Chapter 2: The Palace Examination Ruined (2)
Pei Xuan held the article high, squeezed out of the crowd with great effort, came to the servant and greeted him.
"Student Pei Xuan."
The servant moved aside and said, "Mr. Pei, please follow me."
The other students stayed outside and watched Pei Xuan follow the servant into the academy through a side door, feeling extremely envious.
Pei Xuan held his article tightly in his hand, feeling somewhat nervous.
Strictly speaking, he was not a student of Master Zhu.
The academy where Master Zhu taught was where the princes, grandchildren, and children of the rich and powerful studied, and he could not enter.
He had been studying in a private school outside the city since he was young. Ever since he passed the autumn examination last year, the old teacher of the school no longer allowed him to come.
The old gentleman said that he had never passed the autumn examination in his life. Now that he had passed it, there was nothing left to teach him. If he continued to teach him, it would only delay his future.
Pei Xuan had no choice but to pack up his books, go home, and study hard on his own.
But just like traveling late at night, he always fails to get to the point, and the articles he writes are always unsatisfactory.
He had already inquired about the news and knew that Zhu Xueguan had a day off today, so he specially picked out an article from his past writings, re-copied it, and handed in the visiting card early in the morning.
If the academician Zhu could give him a few words of advice, he would definitely remember it.
Pei Xuan clenched the article in his hand and made up his mind secretly.
The servant frowned, looked at him, and touched him: "Master Pei, what are you daydreaming about?"
Pei Xuan subconsciously raised his head: "Hmm?"
The servant reminded him: "This is our Master Zhu."
Pei Xuan raised his head and met the gaze of Zhu Qingchen who was standing on the stone steps.
Zhu Qingchen went out in a hurry, wearing only an outer garment, with his long hair loose, his face like a jade crown, and his eyes like lacquer.
Unlike other school officials with gray hair, he looks so young.
The system took credit for it, saying, "I was afraid you weren't used to it, so I opened the permissions and directly copied your original body data. How is it? Not bad, isn't it?"
Zhu Qingchen pursed his lips and answered in his heart: "Twenty-year-old teacher and nineteen-year-old student, you are amazing."
"I like to do missions with young hosts." The system was a little embarrassed. "How about adding another three years to your age? This is already the limit of what I can tolerate. But don't worry, because this is a novice copy, all the values are maxed out for you."
At this moment, Pei Xuan came back to his senses and quickly bowed and saluted: "Master."
Zhu Qingchen nodded slightly and stepped down the stairs: "Follow me."
"Yes." Pei Xuan followed him respectfully.
Zhu Qingchen paused, turned around and told the servant: "Send a few people to collect the essays of the students outside. I will read them when I am free. Tell them not to wait outside the door all the time."
"Yes." The servant took the order and called a few servants out.
Zhu Qingchen looked at Pei Xuan: "Come."
"yes."
Pei Xuan followed him, hesitated for a moment, and decided to confess to the teacher.
"Master..."
"Um?"
"I am not a student of the academy. If the teacher is bothered, I will..."
"I know." Zhu Qingchen paused, "The academy may not be superior, and the students are not divided into high and low levels."
"yes."
Zhu Qingchen glanced at him and returned to his room the same way he came.
Pei Xuan still followed him obediently.
The teacher knew that he was not a student of the academy, but was still willing to teach him. He should prick up his ears, be more alert, and write down every word the teacher said.
Zhu Qingchen smoothed his hair and then remembered that he had not washed or changed his clothes yet.
He casually tried the water in the copper basin. It was clean, but a little cold.
He was too lazy to call someone to come in and change the water, so he decided to just make do with it.
Zhu Qingchen walked up to Pei Xuan, grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back.
Pei Xuan was puzzled: "Master?"
Zhu Qingchen dragged him to the outer room and stepped over the threshold: "I need to wash up, you stand here and read your article to me."
Pei Xuan hesitated: "...Yes."
Zhu Qingchen closed the door, turned around and rolled up his sleeves.
Pei Xuan stood outside the door, lowered his head to look at his article, and opened his mouth: "Master, I read it."
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen responded, bent down, and scooped up some water with both hands.
"The heart of heaven and earth..."
"Speak louder, I can't hear you."
"Yes." Pei Xuan paused, "Husband..."
"No matter how loud you speak, just like me, people outside won't be able to hear you, and your article won't be scared away."
"yes."
The system held up a decibel meter to test: "Scientific instruments show that his voice is still very small compared to yours."
Zhu Qingchen put on his clothes and gathered his hair: "I don't have to let him go with me.
I wanted him to hold his head high and have some confidence in himself and his writing.”
"He used to be very cautious because he had no choice. I can understand that. But now that I am the teacher, he has to be more outspoken."
At the same time, Pei Xuan outside the door also slowly entered the state and his voice became louder.
From childhood to adulthood, he was always cautious and careful, whether in school or in the winery at home.
There were inevitably rich kids in private schools, and there were mostly drinkers in wine shops, and they all looked down on him.
He liked reading, but could only study by himself away from others. He was used to reciting silently in his mind and did not even dare to read out loud, for fear of being laughed at and told that he was unworthy.
He had never even read aloud the writings of the saints, let alone his own.
But now, his ears were filled with his own voice, as if he had returned to the state of mind when he wrote the article.
The emotions are surging, very different.
“…This is why the four seas have become one!”
After Pei Xuan finished reading the last sentence, he raised his head with sparkling eyes.
Zhu Qingchen was dressed neatly, opened the door and came out.
Pei Xuan met his gaze and returned to his previous reserved look. He lowered his eyes and stepped aside to salute: "Master."
