Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 207
Zhao Zhen was fiddling with this mountain and river travel stone. Compared with the exquisite Tianhuang Nine Dragons Incense Burner, he preferred this vivid stone carving.

"Where did Fanning get that?"

"Does Your Majesty ask about stone or stone sculpture?"

"I'm all interested!"

Fan Zhongyan thought for a while and said: "There is a strange stone trading market in the old minister's hometown. Fan Ning bought this kind of Tianhuang stone from the market by accident. After he inquired about the origin of Tianhuang stone, he went to Fuzhou to find the place of origin. Tianhuangshi is the most precious treasure, and he got it in the place of origin."

"I see. If I hadn't seen it today, I would have never known that there are such beautiful stones in the world. They are like solidified honey."

Zhao Zhen sighed in admiration, and laughed again: "I heard that there is a famous carver in Pingjiang Mansion named Yulang, he carved all these?"

"The Nine Dragons Incense Burner was carved by him, but not this stone for traveling in mountains and rivers!"

"I don't think so either. Although the Nine Dragons Incense Burner is carved very well, it still lacks a kind of charm. It's not like this stone for traveling in mountains and rivers. It's simply a magical workmanship."

Fan Zhongyan hesitated, "My minister heard from Fan Ning that this was carved by Concubine Zhu's grandnephew. The boy is already old, but his intelligence is still the same as that of a three-year-old child, but he lives in the world of sculpture. The stone statue is so pure that there is no trace of impurities."

Zhao Zhen nodded. He is also a master of calligraphy, and he can fully understand the realm Fan Zhongyan said, what is genius, that's it.

Fan Zhongyan resigned and left. Zhao Zhen played with this goose-egg-sized stone carving, and took it as his new paperweight, and put it on the imperial case for himself to enjoy.

At this time, Zhang Ying, the head of the internal affairs, appeared at the door, "I see your Majesty, my minister!"

"I have something to do with you!"

Zhang Ying quickly stepped forward to salute, "Your Majesty, please give me instructions!"

"I asked you to carve a seal last time, but have you found the material?"

"Weichen has sent people to Nanyang to find a top-quality Dushan Jade."

"no need!"

Zhao Zhen pushed the Tianhuangshi treasure on the table to him, "I like this Tianhuangshi very much, so I use it to carve seals."

Zhang Ying took the stone and was stunned for a moment, he had never seen this kind of Tian Huangshi before.

But immediately nodded and agreed: "Wei Chen understands!"

"In addition, tell Fuzhou that this kind of Tianhuangshi is listed as a tribute. I hope to see the first batch of Tianhuangshi tribute before summer comes."

"Weichen remember!"

"On these two things, do it immediately!"

Zhang Ying turned around and hurried away. Zhao Zhen directed several eunuchs to put the Jiulong incense burner in the southeast corner and started to use it.

． ． ． ． ． ． ． ．
Nine days have passed since the provincial examination, and it is finally the last day of examination papers.

A total of 540 six people were admitted in this provincial examination, and another 50 people were admitted to the children's department, a total of 590 six people.

At noon, Ouyang Xiu and the two assistant chief examiners were deciding the last dozen or so candidates. The candidates who made it to the last thousand were all very good and of similar level. It was difficult to determine who would be selected in the end.

In the end, we can only compare some details, such as calligraphy, such as the beauty of the scroll surface.

At this time, all they read were the original test papers. Except for the name and place of origin, which were still obscured by the blurred name strips, the rest were the original materials of the candidates.

The deputy chief examiner, Ma Jing, handed over a dozen test papers to Ouyang Xiu, "I think these ten test papers are a little stronger, and they can be admitted."

Ouyang Xiu carefully read more than a dozen exam papers, and he thought they were good, so he handed the exam papers to Shen Kuan, another deputy examiner, "What's the opinion of examiner Shen?"

Shen Kuan flipped through it, took out a test paper for the boy's test, put it aside and said with a smile: "It seems that brother Ouyang was negligent, now there is only one place left for the boy's test, and there is still a key test paper, brother Ouyang is still there. It didn't go in."

Ouyang Xiu suddenly came to his senses, slapped himself hard on the forehead, and ran back to his room to get the excellent exam paper from his desk.

Regardless of the first trial or the re-examination, or the third trial by the two deputy chief examiners, the points given are all in the upper class. Ouyang Xiu is very worried that this is his disciple, so he has been hesitating to make up his mind. I don't know what points to give?

Finally, he started to admit, but he forgot this crucial examination paper.

Ouyang Xiu walked back with a face full of self-blame: "I almost ruined a candidate because of my stupidity, I really shouldn't!"

Shen Kuan said indifferently: "I think Brother Ouyang is too narrow-minded, please forgive me for being rude, if Brother Ouyang thinks that this person is his disciple, and deliberately lowers the score, it is a denial of other examiners , is also a kind of dereliction of duty, if this is the case, I will write a letter to the emperor."

Ma Jing also laughed beside him and said, "What if this person is not brother Ouyang's disciple?"

