Chapter 149: Double Ninth Festival Sacrifice Event (I)
Today is the imperial examination and also the Double Ninth Festival.
In addition to offering sacrifices to the previous emperors of Great Xia, His Majesty will also go to the Circular Mound outside Mingde Gate to offer sacrifices to the heavens, asking God to protect the prosperity of Great Xia, and pray for good luck in the winter exams for the students taking the exam today.
The current empress had already issued a list of one hundred names for this year's winter imperial examination. There were even rumors that when His Majesty was chatting with the future empress, he was inspired by Miss Chang'an's words "I hope that all scholars in Daxia will have a heart that brings peace to the people and enlighten the masses with wisdom." The empress was deeply touched, so she took advantage of the wedding to issue this unprecedented list of one hundred names for the imperial examination since the founding of Daxia.
That's exactly why.
These days, many students have been filled with gratitude, expressing their admiration for the Queen's talent and kindness, as well as their gratitude to the Empress for her concern for the country and the grace bestowed on scholars all over the world.
Among them, a foreign student wrote a sentence: "I don't know how to repay the kindness of heaven and earth, but I will die with no regrets after serving you wholeheartedly."
Translated, it means that I can never repay the great kindness of God, and I would have no regrets even if I died after devoting my life to His service.
No one thought this was an exaggeration.
Even ordinary people don't think it's an exaggeration.
After decades of hard study, many students wanted to take the imperial examinations but failed. Not to mention several years, there are also many people who have taken the exams for more than ten years to qualify.
One name of favor is a blessing from heaven, which gives students hope. One hundred names of favor will give countless students more than the slightest chance.
Ten years of hard study, no one cares, one stroke makes you famous. Now, everyone who queues up at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall is doing so to become famous and to get their names on the list of successful candidates.
Therefore, no one thinks that the poem is exaggerated. They just feel that scholars like us have a lofty spirit. We were born for the Great Xia Dynasty. Now that we have met a wise ruler and a virtuous queen, how can we not devote ourselves to the cause?
Imperial examination, plus the Double Ninth Festival.
It is rare to come across such a festive day when two major events are combined.
The common people, who have always loved excitement, naturally could not let it go.
There were huge crowds of people in front of Luo'an Examination Hall. Although the Imperial College, Jingzhao Prefecture, Ministry of Personnel and other departments were fully staffed, the order was still chaotic at this time.
The candidates lined up with three days' worth of daily necessities and meals.
Around them were either the candidates' family members or people who came to join in the fun. They were holding yellow chrysanthemums, which meant "rapid advancement and success in the imperial examinations," or aster chrysanthemums, which meant "love," and they were just looking at the candidates.
Many of them threw the yellow chrysanthemums in their hands to their children. Those holding aster chrysanthemums were mostly girls. They just threw the aster chrysanthemums away when they saw the elegant and good-looking students in the team.
If Aster was picked up, she would look shy, but secretly happy in her heart, and be very happy.
If it was not picked up and was ignored by the candidate, he would be a little angry and turn around and leave, but he would still take another chrysanthemum and go somewhere else unwillingly.
Because both men and women took the exam, they were divided into two teams and the examination rooms were also separated for men and women.
Examiners are divided into male and female.
At that moment, Yan Shu was holding the yellow chrysanthemums that someone had just thrown at him, feeling a little embarrassed.
He didn't have much stuff, just a quilt, a small bag of Hu cakes, a kettle of water, and some writing brushes and ink.
So it is quite easy to get it, but compared to those students who come from wealthy families, it is a little too little.
Liu Sanbai looked at the bewildered Yan Shu and joked with a smile, "Is Yan Shu disappointed because he didn't receive the chrysanthemums from the girls?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Shu immediately shook his head: "No, no, I just want to know who sent it to me, so I can say thank you."
Liu Sanbai smiled and glanced at a girl in the crowd who had been looking at this side, so he teased Yan Shu: "Look over there, that girl has been looking at you."
Yan Shu blushed slightly and shook his head, not daring to look.
But he was a good boy after all, so how could he not harbor feelings? He turned his head and took a peek at her secretly.
The four looked into each other's eyes.
The wealthy and noble girl in the crowd who was not interested in worldly things had indeed been looking at Yan Shu. She felt that everyone else had taken so many things, but this candidate only took this little.
I heard that we have to stay in there for three days. How can we survive this?
Yan Shu turned his head quickly and blushed.
The rich young lady also found it interesting and started to giggle, which made her maid curious.
Liu Sanbai found it really interesting to see Yan Shu like this.
Liu Xuan came back with the sign at this time. Seeing this scene, he was curious for a moment, but when he saw Liu Sanbai like this, he knew that he must be teasing Yan Shu, and immediately said: "Don't disturb Yan Shu's mood."
