"Are you conspiring with your husband to kill me?"
Zhao Xu stared at Bao Zheng and asked sternly.
Bao Zheng's face turned slightly red. He was in his twenties and had his ears pulled by a teenage girl. He couldn't bear it.
Bao Zheng broke free from Zhao Xu's hand, stared at Zhao Xu with a heavy face and said: "Girl, please respect yourself... Men and women are not allowed to be intimate..."
When Zhao Xu heard what Bao Zheng said, she said angrily: "Since you know that I am a girl, why did you conspire with your husband to kill me?"
Bao Zheng said sternly: "Today, for the sake of the girl, Bao Zheng has already expressed panic to Privy Kou. This move has gone against Bao Zheng's original intention as a person. Now the girl is accusing Bao Zheng of conspiring with Privy Kou to kill you, which is really wrong."
When Zhao Xu heard this, he was angry and funny, "According to you, this girl is making trouble unreasonably?"
Bao Zheng nodded solemnly.
Zhao Xu laughed angrily and scolded: "You are such a blackhead, you dare to accuse me, do you know my identity?"
Bao Zheng looked Zhao Xu up and down and said, "If a girl can become the disciple of Privy Councilor Kou, her family background is naturally extraordinary. But Bao Zheng can't ask for help from the girl, so he is not afraid of the girl's identity."
"Oh!"
Zhao Xu laughed, stared at Bao Zheng and hummed: "What if I become the princess of the dynasty? Since you are a scholar, you are destined to enter the dynasty. Once you enter the dynasty, you will become a minister of the Zhao family.
If I were the princess of the dynasty, I would be the king.
If you are a minister of the Zhao family, you are my minister.
If I were a king and you were a minister, would you be afraid of me?"
When Bao Zheng heard this, his expression changed and he subconsciously distanced himself from Zhao Xu.
Then he stared at Zhao Xu in astonishment.
The princess of the current dynasty was a wealthy person, so how could she get mixed up with a poor scholar like him?
The wealthy families in Bianjing City all like to catch their son-in-law from the bottom of the list, but that is the bottom of the list.
As soon as the results came out, those poor scholars suddenly became Jinshi and officials. They broke away from the category of poor scholars and belonged to the same class as the wealthy families in Bianjing City.
Only in this way can he be called as a son-in-law by those wealthy families.
Before the announcement of the list, have you ever seen that wealthy family competing to bring a poor scholar to their residence?
The princess came from a wealthy family, but she was very different from him.
Zhao Xu saw Bao Zheng's shocked face, stuck out his tongue in a strange way, and laughed, "I lied to you... Look how scared you are... The princesses I came out of the pavilion were all over forty years old."
.
The only ones who have not left the cabinet are the eldest princess of the Wei Kingdom and the newly born princess who has not had time to give her a title.
The eldest princess of Wei State loves Taoism and has been studying Taoism in the palace. She is also at the age of getting married and cannot leave the palace.
The little princess who was just born was only a little bit old, and she couldn't leave the palace.
Do you think I look like them?"
Bao Zheng was stunned for a moment. The girl in front of him was about the same age as the eldest princess of Wei Kingdom, one of the many princesses in the royal family. It was just that Zhao Xu, the eldest princess of Wei Kingdom, liked Buddhist and Taoist classics. It was no secret. According to the palace
There are rumors that the princess has cultivated to the point where she is no longer in trouble.
The officials had a lot of headaches over this.
The girl from years ago was quirky and naughty. She was very different from the rumored eldest princess of the Wei Kingdom. She was probably not a princess.
Zhao Xu's apprenticeship with Kou Ji was decided privately by Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji and was not announced to the public.
Zhao Xu was also sent to the Kou Mansion privately by Zhao Zhen.
Except for a few people in Bianjing City, most people did not know about this.
And those who know will never publicize this matter.
Because this matter involves Zhao Xu's reputation.
Zhao Xu, a girl who has not yet left the court, will be discussed by others no matter what the reason is when she lives in the Kou Mansion.
There were no secrets before the Song Dynasty, but that doesn’t mean there are no secrets now.
In the past, the palace was a sieve, but now the palace is airtight.
It used to be okay to reveal royal secrets.
