The two made an agreement. Zhou Duxin bowed to the students beside him and said, "Please bear witness. I, Zhou Duxin, and Zhuang Jike are making a bet on the ranking of this autumn examination. The winner will participate in the spring examination next year and become an official. The loser will leave in disgrace."
Most of the candidates for the imperial examination were young people, some were steady, some were playful. Someone said, "I will be your witnesses in this matter."
Many people were talking at once, and were willing to testify for them.
"No noise is allowed. Everyone go into the rooms and wait for the drum to sound. Then the test papers will be distributed." The patrolling official heard the noise and came over, and shouted loudly.
All the students entered the dormitory and silence returned to the place.
The three exams tested different subjects. The first exam had one question each from "The Analects of Confucius", "The Doctrine of the Mean" or "The Great Learning" or "Mencius", and the examinee also had to write a five-character, eight-rhyme poem.
Each question in the Four Books requires more than 200 words, and the topic of poetry will be announced by the emperor just before the exam.
The second round tests four questions on the interpretation of scriptures and the writing of official documents in various formats. The questions on the interpretation of scriptures require more than 300 words.
The third test requires a policy essay on current affairs, which should be more than 1,000 words.
The emperor of this dynasty attaches the most importance to the third round of current affairs discussion.
There was once a student who wrote an excellent essay on current affairs, which pleased the emperor so much that he was chosen as the top scholar.
Three days is not a long time, but it is also not a short time. For the students, being trapped in this small dormitory, hot and stuffy, eating poorly and sleeping poorly is quite hard.
On the third day, the sun sets, the test papers are handed in, and the students can go out.
Although Zhou Duxin smelled sour all over, his complexion was still good.
Zhuang Jike, who had lived a life of luxury, had never suffered such hardship before. He walked out with difficulty, looking pale.
"Master Zhuang Si, are you okay? Do you want me to give you a hand?" Zhou Duxin asked.
"You don't have to be hypocritical." Zhuang Jike said in an ignorant manner.
Zhou Duxin ignored him and left with his exam box.
On the 12th, in the second game, Zhou Duxin did not meet Zhuang Jike this time, as their rooms were separated by a certain distance.
In the third game, on the fifteenth day, the two people's rooms were adjacent to each other.
Zhuang Jike looked at him and snorted, "This is your last time to enter the tribute courtyard, cherish it."
Zhou Duxin smiled and said, "I'm in high school, so I don't need to go back."
"You are boasting nonsense and making a fool of yourself." Zhuang Jike flicked his sleeves and went into the cell.
After the third exam, Zhou Duxin returned home and told his brother and sister-in-law about the bet between him and Zhuang Jike.
Zhou Chengxin was stunned when he heard this. "You have always been steady in doing things. Why are you fighting with him for such a whim?"
"This is not a fight of pride. I am confident that I can beat him." Zhou Duxin said seriously.
"Why do you say you are sure? If you fail, will you not join the government? How can you be worthy of Master Jiang and your mother? You, you, you are going to piss me off to death!"
"I won't lose." Zhou Duxin said confidently.
Zhou Chengxin sneered, "Everyone can brag, but in the imperial examination, before the results are announced, no one can be sure that they can make the list. What do you call what you did? You really make me die of anger."
Miao looked at her husband, whose face was red with anger, and fearing that he might do something bad, she quickly advised him, "Xiao San has always been very talented, and she will definitely win."
"What if I can't win? What should I do? What should I do?" Zhou Chengxin beat his chest.
He promised his mother that the Zhou family would have three outstanding people to repay Mr. Jiang for his kindness, but his plan was ruined by this brat.
"How about I go to the palace and ask the princess?" Miao asked cautiously.
Zhou Duxin disagreed, "There's no need to disturb the princess about this."
"Shut up." Zhou Chengxin glared at him fiercely, and thought for a moment, "This kid has caused such a big disaster, we have to let the princess know, you should go to the palace tomorrow."
The next day, Miao's visit scared Jiang Changning.
The Zhou family is in mourning and will not go out unless it is an important matter.
"Sister-in-law, what happened?" Jiang Changning asked anxiously when he saw Miao.
"Nothing happened. I came here suddenly and scared the princess. I'm really sorry." Miao said.
"Sister-in-law, I'm not that timid. If there is anything, don't hide it from me. Tell me." Jiang Changning said seriously.
"There is something wrong, but it's not a big deal. Please don't worry, Princess." Miao said with a smile.
Seeing her relaxed expression, Jiang Changning was convinced, "Sister-in-law, sit down and talk."
The host and the guest sat down separately, and the maid served tea. Miao told the whole story from beginning to end, "My master was very angry with the mistress. He said that he had caused a big disaster and wanted to beat him to death to apologize to the master and mother."
Jiang Changning smiled and said, "This is not a big deal. Duxin is young and energetic, and it's normal for him to be competitive. Besides, the list hasn't been released yet, so how do you know that Duxin will lose?"
"That's what I said, but my master is certain that Xiao San will lose, and he said that Young Master Zhuang has hired a famous teacher to teach her." Miao said with a smile.
"No matter how good a jade hammer looks, it cannot be used to blow fire." Jiang Changning is not optimistic about Zhuang Jike.
Miao chuckled, and Jiang Changning continued, "Sister-in-law, go back and tell brother that Duxin is always cautious in doing things, and he won't do anything he is not sure of. Even if he really fails, it doesn't matter, just let him work beside the prince."
After hearing this, Miao calmed down. She sat for a while, talked to Jiang Changning about a few private words, and then said goodbye and left.
She was in mourning and it was not convenient for her to go and pay a visit to the Concubine Dowager.
After seeing off Miao, Jiang Changning was about to return to Rujing Courtyard when a servant came to report, "Princess, Eunuch Chang has returned home."
Chang Youzhong went to Jiangnan with Prince Jin, and he came back. So did Prince Jin also come back
Jiang Changning quickly said, "Let him come in and answer the question."
After a while, Chang Youzhong came in quickly. When he saw Jiang Changning, he knelt down and kowtowed, "I greet the princess and pay my respects to her."
"Okay, get up and answer. Where is the prince?" Jiang Changning asked.
"In reply to the princess, the prince has entered the palace to meet the emperor."
That's right. When Prince Jin returns to the capital after finishing his business, he must first go to the palace to report the whole story to the Emperor.
"You have worked hard along the way, Xiulan, give him a big reward." Jiang Changning said generously.
The biggest reward was fifty taels of silver, which was just the right reward. It did not seem like an attempt to win over someone, but it also showed that his master Jiang Changning valued him very much.
About an hour later, Prince Jin came out of the palace and returned to his mansion. He first went to Liuxuanyuan to pay his respects to the Concubine Dowager.
The first thing the concubine said when she saw her son was, "You've lost weight."
"My son is an unfilial son. Thank you, mother, for your concern." Prince Jin said respectfully.
"A lot of things have happened in these days. I will tell you slowly." The concubine gestured to Prince Jin to sit down.
Although Prince Jin was anxious to see Jiang Changning, he still sat down as he was told.
The Concubine Dowager told Prince Jin everything that had happened in the past few months in detail, and learned that Jiang Changning had dealt with the nine spies in other palaces with thundering means.
Prince Jin smiled. He knew some of these spies and some of them he didn't. Now that Jiang Changning had been caught, it was a good way to deal with them.
He felt more at ease leaving the inner house to her.
(End of this chapter)