Chapter 14: Imperial Examination (Part 3) "Brother Yao, are you sure it's this student? ...
"Brother Yao, are you sure it's this student?"
The three of them walked hurriedly, weaving among the crowds coming and going on the main street of Bianjing.
"Exactly. I heard he was already famous for his talent back home, and his family had quite a bit of savings. When he first came to the capital, he was quite studious, but later he spent his days and nights in brothels and taverns.
Everyone said he would definitely fail the exam, but he didn't get angry when he heard it, and he would even make a few self-deprecating remarks occasionally.
Yao Ce avoided the pedestrians coming towards him with a quiet voice but big steps.
"The strange thing is, a few days ago, someone ran into him and teased him, but he suddenly changed his expression and said that he would definitely pass the exam and asked that person not to curse him. After that, he never went to the tavern or brothel again."
The two listened and followed closely. After hearing what Yao Ce said, Liu Xuezi responded in time:
"That sounds like the beginning of a teahouse storybook."
"Who said it wasn't? I asked around and actually found something amiss."
"oh?"
Xiao Wangshu on the left also responded.
"It was a servant in the academy. He said the students didn't leave the house anymore, but I never saw this student studying. He always kept the doors and windows closed during the day, and he wouldn't let the servants into his room on weekdays.
After further inquiries, some people said they had seen the vendor interact with him.
"That's indeed suspicious. But if we go there rashly, will this student hand over his things?"
Nodding, the student named Liu first responded, then frowned slightly and asked in confusion.
"Brother Xiao's cooperation is required in this matter."
Suddenly stopping, Yao Ce and Xiao Wangshu, who also stopped, looked at each other, with the corners of their mouths raised.
Liu Xuezi, who witnessed the whole process, shuddered inexplicably and without time to think about it, he hurried to catch up with the two people who had already gone far away.
The Imperial College, also known as the Bian Jing Academy, was only two streets away from the Imperial Examination Hall.
It is located on the east side of the river in the city, facing north and south in a symmetrical distribution. It has four halls and six rooms, three pavilions and one pavilion, corridors, terraces, bridges, as well as rockery, strange rocks, streams and lakes.
On the northernmost side, there are six large courtyards with three entrances and four small courtyards with two entrances.
Among them, three of the large courtyards are occupied by the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, the two deans, the doctors, the assistant teachers, and the lecturers, who occupy another large courtyard.
The rest was provided to the academy's supervisors and students who came to study. Xiao Wangshu also lived in the plum blossom courtyard on the east side before.
The students lived in the east wing of Magnolia Garden on the west side.
Compared with the Plum Blossom Courtyard, the Magnolia Courtyard is larger and has a better environment, and accordingly, the tuition fees that students have to pay each month will be higher.
After entering the hanging flower gate, you will see a magnolia in full bloom in the middle of the yard, which is elegant and refined.
There is a plaque with the words "Magnolia Hall" hanging on the five large rooms facing the courtyard gate. The courtyard is clean and tidy, with only a few magnolia petals that have just fallen on the ground.
Their gaze turned to the east wing. Just as the servant had said, the doors and windows were tightly closed. If they hadn't been sure that the student hadn't left, they would have probably thought that no one was inside.
Without much hesitation, Yao Ce stepped forward and opened the door. He could smell the thick smell of alcohol mixed with the lingering hot stench that hit his nose.
"Who! Disturbing my sweet dreams!"
The slurred speech characteristic of a hangover, the tone revealing dryness and annoyance.
There was an octagonal table with a few scattered stools underneath, porcelain fragments of various sizes, and undried wine stains.
The student leaned over the table, blocking the sunlight with his right hand, half-closed his left eye, his facial features gathered together, and there were red marks on his face.
"Sir, please be sober. As for us, you may not recognize us, but we know you."
Covering his nose, Yao Ce waved his sleeves a few times to dispel the smell, then walked straight into the house, his tone full of earnest advice.
The student shook his head and saw three people rushing in. He stood up suddenly and shouted:
"What are you doing in broad daylight?!"
