After the New Year, Jin Zhong passed away from the first month of the year, two months earlier than in history. Xu Hao accompanied Zhu Gaochi and Yao Guangxiao to pay condolences, and stopped the court one day to express his condolences.[][].[23][wx].[].[].[].[].[].[].[].[].[].[].[]

Zhu Gaochi issued an order to build a tomb and temple for him, posthumously awarded him the title of Ronglu Dafu, Shaoshi, and the posthumous title of Zhongxiang.

In March, the provincial examination was released on the big list that day. The one who reported the good news ran to the Xu family. Ma Yu finally passed the exam, Lai Yuanchu also passed the exam, and Xue Shangwen failed, which was very disappointing.

Xu Zengfu still believed that Lai Yuanchu's articles were better than Xue Shangwen's, and it was not surprising that the result was this time. Xu Song and his wife were also very happy and were even more determined to give Xiangyue to Lai Yuanchu.

At this time, Xu Xiangyue also knew what her parents meant, and she didn't say it well or not. After all, she didn't have a deep contact with the Xue family cousin. Since Xue Shangwen personally refused, she stopped thinking about that, and the Lai family cousin looked good.

In early April, Xu Ye accompanied Ma Yu to visit the examiner Liu Shilang. During a chat, Xu Ye asked: "I have two brothers who have taken the exam. They are of equal talent and have recommended them together. I wonder why one of them won the other but the other failed, but there are omissions in the articles that have not won?"

Mr. Liu said in surprise: "Have you recommended two people? Then the Imperial College only reported one eldest son of the noble family. Who is the other one?"

This time it was Xu Ye's turn to be surprised, looked at Ma Yu and dealt with it vaguely.

After coming out, Xu Ye asked Xu Zhong: "You came to vote for the gift letter that day in person?"

Xu Zhong said: "That time, Mr. Lai said he wanted to help, so I went back and he went to vote by himself."

Xu Ye was very angry. This time, the Xu family walked through the back door for the first time and recommended two people at the same time. Although they were not a Jinshi, there was no such exception this time. Almost no one in the family has received such treatment.

When he returned to Xu's mansion, he found Lai Yuanchu. Xu Ye asked him what was going on. Lai Yuanchu stammered and said, "The noble man is forgetful. I guess Mr. Liu has forgotten it."

Xue Shangwen, who arrived, said: "Mr. Liu is famous for being smart and smart, and he is known as the ability to remember everything he sees. How can he forget it?"

Lai Yuanchu reiterated and said, "It is an exception to take one favor from Juren. How can he choose two? Perhaps Lord Liu is not good at saying it directly, so he is a conservative word."

Xue Shangwen shook his head and said, "This is too strange."

Xu Ye said: "It's okay, I have asked Ma Yu to go and ask, and the truth will be revealed soon."

Before Lai Yuanchu was guilty, he came up with a countermeasure. Before he finished speaking, Ma Yuren had already returned. He said, "This time, the recruitment of scholars was completed. He checked the list of recommended by Enmeng and officials from each family one by one, wrote it on the memorial and sent it to the palace. His Majesty ordered it. I found the copying clerk, and they all said that there was only the legitimate brother Xu, and no one else. I didn't believe it, so I asked the gift letter to see it. As expected, there was only Brother Lai's name on it, and there was no Brother Xue's name. I don't know why."

It’s okay for others. Xue Shangwen was furious when he heard this, pointing at Lai Yuanchu and scolding: “You sinister villain, you are obviously the one who is doing it.”

Lai Yuanchu suddenly turned red and forced himself to tell: "I asked a familiar clerk to join the door that day. Maybe it was his hand and footwork. Why do you say bad things to each other?"

"You have only been in Beijing for a few days, and you have a familiar official?" Xue Shangwen's face turned pale with anger. "You still dare to talk nonsense with your eyes open. If you didn't think about it, who else could it be? If it weren't for your uncle, mother and brothers, I would have to beat you to death today."

Ma Yu hurriedly advised: "Stop the anger, I recommend two people this time, and according to the convention, I can only choose one. Brother Xue has great talent, so he will make a big splash in the future. Forget it."

Xue Shangwen said hatefully: "Famous and famous things are small, I didn't care at first, but I hated him for doing so, and let down the Xu family's affection." After saying that, he pointed at Lai Yuanchu and cursed: "I think I have tolerated many ugly things for you. I am really kind and have no good rewards. I was plotted against you. From then on, the Xue family and you are no longer relatives. Even if I, Xue Shangwen, cannot be a juren, I will not be humiliated for my whole life."

Lai Yuanchu couldn't help but shout, "It's just that you went to assault your father's position and became a military officer. Unfortunately, I don't care about me. I'm not afraid of being merciless."

Xue Shangwen clapped his hands and sneered: "Then let's try it out. Will you be the one who can mercenary me in the future or will I be the one who can mercenary you?"

Ma Yu advised: "Okay, don't argue, the relatives will not lose their relatives, so the ones who do not lose their mistakes will not lose their mistakes. How can one turn against one's own family members into enemies?"

Xue Shangwen said: "He is the Xu family's son-in-law. I don't deserve to live here. I pack my luggage and go home immediately and never come again in the future."

No matter how hard Ma Yu and Xu Ye persuaded him, Xue Shangwen couldn't listen, so he had to sigh and send him away.

Lai Yuanchu quickly begged the two of them to cover up, and Xu Ye sneered and entered the inner house without looking back. Lai Yuanchu knew that he was in trouble now, so he hurriedly took advantage of the Xu family's sign to run to the homes of several ministers who were likely to be the chief examiners of this imperial examination, hoping to stand out in the autumn examination with the Xu family's relationship.

But what he thought was too simple. Xu Zengfu was stunned for a while after learning about this, and then sighed: "What a traitor. Fortunately, Xiangyue has not married him and has not made a marriage. Otherwise, wouldn't she have cheated the child for the rest of her life? Fortunately!"

Xu Song was furious and sent someone to inform the relevant yamen without saying a word. In a blink of an eye, the Ministry of Personnel quickly dismissed Lai Yuanchu's qualification as a juren because of his character.

However, Yuan thought of his dead sister, and no matter how much he complained, he would give his nephew who had regretted it in private 500 taels of silver and let him go back to his hometown by himself.

This incident caused a sensation in the Xu family. Everyone understood Xu Hao's intentions and praised him for his understanding of others and for avoiding Xu Xiangyue's unfamiliar marriage.

In the warm pavilion, Zhu Qiaoqiao will return to Liaodong tomorrow. She drank with Xu Hao that night and said, "You know people but not your heart. You are very proud of them. Everyone in your family admires them. How did you know that Lai Yuanchu is a villain?"

"How could I know?" Xu Hao drank a glass of wine. "So many similar things have happened to women and fame since ancient times? I just wanted to try his character, but I didn't know that he could try it out all at once. It was because he was young and cunning. Throughout history, many traitors and evil people have not been in power for a day and pretended to be gentlemen for a day. Who can tell?"

"I won't talk about him anymore." Zhu Qiaoqiao fell in love with her face and chuckled, "Tonight is the time when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are about to part. How can the good night be wasted? It's better to have a night rain pouring down, right?"

Xu Hao laughed loudly, but the only third party present spat lightly, and drank a lot of wine. Wang Xuanqing's face turned red and he hurriedly said, "I won't disturb you good things anymore, I'll go upstairs to rest."
Chapter completed!