Do You Know?: Rule the World

The chief examiner, Hai Ning, sat upright on the imperial chair, looking at the examiners in the hall. He said solemnly, "The imperial court's selection of scholars is related to the fate of the country. I hope that you will examine the papers impartially and live up to the emperor's grace."

"Except for the time when the gate opens at 1:00 AM each day to receive supplies, no one is allowed to enter or leave. Violators will be charged with fraud!"

"Your subordinates will remember Lord Hai's teachings." The examiners bowed in response.

Half a month passed, and it was the day before the results were announced.

In Wenhua Hall, Zhao Zhen's face looked unhappy.

As he looked at the list of successful candidates presented by Haining, he couldn't help but think of what the censor had said, and he became more and more angry.

At this time, Zhao Han, dressed in a scarlet formal dress, stepped into the hall and saluted respectfully, "Father, please call me."

After seeing Zhao Han, Zhao Zhen's expression eased slightly.

"You're here quickly. Take a look at this list of candidates for this year's exam."

After Zhao Han responded, he took the roster and looked at it carefully. After a moment, he saw the three words "Sheng Changbai" listed at the thirteenth place.

Looking down, Gu Tingye's name was quietly listed at number 26.

"Father, is there anything wrong with this?" Zhao Han asked, looking up.

"Just now, the Imperial Censor made a memorial and specifically mentioned Gu Tingye. He actually openly spoke up for Yang Wuduan!"

Yang Wuduan was a famous talent in Jiangnan. He was extremely talented and should have been a pillar of the imperial court.

However, this person behaved in a dissolute manner, indulged in red-light districts and prostitutes, and failed in the exams many times.

After failing the imperial examination once, he got drunk in a brothel and started talking nonsense, saying that passing the imperial examination was not as good as living in a brothel.

Zhao Zhen hated scholars who did not strive for progress the most, and he became furious when he heard this.

He immediately issued an edict that he could only continue taking the imperial examinations after he was over fifty years old.

At the age of fifty, not to mention whether I still have the spirit, it is difficult for me to even keep up the energy.

This decree undoubtedly completely ended Yang Wuduan's official career, and he became the most despised person among the literati.

Zhao Han frowned and said with a cupped hand, "Father, Gu Tingye..."

"You don't need to plead for him. Such a disrespectful person doesn't deserve to be on the list!"

"Since he sympathizes with Yang Wuduan so much, I will grant his wish!"

"I just praised him as a prodigal son in front of all the civil and military officials. Isn't this just a slap in my face?"

"I have already sent someone to the Gu family to read out the decree!"

Seeing Zhao Zhen so angry, Zhao Han had no choice but to obey orders. After all, Gu Tingye's talent in military strategy was far better than his literary talent.

Find an opportunity in the future and recommend him to join the army.

After Zhao Han left, Zhang Maoze held up a cup of hot tea and whispered, "Your Majesty, I see that Your Highness particularly values ​​the Second Son of the Gu family. Isn't this punishment a bit too harsh?"

"I'm afraid this matter has spread widely in the Censorate. Gu Tingye and Han'er have always been good friends."

"If I don't deal with it, everyone in the government and the country will think I condone such outrageous remarks, which will be detrimental to Han'er."

"I can only blame the Gu family for being so outspoken. He simply gave those with ulterior motives an opportunity to take advantage of him."

After saying that, Zhao Zhen let out a long breath and then turned his gaze to Sheng Changbai's name.

"This child from the Sheng family is really capable and has passed the imperial examination on his first try."

Chapter 111 Questioning Gu Yankai, Changbai is on the list

Ningyuan Hou Mansion.

The eunuch had just stepped out of the mansion after reading out the imperial edict that required Gu Tingye and Yang Wuduan to take the imperial examination only when they were over fifty years old.

Gu Yankai's face was gloomy, and he could hardly suppress his anger. He pointed at Gu Tingye and cursed, "You evil creature, what nonsense are you talking about! Why are you speaking up for Yang Wuduan for no reason?"

Xiao Qin's eyes flashed, and she hurried forward to help Gu Yan calm down.

"Lord, calm down. Erlang was just confused for a moment. Who would have thought that this would reach the ears of the Imperial Censor?"

Gu Tingye came back to his senses from his shock, and quickly stepped forward to grab Gu Tingyu by the collar.

"I mentioned this unintentionally when I was twelve years old, practicing calligraphy with you in the study. No one else was around at the time, so you were the only one who knew it!"

"How dare you hurt me like this? There is no brother like you in the world!"

Gu Tingyu was already weak, and he staggered and almost fell to the ground when he was pulled by him.

"Ahem... Erlang, as a fellow descendant of the Gu family, how could I harm you like this?"

"Maybe you let it slip when you were out drinking and drunk."

Seeing Gu Tingyu's face turn pale and he was almost fainting, Gu Yankai angrily said, "I don't think this has anything to do with your brother!"

"Even if he spread it out, you were the one who spoke so brazenly first!"

