The imperial examination was held on the Danchi (red steps) in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Although it was springtime in April, the weather in Beijing was still somewhat chilly.
In addition, the imperial examination was held outside, with a gentle spring breeze on one's face, which sounded pleasant but was not so pleasant to hear.
The palace examination lasted one day, during which no candles were provided. There were two papers: one formal answer sheet and one draft paper for writing. The papers had to be submitted when the time was up. If you could not finish within the allotted time, you would only be ranked in the bottom of the third class.
The candidates who were going to take the imperial examination had all arrived in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Naturally, they all wanted to try their luck. Although those who ranked in the top three could become officials, they could not become high-ranking officials.
Therefore, everyone took it very seriously and wrote it very carefully.
Tong Xuewen was also nervous. After all, he was the top scholar in the imperial examination, and now that he was famous, he naturally had to bear more responsibility.
Fortunately, he was mentally strong and had a good ability to cope. After carefully considering the test questions, he immersed himself in them and began writing on the scratch paper.
He didn't even notice when Emperor Kangxi walked right up to him, which shows how much effort he put into it.
Emperor Kangxi made a special trip down to see Tong Xuewen, the "shining light" of the Manchus. Seeing his condition, Kangxi was very satisfied and thought he was a good man.
Tong Xuewen was so engrossed in his writing that he was unaffected, but that doesn't mean others were unaffected. Sure enough, after Kangxi came down for a short while, many people's thoughts became chaotic.
Regardless of the candidates' mindset, Emperor Kangxi got off the bus and then sat back down.
Throughout the entire day of the palace examination, Tong Xuewen was completely immersed in solving the problems. In the afternoon, when he felt that he had corrected them enough, he finally transferred the answers from the scratch paper onto the clean exam paper.
After finishing writing, Tong Xuewen breathed a sigh of relief, put down his pen, and then looked around and found that most people were still writing.
When Kangxi saw him stop writing, he was slightly moved and soon came down. As he walked, he ended up next to Tong Xuewen.
Emperor Kangxi glanced at his paper, then became quite engrossed in reading it.
With Kangxi watching from the side, Tong Xuewen was also a little nervous, but he managed to keep his composure. The people around him were not so lucky, because with Kangxi standing still, their hearts were pounding.
The candidate behind Tong Xuewen, without paying attention, almost finished copying, but his hand trembled and ruined a single character.
Unable to get a new exam paper, the examinee was on the verge of tears.
Kangxi noticed it too, but then left as if nothing had happened. He returned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and sat down. Kangxi touched his nose, feeling slightly guilty, but then he thought to himself with a sense of righteousness that the candidate's psychological quality was also an assessment point. It wouldn't do if the candidate got nervous in front of him.
The exam time went by very quickly.
In the blink of an eye, everyone heard the eunuch shout in a shrill voice, "Time's up, stop writing."
The examiner came over to collect the exam papers, and Tong Xuewen handed them in, finally feeling relieved.
After leaving the palace, it was already quite late. Tong Xuewen declined his classmate's invitation and returned home by carriage.
As soon as his carriage arrived at the gate of the mansion, the gatekeeper hurriedly ran to report. He first went to Alhatu in the front yard, briefly explained the examination questions, and then talked about what he had written. Alhatu thought it was acceptable and nodded in satisfaction, then led him to the main courtyard of the Shumulu clan.
When they arrived, Shumulu had already instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal.
Shumulu: "Finally back."
Tong Xuewen: "I've worried my mother."
Tong Cheng'er: "How did you do on the exam, second brother? Was it difficult?"
Shumulu glanced at Tong Cheng'er: "What are you talking about? The exams are over, there's no point in asking these questions. Just wait for the results. Dinner is ready, let's eat!"
Tong Cheng'er said aggrievedly, "My mother doesn't love me anymore."
Shumulu glared at her: "You heartless lazy girl, haven't I pampered you enough?"
Tong Xuewen looked at her with affection, but said, "Lazy girl, I'm talking to you!"
Tong Cheng'er stared with her big, round eyes in disbelief: "Second Brother, who are you calling a lazy girl!"
Tong Xuewen countered with, "What do you think?"
Tong Cheng'er stood up from her chair, pretending to hit him.
When Shumulu saw this, she quickly said, "Alright, alright, you're all grown up, why are you still making a fuss? Besides, the master just watched without saying a word."
Al-Hatu paused in his tea-serving hand. How did he get dragged into this? What an undeserved disaster!
However, since they've been called out, it's not easy to remain indifferent.
So he put down his teacup and said, "Don't make a fuss, you're making your mother angry."
Shumulu disagreed: "I'm not angry."
"Okay, okay, you're not angry, I'm the one who's angry."
Shumulu said, embarrassed and annoyed, "Can't you speak properly?"
The flames of war immediately spread from Tong Xuewen and Tong Cheng'er to Alhatu.
Al-Hatu immediately begged for forgiveness: "My lady, I was wrong, the children are still here! Didn't you say the food was ready? Let's eat quickly, Xuewen must be hungry, right, Xuewen?"
Upon hearing this, Tong Xuewen suppressed his smile and nodded, "Yes, Mother, I'm hungry. Let's eat quickly!"
Shumulu: "Wait a little longer, not everyone has arrived yet, what are we going to eat?"
Al-Hatu and Tong Xuewen: ...
Tong Cheng'er burst out laughing.
In an instant, all three of them looked at her.
Tong Cheng'er shuddered and then said, "I'll go out and see why my eldest brother and third brother haven't arrived yet."
After saying that, he ran out.
Al-Hatu was dumbfounded: "Why is this child running away?" He hadn't intended to do anything to her, so why was she so scared that she ran away after just one glance?
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