Chapter 15: The Palace Examination Ruined (15)
Zhu Qingchen drank the pigeon soup in small sips and ate some pigeon meat.
The system said quietly: "The emperor will tear you into pieces."
"Everyone must die." Zhu Qingchen chewed the meat carefully, "This pigeon is quite fresh and delicious."
He is always like this. Once he eats, he forgets everything.
After breakfast, several civil servants from the library also entered the palace.
After the greetings, the group began to discuss the test questions.
The emperor sat in his seat and let them discuss the matter without saying a word. It was unknown whether he was listening or not.
It is not easy to come up with questions nowadays. The imperial examination is held every three years, and almost all the questions have been asked.
Of course, the questions cannot be the same as those that have been asked before. It would be unfair if some people have seen them before and some have not.
So after racking their brains to come up with a test question, they would look through old papers to see if it had been used before.
No wonder they had to go to the palace several days in advance to think about the test questions.
Because of his young age, Zhu Qingchen was assigned to this "duplication checking" task.
He sat obediently beside them, facing the exam papers of previous years that were taller than his own, with a look of despair on his face.
At this time, the old scholar called him again: "Xiao Zhu, check whether 'Shi Yu You Zheng' has ever appeared."
Zhu Qingchen raised his head: "I remember seeing it before, I'll look for it."
"good."
Zhu Qingchen rolled up his sleeves, looked at the spine of the file, picked out a volume from several decades ago, and prepared to take it out.
As a result, before the files were pulled out, the entire mountain of files shook.
"Hey!" Zhu Qingchen quickly opened his arms and hugged the file.
He tried to lift the files up, but there were so many of them and they were piled too high that the files were falling down one by one.
Others laughed and helped.
"Xiaozhu, stay steady."
"I can't keep my balance!" Zhu Qingchen was holding the file, and he fell forward, almost falling over the desk. "Stop laughing, come and help me!"
"Come on, come on, you really are."
Several school officials supported him and pulled him back.
Zhu Qingchen returned to his seat, took out a file, opened it and took a look: "Look, I remember that 'Shi Yu You Zheng' has been published."
A chuckle came from above.
Zhu Qingchen knew without even looking that the tyrant emperor was definitely laughing at him again.
*
There are less than five days left until the spring exam.
Liu An left his servant to Pei Xuan. The servant was quick and hardworking. After only one or two days, he had managed the affairs of the winery in perfect order.
Pei Xuan no longer had to sit at the counter and do the accounting. These few days he concentrated on reviewing his lessons in his room and making final preparations.
On this day, Prince Jing took a group of people out of the city to hunt. Around noon, they came to Pei's Winery to rest.
He dismounted outside the door and threw the reins to the servant behind him.
At this time in the past, Pei Xuan would have run out to greet him.
But today, Prince Jing waited outside the door for a while, but only waited for a servant to come.
The servant smiled widely: "Gentlemen, please come in."
Prince Jing frowned and asked casually as he walked in, "Has the owner of the wine shop changed?"
"No, I'm here to help. Our young master is going to take the imperial examination soon, so he will be very busy."
"I see." Prince Jing sat down in his seat. "Go and inform them that Prince Jing is here."
The servant was embarrassed: "Your Highness, our son is studying hard, even his mother would not dare to disturb him, this..."
Prince Jing paused and said, "Then forget it."
"Hey." The servant breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'll go prepare the wine and food."
"good."
Prince Jing's eyes darkened slightly.
Ever since he and Pei Xuan parted ways unhappily in the winery last time, he hasn't seen Pei Xuan for a long time.
He often came to take care of the business of Pei's Winery. Pei Xuan was originally very grateful to him and thought he was a useful person.
It’s a pity that he was led astray by Zhu Qingchen.
Whenever he thought of Pei Xuan recently, he always felt itchy in his heart.
He didn't know why, but he thought that compared with the group of unruly literati outside, Pei Xuan was naturally good.
Pei Xuan has a handsome appearance, a good temper, and always smiles at people.
The most important thing is that he was born in a humble family, and in his eyes, Prince Jing was the savior who took care of his family business and the high and mighty prince, not a student who was taught a lesson in front of Zhu Qingchen.
Prince Jing suddenly liked him very much.
It’s a pity that I didn’t see him today. Well, I’ll wait until the spring exam results are announced and then see Pei Xuan’s ranking.
Prince Jing had a meal in the wine shop. Before leaving, he took out a gold ingot and gave it to the servant.
The servant was a little flustered: "Your Highness, this..."
"It's not for you." Prince Jing said, "Give it to your son and tell him it's from Prince Jing. He can use it first and come to Prince Jing's mansion for more if it's not enough. If he becomes an official in the court in the future, just remember my kindness."
