Xuyu lightly lifted the hem of her skirt, dragging off the colorful leaf, and took a step forward. Pei Xiaoyuan walked with her slowly, lagging behind her by half a step.
Yang Zai'en, who was waiting at the fork in the palace road, saw that the two of them seemed to have finally finished talking, and continued to follow with a group. The group turned to Shenshu Palace, and Cao Huan, who was waiting outside, saw them from afar, walked over quickly, bowed, and smiled and said: "The princess and her husband are newly married and very happy. If the princess is worried about the situation here, I will send someone to inform you at any time. Why dare I trouble the princess to come in person today?"
Xuyu originally thought that the matter of entering the palace in the morning would be completed early, and there would be nothing to do when she returned to Yongning House. It happened that she was in the palace, and the mural matter had progressed to this step, and it would not be good to delay any longer, so she arranged the matter on the same day, but she did not expect to delay it.
She said it was okay and went to Chongtian Palace while asking about Zhou He's situation.
Cao Huan hurriedly replied, "I went to Chongrenfang to look for him a few days ago. When I arrived, he was gone from the hotel. He said that his paintings could not be sold and he was driven away half a month ago because he could not pay the rent. After much inquiry, I finally found his whereabouts. It turned out that he moved to a shabby alley near the West Market and lived with merchants. On that day, he was disguised as a servant of a scholar, and followed the scholar to attend a poetry banquet, writing essays for others on the spot in exchange for money. When he saw me, he learned that the princess wanted to summon him to the palace. He still didn't believe it. When I told him that the princess was the young man Ye he knew before, he woke up as if from a dream, and cried and laughed at that time. I almost thought he was crazy, but fortunately he woke up quickly, took off his servant's clothes on the spot, and followed me here."
In the imperial examinations of this dynasty, there is a saying that "at thirty, one is a Mingjing, and at fifty, one is a Jinshi". The Jinshi exam is the most prestigious and difficult to pass. Only 20 to 30 people are selected each year, which is only one-tenth of the number of Mingjing. If one can make the list, he can be called a white-robed official and have a promising career. Therefore, all scholars in the world yearn for it and rack their brains to become famous in the capital, so as to get an advantage in the exam and jump into the dragon gate in one fell swoop. Participating in poetry banquets is an important way to become famous. Some people who are not talented enough in literature will hire people to cheat on the spot.
Xuyu recalled that when she went to see Zhou He before, she had indeed seen some messy poems and essays in his room. At that time, she thought that he also liked reading, but she didn't expect that in addition to his painting skills, he was also good at writing.
Without real talent and knowledge, it is impossible to be hired to write essays on the spot.
"What about his father and grandfather?" Xuyu asked again.
"This slave has also been checked. The Zhou family has been painters for generations. The great-grandfather committed a crime and was punished as a slave. He was a cave painter, which means he specialized in painting in caves. His descendants were also slaves from birth and could not engage in other occupations. It was not until the generation of Zhou He's father that his painting skills were indeed outstanding. He was seen by Ye Zhongli who went to the caves to paint. Ye Zhongli appreciated his talent and brought Zhou He's father into the palace, helped him get rid of his slavery, and then became a court painter. After the chaos in the last years of Jingsheng, the saint ascended the throne and the court was renewed. Many former court painters who had been living outside were also able to return to the palace, including Zhou He's father."
"Yao Xu, the painter, was jealous of Zhou He's father's appreciation by Ye Zhongli, so he deliberately suppressed him. After Zhou He's father died of illness, he was also expelled from the palace. This man must have some talent. He participated in several imperial examinations at first, but failed. After a few years, he gave up and lived in Chang'an, selling paintings and writings to make a living. At the beginning of the year, the Painting Academy recruited, and Zhou He also came to apply, but failed, probably because of Yao Xu. If he hadn't met the princess, I think he would have been able to wear slave clothes in the alleys and write for others for the rest of his life."