Chapter 425

"Why would Xu Ciold know how to write a poem? I could just write a few sentences and he would be ashamed. If not for the poem he wrote for his cousin, Xu Qi'an, Layman Zi Yang's jade pendant would have been mine. "

Zhu Tuizhi cursed as he recalled the incident that day.

"Could it be that he cheated in the imperial examinations?" Liu Jue probed.

"Nonsense!" The students of Yunlu Academy were infuriated when they heard this, and all of them glared at him.

Cheating in the imperial examinations … This phrase appeared in Zhu Tuizhi's mind. It seemed to answer all his questions and rationally explain why Xu Ciold was able to write a masterpiece.

Then, Zhu Tuizhi shook his head. "Impossible. A poem is not an essay. Knowing the exam topic in advance will give you time to prepare. Brother Liu, if I give you three days to write a masterpiece with the theme 'Spring Scenery' as the topic, would you be able to write one? "

Liu Jue shook his head. "I am ashamed. I might not be able to write one even if I were given three years."

He took a sip of wine and revealed a meaningful smile. He lowered his voice and said, "But Brother Zhu, think about it. What if the person who wrote the poem was Silver Gong Xu Qi'an?"

The atmosphere fell silent. The Yunlu Academy students and the Imperial College students did not immediately refute him. Instead, they thought about it carefully in their minds.

Yes, if it was Xu Shikui, if he knew the exam topic in advance, he would probably be able to write it in a day, let alone three days.

The farewell poem and the poem about plum blossoms, as well as the poem that he sang before his "sacrifice" in Yunzhou, were all composed at the last minute.

The Yunlu Academy students thought of the poem that was posted on the academic wall. According to the great scholar of the academy, Xu Ningyan could compose a poem in ten breaths.

Hmph, how did Silver Gong Xu Qi'an know the exam topic?

Even though that was what he thought in his heart, he would never admit it. The students of Yunlu Academy questioned.

"I don't know, I don't know." Liu Jue waved his hand and smiled. "It was just a guess. But Xu Qi'an is Silver Gong. Rumors have it that he is deeply trusted by Wei Yuan … "

He did not continue.

After this episode, the Yunlu Academy students were no longer in the mood to drink. They sat for a while and left.

Liu Jue, who was good at socializing, personally sent Zhu Tuizhi and the others downstairs. He then paid the bill and everyone left the restaurant.

A quarter of an hour later, Liu Jue returned and entered a carriage parked outside the restaurant.

Inside the carriage sat a middle-aged man dressed like a rich man. He wore a jade ring on his thumb, a walnut in one hand, and a teacup in the other.

"Manager Zhao!"

"Liu Jue bowed respectfully.

The middle-aged man nodded, put down the teacup, and poured himself a cup of tea. He frowned and said, "You reek of alcohol. Have some tea."

"Thank you, Steward Zhao." Liu Jue held the teacup with both hands and finished it in one gulp.

"I found out some things. According to those students of Yunlu Academy, Xu Cijiu doesn't know how to compose poems at all, and his level is terrible. "The Road" was most likely written by someone. to to to to to. to. Of course, I have no proof. "

When the middle-aged man heard this, he revealed a satisfied smile and said, "I don't need evidence. This is enough."

...

Outside the city, in a courtyard planted with willows.

The Jinlian Taoist priest, who had just consumed the Blood Embryo Pill, was bathed in the warm spring sunlight. He no longer felt cold and was no longer turning into an otherworldly item. However, there was still some Yin energy left in his body that could be eliminated by the other Blood Embryo Pill.

"This body is not compatible with my Primordial Spirit. I won't be able to use it for long. Fortunately, Jinlian Creation is about to mature. The lotus seed can help me reconstruct my body. It's time for me to leave the capital.

"I hope there won't be any accidents."

The Jinlian Taoist priest prayed in his heart.

...

"Dalang, that lady doesn't seem to be from Daibun."

The son of the gatekeeper, Old Zhang, thought for a while and described, "She's an ugly dark-skinned lady with blue eyes. Her hair is also ugly and curly. "

"Number 5?!

What is she doing at my house? Did the Jinlian Taoist priest ask her to come? Does she know that I'm Number 3? "

The Jinlian Taoist priest had asked him to help find Number 5 instead of Number 3. He could use the excuse that Number 3's level was too low to cover it up. After all, the higher the level of the Confucian School was, the more terrifying its power would be.

However, in the early stage, the ninth to seventh rank were all trash. At the sixth rank of the Confucian School, one would be able to copy other people's skills and possess considerable combat power.

From Chu Yuanzhen and Hengy Yuan's point of view, although Number 3, Xu Ci, was extremely smart, his powerful cousin, Xu Ningyan, was more reliable when needed.

"It seems that I have to skip work today …" Xu Qi'an nodded and said, "I understand. After I ask for leave, I'll go back with you."

