Autumn was approaching, and it began to rain lightly. The autumn rain brought with it a chill, which made my heart feel cold. As I was studying in the room, Pei Ziyun also put on an extra layer of clothes.
Pushing open the window, you can see the front steps of the attic. Several servants are cleaning the fallen leaves. Further away, there are green tiles on the roof. Raindrops fall on them and collect on the bluestone floor, ticking.
The scholars who live in the courtyard have gone out less recently. The courtyard is filled with the sound of reading every day, especially in the morning.
"Tomorrow is the state exam." Pei Ziyun was also reviewing, reading the article, but it was different from the last state exam. This time he was full of confidence. He just recited it, and all kinds of thoughts were running in his chest: "Today I know that I am confident, okay What does it really mean to have spare time?"
Putting down the book, he picked up a volume of local chronicles from the bookshelf.
Local chronicles are books that record the history, culture, celebrities, and geography of a region. They are generally records of an era in a province, county, or county.
In his previous life, Pei Ziyun was absorbed in reading the books of sages before entering Songyun Gate. He entered Songyun Gate and wanted to revive Songyun Gate. He had never seen these customs and customs seriously. This volume of local chronicles in his hand recorded the deeds of the former prefecture.
I flipped through a few pages.
"My husband's county and town have ambitions, and they are not just existing. They are actually revealed because of the revolution. Therefore, I try to give advice after examining the gains and losses."
"The text should be concise and concise, but the disease is complicated. However, if the things are not summarized, it will be impossible to learn from the past. If the words are not supported, there will be no future. It must be read, so that people can feel as if they grew up in the place where they grew up, familiar with its conditions, and prosperous rivers and mountains. The feeling of expressing one's thoughts is the kind of person who has great ambitions."
Just when I wanted to take a closer look, I heard a knock on the door, and the sound was Yizhiquan.
The book was put back on the shelf and Pei Ziyun opened the door. Yi Zhiquan's hair was messy and he was holding a roll in his hand. His eyes were red, as if he didn't sleep well last night and was depressed.
After entering the room, Yi Zhiquan directly asked him the meaning of a question.
These days, I often communicate with these scholars, and they all have complicated feelings towards Pei Ziyun. According to Pei Ziyun himself, they are just envy, jealousy and hatred.
Jealousy and hatred dominate the majority of people, but a few people can suppress their jealousy and come to seek advice. It is easy for them to be thirty-two years old, but they often come to ask for advice. Even Pei Ziyun can't help but accept this attitude.
Seeing Yi Zhiquan smiled bitterly and said, "I have been thinking hard about the meaning of this sutra for half a night last night, but I still can't figure it out clearly, so I came here to ask for advice."
Pei Ziyun took the book, looked at the meaning of the sutra, thought about it for a while, and then said: "This sentence means that there are very few people who are good at literature and have good nature!"
As he spoke, he spoke in vernacular in detail. When Yi Zhiquan listened, he suddenly understood and praised: "Thank you so much, Brother Pei. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness."
In the room, Pei Ziyun did not close the window. It was raining and the autumn wind was a bit cold. Pei Ziyun was making tea and they drank tea together.
Yi Zhiquan understood the meaning of the sutra and felt at ease. He said, "Tomorrow is the state examination. I feel uneasy. But fortunately I met Brother Pei this year and he answered a lot of my questions. Brother Yu will remember his great kindness."
Yi Zhiquan said, his expression was a little gloomy as he spoke, and he felt a little melancholy as he spoke.
Pei Ziyun was about to speak when he heard Yi Zhiquan continue: "I was not satisfied with the previous two sessions. I came back this year because my thoughts are still there, and I always feel that there is a glimmer of hope. Give it a try, maybe you will win." ”
Pei Ziyun also sighed. If he didn't have this plum blossom, he didn't know how long it would take to win the exam. The original owner was a native and had good qualifications. He was only 21 years old before he was selected as a scholar, let alone a candidate
But with plum blossoms taking away other people's literary thoughts, this time in the state examination, he was confident. Looking at the sad but hopeful scholar in front of him, Pei Ziyun could only remain silent and speechless.
There was silence in the room, and another knock on the door was heard. Pei Ziyun opened the door. It turned out that it was Yu Guangmao and others who came to visit Pei Ziyun. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Yi Zhiquan in the room, holding a book in his hand. Just by looking at it, you can tell that Yizhiquan is here to ask for his thoughts.
I saw these people coming in with a smile and said: "I just asked Brother Yi to ask Brother Pei to queue up tomorrow, but I didn't find him. Brother Wang said that Brother Yi must be upstairs asking Jing, and sure enough, Brother Yi is there." "
Yu Guangmao also said: "I'm lining up tomorrow. I wonder what I have to do?"
"Everyone, I am the oldest. Although I am not good at studying literature, I still have some experience in this examination room." Yi Zhiquan stood up and bowed, and said: "I will take the exam tomorrow. I must bring something simple. Remember to bring two more blankets. At this time It’s cold and there are no quilts in the examination room, so you need to prepare them carefully.”
"You should also bring more clothes, but the blankets and clothes must be old, because the inspector will cut them open for inspection."
"You don't need to bring pen and ink, they are all inside."
"Prepare some food. Although the meat buns and flatbreads are good, I can't bear to eat them for three days."
When Pei Ziyun heard this, he understood secretly: "I am the only one who has taken the exam for the first time. Others have taken several exams. Even Yu Guangmao has taken the second exam, so he told me on purpose."
