Gongyuan
The night is getting deeper, the cold is getting a bit heavy, and the lights are brightly lit.
Outside the Gongyuan, the guards have not withdrawn yet. Groups of soldiers armed with spears are patrolling, blocking the examination room and no one is allowed to enter.
In the tribute courtyard, the Yu Guards were guarding the examination courtyard and patrolling. Anyone who dared to break in would be shot to death.
In the Gongyuan, all kinds of food have been prepared, including chickens, ducks, vegetables, melons and fruits. These days, we only eat in the courtyard and cannot go out.
All room officials are also not allowed to go out. They must review all the test papers. Guards guard the door with nails like nails. Not only are they wary of outsiders, but they are not allowed to go out.
A room official put down his pen and rubbed his eyes. He had been reviewing the examination papers in his room for the past few days. After looking at the papers for too long, he felt a little dizzy. He rubbed his hands and said, "Of these hundreds of main papers and supplementary papers, only this is missing." It took me just a few volumes to grade them all, and now I just feel dizzy.”
A room official in the room smiled and said: "It is appropriate to select good talents for the state, but it is almost seven or eight days, and I am really tired."
After hearing this, another room official said: "Okay, don't complain. We have finished the approval today, and I will sleep until dawn tomorrow. The rest will be reviewed by the deputy examiner, and then the ranking can be submitted. , let the president decide the winner."
Although Xu Liguo only offered four subjects, the practice has been established. In the state examination, although most of the room officials are local academic officials, the deputy examiners are all academic officials from other provinces to avoid omissions.
The examiner is the president of the provincial examination, and the imperial court sends people to check and balance among the three parties to select the scholars.
"Finish reading the test papers for each room!"
"After the review is completed, the winning ranking and test paper will be submitted to the president."
Hu Yingzhen read the first fifty volumes and generally thought it was pretty good: "You have worked hard, and the selection of scholars is fair. I have not found any mistakes or omissions until now."
After reading the seventh volume, as soon as I started reading it, my eyes lit up: "The writing is like the person, it seems that this person must be elegant."
As I continued reading, I thought to myself: "This man has the talent to be a Jinshi!"
"It's just that this paper is the seventh. Could it be that the previous papers are better than this one? Then this state bachelor is in trouble." Just as he was thinking about it, he started reading the next six volumes.
After reading it, I came back and picked up the seventh volume. I frowned and thought to myself: "Nonsense, this article is far different from other volumes, and there are no mistakes or omissions. It should be at least in the top three."
They are all Jinshi, so they naturally understand that there is not much difference in the articles, each has its own merits, and they can be ranked at will. But if the gap is widened, it will not work. The Ministry of Rites can also speak.
After walking around the room for a few steps, he relaxed his eyebrows and said, "Although the name was obscured in the exam, the standard of this article is like a torch in the night. Even if the name is obscured, you can tell just by looking at the style."
"These local officials must have some considerations, or they may have offended someone, or they may feel that this young man is suppressing him." After thinking about it like this, he shook his head, felt a little dissatisfied, and put it first: "When Da Xu was first established, he followed the example of the previous dynasty. , this wind can’t be broken for long, this article can be ranked first!”
As he spoke, he put the test paper at the top and looked around: "What do you think?"
"We have no objection." All the examiners agreed.
At this time, the sky was getting brighter and a sun appeared in the sky. There was a rooster crowing in the examination courtyard. Hu Yingzhen said: "In that case, the ranking has been determined. Let's open the book!"
"The president has given an order to open the book and copy the names."
The test papers have been decided, and in fact the candidates have already been decided.
Take out the corresponding anonymous test paper, open it and write down your name.
The first one is Pei Ziyun.
"The head of the case is Pei Ziyun, a scholar from Jiangping County!"
When the name was revealed, all the house officials were shocked. Even President Hu Yingzhen was surprised: "Fifteen years old, isn't it too young?"
However, the ranking has been decided, so he remains silent.
The names were opened one by one, and there were thirty-three names on a red list, divided into three blocks. The first block had only three, then ten, and then twenty.
"If you have no objection, just use the seal."
More than twenty room officials took out their official seals and pressed their stamps on the list one by one. In the end, even the president pressed his stamps, which was considered as the official list.
"The examination court will open, and it will be delivered to the Governor's Mansion and the imperial court, and the results will be opened immediately."
Gongyuan
Except for a few scholars who could still keep their composure, many scholars had already arrived in front of Gongyuan.
"The soldiers have all withdrawn. It seems that they are going to be released." In front of the screen wall of Gongyuan, there were many scholars.
"Boom!" The dragon gate opened, the government officials came out, and all the scholars shouted together: "The results are released, the results are released!"
This cry was never predetermined, but all the scholars unanimously shouted together. The triennial state rankings carry the expectations of scholars.
Fu Mansion
The morning sun shone on the wall, a few magpies were chirping, and more than a dozen scholars were in the hall at this time. Although the maids brought meat porridge, no one paid attention to it, not to mention Yi Xiucai, not even Yu Guangmao. After showering and changing clothes, I stared nervously at the door.
The Fu Mansion was close, and after a while, the sound of horse hooves could be heard in front of the Fu Mansion, and then the sound of gongs and drums poured into the mansion. Everyone present, including Pei Ziyun, stared straight at it.
"Thirtieth place, Chen Jinchun, Honghou County, Dong'an Prefecture!" A registration team rushed up and shouted.
