Chapter 18: The Palace Examination Ruined (18)
The sun sets and the wind gradually cools down.
Madam Chen stood in front of the wine shop cabinet, lit a candle, and looked outside from time to time.
Why hasn’t Pei Xuan come back yet?
It's been almost half an hour, and there aren't many places to deliver to today.
The servant also felt something was wrong, so he put down the rag in his hand and said to Madam Chen, "I'll go check it out."
"good."
The servant ran along the road leading into the city for a while, but there was no sign of the donkey cart at the city gate not far away.
He found a neighbor who was passing by and asked him to go to the winery and tell Madam Chen to look after the winery while he went to Liu Mansion to tell Liu An.
Liu An had already finished his dinner and was studying under the lamp, making final preparations for the palace examination.
The servant rushed in in a hurry: "Master, Master Pei is missing."
"What?" Liu An turned his head suddenly and threw away the book. "It's gone? Tell me in detail."
"Mr. Pei goes to the city to deliver wine every evening, and comes back in less than two cups of tea. But today, it's already half an hour, and he hasn't come back yet."
"Hasn't come back yet?" Liu An stood up suddenly. "Where did he go to deliver wine?"
The servant took out another order list copied by Madam Chen.
Liu An took a look and threw it to him: "Go to the front yard to count the servants and look for them one by one."
"yes."
Just as the servant was about to take the order and leave, Liu An suddenly saw something and snatched the list from his hand.
Liu An looked carefully and saw that it was Prince Jing's Mansion.
Liu An breathed a sigh of relief. If it was Prince Jing, then there was nothing to worry about.
He knew all of Prince Jing's methods, which were just to pester Pei Xuan to say a few words or to force him to stay for dinner.
Pei Xuan has already achieved fame and honor, so King Jing would not dare to do anything excessive.
"Let's go, pick a few people and go to Prince Jing's Mansion."
Liu An strode out, and the servant called a few attendants. Before the group walked out of the mansion, the head of the Liu family, Liu An's father, came over from the corridor with a cane, walking briskly.
"An'er, it's so late, where are you going?"
"Go to Prince Jing's Mansion."
The head of the Liu family glanced at the servant and knew that he was sent by Liu An to be with Pei Xuan. He saw it clearly at a glance: "But what happened to Pei Xuan from the wine shop?"
"Yes." Liu An nodded, "I'll take people over to check and bring him back." "You..." Patriarch Liu held his cane and slammed it twice on the ground, "Tomorrow is the palace examination, and you broke into Prince Jing's mansion at night just for a student from a winery, are you crazy?!"
Liu An said seriously, "It's not that serious. Prince Jing always pesters Pei Xuan to talk, and he was probably invited to dinner by Prince Jing today. It's just that his mother is worried, so she came to me for help."
"Pei Xuan is thin-skinned and stupid, and his family has no power, so he dares not refuse Prince Jing. It is just a piece of cake for me to go to Prince Jing's mansion to pick Pei Xuan up. I will be back in half a cup of tea."
"Before entering the palace, the Master asked me to look after several of his fellow apprentices. As his elder brother, how could I bear to see Pei Xuan suffer? Dad, you also said that the palace examination will be held tomorrow, how could I..."
The head of the Liu family looked disappointed and said, "What do you know?! I wish this matter was as simple as you said. Prince Jing is not what you see. He..."
He didn't finish his words, but Liu An immediately realized something was wrong.
"Dad, what do you mean?"
The head of the Liu family did not explain to him any more. He waved his hand and said, "Come here, send the young master back to his room! Keep an eye on him and let him review his lessons. If he doesn't want to study, let him go to bed! No one is allowed to let him out. I will personally send him to the palace examination tomorrow!"
The four attendants quickly stepped forward and grabbed Liu'an's hands and feet effortlessly.
Liu An was thin and was carried up without much struggle.
"Dad? Explain what you mean? Why..." Liu An couldn't break free and shouted outside, "Xiao Zhang, go find the Master! Go to the palace and find the Master!"
Among his other classmates, there were almost no ones whose family background was better than his.
I can only go find the teacher.
The servant hesitated and glanced at the head of the Liu family.
