The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Li Dongyang was the chief examiner, which was expected.

But who is Yan Chengjin?

Yan Song had never heard of this person. The Censorate only supervised and would not interfere in setting questions.

This meant that all the time spent reciting the annotations of Yang Tinghe, Wang Hua, Xie Qian and others in the library in recent days was in vain.

No wonder so many scholars cried loudly. How could they not cry when they lost a few percent of their confidence?

"May I ask who this Lord Yan is? Does he have any annotated books?"

"Brother, I don't know. It's because he hasn't written any books that we are so anxious."

More importantly, Yan Chengjin's books could not be found.

His preferences and style of setting questions were even more impossible to guess, just like a blind fly, not knowing where to start.

The people who predicted questions in the market were confused. They had never heard of this person, so how could they predict the questions?

Forget it, since they had never predicted it, they would just predict it randomly!

In just one day, "Yan's Lecture Notes", "Four Books of Yan's School", and "Mr. Yan's Discussions on the Five Classics" were all published. Scholars rushed to buy them and lined up for reprints.

The best-selling book was "Yan Chengjin's Personal Work".

"Whoever published a book for me, ruined my reputation, it's really hateful!" Yan Chengjin said angrily.

Wang Bushui glanced at it inconspicuously, embarrassed and flattering: "This "Yan Chengjin's Personal Work" was published by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Houzhao stripped the lecture notes of the gentlemen and pasted Yan Chengjin's name on them.

I should have guessed it was Zhu Houzhao.

The reason why he didn't want to be the chief examiner was here. He announced to the world that on the day of the exam, he would have to accept the salutes of the examinees at the gate of the Imperial Academy.

In this way, the whole capital knew him, Yan Chengjin, what should he do?

At this time, the capital.

There were more than three months left, and the scholars seized the time and memorized a lot of Li Dongyang's poems and annotations.

The only thing is that I haven't read Yan Chengjin's book. I have to hurry up and study this person's articles and preferences.

Chengxian Street, Yang Mansion.

Yang Tinghe sat in the main hall in a sullen mood. The tea had been cold for a long time, and he drank it unconsciously.

"Yan Chengjin is the examiner this time, what do you do?"

He has studied the articles and annotations of other ministers and knows what scriptures they are good at.

It's an advantage to be able to predict the topic for his son and write a general direction of the lecture notes.

But Yan Chengjin studies the law all day long, and the most written is the memorial. How can people guess?

"Dad, don't worry, I am sure I can pass the exam."

"Humph! What's the use of passing the exam? Dad wants you to win the first prize in three consecutive prizes. Look at Yan Chengjin, who has won the first prize in three consecutive prizes. Now he is a second-rank official."

The blue veins on Yang Tinghe's forehead emerged.

Your Majesty values ​​talents, and it is a good time to get promoted.

It's a pity that he is trapped in the Zhanshi Mansion. If he is an official in the six ministries, his official rank will not be too low.

Now, we can only pin our hopes on our son.

The housekeeper ran in happily: "Master, there are Yan Chengjin's handouts in the market."

Yang Tinghe flipped through a few books, threw them aside and scolded: "This is written by me, the prince must have changed his name!"

He hesitated in his heart whether to visit Yan Chengjin, but if he really visited Yan Chengjin, it would be reported to His Majesty...

"Go read the book, and ask your father for advice if you don't understand it."

Yang Shen nodded, returned to the study, flipped through a few pages, and drove to the Liangxiang Library absent-mindedly.

The news that Yan Chengjin served as the chief examiner spread, and fewer people borrowed books.

The library was noisy, and the scholars covered their faces and cried, reading books while crying. Those with weaker wills had given up struggling and were ready to come back next year.

"How can this man serve as an examiner when he hasn't even published a book?"

"Brother, don't you know Yan Chengjin? He was the winner of the imperial examination in the 12th year of Hongzhi."

"It has only been five years since the 12th year of Hongzhi, and he has been promoted to the second rank. Don't talk nonsense!"

What the scholars are most concerned about is who Yan Chengjin is and how he can serve as the chief examiner?

When they heard that he was promoted to the second rank in five years, they were so scared that their hair stood on end. Why haven't they heard of such a capable person in the court?

Wang Shouren shook his head. Brother Gao kept a low profile, so how could it be spread among the people?

"Throw away the books in your hands, they are not published by Brother Gao."

