The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 456 Test Paper
Zhu Qizhen: ...

He looked at Xue Shao deeply.

Xue Shao also looked up at the emperor, then lowered his head, bowed, took three steps back, and then slowly retreated.

Zhu Qizhen's chest heaved. He suppressed the depression and anger in his heart and lowered his eyes.

The official from the Ministry of Rites held up the test paper and tentatively called out, "Your Majesty?"

The emperor took it expressionlessly, unfolded the test paper and read it from the beginning.

Although he has seen it once, he will still be amazed by his solution when he sees it again.

It was just the second half of the article that made him very uncomfortable.

Xue Shao obviously knew the meaning of this question, and his solution was to strictly prohibit cheating between officials inside and outside the government. However, he did not like the example he gave.

In the second half, he used the case of Xue Xuan as an example, which was more like writing a petition than answering a question.

Zhu Qizhen was dissatisfied with Wang Zhen and wanted to teach him a lesson, so he deliberately changed the questions for the palace examination.

But this palace examination question was not just to criticize Wang Zhen.

Most of the civil and military officials in the court were old ministers left by the previous emperor, or people who were once relied on by the Empress Dowager. There were not many who were truly useful to him.

He still needs Wang Zhen to be his knife. If Wang Zhen is as he wrote on his test paper, ten of Wang Zhen's heads will not be enough to chop off.

Zhu Qizhen clenched the paper tightly.

When the eyes of several officials watching the government met, one of them reminded, "Your Majesty?"

Zhu Qizhen came back to his senses and said expressionlessly: "Seal it."

Everyone:...

No, it’s really sealed. This is the answer to the first place. What happened now?
In front of everyone, how could they still show favoritism?
Although the papers of the palace examination had to be sealed before being marked, because the emperor was the supervising examiner and the examination was conducted in the palace with only one policy essay question, the emperor, examiners, and cabinet often marked the papers on the spot. Why was the little emperor so obedient this time?
They soon found out why.

The paper was sealed, but Yang Pu, the chief examiner, still saw it. He went from surprise to shock and then to silence.

Finally, I waited silently for all the candidates to hand in their papers and leave.

He then took out Xue Shao's paper, stepped forward, knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, this paper is not only a good policy for the country, but also a petition. Please review it."

Wang Zhen had been unable to intervene and did not know the contents of the paper. When he saw Yang Pu kneeling with the paper in his hands, he immediately rushed forward before the officials from the Ministry of Rites, took the paper and took a quick glance at it.

Zhu Qizhen originally thought that he could delay as long as possible, but when he saw Wang Zhen coming forward, he couldn't help but think of the yellow talisman in the pouch on his waist, and he sat back down halfway through his rise.

According to the rules, eunuchs were not allowed to interfere with the examination papers, which were handled by examiners or officials from the Ministry of Rites.

It seems that the last beating was not enough.

Zhu Qizhen pursed his lips, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I have already looked at it. Wang Banban, please show this paper to the examiners and see how it should be graded."

The other examiners took the paper with a puzzled look on their faces, and Wang Zhen's face began to look ugly after quickly scanning the middle of the article.

The examiners passed the papers around, and none of them said a word.

Everyone quietly looked at the emperor, Wang Zhen and Yang Pu's expressions, and a thousand horses were running through their hearts.

Wang Zhen didn't need to guess, they knew with their toes that he wanted to destroy the paper;

Yang Pu... well, since he took the initiative to mention it, it was obvious that he wanted to use this as an opportunity to get rid of Wang Zhen;

The key point now is, what does the emperor think? What does he think?

Xue Shao, standing outside the imperial prison, was looking up at the sky, watching the sunlight shining through the golden light of merit, invisible to mortals, and onto the walls of the imperial prison.

Xi Jin came over with a food box in hand. "Master, I have already stuffed ten taels of silver into their pockets, but they still won't let us in to see anyone. However, they are willing to pass on a message to us and send us some food. What message do you want to pass on to Taoist Master Pan?"

Xue Shao retracted his gaze and said, "The wind is blowing. Although it is a spring breeze, it is also cold and poisonous. Tell her to be careful day and night. In this world, people are scary, and monsters are also scary. Please ask her to take care of herself."

Xi Jin looked confused: "What does this have to do with monsters?"

His eyes suddenly lit up and he shouted, "I know, Master is saying that Wang Zhen is a demon and wants her to be careful of Wang Zhen!"

Xue Shao sighed and said, "Fortunately, she is not as smart as you. Just pass on her original words."

Xi Jin said unhappily, "Master, are you saying I'm stupid? Then what is the monster you're talking about?"

"A monster is just a monster. There is no other metaphor for it. Go and pass the message, or the ten taels of silver will be wasted."

Xi Jin reacted immediately and ran towards the jailer with the food box, but soon came back empty-handed.

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"The food box and the message have been leaked, Master. We had to avoid even Yin's residence before. You came to the Imperial Prison right after the palace examination. Isn't that bad? Can't you wait until the results of the palace examination come out before coming?"

Xue Shao turned and left: "The answer sheet is the petition. After submitting it, she and I will be natural allies in the eyes of the world. Now that it's exposed, I can come if I want. Do I have to choose a special day?"

Xue Shao walked slowly towards the rental house and asked, "How much money do we have left?"

Xi Jin opened the purse and counted it, then sighed, "There's only eight taels left. The imperial prison is the imperial prison, and the money for bribes is more expensive than other places. In other prisons, a handful of copper coins can pass a message, and one tael of silver can get you into the prison for a private meeting. But in the imperial prison, ten taels of silver are enough to pass a message. Prices are too high!"

Xue Shao frowned.

Xi Jin looked at Xue Shao cautiously, endured for a moment, and whispered: "Master, I heard from the jailer that Taoist Priest Pan has been tortured every day these days, and her body is covered in blood. Should we find a way to deal with her so that she will suffer less?"

Xue Shao frowned even more tightly: "Is that what the jailer said?"

"Yes, and he said it was Wang Zhen's idea in the palace."

Xue Shao lowered his eyes and said after a moment: "I believe her. Since she dared to enter the imperial prison, she must be able to protect herself. The jailer said that most likely to extort money from us."

Having said that, Xue Shao turned around and went to Yin's house at the next intersection.

Today is the palace examination, and Master Yin Song and his disciple are on leave. They were drawing talismans in the yard. When they heard a knock on the door, they looked up at the same time and put away the messy things on the stone table. Then Yin Song sat upright, and Yin Qingjun stood behind Yin Song waiting.

Feng Yan invited Xue Shao and his servant in.

Seeing that it was Xue Shao, Yin Song's expression relaxed and he raised his hand and said, "It turns out to be Mr. Xue, please take a seat."

After he finished speaking, he realized what was going on and frowned, "Master Xue? Why are you here at this time?"

Xue Shao smiled and said, "My palace examination is over."

"I know, but you...why are you here? There are people watching me outside."

Xue Shao said: "The topic of the current palace examination is 'Everything has its root and its end, and everything has its beginning and its end; if you know what comes first and what comes later, you will be close to the truth.'"

Yin Song repeated it silently twice, his lips trembling slightly, "You, you can't be?"

"I wrote the examination paper based on the unjust case of my uncle and Censor Pan. If nothing unexpected happens, this examination paper will also be considered a petition."

(End of this chapter)