Happy Little Scholar

Li Yi walked on the street and flipped through the "leaked" secret paper of the literary test that he bought for five cents.

The handwriting on it was extremely blurred, and some places could not even see the words clearly. He didn't know how many copies were pirated. Not to mention ten taels of silver, Li Yi even felt that the five cents he spent just now were not worth it.

A young man opposite him also had a similar test paper in his hand. After looking up at him, he put the test paper in his arms like a thief and walked away quickly.

It seems that with the autumn wind of recruiting a prince consort, many unscrupulous pirates in Kyoto are going to make a fortune.

Li Duan was still young when he left Kyoto, and many memories have been forgotten.

But some things have been engraved in the depths of his memory and he can't forget them.

He looked at Li Yi and asked, "Dad, can I go find Xiao Rui now?"

Li Yi patted his head and said, "Wait until two days later, and then we'll go home first."

No one knew they were going to Beijing this time, and he didn't notify Li Xuan or the old lady in advance.

He didn't go directly to the Jingwang Mansion, but went to the Li family.

In Kyoto, the prominence and decline of a family are very short and irregular.

There are families like the Chen family a few years ago, which were ranked as dukes and were high up for decades, but fell in one day, and no one has mentioned them so far.

There are also several families that have emerged in recent years, such as the Liu family and the Zeng family, which were originally only considered second-rate, but in recent years, someone in the family has been promoted and ranked in the court class, and they can be promoted to the first-rate in one fell swoop.

More of them are ups and downs, just like the Li family, from prominence to decline, and then to prominence...

Of course, there are only a handful of families in Kyoto that are as prominent as the current position of the Li family.

In front of the Li family's gate, a young servant stepped forward, looked at the strangers in front of him, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

These people looked exhausted, obviously they had been traveling for a long time. In recent years, knowing the prominence of the Li family, there are many unscrupulous people who came to recognize their relatives. He had to ask clearly before speaking.

Before the other party could answer, he was kicked in the butt and knelt on the ground.

"Which king..." He got up from the ground, his face showed a furious look, but when he turned his head, it was like a melting ice and snow, and he smiled and said, "Butler Li, how can you..."

"You are blind!" The old man kicked him hard in the butt, walked forward quickly, and his face showed excitement, "Master, you are finally back!"

Li Yi nodded slightly and smiled, "Uncle Li, long time no see."

...

Li family

Li Duanduan stood upright in the hall, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to the two old ladies, and said, "Hello, great-grandmother, hello."

"Duan'er, come here quickly, let the great-grandmother take a good look!" The old lady was so excited that she stood up from the chair without waiting for him to get up, took his hand, and looked him up and down.

"I haven't seen you for a few years, Duan'er has grown so big..."

The two old ladies have always been in good health, and all their attention is on Li Duan.

The last time he left Beijing, Li Duan had just learned to walk. Now he can jump on the wall and climb up the roof without any problem.

After a long time, the old lady held Li Yi's hand and said, "When Ruyi came back two days ago, I knew that you would also come back."

Li Yi looked at the old lady and asked, "Ruyi... where is she now?"

"She came back to take a look and left." The old lady looked at him and asked, "How long will you stay in Kyoto this time?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Not sure yet, but this time I come back, I plan to take my grandma with me. Shuzhou is not much worse than Kyoto now."

The old lady nodded and said, "I have to go over to see my precious great-granddaughter. She has been in Kyoto for a lifetime and has long been fed up..."

She thought for a while and said, "Do you want me to send someone to inform His Majesty and the Princess?"

Li Yi shook his head and said, "Don't notify them yet. I will tell them in person in a few days."

Li Yi didn't want to make such a big fuss for the time being. Once the news of his return to Beijing is announced, I don't know how many people in Kyoto will be unable to sleep.

And this juncture is not suitable for announcement.

The matter of summoning the consort has caused a stir in the whole capital and even in Jingguo. Shouning is impossible to marry. The late emperor said that no one has the right to decide her affairs except herself. However, things have come to this point. Even if the late emperor is brought up, it will also lose the face of the royal family.

