A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks of the Imperial Examination

Chapter 56: Cause And Effect

“Sir, why did you come out?”

“I want to ask you, how did you come out?”

Don’t try to quarrel with Yangxin County Master, Xiao Jingduo immediately gave up the topic. He wanted to ask if the Queen Mother said too much today, which made her feel bad now. I thought about these words over and over in my heart several times, but in the end Xiao Jingduo couldn’t ask them out.

Seeing Xiao Jingduo’s expression, Rong Ke guessed what he was probably worried about. Rong Ke smiled and said, “I’m fine, I’m just going out for a walk. I never get angry with unrelated people.”

If this is the case, it would be best, Xiao Jingduo did not ask. To Rong Ke, Xiao Jingduo was really a very familiar person. With him following her at the moment, her irritable mood became much calmer before she knew it.

They both walked slowly around the lake without speaking. Xiao Jingduo couldn’t walk side by side with the county master, so he followed Rong Ke’s left half a step behind, accompany her in the wind by the lake.

Xiao Jingduo has never been a talkative person, and Rong Ke has been used to mastering the rhythm of conversation since he was a child due to his special background, so every time he is alone with Xiao Jingduo, Rong Ke takes the initiative to speak. Today, Rong Ke rarely wanted to be quiet for a while. After walking around Nanhu for half a time, she was completely defeated by Xiao Jingduo. If this person doesn’t speak, he really doesn’t say a word. Even Rong Ke can’t stand it. Actively seek topics.

“It’s already April, and it’s only a month before the official appointment by the Ministry of Personnel. How are you preparing?”

The imperial examination was presided over by the Ministry of Rites, but the assignment of official positions to Jinshi was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, and not all Jinshi could obtain official positions. The selection of officials is a major event in the country. From the first day of the year, the Ministry of Personnel will send official letters to various yamen, and all officials must participate in the performance appraisal. After the personnel department evaluates the merits and demerits, it will also count the vacancies of each yamen, and the position of the May jinshi comes from this.

Therefore, if a jinshi wants to be an official, he must not only pass the selection test of the Ministry of Personnel, but also have a suitable official position vacant. Therefore, the selection of officials by the Ministry of Personnel is really lucky. It is not uncommon to see Zhuzi pass the imperial examinations with great effort, but fail because he fails the selection examination of the Ministry of Personnel. He has to start the examination again the next year. If the fortune is not good, and there is no one in the family to help, it is possible to even lose the exam for a few years.

Therefore, when selecting officials every year, the scholars will always do something in advance.

Xiao Jingduo is the eldest son of Dingyong Hou. According to Rong Ke’s expectation, his family will always take care of him.

Xiao Jingduo understood the meaning of Rong Ke’s words, he sighed in his heart, it seemed that when Rong Ke also miscalculated, Xiao Jingduo did not dare to ask for help from his family, it was enough for them not to stumble secretly.

Since Zhao Xiulan died and he went to Qingyuan Temple to observe filial piety, Xiao Jingduo and Donggong have been firmly entangled together. The crown prince has really helped Xiao Jingduo a lot. In the future, Xiao Jingduo will obviously join the prince’s camp.

In fact, in detail, although it is the prince who is kind to Xiao Jingduo, Xiao Jingduo is actually more familiar with Rong Ke. After he met Rong Ke in Zhao Guogong’s mansion many years ago, from the poisonous bee in the Buddhist hall, the plague in Chang’an, to the murder of the Guozijian, to the fraud in the imperial examination a few days ago, Rong Ke came forward to contact Xiao Jingduo, and Xiao Jingduo was also used to it. Report something to Rong Ke. Just like the fraud case, although Rong Ke used a fake note to test him, in fact, Rong Ke still trusted him, otherwise he would not have taken the matter.

So instead of saying that Xiao Jingduo is grateful to the prince, it is better to say that he is grateful to Rong Ke, who really gave him too many opportunities. From the first time they met, Xiao Jingduo promised to repay Rong Ke, but after so many years, he owed Rong Ke more and more cause and effect, but the repayment was still far away.

Rong Ke is the princess of the stars holding the moon. King Liang, the sons and grandsons of the dragons, all respond to his requests. Xiao Jingduo really doesn’t know what he can do for Rong Ke.

