Chapter 25 (2/2)
Zhou Yunsheng slightly shook his head and rejected the idea. Currently, Xie Yurou has become the Seven Princes’ pet thanks to the medicinal space and spiritual spring. Plus Shen Qiao Dan repeatedly messed with and provoked her, she also used sterilization drugs on her. Even help couldn’t help fix their relationship. If he helped the Seven Princes ascended the throne, Xie Yurou would still seek revenge, so it was better to support another prince.
Tian Chen Emperor had twelve children, but the most favored was the Crown Prince. But perhaps because of being held too highly, the Prince in the past few years had become more and more reckless, after the fraud case the Emperor lost patience with him.
If the Prince became stable, it wouldn’t be difficult to regain the Emperor’s heart. The rest of the princes wouldn’t stand a chance. But he first needed to find out if the Prince had the possibility of recovery. He’ll go out and look first, if not he’ll find another prince.
Decided, Zhou Yunsheng unconsciously fell asleep, prompting the inspector over the test to secretly shake his head.
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The examiners would try to correct the tests around the clock. As the test was important to the country, the Emperor didn’t hesitate after the children finished the test, he personally went to the courtyard to view the grading.
The examiner took out a test paper, bowed and said, “The Emperor please see, this volume is worthy of first place!”
“Wei Chen! Here is also a fantastic test paper.” Another examiner offered one.
Tian Chen Emperor took them, only a little glance over amazed him.
Several examiners continued to roll out outstanding papers for him to read, but suddenly one of them knocked over an ink stone, revealing a face full of horror.
“What?” Tian Chen Emperor slowly looked over.
“The Emperor, your humble servant here actually….has the same test paper again.” The examiner’s face paled. He knew that this situation meant that someone leaked the questions and found someone to answer, and those implications were only the beginning.
Tian Chen Emperor’s eyes darkened, he took the test paper and hastily read it. His tone was unprecedentedly cold, “Find all the same papers and hand them to me!”
The examiners didn’t dare to neglect, they immediately buried themselves in the papers. Not long after they picked out eight or nine with the same answers. But one person held a test paper up to his eyes, for a long time he was not willing to let go, his fingers slightly trembled.
Tian Chen saw and walked over, his gloomy expression, after reading the first two lines, turned stunned, followed by happy, and finally ended in laughter, “Well, I didn’t expect my Zhou country actually had such a hidden phoenix, and I actually discovered him! This is my blessing!”
Due to being pleasantly surprised, Tian Chen Emperor disregarded the rules and directly opened the strip covering the name – Shen Yi Bin? Who? Shen Yi Bin, it seems somewhat familiar…..
“Responding to the Emperor, Shen Yi Bin is Shen Hui official’s eldest son.” An examiner answered, then shook his head and sighed.
He was a well-known sloth in Beijing, to make such a beautiful article, he must belong with the rest of the students. It must’ve also been written by a trustee.
Tian Chen Emperor’s thoughts matched the examiners, his face suddenly turned furious, he softly growled, “Grab Shen Yi Bin, be sure to find out who answered this question!”
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T/N:
This is why I didn’t want to translate stories in an ancient setting or xianxia, just look at the amount of notes. This whole chapter was just idioms galore. Don’t skip them, I worked hard for them. I used mostly quotations so if you wanna learn more google the quote.
Three-year Spring Quarter- Imperial examinations period
Dali Temple- highest level of court, equivalent to the Supreme Court
Tong Sheng- county level imperial exam
A 1000 gold to buy horse bone- Idiom. Someone who thirsts after talent
Rent- Equal Field System. Baidu “The tax system implemented in the early Tang Dynasty…. Later, because of annexation of land, a growing number of farmers fled bankruptcy or became tenants, the policy was gradually on the brink of collapse.” Sounds familiar? Yup the author basically wrote the same thing. Naughty naughty
Land equalization- Wikipedia “a historical system of land ownership and distribution in China used from the Six Dynasties to mid-Tang dynasty.”
Ya Guan Qu Song- Idiom. An article showcasing excellent literary talent
Waved the brush around- The sentence was really fancy and lyrical. After looking it up, it just meant using your pen to write something awesome.
Two tax laws- Galegroup “…the Tang government abandoned the “equal field” system and adopted the Hang shui fa (“Double Tax” system), which levied taxes twice a year on the amount of land held by the peasant households……it introduced a more equitable system, which was based on the assessment of land cultivated by the farming families.”