Xi Mo didn't know about Xie Shu and Yu Chuxi. Seeing that his master had been stopping to watch and seemed to like the peach blossoms very much, he said, "Master, how about picking one?"
This was exactly what Xie Shu was thinking, but after thinking for a moment, Xie Shu shook his head and said, "It's still early now. I will attend a poetry gathering later. It would be a pity to watch it fall apart in my hands."
Xi Mo was a little puzzled when he heard this: "Master, this is just a peach blossom. It's not pretty anymore. Just pick another one."
Xie Shu glanced at him calmly and said, "Although the peach forest here is not in the West Garden, it was also carefully planted by someone. If you want to take it back to enjoy, I'm sure the owner won't blame you if he knows. Why do you want to treat it like this?"
Xi Mo nodded as if he understood something. Xie Shu's words and deeds were very different now, but what he said and did made Xi Mo very convinced, and he always felt that there was some truth in it.
Xi Mo then stopped talking and waited silently for his master to finish viewing. Then the two of them returned the way they came.
What they didn't know was that after the master and servant left, two figures appeared behind a small hill not far away.
Both men were young men, dressed in brocade clothes, with a leisurely posture, as if they were strolling in their own yard.
The one on the left looked to be about twenty years old, tall, with a decent appearance, and a cheerful and tolerant look.
The man on the right looked younger, but he was handsome and had a more imposing manner. He closed the folding fan in his hand with interest and said, "This man's words are interesting. Cousin, do you know him?"
This person is none other than the third prince of the dynasty, named Shao Zhen, who is eighteen years old this year. The purpose of his visit to Nanjing this time is to arrange the emperor's southern tour, but this matter is done in secret and no one else knows about it.
The other person was naturally Gu Yuanke, the organizer of the Xiyuan Poetry Society and Shao Zhen’s cousin.
Gu Yuanke understood the meaning of Shao Zhen's words. The purpose of holding the Xiyuan Poetry Festival was actually to secretly select and recruit a few people for Shao Zhen to use in the future.
The Gu family is now in great favor because of the relationship between Shao Zhen and his mother, and Gu's father occupies the most lucrative position in the whole Jinling. However, if the Gu family cannot make further progress in the future, the end can be imagined.
Therefore, Gu Yuanke had no choice but to follow his father's lead and support the third prince to ascend the throne.
Shao Zhen is a very intelligent person, but because he has been favored in the palace since he was a child, his temperament is a bit moody. Even his cousin Gu Yuanke has to be very careful in front of him.
Gu Yuanke considered his words carefully, his usually generous expression now showing a bit of shrewdness: "I know this person, his name is Xie Shu..."
Gu Yuanke was a little surprised to see Shao Zhen actually had high hopes for Xie Shu, but when he thought about how Xie Shu's appearance and demeanor were indeed far superior to others, and how he spoke so eloquently just now, he could understand it.
But because of this, Gu Yuanke was a little worried about how to explain to Shao Zhen...
Gu Yuanke knew Xie Shu, of course, not only because he was keeping an eye on talented people in Jinling, but also because Xie Shu had once become famous in Jinling. When the wealthy Yu family in Jinling was looking for a son-in-law, he was the first one to take the initiative to come and be the son-in-law.
After passing the examination for a scholar at the age of fourteen, this person was not mentioned in the next two provincial examinations. He also dropped out of Jinling Academy and there was no news of him since then.
It can be seen that this person has limited talent and a bad character. He is not the talent they want... But judging from his words and actions just now, there may be other hidden reasons...
Xie Shu?
Shao Zhen frowned when he heard this. He had never heard of this person before, but he did not find it strange. Instead, he asked casually, "Could it be someone from the Xie family of Chen County?"
Shao Zhen had been raised in luxury since he was young, and he could tell at a glance that Xie Shu's clothes and accessories were quite telling.
The Chenjun Xie family mentioned by Shao Zhen is a very famous aristocratic family.
Although the world now began to use the imperial examination as a means of recruiting talents, there were still only a few people who could afford to read, and most of the positions in the court were still held by children of aristocratic families. The difference between poor families and aristocratic families was huge, and it could be seen from their dress.
