Madam, protect me!

Chapter 106 Phoenix's Self-doubt

Early morning.

The palace.

A court meeting held temporarily by Prince Chun has just ended, and all officials walked out of the hall.

This month, Prince Chun is the regent. According to past practice, each regent prince will hold a court meeting on the last day of each month to summarize the affairs of the court this month.

Today is August 28th. There are still two days before Prince Chun ends his regent, but he held a court meeting in advance, and at the court meeting, he discussed something unexpected.

Yesterday, the three provinces passed a resolution on the reform of the imperial examination system on the grounds of fairness.

From August, all students who want to enter the academy, whether it is the academy directly under the court and the states, or the private small academy, must pass the spring examination.

Those who do not pass the spring examination and have not left their names in the Ministry of Rites cannot enter the academy to study, and even if they do, they are not eligible to participate in the imperial examination.

Before August, those who entered the academies through special recruitment or donation of silver will not be held accountable.

After August, including August, the court will not recognize those who entered the academy through various means.

The powerful have wanted to implement this reform for a long time.

The reason why it was not passed is that some officials in the court still hold opposing opinions.

This reform seems fair, but in fact it completely cuts off the way for poor students.

The children of the powerful who entered the academy by donating silver cannot get any reputation even if they participate in the imperial examination.

But the poor students who were specially recruited can occupy a certain number of Jinshi places in each imperial examination.

Poor students have no advantage in the spring examination.

Only when they enter the academy can they really get in touch with the six arts.

Many officials in the court are from poor families, and naturally they don’t want to see the way out for poor students completely cut off.

However, officials from poor families are a minority after all.

There are also some who, even if they were born in poor families before, have established inextricable ties with the powerful after entering the court as officials. You have me and I have you.

In short, this long-delayed resolution was passed yesterday after the efforts of the dignitaries.

This means that the court will be dominated by the dignitaries in the future.

It is really strange that Prince Chun would oppose this resolution, and it is beyond everyone's expectations.

Some officials with relevant interests and the dignitaries behind the scenes who planned this matter naturally argued to prevent Prince Chun from abolishing the new law.

But Prince Chun, for some reason, was determined not to implement this law, that is, to reject the resolution of the three provinces.

He is the prince of the regent, and he has the power to do so within one month of this regent.

The two parties argued fiercely in the court, and finally decided to take a step back.

Prince Chun no longer insisted on abolishing the new law.

The dignitaries also agreed to Prince Chun's request to move the spring exam before the imperial examination.

In the past, the imperial examination was held after the imperial examination, with the help of the venue and examiners of the imperial examination.

The spring exam is a small exam, and the imperial examination is a big exam.

It is reasonable to hold the minor exams first and then the major exams.

This small change has no impact on the overall situation that has been determined.

But it has a great impact on Li Nuo.

If he takes the imperial examination first and then the spring exam, he will have to wait for another four years.

If he takes the spring exam first and then the imperial examination, he can take the imperial examination smoothly as a student of the academy after passing the spring exam.

When he was in Prince Chun's mansion yesterday, he considered that the imperial examination reform that the dignitaries and gentry had finally implemented would not be so easy to abolish.

The reason why they were in a hurry to launch this reform was to target him.

If it was proposed at the beginning to move the spring exam before the imperial examination, they would definitely not agree.

But if it was proposed to abolish the new law directly without mentioning the reform of the spring exam, they would most likely agree to advance the spring exam.

Li Nuo, who learned the news first, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the dignitaries who had just finished the court meeting and returned to the mansion were full of anger.

They implemented this decree when the time was not ripe. They did not want Li Xuanjing's son to participate in the imperial examination six months later. They spent more than 100,000 taels of silver to get through this barrier.

Unexpectedly, only one day later, their carefully prepared plan was destroyed by Prince Chun.

They blocked it by legislative means.

Prince Chun let it go by legislative means.

