There is a type of devil.
He creates his own exam papers.
He marks his own key points.
He can mark several versions of key points.
With great seriousness.
Some versions of key points have absolutely nothing to do with his exam papers.
Some versions of key points are as broad and vast as the ocean.
This devil's surname is Jiang, given name Changtian.
At this moment, Jiang "Old Devil" Changtian is teaching his son-in-law to memorize books.
"Ordinary people obey rules, clever people exploit loopholes in rules, powerful people make rules. Of course, to make rules, you must first understand them. Take these books and study them well, it won't hurt."
After being instructed for a long time, Meng Shaoxia finally left the Jiang household with books in his arms.
His forehead was covered in sweat, even in the dead of winter.
When his father-in-law gets enthusiastic, no one can withstand it.
The next day.
Jiang Changtian went to the government office on time.
Neither early nor late.
After checking in, he went straight to the palace to seek an audience.
Minister Lu, who had been up late reading laws and regulations until the wee hours, arrived at the office early.
Learning that Jiang Changtian had gone to the palace again, he sneered but paid no mind.
He really thought that as a newly appointed official, he could make a splash by running to the palace every day.
He knew the Emperor's personality well after decades as his minister.
The Emperor was most impatient with these trivial court matters. Your diligence meant nothing to him; rather, he found it annoying.
Don't think that showing your face before the Emperor every day will help you advance and gain favor.
Show your face too much, annoy people, and it will backfire.
He was waiting for the moment when Jiang the Second would stumble.
When Jiang Changtian entered the palace today, he indeed did not see the Emperor early on.
He was not anxious.
Because of his good relations with Eunuch Yan and Eunuch Liu, he had a good office position in the palace, even a private office.
The environment was better than the government offices outside the palace.
Inside, the furniture was comfortable, the window views beautiful, fruits and snacks were always provided, and charcoal was burned, so feet didn't get cold in winter. Sitting in the room to read or do anything else was very comfortable.
Jiang Changtian really did sit inside, drinking tea, reading books, taking his time, not in a hurry at all.
He even had lunch in the palace.
It was very sumptuous - for him alone, there were six dishes, two soups, and a choice of main courses, a full table, extremely good treatment.
The ingredients were fresh and the taste was good. He didn't like meat dishes, but the palace vegetables were well-prepared. There was a very sweet melon dish that he wanted to take home for his wife to taste. He was the type to ask if he had an idea.
The palace eunuch was very polite and packed a food box for him.
There are no secrets under heaven.
Some of what Vice Minister Jiang said in Jiangzhou had leaked out.
"...It's all you scoundrels who ruin the reputation of the eunuch faction. They work hard in the palace, unable to leave even once a year. What wrong have they done? They are only wholeheartedly serving the Emperor, yet they are smeared by bedbugs like you. You still have the nerve to call yourself an imperial official? Bah!"
Listen to how well he spoke.
These eunuchs work hard in the palace, doing their duty, just doing their jobs.
They never even leave the palace gates, yet they are smeared by those people, called treasonous eunuch factions. It's more unjust than Dou E.
So even Eunuch Liu, who was actually Minister Lu's man, had a good impression of Vice Minister Jiang.
After all, that dog official using the eunuchs' reputation was tarnishing the name of Eunuch Liu himself. Liu should thank Vice Minister Jiang for eliminating this harm that almost implicated him.
There was also the fact that Vice Minister Jiang was good-looking.
People tend to be more tolerant of good-looking people.
Before entering the palace, Vice Minister Jiang had already won over these eunuchs, gaining their goodwill.
Eunuchs naturally have an antagonistic feeling towards imperial officials, driven by self-interest.
But they felt that Vice Minister Jiang was on their side.
So today, when Eunuch Yan was not accompanying the Emperor, after the Emperor's midday rest, there were eunuchs who subtly reminded the Emperor that the Imperial Secretary was in the palace, asking if he wanted to summon him - (for some diversion).
The Emperor nodded.
Vice Minister Jiang appeared.
The Emperor was feeling a bit gloomy today, a mood that needed no reason.
Sometimes it came suddenly, like a tide surging up.
At such times, he didn't even want to see Wenxin, just sulking with himself.
When he saw Jiang the Second, the Emperor lazily reclined on the heated couch.
As if overnight, he had aged a bit more, looking somewhat listless.
Jiang said he was skilled at brewing tea, so he would make some.
The Emperor didn't care either way.
In his eyes, whether courtiers or eunuchs or palace maids, they were all the same - people who served him. It was only the servants themselves who made distinctions among themselves.
Jiang Changtian sat upright at the tea table.
First, he lit a stick of incense.
Watching the smoke curl up in wisps.
Then he boiled water and steeped the tea.
The charcoal fire slowly brought the cold water to a boil, also emitting white steam.
Some fruits and snacks were placed beside the stove.
The fragrance slowly wafted up.
The first infusion of scalding tea was poured out, flowing away along the tea tray.
The second infusion of tea was golden with a reddish tinge, gently rippling.
Very clean, in a very small cup.
Jiang Changtian poured a cup for the Emperor and one for himself.
