Tang Ning had to admit that King Kang played the game very beautifully.
His performance at the royal family banquet last night was essentially sympathetic, but compared to the previous suicide, his method this time was undoubtedly a higher level.
He first placed himself in an extremely weak position, and then held Prince Duan very high. They were both princes, but their status was completely different. This created a huge gap, one that was enough to make Emperor Chen wary.
This is also the reason why King Duan lost the opportunity to conduct military examinations and the Tang family's Ministry of Rites changed from the main to the auxiliary in the civil examination.
Prince Duan is not the crown prince yet. If he is too arrogant, he will definitely be beaten by Emperor Chen.
Tangning was surprised that King Kang's behavior was very different from before.
A person's personality may undergo sudden changes in a short period of time, but his or her IQ will not.
Especially last night's bitter plot, in addition to testing acting skills, it also tested intelligence. King Kang's wisdom is not yet at this level, and there must be someone with guidance from an expert behind it.
This is a good thing for Tang Ning. Only the smart King Kang can contain King Duan and the Tang family, which can save him a lot of things.
…
Tang family.
His Majesty's two orders this morning, one gave King Duan's contribution to King Huai, and the other kicked the Tang family out of the civil service examination. It can be said that King Duan and the Tang family had just been proud of themselves when they were hit head-on.
He beat them back again.
"What on earth is the person named Xu doing?" Tang Qi frowned and said: "How could it be possible that King Kang came up with this method himself? When he hanged himself, I had doubts, and this time it is even more obvious...
"
A young man who looked like a scholar stood beside him and said: "Back to your lord, Mr. Xu said that he did not know, and warned His Highness Prince Duan not to act rashly."
Tang Qi looked at Tang Huai and asked, "Can you trust this person named Xu?"
Tang Huai gently rubbed the index finger and middle finger of his right hand, shook his head and said: "Kang Kang is already the heir. Apart from rebellion, there is no chance for him to get involved in the throne again. The person named Xu is a smart man. He will not fail to understand this. Let's not do anything about it for the time being."
Let’s wait and see…”
Tang Qi frowned and said, "Then the merit of the martial arts examination was given to King Huai in vain?"
"This is your Majesty's intention. Who can change it?" Tang Huai glanced at him and said calmly: "As for King Huai, you don't have to worry. Even if it is King Run's turn, it will not be his turn. He is just
His Majesty just took the opportunity to strike at Prince Duan’s tools..."
Tang Qi thought for a moment and then said: "King Huai doesn't need to worry, but you still have to be careful with King Kang to prevent him from jumping over the wall in a hurry..."
…
King Duan was kicked out of the martial arts examination decision-making team, and King Huai took over, but the martial arts examination was still held on time.
Three years ago, Tang Ning took part in the imperial examination. Three years later, she became an examiner.
In previous years, the popularity of the martial arts examination was not even as high as that of the civil examination, but this year was different. The imperial court paid special attention to this matter and expanded the scale of the martial arts examination. Due to deliberate publicity, this year's martial arts examination was more popular than the civil examination.
Even so, it goes beyond that.
The location of this year's martial arts competition was chosen at Zuo Xiaowei's school grounds.
Chen Guo has been in the country for decades, but the martial arts examination was only established more than ten years ago. Previously, important positions in the army were held by nobles. Over the years, Chen Huang had to cut off many titles.
The position is vacant.
The content of the martial arts examination is simpler than that of the civil examination, and the procedures are more concise.
The first level tests archery skills, including flat shooting, step shooting, and mounted shooting. The targets are also divided into stationary targets and moving targets.
In the first level of level shooting, candidates need to shoot three arrows, and they need to hit all three arrows to advance. In step shooting, they need to hit two out of three, and in mounted shooting, they only need to hit one out of three. Those who do not meet the requirements in any level will be eliminated directly.
Of course, archery is only the first level. After that, there will be tests on carbine, strength testing, military strategy, etc. There are many types. There are thousands of test takers in Gyeonggi Province, but only a few dozen can be left.
But if these dozens of people had not died on the battlefield, their future would be much better than that of those literary scholars.
At this time, there was a rebellion in the northwest. If he could make contributions on the battlefield and earn a title, it would be a matter of concern to his descendants, and he would be able to step into the circle of powerful people in the capital.