Therefore, Shao Zhen's question is also within common sense.
Seeing that he was getting more and more wrong, Gu Yuanke could only shake his head and reveal the answer: "That's not the case..."
After Gu Yuanke finished speaking, Shao Zhen's face looked bad.
Gu Yuanke was about to say something: "But I just saw his words and actions..."
But before he finished speaking, Shao Zhen waved his hand impatiently and said, "Cousin, you don't have to say any more."
He didn't expect that the person he liked at first sight turned out to be such a despicable person. Shao Zhen lost interest for a moment and even felt a little unhappy.
Xie Shu returned to the gate of the West Garden and saw that many people had gathered at the gate. Some of them looked similar to the ones he had seen in the scroll.
When Xie Shu approached, many people couldn't help but look at him.
It was still chilly in spring, and the West Garden was on a mountain, so there was still a hint of chill in the morning breeze.
Most people were wearing cotton clothes, which were a bit bulky but enough to keep out the cold. Xie Shu, on the other hand, was wearing a green robe, a light fur coat and a crown and belt, which made him look even taller and more upright.
His eyebrows were like distant mountains, handsome and extraordinary, and his eyes were like stars. When he raised his eyes and looked over, it was as if the light from the sky was falling on him.
Zhang Enshi was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses. He had not seen Xie Shu for three years. He did not expect that after not seeing him for three years, Xie Shu's demeanor and manner were very different from before, and even more so than before.
Then Zhang Enshi smiled bitterly in his heart. Yes, Xie Shu had now married the son of a wealthy man in Jinling, so naturally there was a huge gap between them and him.
When Zhang Enshi received the news a few days ago that Xie Shu was coming, he was actually a little flattered. After all, he and Xie Shu were not very close, and Xie Shu had never replied to his letters before, but this time his wording was very sincere.
However, when Zhang Enshi and several other classmates talked about it just now, no one cared about it.
Zhang Enshi smiled and waved at Xie Shu, and Xie Shu confirmed his guess that this person was Zhang Enshi. The other party looked a few years older than him. His appearance was not outstanding, but he was kind and honest.
Xie Shu nodded slightly at him and smiled a little.
As for the others, they didn't say anything and looked a little distant. They were not as good-tempered as Zhang Enshi, who went to invite Xie Shu.
During the years they were classmates, Xie Shu didn't have a very good relationship with them.
When Xie Shu left, everyone was at loggerheads.
But it's not their fault. It's Xie Shu's fault for becoming a son-in-law. It's not a big deal if they talk about it behind his back.
Therefore, when they learned that Xie Shu was coming, everyone naturally made a lot of sarcastic remarks about what happened that year. Now that they saw Xie Shu, they even felt a little jealous.
Xie Shu looks different now, it turns out that he is supported by his rich husband!
Xu Shengkai, who used to have a bad relationship with Xie Shu, couldn't help but smirk and said, "Xie Shu, I haven't seen you for three years. You finally come out this time? Why don't you tell us how it feels to be in the Yu family?"
Xu Shengkai had long heard about how bad the young master of the Yu family was, so his tone was somewhat gloating.
As soon as he said this, the people around him also heard it. They guessed Xie Shu's identity and began to whisper. It turned out that this person was Xie Shu, who gave up a good chance of success in imperial examinations and took a shortcut to become the son-in-law of the Yu family!
Therefore, there was inevitably a bit of disdain in the eyes of the crowd. The same goes for the so-called literary people looking down on each other.
Zhang Enshi looked anxious and quickly grabbed Xu Shengkai. They were here to attend a poetry reading today. What would they do if a conflict broke out at the entrance?
But what Xu Shengkai said was too much. After all, they were classmates before, and it was not right to make things so ugly.
Xu Shengkai also realized at this time that Xie Shu was now the son-in-law of the Yu family. In any way, he was different from before.
With the Yu family as his support, if he provokes Xie Shu like this, there is no telling what Xie Shu will do.
Thinking of this, Xu Shengkai's expression stiffened a little, but he still stiffened his neck and refused to bow his head.
