Chapter 579: Disaster Born from This

Love Shenjing, East, Yuping Street, Hongjin Silk Shop.

The afternoon sun was bright, the street was bustling with people, and the shops on both sides of the road were thriving, with people coming and going from time to time.

Although the Hongjin Silk Shop had only been open for a few months, it had already completely integrated into this bustling street.

The shopkeeper, Liu Wenxuan, was enthusiastic and kind, good at attracting people, and didn't care about small profits, leaving a good reputation among the surrounding neighborhood shops.

The newly opened Hongjin Silk Shop had integrated into the bustling market of the Love Shenjing in just a short time, without causing waves or attracting attention.

Guests often came and went at the shop counter to buy fabrics and silks. Liu Wenxuan checked the accounts for half a day behind the counter, then handed the shop business to the clerk and entered the backyard of the shop.

Entering the room, he carefully folded a stack of Xuan paper with copied text on the table and put it into his bosom, then went out the back door of the shop.

He walked for a while in the back alley, then turned into another alley, turning several corners along the way, all walking on deep alley paths behind the main street.

Walking like this for half a cup of tea, he stopped at the end of a clean and quiet alley and knocked on the yellow copper door knocker of a small courtyard.

The monotonous and regular metal knocking sound echoed in the quiet alley...

Waiting for a tall woman to come and open the door, he passed through the courtyard full of flowers and trees and entered the inner room.

Under the south window facing the sun in the inner room, there was an old and wide pear wood desk.

A middle-aged man of about forty, wearing convenient short-sleeved clothes, with his sleeves rolled up, sat in front of the desk.

The sunlight outside the house, through the semi-transparent glazed window lattice, shone on a manuscript full of names on the desk, making it appear clearly.

The top line of the manuscript clearly wrote the names of three people: Grand Secretary Wang Shilun, Minister of Personnel Chen Mo, and Vice Minister of Rites Huang Hongcang.

This was the copied version of the Spring Examination official edict posted at the gate of the examination hall, which was watched by countless candidates taking the exam.

Liu Wenxuan stood in front of the desk and did not interrupt the middle-aged man's train of thought, waiting until he looked up from the copied edict.

He took out the folded Xuan paper from his bosom and said, "Master, this is the mock questions of various officials that we copied and collected through various channels."

He took out one of the Xuan papers and said: The most important mock question among them was drafted by Vice Minister of Rites Huang Hongcang.

And it was given to the son of his former classmate, Wu Liang, a candidate from Hangzhou Prefecture, accompanied by Zhou Yan, a candidate from Huizhou Prefecture.

We searched the market, but didn't find this mock question, which shows that after Wu Liang and Zhou Yan got the mock question, they didn't spread it outside.

Because Huang Hongcang was originally a hot candidate for chief examiner, we have always had eyes near his residence, so we noticed these two candidates paying respects and entering the mansion.

Huang Hongcang's style was rigorous. Besides receiving these two candidates, other candidates' visits were all declined. I think these two must have an extraordinary relationship with him.

I had people bribe Huang Hongcang's book boy with heavy money, letting him flip through and copy from his study, and then I got this mock question.

Now that Huang Hongcang has been selected as the chief examiner for the Spring Examination, this mock question has become very important. The day before the Metropolitan Examination, the chief examiner will lock the gates to set the questions.

If Huang Hongcang's questions are similar or close, those two candidates who had paid respects to the mansion will become the biggest beneficiaries, which will surely lead to big events!"

The middle-aged man took the Xuan paper from Liu Wenxuan's hand, read the mock question a few times, and then put it on the table without changing his expression.

He said, "The three chief examiners selected by the court this time are all the most outstanding heavy ministers of the Emperor Jia Zhao reign. The current Emperor still has quite a vision for employing people.

Grand Secretary Wang Shilun became famous when he was young, his official career started early, and he is deep in the city. He entered the cabinet to know politics before he was forty. This kind of person is difficult to control and can only be watched from afar, not touched.

Minister of Personnel Chen Mo is also an old minister who has experienced two reigns, and he was the top scholar in the Spring Examination of the second year of Yong'an. His imperial examination resume is brilliant, and few can match it.

Moreover, this person's temperament is smooth and changeable, and he is full of wisdom. Back then, because he was a top scholar, he entered the Cultural Hall to lecture and taught the princes of the Yong'an Emperor.

At that time, among these princes, the Prince of Wu had outstanding talent and was highly esteemed by Chen Mo. The two had a real teacher-student relationship.

Back then, the Prince of Wu's rebellion happened in the Love Shenjing, and many civil and military officials were implicated, their families raided and clans exterminated, and they were demoted and exiled. Few could escape.