They couldn't figure it out. Prince Chun was also a powerful nobleman. Why was he so partial to a commoner? Could Li Nuo be Prince Chun's son?

If that person did not look very similar to Li Xuanjing, I'm afraid they would really think so.

After so much trouble, nothing has changed, but so much money has been spent in vain.

That kid has no identity now, but he is so difficult to deal with.

If he really passes the exam and becomes an official, and he and his father Li Xuanjing play a father and son in the same court, can they still have a good life?

That kind of scene makes me feel bad just thinking about it...

In the Song Mansion, Li Nuo is in a good mood.

Wu Guanjia said that the court had just sent a lot of rewards to Li's house.

It was a reward for his contribution to the Sifang Pavilion case.

Those cloths and silks were not needed at home, so Li Nuo asked Wu Guanjia to send them to the Song Mansion. After the old lady selected them, she sent some to each room.

These days, he ate and slept at the Song family.

They were obviously marrying off their daughter, but Li Nuo felt a little embarrassed that he was like marrying into the family.

Yesterday, Muer received a lot of rewards from Prince Chun's mansion. Li Nuo thought that after returning home, Ning'er would quarrel with her.

But what happened later was beyond her expectations.

Muer generously gave Ning'er a portion of her gifts, and also agreed to lend her the only wooden kite to play with.

The gifts given by Prince Chun were naturally impossible to be double the same. Even if the clothes and jewelry she received were not as beautiful as Muer's, Ning'er rarely made a fuss.

Muer was well-behaved, but Ning'er's change surprised Li Nuo.

She seemed to have suddenly become well-behaved.

Li Nuo couldn't help but be a little curious. Could it be that practicing martial arts can also change one's personality?

Song Mansion

In a remote courtyard, Song Ning'er placed a pile of jewelry on the stone table and said, "Master sister, these are all given to me by Song Mu'er. Take whatever you like..."

The woman with a veil looked at the sparkling jewelry and said, "Sister, you are very generous. These things are all made by skilled craftsmen. I'm afraid they are not from the royal family."

Song Ning'er said with a smile, "Master sister guessed right. Song Mu'er said that this was given to her by a prince uncle. That prince uncle also gave Sister Jiaren a precious necklace. I saw it last time. It was really beautiful..."

Song Ning'er described Sister Jiaren's beautiful necklace with great interest, and did not notice that the golden hairpin in the veiled woman's hand had been kneaded into a mess by her.

...

At the gate of the Song Mansion, Li Nuo jumped onto the carriage easily.

Butler Wu looked at him in surprise and asked, "Master, are you okay?"

He thought the young master was really weak. Now it seems that he is not trying to take advantage of the young lady, right?

After all, they were originally a couple, so hugging each other was not considered taking advantage.

Li Nuo nodded and said, "Much better."

Under the care of the doctor's true qi, his body has fully recovered.

Wu Guanjia smiled, picked up the whip, and asked, "Master, where are you going?"

Li Nuo said, "To the horse farm yesterday."

The issue of imperial examination qualification has been solved for the time being.

But he himself has not yet passed the spring examination.

Among the six subjects, he is good at mathematics, plus part of the book subject.

He basically knows nothing about the four subjects of etiquette, music, charioteering, and archery.

Although he can master them in a short time by lighting up the portrait in the future, he has to lay a little foundation himself, otherwise he will always be unsure.

Li Nuo really can't praise Wu Guanjia's driving skills.

It was bumpy all the way, so he should also learn the imperial examination.

As a martial arts master in the fourth realm, he just hasn't learned to drive systematically. With his profound martial arts cultivation, it is definitely easier for him to get started than Li Nuo.

The carriage stopped at a certain moment. Li Nuo thought it had arrived, and was still wondering if it seemed to be much faster today than yesterday.

At this time, Wu Guanjia opened the curtain and said, "Master, it's Song Yu and the others. Do you want to say hello?"

