Bend Over [ 折腰 ] - Chapter 167

[Chapter 165]

Great Yan was the first to implement the system of entering the imperial examination, and when this news was released, all the cold disciples in the world rushed to tell each other and rejoiced.

When some people are happy, naturally there are people who oppose it. The voice of opposition naturally came from the old Japanese warrior clan whose vested interests were damaged. Unfortunately, the arm can not twist the thigh, the current emperor, although he has the name of fear of the inside, the administration is also broad, but the means are fierce, the iron fist is not soft, not like the former Liu clan to rely on these local clans to stabilize the rule, it is after a flurry of chaos and opposition, it will not be over, moreover, not all the clans of the clan jumped out against the imperial examination system, there are also enlightened people who agree, the most famous representative of which is Gao Heng of Bohai County.

Gao Heng came from a famous family, although he has never been in the shi, but the Gao clan is the Bohai Wang clan, Gao Heng himself has the reputation of “Bohai Crown”, the reputation is known to everyone, no one knows, not long after the promulgation of the imperial court examination system, when the local scholars have criticized this new policy, he was the first to stand up and publicly express his support, not only that, he was also the first scholar in Bohai County to take part in the first scientific expedition.

When the news came out, the whole Bohai County was hotly discussed.

According to the detailed examination system promulgated, the county examination, the state examination and the meeting examination, all implement a strict sealing of the name and reading of the file, because it is the first subject after the opening of the dynasty, the emperor attaches great importance to it, in order to truly select talents and eliminate fraud, the thirteen states of the country, all sent by the imperial court to study officials to supervise the entire process, once there is a fraud in private affairs is verified, the relevant officials and scholars involved in the case, the head will not be protected.

That is to say, it will be a selection exam that is completely dependent on strength. With Gao Bohai’s reputation, if he really wanted to become an official, he did not have to use this risky way to enter the army, and even, in the eyes of others, this move was simply as shocking as the world.

Not to mention the willingness to demote himself to participate in the imperial examination with ordinary scholars, even if he finally dominates, it is only the icing on the cake for him, but in case he is eliminated, for his reputation, it is nothing less than a stain.

Gao Bohai’s relatives and friends came to persuade each other one after another, but he did not listen, but instead hesitated and was full of ambition, laughing: The new dynasty has eliminated the old evils and everything in Vientiane has been renewed. The examination system is more like a breeze blowing on the face, orchids on my nose, it can be seen that the imperial court is eclectic in employing people’s hearts, my generation has not only been included in the ranks of scholars, but also fortunate to meet the Qing government and benevolent rule of the dynasty, since they should go all out to join the world, how can we cherish the thin name of the past and stagnate?

When these words spread, no one inside and outside the Bohai Sea was unwilling to obey.

Under the “star” effect of Gao Bohai, in order to show their loyalty to the new emperor, some other warriors also sent their children to refer to, and in a short period of time, it became a common practice.

Gao Bohai’s words are not only extremely stylish, but also full of self-confidence.

He also really has such a confident capital, not only is he high in eight buckets, proficient in archery and riding, but also has a lot of insight into countermeasures. The county test and the state test were unimpeded all the way, and in the spring of the following year, with the first place in the state test, he went to Luoyang to participate in the last meeting test. In the final ranking, he ranked third with two scholars.

The chief official of the examination, Dr. Taixue, Did not dare to make his own decisions, and listed the three papers separately, along with all the other examination papers on the list, and submitted them to the imperial court, asking the emperor to personally rank them.

……

In the afternoon, the sun shines on the dark green glazed tiles of the imperial palace, and the snouts arch and the cornices are angled.

In the Huaguang Hall of the North Palace, which the empress used as her daily life, in the mountain-shaped lid of a wrong gold bronze Boshan furnace, slowly spitting out incense and light smoke, swirling around, and the immortal spirit birds carved on the waist of the stove were fluttering, looking like they were on the Penglai Immortal Mountain on the sea.

The inner hall is covered with smoke and tents, and the bright light is sifted through layer by layer, gradually reaching the inner temple and turning into darkness.

Several dressed palace ladies quietly stood in the corner of the temple, waiting with bated breath for the queen to wake up at noon.

……

Emperor Fang Xi gave him a seat, sat upright on an embroidered bed, and commented endlessly on the results of the examination.

After the emperor was in the case, he listened to his comments while looking at the three other examination papers selected.

The paper paper, flipping between his fingers, made a slight rustling sound.

Half a year ago, after repeated trials, the craftsmen of the Industrial and Technological Department finally produced a paper that could completely replace the smooth writing of the ribbon and bamboo jane.

The newly created paper, a change from the rough quality of the previous difficult to climb the elegant hall, not only white and flexible, extremely easy to write, but also compared to the veil, the cost is much lower, the Bureau of Industry and Manufacturing will spread the papermaking method to the whole country, in a short period of time it will be rapidly promoted, this examination, the volume used by the scholar to respond, in response to the orders of the imperial court, are all written on paper.