The servant hesitated and wanted to return the things to him: "Your Highness, wait a moment. I will go and call my master."
"No need." Prince Jing acted gentle, "He has to take exams, and he needs money a lot, take it."
"I dare not do that. If the young master knew, he would definitely teach me a lesson."
The servant waved his hand, stuffed the gold ingot back to him, and ran away immediately.
He went to tell Pei Xuan, but Pei Xuan naturally refused to accept it, so he had to come out and decline it in person.
Seeing that he was determined not to accept it, Prince Jing had no choice but to give up.
Prince Jing could only say, "Then I will keep it for you for now. When you pass the imperial examination, I will use this ingot of gold to invite you to the Guanchao Tower to celebrate your success."
Pei Xuan bowed his head and did not answer.
Prince Jing patted him on the shoulder at last, and Pei Xuan unconsciously dodged to the side.
Prince Jing rode away on his horse, feeling very proud of himself.
Anyway, Zhu Qingchen has gone to the palace, so he can come to see Pei Xuan anytime he wants.
In the wine shop, Pei Xuan brushed his sleeves, turned back to his room and continued to review his lessons.
Because he was disturbed by Prince Jing, Pei Xuan felt a little uneasy.
He stood up, walked to the backyard, rolled up his sleeves, and performed two sets of boxing.
The Master had told him that the imperial examination tested not only one's talent and learning, but also one's physical health, and he should also keep fit from time to time.
He always keeps the Master's teachings in mind.
*
That evening, the servant who helped in the winery went to Liu's house to report as usual.
Liu An sat at his desk with the newly written article in front of him.
The servant said, "Prince Jing came to the wine shop today."
Liu An raised his eyes slightly: "Hmm?"
"He wanted to see Master Pei, but I stopped him. Later, he forced a gold ingot on Master Pei."
"Pei Xuan accepted it?"
"Of course not. Master Pei came out and sent the person away."
Liu An sneered.
King Jing is really...
The Master had only been in the palace for a few days when he could no longer sit still.
What exactly does he want to do?
Liu An said calmly: "Pei Xuan went out to meet him, so I had 15 minutes less time to study. I had 15 minutes more time to study, and my chances of beating him in the exam increased by another 3 points."
Servant:?
You are worthy of me, sir.
Liu An paused and said, "Go back. If Prince Jing comes to look for him again, put a lock on his door and lock him in the room. If others ask, just say it was my order. An elder brother is like a father, and the same goes for a senior brother."
"...Yes." The servant corrected himself, "If Prince Jing comes again, I will come back to find you, young master."
Liu An looked at the article intently and replied calmly, "Yeah."
*
The group worked in the palace for the entire day, and it was not until the evening that they finally finalized the questions for the first day's exam.
Zhu Qingchen will copy it and present it to Your Majesty for your review first.
After Your Majesty has read it, he will make another copy, keep the original in archives, and send the copy to the printing house in the palace for printing.
After repeating this for several days, all the test questions were finally finalized before the sixth day of February.
On the eve of the spring exam, Zhu Qingchen bathed and burned incense, then sat cross-legged in front of Manjusri Bodhisattva, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes and muttered: "I hope my name will be on the list, I hope my name will be on the list..."
The system asked: "Why don't you kneel? Wouldn't it be more sincere to kneel?"
Zhu Qingchen said confidently: "My legs are sore. I didn't sleep well last night."
“…”
Zhu Qingchen continued to mutter: "Buddha bless, Pei Xuan will pass the spring exam smoothly, Liu An will pass the exam..."
Zhu Qingchen recited for a quarter of an hour, then opened his eyes, picked up the tortoise shell on the table, raised it high and shook it, and the copper coins in the tortoise shell jingled.
The system said: "According to scientific research, this does not belong to the category of Buddhism. You are blaspheming the Bodhisattva by mixing it up like this."
Zhu Qingchen remained calm and said, "Nonsense, would the Bodhisattva care about these things? Wouldn't it be more reliable to ask a few more gods?"
Although he said so, Zhu Qingchen thought about it and turned his back to do the fortune telling.
If you turn your back to the Bodhisattva, he will not be able to see you.
With a clang, three copper coins formed a hexagram on the ground.
Zhu Qingchen lay on the cushion, picked up a branch and fiddled with the copper coin.
Perhaps this was a bad omen, so he picked up the coin and put it back into the tortoise shell.
"A gentleman does not speak of strange things. Come again. This time does not count."
At the same time, other old scholars also locked themselves in their rooms, doing fortune-telling, closing their eyes and chanting Buddha's name, and some did many other things at the same time.