Ouyang Xiu's face flushed suddenly, Shen Kuan's words were too sharp, Ouyang Xiu also felt that his mind was really narrow-minded.

He apologized: "The two critics are right, I'm a little bit off."

He immediately approved his score in the examiner's column, 'Up to the top! '

And affixed the examiner's approval seal.

Once the seal is stamped, it cannot be changed. At this time, the name slip must be torn off for registration. Ouyang Xiu tore off the name slip. When he saw the candidate's name clearly, he froze for a moment, and then felt ashamed.

The name on it is written clearly, Fan Ning of Pingjiang Prefecture.

Ouyang Xiu felt extremely guilty, he almost forgot Fan Ning because of his own stupidity.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Shen Kuan, "Thank you Mr. Shen for your frank words, I almost made a big mistake."

Shen Kuan smiled slightly and said, "I've actually been paying attention to this candidate."

He turned over the first page of the list, and specially left a blank line for the third place. He added Fan Ning's name, and wrote the score of the provincial test under the score column, 'upper class'.

Although the provincial examination is only for admission and not ranking, if you are ranked last, it will still affect the impression of the examiner of the palace examination.

Finally, the examiner will combine the scores of the palace examination and the provincial examination to rank the final rank of the imperial examination.

Shen Kuan was very thoughtful, more meticulous than Ouyang Xiu, he would never tolerate the best candidates being placed last.

Seeing that Shen Kuan was far more thoughtful than himself, Ouyang Xiu couldn't help but secretly sighed, he was an unqualified examiner!
． ． ． ． ． ． ． ．
Ouyang Xiu tied a roll of the admission list with yellow silk and put it in a sealed cylinder. The three of them rushed to the Ministry of Rites and handed the list to the Ministry of Rites.

However, if the Ministry of Rites finds out that there is a problem with the eligibility, it must notify the review court, and the chief examiner will replace it with another scholar.

In order to prevent the Ministry of Rites from cheating in this link, it is generally required to have at least one deputy chief examiner, a supervisory censor and a minister of the Ministry of Rites present.

The Ministry of Rites failed to pass the qualification review and must produce evidence.

In fact, at the time of registration, the Ministry of Rites had already passed a preliminary review, and the local government also checked it. If there is a problem with the qualifications, then you will not be able to participate in the solution test.

So to a certain extent, this is just a formal process. In order to demonstrate the authority of the Ministry of Rites, in fact, there has not been a situation in which the Ministry of Rites failed to review for decades.

The reason is also very simple. There are [-] examinees, and the Ministry of Rites cannot grasp the details of each examinee. How can the Ministry of Rites produce evidence?
In the lobby, several officials from the Ministry of Rituals are carefully checking the admission list.

At this time, Pei Qun, a member of the Ministry of Rites, said: "This Fan Ning should be taking the other exam! How can he mix with ordinary scholars for the exam?"

Bietou test means that if a candidate has a family member who holds a position related to the imperial examination, then the candidate must take the test alone and cannot be mixed with other candidates, otherwise he will be disqualified.

Pei Qun, a member of the Ministry of Rituals, raised this doubt. Once it is verified, Fan Ning's admission qualification will be revoked.

Supervisor Yushi Dong Wen was drinking tea. He thought he was just here to meet the occasion, and left after sitting for an hour. Unexpectedly, Pei Qun really raised a doubt, which made him stunned. This has never happened before.

He turned his head and looked at Shen Kuan, the deputy chief examiner. Shen Kuan immediately became vigilant. How could it be aimed at Fan Ning?

He unhurriedly asked, "Why did Fanning take the other test?"

Pei Qun said coldly: "His grandfather is Fan Zhongyan. At present, Fan Zhongyan is the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites is in charge of the imperial examination. As the grandson of the highest supervisor of the Ministry of Rites, I think he should take part in the other examination."

Dong Wen frowned, "What kind of reason is this? The Minister of the Ministry of Rites only asks about the specific affairs of the Ministry of Rites.

Shen Kuan stood up and said: "Pei Langzhong's words are inappropriate, the rules of the Song Dynasty are very clear, the direct blood relationship within three generations, Fan Ning is only Fan Zhongyan's grandson, not his direct grandson.

Secondly, although Fan Zhongyan announced his appointment as Minister of Rites before the imperial examination, when did he actually become Minister of Rites? "

Shen Kuan may not know the situation because of the locked court, but all the officials present knew that it was only the day before yesterday that Fan Zhongyan officially became Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
At this time, everyone looked at Dong Wen, and his attitude was crucial at this time.

Before Dong Wen could make a statement, Zhang Xuan, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, coughed, "Fan Ning's conditions are not up to the other test, so don't bother me any more."

Obviously, Fan Ning is not the grandson of Fan Zhongyan, and this alone is enough to overturn Pei Qun's doubts.

Dong Wen chuckled, "I agree with Zhang Shilang's opinion!"

Pei Qun blushed slightly, so he stopped talking.

When Zhang Xuan was not paying attention, he gave Pei Qun a hard look. This idiot, how did he tell him that he actually used this useless excuse to make trouble? Didn't this expose their intention prematurely?
(End of this chapter)