"Sir, you must have misunderstood. We are here to save your life."
Holding the student's hands, Yao Ce spoke sincerely, his eyes full of "sincerity".
Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, but within a stick of incense, the student had been fooled into doing whatever he said, and Yao Ce then revealed the real purpose of his trip.
"Sir, you still have to hand over your things now, otherwise you won't be able to escape if you are blamed by the higher-ups."
After these words were spoken, the student suddenly shuddered and his mind became clear.
"No, no, no."
He said three wrongs in a row, pulled out the hand that was shaking with Yao Ce, and pretended to kick him out.
"Get out! Get out! I don't know what you are talking about!"
Mr. Liu, a student who was attending the class, was a little flustered and looked at Yao Ce for help, but this time Yao Ce didn't say a word.
"Brother Yao, since he doesn't care about his life, why should we waste our breath? Let's wait until the palace examination to report to His Majesty, and he will make the final decision!"
Coming out from behind Yao Ce, Xiao Wangshu put on a righteous look and started playing the good guy.
"Yes, Your Majesty will find out how these people escaped."
He clenched his right fist in front of his chest and hit the palm of his left hand. Liu Xuezi, who had reacted, also added fuel to the fire.
"Sir, we've known each other for a while, so I've wasted so much time on this. Now it's time to change your ways. Besides, your parents certainly don't want to see you die young. It's just fame and fortune, why would they risk their lives for it?"
Yao Ce walked up to the student and shook his hands without saying a word. His sincere words, like Zhou Gong spitting out food for his guests, added fuel to the fire.
The student, who already had a headache due to a hangover, felt even more dizzy and took a deep breath. Perhaps the thought of his head falling off made his legs tremble with fear.
Ignoring the loopholes in the three people's words, he almost fell down in a panic as he stumbled to take out several thick sheets of paper from the compartment of the bookcase.
He clutched the paper tightly, mumbling incoherently:
"They originally said to burn it, but I couldn't remember, so I hid it for fear of forgetting. Now it has become a lifesaver."
I didn't want him to keep it, so that it would become "evidence".
Losing his patience, he snatched the paper away. Yao Ce glanced at it three times, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He was so angry that veins popped out and his teeth clenched. If there weren't outsiders around, he would have probably cursed.
After taking the paper, Xiao Wangshu and Liu Xuezi also glanced at it. They couldn't blame Brother Yao for being angry.
The handwriting on the paper is clear and all the eight-part essays are included. It is obviously a standard answer.
The student whose paper was stolen thought something was wrong, and with the alcohol taking effect, he stared blankly at his empty hands.
The three men didn't care about him at all and retreated without looking back. The student immediately fell to the ground. A gust of cold wind blew, making him feel like the sky was falling.
Seeing the three people were about to go away, with snot and tears all over his face, he crawled on the ground to catch up with them, crying:
"I know I was wrong, don't leave! I really know I was wrong!"
Seeing his look, Yao Ce felt even more ashamed and threw his sleeves and walked out of the yard. Liu Xuezi also sighed, shook his head and followed him.
Xiao Wangshu suddenly put on a smile, walked over to help the man up and said:
"What crime has the young master committed since he has not yet arrived at the imperial examination?"
Although Xiao Wangshu was smiling, the student felt a chill running down his forehead and shuddered violently. Only then did he realize what Xiao Wangshu meant. He was about to thank him when he saw that the man in front of him had left the yard without him noticing.
"Why did you point it out, Master Xiao?"
After leaving the yard, Mr. Liu, who had been waiting for him at the door for a long time, was a little indignant, and his words were full of accusations.
"If we let him continue to make such a fuss, we will really alert the enemy."
Xiao Wangshu raised the corner of his mouth slightly, but his tone remained unchanged.
After hearing this, Mr. Liu felt ashamed and quickly apologized.
Xiao Wangshu raised his eyebrows, now in a good mood, and asked:
"I've known Brother Liu for a while now, but I don't know his full name."
"My name is Liu Yunhui. Yun refers to the clouds in the sky, and Hui refers to the strings on a zither."
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