But Chen Mo had a teacher-student relationship with the Prince of Wu. With such a close relationship, he was able to retreat completely, and could float and sink in the Six Ministries for more than ten years without falling, finally climbing to the high position of the Heavenly Official of the Ministry of Personnel.

Don't look at this person as old. With such a taboo past, he can still be relied upon by the current Emperor. His heart and means are not lower than Wang Shilun's.

This kind of old guy has long been practiced into a diamond body. Even if there are steel teeth and sharp teeth, you can't bite this kind of old stick.

Vice Minister of Rites Huang Hongcang was the second-place scholar in the palace examination of the nineteenth year of Yong'an. He has quite a reputation in the officialdom and academic circles, and his reputation is strict and honest. He is a rare upright official in the officialdom.

This person is a high-ranking official of Grade 2, but now he only lives in a two-entry residence, with one wife and one concubine, and only one daughter. The clothes and shoes in the family are all made by the women in the family.

The current Emperor is indeed a person with careful thoughts. He used these three people as chief examiners, truly like an iron bucket.

Perhaps the fluctuations in the market before this Spring Examination were a bit big, and this Supreme One has always been suspicious, so this situation appeared. It is also possible..."

Liu Wenxuan asked, "According to the Master, is it impossible for the matter we are planning to succeed..."

The middle-aged man sighed, "Ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers are only tilted by one person. The Spring Examination is a major event of the country's ethics. We can do things to this point, which is already the end.

Whether it succeeds or not is no longer in the plan, but in Heaven. The destiny of Heaven, who can finally bear it, let's leave it to God!"

He took the copied edict again, looked at it carefully, and then pondered the mock questions copied by Liu Wenxuan, and his eyes gradually brightened.

He asked, "Among the chief examiner candidates listed in the blue-covered booklet, who are the others?"

Liu Wenxuan took out the blue-covered booklet from his bosom, flipped to a page, and said, "Grand Secretary Cai Xiang, Minister of Works Li Dekang, and Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Liangxiong."

The middle-aged man's expression was solemn, and he said, "I heard that Cai Xiang has avoided suspicion because his son is taking the exam, and has already mentioned his withdrawal.

Minister of Works Li Dekang is one of the leaders of the Six Ministries, and he can be considered quite heavy. Moreover, this person is clever and smooth, not a moral gentleman.

Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Liangxiong, in the official records we obtained, this person was the top of the second tier in the Spring Examination of the nineteenth year of Yong'an. He is arrogant and looks down on everything. He is a person who is not easy to control."

The middle-aged man stood up from behind the desk and paced back and forth in the room, his attitude leisurely, his short-sleeved clothes still rolled up, looking like a servant gardener.

In a moment, he stopped and said to Liu Wenxuan, "Go call Shenglan over."

Not long after Liu Wenxuan went out, a tall woman entered the room...

Love Shenjing, Pushiyuan (Office of Investigation) official office, Zhou Junxing's official residence.

Zheng Yingquan, the director of the Pushiyuan, walked into the official residence and saw his superior carefully browsing the documents.

He took out a case file he carried with him and said, "Master, according to your instructions, I have sent quite a few people these days to search for the mock questions circulating among officials in the market.

There are fifty-seven in total, and each mock question has been marked with the name and official position of the drafter, as well as whether they were selected as Spring Examination subordinate officials."

Zhou Junxing took the case file and just took a rough look at the densely packed mock questions and related additional official records on it, then put it on the table.

He said, "These mock questions all come from the hands of the Spring Examination subordinate officials. These people might be co-examiners, or they might be deputies under the co-examiners.

The mock questions they set are mostly to show off their talent and attract attention, which has nothing to do with the overall situation. We can leave them for review after the Metropolitan Examination, but there is no need to spend more thought on them for now."

Zhou Junxing handed the documents in his hand to Zheng Yingquan and smiled, "Yingquan is a proper imperial examination Jinshi. He has quite a bit of talent. You look at this mock question, how is it?"

Zheng Yingquan took the document with a confused expression. He was quite proper in handling things. These days, he allocated quite a few people to collect the mock questions made by the officials listed in the blue-covered booklet.

During this period, in order to prevent omissions, he even entered and exited the West City where candidates lived many times to check. The fifty-seven mock questions registered on the case file were all that could be found, and there were no omissions.

Why would there be a brand-new mock question in Zhou Junxing's hand?

He opened the document and looked carefully, seeing it written:

Rites, music, punishment, and politics are the governance of the ruler and the teaching of the teacher. For those who have the world and the country, they take the people as the lifeline. The discussion clarifies, the government facilities, all are for the foundation of the country, all are spoken of with heaven, the people's hearing and seeing, all are from our people, how can it be light?

