Chapter 22： gloat

The spring is finally over, although it has been delayed for a long time, but I managed to make it to the finale of the examination before the end of the spring, at any rate, I found many outstanding students emerging.

The Ministry of Rites quickly approved all the test papers, and the proctoring team headed by Su Cheng, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion, carefully ranked and finally selected 180 qualified candidates.

These 180 candidates will enter the palace examination later and directly answer the questions given by Her Majesty the Queen.

Earlier, Su Cheng and his literati were afraid that Li Chou would make jokes on such important occasions as the palace examination, and that if the empress got upset, the candidates and courtiers would be involved, so they had prepared the questions and strategies for the palace examination long ago.

It's just that I didn't expect that these days, the empress wanted to make a big splash, which really made them veterans feel gratified.

The spare test questions should be useless, I don't know what kind of questions the emperor will ask?

They will soon know that the palace examination will be held the next day after the qualified list is released.

The location of the palace examination was originally supposed to be in the Wenqu Hall of the Tianquan Palace, but Zhou Huaijin lived there, so it was changed to another hall of the Tianquan Palace—Sumen Hall.

It was not far from Zhou Huaijin's residence, and Li Zichou told him to walk over slowly on the day of the palace examination, and let him show his face in front of all the officials during the palace examination, so that he could take him to court later.

Dasheng's scientific examination was held at the end of the first month and early autumn. Because of the original owner, this year's imperial examination was delayed for a long time, and it finally reached the final stage.

It was the end of spring, and Linjing, which is geographically located in the north, gradually became restless. Li Zishou and Yang Dejin also began to wear thin outer shirts.

Agarwood is burning in the Sumen Hall, and there is not much smoke and dust, but a slight fragrance can be smelled.

The doors and windows are all open, and the circulating air and burning incense can finally remove some of the smell caused by the long-term unoccupied.

There is no need to turn on the lights, the natural light diffuses in through the portal, illuminating the entire hall brilliantly.

Hundreds of officials filed in and stood on both sides of the hall in two positions, civil and military. Then the candidates enter the arena, and then the emperor makes his final appearance.

Those gifted scholars who only read sage books have never seen such a scene. Many people stood in the center of the hall after saluting to the officials, looking around anxiously. It is not outstanding among the candidates.

Li Zichou brought Empress Bai Qingyang into the palace, today Li Zichou was wearing a primrose-colored undergarment, and on the outside was a silver-white silk coat embroidered with golden dragons.

He didn't wear the crown that he usually wears in court, but a rare braided hair, which was fixed with a simple rhinoceros horn hairpin, and a forehead that was only one finger wide, and he walked out of the second dragon with a golden thread. With the pattern of Xizhu, the dignified and dignified empress in the past looks very lively and agile.

Bai Qingyang seldom saw her dressed up like this. Compared to the current Li Zichou, Li Choo in his previous life always only liked bright and complicated clothing and jewelry, and his body also had all kinds of strong scents of makeup and powder, as if he had been marinated .

Recently, Li Zifu doesn't often use luxurious and grand accessories, and doesn't like to put on heavy makeup.

Often just wearing a uniform dark suit, wearing the emperor's crown meticulously, and at most there is only a faint scent of grass and trees on his body.

It doesn't feel as aggressive as the previous life, but some of Li Zishou's unique prudence and self-control are indispensable.

Today's Li Zifu is wearing brighter colors and hair accessories that Bai Qingyang has never seen before, which is inexplicably seductive.

It seemed that even the spring sun that slanted into the hall wanted to nod for this shining sun in the world, but she actually looked very friendly, and she must have taken great pains to keep the candidates from getting too nervous during the palace exam.

...really beautiful.

Bai Qingyang couldn't help but take a second look.

Li Zichou had indeed carefully dressed up, this hairstyle alone had ruined her for a long time.

Although Lu Xiaoying was her personal maid, she didn't do this job after all, so she couldn't count on it.

The other maids only know those complicated ancient women's hair accessories, with a pile of gold, silver, copper and iron on top, which looks heavy!

When Yang Dejin saw it for the first time, his eyes lit up. This bad friend of his really knows how to groom himself and even puts a fishtail braid on him. He will try it next time.

However, Yang Dejin thought of her second-level handicap, so she decided to forget it after thinking about it. The servant should help her with her hairstyle.

She looks good even with a shaved head!

Li Zichou said some polite words at the beginning, nothing more than to comfort and encourage the candidates, so that they don't be nervous.

She was specially rehearsed, and she didn't panic at all.

"I also know a young man who graduated from the imperial examination. He is your senior. He is in this palace. I want to introduce you to him." When Li Zichou said this, Zhou Huaijin just stepped into the palace, "Oh ,he came."

Li Zichou had greeted the guards in advance, so Zhou Huaijin was not obstructed when he appeared on the stage.

"My subject, Zhou Huaijin, sees the emperor, long live the emperor." After speaking, he turned his body again, and bowed towards Bai Qingyang, "Seeing the empress, the empress is a thousand years old."

"Zhou Qingping. Come, introduce yourself to them." Li Zichou said to Zhou Huaijin.

Zhou Huaijin nodded and turned to face the officials and candidates. He calmly introduced his name, birthplace and life experience without changing his face.

This section was also rehearsed by Li Zishou and Zhou Huaijin, the purpose is to let Zhou Huaijin appear in front of all officials.

Bai Qingyang also knew that they had such an arrangement, so he didn't show much fluctuation.

"Zhou Qing is now my teacher, and I hope that you will be like him in the future, and even do better than him."

What did the officials not understand about what she said, she wanted to bring Zhou Huaijin to the officialdom and mention the weight by the way.