If you reveal the secrets of the royal family now, you will probably die.
Zhao Zhen is not like the late emperor Zhao Heng.
Zhao Zhen killed people without mercy at all.
The wronged souls of the Shi family are still wailing in the vegetable market. No one dares to challenge Zhao Zhen's majesty at this time for a trivial matter.
It is precisely because of this that not many people know about Zhao Xu, the eldest princess of the Wei Kingdom, living in the Kou Mansion.
It was precisely because of this that Bao Zheng believed Zhao Xu's words.
Bao Zheng breathed a sigh of relief after learning that Zhao Xu was not a princess.
Seeing this, Zhao Xu said somewhat displeasedly: "You don't like the princess?"
Bao Zheng shook his head and said frankly: "If you were a princess, I don't know how to face you."
After a pause, Bao Zheng said something very heartbreaking, "But there are not many ambitious scholars in the world who would marry a princess..."
Zhao Xu's heart was instantly pricked, and his face was covered with frost.
Bao Zheng thought Zhao Xu didn't believe what he said, so he patiently explained to Zhao Xu: "In my dynasty, marrying a princess is not a good thing. Marrying a princess and gaining the position of consort may seem noble, but you will lose your career.
How can a person with lofty ideals give up his official career just because of the position of consort?
Only those who are idle and greedy for vanity will marry a princess."
Bao Zheng pricked Zhao Xu's heart twice more. The frost on Zhao Xu's face became even thicker. She gritted her teeth and whispered: "According to your words, I will go to the princess with a body of thousands of gold."
Can you only marry those who are inactive and greedy for vanity?"
Bao Zheng nodded very sincerely.
Zhao Xu gritted his teeth.
When Bao Zheng saw this, he was stunned.
Zhao Xu may have realized that something was wrong with his expression, so he gritted his teeth and explained: "You also said that my status must be extraordinary if I can become the disciple of Privy Councilor Kou. I do have some status, and I have been friends with the eldest princess of Weiguo since I was a child.
After hearing what you said, I was angry for her."
Bao Zheng heard Zhao Xu's explanation and nodded slightly.
Zhao Xu's statement is quite reasonable.
Zhao Xu didn't wait for Bao Zheng to speak again, and threw the "Female Commandments" into Bao Zheng's hands, "My husband saw flaws in what you copied during the day, and he punished me to copy it a hundred times.
You copied it for me. My husband said that the hooks you wrote are rounder than mine, and there are several other flaws.
You should look carefully and don't let Mr. see the flaw again."
Bao Zheng looked stunned, "Why should I..."
Zhao Xu made a fierce face at Bao Zheng, "If you dare not copy it for me, I will yell now that you bully me..."
When Bao Zheng heard this, he smiled bitterly, "I'll just copy it. I was asked by Privy Councilor Kou to do the copying. Helping you copy the "Female Commandments" is considered work. Girls, please don't make fun of your own reputation...
…”
Bao Zheng realized that he had met a little witch.
It's just that the little witch is obviously a little bold.
He knew that he was in trouble, so he could only follow the little witch's instructions.
There are just a few "Commandments for Women" on the left and right.
Seeing that Bao Zheng agreed, Zhao Xu hummed twice and pointed at the food on the table, "I'm not a heartless person. You will definitely be upset if you help me copy the book. I'll help you get a bowl of official food."
Yan, I’ll give you some replenishment.”
Bao Zheng took a look at what Zhao Xu was referring to, and indeed saw a cup of something similar to a bird's nest. He bowed his hand to Zhao Xu, "Thank you, girl..."
"snort……"
Zhao Xu snorted and left the wing.
She went to the side room to find Bao Zheng, and her accusation was false. In fact, she was trying to find an excuse to punish Kou Ji for copying her task and hand it over to Bao Zheng.
Bao Zheng sighed, went to the table and started eating.
After eating, he began to help Zhao Xu copy books.
This copying lasted for more than ten days.
Bao Zheng tried very hard to imitate Zhao Xu's handwriting, but he still couldn't hide it from Kou Ji's eyes.
When it comes to counterfeiting, Kou Ji is a professional.
Bao Zheng's moral integrity is really not enough for Kou Ji.
