taking the exam for ten years, let alone argue with Yan Zhuang in the restaurant. He said with a smile: "It would be fine if the skills are not as good as others, but Jinke must have something to say...
...I heard that someone leaked the title, so Yang Hu could write such an article."
"Really?"
"Really." Youxiang Gong responded: "There was a scholar who had written a piece of "Zeng Liang Fu" for someone before. As soon as he came up with the title, he said it was wrong and was dragged out."
"But I heard that the man was dragged out because of cheating. I was so excited that I died of heart failure."
"I personally heard him shouting, 'I have written this poem, but it's leaked!'"
"If it were me, I wouldn't shout, wouldn't it be good to write another article in order to get a passing grade?"
"You are really making such a fuss. Don't you see less questions? Not to mention, in the spring of the second year of Tianbao, because Li Linfu relied heavily on Zhang Yi, the examiner named Zhang Xi, Zhang Yi's son, as the prime minister. The whole world was in an uproar, and the saint had no choice but to stay in the calyx building.
Retest. Guess what, Zhang Shi didn’t know a word and handed in the paper with a blank piece of paper. At that time, he was called the ‘white number one scholar’.”
"Yes, at least a saint must re-examine!"
The anger of the disciples was ignited again. They could endure it once or twice, but they have endured it for too long.
"Yes, I want to see the saint." A thin young man in his twenties stood up, cupped his hands, and said: "Gentlemen, I am Hao Changyuan, a tribute from Jianghuai Township. I came to Chang'an not to get the title, but to serve my hometown.
People redress their grievances."
Du Wulang was stunned, raised his head and saw that Hao Changyuan's temperament was different from other tributes, so he immediately listened to him carefully.
"At the beginning of Tianbao, Wei Jian was appointed as the envoy for the transfer of rents in Huainan. He asked all prefectures and counties to collect three-year rents, dredge the Yellow River, and rebuild the canals. Finally, the canals were opened, and the amount of grain was more than ten times that of previous years, but the township
Before people could cheer, Wei Jian was found guilty of treason. The rent that should be waived was not exempted, but Wei Jian's accomplices were also investigated."
"We paid our hard-earned money and served for five months every year to dig canals for the imperial court. What awaited us was not the rent-free mediocrity, but the royal censor of the imperial court. Before the censor arrived, he sent a deacon to prepare the horse.
That night, the county magistrate was so frightened that he took poison and committed suicide. However, he was still accused of being a party member of Wei Jian, and the censor went everywhere to hunt down the cattle officials and boatmen, and dragged him to the county government to death."
"Nearly half of the villagers died, and the newly arrived county magistrate did not dare to make decisions for us. The court also set up interview envoys and purchase envoys to collect grain and color. We really had no choice, so we paid for each penny.
You have to pay for it and let me go to Beijing to report."
"I don't seek to pass the exam, I just want to meet the saint. I don't dare to ask for anything else. I only want to report one thing - there really are no accomplices of Wei Jian in Suining, Sizhou. This case has been investigated for a whole year.
Sorry, can you please stop checking?!"
Hao Changyuan burst into tears at the end.
He reached into his arms and took out a piece of white silk cloth with blood written all over it.
Du Wulang looked through the candlelight, and what caught his eye was "In the five years since Tianbao, the magistrates have been sent to prison, the prisons have been overflowing, the levies have been expropriated, and the burden has spread to the neighbors, leaving naked corpses in the palace, endlessly!"
Hao Changyuan kept scrolling back, revealing bloody fingerprints one by one, probably hundreds of them.
Du Wulang exclaimed in surprise and took two steps back.
What came to his mind were the scenes of the Du family's encounters during the Liu Ji case, including imprisonment, torture, beating with sticks, and exile. In the end, the Du family was in danger. He cursed, "Being targeted by Suo Dou Cock will cost you eight lifetimes of blood."
I thought it was over.
But all over the world, there are countless people who have been implicated in the Wei Jian case and their families have been destroyed.
At this moment, Du Wulang made up his mind that he must help Hao Changyuan.
He rolled his eyes, but did not speak immediately.
It wasn't until dawn the next day that he pulled Hao Changyuan over and whispered: "I have a great friend..."
~~
"Brother Du, take us to find Brother Cishan."
"Don't be anxious, just wait here for me, don't be impulsive."
The morning drums were just ringing, and Du Wulang left the Imperial College alone and drove his horse to Changshoufang.
Xue Xin was about to go out with his two younger brothers. He was wearing a green shirt and carrying a book basket, his face full of sadness.
"Where's your sixth brother?"
"Didn't Sixth Brother follow Brother Dua to watch the rankings?"
"It was too crowded and he got lost...Don't ask, this is not something children should know."
"Has Sixth Brother been caught off guard by his son-in-law? But he didn't take the Jinke Chunwei exam either."
Du Wulang scratched his head, pulled the horse away, thinking that Xue Bai was not bad looking, and he might have been caught as a son-in-law because of his charm, but at this critical moment... Alas, Chang'an really has too many bad habits like this. p>
He rode his horse and rushed to Du's house, but he didn't dare to go in, lest he be locked up by his grandpa. So he poked his head at the side door and called Quan Fu.
"Has Xue Bai come?"
"No."
"I didn't come back last night. Did my parents ask me?"
"Isn't Wulang in the dormitory of the Imperial College?"
Du Wulang shook his head.
He was almost forced into marriage, but his family reacted like this, which is really disappointing.
Going to Fengwei Building, he rushed to the backyard and saw Du Jin coming in from the backyard.
