Jiuxi

Chapter 1003 1001 [The Truth]

Qin Zheng met Lu Chen's gaze and asked calmly, "What does King Qin mean by this?"

"nothing."

Lu Chen smiled faintly, and then said: "This king has no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of the Sutra Weaving Department. I just want to know whether the Sutra Weaving Department has found anything unusual about this additional special examination?"

Kong Yingdong's heart suddenly rose, and he couldn't help but look at the person in charge of the Weaving Bureau.

Empress Dowager Ning also sensed that something was not right at this time.

She was very annoyed at Kong Yingdong's self-willed behavior, but she did not think too much about it at first. She just thought that the facts were as Kong Yingdong stated, that the answers of the scholars from Jiangnan were indeed better than those from Jiangbei, and then in the final selection stage, Kong Yingdong slightly favored the scholars from Jiangnan, which led to the situation that 90% of the tribute scholars are from Jiangnan.

Facing the gazes cast by everyone almost at the same time, Qin Zheng still had no extra expression and said lightly: "I'm checking."

Just two simple words are the answer.

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded, "That's good."

He turned to look at Queen Mother Ning, bowed his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, regarding the imperial examination, I just mentioned the plan of dividing the list into north and south. Next, I would like to ask Prime Minister Xue and Prime Minister Xu to lead the Hanlin to review the answer sheets of those who have passed the preliminary selection, and admit the tribute candidates roughly in the ratio of 60% in the south and 40% in the north. I sincerely ask Your Majesty to approve it."

Queen Mother Ning hesitated for a moment, then looked at the two prime ministers and asked, "Prime Minister Xue, Prime Minister Xu, what do you think?"

Xu Zuo naturally would not object, and Xue Nanting also replied: "Your Majesty, I have no objection."

Queen Mother Ning said with a slightly tired look, "Then I'll have to trouble the two prime ministers to finalize the two lists as soon as possible so that the scholars can know the results as soon as possible."

"I accept the decree."

Xue Nanting and Xu Zuo responded in unison.

"Your Majesty, I have one more thing to ask."

Lu Chen took over the conversation at the right time and said to Queen Dowager Ning: "Regarding the results of the special examination that was decided earlier, I still have some questions in my mind. I would like to ask Minister Kong in person while Your Majesty and the two prime ministers are present. Is that possible?"

In fact, Queen Dowager Ning had already realized that this matter was not that simple. From Lu Chen's questioning of Qin Zheng, it could be seen that he must have some clues, otherwise he would not have acted without purpose.

She was not sure what Lu Chen wanted to do, but she could not reject his request at this moment - the reason was simple. Lu Chen had patiently listened to Kong Yingdong quoting from classics for nearly half an hour. Couldn't he ask him a few questions now?
Based on this, Queen Mother Ning could only nod and say, "King Qin, please ask."

With her permission, Lu Chen looked at Kong Yingdong more calmly and asked, "Minister Kong, you have repeatedly stated that you have no selfish motives just now. I believe this for the time being, but please answer a question. The two CEOs and the 18 examiners in this session, except for Jiang Hui and Qian Rang, the editors of the Hanlin Academy, the choices of the other 18 people are extremely similar. The answers you selected are basically from Jiangnan scholars, and each of you selected no more than five Jiangbei answers. Isn't this too much of a coincidence?"

Kong Yingdong's heart trembled. He was not surprised that Lu Chen knew these details so well. After all, the additional special examinations were one of the new policies, and the Reform Department had already sent people to the Imperial Examination Hall to monitor the entire process.

He knew that the word "coincidence" in Lu Chen's mouth was a hidden danger, and it would reveal a flaw if he was not careful, so he said cautiously and frankly: "Your Highness may not know that in fact, there are also different schools of thought in writing. Before the court moved south, the imperial examination regulations were controlled by the literati in Jiangbei. Their preference for literary style and classics became the mainstream of the literati. In addition, the relationship of master-apprentice inheritance led to the fact that the majority of candidates in each subject were from Jiangbei. In the past twenty years, it has been exactly the opposite. The imperial examination questions are all determined by the great scholars in Jiangnan, so the writing skills of the scholars in Jiangnan have made great progress."

"That's it..."

Lu Chen said leisurely: "Then can I assume that the scholars from Jiangnan understand your preferences better and are more fully prepared. Some of the content in their essays alone can arouse your appreciation, and thus have a higher chance of being selected, right?"

Kong Yingdong felt something was not right, but at this moment, under the cold gaze of Empress Dowager Ning, the two prime ministers beside him looked solemn, and the young prince in front of him pressed him step by step, leaving him no room to evade. He could only say briefly, "Yes. But please understand, Your Majesty, this is a common practice in the imperial examination. After the court announced that I am the president of the special examination, all the scholars who took the exam, including those from Jiangbei, will definitely study my article. This is unavoidable."

"Minister Kong, don't rush to explain."

Lu Chen stared into his eyes, his gaze gradually becoming colder: "I will ask you another question. After the preliminary selection of examiners, the two presidents and the examiners from the 18th room drew lots to distribute the recommended papers, right?"

Kong Yingdong finally understood what the problem was, and his face gradually turned pale. "It doesn't matter if you don't want to answer."

