"The gate of the house is full of people submitting papers..."
"I am also..."
Li Di and Kou Ji looked at each other with wry smiles on their faces.
Li Di turned sideways, facing Kou Ji, and said with a smile: "You came to see me in the middle of the night. You must have something to say. Come in and talk."
Kou Ji jumped off the donkey's back, tied the donkey's reins to the pillar outside the tea shed, and entered the tea shed.
There are four tables, two waiters, and a deck chair in the tea shed.
The guys put down the straw curtains around the tea shed to protect against the cold wind outside. PC::/
Li Di was lying in a lounge chair, covered with a blanket, with a brazier and a small red clay stove in front of him, with tea boiling on the stove.
There is silver frost charcoal in the brazier, so there is not much smoke and dust when burning. After putting down the straw curtains around it, you can't feel the smoke and fire.
Kou Ji walked into the tea shed, sat in front of Li Di, stared at the silver frost burning charcoal in the brazier, and said softly.
Li Di followed Kou Ji's gaze and glanced at the brazier, and said calmly: "You think a small tea shed can't burn silver frost charcoal?"
Kou Ji said with a smile: "People with a little bit of continuity can't afford to burn this thing."
Li Di said in agreement: "I think so too..."
Li Di turned his head to the waiter who was preparing tea and said, "Ah Si, did you hear that? The master of the Taishi Mansion said that your small tea shed cannot afford to burn silver frost charcoal."
The boy called Ah Si is a man in his fifties. He looks like an old farmer. The skin on his face is wrinkled and there are some cracks on his hands. His clothes are clean, and he can't see his eyes when he smiles.
.
He smiled and held a teapot, placed it in front of Kou Ji, bowed and said, "I've seen Minister Kou..."
Kou Ji waved his hand and said: "No need to be polite..."
Ah Si nodded, took another clean tea cup and placed it in front of Kou Ji.
Then he smiled at Li Di and said: "You are old and can't stand the wind. I have to burn some charcoal to keep you warm. Besides, you can't stay in the tea shed for long in a year. Burn some more expensive silver frost charcoal."
It’s nothing.”
Li Di let out a long sigh, "If I stay here all night, you will have to burn Yin Shuang charcoal all night, and the income for a few months will be gone."
Ah Si grinned, "It's okay..."
Li Di sighed again and said no more.
Kou Ji's eyes lingered on Ah Si and Li Di for a moment or two.
Li Di looked at Ah Si's busy back and explained with a wry smile: "When I first entered Bianjing City, I met Ah Si who was about to starve to death, and took him to the tea shed for a full meal.
I wanted to take him in as a follower, but he disappeared after eating.
I thought he was an ungrateful person.
But I didn't expect that a few months later, there would be a tea shed not far from the old man's house.
I have changed my residence several times over the years, and Ah Si's tea shed has also changed locations several times.
Every time it is opened not far from my mansion.
I asked him several times and asked him why he opened the tea shed not far from my residence.
Do you know what this old boy said?"
Kou Ji slowly shook his head.
Li Di couldn't laugh or cry and said: "This old boy actually said that when I don't have a place to stay that day, I can stay in his tea shed. I am a second-grade official, even in the palace, I have a place to stay.
How can you stay in his tea shed?"
Li Di seemed to be telling a joke.
But Kou Ji didn't laugh.
Because he heard a deep affection from it.
Li Di said he would not stay in the tea shed, but now he is in the tea shed.
Kou Ji glanced at Ah Si who was busy and said with emotion: "He is a kind and righteous person."
Li Di smiled and scolded: "Can friendship be eaten as food? I invited him several times and wanted him to be a steward in my house and let him enjoy the blessings with me, but he just didn't want to.
I have to stay in this shabby tea shed and sell tea in the weather.
There is not much profit in a year.
I met the old man who stayed in the tea shed, and he had to serve me good food and drinks, and I had to contribute a few months' income.
What do you think he wants?"
Kou Ji picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said seriously: "He not only has friendship and loyalty, but also has self-esteem."
Li Di scolded again: "Can self-esteem be used as food?"
Kou Ji glanced at the scholars at the door of Li Mansion and asked: "If a person loses his self-esteem, he will be like them. Do you want to see Ah Si become a person like them?"
Li Di glared at Kou Ji fiercely, "You think I don't understand these big principles. I just can't bear to see how miserable he is, and I want him to live a good life for a few days. But no matter how hard I try, he doesn't listen.
I was just so angry that I said that to him."
When Ah Si heard this, he turned around and smiled happily at Li Di.
