The Imperial College was located in Wubenfang, adjacent to the Imperial City, halfway across the city from Yonghefang, and it took an hour to reach it by oxcart. Xu Jiang had never been to the Imperial College, but Lou Yunchun was very familiar with it. Firstly, Lou Jing served as a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Rites, assisting the Vice Minister in administering the imperial examinations, which necessarily meant frequent contact with the Imperial College. Second, Lou Yunchun was also a former student there.
"No wonder Mr. Lou is so close to Mr. Du and Mr. Yuan. This is the reason." Xu Jiang asked curiously, "Then which subject did you choose to enter the Imperial College?"
"Law."
"What subject are you taking the Spring Examination?"
"Jinshi." Seeing Xu Jiang was about to ask more, Lou Yunchun took the initiative to answer, "Third in the first class, Tanhua."
He passed the imperial examination. Although Xu Jiang expected his ranking to be high, she was still surprised and said jokingly, "So he's the third place winner."
Lou Yunchun raised the corner of his mouth, but Xu Jiang caught him red-handed. He thought to himself that this man was really proud of himself. Then he thought to himself that he also had the desire to show off. He had thought that he was really a dullard who was as still as a mountain and had no desires or demands.
Then he became curious, "With your talent, you only got the third place. Who are the first and second place winners?"
Lou Yunchun said, "The top scholar is Dong Shou from Luoyang, and the second place is Liu Yannian from Qizhou."
Xu Jiang had heard of Liu Yannian, who was quite talented in poetry, but had never heard of Dong Shou. However, he thought that anyone who could win the first prize must be a rare genius.
"Dong Shou is now the Minister of the Western Court, and Liu Yannian is the Right Prime Minister." These two people are both prime ministers, pillars of the country, and have a bright future.
Lou Yunchun served as the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, where he usually assisted the Dali Temple Minister in managing criminal justice and reviewing cases reported by local officials to avoid false and unjust cases. It was also an official position that the court valued very much.
The saint placed the top three in Lou Yunchun's class in such a position, which must have been a well-intentioned move.
"arrive."
"So fast?"
Whenever Xu Jiang heard Lou Yunchun talk about these court affairs, she felt that time passed in the blink of an eye, and she still felt a little unsatisfied.
Looking up, she saw red walls shaking the earth, dragon eaves flying into the sky, and a towering gate standing in front of Xu Jiang. On the gate hung a solemn plaque with the three big characters "Guozijian" inscribed on it.
The two men got out of the car, straightened their clothes, and then walked into the gate.
"The Imperial College is divided into five halls and six halls, which are responsible for all student education matters. The one we are going to is the Classics Hall in the five halls." Lou Yunchun pointed to a hall in the southeast corner and led Xu Jiang to it. "That's it."
"It seems I was right to ask you to come." Xu Jiang smiled at Lou Yunchun, "If I had come alone, I would have been spinning around like a headless fly."
Lou Yunchun smiled again.
It was just past this hour when students began to go to the halls one after another. They were all in a hurry, probably rushing to attend classes.
As the two turned onto the southwest street, a man in his thirties approached. Upon seeing Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun, he quickly stepped forward and bowed to Lou Yunchun, "Hello, Master Xiaolou." Then he turned to Xu Jiang and asked, "Is this Madam Xu?"
Xu Jiang hurriedly bowed and replied, "That's right."
Lou Yunchun introduced: "This is Song Xuelu."
Song Xuelu hurriedly stated his purpose, "I was sent by Du Siye to pick you up."
Xu Jiang bowed again and said, "Thank you for your help in studying."
"You're too polite, Madam Xu." He smiled gently, then glanced at Lou Yunchun and said respectfully, "Master Xiaolou, why are you back at the Imperial College? If you can use me in any way, please let me know."
"I brought her here." Lou Yunchun said calmly.
Song Xuelu was stunned at first, then smiled awkwardly, thinking, "If I had told him earlier that Lou Yunchun would be accompanying me, I could have saved him a lot of trouble." He secretly looked at Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun, unsure of their relationship. Finally, he just said, "This way, both of you."
The three of them said nothing, and in about half an incense stick of time they arrived at the Classics Hall. The ox cart was parked by the roadside, still some distance from the Classics Hall. Song Xuelu asked the two of them to wait there for a while, and then went to the hall to call for someone to move the books.
Most of the people who came to move the books were students. They were diligent and didn't talk much. They only looked at Xu Jiang curiously occasionally, but when they met Lou Yunchun's gaze, they shrank back and ran away quickly with the books.
Soon the poetry book was emptied, and Song Xuelu ordered a student to lead the cow for them, and then led the two men into the hall.
The classics hall is very large. By comparison, it is more than five times larger than Xu Jiang's small bookstore. There are bookshelves on all four sides, displaying various classics in different categories. The rest of the furnishings are also elegant, simple, dignified and grand.
Opposite the hall door, there is a square desk with tables and chairs on both sides, probably used for entertaining guests.
"Please sit down for a moment. I have sent someone to invite the chief clerk." Song Xuelu invited the two to sit down and then served them tea.
Xu Jiang took a sip and was delighted with the rich aroma and lingering aftertaste. It was Jingting Green Snow. This tea is covered with white hairs, which tumble and swirl like dancing snow when brewed, hence the name.
She couldn't help but drink a few more sips, firstly because she was thirsty, and secondly because tea was expensive.
Lou Yunchun asked, "Do you like this tea?"
Xu Jiang shook her head. She preferred the Bitan Piaoxue tea, which was more fragrant. "This tea is precious. It's worth drinking a few more sips."
Lou Yunchun couldn't help but smile. Xu Jiang was counting the number of times he had been hit. It was three times.
Just after a cup of tea, Song Xuelu entered with someone else. Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun stood up to greet them. The man next to Song Xuelu looked about the same age as Du Hui, but his temperament was much more friendly than Du Hui's.
"Zhaoyue is here too." He first exchanged greetings with Lou Yunchun, then said to Xu Jiang, "Madam Xu, nice to meet you."
Lou Yunchun said, "This is Xie Zhubu."
Xu Jiang quickly bowed, "Xu Jiang greets you, sir."
Xie Zhubu smiled and said, "No need to be so polite." He then continued, "I have seen the 'New Collection of Elementary Education' that you published. It is very good. Du Hui often mentions you, which makes us extremely curious. We have always imagined what kind of person could have such talent. But seeing you today, you are so young. You are truly to be feared by the young. The young are truly to be feared."
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