Rong Ke walked ahead and did not notice Xiao Jingduo’s psychological activities. Seeing that Xiao Jingduo stopped talking, she thought that Xiao Jingduo was uneasy about May’s selection test, so she hinted: “The Ministry of Personnel selects officials. It depends on what you say and what you say, you practice calligraphy and writing these days, and don’t worry about the reputation of virtue.”

Body words and writing judgments, body refers to physical appearance, words are to check the conversation and answer of the jinshi, books are to check the quality of handwriting, judgment is to see whether the article is smooth, for Xiao Jingduo, these are not problems . However, after passing these four basic standards, the Ministry of Personnel will also refer to the other party’s virtue, prestige, and talent. In addition, it depends on whether there are vacancies suitable for this person in the local government, so it is not surprising that Xiao Ying threatened to take the selection test. Xiao Jingduo, without family management, is very likely to be brushed in the selection test.

But Rong Ke now says that Xiao Jingduo is enough to prepare calligraphy and essays with peace of mind, which shows that she is very sure of the election in May. Rong Ke is not a person who talks freely. She always makes plans and then moves. Without 100% certainty, she would not say such arbitrary words.

Although Xiao Jingduo didn’t answer, he was already thinking about what Rong Ke wanted to do, or what he did again.

“Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?”

Rong Ke has always been very satisfied with Xiao Jingduo’s reaction speed, and he can guess the remaining half after saying half of the words. In addition, Xiao Jingduo is a trustworthy person, and Rong Ke is also willing to disclose these secrets to Xiao Jingduo: “Uncle San Biao loves to travel in the mountains and water, and even his grandfather can’t control him. He went to Jiangzhou to relax a few days ago, and accidentally discovered it. Something. When he comes back, your selection will be easy.”

These words were thoughtless, Xiao Jingduo remembered the note written by Cheng Huizhen in February, and in a daze, an extraordinary guess came up.

“The princess, could it be…”

Rong Ke smiled, but did not speak, Xiao Jingduo also understood it and no longer asked.

Xia Saburo is the maiden family of the crown princess. For no reason, he went all the way to Jiangzhou to do what, even if Xia Saburo loves to travel the mountains and waters, it doesn’t make sense. So it is very likely that Cheng Huizhen had no intention of revealing some important court events that had not yet happened on the leaked note, and Rong Ke saw the clues, so he sent Xia Saburo to Jiangzhou to find out. If it does, this is the crown prince’s great achievement. If it doesn’t work, let Saburo Xia go out to play at public expense, and neither the public nor the private will harm the prince’s interests.

And Rong Ke said that when Saburo Xia came back, it would not be difficult for them to select officials for this group of scholars. Does this mean that Jiangzhou will dismiss a large number of officials, and many official positions will be vacated Come out, can this new batch of them be able to top it?

The more I think about it, the more frightened I get. Xiao Jingduo knows that this matter is very important. So far, it should be an unannounced secret in the East Palace. Now Rong Ke has revealed it to him. This kind of trust makes Xiao Jingduo unable to stop moving.

Xiao Jingduo didn’t know what to say for a while.

Seeing that Xiao Jingduo had already guessed it, Rong Ke didn’t say much. A few days ago, Xia Zhiheng sent a letter back, saying that there was indeed a problem in Jiangzhou, and the government officials took risks in order to evaluate the performance, and concealed the flood without reporting it. After repeated visits, he had already obtained irrefutable evidence, and only then did he send the letter to the prince. Counting the days, Xia Zhiheng should have set off from Jiangzhou in the past few days. Of course, Jiangzhou Prefecture is not stupid, presumably Xia Zhiheng’s journey back to Beijing will not be peaceful.

However, in Rong Ke’s view, these are not problems at all.

Thanks to Rongke, now Xiao Jingduo is a lot more relieved about the selection test in May. He sighed from the bottom of his heart, how much Rong Ke’s brain is so long, how much Cheng Huizhen can write on a piece of paper, and only a few words on the topic of the strategy, but just like this, Rong Ke can catch the flaws, he really I can’t figure out how Rong Ke guessed it.