An angry Li Di stared and cursed again.
Ah Si held a brazier and placed it at Kou Ji's feet. The silver frost charcoal was still burning in the brazier.
Seeing this, Li Di stared and cursed: "He is a young man, he can survive the cold, why should you give him some silver frost charcoal? Do you know that after burning this pot of silver frost charcoal, your monthly income will be
It’s gone.”
Ah Si said with a bright smile: "It's okay..."
When Li Di heard this, he stared at Kou Ji.
Kou Ji hurriedly said: "I will give you money..."
Li Di snorted coldly and stopped glaring at Kou Ji.
Ah Si laughed in a low voice: "No need..."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "It doesn't matter...I have money..."
Ah Si was a little embarrassed, and Kou Ji added: "You have received favors from Grandpa Li, but you have not received favors from me. If you drink your tea and burn your charcoal, you have to pay me."
Seeing that Ah Si still looked embarrassed, Li Di hummed and said: "Take it...it's not me giving you the money, it's the money given by the guest, why not accept it?"
Ah Si nodded reluctantly.
Kou Ji smiled calmly, took out two silver leaves and placed them on the table.
Seeing this, Ah Si wanted to speak.
Li Di snorted coldly and swallowed the words in his mouth.
Ah Si put away the silver leaves and turned around to get busy.
Li Di stared at Kou Ji and asked, "You kid didn't sleep in the middle of the night. What did you do in front of my mansion?"
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said: "I just came here to ask Grandpa Li what the regulations are for the Qiuwei scientific examination and what preparations are needed."
Hearing this, Li Di said disdainfully: "I thought your boy was hiding in Wenrou Township, busy flirting with the girls of Xiang Mansion, and forgot about the real thing."
Kou Ji coughed dryly and said nothing.
Li Di glanced at him and said: "There is nothing you need to do for the Qiuwei scientific examination. I and the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture have already done what you need to do. All that's left is to wait for the day of the scientific examination to come. You can accompany me."
Just go to invigilate the exam together and mark the papers together."
Kou Ji nodded slowly and asked: "On the way here, I bumped into a few scholars..."
Kou Ji described in detail the stories of the scholars he met.
Li Di frowned as he listened.
"A bunch of nonsense. When have I ever accepted other people's submissions? It's even more impossible for me to promise others that I will give someone a pass during the grading process."
Kou Ji pondered and said: "I think what they said about having noses and eyes is probably true. If you have not received other people's submission papers, then you should check the people in your house to see if anyone in your house has accepted other people's papers.
Submit papers."
Li Di's face darkened, "I'm going back home and will investigate carefully."
Kou Ji asked again: "Is this the same for the imperial examinations in previous years?"
Li Di gritted his teeth and nodded.
Kou Ji frowned and said, "If submitting papers is useful, why do we still need to take the imperial examination?"
Li Di said in a deep voice: "I am also aware of this shortcoming. I am determined to rectify this shortcoming during this autumn scientific examination."
After a pause, Li Di looked at Kou Ji and said, "Now that we're talking about this, there's one thing I won't hide from you."
Seeing Li Di's serious expression, Kou Ji asked, "What's the matter?"
Li Di said with a gloomy face: "I recently discovered in Bianjing City that someone was reselling the test questions for the Qiu Wei Science Examination."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "Real or false question?"
Li Di gritted his teeth and said: "Real question!"
Kou Ji looked stunned, "Where did they get the real questions?"
Kou Ji glanced at Li Di, frowned and said: "The test questions for this year's autumn science and technology examination were written by you, my grandfather, and the prince. After the questions were completed, they were sealed in the palace and were not taken out.
It will not be taken out until the day of the scientific examination.
In this case, how could it be possible to reveal the subject?"
Li Di stared at Kou Ji closely and said in a deep voice: "It was the same in previous years, and the problem was also revealed in previous years."
Kou Ji was stunned and said in a deep voice: "You mean, someone in the palace leaked something?"
Li Di nodded slowly.
Kou Ji said in confusion: "Since you know that someone in the palace is leaking something, why don't you stop it?"
Li Di sighed and said, "Whoever leaked the question cannot be found out."
Kou Ji frowned and said: "As long as it is a case, there is no reason that cannot be found out."
Li Di asked: "Who is going to investigate? The ones who leaked the information must be the eunuchs and concubines in the palace. They are all under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is also responsible for investigating and handling their affairs. Do you think those eunuch leaders who have benefited from it?
Can you find out who you are sheltering?"
