Chapter 72

Xie Jichuan was stunned for a moment and laughed: "You."

Ming Huazhang thought this question was childish. It was just an ordinary imperial examination. How could he compare with others? Ming Huazhang was disdainful of pursuing such a trivial matter and said, "I will go to Han Jie first. You should focus on reading the files and don't be distracted by irrelevant things. You two have enough time. Go back and write your essays honestly. Don't think of taking shortcuts."

His last words were directed to Jiang Ling and Ren Yao. Jiang Ling was being beaten to a pulp and he ran towards the door, "You tomboy, didn't you hear the captain say anything? I'm going back to write my memorial. Don't bother me anymore!"

"I'm pestering you?" Ren Yao gritted her teeth in anger, but for Ming Huazhang's sake, she didn't do anything in Ming Huashang's yard and let Jiang Ling run away.

Ming Huazhang stopped the children from fighting, turned around and saw Ming Huachang and Xie Jichuan whispering to each other, and said mercilessly: "And you. Do your homework on your own and don't cheat."

Ming Huashang was caught off guard by the fire. She was stunned for a moment and whispered, "You piled so many files on me, I can't finish reading them."

Ming Huazhang raised his eyebrows slightly: "Are you still right?"

Ming Huashang knew she was wrong, but it didn't affect her morale. That was the way it was. In addition to the unified courses of Xuan Xiaowei, she had to read a lot of files in private, draw a portrait of the murderer she had never met, and then check whether the portrait was correct based on the official verdict. All her free time was devoted to drawing portraits, and she couldn't reduce her meal time and sleep time, so she could only cut back on her homework.

There were too many repetitive tasks in the homework assigned by the teacher. She didn't have time to do it, and Xie Jichuan was too lazy to do it. If they divided the work between them reasonably, how could it be considered plagiarism?

Ming Huashang felt that she was very right. She shouted loudly in her heart, but in reality she was submissive to Ming Huazhang and did not dare to refute him. Even Xie Jichuan was implicated and was driven away by Ming Huazhang.

After everyone left, the courtyard returned to silence. Ming Huashang curled her lips and lowered her head to continue reading the files.

As for the homework that is due tomorrow... let's talk about it later, it's not dark yet.

After Ming Huazhang was sure that Xie Jichuan and Jiang Ling had returned to their rooms and would not bother Ming Huachang again, he changed direction and walked deep into the forest.

Beside the training ground, a small building stood quietly in the shade of trees. Ming Huazhang went upstairs with familiarity and pushed open the wooden door.

Han Jie stood at the window with his hands folded, gazing at the vast forests of Zhongnan Mountain, and was filled with emotion: "I like sunset the most during the day. During the day, there is too much light and noise. Only at night, when there is no sunlight blocking the view, can we see the true appearance of everything."

His words were absurd and bizarre. The sunlight actually became a cover. Ming Huazhang walked in and asked, "Are you looking for me?"

Han Jie sighed, turned around and said, "You don't even understand the most basic social etiquette. I said so much, but you didn't even pay any attention to me?"

"What else?" Ming Huazhang said calmly, "You already have an opinion, and no matter what I say, you won't change it, so why should I waste my breath? Tell me, what's the matter?"

"Young people should be more lovable." Han Jie sat down at the tea table and poured two cups of tea calmly. "It would be boring if you said everything. No wonder Xie Jichuan said you are boring. You are so mature and steady. You don't look like a 16-year-old young man, but more like a 26-year-old head of a family with old parents and young children."

Ming Huazhang sat down opposite Han Jie, just to praise him. Han Jie saw Ming Huazhang's indifferent look and felt bored.

He shrugged, stopped joking, and went straight to the point: "First of all, congratulations on being selected for the Chang'an team. You will stay in Chang'an to carry out missions in the future. You should know that those who can be sent to Zhongnan Mountain are all elite, but only seven of them were selected. The rest will be sent to other states and will never come to Beijing again, so as not to recognize the faces of the Chang'an team and expose the important personnel. Congratulations, you and your sister don't have to be separated, and you can continue to stay together."

Ming Huazhang didn't pay attention to Han Jie's words and asked tentatively, "Are the other two Su brothers and sisters?"

Han Jie smiled: "Yes."

"But the final examination has not yet begun."

"Then you already know the result now." Han Jie said, "Congratulations, you have achieved good results."

Ming Huazhang was stunned. Han Jie was so frank in revealing the hidden rules of Xuanxiao Guard. The so-called assessment was just a show. Ming Huazhang was thoughtful. The five members of their group had their own backgrounds. It was not surprising that they stayed in Chang'an, but he did not expect Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji to stay as well.

No wonder Xie Jichuan said Qianshan was going to take part in the imperial examination. So that's the reason. The so-called imperial examination was just a way to whitewash their identities.

Ming Huazhang's first reaction was that he couldn't tell Ming Huachang, or she wouldn't do her homework. His second reaction was: "What do you want me to do?"

Han Jie's eyes were full of mystery, and he smiled and said, "You have worked hard in Nanshan during this period of time. The emperor will descend in three days, and it is time for you to go and fulfill your mission. After the capital is moved, many things need to be rearranged, and the court is short of manpower. The empress intends to let you participate in the imperial examination. After you have the status of Jinshi, the empress can also grant you official positions."

The result was already determined before the examination even started. Ming Huazhang felt that the words "imperial examination" were full of irony. No matter whether they could pass the imperial examination based on their own abilities, once they accepted the empress's gift and entered the officialdom in the future, they would have no choice.

But this was exactly what Ming Huazhang wanted, and Xie Jichuan and Su Xingzhi must have also accepted the label implied by the gift.