Liu Sanbai smiled and shook his head, but still bowed to Yan Shu.
…
In the women's team, Su Linhan stood behind Cui Yuer.
Su Linhan didn't take much, so Su Liushi tried her best to take everything she needed, which were fur blankets, thick quilts, knee pads, thick shawls and other things. What she could eat were some snacks to resist hunger, as well as Hu bing and dried meat, all of which were prepared by Su Changan with recipes written down in advance and sent to the Su Mansion.
Cui Yuer took a lot, but she could still carry it all by herself.
The women's side has mostly yellow chrysanthemums and very few asters, but it is also very lively.
Cui Yuer looked back at Su Linhan, then looked at Su Liu, Su Wan'er, Su Zhaoxin, and Su Liheng in the crowd.
But when he saw Su Liheng holding food in his hand, he thought for a moment and looked at Su Linhan: "Linhan, did you take the food that your fat brother eats?"
Su Linhan was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saw Su Liheng eating a Hu pancake that he had taken from somewhere. She smiled helplessly and said, "No, he was probably hungry, so he bought it himself."
Cui Yuer frowned, looked down at Su Linhan's things, and said seriously: "Su Linhan, tell me the truth, are you secretly losing weight? You are so thin now. If you continue to lose weight, don't blame me for reminding you, or you will die."
Su Linhan smiled bitterly and sighed, but was about to speak.
A burst of cheers came from the end of Fangshi Street.
Everyone at the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall heard it and looked over there.
I saw teams of Chixia soldiers walking through the cheering crowd, with dragon chariots behind them.
At a glance, everyone knew that this was His Majesty's team heading to the Circular Mound.
Everyone looked from afar, and although they could not see the real dragon, they could already feel the majesty of the real dragon's kingly aura. Many students consciously bowed in that direction.
The cheers were deafening.
Liu Xuan said: "I must pass the exam!"
After saying that, Liu Xuan looked at Yan Shu and Liu Sanbai and said, "You two have been to the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. Have you ever seen the emperor's face?"
Yan Shu shook his head: "I didn't dare to look up that day. After the banquet started, I sat at the back and couldn't see Your Majesty clearly."
Liu Sanbai also smiled bitterly.
Liu Xuan's ambition was higher than the sky. Looking at the figures of the ministers at the end of the team, his eyes were filled with endless thoughts. Then he looked at the two people beside him, and immediately patted Yan Shu and Liu Sanbai and said, "In that case, the three of us, Wei Zijian, Li Ziyu and the other five will all be on the top list and go to the palace examination to see the emperor's face."
Liu Sanbai smiled and bowed: "Let's be on the top of the list together!"
Yan Shu bowed and said, "We are both on the first place list."
There are many candidates like Liu Xuan who have set lofty goals. At first glance, many of them have bright eyes and high morale.
The common people were even more excited. Not to mention the people who were waiting for the dragon chariot team on both sides of Suzaku Avenue in the distance, even the people who saw it from afar outside the Imperial Examination Hall had flushed faces and were extremely excited.
The people are satisfied with today's grand occasion.
If you look at this scene from a high place, it is a picture of a peaceful country with prosperous people living and working in peace and contentment.
This was true in the past and is even more true today.
Just like today, everything is so joyful.
Even though there were many more imperial guards on the streets than usual, the common people did not think it was a big deal. They just thought that His Majesty had gone out of the palace to pray today, and the patrols and guards were just to prevent thieves.
Liu Xuan chuckled: "It's a pity that Wei Zijian and Li Ziyu are at the East Gate, and we are not together."
Yan Shu thought for a moment and said, "If they had seen the dragon chariot team just now, they would have thought the same thing."
Liu Xuan nodded and looked there again. Although there were only palace servants following him, he was still fascinated. But suddenly he thought of something and glanced at the people around him. They were all happy and blessed. He said with emotion: "It is a blessing for us to be born in such a prosperous era of Daxia."
Liu Sanbai smiled and said, "Why don't you tell me why you and Miss Chang'an share this life together?"
Liu Xuan rolled his eyes at Liu Sanbai, then looked at the expressions of everyone and said, "I'm afraid it will be hard to see such a grand occasion as today. However, such a grand occasion should happen every year, every month, and every day, so as not to disappoint our Great Xia."
Liu Sanbai said immediately, "Brother Liu, don't say such nonsense. You said before that everything was fine, but that day the Huajie Imperial Guards had a conflict with General Zhu Huang's men. Also, before we entered the capital, you said we had a safe journey, but we encountered banditry in Liuzhou. If we hadn't been rescued, we would have died long ago. So, spit three times in a row, don't say such nonsense."
