“Buzz—”
The flying sword hummed and suddenly flew up.
The old man in black robe closed his eyes and said, "Butler Wang, please keep an eye on my body. I will be back soon!"
Wang Cheng, who was standing in the darkness behind him, was about to nod and speak when his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He suddenly felt that this scene and this dialogue were so familiar!
That old witch before...
“Swish!”
The old man in black robe was in a trance, holding the flying sword, and said majestically: "I am leaving now!"
After saying that, he shot out from the window.
In the blink of an eye, it disappeared into the distant darkness.
Wang Cheng stood in the darkness for a while, and suddenly his eyes became wary of the old man's body sitting motionless in front of him.
The old man's spirit held a flying sword, his hair and beard fluttering, and flew out of the mansion like lightning.
Just as he was about to fly towards the Qin Mansion, there was a sudden flash of moonlight above his head, and the dazzling light instantly blocked his vision.
"ah-"
A moment later, a shrill scream suddenly rang out in the room.
Then the old man sitting on the ground suddenly jumped up from his place and pounced on Wang Cheng behind him like a madman!
Wang Cheng's face suddenly changed. He was prepared and punched forward with a "bang".
The old man was knocked flying, his head exploded, and he died on the spot!
Wang Cheng clenched his fists and stood still in the room for a long while before quickly leaving with a look of doubt on his face.
The lights were on in the Qin Mansion.
No one in the mansion slept all night.
In Chengguo Mansion.
The first wife, Wang, also sat in the hall all night.
Every half an hour, new news would arrive, but the content was always the same: "The boy is still unconscious. The Qin family has invited doctors from all over Mo City, but none of them can help. The whole Qin family is filled with crying, and Madam Song has also been crying all night..."
Although the words reported were the same every time, Wang would listen to every word again.
She hadn't slept for the entire night, but she didn't feel sleepy at all. Instead, she became even more excited.
Until dawn.
Before the sun rose, the government sent out all the yamen runners and guards to begin controlling the streets around the examination hall, prohibiting noise, carriages, the flow of people, and so on.
The candidates who had already gathered in the inner city began to rush to the examination hall one after another from the mansions, homes, inns and other places.
The chief examiner, Hanlin scholar Lin Wentang, also brought two adjutants and other officials, and surrounded by guards, rushed to the examination room in advance to inspect the layout.
Mo City is very lively, but also very quiet.
The hawkers dared not shout anymore, the rickshaw drivers suspended their business, the performers were driven off the streets, and when everyone saw the candidates on the street, they made way for them with envy and awe on their faces.
Although Dayan still worships martial arts and respects martial arts, under the efforts and policies of the current emperor, the status of civil officials has gradually risen and there is a trend of competing with military officials.
What's more, for ordinary people, any official is not someone they can afford to offend.
Today is the provincial examination, and those who pass the examination will be called Juren.
After passing the imperial examination, one becomes eligible to run for official election and is considered a candidate for an official position, and is certain to become an official in the future.
If you can go one step further and pass the imperial examination, that would be even more amazing.
People were whispering on both sides of the street, while the candidates, escorted by their parents, walked towards the examination hall with bags large and small, full of confidence.
After the sun rises.
The area around the examination room has already been controlled.
The examination room was also checked many times.
There was already a long queue outside the door. Many candidates knew each other and started chatting in low voices. Those who didn't know each other also greeted each other, asked each other's names, and said things like "I've heard a lot about you" to make friends in advance.
If the other person passes the exam, you will have one more friend who has passed the imperial examination.
If both of them pass the exam, they can help each other in officialdom in the future.
The weather is very hot.
Many candidates and parents were sweating profusely after standing for a while.
At 9 o'clock, the gate opened.
The candidates began to be checked in turn and entered the examination room one by one.
The inspection is very strict.
In addition to checking the food, pens, inkstones, and other items they carry, they also take off their outer clothes and shoes for inspection, and even their inner clothes will be turned over for inspection.
Check the arms, legs, and other places.
Finally, open your mouth and speak to see if there is anything stuck in your mouth, then let your hair down and check inside your hair.
Every candidate was carefully checked before being allowed to enter the examination room.
If anyone is found cheating, the test will be invalidated on the spot.
When more than half of the candidates had entered, in Chengguo Mansion, the eldest lady, Wang, finally began to feel sleepy.
At this time, Wang Cheng walked in again and reported respectfully: "Madam, it should be fine. The boy is still unconscious at home and has not left the house. At this time, almost all the candidates have entered the examination room, and the time to close the door is approaching."
Wang resisted the urge to sleep and said calmly, "Keep guarding until the examination room is closed."
"yes."
Wang Cheng retreated respectfully.
Another stick of incense passed.
Wang Cheng came in again to report: "Madam, there is no problem. The boy still hasn't left the house, and the examination room has begun to close the door."
Wang sneered, stood up and said, "Go ahead, you should go and rest too."
After saying that, she walked towards the inner room.
Wang Cheng bowed and left.
Wang rubbed her head and just lay down on the bed when she suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside.
Wang Cheng's panicked voice came: "Madam, there is news from the examination room. That guy suddenly appeared in the examination room and entered before the door was closed!"
Wang suddenly sat up from the bed, was stunned for a few seconds, and immediately walked out with a gloomy face, looking at him and said: "What's going on? Didn't they say that the little bastard didn't leave the house? How did he suddenly appear in the examination room? Wang Nian and the others didn't intercept him halfway?"
Wang Cheng lowered his head tightly, and said with an unpleasant expression: "The people guarding the door said that they didn't see the boy go out, nor did they see anyone else go out... Wang Nian and the others didn't see the boy on the road... Madam, this... This servant doesn't know what's going on..."