When the scholars saw that it was Wang Shouren who came, they turned their heads and didn't understand: "The brother Gao that Lord Wang is talking about is Lord Yan?"

"Wait! Lord Wang, you just said that the book we are reading is not from Lord Yan?!"

As if they had a premonition that something terrible was about to happen, the hall suddenly became quiet.

Wang Shouren shook his head: "Brother Gao has never published a book. He has written the most impeachment. What you read is nothing but books from profiteers."

A sentence echoed in the hall, awakening the deaf.

The scholars thought they had grasped hope, but Wang Shouren's words once again plunged them into despair. How could they pass the exam like this?

Yang Shen sighed a few times and found a book to read in the corner.

There was a scholar next to him, reading very seriously, reading the university.

"Brother, aren't you worried?"

Yan Song bowed slightly: "What's the use of worrying? It's better to read more scriptures. Since it's an eight-part essay, questions will be asked from it."

Eastern Palace,

The little eunuch ran to report to Zhu Houzhao: "Your Highness, the book can't be sold. I was reported."

Zhu Houzhao was counting silver, 57,000 taels.

Taking advantage of the autumn exam, he can make a lot of money by borrowing the reputation of Lao Gao.

When the military report from Yansui comes back, he will recruit soldiers and kill the Tartars.

After hearing the eunuch's report, he turned around and said in surprise: "Who dares to cut off my financial resources?!"

"It's... it's Wang Shouren."

"Silly idiot! He has been loitering in Liangxiang all day long. I have long disliked him. You call the idiot here."

Zhu Houzhao decided to teach Wang Shouren a lesson.

I heard from Lao Gao that the Wang family is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River. The money in the family is more than the stars in the sky, and it is endless.

Not long after, Wang Shouren bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, Wang Shouren, has met!"

"Why do you want to cut off my wealth? Anyway, no one will be able to pass the exam because I am so high-ranking, so why not let me earn some money?"

"I...I am ashamed. I didn't know that the profiteer was Your Highness."

Wang Shouren always spoke sincerely, but Zhu Houzhao didn't care.

As soon as these words came out, the two of them seemed to be fine. The little eunuch next to them almost knelt down in front of Wang Shouren.

If he knew that Wang Shouren had beaten Zhu Houzhao, he would be even less calm.

Zhu Houzhao's eyebrows were dancing and he patted Wang Shouren on the shoulder: "It's good that you know it now. When you talk about the study of mind, help me explain this book. You can't delay the future of scholars."

"this……"

Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Hongzhi stood in front of the bookshelf. There were only two major things in the court that worried him.

One is the talent promotion ceremony, and the other is the military defense of Yansui in the northwest.

"Qiu Wei's residence report was announced to the world. How did the scholars in the community react?"

Xiao Jing hesitated for a moment and faltered: "It's not good. Rumors about the Liangxiang Library are all wailing.

There are very few lecture notes written by Yan Chengjin, and scholars would not know where to start.

There are also scholars who criticize the court for being unfair..."

Emperor Hongzhi had never been an examinee and was busy with court affairs. He didn't know that the candidates' confidence came from answering the questions, and wondered: "Why is this happening?"

"Your Majesty doesn't know that Yan Chengjin is very well guarded. The scholar doesn't know that there is an official named Yan Chengjin in the court..."

If you don't know the official, you can't guess the question.

Xiao Jing raised his head and continued: "Furthermore, with Yan Chengjin's temperament, this question must not be an ordinary one. When this servant heard about it, even Yang James was worried."

"Will it be difficult for Yan Qing's family to set the questions?"

Emperor Hongzhi seems to be asking questions, but also seems to be asking and answering questions.

"My guess is that it won't be any easier than Master Cheng's question back then."

I saw Yan Song’s message. It’s 12 o’clock in a few minutes. Let’s discuss it with you. Yan Song is different from Liu Jin. Liu Jin was a bad person before entering the palace, from the time he entered the palace to the end of his life. Yan Song was different. When Yan Song first entered his official career, he was a good official. He encountered many things and became disheartened by the court, so he turned bad. Three things that had a great impact on him were Liu Jin, Jiang Bin and others coming to power, followed by Yang Tinghe taking control of the government, which gave him the world view that only bad boys get candy, and his father died and his mental restraint disappeared. . Therefore, it is normal to see Yan Song pitiful in the previous chapters, because at this time he is still a good person, and he is not evil.