“Your Majesty, these three examination papers, after being reviewed by Lao Chen and others, have been repeatedly deliberated and jointly selected, ranking in the top three, especially Gao Heng of Bohai…”

Fang Xizheng said, and suddenly there was a sound of light footsteps landing on the ground behind him, as if someone was running and jumping in the propaganda room.

This is very unruly, especially since this is still the royal study.

Who would be so wanton as to dare to run and jump in front of the emperor like this?

As soon as Fang Xi stopped, he heard a delicate child’s voice coming from behind him: “Father Emperor! Turning his head, a little girl had come in the door.

The girl was only two years old, but the raw one was already carved with jade, very cute and pitiful, leaving a cluster of flat black bangs in front of her forehead, each side tied a woman, the skin was white, the eyes were black, wearing a small pink skirt, no one jumped and ran towards the emperor, to his side, climbed the emperor’s arm, and said in a milky voice: “Father Emperor, what are you looking at?” When Emperor Fang Cai listened

to his evaluation, he didn’t know what was going on, and Fang Xi felt that he seemed to be absent-minded, and even seemed a little unhappy.

This made Fang Xi feel uneasy, suspicious that the first three articles selected were not in line with the holy will, so he had been vigorously explaining.

But at this moment, he saw the emperor smile, and took the girl who was the size of a small turnip to his lap and let her sit in his arms, and then continued to turn over the test paper.

Fang Xi secretly Nahan.

He naturally recognized that the little girl who suddenly ran into the propaganda room was Princess Changning, the beloved daughter of Imagami and Qiao Hou.

He had also heard that the emperor was extremely fond of the princess, not only allowing her to freely enter and leave the propaganda room, but when discussing with the minister, if the princess happened to be present and did not want to leave, the emperor simply took her and sat on her.

I didn’t expect to really see this scene today.

Seeing the little princess sitting in the arms of the emperor, lying on the imperial case, tilting her head slightly, looking at herself with her eyes wide open, Fang Xi couldn’t help but cough dryly, looked serious, and sat on her back more straight, and then fangcai’s words continued: “Your Majesty, especially The Bohai Sea Gao Heng, the article is beautiful and beautiful, the heavenly machine is cloudy, and the policy response is more to the point, and the next pen is brilliant.” This person is not only known for his talent, but this examination, the position of Ding yuan, is also well deserved…”

The emperor has put down the file, looked at Fang Xi for a moment, at first did not say a word, and suddenly his fingers tapped the case surface, making a loud “click” sound.

Fang Xi was stunned and stopped.

The Emperor said expressionlessly, “I know.” You go down first!

Fang Xi was not willing, stood up busily, and then explained: “I will try the volume of the three top three, but after the joint evaluation is made, I open the column of the name, and the old minister knows that this volume was made by Gao Bohai, and there is absolutely no favoritism.” Moreover, it was not lao Chen who was moved by his article, and after reading it, he was also full of praise for Gao Heng’s volume–”

“Retire.”

The emperor repeated it again, and his tone became even colder.

Little Princess FlyQuickly turning back, he looked at his father, saw his face stretched, jumped off his knees, ran to Fang Xi’s side, looked up at him and whispered, “My father and emperor, he is not happy!” Last time, there was a person, my father did not let him say, he still wanted to say, provoked my father and emperor to be unhappy, and finally scolded by him, so pitiful…”

Fang Xi wanted to break his head, and he couldn’t think of how he had touched the emperor’s reverse scales, his face was red and white, and he looked down to see the little princess looking at himself with sympathetic eyes, his heart was moved, he barely smiled, and he bowed respectfully to her and thanked her, so he had to retreat.

……

Xiao Qiao did not sleep well after returning to the palace last night because he accompanied Wei Shao to read the recital last night, and felt a little sleepy at noon, so he went to make up for a sleep, slept for a long time, lazily woke up, and when he saw that Philippi was not on the side, he asked the palace maid where she was going.

The palace maid tied up layers of light gauze to block the sun, and the light in the inner temple was immediately filled.

One of them laughed and said, “When the little princess woke up, she ordered her maid not to wake up the queen, so she quietly got out of bed and said that she was going to look for Her Majesty.” Chun Mi sent her there. Philippi is

now more than two years old, and the one who was spoiled by her father has almost gone to the house to reveal the tiles. The emperor and the ministers were deliberating in the propaganda room, and if it was not a major matter, the little princess suddenly emerged from behind the imperial case and frightened the cold Gongsun Yang and others, which was also a common thing.

The emperor, far from being upset, took her and sat her on his lap whenever he did.

Then, the ministers could only continue to speak to the little princess who was staring at her with her mouth closed on the edge of the table with her crooked head.

