The imperial examinations are usually held in February, and they have already been completed.
Regardless of what happened last year or the year before, the imperial examination will proceed as normal.
The imperial court is very powerful! Long live the Emperor!
The days after the exams are so relaxing! Besides Pingkangfang, many people are busy with peach blossoms.
Several fellow villagers came to find Fu Dingchen, carrying peach blossoms.
As last year's top scholar, he wasn't anything special, especially considering how fast he was; however, he moved into Prince Zheng's mansion! That was something no one could have imagined!
Although there have been some rumors lately, there have indeed been fewer rumors circulating recently.
Several scholars spread rumors and were reprimanded by the King of Wu in the street: Is this how the classics are read?
That's not important; what's important is the abolition of official titles and the addition of three generations.
The King of Wu had this power, so there was nowhere for him to appeal for justice.
Some people even spoke out in defense of the King of Wu, suggesting that a beating, the stripping of his official titles, and the expulsion of his family for three generations would be a package deal that few would appreciate.
In short, his fellow villagers have already submitted to Fu Dingchen!
Being able to enter the gates of Prince Zheng's mansion is definitely a skill! The Fu family has never been associated with the Cui family for eight generations, otherwise they would be in real trouble.
Xiao Lin was in a rare good mood, so she invited people in and they drank in the garden.
A bunch of bumpkins, looking at the exquisite garden of the Prince's mansion, were timid and hesitant even in front of the eunuchs.
Xiao Lin shook her head; they weren't as fun as Fu Dingchen. But these few would be fine to come and have some fun.
There are lackeys, all of them are lackeys, and they bring a book.
Several fellow villagers wanted to see what kind of special treatment the Prince Zheng's mansion had given Fu Dingchen.
After reading it, Xiao Lin slapped the table and laughed! While handing it to Fu Dingchen, she said, "This Master Chang is quite interesting."
One scholar couldn't help but ask, "Who is it?"
Xiao Lin kindly said, "There's an old scholar from Baishi Village who was granted the title of Juren by imperial decree."
The fellow villagers looked at each other in bewilderment.
What's so great about being a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination)? You worked so hard to pass the exam, and you used to look down on Fu Dingchen. You'd probably be looked down upon by the old-timers who were just ordinary students.
Now, this old scholar still dreams of establishing his own school of thought? Having connections in the imperial court makes all the difference.
Fu Dingchen read quickly, finishing a story in no time, laughing and drinking heartily! It was exhilarating!
Fu Dingchen, being kind-hearted, handed it over to a few fellow villagers to see.
The oldest and most composed person took it, as if examining a secret manual for the imperial examination. Perhaps they were using the guise of an old scholar?
After all, it's not appropriate to openly admit to giving Fu Dingchen preferential treatment. You'll understand once you see it.
The scholar couldn't understand it.
I don't understand one thing, and I don't understand the other.
The third boy understood, and laughed, "That dog!"
Xiao Lin asked, "Isn't it amazing? Don't tell anyone after you've seen it."
The young man nodded hurriedly, then read it again from the beginning, laughing through his tears!
Fu Dingchen reflected to the spring breeze: "I haven't yet reached the point of returning to simplicity."
Xiao Lin said, "Baishi Village probably has that vibe."
Several scholars, not understanding, carefully took it over and looked at it; it was rather laughable.
The True Man of Deyi at Zichan Mountain, in parentheses: Deyi is a homophone for Deyi (得意), which also means to attain enlightenment or heaven, is extremely arrogant.
Master Deyi led his two young apprentices down the mountain and encountered Wang Gou from the village.
Wang Gou knew nothing, and just as he was about to obtain a real person, he was thrown from the sky to the ground, landing face-first in the dirt.
Fu Dingchen took out a pen and wrote it down.
The young man rushed over to take a look, and exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
That cursive script is beautiful! It almost perfectly captures the story from before; is this photographic memory?
It was then the turn of several eunuchs to take it and examine it.
Fu Dingchen picked up his brush and continued writing, his characters transitioning from bold and unrestrained to rounded and smooth, with a touch of returning to simplicity.
