All under the heavens belonged to the King, and all who lived on the land belonged to the King.
Was there anything in this world more daring and exaggerated than openly bargaining with the emperor? To say that he had no respect for the ruler was already an understatement.
Just as Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping was about to speak, he saw Emperor Lin Mubai wave him off. He immediately shut his mouth.
"Hahaha... if I hadn't heard Ping Yang's explanation, I would have blamed Fang Zhengzhi wrongly today. Since I came uninvited and ate quite a bit, I can't go back on my words. Let's go according to your bet with Fang Zhengzhi, 100 silvers per bite!" Emperor Lin Mubai didn't seem to be angry at all.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping's jaw dropped. He was in complete disbelief.
100 silvers per mouthful...
The Emperor agreed?!
"Left Prime Minister, the Emperor agreed? You don't have any more objections, do you? "Fang Zhengzhi's smile grew brighter.
"You... I didn't bring that much silver with me today. Go get it from my residence!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping waved his hand.
"Sure, can the Left Prime Minister please write down the proof?" As Fang Zhengzhi spoke, he took out a piece of white paper and an inkstone. Then, he grinned as he rubbed the inkstone …
Emperor Lin Mubai looked at the flushed Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping, then at Fang Zhengzhi. He reached out and ruffled Ping Yang's hair, a smile on his face.
In fact, he was also shocked when he heard Ping Yang's words. 100 silvers per mouthful was an exorbitant price for an ordinary person.
But...
It was nothing compared to the food in the palace.
It was recorded in ancient books that there was an emperor who, in order to let the people in the palace eat a little fresh lychee, transported it by horse for eight hundred li.
The cost of manpower and material resources was far from what a hundred taels of silver would be able to account for. 1,000 silvers per mouthful was already considered a small price.
The Great Xia Dynasty had existed for thousands of years. Even though there were wars, they had a strong foundation.
Furthermore, there had not been any major wars in the past decade. Of course, the national treasury was abundant. Eating a hot pot that cost a hundred taels of silver per mouthful was not a big deal.
The Heart of the King would not hold it against Fang Zhengzhi.
Just like the famous saying, everything under the heavens belongs to the king. All who lead the land are kings.
If we give you the silver, does it really belong to you?
It's still mine.
This was the heart of an emperor.
However, there was one thing that Emperor Lin Mubai was unsure of. Fang Zhengzhi dared to ask him for silver. Was it because he had guessed his intentions, or was it because he was extremely daring?
"Fang Zhengzhi, I also didn't bring enough silver today. What... do you want?" Emperor Lin Mubai looked at Fang Zhengzhi with a smile on his face. An invisible pressure rose from his body.
"Your Majesty didn't bring enough money? That's easy. Or should I write a proof of identity like the Left Prime Minister? "Fang Zhengzhi replied without hesitation.
"How dare you! Do I have to write an IOU to an official? Aren't you afraid... that I will ask you to take off your official robes and go home to farm? "Emperor Lin Mubai wanted to ask for Fang Zhengzhi's head.
However, after thinking about it, Fang Zhengzhi was still a rank four Sword Envoy. Furthermore, he had personally bestowed this title upon him. If he were to ask for Fang Zhengzhi's head over such a small matter, it would not be right. As such, he changed his mind and asked him to go home to farm.
"I'm not afraid." Fang Zhengzhi replied confidently.
"Oh, why?" Emperor Lin Mubai was puzzled.
"If the emperor wants me to die, I have to die. Your Majesty must have your reasons for wanting me to farm. What is there for me to be afraid of? "Fang Zhengzhi replied solemnly.
Emperor Lin Mubai was taken aback. Then, he chuckled, "Hahaha... good, well said. I will make an exception today and write you an IOU. You can collect it from the treasury."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. May I be so bold as to ask if it's possible to not take it? "Fang Zhengzhi nodded immediately and asked after some thought.
"Refuse? Why is that? " Emperor Lin Mubai was confused. Could it be that Fang Zhengzhi finally realized his mistake and decided to repent?
"This official has calculated. Your Majesty just ate a total of 47 mouthfuls. Excluding the first mouthful that was free and the one thousand taels granted to this official, the remaining amount is only 3,600 taels. 3,600 taels is nothing compared to Your Majesty's promissory note. If this official were to casually take this promissory note and auction it off …"
"How dare you, Fang Zhengzhi. How dare you auction off my promissory note. Do you know your crime?" Emperor Lin Mubai was enraged when he heard this.