Although it was a joke, Liu Xuan frowned and cursed: "After the scientific examination, I will settle the score with you! And how can someone's words come true!"
Liu Sanbai shook his head: "Others may be like this, but you may not be."
Yan Shu looked at the two people quarreling and smiled helplessly.
And at this moment.
The gate of the Imperial Examination Hall opened.
Yan Shu looked up and suddenly noticed a figure passing through the open gate, just like the figures he saw in the alley when he came to Gongyuan today.
But Yan Shu smiled. At the feet of the emperor was the Imperial Examination Hall, so he thought that the people should be arranged by the court to guard the Imperial Examination Hall.
So I don’t think about it anymore.
After an official loudly announced "enter the examination room", everyone looked solemn and stopped joking.
As the examiners began to search the candidates, the candidates entered the Imperial Examination Hall one after another.
In the crowd, Su Liu looked at Su Linhan with a worried look on her face.
Su Zhaoxin grabbed Su Liushi, thought for a long time and said, "Aunt, don't worry. My second sister knows to eat when she is hungry and sleep when she is tired. She answers the test paper when she thinks of writing something, and she can grasp the key points of the questions at once. She can understand it. She is a girl you don't need to worry about."
Su Liu smiled helplessly when she heard this, but still looked towards Su Linhan with worry.
Su Zhaoxin frowned, thinking that his words of comfort were quite nice. While thinking this, Su Zhaoxin depressedly tore off a piece of Su Liheng's Hu Bing and ate it in one bite.
Su Wan'er looked at so many people entering the examination room with high spirits and felt inexplicably touched.
But looking at the imperial guards around, Su Wan'er was actually a little surprised. It wasn't like this during the summer session this year, so why were there so many imperial guards patrolling in the winter session? It was as if something was going to happen.
but
Su Wan'er chuckled, wondering what might have happened in Luoan City. She thought that it must be that His Majesty's sister-in-law sent people to protect these talented men and women.
But looking at so many people, and the men and women throwing chrysanthemums at the candidates, Su Wan'er thought for a while and decided to go to the palace to find her elder sister and tell her about what happened here.
It must be very quiet there, she doesn't know how lively it is here.
Candidates entered the Imperial Examination Hall one after another.
After a long time, all the candidates entered the Imperial Examination Hall. Although some candidates were found to have smuggled books with them, they were taken away immediately and did not affect the efficiency at all.
In front of the Imperial Examination Hall, soon only ordinary people and the candidates' families were left.
Naturally, these people left one after another, with smiles, prayers, and worries on everyone's face.
Putting it all together
It is truly a peaceful place.
…
Inside the Su Mansion.
Old Master Su did not attend the sacrifice today, but asked for leave, citing poor health and leg pain as the excuse.
Although Su Zifeng held the official title of Xielü Lang, his rank was not high enough to qualify him to follow, so he did not need to go.
Now.
Inside the lobby of the Su Mansion, Old Master Su looked at the armor placed in front of him.
He wore this armor three times. The first time was when he followed the late emperor to Longyou to repel the Tubo army, the second time was when he went to the north to kill the barbarians, and the third time was that night when he wore it and killed people in Luoan City with Zhu Huang and others.
Looking at the armor, Old Master Su looked at Su Zifeng who was trotting in: "Where is your majesty?"
Su Zifeng immediately said, "We just passed the Imperial Examination Hall."
After that, Su Zifeng said again: "Dad, Wu Xingba and his men are already waiting with the imperial guards. Meng Wu's cavalry battalion has already taken action against those who are still loyal to the Queen Mother."
Old Master Su touched his armor without changing his expression: "Where are Ran Wanxiang and his left and right guards?"
Su Zifeng immediately said, "They have already moved quietly. Seventy thousand people are divided into five directions. Calculating the time, they should arrive a little later than your majesty and his men."
Old Master Su was silent for a moment: "Any news about the fourth master?"
Su Zifeng shook his head, "No news yet."
Old Master Su didn't say anything, but stood up and said, "Help me put on my armor."
Su Zifeng frowned, but was about to say something, but he stopped talking and silently took the armor off the shelf and put it on his father.
…
Inside the Xingqing Palace of the Imperial Palace, the Queen Mother was eating with a bowl in her hand.
After Xiang Hong entered and bowed, she immediately came to the Queen Mother and said, "Your Majesty, all the examinees have entered the Imperial Examination Hall, and His Majesty and the others have also set off."
The queen mother ate her meal expressionlessly and asked, "Is there anything else unusual?"
Xiang Hong shook her head: "I just got the news, everything is going according to plan. Ran Wanxiang also sent someone to report that the army has set out."