He can also take Shouning away directly and hand over this mess to Li Xuan to deal with. After all, it was he who caused the matter, but this is not the best choice after all.

After pitting Li Xuan for so many years, let him go this time.

Lao Chang came to his side quietly and asked, "Tomorrow is the date for the literary examination. What are your plans?"

Before the late emperor died, he had given him three orders.

These three orders were about Yongning, Shouning and Mingzhu.

Lao Chang was the supervisor of these three orders.

"What are you going to do?" Li Yi thought about it. Open robbery is not possible, and stealing in secret seems to be impossible. Then he can only rely on his real ability...

Ministry of Rites

The selection of a royal consort was supervised by the Ministry of Rites, and all the young talents who wanted to participate in the competition had to register with the Ministry of Rites first.

In the yamen of the Ministry of Rites, an official looked at the young and old people in front of him, frowned and said: "Tomorrow is the period for the literary examination. The test papers have been printed and the examination room has been arranged. Now tell me to sign up. Go somewhere early." "

The young man looked at the official with a smile and said: "Sir, we came from the distant Shuzhou. We were delayed on the way. We only arrived today and missed the registration period. It was not easy along the way. , I hope you can be accommodating."

"Accommodating?" The official from the Ministry of Etiquette shook his head and said, "If you miss the registration date, it means that you have no chance to meet Her Royal Highness. You should go back to where you came from."

Li Yi took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve, handed it over quietly, and said, "Sir, please be accommodating..."

The official from the Ministry of Rites glanced at it and estimated that it was about several thousand taels. He was shocked and was about to reach out, but the old man next to the young man held his wrist.

The old man looked at him and said in a cold voice: "As an important member of the Ministry of Etiquette, do you dare to accept bribes?"

The official of the Ministry of Etiquette raised his eyelids and finally realized that these two people came today to make him happy?

His face darkened and he said: "Which of your eyes saw me taking bribes? You two missed the registration. Please leave quickly, or I will have someone kick you out!"

Lao Chang hooked his neck and pulled him aside. When he came out again, the official of the Ministry of Rites was already sweating on his forehead. He looked at Li Yi and said tremblingly: "Mr., Mr...., please wait a moment. Your Majesty, your Majesty will make arrangements for you immediately..."

Looking at the appearance of this official from the Ministry of Rites, Li Yi knew that Lao Chang was bullying others again.

The Secret Intelligence Department was founded by him. Although he has completely let go of it now, he still has countless ways to make a small official in the Ministry of Etiquette obedient.

Of course, if Li Yi hadn't worn a mask today, his face alone would have been enough to pass through various government offices in Kyoto without any obstruction.

When he came out of the Ministry of Rites, he had already obtained his license for tomorrow's Chinese language exam.

This literary test has occupied almost all the classrooms in the academies of Kyoto. The sign in Li Yi's hand shows that the examination room number has reached more than 100, which shows that there are so many people taking part in the literary test this time...

Lao Chang was not worried about this. Although King Jing never knew what shame was when he boasted, he had to admit that no one could beat him in such a competition, whether it was literary or martial arts.

Coming out of the Rites Yamen, a few hundred meters further is the palace wall.

Li Yi stood on the spacious street, looking at the familiar palace wall in the distance. He turned around and said to Lao Chang: "Go back first and lend me the sign you just gave me..."

…

Morning Dew Hall.

Li Mingzhu was reading the information about selecting a consort presented by the Ministry of Etiquette. A palace maid came in from outside and whispered: "Your Highness, it's time to have dinner..."

Li Mingzhu didn't look up and said, "Put it down first."

"yes."

The maid responded, turned around and waved, and then several maids walked in and placed the lunch just delivered by the catering bureau on the table nearby.

She was used to finishing what she was doing before eating. However, this time, when she continued to read the booklet, the movement of her hands suddenly stopped.

She sniffed slightly and looked at the table beside her.

In addition to the usual meals, there was also a plate of golden egg fried rice on the table.

She hadn't eaten egg fried rice in five years, but she would never forget this familiar taste.

She put down the memorial, walked over, picked up the spoon, and took a small taste.

She brushed back a stray hair from her temples, with a slight smile on her face.