Chapter 17: The Palace Examination Ruined (17)
After the results of the spring examination are announced, the palace examination is not far away.
Zhu Qingchen stayed in the palace and worshipped Manjushri Bodhisattva every day.
The students outside the palace kept their master's teachings in mind, closed the door to visitors, and even refused to see relatives and friends who came to congratulate them. They reviewed their lessons at home every day and prepared seriously for the palace examination.
The same goes for Pei Xuan.
On the day the results were announced, he celebrated a little with his mother and then returned to his room to prepare for the palace examination.
His mother has been pampering him these days, helping him wash clothes and making chicken soup for him.
While eating, he was so focused on reading that he broke his bowl. His mother didn't say anything to him. Instead, she comforted him and told him it was okay. She also helped him pick up the broken pieces to prevent him from hurting his hands.
Pei Xuan was moved and read the book more seriously.
Then another bowl was broken.
Mrs. Chen paused, and was about to raise her head to curse, but she held back: "It's okay, it's okay."
After packing up, Madam Chen asked him, "Where are you going to stay for the night on the day of the palace examination? I have some money here, go find an inn in the city."
Pei Xuan smiled and said, "Mom, the price of a room in the inn in the city has risen to ten taels of silver. How can we afford to stay there..."
Pei Xuan hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly realized what was happening and covered his mouth.
How come he told the truth?
Mrs. Chen asked, "How did you know?"
"On the day the results were announced, Senior Brother Liu and I had dinner at Guanchao Tower. When we came back, I went to ask about it."
"Really? It's so expensive?"
"Yeah." Pei Xuan nodded.
If it were the old him, he would never dare to say this to his mother out loud, for he was afraid that his mother would be sad.
But now, it’s not that he no longer worries about his mother being sad, it’s just that it seems... something has changed in him.
The Master taught him to speak his mind without worrying too much.
Mrs. Chen asked, "Where do you plan to live?"
"The Master and Senior Brother Liu both said that I could stay at their houses temporarily."
"That's good."
"But I thought I'd better stay home."
"Aren't you afraid of being late?"
"I'm not afraid." Pei Xuan said with a smile, "There are many students living outside the city. They are not afraid, so I am not afraid either. Besides, I am used to sleeping in my bed at home. If I move to a new place, I am afraid I will not be able to sleep at night."
Madam Chen was still a little worried, so Pei Xuan comforted her: "The palace examination is about academic writing, not about who arrives first. The big rooster in the backyard crows before dawn every day, so it won't be late."
Mrs. Chen was finally persuaded by him: "Okay, then you can do it yourself."
"good."
Strangely enough, the closer it got to the palace examination, the more relaxed Pei Xuan became.
He didn't seem to be panicked at all. He got up early every day to study and write two articles. When the winery was too busy, he would drive the donkey cart out to help deliver wine.
Pei Xuan thought that the Master really taught him a lot.
It's not just about knowledge from books, but also about knowledge of being a human being.
*
Before I knew it, it was the day before the palace examination.
That evening, Pei Xuan put down the book in his hand, stood up and stretched.
He came to the hall and said, "Mom, do you want to send me some wine today?"
"There are several. Xiao Zhang is loading the truck in the back." Madam Chen knocked on the table. "Tomorrow is the palace examination. Are you still going out to deliver wine?"
"It's okay. I've been reading all day, so I might as well go out for a walk. If Xiao Zhang goes out to deliver wine, mother won't be able to handle it alone, so why not I go."
Mrs. Chen paused and said, "That's fine."
Pei Xuan said: "I am only going to the palace examination, not to become an immortal. Besides, there is no such thing as failing the palace examination, there are only rankings. As long as I don't raise my fist to beat up the examiner, nothing will happen."
Mrs. Chen couldn't persuade him, so she handed him today's order list and said, "Okay, go ahead and come back early."
"Okay." Pei Xuan took a look and put the list in his arms.
Pei Xuan came to the backyard and helped the servant carry the wine jar onto the donkey cart.
He untied the rope that tied the donkey, jumped onto the donkey cart, waved the whip, and skillfully drove away from the backyard.
The servant said, "Sir, please come back soon."
"Okay!" Pei Xuan waved his whip at him without looking back.
The sun had not yet set, it was late spring in April, and the grass was green.
A breeze with a fresh fragrance blew towards him, and Pei Xuan felt refreshed, and all the tiredness from studying during the day disappeared.
He drove the donkey cart slowly into the city.
The winery delivers wine to several small restaurants in the city, and sometimes to some other people. It’s just those two places, and Pei Xuan goes there often, so he is familiar with them.
He drove the cart flexibly through the streets and alleys, tied the donkey cart in front of the door, and then took down the wine jars.
When he entered, he shouted, "Pei's Winery!"