The Queen Mother picked up a piece of bamboo shoot and took a bite, then asked, "How is Lingqi Pavilion doing?"
Xiang Hong immediately said, "Nothing happened, but Lu Cai went there to give flowers. But I thought he would know about it soon, so I deliberately made Lu Cai smell like gunpowder."
Hearing this, the Queen Mother looked at Xiang Hong and said, "You are good at doing things."
After saying that, the Queen Mother thought for a while and then looked at Xiang Hong with a smile: "If I let you take those people outside to Lingqi Pavilion, can you catch Su Changan?"
Xiang Hong was stunned for a moment, and then said respectfully: "I"
But before she opened her mouth, the Queen Mother smiled and said, "Just kidding. I want to keep that child until the end. When we first met, didn't I say that I wanted to see her cry? Well, if she cries while hugging the emperor's body, it should be very beautiful. After all, they love each other so much, it will definitely be very interesting then."
At this point, a scene that she had seen long ago suddenly appeared in the Queen Mother's mind.
then
The late queen had just passed away, and the late emperor, who was so strong and decisive, was crying like that.
She was a little surprised at the time, because she had never thought that the man she liked would have such a side, because she only remembered that man was handsome and heroic, with thousands of soldiers following him.
So that day, she was a little curious and even doubted whether that was the person she liked.
"Su Changan likes to laugh a lot, right? If he loves to laugh, then he must look good when he cries."
The Queen Mother muttered to herself like this. Xianghong didn't dare to say anything more. She just bowed and left in a hurry.
Today is an important event, Xianghong dare not slack off in the slightest.
It seemed as if Xianghong didn't exist in the Empress Dowager's eyes. She just held the chopsticks in one hand, lost in her memories.
She remembered that when she first entered the palace, she saw that the late queen was very friendly to her. She remembered that she seemed to really think of that woman as a sister at that time, and she even thought that woman was really beautiful when she smiled.
but
The late emperor didn't come to her for one day, two days, or three days. Every time she wanted to see the late emperor, she had to go to that woman.
The Queen Mother suddenly smiled.
Because that day was the first time the late emperor wanted her, and she was the one who drugged the late emperor, or she had entered the palace for a few years, and she thought that after that, the late emperor would come to her again.
but
She was slapped.
Until now, the empress dowager still remembers that it was here in Xingqing Palace that she was slapped hard in the face, and then the late emperor looked at her coldly and said, "I am also your woman, but I let you slept with me, and you still hit me?"
Then when that woman came, the emperor's eyes suddenly changed. It was a look he had never seen before when he looked at her. And that woman just pleaded for herself, and the emperor did not punish her.
Why.
Didn't you save me and make me fall in love with you? Why do you only love that woman?
The Queen Mother smiled again when she thought of this.
Because after that time, the late emperor never came here again. Even though he got pregnant after drugging her, it was only that woman who kept coming here to see him.
Even when I was pregnant with his child, he didn't come.
Oh, it seems that woman brought the late emperor here several times.
But he also looked at himself indifferently, with extremely penetrating cold eyes.
Looking at a place in the hall, it seemed like someone was standing there and looking at him.
but
It was also there that my son looked at me with such indifference before.
"hehe."
The Queen Mother suddenly laughed, put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up and walked down from the main seat, heading towards the place she had just seen in the hall.
I recalled that day in my mind. My son Xia Zhan, whom I hadn't seen for three years, was standing here. Because I scolded his village girl wife, he coldly scolded me, saying something like "stop being crazy and angry".
And at that time.
He slapped his own son.
The empress dowager looked at the empty space in front of her, and she seemed to see her son having the same expression as the late emperor that day, and she couldn't help but smile.
Then he walked out of the hall.
Leng Shixi, before you died, you asked me to take good care of your daughter, but your daughter threatened me with my son and even turned my son into that. She even kept forcing me to kill me.
At that time you said you couldn't bear to let her go, although it's a little late, then I will send her to see you. It's considered repaying the favor.
Xia Huachang, we first met at the entrance to the Imperial College. I was sending Li Jiulang to take the exam, and there were too many people and I fell down and was almost stepped on. You saved me. Then I blew up the Imperial College, and there were so many students going down to see you, you would be happy too.
"Xianghong." The Queen Mother called out.
Xiang Hong heard this and immediately entered the hall: "My Lady."
The Queen Mother asked, "How much gunpowder was placed in the Imperial Examination Hall?"
Xiang Hong was stunned for a moment and then said, "Not only did they use gunpowder, but they also used asphalt from the Western Regions. If the gunpowder and the asphalt exploded together, it would be enough to burn down the entire Imperial Academy and the market."
The Queen Mother nodded, turned and walked towards the main seat. She had not finished her meal yet.
…
(End of this chapter)
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