Chapter 185 The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

"Well, don't think about anything these days, just take your exams. Since your sister wants to be the top scholar, you can't let her down."

Although Feng Zuwen didn't make any demands on Feng Yuanhao on the surface, if the Marquis' Mansion really produced a top scholar, the ancestors of the Feng family would be very happy.

In the future, he can show off to his ancestors for a while, because he is his son.

There are two more exams to come, and Feng Yuanhao is focused and takes them seriously.

When the ninth day ended and the three women went to pick them up, they saw that the candidates who came out were as frosted as eggplants, and they couldn't walk steadily.

Wang Jiang was tall, and he saw Feng Yuanhao's figure first, and immediately stepped forward to help him.

"Prince."

Feng Yuanhao smiled when he saw Wang Jiang, and he didn't want to talk.

Mental work is much more exhausting than physical work. Even someone like him who has martial arts experience feels a little overwhelmed.

"Big brother." Feng Tianxing ran up happily and saw that Feng Yuanhao was a little listless. Then she flipped her little hand and a small pill appeared in her palm.

She raised it high and asked Feng Yuanhao to open his mouth.

He naturally accepted his sister's kindness.

"Thank you, sister!"

As soon as the pill went down his stomach, all his fatigue disappeared in a short while.

"Mom, Qiaolan." Feng Yuanhao walked a few steps to Song Shuqing and Yuan Qiaolan.

"You must be tired. Let's go home. Qiaolan went to the kitchen early in the morning to make you a tonic soup." Song Shuqing looked at her son's haggard face and felt sorry for him.

At this time, Xie Wenyuan also came out. Seeing that the Feng family came to pick up Feng Yuanhao again, he was a little envious.

He also looked tired and staggered.

He came to Beijing alone, without relatives or companions.

"Mrs. Feng, Mrs. Feng, Miss Feng."

"Wenyuan, go back and have a good rest first, I will come to see you tomorrow."

"Okay."

Everyone knows that what is most needed at this time is rest. Without saying much,

they went home separately. The candidates went back to their residences.

There are only a few dozen candidates in Beijing, most of whom came from other places.

The rich live in inns, the poor rent small houses, and some even rent a small courtyard together.

The house that Xie Wenyuan rented was at the back of a remote alley. It had a small courtyard, a bedroom, a small living room, and a small toilet in the corner. It was that simple.

There wasn't even a kitchen.

The owner had specially cleaned it up for poor students who were going to Beijing to take the imperial examinations, and charged a certain amount of rent, which cost one or two taels of silver a month.

He didn't have a partnership with anyone. Houses rented in partnership are usually larger and more expensive, and there are more people and it's noisy, which is not conducive to studying.

Xie Wenyuan set up a pot under the corridor, bought some firewood, and cooked his own meals.

Children from poor families can do everything. It's no problem for them to take care of themselves.

The next day, he slept until he woke up naturally. He got up to cook something when he was really hungry. Only after

eating did he feel alive again.

Someone knocked on the door.

He immediately went to open it.

"Yuanhao, aren't you tired? I just woke up and ate something." Xie Wenyuan really admired Feng Yuanhao's body.

Studying is very physically demanding. He doesn't look fat.

"I have martial arts skills, so I recover quickly."

"Really? I thought you only studied literature, but you also learned martial arts."

Every student who participates in the imperial examination must learn the six arts, but their main focus is still on studying, and they only learn the basics of the others.

There are very few who are as good at both literature and martial arts as Feng Yuanhao.

"Wenyuan, I came here today to discuss with you our test answers. Do you still remember it now?" Feng Yuanhao asked.

"Of course I remember."

"That's good. Let's memorize the answer sheet now. I can take it to my teacher and let them comment on it. I'll have a better idea in my mind." Feng Yuanhao suggested. "

Okay, thank you." Xie Wenyuan was really glad that he met Feng Yuanhao.

Feng Yuanhao's teachers were all great figures, and each of them was much better than his previous teachers.

The two began to memorize their test papers in the small room he rented.

And just outside this alley, there was a peddler selling snacks, walking back and forth several times.

"Selling roasted chestnuts, fragrant and sweet roasted chestnuts."

When Feng Yuanhao left, he passed by him, looked at him meaningfully, and left without stopping.

Today is his sister's fifth birthday, he can't go back late.

My sister said that this year's birthday just needs to be celebrated happily by the family, and she doesn't want to invite guests to the house.

The whole family respects my sister's opinion, so let's keep a low profile.

After all, the capital has just experienced a great purge, and no family dares to hold a grand banquet.

And the imperial examination is coming up.

However, the few families who know about it have sent gifts to the Feng family early.

The gift given by the fifth princess is the most important.

After seeing Feng Yuanhao leave, the peddler continued to sell his roasted chestnuts until the evening, and then he quietly came to the back door of the Duke of Zheng's mansion.

He knocked on the door gently.

"Who is it?" The gatekeeper opened the door and saw a stranger.

"Take me to see the master." The peddler showed a badge on his waist and said in a low voice.

The servant immediately let the man in, and before closing the door, he stuck his head out to see if anyone was following him.

But he could not see that a dark shadow had already flown over the courtyard wall and entered before the two of them.

The peddler was quickly led into Zheng Zigang's study.

"I am here to see you, my master." The peddler knelt on one knee and clasped his fists.

"What's the matter?" Zheng Zigang asked calmly.

"Master, the candidate named Xie Wenyuan has too close contact with Prince Feng, I'm afraid it will ruin our business."

"Oh?"

He knew before that Feng Yuanhao and Xie Wenyuan were close, but it was impossible for Feng Mansion to support a poor student without any foundation.

That's why he chose this person, because his knowledge caught his eye.

It's not easy to find a suitable one, and Xie Wenyuan best meets his requirements.

"Prince Feng went to see Xie Wenyuan again today." The peddler reported.

"He won't sleep in the same bed with him at night, right? Pick a suitable time to do it to him. Remember to make sure he dies in an unclear way and no one can find out the clues."

"Yes, let him die of a sudden illness."

"Well, you decide. It's just a small matter. I don't need to worry about it for you. Find a solution yourself."

"Yes."

Zheng Zigang was so worried about the second prince that he was willing to take a risk.

Now that the eldest prince has been named the crown prince, the road is getting harder and harder.

These conversations fell into the ears of a black shadow on the roof without missing a word.

The black shadow quickly returned to Feng Mansion and reported the truth.

"Father, I estimate that he will take action tomorrow night. My sister said at that time that he still had twelve days to live, which is exactly tomorrow night."

"Then you take people to rescue him and hide him in the mansion. Don't let Duke Zheng's people find him, otherwise he will kill again. But I still haven't found out who the other two are, otherwise I would have rescued them as well, alas." Feng Zuwen sighed.

Zheng Zigang is really crazy. He actually dared to make a fuss about the imperial examination.

On the second day, after a day and a night of rest, the candidates finally recovered their spirits and could finally relax themselves completely. They

have to wait until the list is announced to know whether they have the opportunity to take the palace examination.

Only one hundred and twenty people have this honor.

The candidates are all scholars, and of course their favorite place is bookstores.

Then one by one, the students went shopping in five or six bookstores in the capital.

And today, two new bookstores opened at the same time, on two different streets.

One is very close to the Imperial College. The other is on the main commercial street.

They really know how to choose the right time.

When the students walked into the bookstore, they were all surprised.