After asking for leave, Xu Qi'an sat on the horse and trotted in the direction of the Xu Mansion. The son of the gatekeeper, Little Zhang, trotted beside him.

After half an hour, they arrived at the Xu Mansion, which was not far from the yamen. Xu Qi'an handed the reins to Little Zhang and went straight into the mansion.

As soon as he entered the outer courtyard, he saw the kitchen maids carrying plates of hot dishes, steamed buns, and rice into the inner courtyard.

"Dalang is back …" The kitchen maids breathed a sigh of relief. As they spoke, they cast their gaze towards the inner courtyard.

"There's a girl in the mansion. She said that she's looking for you. I asked her about her relationship with you, but she couldn't explain herself. She was mumbling, and I couldn't understand nine out of ten sentences."

"I couldn't understand nine out of ten sentences. Number 5's Nanjiang accent is a bit heavy …" Xu Qi'an complained as he entered the inner courtyard with the kitchen maids. From afar, he heard Xu Lingyue's gentle voice coming from the inner hall.

"Miss Lina has come all the way from the Nanjiang. Why are you looking for my big brother?"

"I'm not looking for your big brother. I'm looking for a few friends to train …" A voice with a heavy accent spoke half-baked Daibun official language.

However, the voice was like a silver bell, crisp and pleasing to the ear.

"So you don't know my big brother?"

"I don't know him."

Xu Lingyue had figured out her background in a few words. This girl didn't look very smart, and she had nothing to do with my big brother … Xu Lingyue warmly entertained Lina.

Her aunt sat on a chair not far away. She frowned slightly and looked at Lina with slight hostility.

This foreign woman really knew how to eat. In half an hour, she had eaten three days' worth of rations. If it was converted into silver, it would be … a few taels?

Her aunt had specially asked the kitchen maids to prepare some rice, steamed buns, and vegetables. If she had eaten fish and meat, how much silver would she have eaten?

Who could afford to raise such a girl?

"Miss Lina? What are you doing in my mansion? "

Xu Qi'an stepped through the door and looked at the little barbarian girl from the Nanjiang in surprise. Compared with her pale face yesterday, her complexion was ruddy and her eyes were bright. It seemed that her injuries had healed.

"The Jinlian Taoist priest asked me to look for you. He said that I would stay here during my stay in the capital. Thank you, your excellency Xu, for saving my life. "

Lina quickly put down her chopsticks and swallowed the food. She looked at Xu Qi'an openly.

She thought that when she came to the capital, it would be either the Jinlian Taoist priest, Number Three, Number Four or Number Six who would receive her. Unexpectedly, she ended up staying in a strange man's house.

The Jinlian Taoist priest had told her about what happened yesterday. Lina knew that this good-looking young man was her savior.

Since he was a trusted friend of the Taoist priest, Lina trusted him unreservedly.

She called me your excellency Xu, not Number Three … Xu Qi'an stared at Lina for a moment. He couldn't find any clues from her clear and innocent blue eyes.

Why did the Jinlian Taoist priest arrange her to stay with me? What was the deep meaning behind it?

The old silver coin didn't discuss with me before doing this. According to my experience in dealing with the old silver coins, there was no plan if it was discussed in advance.

There must be a deep meaning behind it.

So, Xu Qi'an asked, "What else did the Taoist priest say to you?"

Lina took a bite of the steamed bun and said vaguely, "The Jinlian Taoist priest said that you are a close friend he met in the capital. He told me to stay at home."

After swallowing the steamed bun, she said with anger and grievance, "The Taoist priest said that I eat too much and can't afford to raise me."

Ah … Xu Qi'an was stunned. So the reason why the Jinlian priest sent her to me was because he couldn't afford to raise her?

This was an impeccable reason. For the same reason, Number Six, who lived in a nursing home, and Number Four, who relied on his old friend for food and lodging, couldn't afford to raise the Southern Border barbarian girl either.

Damn, it felt so uncomfortable to be treated as a rich person. When one was wandering in Jianghu, it was either you or I who was a freeloader. This was karma … Xu Qi'an sighed, "I see."

"Ahem!"

The aunt coughed hard to show her presence as the mistress of the house.

However, Xu Qi 'an ignored her and said, "Alright, I'll have someone arrange a room for you right away."

"Xu Ningyan!!"

The aunt shouted angrily and stood up from the chair. She put her hands on her waist and looked at him angrily, "I am your aunt. Have you never thought of discussing with me?"

As she said that, her eyes frequently glanced at the messy table, telling her nephew that this girl was a bottomless pit.

This … Xu Qi'an hesitated. The aunt's consideration was very reasonable. The price of goods in the capital was expensive. This girl could eat so much, but it was really too expensive.

Moreover, my luck has changed recently. I'm no longer picking up silver, but accumulating reputation instead. Then, Wei Yuan deducted my salary.

