Chapter 83: The day of the provincial examination, accompanying the entrance

On the 16th, Jiang Ning woke up earlier than usual.

She wanted to get up and make breakfast, but just as she got up, Liu Mingan reached out and pulled her back and hugged her tightly.

"It's still early, sleep a little longer." Liu Mingan closed his eyes and said not very soberly.

"You are going to take the provincial examination today, aren't you anxious at all?" Jiang Ning was puzzled.

In her previous life, although Jiang Ning herself had never taken any exams, it seemed that most of the candidates were nervous every year during the college entrance examination season, right? Even their parents couldn't eat or sleep well, and they didn't dare to speak loudly to their children, for fear that a little thing would affect their condition.

Then why can Liu Mingan still be so calm and composed, like nothing happened? Jiang Ning couldn't figure it out.

"Don't worry about Jiang Ning," Liu Ming'an rubbed the top of Jiang Ning's head with his chin, and said to her in a hoarse voice, "I'm sure, believe me."

After all this time, the emperor was not in a hurry, so Jiang Ning stopped worrying about it. She followed Liu Ming'an's wishes and accompanied him to sleep until the usual time to get up.

After breakfast, Liu Ming'an slowly took Jiang Ning to the yamen.

A few days ago, a notice was posted outside the yamen, stating that scholars participating in the provincial examinations must enter the yamen at 3:45 pm, and are not allowed to bring anything. The government will provide it, and they need to be searched before entering the yamen.

When Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an arrived at the yamen, the door was already crowded with people, men and women, old and young, and it seemed that most of them were with their families.

Many people came from other places in Baoji County, stayed in a hotel in the town for one night, and arrived early in the morning. Fortunately, Liu Mingan and Jiang Ning had moved to the town, otherwise they would have to get up early in Lotus Village.

Jiang Ning found that she could tell who was the scholar and who was the accompanying family member at a glance.

Those who looked flustered, muttered something, and glanced at the government office from time to time were the scholars, while their families stared at their scholars, saying some encouraging and comforting words, and there were even a few women who put their hands together and bowed to the sky, chanting words like "Buddha bless you, Wenquxing bless you".

All living things are different.

Liu Ming'an looked around like he was watching a lively event. He was not in a hurry at all. Instead, he lowered his head and joked in Jiang Ning's ear: "If you sell the Wenquxing and Guanyin Bodhisattva I painted now, they will definitely be sold out."

Jiang Ning: "..."

"Dong!"

Suddenly, a gong sounded, attracting everyone's attention. Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an looked in the direction of the gong sound and saw an official standing upright and majestically on the steps of the yamen.

Seeing that everyone was looking over, the official spoke in a voice like a bell: "Scholars, line up here and enter the yamen after being searched."

Then two more officials brought a cage. The cage was square and covered with black cloth. It could accommodate about four or five people. Jiang Ning knew that this was the place for the search.

More than 20 scholars had lined up on the steps. Jiang Ning looked at Liu Ming'an who was still beside her and urged him, "Go quickly, I'll wait for you to come back."

Liu Ming'an turned to look at Jiang Ning, smiled, and suddenly opened his arms to hug her.

In the public eye, Jiang Ning's first reaction was to push her away, but Liu Ming'an said in a sullen tone, "Jiang Ning, I won't see you for nine days..."

Jiang Ning paused as she wanted to push her away, and then hugged Liu Ming'an instead. Her eyes flashed, and she made a decision in her heart, "It's okay, I'll accompany you, go."

Liu Ming'an thought Jiang Ning was joking, and finally let her go, looking back every few steps to line up.

Jiang Ning watched Liu Ming'an enter the government office, turned around and walked to a deserted place, and with a thought, she entered the space.

Jiang Ning, who was in the space, followed him into the yamen and found that a group of scholars were brought to the courtyard under the court. A table was set up in the courtyard, covered with paper, pens and ground ink. The yamen runners stood in a circle around the courtyard, all with stern faces and very serious.

