Chapter 56: Meeting the Emperor
Deng Qianqiu said excitedly: "Dad, you will see the emperor tomorrow. You are at the top of the list. When you see the emperor..."

As he spoke, he became low-key again and tugged at Deng Jian's sleeve. At this time, many people around him heard that Deng Jian in front of them was the top of the list, and they looked at him with burning eyes.

Deng Qianqiu became cautious and quickly pulled Deng Jian back home.

After returning to the inn, Deng Qianqiu closed the door tightly and said cheerfully, "Dad, let's celebrate today."

Deng Jian nodded: "Well, celebrate well."

"But before that, I have something to tell you." At this point, Deng Qianqiu put away his smile and became serious. He said, "You will see the emperor tomorrow. Do you know what kind of person this emperor is?"

Deng Jian looked at Deng Qianqiu with a strange expression: "Do you know?"

Deng Qianqiu nodded and said, "I know it very well. His Majesty is a chicken-hearted person. If you provoke him, he will definitely take revenge. If you are not careful, you may lose your life."

Deng Jian looked at Deng Qianqiu with a complicated look: "You are on duty at the Yiluansi, have you seen the emperor?"

Deng Qianqiu shook his head honestly and said, "Although I haven't seen it..."

Deng Jian said, "You haven't seen it, how can you be so sure?"

Deng Qianqiu scratched his head, thought for a while and said, "I think... he should be like this, Dad, no matter what, you are the top of the list, the emperor will definitely ask you questions, then... you listen to me..."

Deng Jian looked at Deng Qianqiu deeply, then straightened his hat and said with a half-smile, "Okay, I'll listen to you. You speak and I listen."

On that day, a memorial regarding the provincial examination was submitted to the Secretariat.

At this time, the Secretariat had the Left Prime Minister and the Right Prime Minister. In addition, there were also the Left Prime Minister, the Right Prime Minister, the Councillor, and so on.

They almost formed the core of the Secretariat and were known as the Prime Minister's Office.

The biggest difference between the prime minister and the later cabinet ministers of the Ming Dynasty is that although the cabinet ministers can participate in confidential matters, they are only playing a secretary-like role after all, and they only provide advice to the emperor at any time, although their suggestions are almost always adopted.

But the prime minister is different. The Secretariat is an independent central agency. Here, in addition to the prime minister, there are a large number of officials who are responsible for assisting the prime minister in affairs. They control the personnel of the world and the various departments under them, and can issue decrees on their own.

It can be said that if the emperor is interested in military and political affairs, he can certainly interfere in the affairs of the world.

And if the emperor has no interest in this, then the entire Secretariat can operate on its own.

In the left prime minister's public quarters, Li Shanchang sat on an armchair. He was hunched over, his face looked weathered, and the bright red Qilin robe on his body was loose, as if his frame could not support the official robe at all.

"Mr. Li, the results of the provincial examination have been delivered. A total of 179 candidates have passed the examination. The matter has finally been settled. I am relieved."

The person who spoke was Hu Weiyong.

Hu Weiyong respectfully handed the memorial to Li Shanchang, and then went up to pour a cup of tea for Li Shanchang himself.

"Come to think of it, this time... it seems that someone from Huaixi is on the list..."

As he handed over the tea, he said with a smile.

Li Shanchang just raised his eyelids lazily, and did not even look at the memorial. Instead, he put it on the coffee table beside him.

He took the teacup and sighed, "Zi Zhong, I am old now, and I don't want to care about the affairs of young people anymore."

Hu Weiyong frowned, then glanced at Li Shanchang: "Mr. Li is second only to the emperor..."

Li Shanchang interrupted him: "Zi Zhong, I know what you mean. You hope that I can work for a few more years, so that my position as the left prime minister won't be taken away by others. You are still young and inexperienced. Now you are only the vice chancellor, so you can't replace me all of a sudden..."

Hu Weiyong hurriedly asked, "Why did Lord Li say that?"

