Although it seems that there are not many people from the Chu family serving as officials in the court, one cannot underestimate the family's capabilities in the capital. However, it did not arouse much interest in Ji Yuan, who still sat in the attic reading and eating buns.
Ji Yuan eats very slowly when he is reading. Even an ordinary strong man can finish five buns in just seven or eight bites. But the more absorbed he is in reading, the slower he eats.
By the time the sun was setting, Ji Yuan had almost finished reading the entire set of "Bai Fu Tong Jian", but there were still some crumbs left on the bun in his hand, as if he was waiting to finish the whole set of books before eating it.
After reading the last sentence and turning to the back page of the sixth volume of "Bai Fu Tong Jian", Ji Yuan put a piece of the bun corner in his left hand into his mouth. It was unclear whether he was savoring the bun or the contents of the book.
Ji Yuan's current mentality cannot be said to be completely different from that of his previous life, but at least it is much calmer and more patient. Even so, he sometimes still reminisces about things like mobile phones and the Internet. Things like local customs can all be found on the Internet with just a few clicks.
After going downstairs to put the "Bai Fu Tong Jian" back to its original place, Ji Yuan was ready to go to bed when he returned to the third floor again. However, he was not really sleeping, but using the time of sleep to comprehend the strange skills borrowed from Lao Long.
Although the things from the old dragon are not authentic ones from the Immortal Palace, they are real dragons after all. As long as the old dragon is really interested and has plenty of time to study, there will be a product that at least seems to be authentic, such as the predecessor of Bai Lu's immortal beast spell. After Ji Yuan improves it, he thinks it should be quite good.
What Ji Yuan was most interested in among the jade signs and jade slips were naturally "using objects to convey the spirit" and "riding on clouds and mist". The former was relatively easy to practice, while the latter was one of the famous flying techniques, which required careful consideration and repeated practice and simulation in artistic conception and even in dreams.
Normal cultivators are accompanied and protected by elders when learning levitation techniques, for fear that they might accidentally fall to their death.
However, Ji Yuan was not afraid of falling to his death. If he really felt unsafe, he would not be so shameless as to ask Lao Long to take care of him. The worst that could happen would make Lao Long greatly surprised or even teased, but the other party would definitely help. Ji Yuan was very accurate in judging people (dragons). Lao Long did not want to make friends with Ji Yuan because of his ability.
The old dragon's special skills are very special. Some of the descriptions are extremely detailed. Rather than purely riding clouds, it is better to say that it also involves controlling water and wind and some special manifestation factors. It is quite different from the cloud-flying skills recorded in "Tongming Ce".
As the saying goes, wind comes from the tiger and clouds come from the dragon. The ability to ride on clouds and mist is a natural ability of dragons, and real dragons are the best among them. They don't need to learn much. Since the old dragon has tinkered with the Ying family's strange technique, no matter whether he was bored at the time, it must be extraordinary.
It was simple for Ji Yuan to sleep. He took the gray cloth bundle hidden on the top of the curtain in the attic, put it on the ground as a pillow, then lay on his side with a jade stick under his head. He fell into a sweet dream within a few breaths and practiced his strange skills in his restful dream.
Unlike the ordinary cultivators who practice in a state of meditation and tranquility, Ji Yuan's delicate methods can probably only be used by a genius like him who can transform the mountains and rivers into artistic conception and can overlap them at any time.
. . .
Ji Yuan had just fallen asleep, but in Yanhui Lane on Yong'an Street, someone woke up from a long dream.
Wang Li was a little drowsy in his sleep. He rubbed his eyes as he opened them. What he saw was the ceiling of the rented room. He sat up dazedly, stretched and yawned.
"Ah~~~"
Tears flowed from the corners of my eyes as I yawned, which made me feel much more awake.
Seeing that it was a little dim inside, it must be getting late.
The dishes and other items on the bedside table were gone, perhaps someone from the landlord's family had come to clean them up again.
Now Wang Li is still a little dazed.
"Why did I fall asleep suddenly? It seemed like I had a very long dream..."
He glanced across the table and saw the three words "Bai Lu Yuan" written on a yellowed piece of paper at the top.
In an instant, there was a flash of electricity in my brain, and everything in the long dream during the day was recalled.
Wang Li went from being dazed to shaking, and then gradually became excited. He threw back the quilt and crawled to the desk.
"Bai Lu Yuan! Bai Lu Yuan! I have to write this down. This is a story that a deity is telling me. I have to write it down right now!"
With excitement, Wang Li quickly added some clear water to the inkstone and began to grind ink again. The story he had to write was not short, but as a storyteller, he had already arranged the story in a more exciting way in his mind.
"This book has to have five chapters, no no, it has to have six chapters, it must have more than six chapters to finish..."
As he muttered to himself, his hands became even more excited, and the movement of grinding ink looked like he was having the fever.
Not long after getting up, Wang Li was hit by a chill and shivered again. He quickly pulled the quilt over himself.
Seeing that it was getting dark, he picked up the tinder on the table and tried to light the oil lamp. But when he opened the lid, he found that the spark in the tinder had burned out.
"Xiaodong~~~Is Xiaodong here~~~"
Wang Li let go of the quilt, got up from the bed, walked to the door and shouted a few words, but he didn't dare to open the door, knowing that it must be even colder outside.
"Hey, Dad, Mom, Mr. Wang is awake and calling me."
"You've been sleeping for a whole day, you must be hungry!"
Laughter and conversation were heard from the next room, and then the boy trotted to Wang Li's house and opened the door.
Woo… Woo…
A gust of cold evening wind blew in, and Wang Li couldn't help shivering.