The concierge had been prepared for a long time. After hearing the sound, one person went into the courtyard to announce the good news. The other person quickly opened the door and led the government servants into the room. There were also servants of the Fu family who were lighting firecrackers. Welcome.
Chen Jinchun, who had always been unknown, suddenly knelt on the ground with a "pop" sound and cried loudly: "Dad, mother, I got hit, I finally got hit."
"I passed the exam at the age of thirty-five and finally won!"
Like a child, this man was crying on the ground. Yi Zhiquan forced a smile and stepped forward to help him up: "Congratulations, congratulations, this is a great thing."
In fact, everyone is worried. Someone has passed the exam, but what about you
Even Yu Guangmao turned pale.
"Twenty-one, Yu Guangmao, Fule County, Dong'an Prefecture!"
"Congratulations, congratulations!" Everyone celebrated, but Yu Guangmao breathed a sigh of relief, regained some of his blood, and wiped his sweat embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, everyone, please forgive me."
No one answered. Yi Zhiquan and others were staring at the door. There were many people on the street watching and talking: "This Fu Ju family is really talented. These scholars live here, and two masters have won the prize."
No one spoke, and they continued to stare at the door. They saw groups of registration teams passing by the door. As time passed, the hearts of the scholars present gradually sank into the abyss. At this moment, another burst of gongs and drums came closer, and there was no sound. He paid no attention to the crowd of onlookers, but shouted: "Successful news in the state examination, Mr. Pei Ziyun of Jiangping County, Dong'an Prefecture, Jieyuan of the high school, and the Beijing News has been listed in the Huangjia!"
Yi Zhiquan and others felt as if their bones had been ripped out of their bodies, their energy suddenly disappeared, and they slumped in their seats. Pei Ziyun, even as a time traveler, felt his head buzzing, and he managed to remain calm and took out the Give out reward money.
The yamen servant took the wedding money with a smile and congratulated him repeatedly.
The unsuccessful scholars all looked pale, looked gloomy, and felt lonely, and some even cried bitterly. Only Chen Jinchun and Yu Guangmao bowed together: "Congratulations, Brother Pei, for becoming the Yuan Dynasty!"
"Congratulations, congratulations." Pei Ziyun quickly returned the gift. In fact, there is not much difference between Jieyuan and the last one in the provincial examination, and the treatment is similar.
Each new candidate is given a written certificate indicating when he won the election and what his ranking was. Generally, he received twenty acres of land tax-free. In the previous dynasty, many people defected to the candidates and the government could not collect taxes because of the investment and filling. , Da Xu learned his lesson and only allowed twenty acres of land to be exempted from the imperial examination.
The second step is to give clothes and crowns. In fact, the clothes and crowns for people to be elected are almost the same as official uniforms.
Then he was given a plaque, allowed to build an archway, and was given twenty taels of silver, while Jieyuan was given a little more, which was thirty taels - this was the only difference in treatment.
Juren can build an archway in front of the door to be praised, and a plaque is hung on the door. This represents the honor of the owner and even the family. When outsiders see it, they will know that this family is a scholarly family, and at least there has been a juren.
And those government officials are very polite to such people and will not bully them easily.
Amid the commotion, Fu Juren came over and said, "Congratulations to the three newly promoted Juren. I have already set up a banquet and would like to invite you all to the table."
As he said that, he waved his hand and saw firecrackers crackling at the door, and the small garden in the house was already lined up. At this moment, the wind was refreshing, the sun was warm, and it was not too cold.
The banquet was held in accordance with ancient rituals, with one table for one person. The only exception was the table for Yun Niang and Luo Li. These were scattered in the garden. They could not be said to be delicacies, but they looked like tripe slices and duck soup. , mutton beef, moon cakes, and watermelon slices... more than twenty tables in total.
Fu Juren smiled and said: "Everyone, please take a seat. If you don't pass this exam, don't be disappointed. Come back in three years. You are still young."
"Come on, drink!"
The scholars were all a little lonely, but they couldn't refuse this scene, because what if they won the exam next time
At that moment, they forced themselves to smile and toast together. Fu Juren had entertained several scholars in this courtyard. He knew how these scholars were feeling, so he didn't try to persuade them. After a drink, he put down his glass and said, "Go to the show!"
Several girls came out, there was a pipa playing, and the girls were singing. It was a foregone conclusion. Many scholars also wanted to drink to relieve their sorrows. In the blink of an eye, they drank several glasses of wine. Yi Zhiquan was no exception. He did it three times in a row. Cup, his pale face flushed with blood, and he smiled: "Brother Pei, Brother Yu, I think it was still yesterday when you and I took the boat to Zhoucheng, but after today, it is different."
After saying this, he applauded and laughed, but shed two tears.
Pei Ziyun couldn't help but sigh. After getting along with each other in the past few days, he knew that Yizhi's family was not in a very good situation. He was also hard-working and tireless, and he could ask questions with an open mind.
Not talking about myself, other scholars can also lower their heads and ask questions. Unfortunately, this world does not require hard work. Thinking that he said he failed the subject and had to go home to teach, I felt sad, but I had no words to comfort him. I had to raise my glass, give a distant salute, and drink it in one gulp.
Only the little Loli, with a flushed face and an excited face, glanced at everyone and asked: "Auntie, is this the qualification of a candidate? Just passing the exam will make a difference."
Yun Niang couldn't help but sigh: "That's right, this person's fame is extraordinary, but it's the power of the court, not himself, but you have to keep this in mind!"
The little loli was a little confused and nodded again, wondering if she understood.
(End of chapter)