The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin lowered his head and thought,

The temptation originally set for Yan Song was five-star difficulty. When Yan Huai came home to write a letter, Zhu Houzhao gave Yan Song a test question, but Yan Song didn't ask for it.

This proves that Yan Song is a determined person.

More importantly, Yan Song insisted that he was framed, making it clear that someone wanted to use Yan Song's hand to give him a title and make him official.

Those who wanted him to become an official could line up from Meridian Gate to Guangzhou. The salt political reform affected the interests of many officials and gentry.

If the assassination fails, you want to frame him? After losing the protection of his official position, kill him again?

In just a few moments, Yan Chengjin had many pictures in his mind.

"The Confucian clothes he wears are full of lectures on the study of mind. Isn't this a question?" Jin Chong, the Ministry of Punishment, said with a gloomy face.

Jin Chong was a Jinshi in the sixth year of Hongzhi and was a native of Jishui, Jiangsu Province.

Yan Chengjin read all the files of the officials of the Ministry of Justice and remembered them very clearly.

"Yes, these are all questions. How can it be fair to let him go back to take the exam?"

Shao Bao represented the Ministry of Rites, and the imperial examination was the top priority of the Ministry of Rites. He looked at Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang is the second assistant to the cabinet and also serves as the Minister of Rites.

"I'll put him in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice first and await trial."

Li Dongyang knew that the matter was serious and might alarm His Majesty.

Every year, dozens or even hundreds of candidates are caught cheating or taking exams for themselves. It is not uncommon for them to hide their answers on their clothes, in pen holders, or in hollow inkstones.

But as long as the examiners are involved, it will become a major event written in the annals of history, alarming both the government and the public.

Yan Song was at a loss and cried and knelt on the ground: "Sir, the student really did not cheat! Please be more careful and let the student continue to answer the questions."

Yan Chengjin carefully considered and thought carefully about who wanted to use Yan Song's hand to frame him.

Recently, someone contacted Concubine Lou and gave her a dog. Could it be that Prince Ning was worried about being raped and was seeking revenge?

Although Concubine Lou is beautiful, how could he fall in love with Concubine Lou?

"Master Li, if he was framed, wouldn't he be reviled by candidates all over the world, and the court would be unfair?"

Yan Song was confused, he didn't expect Yan Chengjin to speak for him.

From the moment he stepped into the prison cell, he vowed to eradicate corrupt officials like Yan Chengjin who were all-powerful, but now, he was confused.

Yan Chengjin tricked him, but then saved him. Why?

Li Dongyang took a deep breath: "Let's lock him up in the side room first."

In the Gongyuan, there were about ten side rooms for the examiners and assistant officers to rest. Yan Song was taken into custody by the government officials, and the autumn palace went on normally.

There are two days left in Qiuwei, and there are so many strategic questions to answer that ordinary candidates can't even read them all.

If you delay for half a day, you may fail the exam.

The Ministry of Punishment frowned at Jin Dong: "This matter has not been investigated clearly. I'm afraid Master Yan also needs to avoid suspicion, right?"

Fraud is usually discovered after the exam. During the exam, it is the first time that the examiner is caught cheating.

Li Dongyang nodded and looked at Yan Chengjin: "You first go to the prison to take shelter. I will send someone to report to Your Majesty."

Yan Chengjin also needs to think about who is behind him.

He actually made good use of his grudge with Yan Song, and he was worthy of being a master in court battles.

The gate of Gongyuan opened, and the civil servants from the Ministry of Rites rushed out, got on their sedan chairs and rushed to the Meridian Gate.

The people hiding in the dark saw this and quickly ran back to Xu Mansion.

Xu Mu hasn't slept yet, and tonight is especially important. After the silver salt is baked, characters will appear, and candles will be lit only at night.

At night, the supervision in Gongyuan will be stricter than during the day.

He couldn't do it too obviously, or he would be traced.