Li Shanchang smiled bitterly and said, "You are a smart man, but you are too ambitious. When you reach my age, you will know that people should think about progress and change, but the most important thing for people living in the world is to be able to think about retreat. I don't care about this provincial examination, nor do I want to care about it. The same goes for the affairs of the court. I have already submitted several memorials, and I hope that Your Majesty will grant me permission to retire and return home..."

Hu Weiyong said sadly, "But Lord Li, how many people in the Secretariat and the court are counting on you... If Lord Li retires, how many people will be counting on you to celebrate after you retire? We are all blessed by Lord Li's kindness, and we are where we are today. It's okay for me, but many people... Can Lord Li not care about them?"

Li Shanchang still smiled bitterly, and sighed, "I don't want to say any more. Please present this memorial to the palace."

Hu Weiyong nodded with a smile, took the memorial and walked out of the public housing. He opened the memorial and took a closer look, only to see that the name listed first was that of Fengyang student Deng Jian.

Fengyang… Hu Weiyong narrowed his eyes, but a trace of shock flashed across his eyes. He murmured, "The top of the list is actually Deng Jian, a student from Fengyang. His last name is also Deng, so…"

Immediately afterwards, the memorial was presented to the palace.

However, when he arrived at the palace, it was already evening. Because Empress Ma was pregnant, Zhu Yuanzhang would rush to the Empress's bedroom early at this time every day. Naturally, these memorials were piled on his desk.

The next day.

Tiangang dawn.

Deng Jian had already arrived at the Ministry of Rites, and with him came more than a hundred newly-appointed juren.

Suddenly, the hall was bustling with activity. Officials from the Ministry of Rites gave a brief lecture on the etiquette of audience with the emperor, and then led people into the palace to meet the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang had also gotten up very early and was in good spirits. Following him was the one who should get ahead.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his hands behind his back. He did not take the imperial carriage to the Fengtian Hall, but walked.

As they walked, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to remember something and asked, "When will the candidates come to see the emperor?"

I should follow him first, bowing my head slightly and saying, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites said it's 3:30 pm. After we meet them, tell them to go to the Confucius Temple to worship."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then thought of something and asked, "Did you find the man called Deng Jian?"

"I...I have already sent someone to leave the palace. I am afraid that by now, they have already arrived at the inn where he is staying and will naturally convey your majesty's order."

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and walked along. Something seemed to have touched him, and he suddenly sighed.

Ye Gai said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have made all the arrangements. Mr. Deng will be safe along the way."

"Well." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "This is very good."

Then, he pulled himself together, and said, facing the rising sun, "The first time that our Great Ming held an imperial examination, one hundred and eighty people were selected from Nanzhili alone. I have taken the best of the world, and there is hope for the great peace and order of the world."

There was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

I should also hurriedly say: "Congratulations, Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly, "I am not congratulating Your Majesty, I am congratulating the Crown Prince, my son. I am reserving talents for the court, not for me to use, but for the Crown Prince. Humph, do I need help to rule the world?"

She should have been a little embarrassed at first, but she still smiled: "Yes, congratulations, Your Highness."

"Let's go and meet the scholar."

Zhu Yuanzhang arrived at the Fengtian Hall. At this time, the candidates had already arrived in the hall and were standing in groups under the command of the officials from the Ministry of Rites.

Deng Jian was at the top of the list, so he stood in the first row on the left. He had a complicated look on his face, as if he was hesitating about something. However, unlike the other complacent candidates, he did not look worried.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked into the hall, and the eunuchs hurriedly saluted: "Your Majesty has arrived."

As a result, almost everyone bowed down and said, "Long live the emperor."

But at this moment, Deng Jian seemed to see a familiar figure in his eyes, and he was a little dazed. For a moment, his body froze in place.

Although he was mentally prepared when he came, at this moment, he found that he could not be as calm and composed as before.

Zhu Yuanzhang took his seat and looked at the crowd of candidates. Seeing that some people were still standing there, he frowned.

So he looked carefully, and at first glance, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed.

The person standing here was... Deng Jian!
………………

Well, Tiger remembered the wrong date, and the listing will be delayed for a few days. Tiger, I’m sorry to everyone, um... Brothers and sisters, I wish you a happy Children’s Day in advance.

(End of this chapter)