So Bao Zheng imitated Zhao Xu's handwriting for a long time, but Kou Ji still saw the flaw.
Kou Ji decisively doubled Zhao Xu's score.
Zhao Xu naturally found Bao Zheng's head.
Kou Ji knew about this from the beginning, but did not step forward to stop it, nor did he give Bao Zheng any other copying work.
Ten days later.
The Kou Mansion welcomed another student, a very young student, a student with the same out-of-the-box temperament as Zhao Xu.
Su Xun Su Laoquan.
Su Xun had been studying in Wenchang Academy before and did not go out to practice with Han Qi and others, mainly because he was too young.
Ten days after Bao Zheng entered the house, Kou Ji felt that Bao Zheng alone was no longer enough to complete the tasks he assigned to Zhao Xu, so he called Su Xun over.
After Su Xun visited Kou Ji, Kou Ji arranged for him to live next to Bao Zheng.
The first time Su Xun saw Bao Zheng, the first words he said were very rude.
Su Xun is younger than Bao Zheng, but he is about the same height as Bao Zheng. He is slightly richer and fairer than Bao Zheng, so when he met Bao Zheng, his first words were:
"You are so dark..."
Bao Zheng glanced at Su Xun up and down, and said in a neutral tone: "Ink is also black, and there is no writing without ink..."
Su Xun's eyes lit up and he said to Bao Zheng: "Compare?"
Ever since Han Qi and others went to Hexi, Su Xun has become a top student in Wenchang Academy.
None of the students in Wenchang Academy are his rivals.
He has a wild and aggressive temperament and likes to compete with others.
The students in Wenchang Academy were quickly beaten to the ground by him.
Su Xun had no opponent in the Wenchang Academy and was panicking.
When I met Bao Zheng, I naturally became interested.
He was quick-thinking and knew that if Bao Zheng could be kept in the house by Kou Ji, he must be outstanding, so he set his sights on Bao Zheng.
Bao Zheng saw the fighting spirit in Su Xun's heart and did not give in.
Decided to teach this rude boy Su Xun a lesson.
Zhao Xu happened to pass by when the two were facing each other, and then acted as a referee for the two.
Under the auspices of Zhao Xu, the two began to compete in poetry.
Then.
Su Xun was completely defeated.
Fighting words.
Su Xun was completely defeated.
Dou Jing.
Su Xun was completely defeated.
After several battles, Bao Zheng pinned Su Xun to death.
Bao Zheng was cautious in his words and deeds in front of Kou Ji because he respected Kou Ji's identity.
But facing Su Xun, he showed his sharpness.
Su Xun is no match for Bao Zheng.
After Su Xun lost to Bao Zheng, he immediately went back to his room to work hard.
Bao Zheng also returned to his room and began to study.
However, both of them failed to escape Zhao Xu's clutches. They were caught by Zhao Xu and helped her copy the "Female Commandments".
Some time in the future.
Scholars one after another entered the Kou Mansion.
As usual, Su Xun came to challenge one by one, and there were winners and losers.
Until Ouyang Xiu and others return to Beijing...
The new year is approaching.
The Kou Mansion was very lively.
There were many scholars gathered in the Kou Mansion, and they were busy reciting poems and composing poems every day.
The New Year is approaching, and the scholars are far away from home and cannot go home to reunite with their families, so they can only find a touch of the warmth of home through the Kou Mansion.
So in their free time, they helped the servants of the Kou Mansion prepare New Year's goods and mingled with the servants of the Kou Mansion, which naturally made it more lively.
Kou Ji and Fan Zhongyan stood side by side at the entrance of the main hall, looking at the scholars coming and going.
Fan Zhongyan said with some hesitation: "Sir, please tell me, among the scholars living in your house, how many will be in high school this year?"
Kou Ji smiled and said: "Almost all..."
Fan Zhongyan was startled and expressed his worries, "Sir, you reminded me before to keep a low profile and beware of fraud cases. You also refused those scholars to submit papers.
But now that you invite these scholars into your house and plan to win over them, will it go against your original intention?
If this matter spreads, it will definitely be criticized.
At that time, the civil and military forces of the entire dynasty will target you."
