As time flows quietly by, the lively scene of New Year's Day still seems as vivid as if it were just yesterday.
Bright red lanterns hung high, illuminating the streets and alleys in a crimson glow.
Festive Spring Festival couplets are pasted on the doors of every household, each stroke filled with good wishes for the new year.
Brilliant fireworks burst in the night sky, their dreamlike blooms instantly illuminating the dark heavens, eliciting cheers from children and smiles from adults.
The whole family sat around in the warm house, with steaming hot food laid out on the table, and laughter filled the air.
That heartwarming scene seems like it was just yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, the New Year's Day festival has quietly become a thing of the past.
The highly anticipated triennial imperial examination is approaching as scheduled, and will soon open its curtain in this vibrant spring.
Once the news spread, the entire Tianxuan land was like a lake with a boulder thrown in, rippling and boiling.
Scholars from all over the country, eager to learn and harboring lofty ambitions, flocked to the scene upon hearing the news.
Some of them rode a thin but still spirited horse, galloping swiftly along the winding official road.
The dust kicked up by the horse's hooves left a faint trail behind it.
Some rode in simple horse-drawn carriages, their wheels creaking and groaning as they struggled to move forward through the dust.
Others, carrying heavy packs, strode resolutely towards the capital.
Each step was firm and powerful, as if to deeply imprint one's dreams on this long journey.
Looking back three years ago, those dozen or so scholars who failed the imperial examination and were filled with disappointment were fortunately discovered and taken in by Prince Jinrui Zhao.
At that time, they were dejected, their faces filled with frustration and resentment, and they were full of confusion about the future.
Life seemed to have plunged into an endless abyss of darkness, with not a glimmer of light in sight.
It was King Jinrui Zhao who, with a compassionate heart, extended a helping hand and gave them a place to shelter from the wind and rain.
It brought them a long-lost warmth in their predicament, like a spark in the cold night, rekindling their hope for life.
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, like a fleeting moment.
Today, some of them have made drastically different life choices.
After careful consideration and weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, they decided to no longer persist in pursuing the highly competitive path of the imperial examinations.
Instead, he chose to stay in the bookstore and start a brand new life for himself.
Over the past three years, the bookstores in the capital have grown and prospered under their careful management and dedicated operation.
Branches of Qingfeng Academy sprang up like mushrooms after rain, opening one after another in the streets and alleys of Tianxuan.
Each branch is elegantly and exquisitely decorated, exuding a rich scholarly atmosphere.
These scholars who stayed behind also found a stage to showcase their talents in Qingfeng Academy.
Some are good at communicating with people, have excellent business acumen, and take on the responsibility of operating and managing the store, keeping the store in good order.
Some are well-read and have unique insights into various books, selecting high-quality books for the book garden so that every book on the shelves can become spiritual nourishment for readers.
They gradually realized that there was more than one path in life than passing the imperial examinations and entering officialdom.
With a little effort, you can shine your own light and realize your life's value anywhere.
As for those scholars who still cherish the dream of passing the imperial examinations and remain steadfast in their commitment, their hearts are filled with longing and anticipation.
They knew that if they could pass the imperial examination and become officials, they would do everything in their power to help Prince Jinrui Zhao.
After all, they all knew that the current imperial court was in dire need of talent and urgently needed an injection of fresh blood to promote the development and prosperity of Tianxuan.
These three years of growth and refinement have been like a silent baptism, allowing these scholars to shed their former immaturity and naivety, and become mature and composed.
In the past, they might have panicked and given up when faced with setbacks, but now they have learned to face them calmly and persevere.
They may have had a superficial understanding of knowledge in the past, but now they have accumulated profound knowledge through their daily hard work.
Among them were both men and women, and the timidity and inferiority they had felt when they failed the exam were gone from their faces. Instead, they were filled with confidence and high morale.
Their eyes shone with determination, as if they could pierce through all difficulties.
Their steps were composed, as if declaring to the world that they were fully prepared to meet this life-or-death challenge.
On the day of the scientific expedition, as dawn broke and the sky began to lighten, the area outside the examination hall in the capital was bustling with activity.
These scholars carried food and water specially sent by King Jinrui Zhao. Each carefully prepared dish was filled with King Jinrui Zhao's care and expectations.
They were either exchanging exam tips or studying quietly on their own, their expressions a mixture of tension and anticipation.
Together with other candidates who had come from all over the country, they stepped into the examination hall with high spirits.
Sunlight shone on them, casting their resolute figures as they prepared to take the exam in this small examination hall.
Sweating profusely, writing furiously, they create their own chapters in life and meet the challenges of fate.
In this exam, they may realize their dreams, embark on a career in government, and achieve great things.
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