"waste!"
Wang suddenly picked up a teacup from the table and smashed it hard on his head. Her face suddenly became distorted and hideous, her body swayed, and she almost fainted.
Wang Cheng bowed his head, tea dripping all over his head, and he dared not move.
Wang was breathing heavily, and after standing for a while, she suddenly asked, "How is the little bastard doing?"
Wang Cheng said quickly: "The news from the examination room said that when the boy entered the examination room, his steps were very slow and he was staggering. When he took off his clothes at the door for inspection, he fell down and looked very weak."
There was a cold light flashing in Wang's eyes.
Wang Cheng looked up at her and said cautiously, "Madam, the drug must still be working. That kid is probably forcing himself to take the exam. He will not do well in that state. Moreover, the exam will last for three days. He will have to eat, drink, defecate and urinate in a small cubicle. The weather is so hot. With that kid's body, he will not be able to hold on. He may even die in there suddenly."
Wang's chest, which had been rising and falling, finally calmed down.
She said sternly, "Tell those losers to keep watch outside the examination room and report back immediately if anything goes wrong. If they make a mistake again this time, just tell them not to come back."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Wang Cheng responded hurriedly.
Wang gave him a few more cold looks before turning into the inner room and lying back on the bed.
Wang Cheng went out in person.
In the examination room.
Each candidate sat in a narrow cubicle.
The compartment was very simple. In addition to the table and stools, there was also a small bed made of two wooden boards and a wooden barrel for convenience.
During the three-day exam, you cannot go anywhere except this space.
Eating, drinking, defecating and urinating are all here.
Some candidates with weak constitutions may not be able to persist at all.
Almost every year during exams, there are people who get sick or even faint.
Before handing out the test papers, the patrol officers checked each one again.
Luo Qingzhou sat in the cubicle, grinding the ink slowly.
The sun was scorching outside, but he remained calm.
Soon, the bell rang and the test papers began to be distributed.
The patrol personnel began to patrol and observe the entire examination room.
Luo Qingzhou got the test paper, but did not rush to look at it. He ground the ink and calmed down for a while before spreading out the test paper and looking at it carefully.
The first question was from the Analects of Confucius, where you had to recite the Li Ren chapter.
Luo Qingzhou thought for a moment, then picked up his pen and started writing.
Confucius said: "It is good to live in a place of benevolence. If one does not live in a place of benevolence, how can one know it?"
Confucius said: "An unkind person cannot stay in a contract for long, nor can he enjoy happiness for long. A kind person is content with benevolence, and a wise person benefits from benevolence...
It was written very quickly and fluently.
I checked it carefully twice before moving on to the next question.
The second question is about The Great Learning: How to interpret and view “In ancient times, those who wished to manifest illustrious virtue throughout the world first governed their country; those who wished to govern their country first governed their family; those who wished to govern their family…”
Luo Qingzhou pondered for a moment, picked up his pen and dipped it in ink, and replied: "In ancient times, those who wanted to promote upright virtues in the world had to govern their own country well first..."
The third question is a topic from The Doctrine of the Mean.
Luo Qingzhou had already memorized them thoroughly, so he answered them all without any effort.
The following questions cannot be answered by rote memorization.
Choose one topic each from "Book of Rites" and "Mencius", and then start writing down your own comments or opinions based on current political affairs.
It was already afternoon when I finished answering these two questions.
Then, write a poem with the theme of "Lotus", either five or seven words, and also write an article.
Luo Qingzhou pondered for a moment, then composed a poem: "The lotus leaf skirt is cut in one color, and the lotus blossoms on both sides of the face. I can't see it when I enter the pond, and I only realize someone is coming when I hear the song."
He also wrote an article saying: "There are many lovely flowers on land and in water. Everyone loves peonies and chrysanthemums. I only love lotus flowers because they grow out of mud without being stained, wash in the water without being coquettish, are straight inside and outside, and have no vines or branches..."
After I finished answering all the questions and checked them several times, the sun was setting.
Luo Qingzhou drank a few sips of water, then checked the test paper from beginning to end several times before putting it down.
As it was getting dark, the bell rang and the rolling began.
Candidates cannot move while sitting, cannot talk to their neighbors, and cannot make any other movements. Only someone can collect the papers.
After collecting the test papers, candidates can stand up and move around, eat and rest.
Luo Qingzhou stood up, moved around for a while, then took out beef, snacks, and buns from the bag and started eating.
When he came in for inspection in the morning, he broke all the food into several halves at the request of the guard at the door.
The beef was torn into strips, the dim sum was broken into pieces, and the buns were also broken apart to prevent any food from getting stuck inside.
At this time, it tastes not only hard but also broken, and has no taste at all.
As long as it fills my stomach.
After dark, someone came in to clean and replaced a new wooden barrel in each cubicle, where people would urinate and defecate.
Around the hour of Hai, many candidates had already fallen asleep exhausted.
Luo Qingzhou lay on the simple wooden board, looking at the bright moon and stars outside. His heart was as calm as water and he had no desire to sleep.
Suddenly, his eyes shrank, he sat up, opened his eyes wide, and looked at the bright moon.
A moon-white figure suddenly flashed past the bright moon. Although it was brief, it was clearly seen in his eyes.
"Is it Sister Yue?"
He said secretly in his heart.
"Buzz..."
It was a hot night and there were mosquitoes everywhere.
There were "pa pa pa" sounds and low curses coming from many cubicles.
It was almost dawn.
The entire examination room fell silent, with snoring sounds coming from everywhere.
Luo Qingzhou lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and his soul left his body.
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