Chapter 356 Scientific Expedition
The New Year in Shengjing ended with great enthusiasm.
In early February, the Spring Examination officially kicked off, with Xiao Ning personally in charge.
To ensure the fairness of the exam, the soldiers patrolling the examination room are all from the Xiao family army.
Students entering the exam hall were thoroughly searched, and if cheat sheets or other items were found, they would be banned from using them for the rest of their lives.
Students came in one after another.
Boys and girls will take exams in separate dormitories.
When the officials from noble families who were in charge of the examination saw their own women in the examination room, their shock was beyond words.
After the shock, there was anger.
"presumptuous!"
The official's face turned grim as he strode towards his female relatives.
"You're bringing disgrace to our family! Get the hell out of here!"
The women, who had been shackled by patriarchy and husband's power since childhood, showed panic on their faces and stepped back subconsciously.
However, before the official could reach the women, he was stopped by the inspecting soldiers.
"Sir, no rushing or making noise in the examination room..."
After saying this, he unsheathed the sword at his waist three inches.
The eyes of the battle-hardened soldiers are as sharp as knives, which makes people feel scared from the bottom of their hearts.
Due to the obstruction of the soldiers, they could only retreat and make way, but they stared at their female relatives fiercely.
The women shrank back for a moment and dared not move forward.
Xiao Ning saw it, but she didn't come over.
If they really want to serve as officials in the court, this is just the beginning. They have to learn to resist on their own.
Resist patriarchy, resist husband power, resist this unfair society.
"Please move aside. I will take the test even if you don't."
Chen Ran pushed aside the girl in front of her, shouldered her exam basket, and walked towards her examination room.
"My daughter is unfilial, and I hope my father will forgive me."
Xue Qingrong bent her knees slightly, saluted her father, and followed Chen Ran with the exam basket.
No looking back.
She knew what she wanted.
Behind them, the women walked towards the examination room one after another.
Only a group of men with sullen faces were left.
Xiao Ning looked at this scene and was very satisfied. Women, you still have to stand up for yourself.
She can only help them hold up the sky.
But I can't be their god.
On the first day of the final exam, Xiao Ning was on guard at the examination room. Seeing that all matters were progressing steadily, he did not go there again in the following days.
Shang Xi has been busy counting the national treasury these days, and the two of them often don't see each other until dark.
When Zhang Zhi came back, he brought with him a lot of confiscated stolen silver and jewelry.
All of it was collected into the national treasury.
It just so happened that Shang Xi brought people to count everything in the national treasury again and sort out the accounts.
Shang Xi returned to the palace after finishing his work. As he passed by the rockery, Xiao Ning, who was hiding in the shadows, said quietly, "How come you are busier than me, the emperor?"
Shang Xi was checking the accounts in his mind when he was startled by the sudden sound.
Seeing that it was Xiao Ning, Shang Xi was so angry that he punched her.
"People can scare people to death, you know that!"
Xiao Ning clenched his fist.
"It's my fault, it's my fault. What are you thinking about? I've been watching you for a long time, but you haven't reacted at all."
Shang Xi said, "I'm just thinking about the accounts. It's nothing serious. What are you waiting for here for?"
"certainly!"
Xiao Ning slipped his fingers into his and led him into the hall.
"The test papers of the top twenty male and female candidates have been delivered. Come and take a look!"
Shang Xi followed her into the hall, where the test papers of the candidates were spread out on the table.
Xiao Ning asked him to sit at the table, picked up a test paper and handed it to Shang Xi.
"Take a look at this. I think he wrote it very well."
Shang Xi took it and looked at it carefully, and nodded.
"He has a wide range of knowledge about politics and people's livelihoods, and his choice of words is exquisite. He seems like a child of an aristocratic family, but he can deeply understand the difficulties faced by ordinary people."
Xiao Ning laughed, "Our Great Xin Dynasty needs officials like this!"
Shang Xi looked at the other papers and found many excellent ones.
But these insights into politics and people's livelihood are far less profound than those on the test paper.
Shang Xi tore off the pasted part.
Xiao Ning leaned over to take a look, "Qiu Minghuan? It seems there's no noble family with the surname Qiu..."
Shang Xi looked at the name and smiled. "There were some before, but some died or were exiled. This Qiu Minghuan might be the one from the Qiu family who was exiled."
Xiao Ning thought about the young man from aristocratic family who was crushed into the dust with no one left behind.
What kind of noble family is this?
This is clearly a peerless sword tailor-made for her!
Xiao Ning slammed the table and said, "I am sure, he is this year's top scholar!"
Shang Xi: "...The palace examination hasn't taken place yet."
"Given his background and insights, even in the imperial examination, he would still be the top scorer..."
Shang Xi unfolded a few more test papers and took a look.
"This part of the exam paper... is for the women's exam room?"
Xiao Ning took a look and nodded, "Yes."
She leaned over and looked at the test paper Shang Xi held up.
Her handwriting is beautiful and her words are elegant, expressing her views.
Xiao Ning said: "I have seen this one. Overall it is very good. It is considered to be the best among women."
After all, women have been disciplined since childhood. They cannot see the outside world, and all they know and understand comes from books and the words and deeds of people around them.
Thoughts are inherently limited.
Shang Xi said: "If this test paper were put on the men's side, it would also be ranked in the top five."
Xiao Ning nodded. Indeed, among the men, only Qiu Minghuan was written into her heart.
The other feelings are just so-so.
But overall it's pretty good.
After becoming an official, you will gradually hone your skills. There are many things that people are not born with.
After Xiao Ning personally marked the test paper, the test paper was taken back.
After the results are announced, you can wait for the palace examination.
After Shang Xi finished counting the national treasury and sorting out the accounts, it was Qingming Festival.
He said to Xiao Ning: "I want to leave the palace to visit the graves of my relatives."
Xiao Ning said: "I'll go with you."
It’s a good opportunity to pay tribute to the original owner.
On the Qingming Festival, the two packed up and went to the cemetery with light luggage.
The first to be worshipped were Shang Xi's mother and sister.
Mrs. Xu's tomb was originally in the Shen family's ancestral tomb, but was moved out by Shang Xi's order and buried in a place with beautiful mountains and rivers.
He also collected his sister's body and buried it next to Mrs. Xu.
He heard that Mrs. Xu named her twins Lingyi and Linghui.
Shang Xi erected a monument for them.
One is the tomb of my mother, Xu Yuwan.
One is the tomb of my elder sister Xu Lingyi.
After burning incense, Shang Xi half-knelt on the ground and burned paper money, while Xiao Ning cleared the weeds around the cemetery.
After visiting the grave, I met Chen Ran when I was going down the mountain.
She smiled and greeted, "Brother, Your Majesty."
Xiao Ning nodded with a smile.
Shang Xi asked, "How did you do on the exam?"
Shen Ran tilted her head and smiled mischievously, "Hasn't my brother already looked at the test paper?"
Shen Ran knew when Shang Xi moved the grave, but she did not stop him.
Although the letter Shen Zhiyi left for her only mentioned Shang Xi's affairs, it was not difficult to guess the harm her father had done to her sister and mother.
If their spirits are still in heaven, I think they would prefer to rest here.
Chen Ran went to burn incense for her mother and sister.
A Shu, the guard that Shen Zhiyi left for her, watched quietly from a distance.
When they were done, Shang Xi looked at the remaining incense and paper money in her basket and asked, "Are we going to worship Shen Zhiyi next?"
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