The Emperor saw his movements flow like water, even his upright sitting posture seemed familiar somehow. He had a sense of familiarity in his mind but really couldn't remember why.
It just felt intimate.
Watching someone brew tea, his heart calmed down.
For the moment, all worries were cast aside.
He regained his usual composure.
The tea Jiang the Second brewed was mild and smooth, easier to drink. It tasted sweeter than before.
The fragrance was very full.
Probably because it was brewed by a beauty.
The Emperor drank the tea, returning to his normal state.
He suddenly spoke up: "I hear you've always had a bad relationship with Old Lady Jiang?"
Jiang Changtian nodded.
"After my father passed, my mother suddenly changed dramatically in temperament, torturing me in every way. When I was able to take the imperial exams through my studies, she accused me of being unfilial and disrespectful, cutting off my path to advancement. I was young then and couldn't see a way out, so I tried to drown myself in the river, but was saved by my current wife. Later she expelled me from the family. Mother was probably a bit confused, always saying I wasn't her child. She carried me for ten months - if I'm not her child, then whose am I?"
The Emperor's expression was solemn as he recalled his own mother.
The Empress Dowager had passed away many years ago. In the Emperor's memory, he only remembered her favoritism. He once had a younger brother who was much beloved by the Empress Dowager, but later died in an accident. The Empress Dowager had once said, "Why couldn't it have been you who died?"
That chilled his heart.
He didn't mind the Empress Dowager's usual favoritism.
But for her to wish it was him who had died...
Sometimes he also doubted whether he was really born of the Empress Dowager.
But that was impossible; the Empress Dowager was merely playing favorites.
The Emperor's fingers tapped the table as he said, "The human heart is unfathomable. No need to dwell on it."
"I don't expect Mother to love me, just hope she could be a bit fairer, give me a tiny bit of the love she gives others. But emotions can't be forced. Mother detests the very sight of me. Fortunately, I still have my wife and children. What I've lost by fate, I've gained by fortune." Jiang Changtian continued brewing tea, his movements flowing like water. One pot of tea, like a lifetime.
Scalding hot, fragrant, then slowly fading.
At this moment, the Emperor truly saw Jiang the Second, feeling he was very similar to himself, like one of his own people.
He understood him.
"What matter did you come to report today?"
Jiang Changtian revealed a somewhat shy smile, then recounted how his in-law had come to him last night with a thousand taels of silver to buy the answers.
"My annual salary is only just over two hundred taels. I never imagined that simply circling some content could fetch a thousand taels of silver. It shows how wealthy these people in the capital are."
The Emperor strongly agreed. Indeed, every time he wanted to build a pavilion or theater, those officials would submit memorials criticizing him, saying it was absolutely unacceptable and would shake the foundations of the state. Yet each of them lived extremely lavishly at home.
"Rather than let them profit from this money, it's better for me to earn it. I agreed with my in-law that we'd sell each copy for two hundred taels of silver, split evenly between us. But my in-law is too righteous and uncomfortable taking the money. So I thought, since they're giving it away anyway, if we sell it for silver later, I'll keep fifty taels per copy, my in-law can keep fifty taels for hosting dinners, and the remaining hundred taels will go to the Imperial Household Department. This way we kill two birds with one stone - they were going to memorize the laws and regulations anyway, paying money to do so will probably make them more serious about it, while also generating income."
Jiang Changtian slowly explained his plan, just as he had brewed the tea.
The eunuch standing to the side listened with his neck craned up, head tilted to the sky.
At first, the Emperor's expression was somewhat displeased, but as he listened, he wanted to laugh.
This Jiang the Second was really something else.
Indeed, the memorial he had received accusing him of loving to amass wealth was not wrong.
Given responsibility for such a trivial matter, he could still come up with a way to make money from it.
Although it was someone else who did this first, the thousand taels of silver were clearly meant to trick that fierce green snake, as everyone knows he's easy to fool.
But this Jiang Er is truly trying to fleece everyone.
He even dares to draw the Emperor into his scheme, promising to split the profits half and half.
Very well, very well.
Hahaha.
He's already looking forward to seeing the colorful expressions on the officials' faces at the next court session.
Outside the palace, in the Prime Minister's office, someone came to complain to the Prime Minister, while others were selling answers.
There were even supposed internal answers circled by Vice Minister Jiang - one only needed to memorize the parts he circled to pass the test. Each copy sold for two hundred taels of silver.
Minister Lu, who had spent the night reading rules and regulations: ...Why didn't you say so earlier?
Then he couldn't help but laugh.
Very well, very well.
The money-making scheme has reached the capital.
They really think these officials are pushovers.
Now they give you two hundred taels, but later you'll have to pay back two thousand taels, and even that won't be enough.
He closed his eyes and let it be, allowing Jiang Er to continue selling.
What a clown.
Just seeking attention.
He thought this person was formidable, but now he sees how short-sighted he is, ruining his entire career for a mere two hundred taels.
Minister Lu yawned and waved for the complaining official to leave.
His assistant quietly asked, "Sir, should we go buy a copy?"
"Get out."
"Come back."
"Buy it."
...