Li Nuo looked outside and saw the figures of Song Yu and the other two not far ahead.

Just as Song Yu was about to enter Yuyin Pavilion, a carriage stopped beside him.

He turned his head subconsciously and looked, then his face lit up and he said, "Brother-in-law, you are here too. Are you looking for Miss Fenghuang?"

Li Nuo was not looking for Miss Fenghuang, he was looking for someone else.

He looked at Zhou Yu beside Song Yu and asked, "Have you practiced the imperial examination today?"

Zhou Yu shook his head and said, "No..."

Why come to Yuyin Pavilion if you haven't practiced the imperial examination?

As a popular candidate for the next imperial examination champion, the young talent with the best driving skills in Daxia, Li Nuo's life and property depend on him.

The Ministry of Justice has no cases these days, and he can't make a judgment. Seeing that his life span is getting shorter day by day, Li Nuo is almost dying of anxiety. He actually still has the mind to listen to music?

Li Nuo looked at Zhou Yu and said with regret: "There is only half a year left before the imperial examination. Many students are catching up bravely. At this stage, how can you have the mind to come here to listen to music? Is your imperial examination already perfect and impeccable, or does your father have connections in the court, and the imperial examination champion has already been selected for you?"

Zhou Yu shuddered and said in a trembling voice: "I, I followed Brother Song and Brother Pei..."

Li Nuo pointed at Song Yu and Pei Jun, frowned and said: "Compared with them, are you the same as them? The imperial examination for the two of them is just a formality. After the examination, they were arranged to train in the army. You are different. You may become the champion of the imperial examination. At that time, even if the other subjects are a little worse, you can be selected as an exception and be a comfortable civil servant. Do you need to suffer in the army?"

Zhou Yu's lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Although Brother Li's words were very impolite...

But he was right!

Who would want to suffer in the army if they could pass the imperial examination and become a civil servant?

Song Yu and Pei Jun would definitely not pass the imperial examination, but he was different. He had the expertise of the imperial examination. If he could get the top prize in the imperial examination, he could work in the Ministry of War or the Imperial Household Department, which was much better than being a soldier...

Brother Li really woke me up with one word!

With a look of shame on his face, he said, "I, I won't go in. I'll go to the horse farm to practice now!"

Li Nuo said, "Get in the car. I'll go with you. You drive!"

Watching the carriage start and drive away, Song Yu's expression was dull. For a moment, he couldn't tell whose brother-in-law was his brother-in-law?

When did he care so much about Zhou Yu?

The expressions were equally dull, as was Fenghuang, who had just welcomed Li Nuo out the door after learning that Li Nuo was here.

She specially changed her clothes and carefully touched up her makeup. She walked out of Yuyin Pavilion. She was about to say hello to Li Nuo with a smile, but he didn't even look at her. He lowered the curtain and rode in the carriage. Leave without mercy...

She looked down at the beautiful clothes she had just put on for him, feeling deep self-doubt in her heart.

Forget it if he loses to his wife.

Why did she lose to the man named Zhou?

She won't lose because she can't drive, right?

…

Li Nuo actually saw Miss Phoenix just now.

But the carriage had already started, so he didn't say hello to her.

To be honest, the Phoenix girl was not as attractive to him as Zhou Yu.

At least Zhou Yu could drive. The carriage was driven fast and steadily. Li Nuo hardly felt the bumps, which was in sharp contrast to Butler Wu.

It would be fine if Miss Phoenix could fight, but it's a pity that she can't fight.

How could she protect him if she couldn't even protect herself?

It’s better to have less contact with this kind of insecure woman to prevent others from gossiping about her.

Butler Wu sat in the carriage with Li Nuo for the first time. He had just wondered why the boy named Zhou was allowed to drive, but soon after the carriage started, he noticed something different.

He looked at the figure sitting outside the carriage and said in surprise: "This guy's driving skills are quite impressive..."

Li Nuo glanced at him, wondering where he was.

