How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

In the end, Hou Yuanzhen resigned from his post in exchange for the divorce of Hou Wende and Qiu Ziqin. The Hou family had to compensate Qiu Ziqin for the three years of torture she had endured, and told the outside world that the man was at fault. They also stripped Hou Wende of his status as a Jinshi and would never be hired again.

As for the private affairs of the Hou family, at Hou Yuanzhen's request, considering that they had worked together for so many years, all the ministers promised not to talk nonsense. As for whether they would tell their subordinates or family members about it without their knowledge, it was unknown.

However, I heard that Hou Wende was put in a sack and beaten at night. Because there was no witness, even though everyone knew who the criminal was, no one spoke up. The Hou family also knew they were in the wrong and did not dare to ask for an explanation.

After Hou Yuanzhen stepped down, the position of Minister of Rites became vacant, and Sheng Huai'en, Vice Minister of Rites, lived up to expectations and took the position.

As soon as he came to power, he strongly supported the promotion of science and engineering imperial examinations. Many ministers smelled something was wrong and thought that Qiu Wenqi's previous fuss was more or less the work of the Regent.

The dean of the Hanlin Academy expressed his support, but the forces headed by the Su family were still ambiguous until Xie Chengze came and made it clear that Su Qinghe would be in charge of the Imperial College. Only then did Su Zhongyue relax and express his willingness to support the establishment of the Imperial College, but their Su family students must learn arithmetic knowledge in advance to ensure that they can become teachers of the Imperial College in the future.

Although the Su family loves fame and fortune, it is undeniable that they are also absolutely practical. As long as they confirm that the Imperial College is necessary, they will mobilize the family's strength to delve into the arithmetic community and provide strong knowledge guarantees and direction for the world's students.

This is also the reason why Xie Chengze must get the support of the Su family.

After taking the gifts sent by Sheng Shihuai and visiting several other ministers, the national policy of promoting science and engineering imperial examinations was finally decided. The Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel and the Hanlin Academy jointly drafted the document and confirmed the relevant matters.

Having solved a big problem in his mind, Xie Chengze also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Father, when will you go to court?" In the imperial study, Xie Chengze slumped on the desk, looking at Emperor Jian with pitiful eyes.

Going to court every day really gave Xie Chengze a headache. He was not cut out to be an emperor. Every day he watched those ministers reporting on trivial matters and quarreling over the slightest thing. He just wanted to slap them in the face to make them sober up.

Emperor Jian sipped his tea, wrapped in a silk blanket, and looked very relaxed. "You are doing well, aren't you? Keep going~"

"How shameful!" Xie Chengze slapped the desk and said disapprovingly, "If this is recorded in history books, people will definitely think that I am trying to usurp the throne. I don't know how the unofficial history books will portray me!"

"How can unofficial history describe you?" Emperor Jian looked at him suspiciously, then revealed a look of sudden enlightenment, "Can it be that you used your male beauty to seduce outstanding ministers, who supported you to usurp the throne? Or that you used your power to seduce male-loving ministers, and forced them to support you to usurp the throne?"

Xie Chengze:?

Is this what a human being said? How could 36°5 utter such inhumane words?

Xie Chengze was so angry that he threw the memorial and said, "Believe it or not, I will go on strike too!"

Emperor Jian calmly took another sip of tea and said, "If you dare to go on strike, I will reject your science and engineering imperial examination as soon as I come to court."

Xie Chengze: ???

Xie Chengze looked at Emperor Jian in shock, "Are you finally planning to stop being a human being?"

"Don't worry, don't worry." Emperor Jian comforted him, "The Spring Examination is coming soon. You know, the court is short of people. Those officials will definitely make trouble and cause the court to miss out on talents. As long as you successfully hold the Spring Examination, I will go to court. How about it?"

With so many vacancies in the court, those officials and aristocratic families will rush to fill them with their own people. At that time, they will definitely use some means in the spring examination to replace the scores of poor students with those of their own people.

There are also people who abuse their power for personal gain and seek profit from it.

"You are using me as a tool!" Xie Chengze straightened his lips and showed a fake smile, "Then clear the obstacles for the prince!"

This was clearly Shen Yuan's job before, why is he doing it now?

How did he get to this point?

Xie Chengze couldn't figure it out.

Emperor Jian chuckled twice and admitted it, "Why are you speaking so bluntly? You're making father feel embarrassed."

"Besides, the Spring Examination is handed over to you, and you can also put people in it." Emperor Jian spread his hands, "What a great opportunity to abuse power for personal gain!"

Xie Chengze threw down another folded book and said angrily, "Put someone in? Do I have anyone to put in?"

He only has one Shen Yuan and one Sheng Shihuai!

Shen Yuan's people are no different from the prince's people. As for Sheng Shihuai's people, would he dare to use them? !

hateful!

Is it too late to go to the street and find a few scholars to win over to become your people?

Seeing Xie Chengze's distressed expression, Emperor Jian touched his chin and smiled without saying anything.

This silly child, does he really think he has no one?

……

As early spring approaches, students from all over the country flock to the capital.

The capital began to hold various tea parties for wealthy students to engage in literary exchanges, and the powerful also began to look for students with "promising" prospects. For a time, the capital was bustling with students reciting poems and composing couplets in the streets. Many unmarried women also showed up on the streets, their eyes shyly falling on them.

At the tea party, compared with the study of policy, the students were more concerned about the question about the flood in Yizhou that was announced to the world. In particular, there were rumors in the capital that the court was going to implement science and engineering imperial examinations, and to open an Imperial Academy to recruit talented people to study, and the study of phenology and geographical advantages was also included.

Perhaps this question about the flood in Yizhou was just a prelude to the court's preparation to promote science and engineering talents. Once it was done, they would be the first to try it out.

By then, maybe I can go to the Imperial College to study and make friends with the children of officials, then my future career will not be difficult!

The students were eager to get some relevant answers from other students. In such a lively academic atmosphere, they did not realize that a pair of hands were secretly pushing things forward. In the corners hidden under the light and shadow, darkness was growing.

In a carriage passing by the street, Xie Chengze opened the curtain, looked at the busy streets, and examined the scenery of the capital city with curiosity.

Speaking of which, he has been here for so long, but apart from going to two teahouses and restaurants for business, he has not had a good look around the capital.

Xie Chengze turned around and looked at the other person in the car, "I heard that the peach blossoms at Hanshan Temple have bloomed, and someone is hosting a banquet there to invite students to go and enjoy the flowers. Will you pick up Jingze later and go enjoy the flowers together?"

Sitting opposite him was Shen Yuan, who was dressed in white with a navy blue inner collar. He was taking a nap with his eyes closed. Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes and looked at Xie Chengze, "Your Highness, why didn't you tell me when we were in the imperial study? Instead, you invited me to appreciate the flowers now. Is it a spur of the moment thing?"

After the court session, Xie Chengze called him to the imperial study on the pretext of discussing important matters. It was indeed an important matter. Emperor Jian and the crown prince were both there, and the four of them discussed some details about the science and engineering imperial examinations. After finishing the matter, Xie Chengze told him that he wanted to leave the palace to see Jingze.

Now it seems that seeing Jingze is fake, and appreciating the flowers is real.

But why didn't he say it clearly in the palace?

Xie Chengze coughed lightly and touched his nose, "It's not convenient in the palace."

Xie Jinyu had been staring at him at the time, so how could he tell Shen Yuan that he wanted to go enjoy the flowers with him?

The child would definitely be jealous, and might even want to disguise himself and come along.

But he only wanted to invite Shen Yuan...