The head of the Liu family sighed and waved his hand: "Go, go, go, you go, and don't say that it was my Liu family who sent you."
"Yes!" the servant responded, ran out of the mansion, and ran quickly towards the direction of the palace.
He came to the palace gate and looked up at the towering palace. The guards guarding the gate looked at him unkindly.
He couldn't help feeling timid and took a half step back.
Suddenly, he saw a somewhat familiar figure passing by the palace gate.
The servant hurriedly shouted, "Eunuch! Eunuch! I am Master Zhu's servant! I have a matter of life and death and I want to see Master Zhu! Eunuch! Life and death are at stake!"
When he followed Liu An to study at the government office, he had seen Eunuch Yang. Later, when he followed Pei Xuan, he also saw him when the results were announced a few days ago, but he didn't know his last name.
The guards at the gate wanted to stop him, but Eunuch Yang had already heard his shouting and was walking towards them with a group of young eunuchs.
"What's going on? Why are you shouting in front of the palace gate?"
*
At this time, Zhu Qingchen and the old academic officials had just finished their dinner. After wiping the corners of their mouths, they were about to go to the library to discuss the questions for the palace examination.
The palace examination is more rigorous than the spring examination and is divided into two parts: policy essays and dialogues.
The policy essay is still a written article, with only one topic and a time limit of one hour.
The dialogue is with the emperor.
Because there is only one question, they usually make it up on the night before the palace examination.
This can effectively avoid leakage of questions.
There was a desk in front of the library, with papers on it, and it was guarded by palace servants.
Every student official who enters or leaves the palace must sign here for record, and must also sign before going outside to the toilet.
Zhu Qingchen was munching on the red bean paste buns that he hadn't finished at the banquet while standing at the end of the line, waiting to sign.
The senior student in front turned around and said, "Xiao Zhu, are you still eating? Wipe the bean paste off your fingers. If you stain the paper later, we will have to sign again."
Zhu Qingchen licked his fingertips and said, "I will be careful."
"Really?" The old scholar sighed, "Eating all day long."
"I don't know what's going on, I just feel a little nervous today and can't help wanting to eat."
“…”
Zhu Qingchen asked the system: "System, can you show me what Pei Xuan and Liu An are doing now? Just like last time, there is a screen and I can see them."
The system replied: "No, it's too far away. My camera can't reach that far."
"All right."
It was Zhu Qingchen's turn to sign. He stuffed the remaining steamed bun into his mouth and ate it in one bite, then wiped his hands and picked up the pen.
He bent down and just signed the word "Wish" when he heard a noise coming from a distance.
“Master Zhu! Master Zhu!” The servant ran over from the palace path and knelt down in front of him with a plop. “Master Zhu! Master Pei… Master Pei is in trouble!”
Zhu Qingchen was stunned and held the pen: "What's going on?"
"Mr. Pei, come in..." The servant paused. He wanted to say "Prince Jing's Mansion", but considering that this is the palace and he has no evidence to prove that Pei Xuan did not come out because he went to Prince Jing's Mansion, he could only swallow his words.
"Master Pei went to deliver the wine, and he hasn't come back yet. Master Liu originally wanted to bring people to look for him, but he was locked in the room by the patriarch. The situation is urgent, and I have no other choice but to ask Master Zhu for help!"
"Master Zhu, please give me a warrant, or send a few people to accompany me. I will lead them to find Master Pei!" The servant leaned down and knocked his head heavily on the stone floor.
Zhu Qingchen blackened the word "Zhu" he had just written and placed the pen heavily on the table.
"I will go myself."
He knew where Pei Xuan was. Where else could he be except Prince Jing's Mansion?
Even if this servant were allowed to take people with him and had his warrant, Prince Jing might not necessarily listen to him.
Zhu Qingchen strode down the stone steps, turned around, and clasped his fists to the senior school officials: "Everyone, I did not enter the library today, and I have never discussed the palace examination questions with you."
"I am going here to save my students. I hope you will bear witness for me. When I come before His Majesty in the future, I hope you will bear witness for me as well."
Although the old school officials didn't know what exactly happened, they still waved their hands at him and said, "Okay, go ahead, we will testify for you."
