At the end of September in the second year of Qianlong, it is a triennial township test, because the township test has always been set in autumn, so it is also called "autumn pluton".

The Qiu Yu of Zhili Province has always been particularly valued by the emperor, the Qianlong Emperor appointed a Manchu and a Han two major officials, the Han chief examination is the first emperor in the second class of the Hu Zhongzao, and the Manchu main examination is Shangshu Etai, surnamed Yiergen Jue Luo, born in a large family, and it is rare to be born in the imperial examination.

Because the date of the township examination was set, Qingtong Academy had a three-day holiday in advance, so that several disciples who were about to take the examination would go back to their homes to prepare for the township examination. In fact, these preparations do not need to be bothered by my brother himself, and my grandmother has already done it herself. Because the township test is strict, ten times that of the test Xiucai, so it is not allowed to wear clothes with lining, so as not to be entrained by the son, so my grandmother has already ordered someone to cut three sets of velvet single clothes, after all, it is already the autumn cold season, and only one set of single clothes is not enough to keep out the cold, so I can only wear a few bodies.

The township examination has a total of three days, a total of three exams, in these three days to enter the tribute courtyard, it is not allowed to take half a step, eating, drinking and Lazar must be in it, and the tribute courtyard will not provide food for the scholars, these are also to be prepared by themselves. Bo Ming was also busy making the Poria cocos cake that Xiu Qi loved to eat on weekdays, and he also deliberately made the Poria cocos cake into small pieces, so as not to be cut because it was too big.

On the day of the start of the township test, the whole Shilang Mansion was busy before dawn, and my grandmother asked someone to boil a thick ginseng soup for Xiuqi, who had just filled his stomach, and once again checked whether the items he carried were complete, whether they were in violation of regulations, and so on. After carefully making sure that there was no problem, he sent Xiu Qi to the carriage to the Gongyuan.

"Amitabha! God bless, you must ask Qi Ge'er to pass the exam!!" the old county lord clasped his hands together and muttered in his mouth.

Hao Ming hurriedly said softly: "Mama, don't worry. The township test of Zhili Province has always reserved a certain number of places for the Manchurians, and the talent of the elder brother may not be as good as the children of the Han family who have been scholarly for generations, but he is also top-notch among the children of the Manchurians. The chief examiner, Ilgen Jue Luo Shangshu, has always been partial to Manchurians, so the possibility of his brother being promoted is still very high. ”

The old county lord's expression was a little soothed.

But Yingwan pouted and said: "But I heard that Hu Zhongzao, another Han chief examiner, also looks down on us Manchurians!

The old county lord couldn't help but frown deeply, and couldn't help but sigh a long sigh.

Hao Ming couldn't help but glared at Ying Wan, at this time, wouldn't you say a few good words? Hu Zhongzao's stubbornness, how could grandmother not know? It's just that at this time, of course, you can only think more about the benefits. If it is the township test of Zhili Province, there are few full people, but I am afraid that the emperor will be dissatisfied, so I appointed Ilgen Jueluo Etai as the same supervisor of the examination, and the two are not high or low.

Ying Wan was stared at by her second sister, and hurriedly lowered her head, looking at the red tassels on the tips of her shoes.

The old county lord's face turned pale, and he ordered the personal maid Cuckoo: "Prepare the carriage and horse immediately! I will go to the Tanzhe Temple outside Beijing to offer incense and pray for blessings!!"

And at this moment, the genius has just dawned, and outside the Gongyuan, it is crowded with the talents of the entire Zhili Province, which is really considerable. Xiu Qi was only followed by a small servant, helping him carry his luggage, which was a bulging bag, and there was a ferret fur cloak in it, which was the best to keep out the cold, and the diet of the past three days, grandmother was worried that Xiu Qi would have a bad stomach, so all the food prepared was vegetarian, all pastries, cakes and other things, although the vegetarian was lighter, but it was safe.

I saw the sun rising in the east, and the gate of the Gongyuan slowly opened.

This is a green-shirted servant who quickly squeezed over, he held a food box in his hand, and hit Xiu Qi with a thousand shots: "The eldest prince Jin An! The slave is a subordinate of Prince Kang's mansion, and on the order of the prince, I specially sent this champion cake to the eldest prince, I hope the eldest prince can win the championship in one fell swoop!"

Xiu Qi carefully looked at the subordinate in front of him who claimed to be a servant of Prince Kang's Mansion, "Are you...... Why haven't I seen you before?"

The servant smiled and said, "The slave is the son of the Qin steward of the outer court, who has been taking care of the property of the palace manor in Fengtian a few years ago, and has just been recalled to serve in the capital recently. ”

Xiu Qi saw that he had a nose and eyes when he said it, and couldn't help nodding secretly, Steward Qin was indeed his uncle's confidant, so he ordered the little guy next to him to accept the box of champion cakes. It's just that Xiu Qi was still a little cautious, and he personally broke all the exquisite champion cakes in them one by one to check, and found that there was indeed something hidden, so he accepted them with peace of mind.

When Xiu Qi was taking the exam in the Gongyuan, Ming Ming and Yingwan had already followed their grandmother out of Beijing to Tanzhe Temple, where incense was flourishing outside Beijing. In autumn, the scenery of Tanzhe Temple is naturally not as good as in the past, but it is rare to come out once, and the mood is still good.

And after talking to his grandmother, he only took his maid Banxia all the way to the back mountain. And Ying Wan was not with her, but went to taste the vegetarian food of Tanzhe Temple-this snack goods!

Sure enough, for Xiuqi's exam, she and Yingwan's reactions were very flat, probably because they both thought that Xiuqi would be promoted, right? In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't win, after all, Xiuqi is only seventeen years old, and if you can win Xiucai, you are already very powerful, and if you can't get in, it's a big deal to take the exam again in three years.

But because of these years of studying, my brother's marriage has been delayed. And the grandmother's meaning seems to be that she intends to make Xiu Qi's reputation higher, and then discuss her relatives, but when she can also set a Manchu family with a higher family background as a wife, it will be of great benefit to Xiuqi's future career and the future of the Nalan clan.

This point is also in favor, but it is not considered from the future glory of the elder brother, but early marriage is not good for the health of offspring!

The mountain behind Tanzhe Temple, there are few people, not to mention the autumn of Xiao Suo, there is no half of a figure, but there are occasional hares flying. Here is a mixed coniferous and broad-leaved mountain forest, the terrain is rugged, there is a winding path between the mountains, that is the monk of Tanzhe Temple came out to fetch water and chop wood, the twists and turns are not very easy to walk.

The sun is gradually rising, and the pen in the tribute courtyard is like a god.

And the weather was also very warm today, and when he walked halfway, he was already sweating, and when he saw a small pavilion by the stream in front of him, he hurriedly went in to rest. About no one came, the stone tables and chairs in the pavilion were covered with a thin layer of dust, and Banxia took a handkerchief and carefully wiped it twice before he asked Ming to sit down.

Banxia said softly: "Gege must be thirsty, right?

Mingming nodded slightly.