The imperial examination has passed and everything has been settled. Now Tang Ning has absolutely nothing to do.
Xiao Jue asked him to go out to relax, but he refused without hesitation.
He plans to visit the house later. The drawing is just a reference. He will feel at ease after seeing it with his own eyes.
It wasn't just Xiao Jue who came, Gu Bai and Cui Lang and Shen Jian actually came together.
The three of them have been inseparable recently, and they are plotting something. Cui Lang saw a piece of paper on his desk, picked it up, looked at it, and asked, "Is this the strategy that Brother Tang answered in the imperial examination?"
Tangning nodded and asked, "What, is there a problem?"
"No, no problem." Cui Lang put down the piece of paper, breathed a long sigh of relief, and smiled on his face.
Shen Jian walked over and took a look, with the same relaxed look on his face.
Gu Bai glanced at his answer sheet and asked, "You really don't intend to compete for the top spot, so you are actually coping with the imperial examination like this?"
"Is this considered coping?"
"Isn't this considered coping?" Gu Bai looked at him, shook his head and said, "You are going against the imperial court!"
"I'm not like you. I write good articles, find new ways, and still have some hope."
"It's good to find another approach, but your policy statement is obviously off topic..." Gu Bai looked at him with a look of regret on his face and said: "Your first policy statement has a clear idea. If the second one can also be satisfactory, the second one will be satisfactory."
There is still hope for A, but it is a pity now..."
Tang Yaoyao, who had just walked into the room, paused when he heard these words, and his face was obviously unnatural.
She walked to Tang Ning and said, "I want to go shopping with Xiao Yi Xiaoru. Please lend me some money."
Tangning looked at her and asked in surprise, "Where is your money?"
The big gamble in the last provincial exam made Tang Yaojing make a lot of money. In addition, he repaid her the money. Now he is a completely rich woman, but he still needs to borrow money from himself?
"It's not convenient for me to have money." Tang Yaoyao looked at him and said dissatisfied: "Forget about mother-in-law and mother-in-law, Xiaoru and Xiaoyi are still waiting outside."
Tang Ning stopped asking and took out two banknotes and handed them to her. Tang Yaoyao took the money and walked out, her face a little ugly, as if someone had stolen tens of thousands of taels of silver from her.
After reading Tang Ning's policy statement, Cui Lang felt significantly better. He looked at Gu Bai and asked, "What kind of official does Brother Gu hope to be in the future?"
Gu Bai waved his hand and said: "It's nothing. In the future, I just hope to be able to compile records and lecture on classics and history, and that's all. Where is Brother Cui?"
Cui Lang smiled and said: "I don't have any requirements, just be the same as Brother Gu."
Tang Ning glanced at them. They were two shameless men. They compiled records and lectured on classics and history. This was the job of the Hanlin Compiler. Only the number one scholar would be awarded the Hanlin Compiler.
He was ashamed to be in the company of these two shameless guys. When he walked out of the room, Xiaoru stood at the door of the courtyard, looked at him and asked: "Brother Xiao Ning, we are going to go shopping on the street, do you want to come with us?"
Tangning waved her hand and said, "You go ahead, I'm going to visit the house later."
He still remembered the scene when he went shopping with Tang Yaoji. She was enough for him alone, and with Xiao Ru and Xiao Yi... he couldn't keep up with the three of them.
…
On the first day after the palace examination, the examination papers began to be marked. It has been three full days, and countless eyes in the entire capital are looking in the direction of the palace.
The palace examination is different from the state examination and provincial examination. Each of the 212 examination papers has to be reviewed by eight examiners at the same time. Therefore, although the number of examination papers is small, the time is not short.
A certain hall in the palace.
All examination papers have been reviewed half a day ago. Until just now, except for the top ten in this provincial examination, all the rankings have been ranked.
The palace examination is different from the provincial examination. There is almost nothing to argue about. The eight examiners will leave marks on each examination paper, mark the examination paper grade, and finally sort it according to the circled grade.
On the table at the front, there are ten test papers, which are the top ten in this palace examination.
Liu Feng, the Minister of Rites, glanced at these test papers and praised: "Gu Bai, Cui Lang, Shen Jian..., yes, they are worthy of being the Jieyuan of Jiangnan and the capital. I think the number one scholar this time will fall on
It’s on their heads.”