"Brother, have you forgotten about the chicken spirit?"

At this time, Xu Lingyue spoke. She calculated for Xu Qi'an, "The salt transport office in the capital issued two thousand catties of salt last year and made a profit of five thousand taels. Brother took ten percent of it, so you got five hundred taels. You have never asked for this money back from the Celestial Commissioner.

"I asked the officials in the salt transport office. The court plans to open at least ten workshops to produce chicken spirit this year. At the end of the year, it will be an unimaginable amount of wealth.

"So, our family is no longer short of silver."

The salt that Xu Lingyue mentioned was referring to the chicken spirit. Now, chicken spirit was like salt, an important strategic resource for the court. Last year, it appeared out of nowhere and could not be produced on a large scale. But this year, after the production was expanded, the profits were immeasurable.

If you didn't mention it, I would have forgotten. It must be that old Supervisor blocking the chicken spirit. He wanted to cheat me of money.

Xu Qi'an was pleasantly surprised to find that he was actually this era's Father Ma.

Lina did not understand at all, but she felt that it was very impressive. She came all the way from the southern border to the capital. She knew what a copper coin could buy, and what a silver coin could buy.

At the same time, she also knew how difficult it was to earn money.

Subconsciously, she looked at this "Lord Xu" with pure worship in her eyes. She was like a little girl who saw her neighbor's older brother with instant noodle hair, wearing jeans, and a decorative iron chain hanging from his waist as he did a street dance in her yard.

"How come I don't know about this?" Aunt asked suspiciously.

"Aunt, you don't know? I asked Lingyue to tell you." Xu Qi'an looked at his sister.

Xu Lingyue was at a loss, "Mother, you must have forgotten."

Aunt opened her mouth but could not say anything. She was not sure if she had forgotten. She had no impression of such a big "profit".

At this time, Lina asked with a tone of admiration, "May I know your excellency Xu's name?"

She had learned this way of asking questions when she was roaming the world in Daibun.

"Xu Qi'an!"

"Xu, Xu Qi'an..." Lina tilted her head and thought for a long time. Suddenly, she screamed, "You are Xu Qi'an. Didn't you die in Yunzhou?"

Aunt and Xu Lingyue looked at her suspiciously.

This foreign girl claimed to know Xu Qi 'an, but she didn't know that he had come back to life. So, what was she doing here?

"Let's talk somewhere else."

Xu Qi 'an pulled Lina out of the side hall and stopped at the side of the flowerbed.

He explained, "I did not die. It was Li Miaozhen who made a mistake. Well, I am actually a peripheral member of the Heaven & Earth Society. Although I do not have the corresponding fragments of the Book of the Earth, I know everything about you. "

"No wonder the Jinlian Taoist priest asked me to find you." Lina smiled happily. She easily believed Xu Qi'an's words without any doubt.

So gullible... Xu Qi'an said seriously, "This is a secret. You cannot reveal it to anyone, not even to the members of the Heaven & Earth Society."

"Okay!"

Lina smiled and nodded. She looked very beautiful when she smiled. It was hot in Nanjiang. Lina's skin was a healthy wheat color. However, in the eyes of the Daibun people who advocated fair skin and beauty, she was a little tanned.

"Let's go eat."

If everyone in the world was as simple and naive as Number Five, how good would it be... Xu Qi'an looked at her lively back and sighed.

He still had a lot of things to ask Number Five. For example, how did she know that the person who picked up the silver was Number Three himself and not some random friend.

There was no hurry. Simple people were usually more stubborn. If they said it was a secret, they would definitely keep it a secret.

But when she ate at home for a few more days, as long as she had a bit of conscience, she would know that it was wrong to freeload.

...

The Cabinet.

Wang Zhenwen, dressed in a scarlet robe, bent over the table to read the memorials. He had been sitting there for four hours. He only went to the toilet a few times. The rest of the time was devoted to official work.

The Cabinet was equivalent to the Emperor's private secretary. It had great power, far higher than the Six Ministries.

All the memorials of the imperial court, and even the suggestions of the people to the Emperor, were gathered by the Office of Commissioner of Communication. The Office of Rites would report to the Emperor and then hand it over to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet was responsible for drafting opinions. The Office of Rites would then report the opinions to the Emperor. Finally, the Six Ministries would collate and distribute the opinions.

When it came to the Yuanjing Emperor's court, the Office of Commissioner of Communication would directly pass the memorials to the Cabinet. The Cabinet would draft opinions and then hand it over to the Yuanjing Emperor.

There was a process omitted in the middle.

This was because the Yuanjing Emperor thought that the extra process in the middle would hinder his cultivation.

It was precisely this process that was omitted in the middle that was the most fishy. Because in this way, the Yuanjing Emperor would only see the memorials that the Cabinet wanted him to see.