However, the wonderful use of the middle, the way of solidification, the origin of the way, the transmission of the way, this is the outline of the ruler and teacher of all things...

This mock question was quite long, filling a whole sheet of Xuan paper, roughly estimated to be seven or eight hundred words.

Zheng Yingquan was a Jinshi at the end of the second tier back then, and he had quite a bit of talent in his chest. At first, he just browsed at will, but the more he looked, the more admiration appeared in his eyes.

He said, "Master, this mock question takes rites, way, punishment, and politics as the goal, extends the idea of governing the country and herding the people, the thinking is deep, the atmosphere is magnificent, and the method of questioning hits the key points of practical affairs.

The person who set the question has a vast vision of knowledge, which is truly admirable. Although the mock questions collected by the subordinate are many, none are as exquisite and profound as this one. Who wrote this?"

Zhou Junxing smiled slightly, but this smile was a bit private and cold, saying, "This mock question was written by Vice Minister of Rites Huang Hongcang and given to two candidates who came to the capital to take the exam!"

Zheng Yingquan's expression shook slightly, saying, "Master, according to the investigation by the subordinate these days, the three chief examiners appointed by the imperial edict have no self-made mock questions circulating outside.

I don't know where this question came from?

Vice Minister of Rites Huang Hongcang is the chief examiner appointed by the Emperor. The circulation of the chief examiner's mock questions before the Metropolitan Examination will stir up the public. I heard that this person is cautious and careful in officialdom. How could this happen?"

!

Zhou Junxing sneered, "You are right. Huang Hongcang is indeed a cautious person. Since the blue-covered booklet circulated in the market, many candidates coming to the capital to take the exam followed the clues to pay respects.

This person closed his doors to guests and left no handle. But he made an exception once, receiving two candidates from Hangzhou Prefecture and Huizhou Prefecture, and self-drafted examination questions to give them pointers.

I think at that time, even he himself didn't expect that he would finally be selected as the chief examiner for the Spring Examination.

Those two candidates got Huang Hongcang's mock questions and kept them secret, never spreading them outside, so the people you sent to collect in the market couldn't find this mock question."

Zheng Yingquan wondered, "Since the Master said that those two candidates got Huang Hongcang's mock questions and kept them secret, never spreading them outside, how did the Master get them?"

Zhou Junxing smiled triumphantly: "I naturally have channels that ordinary people don't know. You don't need to worry about this matter.

From today on, you pick capable people to watch Huang's residence inside and outside. His coming and going, and his visits, must be recorded in detail. If you can bribe his family, that is the best strategy.

Huang Hongcang's daily coming and going to the official office must be arranged with people to follow. Inside and outside must not let him notice. Once discovered, do not disturb, and report to me immediately.

Before the Metropolitan Examination, no matter what big thing he does, our people are not allowed to act without authorization. We must let him smoothly become the chief examiner of this Spring Examination!

In addition, the Hongxiang Inn in the West City is where the involved candidates live, so arrange people to monitor it..."

Zheng Yingquan asked worriedly, "Master, Huang Hongcang is a high-ranking official of Grade 2, and has quite a reputation in the court. Now that he has been selected as one of the three chief examiners of the Spring Examination, he is even more in the eyes of the public.

Now there are more than three thousand candidates coming to the capital to take the exam, which is a very shocking number. The three chief examiners of the Spring Examination will be the future masters of these candidates. This matter is very important.

Just relying on a mock question, the Pushiyuan sends people to monitor and track, and secretly crimes such a high-ranking scholar official. The risk here is not small.

Once the wind leaks and is learned by those candidates, if it stirs up the commotion of thousands of candidates before the Metropolitan Examination, there will be no room for maneuver. Master, think twice!"

Zhou Junxing heard Zheng Yingquan's words, and his face changed. He naturally knew that Zheng Yingquan's concerns were all sincere words.

Although the people in the Pushiyuan were carefully cultivated by him in these years, whether it was Zheng Yingquan or those people under his command, they were all backbone members who could be trusted.

But there is no perfect thing in the world. People have slips and horses have stumbles. No one can guarantee that there will be an accident.

Before the Spring Examination, without the Emperor's order, monitoring the chief examiner high official, even Zheng Yingquan felt uneasy. Wouldn't those people under his command have concerns?

As long as someone's actions are abnormal and noticed by others, it is not strange...

Before the Spring Examination, thousands of candidates gathered in the Love Shenjing. Once the news spreads, if the candidates make trouble because of this.

