Joy of Life: Starting from Teacher Fan Xian

Chapter 49 The Struggle Between Old Foxes

In the study room deep in the palace, today is the first day of the Spring Examination. After the morning court session, His Majesty the Emperor also became interested and read the book carefully.

The air was filled with sandalwood incense. In the huge study, besides the eunuchs serving beside him, three other figures could be clearly seen.

They are Chen Pingping, the President of the Supervisory Yuan, Fan Jian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Prince Jing, who rarely enters the palace.

Emperor Qing narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was reminiscing about the days when the four of them spent time together in Prince Cheng's Mansion, with a faint smile on the corners of his mouth.

But when he thought of something, his smile quickly disappeared.

Nearly half an hour passed and Emperor Qing did not say anything. Until he was really tired of reading, he handed the book to the eunuch, who took it swiftly and stepped to the edge.

"The Ministry of Justice filed a complaint this morning. I cannot just believe one side of the story. I still want to hear what you have to say."

Emperor Qing rubbed his eyes, and suddenly he complained with a feeling of regret: "Li Zhi, why are you here too? Explain it to me clearly."

His Majesty the Emperor did not discuss the matter in the court, but instead had a private talk with him after the court meeting. His attitude was undoubtedly more obvious, mainly because he did not want to expose the scandal for the sake of his younger brother.

Prince Jing Li Zhi nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it's nothing serious. It's just that I've been living alone for many years and finally met a friend with a similar personality. I can't bear to see him being bullied."

"Friend?" Emperor Qing locked his eyes with him. "Do you mean that you think the Ministry of Justice is derelict in its duty and is framing others?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi bent down and crawled on the ground, crying bitterly, "I don't know the whole story of the case, I only know that today is the Spring Examination of Qing State, and my friend is a juren, but he can't even enter the Spring Examination Hall. Such a sudden disaster has ruined ten years of hard study. I can't bear it."

"That's enough. Stop crying and whining. Just imitate Yun Rui's tricks."

Emperor Qing gave a lecture, paused, and looked aside: "Fan Jian, where are you?"

Fan Jian kowtowed and said: "I am guilty. As a subject, I obstructed the Ministry of Justice from handling the case. I broke the law knowingly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me severely."

Emperor Qing became more and more annoyed: "I want to ask you what is your relationship with that person?"

"This man is a guest of my house, and he came from Danzhou." Fan Jian answered without raising his head.

Hearing the word Danzhou, Emperor Qing pondered for a moment and said, "He is just a retainer, but you are so concerned about him. Humph."

"The literary world of Qing Kingdom is weak. Your Majesty has devoted all his energy to this and has tried hard to change the political situation by breaking the literary world. I see this in my heart and also want to do my part for Your Majesty." Fan Jian said earnestly.

Emperor Qing raised his eyes and said, "So you also think that student was wronged?"

"I dare not. Everything is up to your majesty to decide."

Not getting an answer, Emperor Qing changed direction: "Chen Pingping, what do you think?"

Chen Pingping looked as if he had not heard of the matter, but when he realized what was happening, he immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with me. I really don't know the details."

Emperor Qing snorted, "Your Highness, it's not like you didn't hear me."

"You only have a half-understanding, which makes Your Majesty laugh."

Chen Pingping smiled and nodded, then said sharply, "The Ministry of Justice will handle cases fairly and impartially, and will do whatever it takes to arrest the suspect. I suggest that you send someone to the Ministry of Rites to arrest the suspect immediately."

Emperor Qing glanced at him in dissatisfaction: "Aren't you talking nonsense?"

"Then wait until the person finishes the first exam and then take it." Chen Pingping said.

"Chen Pingping, what do you mean?" Fan Jian suddenly said angrily.

"Shut up." Emperor Qing looked over, patted the table, and stood up, "And you, you're just thinking about arresting people. These days are the Spring Examinations. Who will take the blame if you disappoint the students?"

Chen Pingping was slightly startled, and said in a panic: "It is because I lack consideration. The case happened during the Spring Examination, which is really too inconvenient."

Emperor Qing listened, propped up his chin, yawned, and seemed tired of listening: "Today is the Spring Examination, and yesterday he committed a crime. I heard that he was a 17-year-old scholar. It's really puzzling."

"Is it possible that our Great Qing Kingdom cannot accommodate a student? Forget it, we will discuss everything after the Spring Examination."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Pingping replied. "What is it?" Emperor Qing glared at him and said angrily, "Go and investigate this matter for me. You must find out the result before the end of the Spring Examination. If you delay the announcement of the results, you will be the only one to blame."

"Your Majesty." Chen Pingping wanted to say something, but Emperor Qing had already started to drive him away.

"Get out, all of you."

After leaving the palace, Li Zhi walked quickly, not wanting to have anything to do with the two old foxes.

Walking on the palace road, Chen Pingping and Fan Jian hadn't been together for a long time.

Fan Jian frowned and said, "You also have bad intentions sometimes."

Chen Pingping smiled, his face showing a serious expression: "I really hope that he can enter the Ministry of Justice, but now he has entered the Spring Examination Hall, I can't really catch him again."

"I won't remember this favor." Fan Jian said.

Chen Pingping waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, as long as he remembers it."

"That's something you'll have to wait for to find out." Fan Jian glanced at him.

"The matter is very strange to begin with. In addition, His Majesty values ​​talent, so a 17-year-old scholar cannot be beheaded without authorization. It is not difficult to investigate the case." Chen Pingping was confident and sighed softly, "Your Majesty can see clearly. Tolerance is not something we can achieve by singing the opposite tune."

……

The sun was getting higher than zenith, and it was time for lunch in the Spring Examination Hall.

Many officials were waiting at the corner gate, checking the food boxes coming in and out. After the check, they were sent into the examination room one by one.

The examiners also had to eat, but the food was much better than that of the candidates, so it was delivered separately to the hall of the Imperial Examination Hall.

In the lobby, the examiners were having their meal while discussing things happening in the high school entrance examination.

"I've never seen anyone cheat like this. Putting the stick in the socks, how can you be ashamed?"

An official in charge of inspection said this, and the people around him listened attentively.

More than a dozen officials in charge of checking candidates' entrance broke out in sweat as they listened to this. Fortunately, cheating happens frequently in every session and is difficult to eliminate, so most examiners are used to it.

The inspecting officials would go around the examination room every hour, and this kind of shady behavior would hardly escape the eyes of the law.

"I heard that one student didn't even use a draft, but answered pretty well. Could he have cheated?"

"No, the inspection of the examination hall is extremely strict. Besides, that student has received special attention and the inspection is strict and thorough. You are worrying too much, sir."

"That's incredible. I don't know who will be the disciple of such a talent in the future."

The examiners burst into laughter and actually took what he said to heart.

Many officials from the Ministry of Rites secretly made their own lists, wondering whether this candidate was on them.

"It is said that this candidate is a student cared for by Mr. Shu." An official with a good memory suddenly said.

People were whispering in the hall, and all kinds of emotions emerged, envy, jealousy, and emotion.

After lunch, Grand Secretary Lin Ruofu went to the examination hall early to inspect it, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites also became unscrupulous.

"In a couple of days, you have to be careful not to transfer the students of Shu Daxueshi. It would be bad if you offend His Majesty's favorite."

"Don't worry, we know what's going on and we won't do that."

The Minister of Rites Wei An sat in the hall, resting quietly.

(End of this chapter)