After a pause, Fan Zhongyan added, "I'm afraid the officials will also complain about this."
The purpose of selecting scholars through the imperial examination is to help the court select talents.
The selected talents are all members of the official family.
Now Kou Ji invited a group of scholars to his residence and planned to win them, which meant he was controlling the imperial examination.
Can the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty agree?
Can the officials agree?
The imperial examination is a public instrument, how can it be controlled by Kou Ji alone?
Kou Ji did not answer Fan Zhongyan's question, but asked with a smile: "Do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing for them that I win them?"
Fan Zhongyan was stunned for a moment and said decisively: "For them, it is naturally a good thing, but for Mr., it is not a good thing."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "I have already discussed this with the officials for this enke. During the enke, the officials and the three prime ministers set the questions on the spot. So there is no possibility of fraud.
After the scientific examination, I will also post the scholars' articles for everyone to read.
It is obvious at a glance whether the scholars were selected by the court based on their true ability.
So there is no need to worry about fraud."
Fan Zhongyan looked stunned.
Guan Jia and San Zai asked questions on the spot?
That is an honor that can only be obtained by the imperial examination.
Kou Ji just got it and tried it. He really didn't know what to say.
But if Guan Jia and San Zai can agree, then even if he has any suggestions, he can only keep them.
If it is true as Kou Ji said, if the officials and Sanzai set the questions on the spot, there is indeed no possibility of cheating.
Unless the officials and Sanzai cooperated with Kou Ji to cheat.
But is that possible?
In this case, what is the purpose of Kou Ji inviting these scholars into the palace to win people's hearts in advance?
Then why did the officials agree?
You know, if Kou Ji wants to win people's hearts, the most nervous ones must be the officials.
Kou Ji seemed to see Fan Zhongyan's doubts and said with a smile: "This matter was decided after I discussed it with the officials a few days ago, so I didn't have time to tell you."
Fan Zhongyan nodded slowly.
What Kou Ji said was inconsistent with what he did.
Then there must be some changes that have occurred recently, which Fan Zhongyan naturally understands.
After Fan Zhongyan nodded, Kou Ji continued: "The reason why I let them live in Kou Mansion and let the people in the house serve them with good food and drink is mainly to compensate them."
Fan Zhongyan frowned, his heart full of doubts.
Kou Ji didn't explain much.
Enke selected Jinshi this time mainly for the purpose of revising books.
What I am repairing are the books in the Wisdom Museum and some personal belongings that Kou Ji brought with him.
While they are revising books, they will inevitably be affected by some of the knowledge in the books.
After confirming the knowledge in those books, some people will be deeply involved in it and become believers in that knowledge.
When they become believers in scientific knowledge, they are destined to become the group of people that Confucian scholars have to deal with, and are destined to be targeted by all Confucian scholars.
They have to bear the infamy and all kinds of mental and physical torture.
They will also transform into fighters and fight with the Confucian scholars.
Of course, that's all a matter for the future.
After the books in the Wisdom Museum are completely sorted, Kou Ji will not let them be published, nor will he let them spread the contents of the books.
Even if he wants to spread the word, Kou Ji will choose a method that is safer and easier for people to accept.
For example, it is called the New Confucianism under the guise of Confucianism.
But even so, there will still be fights.
The scholars in Kou's mansion must join Kou Ji in the fight.
That's why Kou Jicai brought them into his house, gave them good food and drink, and also allowed them to bond with each other and form a deep friendship to facilitate future fights.
Zhao Zhen knew Kou Ji's purpose, so he would not doubt Kou Ji, but secretly supported Kou Ji behind his back.
Fan Zhongyan secretly guessed what Kou Ji meant, while Kou Ji stood quietly at the door of the main hall, waiting for something.
After a long, long time.
Kou Ji and others appeared.
A group of people who had traveled a long time, dressed in the same clothes as Fan Zhongyan when he entered the capital, entered the Kou Mansion under the guidance of the servants of the Kou Mansion.
Fan Zhongyan was a little stunned after seeing them.
Kou Ji looked at them with a smile, waiting for them to salute him.
The leader, leading the others, arrived in front of Kou Ji and said, "Student Wen Yanbo..."