But in doing so, although it is thoughtful and leaves no clues, it is also difficult to trigger.

In case Yan Song didn't insist that it was Yan Chengjin...

"Sir, the gate of Gongyuan just opened, and the official went to the palace."

Xu Mu felt greatly relieved and patted the young man on the shoulder: "You are not young anymore. I will give you a sum of money to go back to your hometown and get a wife. You will leave tonight."

…

Qianqing Palace,

Xiao Jing guarded the door and didn't allow anyone to make a sound.

The little eunuch ran over in a panic: "Master Xiao, the Ministry of Rites has asked Shao Bao to see His Majesty, saying he has something important to report!"

"Your Majesty is asleep, let him talk tomorrow."

Not long after Emperor Hongzhi lay down, there was rustling and some noise outside the door.

Beside the pillow, Queen Zhang was breathing evenly and sleeping peacefully. Emperor Hongzhi couldn't bear to wake her up, so he pushed himself up and said softly: "Hold the lamp."

Gong'e quickly walked to the lampstand and lit the candle with a fire stick.

Xiao Jing saw the lights and walked in anxiously: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites wants to see Shao Bao."

He was still waiting outside the Meridian Gate, but remembering that Shao Bao was Qiu Wei's invigilator, he did not dare to neglect.

Emperor Hongzhi had a bad premonition that something had happened to Qiu Wei when Shao Bao came to see him late at night.

When he came to Dongnuan Pavilion, he ordered people to burn the earth dragon. After a while, Shao Baocai walked quickly into the main hall.

"Your Majesty, there is a candidate in Gongyuan named Yan Song. He said that Yan Chengjin framed him. This is evidence of crime. Mr. Li doesn't know how to deal with it, so he sent me to the palace to report."

Shao Bao brought the clothes into the palace.

It’s not that I don’t know, but that I want to hand over the power of disposal to His Majesty, involving court officials, and perhaps a joint trial by the three departments.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Ru Shang a few times: "How did he know that it was the Yan Qing family who framed her, or was it a false accusation?"

"I don't know this either."

Xiao Jing came up and said softly: "Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin tested a candidate a while ago, named Yan Song, and almost forced him out of the capital..."

It is reasonable to think that Yan Chengjin tried to harm Yan Song.

But the strange thing is that Yan Chengjin has always been steady. The autumn exam is the top priority of the court. He has a great difficulty, but he dare not joke with his head.

Emperor Hongzhi said with a gloomy face: "Go and check the origin of this Confucian dress and the salt stains."

Xiao Jing nodded and took the Confucian dress to the East Factory.

"Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin also asked me to ask for instructions. Can Yan Song continue to take the exam?" Shao Bao asked uncertainly.

He felt that Yan Chengjin spoke for this candidate, which made him more suspicious.

If he could not continue the exam, he could only be imprisoned in the prison. The candidates who were imprisoned in the prison would not have a good ending.

Emperor Hongzhi felt that there was something strange: "Yan Chengjin did not dare to be greedy for even half a copper coin, how could he have the courage to do such a thing, but this scholar insisted on him, I think it is strange."

Even if Yan Chengjin said it himself, he wrote the answer on the clothes and gave it to the scholar, Emperor Hongzhi would not believe it.

The prince could do this.

"Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin pleads for this scholar. Please let him finish the exam. If he is found guilty, he can be imprisoned later." The Jinyiwei reported.

Emperor Hongzhi felt strange.

In the Imperial Examination Hall, moonlight shines through the window.

If he cannot return to the cell to take the exam before dawn, he will not be able to finish answering the essay questions.

What Yan Song is most worried about is that he will follow in the footsteps of Tang Yin and be demoted to an official and will never be able to take the imperial examination again.

When he was in Liangxiang, he made an appointment with Yang Shen to serve as an official in the capital together.

He wanted to surpass Yang Shen and pass the Beizhili Jieyuan exam, but now, he has no chance to take the imperial examination.