"Mr. Wang, are you awake? I've prepared something for you. Today is the first day of the new year, and we have braised pork and white-cut duck. Hehehe, they are delicious!"
"Oh, oh, ok, ok. I'm really hungry. Oh, and bring me a new fire starter. I need to light the one in the house. The one in the house is out."
The boy looked inside the house and saw that it was pitch black and not even light outside. He said "OK" crisply and trotted away.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Wang Li lit the oil lamp in the room and closed the lampshade. On one side of the four-immortal table were placed the four treasures of the study, on the other side were placed New Year's meals, and in the middle was a stack of white papers.
There were only three big characters on the top piece of white paper, which were "Bai Lu Yuan" written by Ji Yuan. This was also the paper Wang Li intended to use as a book cover.
In view of the exquisite calligraphy of the immortal's letter, storyteller Wang Li was extra careful in writing this time. Although his handwriting was still not good, he tried his best to make it neat, otherwise it would feel like he was desecrating the immortal's calligraphy.
At this moment, Ji Yuan, who was sleeping, seemed to have sensed something. He was still flying on the clouds in his dream, but his body in the library outside showed a smile.
"Waving a paper fan at the desk in the overpass, telling legends behind the screen."
. . .
The imperial examination system underwent several changes during the Dazhen period, and now the joint examinations and palace examinations are held every three years.
Before the provincial examinations, the examinations in each province were relatively free. The examination time varied depending on the topic, some lasting several hours and some lasting one day, but the content of the examinations was different.
Everyone knows what needs to be memorized for the basic skills test, and most candidates for poetry and songs will also prepare in advance. However, there will be more questions on policy discussions and interpretation of ideas, because this is the time to truly screen talents for officialdom, and it will take much longer.
The joint examination is usually led by the Ministry of Rites, and all the departments of the court will set the questions. It starts on the ninth day of February, and three examinations are held on the ninth, twelfth and fifteenth days, each lasting three days.
Around the time when apricot blossoms are in full bloom, a notice would be posted announcing the results of the imperial examination, hence the name "Apricot List". Those on the list at this stage were actually considered talented.
After the announcement of the Xingbang results, the final palace examination will begin after a five-day break to determine the ranking of the entire Dazhen scholar generation. Although the top scorer may not necessarily become a high-ranking official, at least it is an honor that brings glory to the family.
Time passed quickly, and even though it was still cold, the hearts of the tribute candidates from all sides were burning with enthusiasm.
Today is February 30th, the day when the results of the Xingbang are announced. All the talented scholars from various states in Dazhen have gathered outside the wall of the Imperial Examination Hall in the capital, anxiously waiting for the officials to post the list with a variety of complicated emotions.
Ji Yuan originally didn't know where the Imperial Examination Hall was, but he knew its exact location after standing in the library of the Chu Mansion. Because the literary aura there was so dense that it was hard to ignore.
'Master Yin is already extremely talented, and he has been blessed with the pure energy of heaven and earth during the Chinese New Year. Now his noble energy is flourishing, and his mind is extremely clear. His achievements will definitely reach a higher level!'
With such confidence in his friend, Ji Yuan didn't even go outside the Imperial Examination Hall to join in the fun.
…
Yin Zhaoxian and Shi Yusheng couldn't squeeze through the crowd, and without servants to clear the way for them, they were squeezed into a corner by the group of scholars.
"Hey, Brother Yin, why aren't you anxious at all? I feel like a cat's paw!"
The closer it got to the announcement of the results, the more nervous Shi Yusheng became. He was sweating profusely, but when he looked at Yin Zhaoxian next to him, he seemed to be calm and composed.
After hearing what Shi Yusheng said, Yin Zhaoxian couldn't help but retort.
"Who said I'm not anxious? I'm very anxious! But there's no point in being anxious. Will your grades improve if you get ahead?"
"What you said makes sense, but we can't even see the list at this point!"
Yin Zhaoxian also smiled bitterly. This was force majeure. Just as he was about to say something, the deep voice of the court official rang out.
"Silence~~~~"
The originally noisy environment outside the walls of the Imperial Examination Hall suddenly became quiet.
"Post a notice~~~~"
As the official's roar died down, four officers with silver-rimmed hats came out of the Imperial Examination Hall. One of them was holding a roll of yellow cloth that was taller than the officer.
There were officers outside holding sticks to push back the scholars. In front of the officers with excellent martial arts skills, the scholars could not get through no matter how hard they squeezed.
The four officers worked together to unfold it, then they bent down and jumped together, using their lightness skills to lift their hands in the air, and then they grabbed a corner of the yellow cloth and slapped it against the wall.
"Bang", "Bang", "Bang", "Bang", four sounds of palms hitting the wall.
When the guards came down, the huge list of names posted.
After a moment, Yin Zhaoxian felt a familiar atmosphere, just like when he was in Chunhui Mansion in Jizhou.
Many scholars in the crowd were spreading the news.
"Who is Yin Zhaoxian?" "Where is this person?"
“I’m on the list, hahahaha, I’m on the list” “Me too, hahaha!”
"Congratulations..." "Hey..."
"Do you know Yin Zhaoxian?" "I don't know..."
"I know, I know. I've heard of him on Wenqu Street. He's the top scholar in Jizhou!"
"Oh, he is so talented! He is so talented!"
…
The voice came from behind, and the three words "Yin Zhaoxian" were mentioned repeatedly in the rolling noise. Shi Yusheng's expression was somewhat unbelievable, and Yin Zhaoxian himself's heartbeat quickened.