This scene was indeed quite intimidating. Jiang Ning looked at the group of scholars. Most of them looked as if they were facing a powerful enemy and did not even dare to breathe. However, Liu Mingan lowered his eyes slightly, and no one knew what he was thinking.

After a while, the officials arranged for them to sit. Liu Mingan sat in the corner of the last row. Jiang Ning followed him and sat on the steps of the bamboo house in the space, looking at him through the red barrier.

Liu Ming'an had previously told Jiang Ning that the provincial examination would take nine days in total, including the Four Books and Five Classics, policy questions, and poetry, each lasting three days.

During these nine days, all the scholars' every move would be under the eyes of the yamen runners. They would be gathered together to eat at meals, and no one was allowed to talk. Even if they needed to go to the toilet, there would be yamen runners following them. At night, it was said that they would be taken to the charity hall, and there would be yamen runners patrolling at night.

The first test was the Four Books and Five Classics. Jiang Ning accompanied Liu Ming'an, watching him frowning in thought and writing from time to time, and curled his lips unconsciously.

Three days passed in a flash. Except for going home to eat and sleep, Jiang Ning had been accompanying the examinees in the room. At noon on the third day, the yamen runners collected their provincial examination papers, issued new papers, and entered the second test of policy questions.

Jiang Ning looked at the thick stack of papers, and she was very curious.

In ancient times, people would definitely mark the papers in person, but the exam was held on the 16th, and lasted for nine days, and was not finished until the 25th. The results would be announced at the end of this month. Would they have enough time to mark the papers?

Or was it not like her time when the papers were sent to other places for marking? Was it marked directly in the government office?

Jiang Ning followed the yamen runner who collected the papers all the way to the house behind the court, and found that he handed the stack of papers to Song Ming. Song Ming took it and walked into the house, where two older men were sitting.

"Mr. Qin, Mr. Chen, the first class of the Four Books and Five Classics papers have arrived. Thank you for your hard work." Song Ming said respectfully to the two old men.

The old man took it and divided half into each of them. Jiang Ning watched them pick up the wolf hair brush and dip it in cinnabar. It seemed that they were going to mark it here.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Song? The reform of the imperial examination by Prime Minister Nangong this year has saved us a lot of trouble. We don't have to go to the provincial capital. It is much more convenient than before. It's not hard at all." One of the old men stroked his beard and said with a smile.

Song Ming nodded to the two elders and left the room.

"But I don't know whether such a reform is good or bad," said another old man slowly. "In the past, the provincial capital unified the examination papers, and all scholars, regardless of their background, passed the examination based on their ability. Now it is stipulated that each county must send out more than two candidates. How many scholars are there in remote areas? The level of candidates this year is probably uneven, and the good and the bad are mixed!"

"Prime Minister Nangong has his considerations. Most of the candidates who passed the imperial examinations in the past were from well-off families with a good family background. It is difficult for poor families to produce nobles. This move is intended to stimulate students from poor areas to work hard. Prime Minister Nangong has good intentions!"

"Well, let's just take it as it is. I don't know if there will be two real candidates among the 29 scholars in Baoji County..."

"Who knows? I hope so. I don't want to bite the bullet and pick from a pile of rotten wood... Hey! It seems to be!"

The old man's eyes suddenly lit up and he shouted in surprise.

Another old man hurriedly came up to watch. Jiang Ning couldn't help but be curious, so he stood behind the two of them and looked over.

On the snow-white rice paper, the neat and tidy small regular script came into view. Jiang Ning recognized it as Liu Mingan's handwriting at a glance.

"Oh! This scholar is not bad! His thoughts are clear, his writing is good, his insights are profound, and his handwriting is beautiful! Not bad, not bad!"

Another person nodded in agreement: "He is indeed good, with novel concepts, advanced thinking, and foresight. Just looking at this exam, he is absolutely extraordinary. It depends on how he performs in the next two exams..."

"I hope it won't be a half-hearted performance, hahaha..."

Jiang Ning left the room and returned to Liu Ming'an. She was in a good mood. Seeing that he was still writing seriously, his thin lips were slightly pursed, and his profile was handsome, her heart began to heat up uncontrollably.

This is the scholar she likes!