Chapter 225 I Can
On the morning of the first day of February, Su Zhizhi ran to the martial arts hall with high spirits and courage, heading for the holy place in his heart.
According to everyone's expectations, Su Zhizhi will either pass or fail.
However, I didn’t expect that the queue would be too long and I couldn’t enter the martial arts hall today!
Heishan Mansion is in Tongjifang, at the southeast corner; the Martial Arts Academy is in Qunxianfang, close to the westernmost Jinguan Gate.
There were many people and cars in Chang'an City. When they walked from Heishan Mansion to Qunxianfang, they saw a very long line lining up at the Martial Arts Hall.
Su Zhizhi was stunned when she saw it.
She had never seen such a scene when she was enrolled in Mingde Academy.
There was a steady stream of people lining up behind.
The martial arts school even gives number tags to people who line up, and they can enter only after their number is called.
Ni Tianji went to the front and got back a number plate.
Everyone looked at it and said, "Number 188?! Won't this wait be until tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?"
One or two people even walked by the long line and asked in a low voice:
"Brother, are you bringing your child to take the exam? Do you want a number?"
"I have the number in front. I'll transfer it to you for one tael of silver."
"Tsk... I'll give you a discount, half an ounce is fine..."
The adults didn't want to disappoint Su Zhizhi, so they said:
"Zhizhi, it's okay, let's go buy a number and we'll be in line later."
But Su Zhizhi didn't look disappointed, she shook her head and said:
"It's okay. Enrollment has been going on for a few days. You can come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Maybe dad will be free tomorrow and come with me."
Hao Ren didn't accompany Su Zhizhi today, not because he disagreed, but because he was very busy recently, busy interacting with merchants, busy connecting with officials, and sometimes even having to go to the palace.
Wu Yingniang held Su Zhizhi's hand and said, "Okay, let's go back first and come back tomorrow."
So everyone went back.
The sun slowly walked across the sky to the west.
The line in front of the martial arts hall became shorter and the shadows of people became longer.
Behind the long table, Zhou Jijiu drank several cups of tea and his mouth was almost blistered from inflamed flesh.
Although there are many people taking the exam, after a day, we have only recruited two suitable students so far.
Because the age limit has been relaxed, most of the people who come to take the exam are children around twelve years old.
Zhou Jijiu did not require any martial arts skills from children of this age, but mainly tested their strength, endurance and reaction speed.
Many children have good strength but poor endurance; or they have good strength and endurance but are not quick enough to react.
In short, the requirements of the martial arts school are high, and it is rare to meet all three requirements.
As the sun was setting, the martial arts hall closed its doors, allowing the few people to take a breath.
Zhou Jijiu: "Today, there are more than a hundred people taking the exam."
Coach Lin: "How many new students have we recruited so far?"
"Ten," Dr. Xiong closed his eyes helplessly, "only two were chosen by us, and the other eight were children of officials who were sent in without taking the exam."
Zhou Jijiu silently prayed in his heart that no one should let any more dudes in.
Enough, really enough.
Dong, dong, dong! The sound of the copper lock hitting the wooden board was a little rapid.
Someone is knocking on the door of the martial arts school.
Zhou Jijiu shook his head and sent someone to tell the person knocking on the door that the day was over and they could come back tomorrow.
But at this moment, the servant at the gate came hurriedly to report:
"Jijiu, Prince Gong is here."
Zhou Jijiu was surprised: "What is Prince Gong doing here?"
"It seems that the prince is being sent to the martial arts school to register."
Because of Prince Gong's visit, the door of the martial arts school had to be opened again.
Prince Gong Murong Xun came in with Murong Ming and a group of guards.
"Prince Gong, Crown Prince." Zhou Jijiu and others saluted.
Murong Xun curled his lips and said, "You will all be Ming'er's teachers in the future, so there's no need to be so polite."
He turned his head and glanced at Murong Ming: "Why don't you call for help?"
Murong Ming, who had just been scolded in the carriage, could only say, "Student Murong Ming, greetings to Master Zhou."