"Second sister, something happened, I lost Xue Bai."
"Really?"
"Why aren't you in a hurry?"
"Busy, don't bother me."
"No, I have something very important to see Xue Bai." Du Wulang quickly followed Du Jin's footsteps, "Second sister, look."
"Follow me."
After exiting the back door and turning down the alley, you will find a small courtyard not far away, which is quite quiet.
Du Wulang also knew the two guards guarding the courtyard. They were He Mao and Zhuo Guang sent to Xue Bai by Mrs. Guo Guo.
"Why are you here?"
"This is Mrs. Guo's villa."
Du Wulang looked into the main room and saw Xue Bai sleeping soundly inside. He immediately understood and said, "It turns out that Mrs. Guo Guo has rescued Xue Bai."
……
Noon.
In Changlefang, there was a knock on the door of a small house not far from Li Shi's house.
"Is Brother Cishan here? Xue Bai is here to visit."
"Come in and talk."
Xue Bai and Du Wulang walked into the lobby and saw Yuan Jie, Du Fu, and several young scholars discussing something.
"Brother Zimei, don't you think about your wife and children? It's useless for you to intervene in this matter. If you believe me, you should know that I acted like this because I was sure to save my life."
"No need to say anymore, Cishan and I advance and retreat together..."
Xue Bai entered the hall and saluted: "Brother Zimei, I believe Cishan is not impulsive."
Yuan Jie turned around, saw Xue Bai, and smiled knowingly.
They all understand the truth... If Yuan Jie wrote a poem and only scolded Li Linfu, he would definitely die. But if he scolded the saint, he would live.
Because today's saint is not narrow-minded. Although he does not listen to advice, he does not kill people because of his advice. Yuan Jie scolded the saint in front of countless people. The poem spread and the matter became big. The saint wanted to
Showing your mind and highlighting the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty will actually preserve the Yuan knot.
Of course, it's okay for an ignorant young man to curse, but you can't let others follow suit. That would not be an admonishment, but a threat. Faced with threats, a saint can even kill his son.
"Look, Xue Bai also said this, brother Zimei, don't worry." Yuan Jie took two steps forward, met Xue Bai, and said: "You too, you don't have to get involved in this matter, prepare for the exam with peace of mind."
/p>
"I can't hide."
Yuan Jie was puzzled and asked: "Why?"
"It turns out to be Xue Bai who 'made things up randomly'." Before Xue Bai could answer, a man in his thirties stepped forward and introduced himself: "An Ding Huangfu Ran, courtesy name Maozheng, I have heard your name for a long time.
."
"Brother Maozheng is so polite."
Xue Bai returned the greeting and looked at Huangfu Ran's smile, which was a little intimate.
Apparently, Zheng Qian told Huangfu Ran his identity but not Yuan Jie.
Because Huangfu Ran is Zhang Jiuling's student, he naturally agrees with Xue Pingzhao. Li Linfu doesn't care what they think. Zhang Jiuling's student and Xue Xi's son are all enemies.
Xue Bai doesn't care whether he is Xue Pingzhao or not, the important thing is that he needs these connections.
"Brother Cishan, is there someone behind this incident?"
"No." Yuan Jie said: "Now many people say that I am in charge, but in fact, after the results were released, the candidates wanted to make trouble with the Ministry of Rites. I saw that the situation was wrong, so I had to take the lead in asking the left prime minister to come forward."
This is the power of Yuanjie.
He seems to be acting impulsively, but he is actually trying to stabilize the situation.
"Making trouble in the Ministry of Rites will not bring good results. My plan is to spread the poems and essays that satirize the saints, and without violating the prohibition, let the saints know that the world has complained about Brother Nu for a long time. The saint will definitely summon the left prime minister, and then the left minister will
I submitted my resignation and deposed Li Linfu."
"Okay." Xue Bai didn't say what he thought about this plan or what he did. He said straightforwardly: "Count me in. I have offended Ge Nu before and I can't avoid it."
"Okay." Yuan Jie also simply said: "At the moment, there is no need to gather the rural tributes to avoid being falsely accused and being driven and beaten by the Jinwu guards. We cannot let them leave Chang'an. We should disperse them everywhere and continue to build momentum.
”
Xue Bai said: "Ge Nu will react soon and ask Jin Wuwei to go to the hotel to chase people away."
Yuan Jie said: "That's right. Therefore, the left prime minister is contacting the princes to arrange the rural tribute candidates."
"Yes." Du Wulang said: "That's what I did. I placed more than ten rural tributes in the Imperial College."
This is like a tough battle to attack Li Linfu. Yuan Jie did it according to the upright military method. He defeated the troops, boosted their morale, issued a proclamation, and fortified the stronghold.
Xue Bai was like a strange soldier, saying: "We still have to let the princes in the court show their sage and hold back Genu. The sage is not in Xingqing Palace, but in the Forbidden Garden."
"What?" Yuan Jie is young and in a low position after all, "even the left prime minister doesn't know..."
The next moment, loud shouts came from outside the hospital.
When everyone came out of the hall, they saw Jin Wuwei rushing into the small courtyard like wolves and tigers.
"You're so brave!" Yuan Jie immediately raised his hand and shouted: "How dare you arrest the rural tribute students in Li Gong's house?!"
He is reasonable and upright.
However, Jin Wuwei did not tell him any rules at all.
"Wei Jian's accomplice Li Shizhi falsely claimed to have prophecies, constructed the East Palace, and criticized Cheng Yu! Take them all down!"