"Your Majesty has been wronged. Your Majesty has eaten forty-seven mouthfuls of hotpot today. Even though you are one of the Nine Kings, you have never defaulted. You have written an IOU on the spot. This is a fair and just example, and it also shows Your Majesty's trustworthy policy of governing the country. This official has made this IOU public to the world precisely to promote Your Majesty's fair and trustworthy behavior. This is a painstaking effort, I hope Your Majesty can understand!"
"Shameless! When did this guy learn how to flatter others? "Ping Yang pouted and muttered in disdain when she heard this.
On the other hand, Emperor Lin Mubai was stunned once again. He looked at Fang Zhengzhi and his eyes lit up. He had never realized that this kid had such a sharp tongue!
"Does that mean that I have to thank you for auctioning my IOU?"
"Your Majesty, you don't have to thank me. Just reward me with silvers." Fang Zhengzhi smiled brightly.
"Hahaha... I don't have silvers anymore. I have a token here. If you are willing to go to the Ministry of Rites, you can help them!" Emperor Lin Mubai smiled and his expression turned serious. Then, he took out a golden token and threw it into Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
"Ministry of Rites?" Fang Zhengzhi took the token. It was heavy in his hands. It was made of pure gold. There was a golden dragon carved on the front and a lifelike golden dragon on the back.
What was this thing used for?
In his previous world, the Ministry of Rites was in charge of the imperial examinations and diplomacy. In this world, because the Law of Dao examinations were too important, the Imperial Academy was set up to manage it.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Rites became mainly responsible for foreign diplomacy and various activities of the royal family, such as the horse race hunt last time. There were also ceremonies for the Heavens and ancestors.
"Ministry of Rites?!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping's expression changed when he saw the token in Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
The conversation between the Emperor and Fang Zhengzhi. Of course, he heard everything clearly from the side. He could roughly guess that the Emperor's so-called anger was not real anger.
But that was not important...
The important thing was that the Emperor wanted Fang Zhengzhi to go to the Ministry of Rites!
All this while, Fang Zhengzhi had been a mere official in the Imperial Court with only a title. Even though he was a fourth-rank official and was personally conferred the title by His Majesty, he was still an official in the capital.
But he was still an official with no authority.
But now, things were different. The Emperor wanted Fang Zhengzhi to go to the Ministry of Rites. Even though he did not specify a position, it was a sign of his intentions.
The Emperor wanted to use Fang Zhengzhi!
If a rank four official entered the Ministry of Rites...
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping did not even need to think about the consequences. A rank four official was nothing, but... Rank four Fang Zhengzhi was different. He would be able to shake the entire court.
"Don't tell me... that my prediction during the horse race is going to come true so soon? A new system... I cannot let that happen! "
Just as he was thinking about it, Fang Zhengzhi spoke again.
"I have nothing to say if the Emperor wants me to go to the Ministry of Rites. However, I offended the Minister of Rites during the horse race, so..." Fang Zhengzhi was trying to say that he could not go.
I like freedom!
"You will be representing me when you go to the Ministry of Rites. There is no need to worry!" Emperor Lin Mubai waved him off. There was no need for further discussion.
How tyrannical!
Couldn't he respect the opinions of others?
Fang Zhengzhi's mouth twitched, but he did not say anything else. He did not know what was important. The Emperor's orders could not be disobeyed.
It didn't matter if they asked the Emperor for money or talked glibly, because the Emperor had a grand heart.
But...
He was openly disobeying the Emperor's orders.
The meaning behind it was different. It was the basis for the Emperor to exercise his power, just like an army. As a soldier, he had to obey.
The Emperor's authority was the same. It was tyrannical, even more so than the army.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Fang Zhengzhi finally accepted the Emperor's orders. He had a thought. Since the Emperor's orders were for him to go take a look when he had the time, he could choose not to go if he had the time.
...
Two days later, before the sun had even risen, the Northern Mountain Village received a golden invitation to announce the good news. It was different from the previous teams. This time, the county head personally delivered the golden invitation to the Northern Mountain Village.