Since he talked about the prophet, Xiao Jingduo also took the initiative to mention Cheng Huizhen: “The county master, the maid next to Cheng’s cousin…”

“Don’t worry about it, I have my own arrangements.” Rong Ke tilted his head to look at Xiao Jingduo, and added with concern, “I heard that you and your cousin are discussing marriage, are you…”

“No, no.” Xiao Jingduo vetoed without thinking. He breathed a sigh of relief just now, but he could have thrown Cheng Huizhen, a thorny hot potato. Xiao Jingduo was really worried about how to deal with Cheng Huizhen. Now that Rong Ke was willing to take over, he couldn’t ask for it. How could he have expected that Rong Ke would want to go somewhere else? .

Seeing that Xiao Jingduo really didn’t mean that, Rong Ke was relieved: “Although your family is talking to you, your cousin is not a good choice. There is no such thing as Xia Feng and others. She’d better not get married until she finds out her details.”

There are people who know the future, which is a temptation and a threat to those in power. Before Rong Ke was sure how much Cheng Huizhen knew, what he wanted to do, and whether it would harm the imperial court or the East Palace, he probably wouldn’t let Cheng Huizhen get married.

Now Cheng Huizhen is only a boudoir girl, and she has limited contact with people every day. If she enters her husband’s house with a secret, who knows what will happen?

Rong Ke will not allow this kind of uncertainty to happen under her nose.

Xiao Jingduo didn’t know why this kind of thing spread to Rong Ke’s ears, but he thought of the spies by Cheng Huizhen’s side, maybe not only Cheng Huizhen had spies by his side, but he was relieved. But this kind of thing must be made clear, so Xiao Jingduo explained a few more words: “This is just the family’s own opinion, I have no intention of… getting married.”

Rong Ke nodded: “That’s good.”

Maybe Rong Ke also thought this topic was very weird, so she didn’t answer. Once Rong Ke stopped talking, they became quiet again. When he spoke, he didn’t realize it, but when he stopped at this moment, Xiao Jingduo realized that they had walked for a long time, almost halfway around the lake.

A lot of things passed without knowing it.

Rong Ke also seemed to have thought of this, and said with some emotion: “I remember you were very reckless when I first met you. I didn’t expect that so many years had passed.” Both should have a kiss.

Yes, he and Rong Ke have known each other for eight years.

Xiao Jingduo also remembered that when he first met, he was so busy throwing off the pursuers that he bumped the county master to the ground. It was indeed his fault, so when Rong Ke said it was reckless, Xiao Jingduo endured it.

Eight years passed by in a flash, although Rong Ke would be angry to say this, Xiao Jingduo really watched Rong Ke grow up. From the despair and helplessness when he first came to Beijing, to the desperate gamble at Qingyuan Temple, to the splendid scenery of his high school Jinshi now, Rong Ke’s shadow can be seen in every turning point. However, Rong Ke has grown up, and she will soon have her own life.

arrange.”

Xiao Jingduo just smiled and did not answer.

The lively April soon came to an end. At the end of April, Xia Zhiheng, the Saburo of the Xia family, came back from playing and brought a big case in Jiangzhou that shocked the government and the public.

There have been floods in many places in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River this year, and only Jiangzhou has been spared, because Jiangzhou officials have made good governance, and the court has also drawn up a decree of commendation, but no one thought that the fact The truth turned out to be so.

It’s not that Jiangzhou was not affected by the disaster, but that Jiangzhou state officials locked up all the affected people and blocked the news.

The officials of the three provinces and six ministries were stunned by the courage of the Jiangzhou state officials. The emperor was furious and ordered the Jiangzhou state officials to be executed. The entire state series was washed clean.

This major case happened to meet the time of the appointment of Jinshi, and many senior officials in the DPRK and China privately lamented the good luck of this Jinshi. Because Jiangzhou lacked a big mouth, many officials were transferred to Jiangzhou, so, whether it was Chang’an or other places, many positions were vacated.

In this world, it is difficult to say why. Cheng Huizhen secretly wrote it on a note because she knew about the future, and wanted to help Xiao Jingduo. However, this note passed to Rong Ke by accident. Rong Ke noticed the clue because of the reminder of the note. , only sent Xia Saburo to Jiangzhou to find out, but instead the Xia Zhiheng and Jiangzhou cases were made, and the matter developed into what Cheng Huizhen remembered.

Who is the cause and who is the effect.

In Dingyonghou’s mansion, a maid hurriedly walked into the inner room, suppressed her joy, leaned over and said to Wu Junru: “Madam, the Wu family has replied!”