"Master Tai Fu, this is a preliminary list, please go through it."

As soon as Pei Ling arrived, the deputy examiner handed over a prepared roster.

Pei Ling turned it over, and saw that the top three places were written with three very familiar names-Pei Yunxiao, Zhao Xizhe, and Tang Hang.

"Take me to see the exam papers of these three people." Pei Ling closed the booklet after only one glance, and said to the deputy examiner.

There are always three to four marking officers in the grading of the Dali Academic Examination. The first marking is when the grading officer randomly divides the test papers of the candidates and makes a preliminary assessment. Write "recommend" on the test papers that pass the preliminary evaluation and enter the second evaluation. Those who fail are directly counted as failures. By analogy, a batch of lists is finally drawn up and submitted to the chief examiner for review.

If the chief examiner agrees with the reviewer's opinion, he writes "take" on the test paper and submits it to the emperor. After the emperor approved it, he wrote the word "中" and issued it, and it was finally posted by the Ministry of Rites.

Therefore, as soon as Pei Ling spoke, the deputy examiner presented the exam papers that had been prepared a long time ago.

Pei Ling was the first to choose Pei Yunxiao's test paper. As soon as he opened it, he saw three or four "recommends" written on the test paper, which shows that it has won unanimous praise.

"Your Majesty asks about politics. This volume talks about people's livelihood and agriculture, prohibiting mergers, promoting water conservancy, so that farmers can have their own land; it also uses Shang Yang's law of migrating wood to establish a letter, and then mentions the broadening of the people's wisdom, which is indeed not vulgar." Groaned.

"Yes, from the writing, brushwork, and rhetoric, we can see that this life has unique views and is a rare talent." The deputy examiner flattered without a trace.

"It's a pity..." Pei Ling said again: "The argument is a little bit empty and superficial. There is nothing to say, and it's mostly clichés and out of cliche."

"Huh?" The deputy examiner was taken aback, and almost didn't react: "What did Master Taifu mean?"

"Let it go first." Pei Ling didn't answer, and backhand picked up Tang Hang's test paper.

I saw the words "recommend", "fall" and "lift" interspersed on the test paper, and I answered it more than a dozen times!

Upon seeing this, the deputy examiner quickly explained: "The first reviewer of this volume was Chen Xueshi of the Hanlin Academy. He seemed to admire this volume very much. This volume was rejected in the second review and Chen Xueshi insisted on recommending it again. After several times, according to you Colleagues negotiated together and drafted the third place."

Pei Hong's sight fell on Tang Hang's examination paper.

The pen is strong, the neatness is a bit rebellious, and the point of view is sharp. Although it is similar to Pei Yunxiao's point of view, it is more in-depth than hers, and the rhetoric is more to the point.

More special is that he mentioned military affairs!

It was the first time that Pei Hong was the chief examiner for so many years in the imperial examination papers and saw an examinee speaking so bluntly about the military affairs of the imperial court.

There are indeed two brushes here. Unfortunately, the edge is too exposed.

Why did no one dare to speak about military affairs in the imperial examinations over the years? It was not because of the fact that even the emperor did not attach much importance to border military affairs.

Zidali was defeated to Jiejie in the Northern Territory. The emperors of several generations were unable to regain the lost ground, so they could only keep silent about this matter.

Tang Hang, how dare to write this?

"Bachelor Chen..." Pei Ling muttered, "I remember, Master Chen doesn't like this style of writing the most, why?"

The deputy examiner also felt confused.

Chen Xueshi of the Imperial Academy is a typical Confucian student, and he likes to speak words, soft words, and moderate opinions. Therefore, this time, he praised Tang Heng's articles several times, and everyone found it strange.

"Ah!" Pei Ling suddenly made a sudden realization: "Master Chen is from Jiangdong Wuzhou, right?"

The deputy examiner thought for a while and nodded: "Really. The lower official remembers that Master Chen spent a few years studying in Yingchuan before entering the post. Why did Master Tai Fu mention this?"

Pei Ling smiled clearly.

Xiaoqi, Xiaoqi, it's really exhausting, even his grandfather was almost fooled!

The prefect Liu Ying who recommended Tang Heng to participate in the test is a member of the Liu family in Yingchuan. Although his family has declined, his personal connections still exist. There are more Zheng Boyan and Song Jue in Wuzhou...

There are only a few big clans in the Dali, so in the courtiers, although the courtiers of the small clans are not in high positions, they are far more numerous than the officials of the big clans. Among the imperial examination examiners and scoring officers, officials from these small families accounted for the largest proportion.

Just for the love of justice? Can Xiaoqi plan this for Tang Heng? Pei Ling didn't believe it, but couldn't think of a better explanation.

But from the current point of view, these actions of Xiao Qi did not conflict with his ideas. In this case, Pei Ling is willing to fulfill Pei Yunxiao. After all, he has high hopes for this youngest grandson.

"The old man thinks that Talented Chen is a person with a unique eye." Pei Wei grabbed Tang Hang's examination paper and looked at the deputy examiner.

"Huh?" The deputy examiner was really stunned this time, unable to speak for a long time.

"Look, old man, such a beautiful article is the best scholar." Pei Ling said.

Pass this result up, Your Majesty... will be satisfied...

"...Yes." The deputy examiner wiped his sweat, thinking that he should do more and talk less.

Pei Ling achieved his goal, and stood up to leave.

The deputy examiner looked at another test paper that had not been turned over from start to finish, and finally asked without giving up, "Master Tai Fu, this..."

Pei Ling swept over, and there was something imperceptible in her eyes.

