It was noon.
Zhang Dongxiang rushed back with a worried look on his face. It seemed that he had also figured out the trick with the seats in the examination room and was feeling a little upset.
Seeing Fang Zhengyi still lying there motionless, he immediately asked angrily, "Why are you still here? Why don't you go and invigilate?"
It was really boring in the Imperial Examination Hall. It took less than half a day to help the six ministries find reporters, and the rest of the time I had basically nothing to do.
The weather was hot now, and Fang Zheng felt a little sleepy so he lay down on the table and took a nap.
Fang Zhengyi raised his head, pried open his eyelids and looked at Zhang Dongxiang, and said vaguely: "Didn't you ask me to stay here until the exam is over? I am waiting for the exam to be over..."
"Where's the poke?!" Zhang Dongxiang was furious.
I told you to stay, so you really stayed? You don't take your status seriously at all!
Fang Zheng raised his arms, and a small box appeared on the table.
When the box was opened, there were several rows of small seals neatly arranged inside.
Zhang Dongxiang felt relieved when he saw this and walked forward to take it.
Just as he reached out his hand, he saw Fang Zheng holding the box and handing it to him first.
As soon as Zhang Dongxiang picked it up, he felt something was wrong. He pulled out a piece of paper from under the box and asked in confusion, "What is this?"
"This is today's newspaper that I asked someone to buy for me. You're bored, so sit down and take your time reading it..." Fang Zheng stretched himself and poured him a cup of cold tea.
Zhang Dongxiang didn't think much about it, he just unfolded the newspaper and read it carefully.
It’s okay if you don’t read it, but once you read it, your blood pressure immediately soars to the top of your head!
The entire page of the newspaper was devoted to reporting on matters related to the imperial examination, including an introduction to the examination and interviews with candidates from previous years.
Of course, the key point is that candidates will not be able to go to the bathroom freely within nine days. Going to jail would be easier than living here!
There were even glaring comments saying that this group of candidates were making a fuss in a cesspool!
Countless failed candidates complained about the inhumane treatment in the examination room, saying that it was only because of physical reasons that they were unable to display their talents, otherwise there would have been a place for them on the list!
This move is simply an insult to the imperial examination, an insult to saints, and an insult to the books of sages!
After a while, Zhang Dongxiang put down the newspaper tremblingly.
What a trouble! It's just an ordinary exam. Why has it become so serious?
At my age, this should be the last time I invigilate in my life, how could I go wrong here...
Fang Zhengyi...it must be that bastard Fang Zhengyi! This bastard stirs up trouble wherever he goes.
He has never had peace since he entered the court! Now he is in trouble again!
Having identified the mastermind behind the incident, Zhang Dongxiang's eyes were filled with bloodshot when he looked at Fang Zhengyi again.
He asked in a hoarse voice: "Banshan Newspaper! Did you ask the reporter to write this?!"
Fang Zhengyi waved his hands hurriedly: "No! No, this... Before entering the Imperial Examination Hall, I discussed with the prince to let the Banshan Newspaper do a special issue on the imperial examination..."
\"Prince...Prince..." Zhang Dongxiang murmured, "Has this newspaper been distributed to the public?"
"Yes! Today's newspapers were all written yesterday. New printing houses have been built in all parts of the capital. Once the manuscripts are delivered, they will be typeset and printed immediately. They should all be sold out by now!"
Hearing this, Zhang Dongxiang sat down dejectedly on the chair, lost in thought.
Fang Zhengyi also remained quiet.
I didn't want to show him this thing originally because I was afraid it would be too stimulating for the old man.
If you can talk things out, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
However, since reason cannot be used to convince others, the only option is to use public opinion pressure to suppress them.
The matter is not big, but not small either.
Everyone sticks to this unspoken rule and no one cares about it, just like a small tumor growing on a person's body.
Although it is not taken seriously in normal times, some people will cry out in pain if they touch it in the examination room.
I was just trying to make things easier for myself and help the reporters at the newspaper solve some problems, but now things are becoming more and more troublesome.
This heavy punch...should be effective.
Seeing that Zhang Dongxiang hadn't spoken for a long time, Fang Zhengyi took the initiative to ask, "What's the matter, Third Uncle? Do you want me to hand out the stamps to the examiners now?"
"Send...No! Can't send!" Zhang Dongxiang trembled all over and reacted.
There must be a lot of discussion outside now, and countless scholars have expressed their dissatisfaction.
But these are still easy to explain. After all, those people did not take the imperial examination, and their emotions have long passed. Even if the public is outraged for a while, it is nothing.
But this year’s candidates are different!
The candidates who just failed the exam cannot stand the stimulation at all. If the newspapers sent out from the capital spread to the whole country, it would be troublesome if countless failed candidates felt resentful because of this matter, and might even cause civil unrest!
Originally, I was quite happy to be here to invigilate the exam. After all, at my age, this would be my last time invigilating.
I didn't expect something so big to go wrong!
The pen of history is as strong as iron! If something unexpected really happened, not to mention the disadvantages to the court, I am afraid that I will be cursed for thousands of years!
"Fang Zhengyi! You've caused me so much trouble! How dare the Mid-Levels Newspaper report anything? Is this something we can talk about?"
"You are using public resources for personal gain!" Zhang Dongxiang said angrily.
Fang Zhengyi was immediately displeased: "What are you talking about? We in the newspaper report all matters concerning people's livelihood!"
"The imperial examination concerns the people of the world, how can we not report it?!"
Zhang Dongxiang's forehead was half exposed with veins: "Don't you have a brain? Look at what it says!"
"Countless failed candidates have expressed their dissatisfaction with this matter. If the candidates this time make a fuss, the consequences will be something you and I cannot bear!"
"How will it end then? Tell me!"
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