When the New Year comes, it is a day for the whole country to celebrate. Since the beginning of the festival of Laba and sacrificial stove in the previous year, everyone has been nervous and happy to prepare for the New Year; Until Chinese New Year's Eve, walk around after the first day to pay New Year's greetings; Soon after, it was the most exciting Shangyuan Festival. After the three-day curfew was lifted, almost a million people flocked to the streets of Chang'an to watch the lanterns and play tricks, rubbing shoulders, or holding hands and singing, or whirling together, a prosperous and prosperous image.

However, this time, the Shangyuan lantern seems to be different from the past. Under the majestic lantern tower standing in front of the imperial city, a place is specially circled to perform a hundred operas. Fire-breathing, sword-swallowing, monkey-trickling, and even tamed wild creatures such as leopards, lynxes, and gray wolves are enough to dazzle. In order to prevent crowding, a circular observation deck was specially set up around it, standing on top of the rising steps, so that no one had to worry about blocking the view of the people behind, and it was as comfortable as watching a polo game.

Until the end of the Lantern Festival, the light towers, light trees, lighthouses, etc. were dismantled one after another, but the observation deck was always in place. The wood from the torn down lantern towers, lamps, trees, and other trees was brought into the observation deck, and hundreds of people came and went in it every day, busy not knowing what they were building.

Some curious people observed for a few days and found that they seemed to be building two rows of houses, simply unadorned, with only a shelf with a roof, and even four walls empty. However, these two verandah-like houses were built in front of the imperial city, and they were nondescript, and I don't know what anyone was planning.

At this time, a new edict was posted outside the imperial city, saying that because of the previous rumor case and the case of framing tribute fraud, the imperial court decided that all subjects such as Jinshi, Ming Jing, and Ming Law must be tested in the provincial examination openly. Examination halls have been built outside the imperial city, and when the examinees are examined, the examiners are all present, and Jin Wuwei is responsible for patrolling the examination halls. All other scholars who are interested in the provincial examination can stand on the observation deck and watch in silence as witnesses.

As soon as this edict was issued, many state capitals sent it to the government in an uproar. How important is the provincial test to them? It is the key to determining the future of life, and it cannot be overly cautious. Now, however, it is a shame that these people, who stand out from the state capitals, are being pointed at by others.

However, more people are very unimpressed. On weekdays, in all kinds of literary meetings and poetry clubs, who is not chanting poems in public? Who doesn't talk in front of others, and if they talk well and calmly, the more praise they get, the more fame they will spread? Why, in the Wenhui Poetry Club, I can't wait for everyone's eyes to focus on me, but when I take the exam, I can't do it? It's an insult?

There were similar voices of skepticism among the court officials, who felt that the arrangement of the provincial examination was a bit too abrupt and completely inconsistent with the rules of previous years. Moreover, in the face of so many onlookers, if the lifters are nervous and perform abnormally on the spot, won't this provincial test be able to get enough talents?

In the face of their incomprehension, the king of Xin'an said very calmly: "A truly excellent person, even if there is a sea of people around, can be indifferent." Such a character is the talent that the imperial court needs most. Moreover, there has always been no requirement for the number of people who have to take the provincial test. Take more and take less, it all depends on the ability of the lifters themselves. If they really can't pass this hurdle, it is because they still have shortcomings, and they must continue to sharpen themselves. ”

"Moreover, the provincial examination is like a cultural meeting held by the imperial court, except that the participants need to have sufficient qualifications to enter. Ordinary meetings in writing are allowed to be listened to by others. Why can't other scribes in Beijing be allowed to observe the provincial examination? Do you want to take the test behind closed doors? It's just unconscionable. Scribes are not ordinary people, and they will never do anything insulting. And only by completing the provincial examination under their witness, and then becoming famous on the list, can it be called the expectation of the public and be convinced by all the scholars. ”

Liu Xijiu's response was more direct: "If you can't even deal with such a scene, how can you deal with all kinds of emergencies smoothly in the future?" People who are shocked at first glance and have an uncertain temperament are not suitable for entry. People who don't have self-confidence or feel unacceptable don't have to take the test, just let them go. The old man believes that in this provincial examination, no matter which subject is taken out, he will definitely have good character and talent!! ”

Since the chief examiner and the assistant examiner were so insistent, the other officials did not say more. Some silently support their actions, some don't, and some are secretly ready to see their jokes - what's the good of arguing with them now? When the results of the tak are out, you will naturally be able to see the difference.

