Let me explain this on two sides.

Wang Wuyang and nine other people followed the eunuch into the Forbidden City and waited outside the Qianqing Palace for a long time before Yuan Tian Yijun finally arrived.

It's better to wait, at least it can let them calm down their anxiety and excitement.

They already knew their rankings, and they didn't guess them, but the father-in-law named Chen revealed them on the way here.

I'm going to meet the emperor soon, won't it be a mess if I don't tell him the whole story?

Although no one dared to speak in the palace, Wu Yang still frequently communicated with his eyes, and no one knew what they were discussing.

By the time Tian Yijun and another eunuch arrived, sweating profusely, it was already past noon.

No matter whether they have eaten it or not, the emperor has already eaten it.

Eunuch Chen went in to report, and came out again after a while, smiling at Wang Wuyang who was kneeling at the head, "Come in, His Majesty has good news for you."

Wang Wuyang wanted to smile in a flattering way, but he just felt his face getting tight and he couldn't smile at all.

He couldn't help but laugh at himself secretly, it turns out that I get nervous too...

He nodded with a stern face, and followed Eunuch Chen, walking on the thick brocade carpet and through the heavy curtains.

I don't know how I got around, but I pushed open the partition and entered a warm room.

"Your Majesty, the Chinese scholar Wang Zhoushao has come to see you."

After hearing the report from Eunuch Chen, Wang Wuyang quickly knelt on the ground and greeted loudly.

"I, Wang Zhou Shao, bow to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor!"

But a young voice laughed and said, "My number one scholar is praying in the wrong direction."

"The emperor is over there." Eunuch Chen also patted Wang Wuyang on the shoulder.

Wang Wuyang looked up quickly and found that the emperor was not sitting facing the door, but was sitting on a soft couch under the bright south window.

He quickly changed direction and kowtowed again.

"Raise your head and let me have a good look."

"Yes." Wang Zhoushao raised his head and shyly allowed the emperor to look at him.

Emperor Longqing looked at him with a smile. This number one scholar had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and looked mature and steady. He looked like the type of person who was upright and loyal.

The emperor took great pains to bring down Lord Xu, and personally went to Wenhua Hall to review the papers, wasn't it just to pick out this kind of thugs... oh no, people who love and are loyal to the emperor. So that he can fight with those censors... oh no, to maintain the order of the court?

After looking at Wang Wuyang for a while, the emperor nodded with satisfaction and began to lecture:

"You are the first number one scholar I have chosen since I ascended the throne. We can be said to have a deep bond as king and subject."

"I am terrified." Wang Wuyang did not expect the emperor to be so easy-going, and he finally put his heart at ease. "I thank the Lord for his grace!"

"You have relied on your real talent and knowledge to pass the imperial examinations step by step, from the provincial examination to the metropolitan examination. Of course, you also relied on this to become my top scholar. But what I want to tell you is that I value the loyalty in your essay more!"

Wang Wuyang secretly exclaimed in his heart, no wonder the master repeatedly emphasized that the beginning must be a fart spirit! It turns out that Emperor Longqing likes this!

Isn't the master too scary? He can actually guess what the emperor is thinking!

How could the master guess so accurately? Is the power of science so terrifying? !

Three thoughts flashed through the eldest brother's mind instantly, and each one increased his respect and love for the teacher...

~~

Fortunately, the emperor only thought that Wang Wuyang's expression changed because he saw his excitement, and continued to talk to himself without paying any attention:

"The greatest virtue in the world is loyalty. To whom should we be loyal? To the heaven, earth, the emperor, parents and teachers. Heaven and earth are the source of life; ancestors are the source of species; emperors and teachers are the source of governance. So whether you are a person or an official, as long as you put loyalty first, there will be no problem..."

Emperor Longqing rarely had the opportunity to preach to his subjects like this, and he usually listened to others' teachings obediently.

This time I finally got the chance, so I started talking at length without any limit.

Seeing that half an hour had passed, Chen Hong had to remind him quietly: "Your Majesty, there are nine more waiting outside..."

"Oh..." Long Qing then remembered that he could continue for nine more times, so he was ready to let poor Wang Wuyang go and said, "Do you remember everything I said?"

"I will keep the emperor's teachings in my heart and will never forget them until I die!" Wang Wuyang flattered him skillfully, and then said with a determined look:

"I have always had an idea in my mind, and I hesitated whether to speak it out or not. But after listening to your majesty's good advice, I swear to be a loyal minister who will keep nothing from you!"

"Oh, why not tell me about it?" Long Qing picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"I beg Your Majesty to give this title of No. 1 to someone else!"