However, different people have different thoughts. Some people think that the emperor has taken a fancy to this weak scholar type again, while others are secretly thinking about other things.

Only Liang Jing shouted in his heart what was going on.

Is this another person robbing him of fame and fortune? That's not going to work!

Liang Jing was so brainwashed that even the mustache on his face trembled. In less than a stick of incense, he looked at Zhou Huaijin with hostility in his eyes.

Zhou Huaijin was standing next to the empress, and suddenly felt a chill.

He frowned and raised his eyes to look around.

The whole hall is well lit and looks warm, what's going on?

"Then it's not too late, let's start the palace exam." Li Zichou went straight to the point after finishing the cutscene.

Lu Xiaoying brought up high-grade brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, and Zhou Huaijin took the initiative to take the inkstones to help Li Zi pay for grinding ink.

The emperor announced his own ten questions, nine policy questions, and one policy theory.

The policy question requires each candidate to answer orally in front of the emperor to demonstrate the candidate's oral expression ability and logical thinking. Similar to the defense, the policy theory is to write a small essay.

On the whole, the person with the best performance will be named the champion by the emperor.

Li Zichou has been preparing questions for the past few days. It's just that it is necessary to reflect the facts and make the candidates answer well. For the time being, she only thought of six or seven questions.

Li Zichou is a part-time student of arts and sciences. She has been practicing calligraphy since elementary school, so she doesn't seem unfamiliar with holding a brush. After evening classes in Ganlu Temple, she will pick up a brush and practice traditional characters for a while.

So when she wrote, she really shocked Bai Qingyang who was sitting on the phoenix chair beside her.

In Bai Qingyang's impression, Li Fu was born with a bad nature, ignorant and incompetent, and the characters in front of him were written like a dragon and a snake, penetrating into wood three points, which was a font that the former foolish king would never have been able to write.

How many skills are hidden in this person?

Bai Qingyang is very curious about Li Zichou now, she wants to know her a little more, maybe she can help her in the future.

Zhou Huaijin was grinding ink silently at the side. He had seen Li Zichou's handwriting and admired it, but what interested him most now was what she wrote.

Zhou Huaijin: Wow, this question is quite tricky. Oh, that question is also difficult to answer. Does Your Majesty want to be so cruel? Not everyone of the candidates standing with His Highness is called Zhou Huaijin.

For the time being, Li Zichou only wrote seven questions, which were cut from the aspects of agriculture and commerce, military affairs, people's livelihood, government, education, finance and diplomacy.

Two remaining questions...

Li Zichou: "I have already written seven policy questions, and there are two left. Why don't you ask the queen to ask a question, and then choose a minister to ask a question. What does the queen think?"

Unexplained emotions flashed across Bai Qingyang's eyes, then met Li Zishou's eyes, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is benevolent, so my concubine dared to come up with a question for the imperial examination."

Seeing her bright smile, Li Zichou felt a little dazed, and at the same time had an ominous premonition.

Sure enough, facing all the officials and examinees, Bai Qingyang said in her brisk voice: "This question from my palace is very simple. If the monarch is fatuous and extravagant, how should a person with lofty ideals replace him?"

Baiguan:!

Candidate:? !

Zhou Huaijin: ...It really is a meticulous work, right? Bai Qingyang is indeed a secret agent sent by Shuobei, right? !

But... it's kind of funny...

Yang Dejin didn't hold back, and just let out a puff, looking particularly rebellious in the quiet hall.

Li Zishou: "..."

Ji Zhuilu on the side put his hands on his mouth and reminded Yang Dejin in a low voice: "Your Highness, something is wrong."

Then she quickly lowered her head and covered half of her face with the back of her hand: But it's really funny hahahaha! !

Bai Qingyang is hurting!

Other officials: Has Prince Yu despised the authority of the Empress to such an extent? How dare you mock His Majesty in the hall...

These officials didn't expect that if it was placed in an online game, Yang Dejin would be the hate-seeking character with the ability to taunt.

It's just that Li Zishou didn't expect that this character used to attract firepower would also taunt friendly troops...

There was a dead silence in the hall, and the people below the hall had different thoughts:

This queen empress is too outrageous to have such a problem...

Bai Qingyang is so proud of being favored, the emperor will definitely be furious...

Your Majesty looks unwell, Su Mendian is having a hard time today...

What should I do, I don't really want to answer the question asked by the Empress Dowager... Your Majesty, save the poor people...

Is Prince Yu going to turn against the emperor? The prince faction should not be strong enough to compete with the emperor?

Will Her Majesty the Empress go on a rampage in a fit of rage? I'm just a guard at the Sumen Temple, and I don't want to lose my life...

I can't hold back anymore, Li Zichou, you are so embarrassing, hahahaha, Bai Qingyang is too good at making things work, help me! !

But Yang Dejin's schadenfreude was schadenfreude, she was actually quite happy to hear that Bai Qingyang dared to ask that question.

She thought of Li Zichou saying that Bai Qingyang might also be a time traveler, although she was skeptical, she still felt a little guilty.

There are only two possibilities for Bai Qingyang to have the guts to raise such a question today: one is that she is going to have a showdown with Li Zichou, directly stating that she wants to rebel. The second possibility is that she believed that Li Zifu would not do anything to her, at least he couldn't touch her.

Yang Dejin believed more in the latter. Does this mean that Li Zishou's task of changing his role is progressing steadily, and Bai Qingyang feels that Li Zishou is no longer the tyrant he used to be?

It seems that tying Li Zifu to Bai Qingyang's side to gain favorability is still effective.

Li Zishou had to be wronged and wronged.

The author has something to say:

Wronged Li Zifu: *expletive words*