Tao Yun hadn't seen Xie Shu for a long time, and had many things he wanted to talk about with him. However, when he quickly walked up to Xie Shu and noticed the people on his left and right, Tao Yun realized that the current situation was not very convenient.
Tao Yun then greeted Xie Shu, and nodded to Zhang Enshi, Xu Shengkai and others. Xie Shu also introduced the rest of the people to Tao Yun.
Although Zhang Enshi and his friends did not like dealing with children from aristocratic families, they were not so averse to Tao Yun because of his cheerful personality and friendly attitude.
Tao Yun suddenly remembered something. When the young men from noble families approached him, he said to one of them, "Xie Heng, didn't you want to meet Rong Zhan before? Today is the perfect opportunity! Rong Zhan, his name is Xie Heng, from Chen County. He is the same age as you and has the same surname. It is fate."
Tao Yun said this casually, but he pointed out the identity of this person, that he was from the Xie family of Chen County. The Xie family of Chen County is one of the four most powerful families in the world today.
Upon hearing this, Xie Shu looked over and saw that the young man named Xie Heng was squinting at him. After noticing Xie Shu's gaze, a smile quickly broke out on his face, as if he was trying to appear friendly. However, with Tao Yun as a contrast, the deep-rooted arrogance that was unique to aristocratic families was clearly revealed in him.
Xie Shu naturally had no intention of making friends with him. He was indifferent to surnames or family backgrounds. Over thousands of years, through the rise and fall of many people, what determined a person's essence was never his blood or race, but the depth of his thoughts and soul.
Therefore, Xie Shu just smiled faintly and didn't say much.
Tao Yun already knew that his friend was a man of good character, but he was still impressed to see that Xie Shu was so unmoved.
After all, there were countless people who wanted to make friends with the four noble families, and Xie Heng was also a special person. He was the legitimate son of the Xie family and the grandson of the old master Xie, and he was always highly regarded. Originally, Tao Yun saw that Xie Heng had taken the initiative to ask about Xie Shu, so he intended to match the two of them up. However, since Xie Shu was not interested, Tao Yun did not mention it again, but continued to chat with Xie Shu as they walked.
However, Tao Yun remained calm and composed, but others could not sit still.
Especially Xie Heng, who never thought that after he had intentionally expressed his intention to make friends, someone not only did not climb up the pole, but also completely ignored him!
At this moment, Xie Heng felt ashamed. In fact, if it was someone else, Xie Heng would not feel this way. It was just because Xie Shu and he had the same surname, Xie. Xie Heng had checked before and found that Xie Shu came from a poor family. His ancestors had nothing to do with their Xie family. Later, he married into the family as a son-in-law, so there was no connection. However, if Xie Shu wanted to become a relative of their Xie family, it was not impossible.
This is not because Xie Heng is arrogant, but because the Xie family in Chen County often encounters such things. Who wouldn't want to cling to them if they have the surname Xie? Of course, they usually don't care...
So Xie Heng never expected that Xie Shu would have such an attitude!
As for other children of aristocratic families, there is no need to mention them. Zhang Enshi and others gradually recovered from their previous awkwardness. For some reason, when they saw Xie Shu's leisurely and confident demeanor, they suddenly thought in their hearts that it turned out that children of aristocratic families were no different.
So what if they are wearing sackcloth? Don’t they know the principle of the first-class white shirt?
In the clear autumn, the morning light floats faintly in the sky, the cold of the night gradually fades away, and bells ring one after another in the majestic and solemn imperial city. Then, from the outer city of the imperial palace to the Imperial Street, the rumbling sounds of bells and drums begin one after another.
There is no morning court today because it is the day of the annual imperial examination. Soldiers will be stationed outside the Ministry of Rites and Imperial College to prevent any accidents.
In the imperial study, Emperor Qing was looking through the list given to him by the Minister of Rites and asked, "How many candidates are there for this year's imperial examination?"
Minister of Rites Zhu Han bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, this year's exam is the best ever, with 56 more candidates than in previous years, a total of 1,831 people, all thanks to your Majesty."
Emperor Qing's face did not show much joy. He suddenly slapped the list in his hand and said, "Look, how many poor children are on this year's list!"
Zhu Han was shocked when he heard this. Emperor Qing was pointing out that there were too many children from aristocratic families in this year's imperial examination! But Zhu Han was speechless. This examination was the highest level of examination besides the palace examination, and it had certain requirements for the talents who could participate in the examination.
Nowadays, people who can afford to go to school, even if they are from poor families, are by no means completely poor and destitute. After all, only if they have the time and conditions to pass the examination to become a scholar, can they have the opportunity to reduce or exempt taxes and receive subsidies.
Therefore, in the imperial examinations, children of aristocratic families naturally have a natural advantage. In addition, Your Majesty has repeatedly shown his reliance on the imperial examinations, so it is not surprising that there are so many children of aristocratic families participating in the imperial examinations this year.
Just as Zhu Han was thinking about how to defend himself, Emperor Qing said calmly, "Forget it. Do you know the original intention of my promoting the imperial examination?"
Zhu Han nodded upon hearing this, but didn't dare to say it out loud. Who in the entire court didn't know that Emperor Qing wanted to use the poor families to suppress the aristocratic families?
Zhu Han thought about it and realized what Emperor Qing meant. He said, "Your Majesty has good intentions. How could I not know that Your Majesty wants to benefit the people of the world, so that people from humble backgrounds can have a chance to start a business and those from humble families can enter the government."
At this point, Zhu Han bowed his head and said, "I will definitely live up to your majesty's expectations."
Emperor Qing couldn't help but raise a smile.
In fact, Emperor Qing would never be disappointed because there are so many children from noble families on this list. On the contrary, he is extremely proud.
You have to know that he promoted the imperial examination in every possible way in order to make it a trend throughout the country. Now even those high-minded children of aristocratic families are vying to take part in it, which is enough to show its influence.
Of course, the ultimate goal of the imperial examination held by Emperor Qing is to find people he can use. If they are all children of aristocratic families, then what is the difference from before?
So Emperor Qing specifically warned Zhu Han to make him understand what he meant.
Zhu Han left with a heavy heart. His Majesty's request was difficult and simple at the same time.
Your Majesty wants to employ people from poor families, but only a hundred people can pass the imperial examination every year. This means that among the more than a thousand candidates from all over the country, only the best ones who can surpass the others have a chance to win. However, this is not something that most people from poor families can do.
However, only those who get first place in the joint examination are eligible to take part in the palace examination.
By that time, the final ranking has not yet been decided by His Majesty, so all Zhu Han has to do is make sure there are the right people.
Before daybreak, Xie Shu was waiting in the Imperial Examination Hall with many other candidates.
In the entire huge Imperial Examination Hall, there was no other sound except the voice of the examiner calling out the names. If one looked around, one would see the imperial guards who had surrounded the examination hall so tightly that no one would be in the mood to talk.
After strict inspection, Xie Shu was able to enter the examination room and found his own examination room. He would spend a short yet long time here until the examination ended at Youshi.
The morning bell and evening drum of this day will determine the fate of everyone...
As Xie Shu waited for the test papers to be distributed, he felt unusually nervous. He closed his eyes, calmed his breathing, and relaxed himself.
And every time at this moment, the hazy mist and rain would appear in his mind, which has always been his comfort in his spare time.
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