On the streets of Chang'an City, it was not Zhou Yu's turn to show off his driving skills.

He still had much to learn.

Zhou Yu drove the car quickly and steadily, and Li Nuo arrived at the racecourse of Yunmeng Academy before he felt anything.

Zhou Yu is a student of Yunmeng Academy, and there is no charge to enter the racecourse.

He was obviously very familiar with the people at the racecourse. He came in with Zhou Yu, and they didn't even take Li Nuo's money.

Arriving at Yuke's training ground, Zhou Yu still chose the horse from yesterday.

But he didn't choose the car yesterday because the car was damaged by his wife.

Although Yuke tests more of a person's driving ability, the same person can perform differently when driving different horses and different cars.

Before the official start of the journey, there will be a period of time for the driver to become familiar with the carriage and the road.

The book says that the most brilliant charioteer can achieve the unity of man, chariot and horse, and is no longer limited by the chariot and horse.

Zhou Yu is obviously not yet at this level.

Li Nuo watched him run around, and it was not as good as yesterday's trip.

There is nothing wrong with these three items: Chasing Water Song, Guo Jun Biao, and Wu Jiao Qu, but the bells of Ming and Luan are obviously a little messed up. In the final Chasing Bird Left, the arrow barely hit the edge of the target.

Zhou Yu jumped off the carriage and said with some shame, "I'm not very familiar with this car, so it made Brother Li laugh."

Li Nuo comforted him and said: "This is normal, nothing to laugh about. You will get familiar with it after practicing a few times. During the imperial examination, don't you have three opportunities to become familiar with chariots and horses?"

Zhou Yu shook his head and said: "This situation will never happen to people who are really good at Yuke. My father was the number one scholar in Yuke back then. When he took the test, he passed it in one go..."

Hearing this, Li Nuo raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Your father?"

Zhou Yu nodded and said: "Brother Li is right, my academic performance is still far behind, far less than what my father used to be."

Li Nuo already had other ideas in mind.

Although Zhou Yu's imperial science is also very strong, it is not strong enough to be recognized by the code of law.

I don’t know if I can cultivate him in the past six months.

Perhaps, he can find a chance to give his father, who is a doctor in the driving department, a try.

However, this idea may not come true.

No matter how talented you are, if you don't practice for a long time, you will decline.

According to Li Nuo's understanding, what the code absorbs is their current ability, not their peak period.

Even if Zhou Yu's father is more talented in imperial science, he is definitely not as talented now as he was when he was young.

He couldn't take the fifth-grade driving doctor to the racecourse to practice every day. For now, he still had to pin his hopes on Zhou Yu.

During the short period of conversation between the two, Butler Wu had already passed through the five imperial levels once.

The result was that Zhou Yu had to change to another car.

When I left, I had to pay for the damage to the horse farm.

He once again proved to Li Nuo that martial arts and driving skills really had nothing to do with each other.

Li Nuo also picked a carriage and chose another track. He drove slowly on the track to familiarize himself with the road conditions.

Mingheluan, subject one, is a long, uneven road.

Although there are no curves, the ground condition is worrying and it is difficult to avoid bumps.

Unless you are extremely familiar with road conditions and horse-drawn carriages, and have a good brain, you can calculate the optimal route while traveling at high speed.

This ability is simply impossible to achieve without three to five years of practice.

Even Zhou Yu is weak in this subject.

Not to mention those poor students who only started to be exposed to imperial subjects after entering the academy. Several years of diligent practice can only ensure that this subject is not pushed too far by others.

The water-chasing curve in Subject 2 has many curves, but the road surface is relatively smooth, making it easier than the first level.

The difficulty level is not too high if you pass three subjects and pass the exam four times. The key point is to be accurate while maintaining speed.

Time is also an important criterion for evaluating academic performance.

The last subject, Zhuqianzuo, is a comprehensive subject of archery and imperial subjects, and is also the more difficult subject among the five imperial subjects.

