Joy of Life: I am Li Chengze, and I have mastered the Eight Wonders

Chapter 21 The trees are beautiful in the forest, but the wind will destroy them

Your Highness's actions are truly the voice of scholars all over the world, not just the voice for us.

Beneath the imperial examination lies a long-standing chronic illness, decades of outdated customs and practices, and the protection of officials. Your Highness has resolutely shouldered the heavy burden, and the hardships he has endured can be imagined. He is truly overwhelmed.

"How can we cause trouble to His Highness at this moment!" Hou Jichang's thoughts were seen through, and his cheeks turned red, looking a little embarrassed.

Shi Chanli agreed and nodded, "That's right! Even if you are grateful and want to thank Master Xiao Fan and the Second Prince, you should wait until the dust settles after the Spring Examination."

Yang Wanli looked at Hou Jichang and said earnestly, "Brother Hou, don't forget your original intention.

The words of the past are still ringing in my ears. Before entering the government, you didn’t care about worldly affairs. But once you become a court official, holding power and responsibility, I hope you can be like the second prince, uphold justice, and speak up bravely. "

"We should encourage each other and study hard." After saying this, everyone fell into deep thought and encouraged each other.

Hou Jichang forced a smile in response.

Turning to Prime Minister Lin's residence, Fan Xian did not come to visit Wan'er, but to visit Lin Ruofu.

With Dabao's warm welcome, he stepped into Prime Minister Lin's study, where he saw the counselor Yuan Hongdao beside him. He became cautious and his words were more reserved.

"Uncle..." Fan Xian started to speak, but was interrupted by Lin Ruofu.

"Come, help me pull out this beard, it's really annoying."

Lin Ruofu raised his chin slightly. Seeing this, Fan Xian had no choice but to do as he was told. Strands of his white beard fell off one by one. Prime Minister Lin showed a look of pain on his face and said with a smile:

"This pain can only be relieved by eradicating it, but it is not easy to eradicate it by the roots."

While plucking the hawthorns, Lin Ruofu seemed casual but actually reminded his son-in-law meaningfully. Then he took Fan Xian to the side, picked up a bag of hawthorns, and began to select them personally for Dabao's needs.

Fan Xian wanted to take the opportunity to mention his purpose, but Lin Ruofu beat him to it:
"I know the purpose of your trip very well. But before that, I want to ask you, what does the Spring Examination mean to you?"

Fan Xian replied sternly, "The Spring Imperial Examination is a way for the court to select talented people and open up new avenues for talent."

Lin Ruofu shook his head and revealed a deeper truth: "Not only that, there has been a secret operation behind the Spring Examination.

The list was already decided before the names were covered, and then various means were used to ensure that the person would be on the list. This is the secret of the Spring Examination."

Hearing this, Fan Xian was puzzled and asked, "If the article is not good, how can it not be questioned?"

Lin Ruofu shook his head and smiled bitterly: "There is always a solution in the world. Therefore, all officials and even royal relatives will compete to submit their names.

I have selected a list for you, and the people on it are all very important people." After saying this, he handed the list to Fan Xian, but the latter hesitated and did not take it.

"If you know what I want, why did you give me this list?" Fan Xian was puzzled.

Lin Ruofu sighed earnestly, "'A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.'

I had heard about the Second Prince's heroic deeds in the Spring Examination that day, but as a prince, he had a noble status and was free to act as he pleased.

As a subject, you shoulder completely different responsibilities and risks..." Fan Xian's face darkened when he heard this.

Lin Ruofu continued to persuade him: "After passing the Spring Examination, your official career will be a brand new starting point. Accept this list. The way to be an official is to be kind to others and to live in harmony with others. The Second Prince can do whatever he wants, but you need to be cautious and act carefully..."

"Besides, don't let the Second Prince use you as a pawn. His mind is far more complicated than it appears."

Fan Xian's hand was suspended in mid-air, and he finally gently pushed the list back: "Uncle, I know the Second Prince's intentions very well. Like me, he cares about the scholars of the world and longs to restore a pure land to the Spring Examination. Even if he has other intentions, as long as he can achieve this justice, I will fully support him."

Anger flashed across Lin Ruofu's face, but was soon replaced by worry: "If the ministers and officials, royal relatives and relatives resent you because of this, they may not dare to do anything to the Second Prince, but what about you?
Can you withstand their wrath and revenge?"

Fan Xian shook his head, but his eyes were firm:

“Although I cannot bear it alone, the Second Prince has already stated that he will report this matter to His Majesty.

As long as Your Majesty agrees, it is Your Majesty's will to rectify the cheating in the Spring Examination. Who dares to object?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruofu slowly put the list back on the table, with a look of relief on his face.

He put away the list and looked at Fan Xian again, his eyes full of tenderness and reluctance: "If the Second Prince is really as you said, then you have found a solid backer."

Fan Xian was confused, wondering what kind of inside information Lin Xiang knew, or whether he just made a judgment based on intuition.
At this moment, they are all waiting for a result, an answer as to whether they can succeed.

······
Inside the palace, Eunuch Hou walked into the Second Prince's residence, holding the imperial edict in his hand: "Pass on His Majesty's oral order, summoning the Second Prince Li Chengze to the palace immediately to meet the emperor."

Xie Bian was stunned, while Li Chengze quickly straightened his clothes and followed Eunuch Hou into the palace. Before leaving, he did not forget to grab a few grapes and eat them while walking.

In the imperial study, Emperor Qing was lying on his side on the couch with his face covered, flipping through a collection of poems by Fan Xian. Li Chengze stepped forward to pay his respects, his words revealing a sense of intimacy and respect: "Your Majesty, your son, pays respect to you."

Emperor Qing looked at him with a slightly amused look through the veil: "Li Chengze, you have been very popular recently."

Li Chengze did not kneel, but stood calmly in front of Emperor Qing: "Your Majesty once praised me for my gentle temperament and benevolence, and that everything I did was for the good of Qing. If there is no corruption in the court, I will remain silent."

Emperor Qing put down the poetry collection, and the sixteen lines of poetry between the books were vaguely visible. It turned out that he had already noticed Li Chengze's literary talent. He chuckled: "Fan Xian is famous for his poetry, but you are not much behind, otherwise why would I let you share the Spring Examination with him?"

"All my achievements are due to the grace of Your Majesty." Li Chengze's answer expressed his loyalty and implied a request for protection.

Emperor Qing sneered: "You are so bold that you dare to start a war in the Spring Examination without my permission and threaten to clean up the accumulated malpractices. Do you think that I can't do these things and only you can do them?"

Eunuch Hou was listening with fear, fearing that one wrong word would bring him death.

However, Li Chengze only bowed slightly and said: "I have no such intention. I know your Majesty's achievements in both civil and military affairs. Qing's civil affairs are already brilliant, and its military affairs are also extremely strong. I am just following your Majesty's unspoken intention, hoping that Qing's literary world will be more prosperous, with equal emphasis on civil and military affairs."

Emperor Qing pulled off his veil and looked directly at Li Chengze: "Okay, stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what exactly are you planning?"

Li Chengze replied cautiously, "Of course, I will cooperate with Master Fan and Master Lai to ensure that the Spring Examination is fair and impartial. As for other matters, I dare not speak rashly."

Emperor Qing was silent for a moment, and seemed quite satisfied with Li Chengze's answer, but the doubts in his heart had not completely dissipated. This conversation was both a test and the beginning of trust.

(End of this chapter)