Kong Zhenrong thought of something and said slowly, "I heard that the poor scholar from Yanzhi County of Youzhou was supposed to be the champion of the Spring Imperial Examinations. However, he was targeted by a big shot and suppressed by a weak reason. Not to mention the Spring Imperial Examinations, he almost lost the qualification of the Palace Examinations. Some people say that Jin Lanting, one of the Imperial Tutors, was one of the Imperial Tutors. Others say that the Imperial Tutor, Principal Puhua, deliberately promoted Qin Guanhai, who had won the Imperial Tutor title but had only gotten the lowest rank in the Imperial Tutor Exam. Now even my father is defending him. He said that if Liu Huai hadn't made things difficult for others in the Imperial Tutor Exam, he would have gotten first place in the Imperial Tutor Exam. Besides, Liu Huai was the top scorer in the Imperial Tutor Exam of the Northern Liang Path. That would be an unprecedented three times in a row in the Imperial Tutor Exam of the Imperial Tutor Exam! My father's temper is so bad that he can't even get a fart out of it. These days, he has been nagging about it countless times. The wine in the residence is almost not enough to drink. "
In Liyang, the Autumn Imperial Examination was the local provincial examination, while the Spring Imperial Examination was the national examination in the capital. Thus, there was a saying in the officialdom, "When the Autumn Imperial Examination is the Spring Imperial Examination, the Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate". Liu Huai, a poor scholar from Beiliang, actually became famous before the Spring Imperial Examination. At that time, this person was copying inscriptions outside the Imperial College. He was able to get the contemporary Saint of the Zhang family of the Sacred Duke's Mansion to help him copy. At that time, thousands of Imperial College students heard the news and flocked over. In the end, Liu Huai was the last one to know the noble identity of the middle-aged Confucian scholar, which caused a sensation in the capital! However, at that time, Liu Huai, who was embarrassingly short of money, was forced to stay in a small Taoist temple. He rejected the offers of countless high-ranking officials and nobles to buy the scriptures, and also rejected the offers of some people to change his address. It was said that quite a few aristocratic families in the capital wanted to take him as their son-in-law, but they were all rejected by Liu Huai. At that time, there were many voices in the capital that said that this person was nothing more than fishing for compliments and waiting for the right price to sell. Everything was just about the two words "raising the prestige". As Liu Huai came in third, the articles of the Imperial and Imperial Examinations gradually spread throughout the court. Only then did these strange words quietly disappear.
As Liu Huai entered the court, the people in Great Peace City learned of the inside story. There were actually five Beiliang scholars participating in the Autumn Imperial Examination, but the other four had given up their qualifications and returned to their hometowns.. they only gave all their remaining money to Liu Huai, who stayed to stay to stay. to stay.
Kong Zhenrong's father, Kong Dashan, had been 'recruited' by the imperial court of Li Yang and had chosen to leave the Northern Liang Sect. The main reason was that his elder brother, who had been a businessman for many years, and his two daughters had accidentally married into one of Jiangnan's Daoist clans. The two Jiangnan families were well liked in the Great Peace City officialdom. Adding on the fact that he did not see eye to eye with the Commander of the Cavalry at the time, Huai Hua Great General Zhong Hongwu, he came to Great Peace City. He only got a mid-level official position in the Ministry of War, a fourth-rank official. He had just been promoted at the end of last year. In a few years, his son would probably catch up. After Kong Dashan brought his family to the capital, he must have been ostracized. However, while Kong Dashan was a true Beiliang general, his personality was very open-minded. Otherwise, based on his son Kong Zhenrong's relationship with His Royal Highness, he would not have fallen to the point of leaving Beiliang. Kong Dashan himself was a rough man, but he was one of the few generals in Beiliang who openly admired scholars. In his early years, he did not like Li Hanlin. He was even indifferent to His Royal Highness, Hsu Fengnian. Only Yan Chiji, who was a scholar and did not smile, would become friendly when he saw him at home.
Thus, Kong Dashan was furious at the situation of the Beiliang scholar Liu Huai in Great Peace City.
Yan Chiji, who had been lying lazily on the railing, stood up and said in a low voice, "There is indeed some inside story in the spring examinations. However, as the teacher, Sima Puhua had the intention to help Qin Guanhai, a junior from the same hometown. He did not try to suppress Liu Huai. As Liu Huai's teacher, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Jin Lanting, did not belittle Liu Huai's essay. Instead, he praised it greatly. The examination paper was full of praise. "
Kong Zhenrong could not wrap his head around it and was confused. The Minister of Rites and the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites were respectively the President and the Vice President. Was there someone who could oppose them?
Kong Zhenrong suddenly realized and his face was filled with disbelief.
Yan Chiji nodded. "It was Chen Shaobao who had refused the position of teacher. He shook his head at Liu Huai's essay and said a few words of praise but more criticism."
Kong Zhenrong shook his head and said, "I don't believe it! I have never truly interacted with Chen Shaobao's personality, but I definitely trust him! Chen Shaobao is not this kind of person and would not do such a thing! There is no need! "
Just from Kong Zhenrong's words, it was clear that Chen Shaobao's reputation in the court was at the top of Jing.