"Student Ouyang Xiu..."
"Student Han Qi..."
"..."
After bowing down one by one, they all said in unison: "I have seen you, sir..."
Fan Zhongyan pointed at Wen Yanbo, "You...you...you are..."
Wen Yanbo bowed to Fan Zhongyan, "The student has met Fan Shilang. The student and others are all students of Wenchang Academy. The reason for concealing his identity and going to Hexi to practice was because of the rules of the academy.
Please forgive me, Mr. Fan."
Fan Zhongyan shook his head dumbfounded and said: "I asked why a group of talents suddenly came out of Hexi. I thought it was God's blessing, but I didn't expect that they were students from Wenchang Academy.
I should have thought of it..."
After Fan Zhongyan finished speaking, Ouyang Xiu bowed to Fan Zhongyan and said, "I hope you will forgive me for being disrespectful."
Fan Zhongyan waved his hand, "That's all, you are doing it because of the school's rules."
"Thank you, Mr. Fan..."
After they finished speaking, Kou Ji said with a smile: "You guys have been tired all the way, so go down and wash up first, and then go to the dining room to have dinner together."
"Thank you sir..."
"..."
Ouyang Xiu, Wen Yanbo and others, after thanking Kou Ji, were led by Kou's servants to the washing area.
Soak in the hot water.
Wen Yanbo looked around at Ouyang Xiu and others, and said: "When I entered the house just now, I took a closer look and found that there were many scholars living in the Kou Mansion's courtyard. They should all be scholars who took the imperial examination today.
Sir, he brought them to their house and also invited us into his house. Do you have any thoughts..."
Several people were classmates in Wenchang Academy, and after arriving in Hexi, they supported each other and formed a deep friendship early on.
Now that we sit together, we can naturally talk freely.
Ouyang Xiu took off the sweat towel covering his face and asked, "Why do we call Privy Kou Sir?"
Han Qi rubbed his face and said, "That's because when we were in Hexi, we saw how Privy Kou taught Hexi officials how to enrich the people, and we also saw how the people of Hexi started from scratch and became rich step by step.
Privy Kou's way of becoming an official is different from all the ways we have seen before.
Today, most officials in the officialdom believe that a government that does not close its doors at night and does not pick up lost objects on the road can be called great governance.
I used to be convinced of this.
But after a trip to Hexi, I discovered that true governance requires not only keeping the house open at night and not picking up lost things on the road, but also having enough money and food.
Only in this way can it be regarded as great governance.
Privy Kou abandoned the previous way of being an official and implemented a new way of being an official.
Let us see how to be an official and how to benefit the people.
So we call him sir."
Ouyang Xiu nodded slowly, "Sir, you risked the disapproval of the world and brought all the talented scholars into the palace, it must be to do something important that will benefit the people.
He can't do this big thing by himself and needs our help, so he invited us to join him."
Fu Bi nodded at the side and said: "The officials are not stupid. It is easy to see from what the officials have done in recent years. If you use this to recruit talents from all over the world, the officials will definitely not sit idly by. Now, Mr.
Although the officials did not say anything or do anything about bringing talented scholars into the government, it was obviously his actions that had been approved by the officials.
If my guess is correct, what you are going to do this time may be similar to the previous military reform.
This was also the case when officials and gentlemen carried out the reform of the military system.
Without revealing any news in advance, through step-by-step suspicions, it attracted everyone's attention, and then secretly promoted the reform of the military system.
By the time everyone reacted, the officials and husband had already completed the reform of the military system."
Wen Yanbo said solemnly: "I know everything you said. I just want to remind you that when you do things, sometimes the wind turns into rain, and sometimes you use thunderous means. But without exception, they are all full of blood.
If we get involved, our lives may be in danger."
Ouyang Xiu looked at Wen Yanbo and said in a deep voice: "Have you guessed what sir is going to do?"
Wen Yanbo looked at Ouyang Xiu and others, frowned and said: "I can guess it, can't you guess it?"
Han Qi looked at several people one by one and said in a heavy voice: "The reform of the military system has been completed, and the only thing left is..."
"Wenzhi!"
Several people took a deep breath and said these two words in unison.