When the people inside heard the noise, they hurried out to greet him, took the jar of wine from him and gave him the money.
The sun slowly set and Pei Xuan's wine was almost delivered.
There is one last jar left.
After delivering this jar, you can go back to eat.
He took out the list and took a look at it.
The last jar will be sent to Prince Jing’s Palace.
It was a good time for hunting as the grass was green and the birds were singing. Prince Jing and his friends often went out hunting and stopped at Pei's Winery.
Prince Jing probably gave up the idea and became much more restrained. He did not call him out to talk again, nor did he force gold on him.
They resumed their normal business relationship as before.
Now that the guests have ordered wine, he naturally has to deliver it.
Pei Xuan jumped into the car, waved the whip, and headed for Prince Jing's Mansion.
It seemed that a banquet was being held in Prince Jing's Mansion. The main gate was wide open, and people were coming in and out from time to time, including many officials from the court.
Pei Xuan frowned and vaguely heard the laughter of court officials coming from inside.
Why are all the court officials here in broad daylight?
Pei Xuan took a look, made up his mind, tied the donkey cart in front of the side door, and walked forward and knocked on the door.
The palace steward came out from the side door and ordered him, "Come in, the prince is having a banquet in the garden, bring the wine to the garden."
"Yes." Pei Xuan picked up the wine jar with both hands, followed him and went in through the side door.
After all, Prince Jing is the emperor's younger brother. The emperor likes drinking, and Prince Jing likes hunting and occasionally does it.
Pei Xuan held the jar of wine and followed the steward to the garden where the banquet was held.
When Pei Xuan entered, a loud voice happened to be heard: "Back then, when my father was fighting in the northwest, Your Majesty always followed behind my father..."
Pei Xuan turned his head and took a look through the flower wall. Before he could see anything clearly, the steward said, "Go on your way, don't look around."
"Yes." Pei Xuan turned around and continued walking forward, delivering the drinks to the kitchen.
The steward hesitated, opened the lid, tasted a sip of the wine first, then said that he had no money on him and asked him to get it now, and asked Pei Xuan to wait here.
If he is free, help pour the wine into the jug and pay him extra.
Pei Xuan did not agree, but said: "I have already delivered the wine. It is getting late. I am in a hurry to go home for dinner, so I will not earn this money. Please go and get the wine money quickly, so that I can go back quickly.
go home. "
The steward glanced at him with an impatient expression, as if letting him serve the wine was a great favor to him.
Pei Xuan was neither humble nor arrogant, he just stood there, with no intention of pretending to be drunk.
The manager could only respond and then go out to get the money for him.
It was clearly the kitchen, but he closed the door when he went out.
Pei Xuan put his hands behind his back and looked around.
I don’t know how much time had passed, but the manager still hadn’t come back.
It was getting dark.
Pei Xuan thought that he probably forgot, and Prince Jing's Mansion would not default on the debt, so he recalled the way he came and decided to go back first and come back to ask for the money in a few days.
He pushed open the door and walked out of the kitchen, arriving at the flower-walled corridor.
Suddenly, a drunken man jumped out and hugged him from behind: "Pei..."
Pei Xuan was startled, and he moved quickly, grabbing the man's arm that was on his shoulder, kicking his foot back, pulling his hand forward, and bending forward.
With a loud bang, the man was thrown to the ground by Pei Xuan before he could finish his words.
Pei Xuan let go of his hand, came to his senses, and then he could see clearly the person lying on the ground.
——Respect the King.
Pei Xuan quickly reached out his hand, trying to help him up.
But he paused and suddenly reacted.
Did Prince Jing want to launch a sneak attack on him just now?
Thinking of this, Pei Xuan withdrew his hand.
Prince Jing frowned and could only get up from the ground by himself.
It turned out that he was awake and not completely drunk.
That's true, how could someone be drunk and still be sober?
He was just drunk and committed the crime.
Pei Xuan took three steps back and saluted him: "My Lord, I am sorry."
Prince Jing was thrown to the ground by him, his clothes and hair were disheveled, and he looked very disheveled.
He lowered his eyes to hide the gloomy look in his eyes: "Pei Xuan, long time no see."
Pei Xuan nodded slightly: "Today is a banquet in the palace. I think the prince is drunk. I will ask someone to help the prince go down to rest."
Just as Pei Xuan was about to leave, Prince Jing grabbed his sleeve.
"A Xuan, help me go back."
Pei Xuan frowned slightly.
"A Xuan" is his nickname, and only his mother and teacher can call him that.
Besides——
"The prince is drunk, I am not the prince
The master's servants are not allowed to enter and leave the palace at will. I am only here to deliver wine."
"I'm not drunk." King Jing grabbed his sleeve and refused to let go. "Ah Xuan, I don't know if it's my illusion, but you seem to be much more distant from me recently."