A trace of doubt appeared on his face, and he suddenly asked: "No, among these ten people, why is there not the provincial examination leader, Mr. Fang? That person came from your Lingzhou, why don't you look for it carefully?
Look, the leader of the provincial examination, why can't he even make it into the top ten of the palace examination? What if we made a mistake?"
Fang Hong glanced at him and heard the sarcasm in Liu Feng's words, but did not answer.
After sorting out the rankings and removing the confusion, he immediately found Tang Ning's test paper.
However, although his first strategy was rated as the best paper by seven people, eight "x"s appeared in a row in the second one, which meant that even he himself, when he reviewed that paper,
He also ranked it mercilessly among the worst.
After just one glance, he understood the reason.
The second policy question actually asked the candidates how they viewed the Chen-Chu alliance proposed by the Chu envoy. This question was actually not difficult. The imperial court's attitude towards the Chu envoy had already given the answer.
Although the alliance between Chen and Chu is beneficial to the Chu State, it is of no benefit to the Chen State. Helping the Chu State is just raising a tiger and causing endless troubles.
But Tangning's answer sheet was different from almost all the candidates.
He wrote on the examination paper that the people of Sushen are brave and good at fighting, and good at riding and shooting. They are not only a serious concern for the Chu State, but also a serious concern for the Chen State. When Sushen is scattered, it will disturb the peace of the two countries of Chen and Chu.
, once the tribes are unified, the two countries Chen and Chu will be in danger...
Even Fang Hong felt that what he said was a bit alarmist. The Sushen people had been at war for countless years, and they had already merged if they wanted to merge. Chen and Chu knew the Sushen race very well, and it was impossible for them to unify..., he
This answer sheet is contrary to the imperial court's views, so it is naturally impossible to be recognized.
Beside him, Liu Feng screened the thirty people from the second class again, and said in surprise: "No way, the provincial examination leader, the palace examination failed to enter the second class, this kind of thing is simply unheard of, no, colleagues, hurry up
If we make a mistake in our search, we will miss a talented person, and our sin will be great!"
Someone took out an examination paper at the end and said, "Master Liu, there is no need to look for it, his examination paper is here."
Liu Feng took the test paper, looked at it, smacked his lips, and said: "It's a pity, it's a pity. This second policy can be entered into the second class even if you just write it casually, but I don't know what this provincial Yuan really wants in his heart.
What do you think, it’s a pity..."
Fang Hong ignored Liu Feng, who was standing aside and sarcastic, and said calmly: "Now that the top ten have been determined, let's send them to His Majesty as soon as possible. Don't keep His Majesty waiting."
Although Liu Feng wanted to mock Fang Hong again, he also knew the priorities. He put the top ten test papers together, looked at a eunuch in the palace, and said with a smile: "Excuse me."
Royal study room.
Emperor Chen looked at the figures walking out and asked, "Wei Jian, how credible do you think the words of the Chu envoy are?"
Wei Jian thought for a while and said: "Although their purpose is still to promote an alliance between the two countries and their motives are not pure, I feel that the matter is serious and they will not lie to us on such a matter..."
Emperor Chen frowned and asked: "Then you mean that the Wanyan tribe has defeated the Heihan tribe and unified more than ten tribes on the grassland. Within a few years, it is expected to complete the unification of Sushen.
Feat?"
Wei Jian lowered his head and said: "You can't believe everything the Chu envoy said, but you can't disbelieve it either. Counting the days, the spies we sent to the grassland will return to Beijing in the near future. By then, Your Majesty
Just ask and you will know.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a young eunuch walked in and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, these are the test papers and list of the top ten in this palace examination."
Chen Huang collected his thoughts and said: "Send it up."
After a while, he picked up a brochure, scanned it, and frowned, "No Tangning?"
After confirming it, he looked at the young eunuch and said, "Ask them to bring Tangning's test paper to me... and Xiao Jue's as well."
"According to the order." The young eunuch responded and slowly withdrew.
As soon as he reached the door, someone strode in from outside.
Ling Yun walked quickly to the front, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, this is a secret message sent by a spy from eight hundred miles away!"
Immediately a eunuch handed over a letter in his hand.
Chen Huang stood up, opened the envelope, took out the letter, and looked at it.
After a while, he put down the letter and leaned on the table, his body shaking uncontrollably.
Wei Jian's complexion changed drastically. He hurriedly stepped forward to support him and loudly said: "Imperial doctor, please call in the imperial doctor quickly!"
