Rise From the Humble

The days are extremely long in midsummer. It's already past six in the afternoon, and the sun has not yet set outside.

The main hall of Yongshou Palace.

A bronze cauldron with four dragons and eight trigrams burned three wrist-thick sandalwood sticks, plus three small sandalwood-burning incense burners under the statues of the Three Pure Ones. Sandalwood smoke curls up.

There are three long tables in the hall. In front of the long tables, more than ten officials are busy writing, or reading a stack of question books.

It's so sunny and the fragrance is so prosperous, but the Yongshou Palace is as cool as if the air conditioner is on.

Who is the source of air conditioning?

It was obviously not the dozen or so officials in the palace who were busy writing or reviewing question books.

Look inside again.

There is a Bagua mat in the middle of the dormitory in the main hall. In front of the mat are several open articles. One person is sitting cross-legged on the Bagua mat, and the other is wearing a blue cloth Bagua Taoist robe and a Hunyuan scarf. , a middle-aged man with a thin build, a majestic face, and a serious face.

This person is none other than Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing had his eyes closed, his brows were furrowed, his expression was very grim, and he looked like he was intimidated by strangers. He felt cold air emanating from his bones.

Apparently the air conditioning comes from here.

Beside Emperor Jiajing, who was practicing Taoism with his eyes closed, there were two little eunuchs kneeling. The little eunuchs held up two food boxes in their hands, which exuded bursts of aroma.

"Your Majesty, please have a meal. You haven't eaten breakfast or lunch. If you don't eat this dinner, even your iron body won't be able to bear it. I beg Your Majesty, please take a bite."

Huang Jin knelt in front of Emperor Jiajing and risked his life to admonish him. His face was full of worry and anxiety.

"Huang Ban, please retreat. I'm fine and I have no appetite."

Emperor Jiajing opened his eyes and took a glance, shook his head expressionlessly, then continued to close his eyes and hold his hand seals to meditate.

The two little eunuchs knelt down and held up the food box, not knowing what to do. Huang Jin sighed, waved his hand, and asked the two little eunuchs to take the food box away.

"Your Majesty, haven't you eaten yet?"

Yan Song, who was busy in the outer hall, saw the little eunuch coming out with a food box. He couldn't help but put down the brush in his hand and stepped forward to ask anxiously.

"The Holy One said I have no appetite." The two young eunuchs replied with their heads lowered.

well……

Yan Song sighed, looked worriedly in the direction of the palace, and then turned his attention to the busy ministers in the hall. Under Yan Song's gaze, the busy ministers in the hall became even more attentive.

There is a long way to go.

Emperor Jiajing did not eat again, which meant that he was still in a bad mood. This also meant that the article they had just submitted did not satisfy Emperor Jiajing.

The atmosphere in the hall couldn't help but become a little more depressing.

"Huating, how is your article going?" Yan Song walked slowly to Xu Jie and asked softly.

"I've finished the last article, and I'm about to wrap up this second one. It's still time for a cup of tea." Xu Jie raised his head and replied.

"Zi Shi, what about you?"

Yan Song nodded and asked Li Chunfang, who was sitting next to him.

Li Chunfang stood up and replied respectfully, "Back to the pavilion, sir, I'm about to finish this second chapter."

"good."

Yan Song nodded happily. Sitting at this table were some of the best penholders in Ming Dynasty.

It would have been better if Yuan Wei had not gone to the border inspection... At this time, Yan Song thought of Yuan Wei. Although Yuan Wei was a little arrogant, he was still very respectful to himself and had good relations with Donglou. If Yuan Wei had not gone to the border As for the inspection, with this guy's writing skills, he can produce at least three excellent articles in one day.

I am getting old, and my talents and thinking are not as good as before. I have just written one article today after exhausting my efforts. Compared with the articles written by Xu Jie and others, it is still inferior.

But the good thing is that someone has already notified the East Building in the afternoon. I think someone from the East Building will be able to deliver the written article soon.

After Yan Song finished asking the officials who were writing at their desks, he walked over to another long desk.

There are dozens of question books placed on this long desk, and three officials are carefully looking through the dozens of question books on the table.

"Jing Qing, are there any good works in the article titles sent from outside this afternoon?" Yan Song walked up to Yan Maoqing and asked.

When Yan Maoqing heard Yan Song's words, he stood up and saluted. Yan Song smiled slightly and waved his hand, indicating that Yan Maoqing could just sit down and answer.

Yan Maoqing was Yan Song's old subordinate, and he treated Song as strictly as he treated his father, no, he was more filial than his own father. Therefore, there are many outsiders who say that Yan Maoqing is Yan Song's godson.

"How can Mao Qing be so embarrassed to sit down when Mr. Ge is standing? I have carefully read through the titles of the articles in the afternoon several times. There are a few good ones, but very few can be called excellent works. These few It's rare for a book to be well written." Even though Yan Song told Yan Maoqing to sit down and answer, Yan Maoqing still stood up and replied respectfully and familiarly, and handed the three title books on the table to Yan Song.

Yan Song nodded, took the three question books, opened the top one, and started reading:

"When people in the world try to compare Buddhism and Taoism, they just laugh and cover it up. Buddhism cultivates nature but not life, cultivates the next life instead of this life, and talks about karma and blessings. How can it be so prosperous? It is because of the prominence of Buddhism that it falls into the secular trend. Buddhism is a fool. Most people are deceived by this. It is important to know the truth that "you are smarter than Yan, and you can't guess unless you meet the true master."

…

How can I argue that I am writing this article? Why compete? Just to help the people in the mystery solve their problems! "

"Jingqing, you did a good job."

After reading the title of this article, Yan Song nodded slightly, with a smile on his face, and praised Yan Maoqing.

The writing of this article is unconventional. Although the writing style is not as good as that of Li Chunfang and others, as far as the entire article is concerned, it is not inferior at all.

It can be seen that Yan Maoqing chose carefully.

When Yan Song was about to flip through the next book, a young eunuch came in from outside the palace. After seeing the young eunuch, the smile on Yan Song's face grew stronger and he handed the three title books of articles to Yan Maoqing. , and encouraged me a few more words.

After encouraging Yan Maoqing, Yan Song walked towards the little eunuch. The little eunuch turned his back to everyone, took out a title book from his sleeve and gave it to Yan Song.

My son’s article has finally arrived.

Yan Song took the question book, nodded with satisfaction, took out a bulging kit from his sleeve and stuffed it into the little eunuch's hand.

The little eunuch gave in and put it away.

Yan Song nodded with a gentle smile, then turned and returned to his seat, eager to copy Yan Shifan's article about catching a knife again.

As soon as the little eunuch who sent Yan Shifan the article about catching a knife exited the palace, another little eunuch came in holding five books with titles of articles in his hands. It was Eunuch Li who was in charge of the Wuyi Hall.

"The adults of Wuyiyi have contributed five more articles." Eunuch Li walked into the hall and reported.

"Thank you, Eunuch Li."

Yan Maoqing stepped forward to thank Eunuch Li and took the title book. He was responsible for screening the articles submitted by the direct officials of Wuyidian. The articles submitted by Wuyidian had to go through his hands first, select the best ones, and then hand them over to him. Yan Song took a look at it, and then Yan Song decided whether to donate it to Emperor Jiajing for viewing.