Zhu Pingan returned to the inn and began to study in seclusion. Other candidates usually participated in poetry gatherings, poetry societies, gatherings, etc. to gain fame, but Zhu Pingan did not participate in any of them.
Except for the occasional visits from Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, Zhu Ping'an had been studying in seclusion in his room in the inn.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen took Zhu Pingan to visit the capital several times, especially to the Imperial Examination Hall in the southwest of the capital, and visited Biguan Hutong, Liyu Hutong and Lutizi Hutong. Biguan Hutong, as the name suggests, is a street where pens and paper are sold; Liyu Hutong and Lutizi Hutong are both places for candidates to stay.
Liyu Hutong was originally a small hutong, first called "Laoren Hutong". Most of the wealthy candidates who came to Beijing rode donkeys to Beijing and lived in Donkey Hoof Hutong. According to legend, during the imperial examination, a poor candidate had no money and his family was poor, so he relied on his two legs to rush to the examination day and night. Because he came late, all the residences were overcrowded, and an old man who lived in Laoren Hutong near the Imperial Examination Hall took him in. Three days before the imperial examination, it suddenly rained heavily. A thunderclap startled, and then a golden white carp jumped out of the clouds and landed on the street where the Henan candidates were temporarily staying; a thunderclap sounded again, and the carp flew into the air and flew straight to the examination hall of the Imperial Examination Hall... So some old people said that this was "carp jumping over the dragon gate".
Three days later, the exam was held and the poor candidate passed. The candidate was very conscientious. After the results were announced, the first thing he did was to visit the old man who helped him and erect a large memorial archway for him. Since then, Liyu Hutong has become famous. During each joint exam, candidates from all over the country gathered in Liyu Hutong to pray for good luck.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen lived in Liyu Hutong, renting a house with a separate courtyard. Of course, it cost a lot, and each of them brought two maids and a book boy to serve them.
As the exam date approached, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came less and less frequently. Inspired by Zhu Ping'an's study in seclusion, they gradually turned down poetry gatherings and concentrated on preparing for the exam.
Zhu Ping'an seemed to have returned to the days of the college entrance examination. He stayed at home and studied hard. Three meals a day were delivered by the shop assistant. This was the shop assistant's initiative. The three meals a day were provided very attentively and on time. The combination of meat and vegetables was excellent.
On this day, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came together again and invited Zhu Ping'an to go to the government office to register his identity. Zhu Ping'an's secluded study life had to end after only half a month, because the imperial examination was about to begin. Zhu Ping'an had miscalculated the time of the imperial examination. The imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty was held in February, and the March he had recorded was the time of the imperial examination after the Qing Dynasty changed it.
The joint examination was hosted by the Ministry of Rites, and the process was similar to the provincial examination. First, you had to register your identity, which was equivalent to registering for a modern exam, and then take the exam. After all, the joint examination was a gathering of candidates from all over the country to take the exam. If you don't register, people won't know how many people actually took the exam.
"Have you heard that this time, they are said to be accepting 400 people for the special examination, which is nearly 100 more than in previous years."
On the way to register their identity, Zhang Siwei suddenly spoke to Zhu Pingan and Wang Shizhen in a mysterious and excited manner.
"Ziwei, you are really well-informed." Zhu Pingan couldn't help but admire him when he heard it.
Zhang Siwei's family was a salt merchant family, a wealthy family in Puzhou. His uncle was Wang Chonggu, a Jinshi in the 20th year of Jiajing. He was also a fierce man, and he should be the prefect of a certain place now. It was true that it was easy to be an official if you had someone in the court, and you could even find out the admission quota for this kind of joint examination.
In previous years, the number of people admitted to the imperial examination was always around 300. If 400 people are really admitted this year, then I will have a little more confidence.
Zhu Ping'an was quite happy to hear this news.
"Yes, I heard about it. This change is a blessing for you and me. It is a great pleasure for the three of us to pass the exam together."
Wang Shizhen had heard the news before, but he was still excited after hearing it again. He was especially excited when he thought that if he, Zhang Siwei and Zhu Pingan passed the exam together, he would be even more excited. They had similar interests, got to know each other before the exam, and passed the exam together. Wouldn't it be great
"I am confident that Wensheng will pass the exam this time. The Wang family of Taicang is the best in the world in terms of clothing, poetry and literature, and Wensheng is the best of the Wang family. He will definitely pass the exam in one go. Zihou will also have no problem passing the exam this time. Although Zihou is young, he is very smart and quick-witted, which is rare in the world. In addition, according to the custom of our dynasty, the examination list is divided into the south and the north, with six in the south and four in the north. There are many places this time, and Zihou is on the south list. He will definitely make great achievements in this exam."
Zhang Siwei pointed at Wang Shizhen, then looked at Zhu Ping'an, and had high hopes for both of them in this imperial examination.
But at this point, Zhang Siwei changed the subject, pointed at himself, and said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid my words will hold you back."
"Ziwei is joking again. Others may not know, but Zihou and I know it. Ziwei, you are good at writing and calligraphy, and you are well-versed in history and the present. You are a famous 'true scholar' in Puzhou, especially famous for your eight-part essay. I am good at poetry and prose, but I am inferior to you in eight-part essay. Zihou, don't believe his nonsense. Ziwei is romantic and free-spirited, and he loves to joke."
Wang Shizhen shook his head, pointed at Zhang Siwei, and smiled at Zhu Pingan.
"Winsheng, don't try to comfort me." Zhang Siwei said with a wry smile.
"I say, you two will definitely be on the high school list in this imperial examination, believe it or not?" Zhu Ping'an looked at the two of them and said with a curled lip corner.
"Zihou, you come and have some fun too."
"That's right. Don't be fooled by Zihou's simple and honest face and his young age. But in my opinion, Zihou is even more resourceful than Ziwei."
"That's because people have lost their vigilance because of Zihou's simple and honest face. I really hate my parents for giving me such a handsome face, haha."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen both changed the subject and started joking about Zhu Pingan.
"I'll give you ten taels of silver and bet that you two will make the list." Zhu Ping'an curled the corners of his lips and smiled confidently.
"Where do you get your confidence from?" Wang Shizhen asked Zhu Ping'an.
"It's not self-confidence, it's trust in you." Zhu Ping'an smiled indifferently.
"Okay, just because of what Zihou said, if I pass the exam, I will give you a hundred taels. However, if I fail, I will definitely bankrupt you." Zhang Siwei said with a smile.
"I second the motion." Wang Shizhen followed suit.
Both of them are from famous families, so they don't care about this little money.
"That's great." Zhu Ping'an laughed and said, "Just kidding, brother knows the history. You two will definitely make the list this time."
"Zihou, you only talk about us, why not yourself?" Wang Shizhen asked.
"As long as Zihou doesn't say anything, it's safe." Zhang Siwei answered for Zhu Ping'an with a smile.
The three chatted and laughed all the way to register, and after registering, they went back to prepare for the examination. (To be continued...)