They are more nervous than the students.
There was no way of communicating with other people inside and outside the palace, and they became even more nervous as they stayed in the palace and could not see their students.
Zhu Qingchen calculated the fortune dozens of times that night, from the ground to the bed, and finally fell asleep hugging the tortoise shell.
The next morning, before daybreak, Eunuch Yang came to call him to get up.
"Master Zhu, by His Majesty's grace, several academic officials can climb the palace wall tower to watch the students enter the examination hall."
Zhu Qingchen opened his eyes dazedly and climbed out of bed: "Huh? Really?"
"Really, I hope Master will get up and wash up soon."
"good!"
Zhu Qingchen excitedly threw off the quilt and got ready.
The next second, the tortoise shell and copper coins in his arms fell to the ground with a clang.
Zhu Qingchen was stunned. Eunuch Yang looked down and said with a smile, "This is a very auspicious sign. Master, please get up quickly."
"Okay!" Zhu Qingchen picked up his clothes and put them on himself, "I'll be there in a minute!"
"Hey." Eunuch Yang smiled and left the room.
Zhu Qingchen washed up quickly and flew out like a kite.
He had just flown a short distance when he saw the emperor standing on the stone steps with his hands behind his back.
Zhu Qingchen stopped and stepped forward to salute: "Your Majesty."
The emperor walked down the stone steps: "Let's go."
Zhu Qingchen hesitated: "The old academic officials..."
"They haven't even woken up yet, but students are already entering."
"All right."
Zhu Qingchen followed the emperor and climbed up the palace wall tower.
The examination room is not far away and you can see it clearly from a high place.
The gate was heavily guarded, and students lined up in front of the gate early in the morning, carrying their book boxes and bags.
There are compartments in front of the door, and each one is checked one by one.
Zhu Qingchen stood behind the emperor and quietly stood on tiptoe, trying to see more clearly.
The emperor put his hands behind his back and moved to the side.
Zhu Qingchen looked closely.
The Liu family's carriage was blocked outside and couldn't get in. Liu An got off the carriage and said a few words to the people in the carriage.
Not long after, Madam Chen, driving her donkey cart, was also blocked outside.
Pei Xuan jumped out of the car and went in with Liu An.
Zhu Qingchen smiled and looked at them, as long as they arrived safely.
Suddenly, the emperor asked, "Are these two your students?"
"Yes." Zhu Qingchen nodded, "They are my students." Zhu Qingchen raised his hand and wanted to wave at them, but then he suddenly remembered that people inside and outside the palace could not communicate with each other. He glanced at the emperor and quickly put his hand down.
Zhu Qingchen cleared his throat and explained as if nothing had happened: "I haven't seen them for a long time."
He just said hello and there was no exchange of information.
The emperor glanced at him, then suddenly took a step towards him, blocking his view.
The time is up, I can't watch it anymore.
Zhu Qingchen:?
What a stingy emperor!
Fortunately, by this time, Liu An and Pei Xuan had already gone in, and Zhu Qingchen could no longer see them.
The emperor asked again: "I heard that Pei Xuan was very close to Prince Jing in private. Was it your instruction?"
Zhu Qingchen suddenly became alert and opened his eyes wide: "Absolutely not! It's all because of King Jing Gou..."
seduce……
Zhu Qingchen paused for a moment, then quickly changed his words: "I have always taught my students to be loyal subjects, wholeheartedly serving the people and the emperor. Pei Xuan and King Jing are just ordinary businessmen, and Pei Xuan has never received any favor from King Jing."
The emperor lowered his eyes and looked at him seriously: "Really?"
Zhu Qingchen thought that the emperor was suspicious, so he bowed and said, "I am willing to guarantee Pei Xuan."
The emperor seemed to still be somewhat dissatisfied, and said in a strange tone: "You are still guaranteeing him? Is he so important?"
"Yes." Zhu Qingchen raised his head slightly, "If Your Majesty feels that my words are insignificant, other academic officials can also prove it."
"That's not what I meant." The emperor seemed helpless and stretched out his hand to help him, but before he touched his hand, he seemed to be stung by something.
The emperor turned his head slightly, and the little red ball of light flew away immediately, broadcasting to him from afar: "Host, please pay attention to maintaining your character and not reveal your identity. You are a tyrant, and a tyrant cannot support ministers..."
The sound became smaller and weaker.
The emperor looked unfriendly. He reached forward, broke through the obstacles, grabbed Zhu Qingchen's hand and helped him up.
Zhu Qingchen was horrified.
What is he doing? !
System, save me! I'm being captured!
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