"That's right." Zhu Qingchen took the article from him, walked to the outer room, lifted his robe and sat down on the table, and placed his article on the table, "Sit down."
"Yes." Pei Xuan knelt on the side seat with his hands placed neatly on his knees.
Zhu Qingchen asked, "Do you mind if I draw on it?"
"I dare not." Pei Xuan rolled up his sleeves and helped him grind the ink.
"Hmm." Zhu Qingchen picked up his pen and dipped it in ink, then made a stroke on his article. "Here, here, and here, talking in general terms; here, and here, with no limit to what is said."
Pei Xuan listened carefully and nodded from time to time.
He was gifted and very hardworking, and could understand things quickly. It didn't take Zhu Qingchen much effort to discuss articles with him.
After a while, the servant brought up the articles collected from outside the door, filling three baskets.
Zhu Qingchen opened his eyes wide: "So many?"
The servant replied, "When the students in the city heard that the teacher wanted to read the article, they all rushed to send the article over."
Zhu Qingchen's hand holding the pen trembled slightly.
He originally just didn't want Pei Xuan to be too special, and didn't want to favor one over the other, so he asked people to collect all the articles. How could it be...
"Master, please take your time. I have agreed with them to come back in three days.
Come and get it." The servant suddenly remembered something, "Oh, the master hasn't had breakfast yet, I'll go and bring the snacks up."
The system explained in a low voice: "Host, I have maxed out your attributes and your fame, so... there are many, many people who come to you to read your articles..."
Zhu Qingchen held his slightly trembling right hand with his left hand and said, "Calm down!"
He turned back and looked at Pei Xuan with a smile: "There is still one page left to tell, let's continue."
"Yes." Pei Xuan nodded.
Another quarter of an hour later, Zhu Qingchen finished the entire article.
Pei Xuan stared at the article for a few moments, then suddenly stood up and bowed to him: "Thank you for your guidance, Master. It has really enlightened me."
Zhu Qingchen gave him a false hand and said, "No need to be so polite. There is still some time before the spring exam next year. Go back and study hard. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me."
"Yes." Pei Xuan knocked his forehead to the ground honestly, "Master, I will never forget your kindness."
Pei Xuan hesitated for a while and said softly: "It's just... Master, I still don't understand one thing."
"you say."
"There are many students waiting outside the gate today, why did you choose me alone?"
"this……"
Zhu Qingchen paused. He couldn’t possibly say, “Because you are a gloomy bottom and you will jump off the city wall in the future, I chose you,” right?
Pei Xuan looked at him eagerly. Zhu Qingchen came back to his senses and paused: "I passed by your wine shop before and saw you helping at the counter while reading a book. You are a hardworking and good child. You should go further."
Pei Xuan was so moved by his words that he burst into tears.
After ten years of hard study, it turned out that all his efforts were noticed by others.
Zhu Qingchen patted his shoulder and reminded him, "Come to me when you have revised the article. If you have any problems in the future, you can also come to me. The spring exam is approaching, don't be blinded by unimportant things."
Pei Xuan looked at him and nodded seriously: "Yes, thank you for your advice, Master. I will remember it."
"Well, go ahead."
"yes."
Pei Xuan stood up, saluted him, and walked away.
Zhu Qingchen looked at him with relief.
The system sat on the desk: "Host, I don't think I need to add your age. You look like an old man."
Zhu Qingchen stopped smiling and returned to his angry look: "Shut up, I haven't settled accounts with you yet. How can I read so many articles?
Finished?"
Pei Xuan carefully put the article annotated by the Master into his arms and wiped away his tears.
The servant sent him to the side door and said, "Master Pei, walk slowly... and cry slowly."
Pei Xuan had just left the academy when, on the other side, His Royal Highness Prince Jing came from the corner of the long street, carrying a longbow on his back, riding on a tall horse, and surrounded by a group of friends.
They were going on a safari.
Prince Jing took a closer look and asked casually, "Isn't that Pei Xuan? How did he come out of Master Zhu's school?"
The friend beside him replied, "Your Highness, Master Zhu is on holiday today, and the students have come to see him. Master Zhu personally selected a student named Pei Xuan to come in. Your Highness, do you recognize him?"
"Pei Xuan?" The others chewed on the name, "This name sounds familiar."
"You don't remember?" Prince Jing said calmly, "There is a Pei's wine shop outside the city. We often stop at the wine shop when we go hunting. Pei Xuan is the young master of the wine shop."
The people around him suddenly realized: "It turned out to be him."
Prince Jing continued, "He has passed the autumn examination and is only waiting for the spring and palace examinations next year. What about you? You haven't even passed the autumn examination."
Someone stiffened his neck and said stubbornly, "It is enough for us to rely on the favors of our ancestors. Why should we join the excitement of the imperial examination? Besides, it is just a temporary failure in the imperial examination. In terms of talent, knowledge and courage, Pei Xuan may not be better than us."
"that is!"
King Jing laughed and said, "But I remember one time when you were drunk and discussed state affairs, he lowered his head and refuted you with a few words, and you were all speechless."
These people replied hesitantly: "...Yes."
"That's interesting." Prince Jing turned the ring on his thumb and whispered, "Master Zhu is a man of good judgment. He has taken a liking to the person I have been eyeing for so long."
He raised his voice and said, "Let's go hunting first, and then we'll stop at Pei's Winery for lunch."
He loosened the reins, and his followers followed him like clouds, and the team galloped through the long street, raising a cloud of dust. !
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(This book comes from: Longfeng Internet)
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