Prime Minister

Chapter 525
Above the Golden Temple.

Sima Guangjin, the chief examiner, presented the top ten papers to the officials for browsing.

The officials did not dismantle them in court, but went to see Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao.

Empress Dowager Cao is now the Empress Dowager.In Puyi, Empress Dowager Cao was forced by Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu and others.It was as if, taking advantage of the drunken Empress Dowager Cao, he coaxed her to sign a document acknowledging King Pu as the emperor.

Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao also once fought for power in the harem.

However, after the death of the first emperor, Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao were reconciled. The two of them were like mother and daughter. Because of Zhao Shu, they fought for power in the harem before, but now everything has disappeared.

The officials don't need to say much to Empress Dowager Gao, after all, they are mother and son, and they are also very filial to Empress Dowager Cao.

When the official family was still the prince, Han Wei kept persuading him that the official family has lost the favor of the queen mother, and now it depends on you, the king, to make up for it.Otherwise, both of you father and son will suffer from it.

When Zhao Xu ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Cao expressed her support, which is why the officials obeyed Han Weiyan after ascending the throne.

After the official ascended the throne, he followed Wu Kui's suggestion and admitted that Pu Yi was wrong.

Now I heard that Sima Guang, the chief examiner, sent the papers and lists of the top ten in the imperial examination, and the officials showed them to the two empress dowagers without saying a word.

Empress Dowager Cao asked: "This list has already been drawn up, did you just send it?"

The eunuch said yes.

Empress Dowager Cao frowned and said to the officials, "When Emperor Renzong was here, he always presented the papers for imperial review first, and then drew up the list. How can Sima Guang make his own decisions?"

The official said: "Although the list has been prepared, it has not been announced."

Empress Dowager Cao glanced at the official family and said: "Your Majesty, if you think this is okay, then I have nothing to say. Sima Guang is loyal and famous. If it is someone else, I must reprimand him."

The officials sat down with their heads down and said yes.

Empress Dowager Cao said: "The officials are too kind. I think state affairs still need the assistance of a seasoned and prudent minister."

The official said: "Just as I was about to report to the Empress Dowager, my grandson has already called Zheng Guogong back to the court."

Empress Dowager Cao was very satisfied when she heard this.

Fu Bi resolutely followed Empress Dowager Cao in Puyi, but was pushed out of court by Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu.Now after the official ascended the throne, he listened to Han Wei's suggestion to call Fu Bi back to the court.

Fu Bi has great kindness to Han Wei, so Han Wei is not close to his elder brother Han Jiang and Han Qi, but he has always been close to Fu Bi.

The officials themselves have high hopes for the veterans of the three dynasties like Fu Bi.

In any case, the officials began by denying Pu Yi, Han Qi, and Ouyang Xiu are not far from the curtain call on the political stage.

Taking advantage of Empress Dowager Cao's good mood, the officials said: "Empress Dowager, the case of interrogation of Ouyang Xiu by Zhongshu has come to an end. The words played by Jiang Zhiqi got Peng Siyong. Peng Siyong said that what he heard were rumors, because Old and hard of hearing, I can't remember who said it for a while. But the imperial court allows the censor to hear rumors, if Peng Siyong is guilty, no censor will dare to speak up in the future."

"Later, someone said that it was Xue Liangru, the younger brother of Ouyang Xiu's wife. He was impeached for raising an official and asked for help from Ouyang Xiu. But Ouyang Xiu refused to rescue him and was finally dismissed. Therefore, Xue Liangru told Liu Jin, the school manager of Jixian, with a grudge. , this Liu Jin is also Ouyang Xiu's enemy, he called Peng Siyong, and Peng Siyong ordered Jiang Zhiqi to be impeached."

Empress Dowager Cao said, "Ouyang Xiu has many enemies."

The official said: "Emperor Renzong always said that Ouyang Xiu was blunt when he was in power, but how many of the courtiers are like Ouyang Xiu? From his grandson's point of view, Ouyang Xiu's crime lies in Pu Yi. How will he be punished in the end? I would like to ask the Empress Dowager to show you .”

Empress Dowager Cao smiled slightly and said, "I have never asked about foreign affairs."

The official said: "The grandson heard that Ouyang Xiu's father was an official, and he was always able to avoid killing one person, so he lit candles to handle the case until dawn, and felt sad for the officials all over the world who killed others indiscriminately."

The officials told the Empress Dowager Cao what Zhang Yue said, and the Empress Dowager Cao couldn't help but said: "There must be Yu Qing in a family of good deeds, and only such an upright father can teach an upright son."

"It's rumored that punishing a ruler is really difficult. It's not the magnanimity of the ruler. The officials should give him a lighter punishment."

The officials are overjoyed and thanked.

Empress Dowager Gao watched her son ascend the throne for more than a month, but he has made a lot of progress.The matter of calling Fu Bi back to the court was exchanged for Empress Dowager Cao's tolerance for Ouyang Xiu.

Presently the papers for the top ten were presented, but Empress Dowager Cao didn't have so much energy to read the papers, she just looked at No.1.

After reading it, Empress Dowager Cao couldn't help but praised: "This man's article is really well written! Even a woman like me who is fluent in writing and ink can't help but admire it."

The official said with a smile: "If the Empress Dowager is proficient in writing, there will be no one in the world who understands writing."

Empress Dowager Cao asked: "Yes, who is this No.1 Pucheng Zhangzhi?"

When the officials heard the words, their hearts were moved, and they took the paper from Empress Dowager Cao.