Of course, although the Yuanjing Emperor was not a good Emperor, he was an Emperor who was good at using politics. In order to restrain the excessive power of the civil officials and overrule the Imperial power, he thought of a method that could satisfy both sides.

This method was called "Wei Yuan".

In the grand scheme of things, the various parties and Wei Yuan's party were like fire and water. In the grand scheme of things, the fighting between the various parties was fierce.

The Yuanjing Emperor sat calmly on the fishing platform, responsible for maintaining the balance and cultivating in peace.

Wang Zhenwen opened the last memorial. After reading the contents, he muttered to himself and sat in silence for a long time. Then, he took out a slip of paper, wrote down his suggestions, and stuck it on the memorial.

When he finished all this, it was dusk.

… …

At night, there was one more mortal enemy of Xu Lingyin at the Xu Residence's dining table.

Xu Lingyin loved and hated this big sister who had appeared out of nowhere. She loved it because after her "big sister" came, the food at home increased by several times.

She hated it because this big sister really ate too much …

Her mouth was so small, she could not eat as much as her.

The second uncle Xu's face darkened as he examined Lina. He turned his head and asked his nephew: "Is she from the Southern Border's Gu Tribe, the Power Gu Tribe?"

Lina raised her head from the bowl, there was rice at the corner of her mouth. She said crisply: "I am from the Power Gu Tribe, how did the second uncle Xu know?"

Who is your second uncle! Xu Pingzhi snorted coldly.

In the Shanhai Pass battle, he had personally experienced the battle, and saw the terrifying strength of the Power Gu Tribe's barbarians. Their specialty was their appetite.

It was normal for a strong Strength Gu tribesman to eat a cow in a day.

Wei Yuan never captured the people of the Power Gu Tribe, he killed them directly to save on food.

"Big brother, I have something to tell you." Xu Xinnian suddenly said.

"I knew you had something to do, so I never relaxed. Tell me. "Xu Qi'an fought for the meat with Lina as he replied to his cousin.

"Miss Wang asked me to go to the lake tomorrow." Xu Xinnian said with vigilance.

"What do you think?" Xu Qi'an said.

Xu Xinnian snorted and put down his chopsticks. He said with disdain: "There are only two reasons. One is because of personal grudges, and he wants to get revenge for the niece of the Ministry of Justice Minister.

"Two, Wang Shoufu does not want to let me go, and he is secretly holding back."

"Which one do you think it is?" Xu Pingzhi continued.

Xu Xinnian thought for a while, and said regretfully: "Although I may become a big problem for Wang Shoufu in the future, I will not be targeted by him like this. I think Miss Wang is up to no good."

Hearing this, Xu Lingyue put down her chopsticks, and said seriously: "Second brother, you are not good at dealing with women, I will go with you …"

She hurriedly glanced at Xu Qi 'an and corrected herself, "Although I don't know how to fight, women know women best."

Xu Xinnian laughed at his eldest sister's intelligence. "Who says I have to go? It is Miss Wang who invited me to the lake, not Wang Shoufu. In this case, an unmarried man and an unmarried woman going to the lake together is inappropriate, so I will refuse.

"In the art of war, the enemy advances, we retreat. We are weak, and we cannot be the vanguard."

"Not bad, it is handled well …" Xu Qi'an nodded: "You have already decided, why ask me?"

The family chatted while eating, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

...

The next day, the Yuanjing Emperor finished his meditation. He studied the scriptures for an hour, took the bait, and rested for half an hour. That was the end of the morning class.

At this time, he would take some time to review the memorials. It would not take too long, because the cabinet had already prepared the "votes", and he only needed to approve them.

He opened the first memorial, which was from the new Imperial Censor of the Left. The content was to impeach Zhao Tingfang, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, for taking bribes and leaking the questions to Xu Xinnian, a student of the Yunlu Academy.

The memorial also stated that in the provincial examination, the student's poetry was of the fourth grade (the lowest was the fifth grade). How could he have written such a masterpiece as "The Road Ahead is Hard"?

Reading this, the Yuanjing Emperor did not care. Poetry was not an essay, and leaking the questions would be very serious. Poetry was lighter. Even if you knew the questions, you would find it more difficult to find a poet than to get the questions.

But then, the memorial mentioned that the student had a cousin who was the silver gong of the Yamen, and his name was Xu Qi'an.

And as everyone knew, Xu Qi'an was the best poet in Daibun.

After reading the memorial, the Yuanjing Emperor's eyes sharpened, but he did not express his opinion. Then, he took off the "votes" from the cabinet, and on it was written the cabinet's suggestion:

"The imperial examination is to find talents for the court, and it has been the most important since ancient times. Cheating in the imperial examination is intolerable, and I hope Your Majesty will investigate. "

The Yuanjing Emperor pondered for a moment, picked up the brush and approved.