In this regard, most students will choose to sacrifice speed in pursuit of accuracy.

The speed is too slow, and the rating will be lowered by one level at most.

If the arrow misses the target, the imperial examination will be directly judged to be unqualified. Unless one can rank first in other subjects, he will miss the opportunity to become a Jinshi.

The imperial examination is so cruel.

Those who can pass the imperial examination are not ordinary people. Any small mistake may lead to elimination.

Don't look at Zhou Yu driving at a fast speed, but Li Nuo takes over on his own, that's not the case at all.

Even though his speed was extremely slow, the horse was completely walking, and it still hurt its butt when it passed the first section of road.

The second section had a series of curves. If Butler Wu hadn't used his true energy to carry him, he would have had to climb into the ditch three times.

In the third section of the road, even if you pass through the narrow gate at a very fast speed, you will inevitably get scratched.

He walked slowly through the fork in the fourth section of the road, but he didn't go wrong.

But in the last subject, he shot five times and missed the target five times without even touching the edge of the target...

After driving back to the original place, Li Nuo looked at Zhou Yu who was speeding on the track and murmured in his heart: "It's up to you..."

Not far away, there was a figure who had been staring at Li Nuo. He saw everything in his eyes and almost couldn't help but laugh.

Among the five imperial powers, one is impenetrable.

That's it, you still want to take the imperial examination?

I really don’t know what the Marquis is worried about. He went to such great lengths to fight for such a mediocre person, wasting hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, just to prevent him from participating in the next imperial examination...

He is like this, he can't even pass the Spring Examination, how can he get a Jinshi?

He smiled sarcastically, had no intention of continuing to read, and quickly left the racecourse and got into a carriage.

The carriage drove along the streets of Chang'an for a while, and soon came to a high gate.

Yongshouhou Mansion.

After hearing his subordinate's description, Yongshou Hou's first reaction was disbelief. He couldn't help but ask: "Are you sure you saw the right person? Is that really Li Xuanjing's son?"

The man nodded and said very confidently: "Master Hou, I can't be wrong. I know what Li Xuanjing's son looks like. I saw him getting off the carriage of Li Mansion with my own eyes..."

Marquis Yongshou still didn't believe it and continued to ask: "Is his imperial examination very poor?"

The man couldn't help but laugh and said: "It's not just bad, it's simply ignorant. Let the Marquis's dog drive better than him. Lord Marquis, you really worry too much this time..."

Marquis Yongshou sat back in his chair and took a sip of tea.

Did he really think too much?

Even if you think too much, you can't blame him.

It was only Li Xuanjing who had left him with indelible memories.

He was very worried that another Li Xuanjing would appear in the court.

Li Xuanjing is difficult enough to deal with. What's more, although Li Xuanjing is ruthless, he still has scruples in doing things and will not attack the powerful easily.

His son was even more lawless than he was.

Now it seems that he really worried too much.

Li Xuanjing's son is not as brilliant as his father, he is a complete mediocre person.

No, he just couldn't figure it out. If that kid had no ability, why would he enter the academy in such a hurry?

It made me worry in vain. In order to stop him, I had to advance my original plan and forcefully break up the relationship between the three provinces. I lost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in vain.

If the dozen or so officials are carefully planned and divided one by one, the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver can be saved and reserved for more important things.

He originally thought that Li Xuanjing's son was a fool and it was just false news he had released.

Maybe this is a cover-up to divert other people's attention.

Judging from his behavior these days, Li Xuanjing's son is not only not a fool, but also inherited Li Xuanjing's intelligence.

He was very worried that all this was Li Xuanjing's plan.

Perhaps, during these eighteen years, he had already secretly trained his son to be proficient in the six arts, in order to make a splash in the imperial examination, and then father and son would become officials in the same court, completely controlling the court in their hands.

Fortunately, he was overthinking it...