Yan Chiji grimaced and said, "At the start, I did not believe it either. However, this was what His Majesty the Emperor said, and Chen Shaobao was present at the time."
Kong Zhenrong was dumbfounded and slapped his forehead. "No wonder Bro Nian said that scholars can't understand!"
Yan Chiji's gaze was deep as he continued, "In short, His Majesty personally appointed Liu Huai as the Tanhua Scholar and did not give him the Zhuangyuan Scholar. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"
Kong Zhenrong sighed, "Don't think too much about things that you can't figure out. Bro Nian taught me this, and I feel that it's reasonable."
"Bro Nian also said that if we meet a grandfather that we can't defeat, we should be the grandson first. There will be a day when the grandfather teaches the grandson a lesson." Yan Chiji smiled.
Kong Zhenrong grinned from ear to ear for a long time.
Yan Chiji remained silent for a long time. When Kong Zhenrong finally stopped laughing, he leaned on the railing again and said, "You and Li Hanlin both think that I'm the most educated, and that Bro Nian is more reasonable than me because he's smart. Actually, that's not right. I only understood later that Bro Nian knew about our family leaving Beiliang secretly. That's why he said those drunk words to me when we met for the last time. He said that the book said that all good things must come to an end. Don't be afraid. The book also said that it's a small world. There will always be a chance to set up another banquet. "
Kong Zhenrong was speechless.
He wanted to say something, but he couldn't.
He wanted to drink, but there was no wine to drink.
Yan Chiji turned his head and looked at Kong Wuchi, his face full of tears. "I know that the four of us, plus my sister and Li Fuzhen, the six of us, will never have the chance to be together again."
Kong Zhenrong nodded.
Yan Chiji sobbed like a child who made a mistake. "Bro Nian lied to me!"
Kong Zhenrong still didn't say anything. He just raised his arm slowly and rubbed the young man's head gently.
It was just like how Hsu Fengnian treated Yan Chiji.
— —
Many years later, not only did the auspicious era name become a thing of the past, but even the new year name was changed twice.
The new emperor of Liyang had just ascended the throne.
It was still the same waterfront pavilion, still the same light rain in the spring evening.
The old man who had just turned down the new emperor's invitation to stay and stepped down as the left servant of the province came here alone after playing with his grandchildren. He was a powerful official in his official career, and he would be a famous official in the history books in the future. For some reason, he was crying silently. The white-haired old man didn't look very sad, but he couldn't stop crying.
The old man who was known as the second Tantanon in the court didn't wipe his tears.
He was like a child who accidentally lost a cute object. First, he cried loudly. After a few days, he wasn't so sad anymore, but when he remembered it, he would still sniffle.
Withered intestines were watered in three bowls, and the cool breeze grew in two armpits.
The spring breeze brushed his hair, and the old man remembered the youth.
Many years ago, in Lingzhou in the south of the Great Wall, the last King of Beiliang, who no one mentioned now, was still the absurd and carefree His Royal Highness. In those years, one could often see four young men walking out of the brothel drunk in the middle of the night. Li Hanlin, who hadn't joined the army to kill the enemy, and Li Hanlin, who hadn't become the White Horse Lieutenant, who hadn't become the Great General of the West, must have had lipstick marks all over his face. However, this guy was the most cunning. He couldn't hold his liquor, and his drinking behavior was even worse. Every time he secretly let the courtesans and courtesans help him with the water, he seemed to be drinking heroically, but he also secretly threw the wine out of the cup. His disguise was flawless. Therefore, every time he went home, he could still laugh and laugh with the courtesans and madams. He would never delay and take advantage of them afterwards as he collected some interest. And Kong Wu Chi, who had become a great philanthropist, could hold his liquor, but his drinking behavior was good. Moreover, the two or three girls who were especially grateful because they hadn't had a business for a long time wouldn't agree to not drink with this burly, kind-hearted young man. Therefore, he was far less sober than that bastard Li every time. However, good had its reward, and evil had its retribution. Kong Wu Chi was drunk, and Li Hanlin was sober. Of course, the latter had to carry him. In His Royal Highness' words, it was me carrying Kong Wu Chi who weighed two hundred catties? Are you, Li Hanlin, His Royal Highness, or am I the one? As for the young scholar who was still nicknamed "Chicken Eating Strict", he was no longer afraid of being scolded by his father when he returned home. Every time he walked into a brothel, he would secretly encourage himself. Tonight, he must touch the chest of a certain young lady. Otherwise, he might as well pluck up his courage and kiss her lips. In short, he couldn't let those three brothers laugh at him for having evil intentions but not the guts to do it! But every time he left the tender land of beautiful women, the young scholar would be drunk and unconscious. He would tell himself that it didn't matter. He would try again next time, and be a real man for once!
The slender young man, Li Hanlin, carried the burly young man, Kong Wu Chi, and walked unsteadily.
And the young man, His Royal Highness, carried the light young man, Yan Chiji, so of course it was easier.
In the beginning, Li Hanlin was not without doubts. Why didn't he just let the retainer carry Kong Wu Chi back to the carriage after eating chicken?
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