……

The firecrackers in the alleys are going off!
The son of a family outside the gate of Zhang's family was selected as a Jinshi, and there was an endless stream of people who came to announce the good news.

The neighbors on the side looked at this scene full of envy.

It is such an honor to be able to produce a Jinshi, and his family can be honored by this, and even the neighbors can also be honored together.

But seeing the new Jinshi's father standing in front of the door to welcome the congratulators, his face was flushed, which really made Zhang Shiyu feel envious but not happy.

Zhang Shi was also acquainted with this neighbor, but today he was in a bad mood, Wuyan went up to congratulate him, and closed the door early to return to the house.

He said to Yu Shi, "Why is there no news about this child?"

Yu Shi said: "What's the hurry? If there is news, I will report it. Didn't uncle say that he sent someone to look at the list?"

Zhang Shi nodded and said: "Although I didn't return the list, but if I really won the Jinshi, then the person who announced the good news should have arrived long ago."

Yu Shi said: "What are you in a hurry for? I didn't hear them say that our family's Xi'er's article can be the number one in the exam. Even the third uncle has said such words, why do you still have doubts?"

Zhang Shi said: "That's what I said, but this kid Xi'er is too uncertain, and he gave up his fame after being said a few words. Besides, there is no certainty about the examination room. I think this subject is probably suspended. gone."

After hearing this, Mrs. Yu slapped the table and scolded: "Okay, when the second uncle and the third uncle were selected as Jinshi, others were worried that the transmission would be wrong, so you kept saying that it must be wrong."

"Why did it come to your own son, and you said you won't get in, so you expect Xi'er to fail the ranking? Let me tell you, if Xi'er doesn't win this time, I'll have fun with you."

Zhang Shi was reprimanded by Yu Shi, but he was speechless.

At this time, the person who read the list came back and reported to Zhang Shi: "To my lord, there is no Langjun's name on this list."

When Yu heard this, he said anxiously: "What's going on? Did you see it clearly?"

"After reading it three times, there is indeed no Langjun's name, it's just..."

"Just what?" Yu asked anxiously.

"The one who won the provincial yuan this time is a man named Zhang Zhi, who is also from Pucheng. I don't know if he has anything to do with Mr. Lang."

Yu Shi said angrily: "So what if there is any connection? There are not tens of thousands of Zhang's children in Pucheng, but several thousand. At most, the relationship with our family is just written on a genealogy. It's not that our family, Xier, won the provincial yuan .”

Zhang Shi reprimanded: "Okay, okay, don't talk about it, let's go to the list and see our Xi'er?"

The other party said: "Reporting to the elder, I didn't see Lang Jun."

Yu said anxiously: "That's what to do. Xi'er has always said that he will pass this subject and return home in a good way, but today he failed the ranking. If he is angry...what if he makes a mistake. "

Zhang Shi scolded: "What are you talking about? You just complained to me that Xi'er couldn't get hit all the time, and now you are talking about frustration."

Yu Shi said with a look of hesitation: "No, I'm going to go to the list to find Xi'er."

Zhang Shi said: "Don't go! We have to ask the third brother to find Xi'er, otherwise there are so many people in Bianjing, where do you go to find it? What's the difference between finding a needle in a haystack."

"Then I'm going to find Third Uncle now!"

Zhang Shi pulled back to Yu Shi and said: "The third brother is so up to court, how do you find him? You need to wait for him to come back."

Hearing this, Yu said with tears: "How can I wait for him to come back? I have a mother's heart, but I can't wait for a moment."

"If you can't wait, you have to wait!" Zhang Shi stomped heavily, and sat on the chair with his head in his arms.

When the family was at their wit's end, when they heard the sound of gongs, drums and firecrackers outside, the excitement seemed to be like hot oil being poured into a pot, and it boiled immediately.

"The province is here!"

"The province is here!"

Along with the yelling, the drums sounded outside the door.

Zhang Shiyu was in no mood to let the door close.

Just at this time, the sound of drums and music seemed to stop suddenly outside the door.

I only heard a person outside the door say loudly: "The child is not filial, bow to the parents!"

Zhang Shiyu was not in the mood at first, so they sat down together, but when Yu heard this sound, he suddenly said: "Officer, do you hear this voice from our family's Xi'er?"

Zhang Shi heard it and said: "You may have heard it wrong, you are thinking too much."

At this time, there was another voice outside the door: "The child is not filial, and bows to his parents."

At this time, Zhang Shiyu looked at each other and said in unison: "Open the door!"

The husband and wife ran towards the door together, and Yu almost fell down and was being helped by Zhang Shi.

When the door of the house was opened, I saw a man in a brocade robe kneeling in front of the stone steps in front of the house. He had an extremely handsome face, but his forehead was black and blue, which was caused by kowtowing outside the door just now. to.

When Zhang Shiyu saw the other party, they all let out a wow, and hugged him from left to right. The family of three knelt on the ground and cried!

Seeing this scene, countless neighbors and congratulators were all moved to tears.

High school Shengyuan came back to repay his parents and be filial to his family. This is what all the common people love to hear.

"My child, I know how long my mother has been looking forward to you, why did you come back now!" Yu Shi couldn't get enough of her son's head.

The other party cried: "If you don't go to high school, the child really has no face to see his parents."

Zhang Shi wept and said: "It's fine if you come back, as long as you are a Jinshi, why did you come back with a provincial dollar?"

"With your second uncle and third uncle in front, and now with you, our Zhang family is really promising!"

When Zhang Shi said this, he could no longer restrain his emotions.

(End of this chapter)