The Zhao family’s aunt, the empress dowager’s preference, do I still need him to say anything?

"Isn't it already decided? The old man naturally respects your opinions." After Pei Ling finished speaking, he turned and left.

The deputy examiner was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses.

In this way, won't the Pei family become third? What's this?

Three days later, the wind was pleasant and sunny, and many students gathered again before Gongyuan.

List after list, posted from back to front, the names on the list glowed golden in the sun and were extremely eye-catching.

The current title of the Jinbang is the emperor's disciple.

"Quickly, quickly! The first one is coming out!"

Some pedestrians onlookers were more excited than the students in the scientific examination, tiptoe and stretch their necks to look at the list.

"The champion...Tang Hang!"

"Tang Hang! Is there anything wrong! Isn't he a poor boy?"

"What's wrong with the poor boy? You are not poor? Wasn't the Qin Yushi also a poor champion? What's surprising! Isn't it that you are jealous and sour?"

"I'm sour! The Pei Yunxiao I bought at the gambling shop is the top pick, I have a big loss, okay!"

"Who makes you blind to Mount Tai?"

"You know, then why don't you buy Tang Heng? In the gambling game, only one person bought Tang Heng to win this time, and he paid a hundred tael, and he made a profit!"

On the street side, the restaurant is on the second floor.

Two happy smiling faces appeared in the half-open window.

"Little son, Jinhe went to the gambling shop to withdraw money." Jin Miao stood behind Pei Yunxiao with a delicate expression.

Even though Pei Yunxiao was sorry to lose Tang Hang and missed the title of champion, think about this bet with amazing odds... Jin Miao felt that if Pei Yunxiao had a tail, he would have reached the sky at this time.

After all, based on her understanding of the little son, ranking is really not as important as the white silver.

Pei Yunxiao had exactly the same idea as Jin Miao.

"I persuaded my fifth brother to accompany me to buy the elder brother to win. He didn't listen to me. There is really no way he can do it." The smile on the corner of Pei Yunxiao's mouth couldn't be suppressed.

"The little son has become a Tanhua Lang. One must be the most handsome Tanhua Lang in the Dali! When the hairpin is walking on the street, I don't know how many women from Beijing will be attracted to it." Jin Miao teased.

"Farewell."

When Pei Yunxiao thought of parading the streets, he would be smashed by countless handkerchiefs and sachets full of rich fragrance, and his whole body was awkward.

"At this hour, maybe the fifth brother has arranged all the food and drink in the inn. Let's go, it's been a long time, let's go back." Pei Yunxiao said happily.

Jin Miao followed obediently, but muttered quietly in her heart. The little boy is getting more and more weird recently. As long as he mentions something about Mr. Tang, he always smiles from the eyes to the corners of his mouth.

This look is even so obvious that even Jinnian, Jin and these two pieces of wood can be seen, shouldn't it...

Jin Miao shook his head quickly.

Do not! Do not! Do not! She must be thinking too much, Young Master Tang is a man!

Eh? But the little boy should like men in the first place! Jin Miao patted his head.

"Ouch!" As she was thinking about it, Jin Miao ran into a rampaging person.

When she looked up, it was Jinnian.

"Jinnian?" Jin Miao rubbed his arm: "Why are you walking so fast? It hurts me."

Jinnian didn't have time to appease his sister, his face was full of solemnity: "Little son, Master Huang has a secret letter, I want you to see him immediately!"

Pei Yunxiao paused, and the smile on his face suddenly stopped: "What's the matter?"

Jinnian was silent and shook his head.

Imperial Palace, Changshun Hall.

"Niang, I handed a letter from outside the palace, things are almost done."

An old mother walked into the temple of the side hall and stood in front of the Buddha statue, and a gray-haired person replied.

The old man in complex palace costumes turned slowly, with a pair of bright phoenix eyes slightly raised. It was the current Queen Mother Zhao.

Seeing the queen mother turned back, the old mother immediately stepped forward to support her arm, lowered her eyebrows and plucked her eyes: "Patriarch Zhao means that for the rest, it is best for the mother to speak to your majesty."

Empress Dowager Zhao's eyebrows moved: "Let the Aijia mention it to the emperor personally? Heh, the more he lives, the better he can calculate."

"He thinks that the Ai family is with the emperor, how much affection is there that can be replaced?"

The old mother sighed: "Niang Niang, this time, the Patriarch is also anxious."

"It's not just our Zhao family, but the He family has already moved, but the Pei family hasn't moved, but they have gained a lot this time, so of course they won't move anything."

Empress Dowager Zhao sneered: "It's just because of the majority of people admitted to the DPRK during the scientific examination, there is a situation that has never happened before?"

"The Patriarch is worried, it's your Majesty..." The old mother stopped talking.

The Queen Mother waved her hand: "My children are not up to date, so who can be blamed? Taifu Pei has made Yongnian the second place, and he has already given Zhao Jiaqing the face, what else is he thinking?"

The old mother knew that the queen mother was just talking, so she persuaded: "I don't know the mother, right? Pei's family seems to be different recently."

"Oh?"

"According to the Patriarch’s guess, the three adults of the Pei family seem to be at odds with Taifu Pei, but the most important thing in Taifu's eyes is Jinhua's Tanhua Lang. And that Tanhua Lang and those unfamiliar boys, but..."

"What a mess." The Queen Mother Zhao's eyes flashed, but she didn't show anything on her face: "Send a letter and go back. The Aijia will do it for him."

After a pause, the Empress Dowager Zhao seemed to say to herself: "Really...too many."