But what no one expected was that Xie Shu did not have any special reaction. He did not even change his expression. He just raised his eyebrows and said, "Not bad."
These words were like a gentle breeze passing by one's ears, silently and without a trace, erasing all the previous conflicts.
When Xu Shengkai saw that Xie Shu did not argue, but instead gave the answer so lightly, he felt as if he had punched cotton. For a moment, he felt indescribably depressed.
However, Xu Shengkai didn't think that Xie Shu was really answering him calmly, he must be just trying to be brave.
But if one person acts as if he or she really doesn't care about something, other people will also lose interest in having fun with that thing.
After that, no one talked about the matter anymore. After everyone had gathered, they handed the visiting card to the gate boy and entered the West Garden.
As soon as they entered the West Garden, everyone was attracted by the scenery before them.
The West Garden was built by the water, surrounded by a clear stream and with stone steps like clouds. After entering the garden, everyone followed the gate boy through the winding corridor. The stones under their feet were as white as snow, as if they were walking on jade steps.
The surrounding attic courtyards are even more exquisite, and every mountain, stone, grass and tree seem to be there for people to appreciate.
At this moment, everyone showed an expression of longing, and they wanted to recite a few poems on the spot to express their excitement. Only Xie Shu looked relatively calm, but he was also looking forward to the poem even more.
After a while, after passing through many pavilions, we finally saw the place where today's poetry meeting was held. It was in a pavilion by the water.
There are two rows of weeping willows beside the stream, mixed with countless peach and apricot trees, presenting a bright spring scene. Fallen petals occasionally float on the water, drifting in the water.
The pavilion had already been decorated inside and outside, with countless maids walking around and placing wine and delicious food on the table by the stream. Although the owner had not appeared yet, there were many guests who had arrived earlier than them.
Although there is no requirement for identity to attend the Xiyuan Poetry Festival this time, anyone with talent can come in.
But basically they were all scholars studying for the imperial examinations, or tongsheng.
Those who studied at Jinling Academy were all scholars who passed the imperial examinations and had the status of students.
The Qing Dynasty stipulated that scholars who could take part in the provincial examinations had to be students who had studied in government-run academies, so most of the people who came and went were known to everyone.
Soon, Zhang Enshi was surprised and said, "Look, that man seems to be Mr. Zuo Ran's disciple Wang Jing. He took part in the provincial examination last year and won first place, which means he is already the champion!"
The provincial examination is the next hurdle that everyone faces.
The provincial examination, also known as the autumn examination, is held only once every three years. There are three sessions in total. After passing the provincial examination, one becomes a juren and is eligible to become an official.
But the provincial examination was very difficult. Admissions were based on the proportion of the entire province's population. The Jiangnan Province where Jinling was located only admitted dozens of people at a time. The first place in the provincial examination was called Jie Yuan. It was conceivable how powerful this person was.
Xie Shu also took a closer look at him and saw that Wang Jing was tall and thin, with a gaunt appearance, and there were many people gathered around him.
At this time, several more people arrived. They were also famous talents in Jinling. Although Xie Shu didn't know any of them, he had read their information before, so he listened silently to what they said next to him and matched each person's information in his mind.
Zhang Enshi and others finally decided to sit in the middle row, which was neither outstanding nor unnoticed.
Xie Shu also sat down. He didn't care about those things, but just started thinking in his heart.
Before coming to this poetry reading, although Xie Shu had some idea about the imperial examination, he had never put himself in its shoes. Now, he felt a kind of silent appeal.
The people around him all regarded obtaining official titles as their top priority, which is actually very similar to modern society.
Xie Shu once had some experience in exams. Later, after he became a graduate student, he continued to deal with ancient Chinese classics and studied this aspect, so he had a very good understanding of the ancient imperial examination system.
He knew very well that, unlike modern times, the imperial examination was not a path that everyone could take, but it was... a road to success.
In fact, these days, Xie Shu has been thinking about what kind of career he should do in ancient times.
It seems that he can't do much, only studying is pretty good.
However, Xie Shu had no interest in fame, wealth or power, nor did he envy others.
But Xie Shu suddenly thought of her husband at home.
He couldn't give anything to his lover, but maybe he could give him this.
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