With the Emperor's wisdom and ruthlessness back then, he would never blame the thousands of candidates.

The only result would be that the Emperor would surely take the Pushiyuan to make an example, calm the situation, ensure the Spring Examination's ethics ceremony is safe, and maintain the face of the Emperor and the hundred officials.

When that time comes, as the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review, I will likely have nowhere to be buried...

Zhou Junxing paced a few times in the official residence, just thinking for a while, then made up his mind, and a look of decisiveness and ruthlessness appeared in his eyes.

He said, "Yingquan, I know what you said is all right, but the Pushiyuan is different from ordinary official offices.

The Pushiyuan belongs to monitoring the hundred officials, protecting the imperial power, supporting the monarch, and as the eagle dog and claw of the Emperor, some things are known to be impossible, but must be done!

When the Emperor ascended the throne, because of the Prince of Wu's rebellion, the world was not peaceful, and people's hearts were chaotic. The Emperor used the Pushiyuan to rectify the court and pacify the court and the wild, which led to the great governance of the next ten years.

But the Prince of Wu's rebellion was pacified. In order to appease the court and the wild, civil and military officials, and the nobility, the Emperor stripped the Pushiyuan of its power for ten years. Now why did the Emperor re-enable the Pushiyuan?

You and I both know the deep meaning...

You and I accepted the imperial edict and became officials in the Pushiyuan, which is stepping into a mountain of knives and a sea of fire. Where is there any retreat?

If the eagle dog cannot catch the rabbit, and the lion and tiger cannot hunt the fierce, for the Emperor, what is the use of lingering on...

Other officials, if they don't advance, they retreat. If the Pushiyuan doesn't advance, it dies!

The Spring Examination is a matter that shakes the world, a place where the hundred officials of the world are watching. Once there is corruption in the examination hall, how many people will die in the morning and evening, and how many people will rise in an instant.

Now that you and I have noticed the clues, how can we easily miss such a big event? Life and death are just an instant, generations are difficult to overcome, and victory is sought in danger!

You go all out to handle this matter, and you must not shrink back. Once something happens, even if my head is cut off, I, Zhou Junxing, will surely be before you..."

Zhou Junxing's wild words kept hitting Zheng Yingquan's heart. His thoughts turned in his chest, looking at his superior, feeling a slight sigh in his heart.

After Zhou Junxing's words fell, Zheng Yingquan almost didn't hesitate and replied, "Subordinate obeys, I will arrange people immediately and handle this matter according to the Master's meaning!"

Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

The Si hour was about to end, and the courtyard was quiet inside and out. Jia Cong finished his morning homework and sat on a chair to stretch his waist. A pair of delicate little hands behind him had already touched his forehead and massaged it gently.

Ever since Lingguan performed this on Jia Cong once, she had the skill to save the sisters from the punishment of the ruler, and Jia Cong liked this skill of Lingguan.

Every day, when he was immersed in his studies in the study and his heart and brain were tired, he would let Lingguan do it for him, and it seemed that his fatigue disappeared in an instant.

Lingguan was naturally very willing to do this on Jia Cong's head. Every time she calculated that Jia Cong was about to finish half a day of homework, she would appear in the study unexpectedly.

Those two little hands would always touch his head unexpectedly and just right, as if both of them were tireless about this matter.

Whenever this happened, one person leaned on the chair in the study, and one stood upright, intimate and tacit, whispering, quite warm.

Every time Zhen Ying Lian saw this scene, she was very envious and often carefully imitated Lingguan's movements and gestures.

Several times she was full of interest, taking Jia Cong's head to operate, but she only learned seven or eight out of ten, and the strength was either light or heavy.

It didn't make Jia Cong's fatigue disappear, but it made his head ache quite a bit...

After such times, Zhen Ying Lian gave up her expectation of improvement. Once Lingguan didn't appear, she wouldn't dare to move her hands randomly.

Once Lingguan didn't appear, she would foolishly run to find her. The study of the two people often became a study of three, which actually added a bit of harmony.

This day, Jia Cong finished his homework, and it was Lingguan's turn to do homework on his head. Not long after, Qingwen entered with a roll of paper.

That piece of clothing was specially made by Qingwen, to be worn by Jia Cong for the Spring Examination.

The clothing was already seven or eight percent done, so Qingwen brought it for Jia Cong to try on, matching the height and size, so that it could be sewn and modified properly.

Here, Qingwen was like a butterfly, surrounding Jia Cong, hugging his waist, measuring his shoulders, and measuring back and forth on Jia Cong's legs with her little hands.

Suddenly, several people saw Wu'er enter the study, her face red, even more charming, and her expression a bit strange... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 580 =====