"Puff..." Emperor Longqing sprayed a mouthful of tea on his face.

"You want to die!" Chen Hong quickly wiped the emperor's chest while scolding Wang Wuyang: "Do you think this is a child's game? How can you give in?!"

"Who are you going to give the top spot to?" Emperor Longqing asked him in disbelief.

"This matter should be decided by the emperor. How can a commoner interfere?" Wang Wuyang obediently followed Chen Hong.

"Then why don't you become the top scholar?" Long Qing became more and more puzzled, "There is only one top scholar every three years, isn't it great?"

"I really want to be the top scholar! But after listening to your majesty's teachings, I finally understand that no matter when and where, I must always keep 'Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, Parents, and Teachers' in my heart!"

"That's right, but what does this have to do with you becoming the top scholar?" Fortunately, Longqing had been criticized by the censors so many times that there was only curiosity on his face at this moment, but no anger.

"Because my teacher hasn't taken the imperial examination yet!" Wang Wuyang said loudly, "But his disciple has won the first place. Doesn't this mean that my teacher has lost his chance to take the imperial examination? And it also means that Your Majesty has lost a capable minister who can be ranked with Yin Yi, Zhou Gong, and Guan Zhong?!"

"Well, it's for my own good." Emperor Longqing couldn't help but asked him with a smile, "I wonder who your master is that you admire him so much?"

"My teacher's surname is Zhao Hao. He is not even twenty years old yet he has already become a scholar. Earlier this year he was even invited to give lectures at Lingji Palace!"

Wang Wuyang hurriedly praised his master, completely ignoring the fact that Zhao Hao was able to go on stage only because he replaced his older brother.

"Oh, science..." Emperor Longqing looked enlightened, and he had obviously heard of Zhao Hao's name before. After a moment's silence, he whispered to Feng Bao, "Tell them not to fill in the imperial list yet."

"Yes." Feng Bao ran out in a hurry. He had to maintain a capable image in front of the emperor at all times.

"Kneel aside first." Longqing waved his hand and asked Wang Wuyang to kneel outside the partition, and called in the original runner-up Wang Dingjue.

"You are Wang Xijue's younger brother, very good." Long Qing reluctantly reorganized his words and said, "Your elder brother is the second place in the imperial examination, and your younger brother is the first place in the imperial examination. You have made further progress, which is also a good story."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am satisfied with being the second place."

Who would have thought that the strong-willed Wang Dingjue actually gave up the first opportunity in his life to surpass his brother.

"Why, are you afraid of surpassing your brother?" Long Qing smiled helplessly at Chen Hong and said, "I am really loyal and humble to have won the top three this time."

What else could Chen Hong say? He could only laugh dryly.

"No, I dream of holding my brother down!" But Wang Dingjue said, "But my master hasn't entered the imperial examination yet, so I can't be the top scholar!"

After a pause, he said with a sad face: "My master is a man of extraordinary learning. He is truly the greatest talent in ancient and modern times. As a disciple, I will never be able to compare with him in my entire life. How dare I be on par with my master?"

"Uh..." Emperor Longqing smacked his lips and said, "Are you also Zhao Hao's apprentice?"

Wang Dingjue raised his head proudly and said, "That's right!"

"Kneel aside first." Longqing waved his hands helplessly. Just as he was about to ask Tanhua to come in, he became more cautious and asked:

"How many fellow disciples do you have in this department?"

"Your Majesty, among the five brothers in our sect who took the top prize in this year's exam, in addition to our eldest brother who took the top prize, our fourth brother Shenxing took the third place, our second brother Shuyang took the third place, and our seventh brother took the fifth place."

Wang Dingjue became more and more proud, and his tail was about to rise to the sky.

"The five of us have already discussed this outside just now. Your Majesty, please give the top scholar title to someone else! We, the disciples of Science, must not forget our teacher when we become rich and powerful today, nor betray our master when we become glorious and powerful in the future. Your Majesty, please think twice..."

"How did that boy manage to hand over such a group of good disciples?" Emperor Longqing couldn't help but secretly envy Zhao Hao.

"Your Majesty, why don't you just call the Sixth in?" Chen Hong suggested. Even a fool knows that if the senior brother sets an example, the three funny guys will definitely follow suit.

"Well, let me think about it..." Emperor Longqing fell into deep thought. After a long while, he suddenly said, "Bring me Zhao Shouzheng's paper and have a look."

ps. Chapter 5, 9700 votes plus more, please vote for the monthly recommendation~~ I had a stomachache these two days, and I felt weak all over, but I still gritted my teeth and persisted. I think my perseverance has far exceeded any period of my life! So I can confidently ask for monthly tickets from everyone~~