Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 188 It’s autumn exam time again
Time flies. More than a month has passed since Zhang Juzheng issued the two memorials. During this month, Hai Rui received a certificate from the Ministry of Personnel and headed straight to Shandong again.

Officials in the capital city breathed a sigh of relief, while at the same time, they secretly broke out in a cold sweat for officials at all levels in Shandong.

At the same time, another incident occurred, making the entire dry autumn city of Beijing even more restless and uneasy.

The once-in-three-year autumn exam is here!

Just after noon that day, Zhang Yunxiu got dressed and went to a teahouse close to the examination hall.

Sitting by the window, I opened it and looked down. Students from Shuntian Prefecture were bustling about, almost blocking the road.

There are both old and young among them.

The oldest one was in his fifties, and the youngest was barely twelve or thirteen years old.

Zhang Yunxiu's last autumn exam was three years ago. At that time, he was just an ignorant student, but today he sits here as an official, watching these students full of confidence.

There are quite a few different moods.

After taking a sip of tea, Zhang Yunxiu simply leaned against the window, trying to find a bit of peace in this anxiety.

He has been in a very good mood recently.

First, Han San sent in intelligence, which included information about the Kong family’s scandal.

At the same time, Song Ming somehow managed to get the Kong family's account book. If all these things were revealed one by one.

It was also difficult for the Kong family to cope with.

However, Zhang Yunxiu was not in a hurry. As Wei Qing said, he still had a bright future ahead of him, so there was no need to sacrifice it for this.

This matter was investigated by Hai Rui, a man called Ji Gong, who provided secret assistance.

As a melodious shout rang out, the examination door made a teeth-grinding sound.

Branches.

枝呀
Then, an official in a blue robe walked out.

He just glanced around coldly, and the students present fell silent as a cicada, consciously lining up in teams and forming several long snakes.

After a while, they crawled into the examination hall in an orderly manner.

Zhang Yunxiu also stood up at this time and hurried down the teahouse.

Downstairs, Han Sanzheng and Zhang Fu were chatting casually.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu coming, the two stopped talking, stood up, and respectfully called him "Young Master".

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and gave the two of them a few instructions.

Then he went straight to the Forbidden City.

Zhang Yunxiu was an old acquaintance of this place. How could the eunuchs and guards at the gate dare to stop him? As soon as they saw this gentleman, they immediately smiled and sent him to the Forbidden City.

Arrived at the Qianqing Palace with familiarity.

Outside the door, Wei Qingzheng had a gloomy face and was scolding the two young eunuchs loudly.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and walked forward to greet him. Wei Qing then suppressed his anger and said to Zhang Yunxiu with a smile: "You two good-for-nothings, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Zhang Sicheng."

After that, he turned his head and shouted at the two of them, "Get out of here! Why are you getting in the way?"

"Ah? Yes, yes, yes." The two eunuchs felt relieved and crawled away.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled, put his arm around Wei Qing's shoulders, and pulled him to a pillar outside the palace gate. He asked carefully, "Your Majesty, how are you feeling lately?"

"It's great." Wei Qing glanced at Zhang Yunxiu and said with great joy, "Japan has been reporting successive victories, and Songjiang Prefecture's tax revenue is also increasing by the day, plus the situation in the west of the city." "Now even if the emperor farts, it smells of joy."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and asked, "How is Madam Zheng's health?"

"It's fine. Ever since Empress Zheng got pregnant, our entire harem has been silent, and all of us are loyal to this master." As Wei Qing said this, a smile spread across his old face.

After hearing what Wei Qing said, Zhang Yunxiu suddenly felt relieved.

"Thank you, Eunuch Wei."

"Well, what are we thanking for?" Wei Qing pursed his lips, then suddenly suppressed his voice and said, "Last time Feng Bao said that he wanted to recommend Wang An to be the manager of the Qianqing Palace. It's not that we don't want to help."

"This kid is only about twenty years old. In our position, there are so many people watching us. I'm afraid he won't be able to do it."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said nothing.

It’s no use if others say no.

As long as Concubine Zheng speaks, Wang An can do it.

Wei Qing deliberately stayed in this position, firstly because he didn't want to admit defeat so quickly, and secondly because he had a selfish motive.

Zhang Yunxiu knew the truth and didn't bother to talk nonsense with him: "Eunuch Wei, given your status in front of the emperor, as long as you take charge of the East Factory, Wang An is not even worthy of carrying your shoes, so why do you have to hold on to this place?"

Wei Qing's cloudy eyes flashed, and he finally nodded in agreement.

The two of them entered the palace and went straight to the east warm room.

Emperor Wanli was wearing a bright yellow short shirt and sitting on the main seat with a basin of ice in front of him. Behind him, two pretty palace maids were waving palm-leaf fans, bringing a cool breeze.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu come in, Emperor Wanli restrained his expression and asked him to sit down.

Zhang Yunxiu thanked him and sat on the small stool to his left.

Glancing at Zhang Yunxiu's appearance and seeing that his eyes were dark, Emperor Wanli couldn't help but joked, "Yunxiu, why are your eyes so dark recently, and your waist is more bent than before?"

"Working for the Emperor is hard work," Zhang Yunxiu replied without blushing or beating his heart.

"Well, you sly fellow, you are clearly having fun with your wives and concubines at home, yet you still say you are doing errands for me." Emperor Wanli shook his finger, pointed at Zhang Yunxiu and scolded him with a smile, "Could it be that by having fun with your wives and concubines, you are doing errands for me?"

Zhang Yunxiu said seriously, "Your Majesty, think about it, all the people in this world are your subjects. If my wives and concubines give birth to children, they will also serve Your Majesty in the future. Isn't this doing errands for Your Majesty?"

“Hahahaha” Emperor Wanli laughed so hard that he fell back and forth, with tears welling up in his eyes.

Wei Qing also smiled, secretly sighing at Zhang Yunxiu's thick skin. Looking at the whole world, Zhang Yunxiu was probably the only one who dared to joke with the emperor like this.

After laughing for a long time, Emperor Wanli stopped laughing and pointed at the palace maids on both sides and said, "Since that's the case, I will let you do more work for me, and these two palace maids will also be given to you as a reward."

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head repeatedly to express his refusal.

"Why?" asked Emperor Wanli.

"Too much is as bad as too little. I have wives and concubines at home, which is just right." Zhang Yunxiu replied, and then changed the subject to the imperial examination. "Your Majesty, I went to watch the provincial examination in Shuntian Prefecture today."

"There are both old and young people among them. It is really a grand occasion."

Emperor Wanli was confused. Isn't this how all autumn examinations are?
Besides, in terms of grandeur, the Autumn Examination is not even a little bit inferior to the Imperial Examination.

"Your Majesty, there are only 200 successful candidates in Shuntian Prefecture. But there are already tens of thousands of scholars participating. The vast majority of them will fail in this exam." Zhang Yunxiu took a deep breath and said with certainty.

"And then?" Emperor Wanli asked with a frown.

"I want to limit the age of students who can take the college and provincial examinations."

(End of this chapter)