Civilian officials govern the country based on their talents, but military officers' achievements are all made with their own lives. This is why the imperial court gives special treatment to military commanders.
The process of the martial arts examination is simple. There is no need to review the test papers one by one and arrange the order. The elimination system makes the examiner's task much lighter than that of the civil examination examiner.
What Tang Ning wanted to do was to see if anyone cheated during the test, or if the examiner was covering up unfair behavior.
He watched the candidates demonstrate their archery skills with some boredom. At a certain moment, he saw King Huai stand up from the seat in front and walk towards him.
He looked at King Huai and said, "Is there something wrong, Your Highness?"
King Huai smiled slightly and said, "I have a private matter, and I would like to ask Mr. Tang for a small favor."
Tang Ning said: "Your Highness, it doesn't matter if you say so."
King Huai said: "There is a secret pastry in Tianranju called Qiqiao Lily Cake. I wonder if Mr. Tang can discuss with the Fourth Lady and sell the secret recipe of Qiqiao Lily Cake to me."
Tang Ning looked at King Huai and asked in surprise: "Is this the private matter that His Highness is talking about?"
King Huai smiled and said: "To be honest with Mr. Tang, Princess Huai likes this pastry very much. I once sent someone to Tiantianju to ask, but was told that this secret recipe is not spread among the outside world. I can only ask Mr. Tang for help. Miss Su
She is your wife and the owner of Tianranju. I hope Master Tang can make this convenient."
Tang Ning was a little surprised. Although Prince Huai didn't have a high sense of presence, he was still a prince. If he wanted to get a secret recipe from Tianranju, he only needed an order. It couldn't be easier, but he actually had to find it in a roundabout way.
Himself, it shows that he acts in a low-key manner.
As a prince, Tang Ning's impression of Prince Huai immediately improved a lot because she actually opened her mouth to him for the sake of the princess's appetite.
Men who dote on their wives are generally not bad people.
At this moment, he even felt a sense of sympathy with King Huai.
He looked at King Huai and said with a smile: "It's a trivial matter. It's too outrageous to say whether to buy it or not. I'll go back and ask my wife and bring the secret recipe to His Highness tomorrow."
King Huai smiled and said: "There should be rules for buying and selling. Lord Tang, don't worry, I will not pay less money..."
"Since His Highness King Huai insists on giving it, I have no choice but to accept it." Tang Ning nodded and said, "What do you think of one hundred thousand taels, Your Highness?"
King Huai looked stunned, and Tang Ning laughed and said, "It's just a joke. Your Highness doesn't have to take it seriously. If Your Highness insists on giving it, then just give it ten taels of silver."
As soon as he finished speaking, without waiting for King Huai's reply, he suddenly raised his hand and walked straight in front of King Huai.
King Huai subconsciously turned his head and raised one arm slightly. Tang Ning grabbed a stray arrow that was shooting at the back of his head, threw it to the ground, looked at King Huai and said, "The sword has no eyes. Your Highness wants to use it on the school field."
Be careful and try not to turn your back to the school grounds..."
King Huai looked at the arrows on the ground, put down the slightly raised palms in his sleeves, and said with a smile: "Thank you, Lord Tang."
Behind him, a pale examiner ran over and said in panic: "Your Highness, Mr. Tang, are you okay..."
King Huai shook his head and said, "It's okay, you can go and do your work."
Not long after, the examiner's angry voice came from behind.
"You can miss from such a distance. You must have bought your qualifications. Get out of here right away. I don't want to see you here..."
The candidate said aggrievedly: "I, I have one more chance..."
The examiner said angrily: "Go away, I will count to three, if you are still here, believe it or not, I will have your legs broken!"
Tang Ning watched the candidate run away quickly, looked at King Huai, and asked casually, "Your Highness is practicing martial arts?" It seemed he had a deep meaning.
King Huai smiled and said, "I've gotten used to it a little bit."
Tangning didn't ask any more questions, looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late and today's competition will end soon. I'll go back first. My wife is still waiting for me to have dinner..."
King Huai nodded and said: "I am leaving too. If I go back late, the princess will blame..."
The two looked at each other, then smiled at each other and left.