He had been out playing all day today, and on his way home he was taken to the martial arts academy to register.
Murong Xun and his son smiled reluctantly.
Zhou Jijiu, Lin Jiaotou and Dr. Xiong's smiles were even more forced.
It's obvious that he's a troublemaker.
After registering the enrollment information, Zhou Jijiu asked:
"Have you ever practiced martial arts before? You can try your skills."
Although they can apply for admission directly, they still need to take a small test to get a rough idea of the situation.
Murong Ming raised his head and said, "When I was in the palace, General Yuan taught us martial arts."
After he said this, Zhou Jijiu's eyes lit up again.
General Yuan is a good martial artist, and the students he personally teaches will not be bad either.
"Prince, please." Coach Lin led Murong Ming to the edge of the ring.
The first level of the test is strength, which requires lifting stone pillars.
There are three stone pillars of different sizes on the ground, which are used to test candidates of different age groups.
Instructor Lin pointed to the smallest stone pillar and said, "Your Highness is only ten years old. You only need to lift this stone pillar."
The stone pillar does look quite small.
"No problem." Murong Ming bent down to move it.
He pushed hard.
Try harder.
Use all your strength!
His face and neck turned red, but he couldn't lift the stone at all.
Everyone present: ...
Coach Lin: "Your Highness may not have brute strength, but he may have good endurance. You can try doing a horse stance."
Murong Ming took a crooked horse stance, groaning for half a cup of tea, and then sat down on the ground in exhaustion.
Murong Xun simply found it unbearable to watch.
Zhou Jijiu also felt that there was no need to test again as it was already very clear.
Murong Ming shouted, "I just don't have brute force and can't do horse stance, but I'm good at fighting!"
Dr. Xiong tried to smooth things over: "Then the prince can have a sparring match with the students of our martial arts academy."
Murong Ming saw Qi Fang holding a wooden sword and said, "Fight if you want. I want a sword too."
Someone brought a wooden sword to Murong Ming.
"Ha——!" Murong Ming rushed towards Qi Fang with a sword.
Qi Fang stood where he was, without dodging, waiting for Murong Ming to rush forward with his sword, and then he directly deflected Murong Ming's sword.
Bang.
The wooden sword in Murong Ming's hand fell to the ground.
Qi Fang's sword was still firmly in his hand, and the tip was already against Murong Ming's neck.
One move and the winner is decided.
"Prince, thank you for giving in." Qi Fang said calmly.
Dr. Xiong couldn't even smooth things over at this point.
Zhou Jijiu: ...Okay, okay, I waited for a whole day, and finally the weakest one came.
At this moment, everyone tacitly agreed not to look at Murong Xun.
Master Lin felt that if this was his own son, he would really want to dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it since he was so disabled.
Murong Xun really felt humiliated at this moment and just wanted to take Murong Ming and leave quickly.
At this time, Murong Ming was furious.
He was unhappy from the moment he moved the stone:
"You are clearly deliberately trying to embarrass me! I am only ten years old, and you have found a seventeen or eighteen-year-old to bully me!"
Qi Fang: "...Prince, I am sixteen this year."
Murong Ming roared, "That's not fair! Also, how can someone my age lift such a heavy stone, and how can I possibly squat in a horse stance for so long?!"
Everyone in the martial arts hall had probably never seen such an unreasonable young master. It was so ridiculous that they were speechless for a moment.
And in this brief silence, a clear voice rang out:
"I can."
The sound came from the door.
The gate of the martial arts school faces west. At this moment, the sky in the west is full of sunset glow, which dyes the gate with a strange red color.
Two large figures and one small figure stood at the door.
"I can lift rocks, do horse stance, and fight with sixteen-year-olds."
Su Zhizhi's voice was clear.
Murong Xun looked over when he heard the voice and met Su Zhizhi's gaze.
The moment they looked at each other, Murong Xun's ears fell silent for a moment, and his heart suddenly felt as if it was tied tightly by a rope.
He was so tied up that he couldn't breathe.
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