Such a scene is estimated that the ministers have gradually become accustomed to it.

Little Qiao combed his hair, saw that Philip had not yet returned, slightly evened the surface, and then came out of the Huaguang Hall.

Since Wei Shao ascended the throne, he had been in the early dynasty, diligent in his administration, and read the chapters every day, often until late at night before he could return to the palace to rest.

At this point, the meeting should have dispersed, and he must have been in the propaganda room.

……

Fang Xi came out of the Xuan Room with a frustrated and incomprehensible mood, and when he walked on the palace road, he saw Qiao Hou coming in this direction under the palace companions, flowers and clouds, pearls and jade, like a fairy concubine, busy far away from the side of the road, waiting for her to get closer, greeting her.

Xiao Qiao smiled and said, “Doctor, did you come to see Your Majesty for the test?”

Fang Xi also knew that the proposal for keju was first from Qiao Hou, not to mention that the emperor had always obeyed the empress, and this was no secret in the imperial court, and in front of her, there was nothing to hide, and said: “Exactly.” The subject only submitted the appraisal of the top three files to His Majesty. As for who is to be the Ding yuan, it is up to His Majesty to decide.

Little Joe asked, “Who are these three?”

Fang Xi reported the names of the other two and said, “The other of the three is the youngest, and the empress wants to have heard of his name, which is Bohai Gaoheng.” Remembering the emperor’s

reaction to listening to his own comments on Gao Heng’s article, his heart was still confused after all, and he couldn’t help but complain again: “Forgive the boldness of the minister, and then say in front of the empress, Your Majesty has opened the first step in the examination to enter the army, this is a major matter related to the society, and since the old minister has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility, the old minister must do his best and dare not slack off a little.” As seen by the old minister, Gao Bohai’s article is splendid, his chest is clean, and the position of Dingyuan is truly deserved. It was only when the old minister pushed the Bohai Sea in front of His Majesty that His Majesty seemed to have doubts. If, because of his long-standing name, he buried this article in order to avoid suspicion, it would be a pity, and it would also be contrary to His Majesty’s original intention of opening a science to recruit the world’s talents.

Xiao Qiao naturally knew that Gao Heng also participated in the first examination, and when he first heard the news, he was very surprised, and he did not expect that he had been tested all the way up and finally entered Luoyang.

In the emperor’s heart, what was going on in the end, others did not know, but Xiao Qiao could always guess eight or nine. As soon as you hear it, you know what’s going on.

Looking at Fang Xi, a doctor of Taixue with a puzzled look, he smiled and said, “Even if Your Majesty does not take it, presumably he must also have his consideration, let alone not yet decide?” The doctor went back with peace of mind and waited for the news. When

Fang Xi left, Xiao Qiao entered the propaganda room.

Chunniang and several palace people were standing outside the xuan room, and when they saw her coming, they rushed to greet her.

“The princess is inside.” When she woke up, she was going to look for Her Majesty. Chunniang whispered.

Xiao Qiao nodded, and as soon as he entered, he saw Thatphife kneeling on Wei Shao’s lap, and Wei Shao was holding his daughter in one hand, taking a scroll in the other, reading it to Philippi sentence by sentence, and asking, “What does Philip think of this?” Why not pick the top of the list?

“But people don’t know!” It’s too hard! “The white-bearded old Man who was driven away by his father just now seems to be very learned, and if the Father Emperor really doesn’t know, he will go and call the old Man back…”

Wei Shao looked up and saw that Xiao Qiao had come, and his hand was eaten.

“!”

Phi Fei had always been accustomed to calling out to Little Qiao’s mother according to her original name, and when she saw her coming, her eyes lit up, and she was relieved, and she hurriedly climbed down from Wei Shao’s body and ran towards her quickly.

“! The Father had to read to me words that I could not understand! And you want me to help him choose! It’s so hard! Mother, mother, help your father! After saying

that, he dropped the emperor and ran out as soon as he slipped a cigarette.

Xiao Qiao watched his daughter’s figure disappear behind the door, turned his head to look at Wei Shao, and walked towards him.

Wei Shao did nothing, as if he were comfortable, and pressed a file to the bottom.

Little Qiao came close to him and said, “What are you doing?” The ready-made Dr. Taixue did not ask for advice, but let Philippi help you determine the ranking? The nonsense is also no side. Wei Shao

wrapped his arms around her, sat her on his lap, and hugged her as if he were holding PhiPhi, bowed his head into her fragrant neck socket, sniffed deeply, and then said vaguely, “I am impatient to listen to those old scholars teach me.” Why don’t you help me decide.”

Xiao Qiao glanced at him and smiled, “Well, concubines are bold, then they will be trespassing.” Reaching

out, he pulled out the file that he had just pressed at the bottom.

[End of This Chapter]