"Thank you." Zhu Qingchen bowed to them, then strode out with the servant.
I met Eunuch Yang again on the way.
Originally, it was Eunuch Yang who asked the guards in front of the palace gate to let the servant in, but he was old and slow, so he fell behind.
Seeing that he was in a hurry, Eunuch Yang comforted him: "Master Zhu, don't worry. I have asked someone to harness the carriage. Wait a moment, I will be here soon."
It's too late.
If it had been a little later, Pei Xuan would have been tortured to death by King Jing.
The young eunuch led the carriage over. Zhu Qingchen looked around, snatched the sword from the guard, stepped forward quickly, drew the sword from its sheath, and cut the rope of the carriage with one sword.
The horse neighed and raised its two front hooves.
Zhu Qingchen slung his sword over his shoulder, climbed onto the horse, wrapped the reins around his hands twice, and held the horse firmly.
When he was riding his horse past Eunuch Yang, he slowed down, reached out his hand, and pulled Eunuch Yang onto the horse.
"Hey! Xiaozhu!"
The world was spinning around and Eunuch Yang sat on the horse in shock.
Zhu Qingchen said, "Your Majesty said that if I want to leave the palace, Eunuch Yang must follow me. Eunuch Yang, please help me be a witness."
Eunuch Yang's eyes widened as never before: "Ah... OK... Master Zhu, slow down!"
Zhu Qingchen pulled the reins, squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and rode out of the palace with his robe sleeves fluttering in the wind.
The patrolling guards did not dare to stop him, and the guards guarding the palace gate did not try to stop him either, and let him leave the palace.
Eunuch Yang sat in the back, looking pale, pulling at his belt to prevent himself from falling: “Xiao Zhu, slow down!”
He hasn't ridden a horse yet!
The system also flew behind: "Host, slow down!"
It has never ridden a horse!
Zhu Qingchen turned his head and took a look, and saw the small blue ball of light catching up with him.
Zhu Qingchen used its light to see the road clearly, turned around and continued on his way.
The system looked down at itself and said, "Are you treating me like a street light?"
Zhu Qingchen did not answer, but said: "If Pei Xuan has any problems, I will throw you into the sky as a star."
system:?
Zhu Qingchen asked: "Didn't I let Pei Xuan live in Xueguan Mansion or Liu Mansion? Why did he go to Prince Jing's Mansion?"
The system explained: "This is an automatic plot repair function. The original plot setting is that Pei Xuan will enter the Prince Jing's Mansion the day before the palace examination. Even if you provide Pei Xuan with a place to stay, the plot may use various methods to push Pei Xuan into the threshold of the Prince Jing's Mansion."
Zhu Qingchen was shocked: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
The system said confidently: "I thought you knew that before doing the task, there are user agreements and task rules, right?"
Zhu Qingchen:?
"Who would read so many small words carefully?"
He is so mad!
Zhu Qingchen could only wave the whip again to speed up and rush to Prince Jing's Mansion.
The system comforted him: "But the plot judgment is not that strict. Pei Xuan just went in, and he may not be punished by King Jing... Hmm."
Zhu Qingchen had just eaten dinner and felt like vomiting just thinking about it.
He pulled the reins and galloped across the long street.
It was getting dark and there were not many people on the long street.
Suddenly, several people ran out from the other side of the street.
Liu An, holding up the hem of his clothes, almost fell in front of Zhu Qingchen's horse's hooves.
"An'er?"
"Master?" Liu An raised his head. "Master, I climbed out from the window and called a few classmates to come over on the way. Is Pei Xuan in Prince Jing's mansion?"
Zhu Qingchen nodded: "Yes."
"Then I..."
"I'll go and take care of it. You and your fellow apprentices stay outside and don't show up. See everything clearly so that there won't be any arguments and Prince Jing won't blame you for it."
"I know."
Liu An moved aside to let Zhu Qingchen pass.
Zhu Qingchen pulled the reins hard, leaving two white marks on his palms.
Zhu Qingchen looked up at the plaque of Prince Jing's Mansion and said, "It would be better if he did nothing."!
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