The next morning, when the anxious disciples came to help their master get up.

But he found that Zhao Hao, who loved to sleep in, was already dressed and sitting there listening to Sun Dawu's report.

"Sir, yesterday's coal lotus root production exceeded one million. Manager Ji sent another two thousand molds, but according to your instructions, no more coal workers will be added for the time being..."

Zhao Hao nodded, and asked a few more questions patiently. Only after getting satisfactory answers did he send his coal yard manager back.

As soon as Sun Dawu left, the disciples who had been peeking out from the door rushed in to serve their master breakfast, and then they couldn't wait to urge him:

"Master, it's getting late, can we set off now?"

Although they are not of high status, they can buy invitations to Lingji Palace with money, so naturally they don't want to miss today's event.

"You are not allowed to go." Zhao Hao picked up a few papers from the table and said, "I have prepared a test paper. Just do the questions and I will check them when I come back."

Wang Wuyang hurriedly took the test paper with both hands and said to his fellow apprentices who were all disappointed: "Don't run around at home. I'll be with you, Master."

"You don't have to go, just let Lieyang accompany me." Zhao Hao said slowly.

"Uh, Master..." Wang Wuyang opened his mouth in surprise, thinking fearfully, could it be that Master doesn't love me anymore, or does Master hate me because of my proposal?

The other three brothers looked at the fifth brother with surprise and envy.

I didn't expect that this guy would get such a benefit after crying?

Yu Shensi burst into tears. Although the master patiently counseled him and forgave him that day, Yu Shensi was still worried after he calmed down, fearing that the master would not say anything but would dislike him even more in his heart.

But now he finally realized that his worries were unnecessary.

It turns out that what the master gives to his disciples is the most selfless, sincere and eternal love in the world...

Yu Shensi almost cried out loud, but suddenly remembered that his master had said, "After crying this time, you are not allowed to cry again." He bit the corner of his clothes tightly and forced back the snot.

The fifth junior brother didn't know that the four senior brothers were the ones that the teacher focused on protecting, and of course he didn't want them to take risks with him.

The reason why Zhao Hao chose him to follow was because he was not even a juren and had no right to be hated by others.

Of course, the premise is not to fire randomly like Zhao Hao...

So, under the envious gazes of his senior classmates, Yu Shensi accompanied his teacher in a carriage and left Chunsong Hutong.

"Hey..." The second brother patted the eldest brother on the shoulder.

The third senior brother also gave the eldest senior brother a sympathetic look.

The fourth brother shrank his neck, not knowing how to comfort the eldest brother who was about to cry.

Wang Wuyang ignored them and stared at the carriage going away, his heart broken.

I shouldn't be here, I should be in the car...

~~

Lingji Palace and the residence of Duke Yansheng are not far from each other, both on the west side of the West Garden.

Master Zhao Hao and his disciples first took a car to West Chang'an Street, then made a big circle to get to East Chang'an Street, and walked north along the vermilion palace wall of Xiyuan for a while.

In the distance, you can see ancient trees and dense forests, with green tiles and yellow bricks, and sometimes ridges and corners. That is the Lingji Palace.

The carriage stopped near the Yanshenggong Mansion because the road ahead was completely blocked.

Zhao Hao seemed to have returned to that day when he sent his father and Eryang to the examination room.

He got out of the car and walked towards Lingji Palace under the protection of two burly men, Gao Wu and Lieyang.

In front of Lingji Palace is Lingjing Hutong four hundred years later. This is the widest alley in Beijing. Its widest point is ten meters wide, almost half the width of Chang'an Avenue.

Such a wide alley was packed with carriages, horses, and sedan chairs. You can imagine how many people came to listen to the lecture today.

Fortunately, with the help of his left and right bodyguards, Zhao Hao cleared the way, and it didn't take him much effort to reach the archway of Lingji Palace.

After Gao Wu presented the invitation, the Taoist priest opened the gate and let them in.

After entering, the number of people obviously decreased. Gao Wu and the other two finally relaxed, and Yu Shensi began to tell stories about ancient times to the teacher with great interest.

"This Lingji Palace doesn't look like a proper Taoist temple like Baiyun Temple..."

This one sentence caused the young Taoist priest who was passing by to glare at him angrily.