Kou Ji said decisively: "Change the topic!"
Li Di sneered and said: "Your grandfather tried it, but as soon as he changed the question, it was immediately leaked. For this reason, your grandfather had thirty-six eunuchs executed with a stick, but some people still leaked the question afterwards."
Kou Ji gritted his teeth and said, "They all deserve to die."
Li Di let out a long sigh, "I don't know whether I should die or not. I only know that if the problem of leaking questions is not solved, once the exam starts, my lifelong reputation will be ruined."
Li Di glanced at Kou Ji and sighed: "Do you think I am staying here to avoid those people who submit papers to my house? No! I am worried about leaking questions."
Kou Ji thought for a while and suggested: "Then let's ask the question on the spot! If we make the question on the spot, no one will leak it, right?"
Li Di smiled bitterly and said, "It's a good idea."
Li Di looked at Kou Ji and sighed: "To tell you the truth, this is a method I would only use as a last resort after discussing it with your grandfather."
Kou Ji asked: "Is there any difficulty?"
Li Di nodded and said: "I have stopped the palace from leaking questions, but who will stop me from leaking questions?"
Kou Ji frowned and said, "Grandpa Li, you are an upright man and would not do such a despicable thing."
Li Di smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You believe me, but will those students who failed the exam believe me?"
Before Kou Ji could answer, Li Di sighed: "They will only think that I will secretly leak the questions to the students who have been selected by me."
"The imperial court will still be afraid of them..."
"The imperial court is not afraid, and I am not actually afraid either, but I will be afraid of the new examiner who will be appointed again in the future."
"..."
Kou Ji gritted his teeth, lowered his head and thought for a while, then raised his head and said, "Then let me come up with the question."
Hearing this, Li Di first looked at Kou Jiyi and Er, and then asked: "Are you planning to come up with a set of tricky questions to embarrass those students?"
After saying this, Li Di shook his head and said: "There are many talented people in the world. No matter how tricky your question is, as long as it is spread out, someone will be able to answer it."
Kou Ji smiled coldly, "Then come up with a set of questions that no one can answer."
Li Di said in astonishment: "Is there such a question?"
Kou Ji stood up slowly, cupped his hands and said, "Grandpa Li, just wait for the good news."
After handing over, Kou Ji walked out.
Li Di suddenly stood up and said loudly: "Don't be ridiculous. The purpose of the imperial examination is to select scholars and to select officials. If the questions you ask have nothing to do with officialdom, not only will the Manchu Civil and Military Council impeach you, but also the scholars in the scholar forest will also impeach you."
will scold you.
Your reputation will be ruined."
Kou Ji waved his hand disdainfully, "I'll let them die..."
Kou Ji got on the donkey and walked to Kou's mansion.
Li Di was left standing alone at the door of the tea shed, looking at Kou Ji's back and sighing.
Kou Ji returned to the house and saw that the light in the bedroom was on.
A figure moved in front of the lamp, and you knew that Xiang Yan was still busy.
He didn't bother Xiang Yan and went into the study.
He stayed in the study for two days.
Two days later.
Kou Ji took a stack of papers and 30% of Jiaozipu's people and entered the palace.
After entering the palace.
In the imperial garden, I found Zhao Zhen who was practicing boxing against the pond.
"Your Majesty Kou Ji, please visit the official family."
Kou Ji arrived not far from Zhao Zhen, stopped, raised his hands and saluted.
Zhao Zhen put away his fists, took the sweat towel from Chen Lin's hand, wiped the sweat, and trotted up to Kou Ji.
He looked Kou Ji up and down and said with a smile: "I heard that married men become different, but I didn't find anything special about you."
Kou Ji looked at Zhao Zhen and said calmly: "You will know after you get married."
Zhao Zhen said seriously to Kou Ji: "The concubine said that girls are already being selected in various places, and I will be able to get married at this time next year."
Kou Ji said calmly: "That minister is here to congratulate the official family in advance."
Zhao Zhen frowned and asked, "You don't seem to be happy?"
Kou Ji rolled his eyes and said, "Can I be happy?"
Kou Ji clasped his fists at Chen Lin in the distance, "The father-in-laws in the palace are amazing. They frequently leaked the topics of the Qiu Wei scientific examination. As a result, I can't accompany my wife in the palace. I spend all day preparing for the Qiu Wei scientific examination."
The topic is busy.”
When Chen Lin heard this, her face darkened.
Zhao Zhen said blankly: "Didn't the Grand Master kill those eunuchs who leaked their stories?"