After saying this, Gu Tingye slowly loosened Gu Tingyu's collar and asked, "Father, are you so biased towards him?"

"From childhood to adulthood, whenever I have a dispute with him, I am always the one who gets punished!"

"When I was ten, it was clearly him who accidentally broke the inkstone. No matter how I explained, you refused to believe me. Just based on a few words from him, you beat me up!"

"Is it simply because my mother's family background is not as noble as that of the Marquis of Dongchang?"

Gu Yankai frowned, "Why are you bringing up these old things for no reason?!"

Gu Tingye knelt down in front of him with a plop.

"Father, I take responsibility for what happened to Yang Wuduan."

"I only want to ask you one question today: have you ever loved my mother all these years?"

"Erlang..." Xiao Qin called softly, still like a loving mother.

Gu Tingyu, who was standing aside, swayed and had to hold on to the table to avoid falling down. An indescribable complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Faced with Gu Tingye's questioning, Gu Yankai really didn't know how to answer.

It is true that his marriage to Bai was a deal at first, but after Bai's death, he felt guilty day and night and could not sleep or eat.

He was strict with Gu Tingye and forced him to study and practice martial arts, not only to bring honor to the Gu family, but also to give an explanation to the Bai family and the Bai family in the afterlife.

As for favoring Gu Tingyu, it was true that he was thinking of the Daqin family, but it was also because Gu Tingyu had been weak and sickly since childhood and had been on the verge of death many times.

Seeing that his father was unwilling to answer his question, Gu Tingye felt a chill in his heart. He stood up and resolutely left the Gu family with the stone.

Gu Yankai remained frozen in place, staring at his receding figure.

"My Lord, Erlang..." Xiao Qin took a step forward.

"Shut up!" Gu Yankai shouted angrily, and Xiao Qinshi pulled the corner of her mouth imperceptibly.

After leaving the main hall, Xiao Qin took Xiang's mother to walk along the winding bluestone path in the backyard.

"Da Lang's move was truly extraordinary. This has completely destroyed Er Lang's future."

He whispered to his mother, "After all, my second brother is on good terms with the Crown Prince. Will he..."

"Let's take it one step at a time. I wonder what's so special about Erlang that the prince treats him so well."

"How's the matter that I asked you to secretly send someone to investigate?"

Xiang Ma pondered for a moment, "When my second brother was in the academy, he did have an affair with a singing girl from the opera garden, but later on, for some reason, he drove her away."

"We have to find a way to find this person. Maybe he can be of great use in the future."

Xiao Qin's mouth curled up slightly. According to her understanding of Gu Tingye, he would never come back easily after he left.

Then, she sighed softly, "If Tingwei could be more motivated, I wouldn't have to work so hard."

"Third brother is still young, given time..."

Xiao Qin snorted coldly, "Erlang, at his age, can already write strategic essays and draw a double-crossbow."

As the saying goes, good bamboo shoots come out of bad bamboo. Under the education of Xiao Qinshi, Gu Tingwei not only has a deep friendship with Gu Tingye and protects him in every way, but also has never thought of competing for the title.

His biggest wish is that his mother and Gu Tingye can live in harmony and the family can be happy.

He would just be a carefree dandy who spent his days drinking and having fun. When he reached a certain age, he would get a high-ranking official position and marry a few wives and concubines. That would be enough for his life.

-

The next day, early in the morning, Jiying Lane, Sheng Mansion.

In Weiruixuan, Wang Ruofu was dressed in new clothes and kneeling in front of the portraits of the gods of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, praying non-stop.

She carefully inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner.

After a while, I saw three incense sticks, two on the left and two on the right, moving forward in unison, with the middle one slightly lower, and three wisps of green smoke swirling in the air.

"Mother Liu!" Wang Ruofu exclaimed, "Look! This incense is burning so beautifully, it looks like a lotus flower!"

"This is a very auspicious sign. Bai'er will definitely pass the imperial examination!"

Mother Liu came over to take a look and said with a smile, "My second brother has been studying hard since he was young and has never slacked off. How could he not get into high school?"

"Yeah yeah!"

"Hurry up and hurry up Ru'er. This lazy girl is really slow. It's already this late and she's still nowhere to be found!"

Mother Liu responded and went to urge Rulan.

Wang Ruofu held the hem of her skirt and walked out impatiently, muttering to herself.

"Success or failure depends on this one move. Bai'er has to fight for his mother's reputation. It would be best if my son gets admitted, and that little bastard from Lin Qi Pavilion fails. Then we'll see..."

"what--"

Before she could finish her words, Wang Ruofu accidentally stepped on empty air.

He grabbed at the air with his hands a few times and fell heavily on the bluestone steps.

"Madam! Madam!"

Several maids in the yard ran over in a panic and helped her up.

Wang Ruofu sat on the couch with a look of pain on her face, gasping in pain.

"It must be those little bitches from Linqi Pavilion who are cursing me and don't want me to see Bai'er's list."