Xiao Lin nodded in approval, extremely satisfied! They happily continued drinking.
Several eunuchs also read it with delight: "This could not have been written without real life."
Xiao Lin nodded: "It has a rustic feel to it."
Another person reached out to take it.
Xiao Lin advised, "Wait a moment."
The young man didn't understand, but with pen and ink, he could copy it. The story was short, so copying it was quick.
Fu Dingchen wrote two copies.
A palace attendant brought a box to pack it up and immediately sent it to the palace.
The scholars looked at each other in disbelief.
I feel that Fu Dingchen is at least like a member of the Hanlin Academy, able to meet the emperor at any time, and I'm so jealous that I'm unrecognizable!
They weren't quite sure what it meant to send someone to the palace, or whether it was even possible to get them to the emperor's ears. At least, ordinary people didn't have that kind of connection.
Fu Dingchen drank a glass of wine, savoring the taste, and then laughed again.
A scholar frowned and began, "Isn't this how the Chan Sect of Zichan Mountain operates?"
Fu Dingchen said, “Go and take a look around Zichan Mountain. There are probably a few people who care about the people living at the foot of the mountain. It doesn’t matter whether they care about them or not, but they do ask them for money. So, this situation is not surprising at all.”
Xiao Lin thought they probably didn't know: "When he went to Beijing last year, he was neglecting his duties again. If he hadn't been lucky, he might not have been able to come to Sheng'an."
The young man remembered: "It's you? I've heard about the Charity Department, and there's a scholar who works with the Charity Department."
The Charity Division is more famous than Fu Jieyuan, unless he can become the top scholar in the imperial examination.
After comparing the situations of Zichan Mountain and Yu Shan, the scholars' final impression of the Chan Sect changed.
Confucian scholars naturally did not respect the Chan sect.
But given the prevailing trend, everyone was worried about the imperial examination after ten years of hard study, and few dared to be as reckless as Fu Dingchen.
**
"The True Man and the King Dog" was quickly delivered to the Eastern Palace.
Wenmiao, Consort Zhu, Guo Bing, and others are here; they're keeping the Crown Princess company while they have other business to attend to.
Guo Bing's smile was especially beautiful after reading it!
Zhu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, but it's good that the beauty lives a carefree life.
Just like Princess Yongmu, Qing'e promised her that the princess would never change, so she was allowed to bloom freely.
Zhu Shi dared not advise the emperor on such matters, lest she anger him and cause him to do something drastic, given their different social statuses.
A palace attendant rushed in: "Good news! Consort Xing is pregnant!"
Huan Yue exclaimed happily, "Bring out the peach blossom ingots!"
Wenmiao suddenly asked, "Are you planning to give the peach blossoms away?"
Huan Yue looked at her stomach: "You didn't manage to get it."
Wenmiao: "I plan to have another child in two years."
Zhu asked, "Why?"
Although Wenmiao remained calm, he joked with everyone, "Kids are all clustered together these days."
Zhu laughed loudly: "Can we avoid gathering in groups from now on?"
For the lineage of a sage to prosper, it must be concentrated in one group.
No one made a fuss about that, after all, there were several children in the Eastern Palace, and Hachiro alone was enough to cause trouble.
Wenmiao didn't want to have that many children; three to five would be enough.
While being allowed to have more children doesn't guarantee you'll be able to have more, if you're not careful, you might end up having too many.
Lady Zhu sighed again. Even though Consort Xing had lost two, she could still conceive again, finally fulfilling her dream.
As everyone can see, even a sage cherishes the past, but there is more than one person from that past.
Huan Yue glanced at Consort De; if she were to become pregnant again, it would be more difficult for her to conceive.
Zhu blinked; one was enough for her.
What's the point of risking your life for the second one?
Instead of wasting your time worrying about your own mythical beasts, why not busy yourself with things in the palace? Wouldn't it be better to just play around when you have nothing to do?
Huan Yue agreed.
Zhu was pleased again. It seemed unlikely that Qing'e would have an easy time conceiving.
If His Highness doesn't favor others, then she'll have to work harder.
Everything has its gains and losses. Even if a saint shows favoritism, it's not without principle.
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