Pei Xuan:?
Prince Jing continued, "Ever since Master Zhu accepted you as his student, you have had other classmates, and I have become estranged from you. But what did they whisper in your ears?"
Pei Xuan:? ?
"Master Zhu is your majesty's confidant. When he caught a cold, your majesty sent him ten ginseng sticks. Your majesty is afraid of me, so Master Zhu doesn't like me either. Don't listen to what they say. I have no intention of provoking them. I just want to live a peaceful life."
Pei Xuan: ???
He glanced into the distance and saw the court officials there still having fun.
Prince Jing followed his sleeve and held his hand: "Tomorrow is the palace examination. Your home is far away. I have asked someone to clean up the house. You can stay here for the time being and enter the palace for the examination tomorrow morning."
"As for your mother, I will also send someone to talk to her."
If it were the Pei Xuan of the past, he would have been moved to tears by his words.
It’s a pity that Pei Xuan is no longer the Pei Xuan of the past.
He took his hand back and said seriously, "Thank you, Your Highness, but you are worrying too much. I have already arranged everything, so I won't bother you any more."
Pei Xuan bowed and was about to walk around him and go out.
King Jing did not expect that he would not listen, so he grabbed him and said, "Pei Xuan!"
Pei Xuan turned his head and asked: "Does the prince have any other instructions?"
"I usually take care of your family's business. If it weren't for me, you would have starved to death. Is this how you repay me?"
Prince Jing was so angry that he finally spoke out what was in his heart.
In his heart, Pei Xuan would always be the person who depended on him for survival, no different from the servants in the palace.
Pei Xuan brushed his hand away and said sternly, "Is the prince crazy? My mother and I run a wine shop. We do business uprightly. In addition to the prince, we also have other customers. How can it be that the prince is supporting me? I will starve to death without the prince?"
Pei Xuan looked at him righteously: "According to the prince, he doesn't go hunting in winter and never comes to the wine shop. How come my mother and I didn't starve to death?"
"The prince paid me, and I helped him process the prey, cook food, and provide drinks. Why should the prince support me? If so, when the prince left the palace, he would go to any shop in Yong'an City.
Is this the prince's shop?"
"I am grateful to the prince for taking care of the winery business, but I also do business in an honest way and never cheat on weights. What do I owe the prince?"
Pei Xuan has always been stupid, and this is the first time he has said so much.
Prince Jing's face changed several times after hearing what he said. He paused and said, "Let's not talk about money. We have known each other for such a long time, there should be some affection between us, right? I am doing this for your own good. Why can't you stay in the palace for one night?"
Pei Xuan opened his eyes wide: "I am just grateful to the prince, I didn't sell myself to the prince. The prince came up to me without saying hello and made a move on me. He also wanted me to stay. Why can't I refuse?"
He is not stupid!
When Prince Jing saw that he was not making sense, he became annoyed and stepped forward to catch him.
Pei Xuan dodged sideways: "Your Majesty, please respect yourself."
Prince Jing was completely annoyed by him. He grabbed his hand and said sternly, "Do you think you can come and go as you please in the palace?"
Pei Xuan raised his eyes and said seriously: "This is the palace, not the prison. I am only here to deliver wine. I can come and go as I please. King Jing is drunk. Remember to replenish the wine shop with silver and money tomorrow."
There was no point in arguing, so Pei Xuan turned around and was about to call the servants from Prince Jing's mansion to help Prince Jing down.
But as soon as he opened his mouth and before he could make a sound, Prince Jing covered his mouth with his hands and attempted to do something inappropriate.
Pei Xuan turned his head and threw a punch.
Fortunately, his teacher had told him to exercise more, so the power of his punch was much stronger than before.
Prince Jing was hit by his punch and took half a step back.
He reacted and punched Pei Xuan as well.
Prince Jing often went hunting and had some strength. He did not give Pei Xuan any room and punched him in the face, making Pei Xuan's head buzz.
He pressed Pei Xuan against the flower wall and even reached out to untie his clothes.
Pei Xuan reacted instantly and gave him a heavy kick, sending him flying far away.
Two men started scuffling in the corridor.
Pei Xuan was no longer a skinny scholar who could only be oppressed and beaten, nor was he a cowardly student who would faint after being punched and could only lie on the bed and cry.
Prince Jing grabbed Pei Xuan by the collar, and Pei Xuan also grabbed his collar.
Suddenly, Pei Xuan saw that King Jing's clothes were loosened, revealing a gift list with the four big characters "General Zhenwei" clearly visible.
Could it be that...
Pei Xuan reacted suddenly, looked back at the flower wall, punched King Jing in the face, and while he was not paying attention, stole the gift list and put it in his arms.
Prince Jing was so enraged by his punch that he shouted, "Someone come! Someone come quickly! Hold him down!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