"This is because you listened to my advice and came here to repay you."
Pei Ziyun secretly thanked him, but he had actually taken an exam in his previous life and had memories. He understood that this state exam was different from the government exam. He had to take the exam for three consecutive days. The government only prepared big cakes and water, and he only ate big cakes for three consecutive days. Then The bird must fade away.
You can prepare whatever you want to eat, but you have to be responsible for a bad stomach.
Yi Zhiquan didn't know that Pei Ziyun had experience and was still talking seriously about the taboos and precautions for the state examination. With these preparations, the state examination can be more secure.
"These talented people still unite with each other!"
A water mirror showed these, and Yun Niang looked at them with a smile.
Tomorrow is the state examination. Yun Niang looked at the scholars and gradually got a good idea. Among these scholars, Pei Ziyun was first in literary talent, Yu Guangmao second, and Yi Zhiquan third. Others had some possibilities, but the imperial examination was 70% up to the individual. , there are still three points in the sky.
"It depends on your luck." Yun Niang thought to herself.
next day
The sky is cold and the light rain is falling. It is not yet dawn, but the lights are already bright in this small courtyard. All the scholars are up and preparing for the state examination today.
Fu's Mansion is not far from Gongyuan. You can see across the street. Outside the examination room, a tent has been erected to protect it from the rain. The torches are burning with braziers, and the light is bright.
Several guards with swords stood in front of the steps like nails. The state government's government officials mobilized and sealed the roads near the examination room. The roads were separated by wooden boards. Vendors, foot soldiers, and other people were not allowed to approach.
Neat soldiers, wearing raincoats and holding spears, blocked the intersections. Cavalry patrolled the perimeter from time to time, not only to prevent fraud, but also to protect the candidates.
Pei Ziyun got up and lit the lamp. The window had already been closed. He put on the green shirt in the package, took the Confucian scarf and put it on. He used all the supplies prepared yesterday and walked towards the examination room according to the notice when registering.
Yi Zhiquan and others also gathered together and set off.
As he approached the examination room, Pei Ziyun heard the sound of horse hooves. A group of cavalrymen galloped past. These cavalrymen were all wearing raincoats and holding long knives. The rain was pattering, dripping on the raincoats of these cavalrymen.
Although these cavalry were not wearing armor, they all carried a murderous aura. As they passed by, the scholars who were walking on the street talking fell silent. There was only the sound of horse hooves and rain hitting the umbrellas and raincoats.
"The newly established Xu Dynasty has a strong military and attaches great importance to civil affairs." Pei Ziyun looked at these cavalrymen and thought of his own world in his previous life, where machine guns supervised the examination room. He couldn't help but laugh: "After a few years, more than ten years, even if it is a province, If you try, you won’t make such a big fuss.”
Gongyuan
The examiner who presided over the state examination and the chief examiner were all wearing bright red official uniforms. They were all sitting on a high building in the examination room, looking down from above. They were surrounded by torches. There were many official servants beside them, all holding long knives. Surround these officials.
A little further away, there were sergeants, holding long swords and wearing raincoats, standing under the rain. There were stands around them specially for lighting torches. The firelight shone on these sergeants, and the firelight flickered in the eyes of these sergeants, with a murderous look.
There were desks in front of these officials, with tea and some dried fruits on them. None of them spoke at this time, but quietly looked at the scholars below who came to the examination room holding umbrellas in the clouds.
The shed in front has different entrances, and each mansion is in a different area. Pei Ziyun, Yu Guangmao, and Yizhi are all scholars from Dong'an Palace, and they entered the palace at Dong'an Palace.
At the entrance of the greenhouse, there were several clerks and an official checking the talents. A scholar announced his name at the entrance. The official checked and yelled: "Why are you different from the portrait? There is a mole missing between your eyebrows. "
The scholar was speechless after being shouted at. The official waved his hand and said, "Pull him down and find out his identity. Those who have merit will be dismissed immediately."
Immediately, several government servants rushed forward, each grabbing a hand and dragging him away. Only when the scholar reacted and shouted loudly: "Sir, I don't dare anymore, I don't dare anymore, please let me go!"
The screams came one after another, and then went away. The scholars present were all awe-inspiring. In this atmosphere, Pei Ziyun entered the shed. The torch in front was burning, illuminating the entrance as if it were daytime. There were several large tables and several sergeants. Wearing armor, standing on one side, with a feather on his head.
At this time, Yi Zhiquan approached: "This is the Yu Guards. They are the sergeants sent by the imperial court to supervise the provincial examination president. They are not allowed to collide with each other. Otherwise, it will be regarded as fraud and the merit will be revoked."
These yamen officials brought all the things brought by the scholars out and scattered them on the table. They checked all the pens, inks and inkstones. They had to take apart the pens to see if there was any entrainment inside. After taking them apart, they put them into the basket. Throw it away, let alone the paper with the words on it. You are not allowed to bring anything except food, food and clothing.
These government officials were like bandits, searching their belongings, chopping up all the food with knives, and finally putting it all into a basket and mixing it together.
All the scholars had to take off their long robes and turbans, stripping down to their underwear, and let the government officials inspect them. Their clothes and shoes were all inspected before they were returned. Fortunately, they had torches, which burned red and were not cold, and they just swept the floor politely.
Pei Ziyun suddenly had a thought: "In the original world, when reading novels, there are still women who dress up as men and go to the examination room to take exams. Hey, this kind of examination is in full view of the public. Only women can enter with the aura of collective cerebral palsy."
(End of chapter)