Chapter 15 How can a scholar do this?
Shi Chanli was happy in his heart and put aside his doubts about Brother Li for the time being. However, a mystery swirled in his mind: "I really don't understand. Since the Ministry of Rites has started to repair the examination room, why the replacement building materials are not as good as The past?"
Fan Xian raised his eyebrows slightly and exchanged meaningful glances with Li Chengze. Both of them were wary, knowing that this Spring Festival was an important chess game played by the eldest prince and the eldest princess to stabilize the financial power of the inner treasury, and there were many hidden challenges in it.
As for the strangeness of the examination room building materials, there may be a conspiracy more complex than corruption hidden behind it, or it may be a time bomb planted for the future.
Seeing this, Hou Jixian widened his eyes, hurriedly pulled Shi Chanli aside, and lowered his voice to warn: "This is wrong, don't mention it again!"
"Why not?" Shi Chanli looked confused.
"The renovation of the examination room was personally supervised by Guo Shangshu..."
Hou Jichang further explained.
"That's why we should report the truth to Guo Shangshu to prevent him from being kept in the dark!"
Shi Chanli retorted.
"Brother Shi, it's not appropriate for you or me to get involved in this matter, please believe me." Hou Jichang insisted.
On the side, Li Chengze and Fan Xian watched with cold eyes, silently observing everyone's reactions and personalities.
Yang Wanli angrily threw down the wood in his hand, furious:
"How can we tolerate this kind of substandard behavior? There must be corrupt officials secretly controlling it. As scholars, how can we just sit idly by and ignore it?"
"Quiet!" Hou Jichang hurriedly covered his mouth for fear of causing unnecessary trouble.
After being pulled aside, Yang Wanli was still aggrieved and said inarticulately: "Although you can block my mouth, you can't block the world's mouth. I'm going to beat the drum and complain!"
Hou Jichang was worried that his future would be hindered and scolded: "You should read less books! Even if we report him, who will believe our words?"
Yang Wanli looked up at the sky and said firmly: "I heard that Mr. Lai and Mr. Xiao Fan are jointly presiding over this Spring Festival. They will definitely be able to uphold justice for us!"
"Then do you know them?" Hou Jichang asked.
"Although we don't know each other, we can always find opportunities to get to know each other." Yang Wanli answered decisively.
Fan Xian and Li Chengze looked at each other and smiled, feeling slightly pleased with Yang Wanli's determination.
Hou Jichang lowered his voice again and reminded:
"Didn't Guo Shangshu have friendship with the two adults earlier? Do you think it's us who are closer to them, or Guo Shangshu?"
"What if they have already been complicit?"
Yang Wanli's words were so shocking that Shi Chanli almost lost his composure, and Hou Jichang was even more anxious.
“That’s not what I meant, but now is not the best time to report it.
As scholars, we are here just to accumulate experience and prepare for becoming officials in the future.
If we really want to make a difference, it won't be too late until we actually enter official careers. "Hou Jichang explained anxiously.
After hearing this, Yang Wanli shook his head helplessly, slammed the table angrily, and left angrily, leaving behind the words "How can a scholar do this!"
Looking at Yang Wanli's leaving figure, Li Chengze and Fan Xian had their own thoughts in their hearts.
Shi Chanli tried to retain him but failed, while Hou Jichang muttered dissatisfiedly: "Scholars are so impulsive, and sooner or later they will suffer..."
If Fan Wujiu were present, he would definitely agree with this and secretly say:
"Indeed, he has suffered a lot."
Li Chengze, on the other hand, has a good impression of Yang Wanli and believes that he has a similar personality to Yushi Lai. Even if he cannot have a close friendship, he can be cultivated as a confidant in the future and use him to convey words that he cannot say directly. "Brother Hou, what did you mean when you said you came here to help in order to become an official?"
Fan Xian asked a question at the right time, taking the topic in another direction.
Fan Xian asked in a probing tone, Hou Jichang tried to hide it with a slight embarrassment, while Shi Chanli was as candid as ever: "Brother Hou revealed the subtleties to us, and we will do the work. Not just for a living, but also to show up in front of everyone.”
"It turns out that every student who comes to help will be recorded in the book, and Guo Shangshu is here in person. If we can perform well in front of him, maybe our names can leave a mark in his heart.
In this way, we might be able to pay more attention when marking the papers..." Shi Chanli explained seriously.
When Fan Xian heard this, he couldn't help but express his appreciation for Hou Jichang's strategy: "Brother Hou is really far-sighted and it opened my eyes."
Hou Jichang shook his head modestly: "This is also a helpless move. Students like us without prominent backgrounds can only rely on these trivial efforts to stand out."
Li Chengze asked curiously: "What is the meaning of this statement?"
Hou Jichang sighed and revealed the cruel reality of the imperial examination: "Although Chunwei recruits many talents, only very few succeed.
There have long been rumors that the imperial court has already decided on quotas, leaving very few opportunities for civilian students. "
When Fan Xian heard this, he looked at Li Chengze. Both of them knew very well that in the past, the crown prince and the second prince would take this opportunity to place their trusted aides, but this year it seemed to be different.
"It's just a power game in the palace."
Yang Wanli passed by while picking wood, and said disdainfully, "If there is no justice, Chunwei is just a farce."
Although his words were carried away by the wind, they remained in everyone's heart.
Hou Jichang looked at Yang Wanli's back and sighed helplessly: "Perhaps, only when we truly enter the officialdom can we gradually change all this."
Li Chengze had mixed feelings in his heart, and he cupped his fists at everyone and said, "Everyone, please encourage me."
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After parting with everyone, Fan Xian asked Li Chengze: "What do you think of what you just said?"
Li Chengze smiled bitterly: "If Chunwei loses his justice, it will become an absurd drama."
The two continued to inspect the examination room, and saw that under the scorching sun, the poor candidates were miserable, while Guo Shangshu was enjoying the spacious pergola alone, with ice cubes to cool down, and fruits and vegetables to relieve the heat, which was a sharp contrast.
Seeing this, Li Chengze mocked: "They tried to find a chance in this injustice, but it was in vain."
Fan Xian was puzzled: "Why did Your Highness say this?"
"Come with me, and you will understand." Li Chengze led Fan Xian to Guo Shangshu's pergola.
I saw that Guo Shangshu was not only greedy for pleasure, but also ordered the painter to record his "tireless work" for the purpose of reporting on his work. This scene is ridiculous.
Fan Xian could no longer hold back and stepped forward to question, "Guo Shangshu is so elegant that he even invited a painter."
Guo Shangshu was shocked when he saw that it was Fan Xian, but he still pretended to be calm on the surface:
"This is to report to His Majesty the need for the construction of the examination room, and it is also a record of the officer's diligence."
Fan Xian sneered: "Recording diligence? I'm afraid it's just adding fuel to the fire and exaggerating!"
Li Chengze took a step forward and blocked the painter's view. When Guo Shangshu saw this, his expression suddenly changed and he hurriedly saluted:
"See His Highness the Second Prince!"
"Master Xiaofan"
(End of chapter)