After all, if you learn literary and martial arts and sell them to the imperial family, it is wrong to form a clique for personal gain, but if you become the emperor's mouthpiece, then it is natural.

Ming Huazhang's reaction was very cold, he just nodded to indicate that he was listening, and then there was no more. Han Jie was in a subtle mood, and asked: "It is a unique honor to have the Queen personally ask about it. You are only sixteen years old this year, and you can foresee that you will rise to the top in the future and have a bright future. Don't you have anything to say?"

"What do you want me to say?" Ming Huazhang asked calmly, "Thank you for your grace?"

Han Jie raised his eyebrows and seemed to smile: "Now I feel that you are sixteen years old, and you are really arrogant. Here you go, take it."

Ming Huazhang glanced down and did not take it: "What is this?"

"This is the last essay question of the imperial examination," Han Jie said. "Although your place in the Jinshi exam is predetermined, your papers will be sent to the Ministry of Rites for review, so they can't be too outrageous. I know you've been very busy these past few months and haven't had time to review, so I've brought the essay questions here in advance. Go back and prepare well, and don't let the Queen down."

Ming Huazhang understood, and his face became even colder, as white as Kunlun jade: "Han Jie, what do you mean?"

"This is what the Queen meant." Han Jie stared into his eyes and said, "This September exam is meant to be a springboard for you to enter the government. You should understand the importance of this exam. The Queen has high hopes for you. If you do well in the exam, you will have a bright future. If you perform mediocrely and disappoint the Queen, you will ruin your future. The Duke of Zhenguo was once a close confidant of Crown Prince Zhang Huai. This identity means that he will no longer be trusted by the Queen. You should not want to destroy the hope of your entire family's revival because of your momentary anger."

The evening breeze blew through the window, and the dusk seemed to overflow from the mountain into the house. The only sound in the room was the rustling of leaves. Han Jie waited for a while, and said calmly: "Don't worry, this imperial examination is a temporary addition, and it will not squeeze out the quota of real scholars. Xie Jichuan and Su Xingzhi are also included."

Ming Huazhang slowly reached out and took the note, but he didn't look at it and just held it between his fingers. Han Jie looked at Ming Huazhang's expression and said with a smile, "Why, you're not convinced?"

Ming Huazhang asked coldly: "Should I feel honored that the higher-ups helped me cheat?"

Han Jie shook his head and smiled faintly: "I know you can't accept it with your pride, but you have to understand what is most important. Do you want to be a gentleman who is as clean as a saint, or a politician who does not care about the means but has a clear conscience?"

Ming Huazhang said: "These two are not contradictory."

"This is the first lesson you need to learn when you enter the government," Han Jie said. "People who want to achieve the desired results while being unwilling to give up gentlemanly means will either be buried in the grave or recorded in the history of treacherous officials. You have to choose between the result or the process."

Ming Huazhang's eyes were still cold until he walked out of the small building. He walked very fast, as if he was angry with someone. When he turned the corner, his pace paused, and Ming Huazhang stopped for no reason and looked in another direction.

It was a small courtyard with a light on in the house. The mountain was like a silent giant beast, pressing down in darkness. The orange light was tiny and insignificant in the night, but it was swaying, unwilling to give in, and stubbornly shining.

Ming Huazhang somehow changed direction and walked towards the courtyard.

Ming Huashang was struggling with herself in the room. If she didn't finish her homework, it would be too late. She was trying to convince her hand when suddenly there was a slight noise outside. Ming Huashang was startled and stood up suddenly.

A tall figure walked in through the darkness, the light first illuminated his clothes, then his porcelain white hands, and finally his face. He saw Ming Huashang through the window and pointed behind him: "What did you tell me before? Why didn't you lock the door?"

Ming Huashang blinked her eyes, stunned. This...her brother raided her room in the middle of the night just to check if she had locked the door?

What if she locked it?

Ming Huashang hurried to open the door and whispered, "It's still early, why are you in such a hurry? Second brother, why are you here?"

"Come to check if you have written your essay."

After Ming Huazhang finished speaking, he saw Ming Huachang suddenly silent. What else did he not understand? His face turned cold: "You haven't finished writing yet?"

Ming Huashang smiled: "Almost."

I haven't written it yet.

Ming Huazhang didn't know what to say. He stared at Ming Huashang, who obediently handed him some tea. Ming Huazhang refused to take it and said coldly, "Go get a pen. I'll watch you write."

Ming Huashang had never thought that the procrastination problem that had troubled her for so long could be solved in this way. While spreading the paper, she asked, "Second brother, have you just returned from General Han?"

Ming Huazhang thought that Han Jie was really in a bad mood, so he responded vaguely. Ming Huachang moistened his brush and wrote on the paper: "Did he make you angry?"

Ming Huazhang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why do you think so?"

"Because you don't look happy." Ming Huashang said, "You are wise and sensible. Who else can make you unhappy except him?"

Ming Huazhang was silent for a moment, then said, "Shangshang, you are talking about the brother you imagined. I am far from being that good."

"You and I have lived in the same mansion for sixteen years, and now we are in the mountains and valleys, so how could I not know who you are?" Ming Huashang said, "I can't be wrong about you. It must be Han Jie who has nothing to do with me. My brother can't be wrong."

Ming Huazhang chuckled softly and suddenly asked, "Which brother are you talking about?"

Ming Huachang's hand trembled, and the tip of the pen dripped a pool of ink on the paper, ruining the entire calligraphy. She forced herself to calm down, naturally picked up the paper to calm down and spread the paper again, saying, "Second brother, what are you talking about? You are my only brother."

"Really?" Ming Huazhang said calmly, "But when Xie Jichuan asked you today who was the top scholar, it seemed from what you said that you had several brothers."