Lu Chen sneered, and then said coldly: "I really can't figure it out. Even if the scholars in Jiangnan are more familiar with your preferences, Minister Kong, how come they know Minister Liu and the eighteen examiners so well? Except for Jiang Hui and Qian Rang, the results of the eighteen of you are so similar. Could it be that you have telepathy?"

Kong Yingdong said nothing, looking panic-stricken.

Xue Nanting said, "King Qin, perhaps the Jiangnan scholars who were examined this time did not know Minister Liu and the other examiners, but these officials must be familiar with the writing style of Minister Kong. As subordinates, they would inevitably take the preferences of the chief examiner into consideration, so there would be some bias in the process of marking the papers. Of course, it is wrong for them to do so, but they cannot blame Minister Kong alone."

Kong Yingdong seemed to have found a life-saving straw, and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that must be the case. Your Majesty, I didn't know in advance that they would think this way."

"Okay, I accept your explanation. I will assume that the eighteen of you are just an accidental tacit understanding."

Lu Chen stood up slowly, instantly making Kong Yingdong feel pressured. He then said, "From setting questions to marking papers, you examiners have been secretly taking care of the Jiangnan scholars. This king does not ask you to favor the Jiangbei scholars, but you can't even do the most basic fairness. From the beginning to the end, you have never seriously thought about the purpose of the court's additional special examinations, and acted entirely according to your own preferences. How dare you say that you have no selfish motives? Kong Yingdong, do you really think that this king does not know what you are thinking?!"

The last sentence was so stern that it sounded like thunder, shaking the two Enke presidents, Kong Yingdong and Liu Jideng, to the point of being on the verge of collapse.

Lu Chen took a step forward, his tone as cold as ice: "Since the implementation of the new policy, there have been many obstacles from the central government and county governments. This king has not interfered because he wanted to see how many people are thinking about the court and the people, and how many are waiting for an opportunity to sabotage the new policy. People like you talk about fairness and justice on the surface, and speak in a very high-sounding manner, but in fact, it is all despicable and selfish! Do you think that if you keep talking about the words of saints, this king will be fooled by you?"

Kong Yingdong insisted, "I am just following past practice. Your Majesty, please don't spit on me."

"I don't think you'll turn back until you hit the wall!"

Lu Chen rebuked him, then turned to look at Xue Nanting and said sternly: "Prime Minister Xue, let's be frank. You have repeatedly spoken for this man today, simply because you think that I want to win over the hearts of the scholars in Jiangbei by increasing the number of special examinations. So you know that this man abuses his power for personal gain, but you still go against your own principles to support him. I will tell you now that this Minister Kong is not as simple as you think. Targeting me is just an excuse for him to disguise himself. His real goal is to return the court to the situation ten years ago, with the aristocratic families in control of the court!"

Xue Nanting was shocked, and the expressions of Xu Zuo, Queen Mother Ning and Qin Zheng all became solemn.

Kong Yingdong's expression changed drastically. In his eyes, Lu Chen looked like a devil from the underworld.

Lu Chen continued, "Prime Minister Xue probably hasn't studied the list of 360 people carefully yet, right? It seems that Kong Yingdong is biased towards the scholars from the south of the Yangtze River, but once the imperial edict is announced, you will find that at least 70% of the candidates are from prominent families in the north and south! There are also dozens of people who have indirect relationships with those prominent families, either as side branches or distant relatives, or through marriage!"

Queen Mother Ning's stern voice finally rang out: "Minister Kong, is what the King of Qin said true?"

Kong Yingdong's face turned pale, and he shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, I really don't know why the King of Qin made such a false accusation. The examination of the papers for the special examination was completely in line with the regulations. Before the final list was determined, I had no idea who wrote the papers. How could I have deliberately selected the identities of the candidates?"

"You don't know? You know it very well in your heart!"

Lu Chen did not give him the chance to quibble, and said in a cold voice: "The new policy has harmed the interests of you aristocratic families, so you are resentful and use this opportunity of the imperial examination to promote your people in the name of helping the court to deal with me, just like what you did in Jiangnan in the past, weaving a huge net that covers the sky and the sun, stealing the power of the court quietly! Kong Yingdong, I know you will not admit it, and today I will use solid evidence to make you die with a sincere heart!"

At this moment Xue Nanting couldn't help but fall into silence.

He realized that he had overlooked a problem. If Kong Yingdong really had this idea because of Xue Ruogu's few words, how could he arrange everything in such a short time?
You have to know that only half a month passed from the time Xue Ruogu instigated Kong Yingdong to the opening of the Imperial Examination Hall.

Even if Kong Yingdong had omnipotent abilities, it would be impossible for him to connect with most of the examiners in just half a month!

Therefore, there is only one truth. As early as last year when the court intended to hold an additional special examination, Kong Yingdong had already had this idea, so he took the initiative to volunteer to host this special examination. He wanted to take advantage of the vacancies in the court and government offices at all levels, and under the pretext of weakening Qin Wang Lu Chen for the court, he wanted to make the aristocratic families who were suppressed by Lu Chen and had no temper at all to revive in the court!

Kong Yingdong finally couldn't hold on any longer, and his knees softened as he knelt down towards Empress Dowager Ning.

Lu Chen stood by with his hands behind his back, and at this moment he could no longer hide the disappointment on his face.

(End of this chapter)