The villagers of the Northern Mountain Village looked at the words "Double Roll Champion" and the golden name on it. They were so excited that they could not close their mouths.
"Old Fang, your son has won again. This time, he is the Double Roll Champion!"
"This is incredible. Our Northern Mountain Village has a rank four official, and he is also the Double Roll Champion. There are not many like him in the entire Great Xia Dynasty!"
Voices echoed throughout the Northern Mountain Village.
The teachers who were resting in the Northern Mountain Village from the Five Constabularies of the Northern Lands stared at each other in disbelief when they heard the commotion.
A rank four official and the Double Roll Champion of the Imperial Examinations were two completely different things.
"He really won?!"
All the villagers rushed to the Northern Mountain Village in a frenzy. After all, the Northern Mountain Village was not the only village. There were also villagers from other villages who were building an academy for the Northern Mountain Village.
The news spread quickly.
All the village chiefs prepared carts of gifts and rushed to the Northern Mountain Village. They all wanted to be the first to pay their respects.
The Southern Mountain Village was the closest to the Northern Mountain Village. All of them widened their eyes.
"What are you all waiting for? We did not send anyone to the Northern Mountain Village to build an academy. Are you really going to hide here and not go out? Are you all really going to resist?! "
"We have to go!"
"And we have to be the first to go. Village chief, Li Zhuangshi, don't you agree?"
As the Southern Mountain Village villagers spoke, they all looked towards the previous village chief, Meng Bai, as well as Li Zhuangshi and Li Huer who was standing behind him.
"Prepare the gifts! I will personally drag them over! "Village Chief Meng Bai gritted his teeth.
"Old village head, let me and Hu Zi go with you, and also … you should go too!" Li Zhuangshi sighed softly, and looked towards the Li family's Auntie beside him.
"Why? Why do you want me, an old woman, to go? "Aunt Li immediately objected.
"You can choose not to go, but I will definitely break your legs here. Do you believe me?" Li Zhuangshi stood up as he spoke.
"Ah... ah! I'll go, I'll go! "
...
While the Northern Mountain Village was bustling with activity.
In the Yan Capital, the most important event of the Great Xia Dynasty, the Court Examination, had officially begun.
The Court Examination was set at the White Jade Square outside the palace. The Emperor would personally choose the questions. There was no possibility of fraud.
Dawn.
Autumn was deep and a cool breeze blew. The autumn wind picked up the fallen leaves and danced in the air above the palace. At the entrance of the palace, two rows of golden armoured guards waited solemnly.
On both sides of the golden-armored guards, rows of armored soldiers were holding their spears horizontally, blocking the onlookers outside of the spears and leaving a wide path covered in red silk.
The path led straight to the entrance of the palace.
At this moment, the palace doors were already wide open. Rows of scholars dressed in luxurious robes streamed in and lined up towards the palace doors. However, when they entered the palace doors, they stopped and stood at the entrance, waiting for the announcement of the decree.
"Look, isn't that Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu?"
"I think so. Fang Zhengzhi is the double roll champion of the imperial examinations, and Yan Xiu is also the combat examination roll champion. I wonder if they will be able to get a good ranking in the court examinations."
"Fang Zhengzhi has always been the double roll champion from the county examinations to the imperial examinations. He will definitely top again in the court examinations!"
Amongst the crowd, some of the shabbily dressed people began to discuss excitedly when they saw Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu walking side by side.
"Fang Zhengzhi can top the court examinations? What a joke! "
"Exactly, a bunch of ignorant villagers are just here to watch the show. Wu Feng is participating in the court examinations, how can Fang Zhengzhi top it?"
When they heard the discussion, some of the well-dressed men began to mock them.
"Hmph, I watched the imperial examinations too. At that time, no one thought that Fang Zhengzhi would top it either. What happened in the end? He did it all the same! "
"Exactly, so what if he is Wu Feng? He might just be all bark and no bite. We all think that Fang Zhengzhi will top it! "
All of the shabbily dressed men did not back down. They all began to speak up, clearly on Fang Zhengzhi's side.
"Villagers will always be villagers. They are ignorant. Wu Feng is the disciple of one of the four sages. How can a commoner like Fang Zhengzhi defeat him? Even if Wu Feng loses, there is still one more person who won't lose. "
"Who?"
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