In Jiangzhou City, there are obviously fewer literati and scholars enjoying the flowers and the moon.
The topics of discussion in taverns and teahouses were the two decrees that had just been issued by the imperial court.
The grain collection order and the conscription order were like two huge mountains pressing down on people, making it hard for them to breathe. People were filled with resentment and complaints.
The government office turned a blind eye, officials acted with impunity, and clerks ran rampant.
The prosperous Jiangzhou City also began to become deserted.
In September, the results of the provincial examination were announced.
Song Chi ranked first and was named Jieyuan in the provincial examination. This was the beginning of his true journey of winning three top prizes in a row.
In addition, the thirty-six candidates he led also passed the provincial examination. Even Gu Ronghua, the young master of the Gu family, was on the list. Although he was ranked last, he also passed the provincial examination and became a juren.
This result shocked everyone.
Over the years, most of those who passed the Jiangzhou County Examination were members of the Qingke Pavilion Society, or at least students of the four major academies, all of whom had a literary party background. This was the first time such a situation had occurred.
Juren are already qualified to be an official.
The Donglin Academy rose to prominence because of Song Chi, and its momentum was unstoppable.
After the provincial examination, the new candidates will attend the Deer Singing Banquet hosted by Xuzhou Mu.
However, Song Chi, the top scorer in the exam, was not present.
At the banquet, Duan Yunzhou, the head of Qingting Guest Society who failed to get the top three spots, got drunk and questioned the chief examiner of the provincial examination, Shen Qi, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, on the spot, saying that Jiangzhou was the Jiangzhou of the literary party, so how could a Donglin party member become the champion.
This is offensive.
Party struggles are tacit and cannot be carried out in a public manner.
You should not make any random comments or ask any questions in such situations.
What do you want to say?
Does this mean that the Prime Minister was the one who controlled the imperial examinations?
This remark displeased Shen Qi and even made Xuzhou Mu furious, and he directly expelled Duan Yunzhou from the Luming Banquet.
Until the end, Song Chi did not show up and no one knew where he went.
After the provincial examination, he seemed to have disappeared.
Song Chi is not in Jiangzhou, he has gone to the capital.
This is a quiet and elegant teahouse. Outside the window, bamboo shadows dance and the bamboo tubes startle deer, knocking on the bluestone.
There are scrolls hanging on the white wall, all of which are plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, and each painting has a poem inscribed on it.
Song Shiwen looked around and said with a smile, "I believe you have noticed that every poem on the painting was written by you. Father loves every poem you write."
"Father has always loved the Four Gentlemen, and this is exactly what you are best at."
Song Chi said calmly: "I'm good at everything."
"Yeah, you're good at everything."
Song Shiwen picked up the teapot to make tea. When the boiling hot water was poured into the teacup, the fragrance of tea filled the whole room.
This is truly good tea.
Song Chi thought that compared to this tea, the tea he had drunk from Lord Feng was nothing.
"Father didn't expect that we would meet again so soon."
Song Shiwen pushed the teacup in front of Song Chi. "During the Jixian County Examination, I knew your talent and wanted to take you back to Beijing. However, I still want to temper you a little. As you wrote in your poem, 'Without going through the bitter cold, the fragrance of plum blossoms fills the air.'"
"You are brilliant and talented, possessing the ability to study extensively, and this talent has only just been revealed. Furthermore, you are exceptionally capable. You were able to uncover those matters in less than a month in Ji County, and even the Han family couldn't do anything to you."
"I am very happy now. Do you know what I am happy about?"
Song Chi didn't say anything.
Song Shiwen said in a deep voice: "What I'm most thankful for is that I left you in Ji County. The prosperity of the capital can easily confuse people's minds. If you were not in Ji County, I'm afraid you would not have achieved such success."
Song Chi smiled.
So, he abandoned his wife and children out of good intentions?
Is sitting back and watching others bully and oppress you considered training?
Do you think you are Ma Chenggang, the Prime Minister of Tomato, and I am Ma Jiye?
Are you catching dolls here?
Then letting old dog Wu Wenhui take my life is also training and tempering?
Song Chi sneered in his heart, but his expression did not change at all. He watched Song Shiwen's performance quietly.
"But it was wrong of your father to abandon you for so long. I will make it up to you."
Song Shiwen changed the subject.
"Your father will allow you to enjoy all the wealth and glory you have never experienced. Your greatest wish is to have your biological mother buried in the Song family's ancestral tomb. Your father will also agree to this. You will replace Song Ming and become the son of the Prime Minister!"
"wrong."
"There's something wrong with that statement. It shouldn't be about replacing, but returning!"
"You are my son, Song Shiwen, and the son of the Prime Minister!"
He said it sincerely, like it was true.
Song Chi watched calmly, he knew there was going to be a turning point.
Sure enough, Song Shiwen's tone changed. "Son, it's just that you and I can't recognize each other as father and son right now. I wish I could take you into my house and declare to the world that you are my son, but the current situation won't allow it!"
"Because of your unique experience, outsiders don't know that you are my son, Song Shiwen. You are also close to the Qingliu Party. In the Ji County incident, you helped His Royal Highness Prince Qing become the Youzhou Pacification Commissioner. You and Feng Yuan are both teachers and friends. You are a pure Qingliu Party member and are highly valued by Lu Taiyuan..."
After a long conversation, he finally revealed his real purpose.
"Your father will help you secretly, and you will be valued by Lu Taiyuan. You will definitely have a bright future in the future!"
"wrong!"
"You'll soon have a bright future!"
Song Shiwen sat in front of Song Chi. "It is expected that the imperial court will launch a military operation against the Northern Wei in the middle of next year. That will be a good time to employ talented people. With your talent, if you are trained, you will definitely stand out!"
"This opportunity is unique and only you can have it."
Hearing this, Song Chi asked for the first time, "What do you want me to do?"
"Your father wants you to become a big player in the Qingliu Party, or even become someone like Lu Taiyuan. The 36 people you brought with you all passed the Jiangzhou County Examination under my instruction. These people are the confidence your father gave you in the Qingliu Party!"
Song Shiwen stood up again.
"Whether it's the Literary Party or the Clean Stream, there's essentially no difference. Outsiders always say the Clean Stream works for the people and the country, but is that really the case?"
He looked at Song Chi and said, "You know a lot of things clearly."
Song Chi nodded.
Since his scumbag father could become the prime minister of the dynasty, he must be a capable person and have very insightful views.
You can say that he has bad character, you can say that he is a traitor who has brought misfortune upon the country, but you cannot say that he has no ability.
Skill has nothing to do with what you do.
“The key lies in the person who makes the decision.”
Song Shiwen said in a low voice, "I've forced this old fox, Lu Taiyuan, into a desperate situation. He's risking his life and fortune to join the fight for the throne. Your father wants you to be by his side, gather information about him, and make sure he achieves nothing!"
Song Chi understood that Song Shiwen wanted him to be a spy and replace Lu Taiyuan as the leader of the Qingliu Party.
This coincides with his idea.
Song Chi did not refuse. It took him several months to sit opposite Song Shiwen just to have bargaining chips with him.
Song Shiwen was sincere in saying that he would take him back to the Song Mansion, because Song Ming was too useless and he was valuable.
So?
Why couldn't he use Song Shiwen to get to a high position?
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