Zhao Hao shook his head helplessly. He was afraid that this guy would never change his straightforwardness in his lifetime.

"It doesn't enshrine the Three Pure Ones, but the two Xu Zhenren from Fujian. Speaking of these two Xu, they are both descendants of traitors..."

"Lieyang, learn from your uncle Gao." Zhao Hao began to doubt whether it was a wrong decision to bring this guy here.

"Yes, Master..." Yu Shensi had no choice but to shut up.

In fact, he was usually quite cautious with his words, but this time he was too excited and lost control of his mouth.

However, Yu Shensi was right. Lingji Palace was indeed not a proper Taoist temple, but a place similar to the Ming Emperor's private place for worshipping gods. Therefore, it was called a palace instead of a temple.

Most of the Taoists inside were not doing their jobs properly. Their main work was to socialize with great scholars and organize lectures, and they called themselves the Jixia Academy of the Ming Dynasty.

Usually, this is also the rehearsal venue for officials to meet the emperor, so the place is very spacious.

~~

When Master Zhao Hao and his apprentice entered, they saw that the huge square in front of the temple was filled with thousands of cushions.

It was already noon, and most of the people attending the lecture had arrived.

It was such a cold day that naturally no one was stupid enough to sit down. So people either walked or stood and chatted with people they knew.

There was a seat number on the invitation letter. Zhao Hao saw that it said A13, so he looked at the number pasted on the futon and went to the front to find his seat.

Along the way, no one recognized him, but many people greeted Yu Shensi.

"These are all candidates for this year's exam..." Yu Shensi explained to Zhao Hao in a low voice: "I met them when I was staying with Fourth Senior Brother at the Shandong Guild Hall."

Zhao Hao nodded, thinking that you have good relationships with people. Your master was forced to become a poet by a scholar...

When he reached the front, someone finally greeted him.

"My dear brother!" Then he saw Wang Xijue pulling a pale-faced scholar of similar age and walking towards him excitedly.

"Brother Yuan Yu." Zhao Hao hurriedly clasped his fists and saluted.

"Come, let me introduce you to my fellow countryman and friend Shen Zhuangyuan." Wang Xijue introduced the two of them, "Rumo, this is Mr. Xiao Zhao whom I often talk about."

It turned out to be Shen Shixing, who had a love-hate relationship with Wang Xijue.

Zhao Hao hurriedly bowed deeply to the future Prime Minister Shen and greeted him politely. He thought that although this thigh was thick, it was a pity that it was slippery and he was afraid that he could not keep it...

Shen Shixing was not tall, half a head shorter than Chef Wang, with fair complexion, delicate features, and the appearance of a typical Jiangnan scholar. He had a gentle smile on his face and politely returned the greeting to Zhao Hao.

The two were about to exchange a few pleasantries when Wang Xijue pulled Shen Shixing's sleeve and whispered, "The two bosses are here."

Then the chef whispered to Zhao Hao, "Today there are too many gods and goddesses, we dare not slack off, let's talk later."

Shen Shixing smiled apologetically at Zhao Hao, then followed Wang Xijue and walked quickly forward, then bowed to an old man with white hair and beard and a straight back.

The old man was talking to a yellow-faced middle-aged man in his forties. The two men just nodded slightly to him and walked straight into the hall.

Zhao Hao couldn't help but secretly gasp, thinking that even the top scholar and the second place winner were just younger brothers in front of the big boss.

Wang Xijue seemed a little embarrassed, so he came over and whispered to him, "The older man just now is the president of our Hanlin Academy, Zhao Neijiang, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites."

Then he said to Shen Si: "The younger one is your fellow villager, Master Yin."

Zhao Hao thought to himself, it turned out to be Zhao Zhenji and Yin Shidan!

Speaking of these two, they will be in the cabinet in the next two years, right? It's just that they met Gao Xinzheng, and they both ended up in a bad situation...

I am so happy to see so many living scholars...

Zhao Hao suddenly realized that today was the super thigh show of the Ming Dynasty.

Those who kept walking towards him were clearly thighs that he could never even see normally, let alone hug.

If he hadn't deliberately set off a firecracker today, he wouldn't have known which one to hold first...

ps. The fifth update is here. I just checked and found that Heshang has set his own record for the most updates in a single month. There are only a few days left this month. Please give me monthly votes and recommendation votes~~~