However, when these words were spread, the two examiners, one old and one young, were praised by many Beijing Chinese. In particular, those scholars who did not have the opportunity to pass the guò county examination and the government examination were far more interested in watching the provincial examination than ordinary scribes. After all, such a unique experience as observing the provincial examination may also polish their own state of mind, and also enable them to face the failure of the county examination and the government examination more calmly.

At the end of January, the day of the provincial examination has finally arrived, and the order of the Jinshi examination is before all subjects, arranged on the first and second days. In the early morning, more than 1,000 people from the state capitals of the Tang Dynasty came to the vicinity of the newly built examination house outside the imperial city early with the prepared test boxes and baskets.

Wang Zixian originally planned to come alone, but he didn't want Wang Zimu to be relieved, so he came to live in the vine garden a day in advance, and insisted on accompanying him over: "How can I let my brother face such an important matter alone?" If I can't go with my brother, I'm afraid I'll miss it for the rest of my life. ”

Mr. Song listened to it and couldn't help laughing: "It's just a journey, why don't you let him send it?" ”

So, the helpless prince had to agree. After arriving outside the imperial city, Wang Zimu was a little more nervous than him, and checked for him several times whether everything in the test box was complete: "Brother still needs to prepare a big one?" I see that everyone else has a lot of warm clothes...... Do I need to bring some spare pen and inkstone? Just in case? ”

Wang Zixian couldn't help but sigh: "You can rest assured, what I bring is what I am used to every day, so it's okay." If I go to the province to test you, when it is your turn in the future, will it be difficult to sit restless and sleep restlessly? It's just a two-day stay in the examination room and answer two papers, so why care so much? ”

Wang Zimu bowed his head and said, "I will always watch from the observation deck......"

"It's okay, if you watch too much, you won't feel that there is anything special about the provincial test." The prince dedicated.

At this time, several scribes sent by the Ministry of Officials held the roster for roll call, and the first to enter was the students of Guozijian, then the lifters from Jingzhao Mansion, Henan Mansion, and Taiyuan Mansion, and then the lifters from other state capitals. After carefully inspecting their clerkship and making sure that it was correct for them, the scribes would let them go.

This year, there are not many students who go to the provincial exam, and Wang Zixian is not familiar with them. However, because they were from the same country, there was always some friendship, and soon they exchanged names and surnames. After learning that the young man in front of him was the rumored famous prince, the rest of them could not hide the strange look on their faces. Wang Zixian didn't care about their gaze or opinion, only smiled slightly.

While they were talking, several people arrived at the entrance examination. If you look closely, this hastily built examination house looks like two long corridors, surrounded by thick barriers. The obstacle is about a man high, and you should barely feel the howling cold wind when you sit inside. However, the obstacle can stop the cold wind, but it can't stop the gaze from the observation deck outside. Due to the extraordinarily high ceiling, it is impossible to completely conceal any part of the house.

"I hope there won't be a snowstorm in the next two days." A student of Guozijian smiled bitterly, "It's okay now, if the wind and snow add up, even if the whole body is frozen and stiff, we still have to continue the exam." "In the past, when the Shangshu Provincial Capital Hall was examined, everyone would avoid the position next to the door to avoid getting cold at night. Now there is nowhere to hide, so they can only survive the night in a big hudder.

Everyone said yes, feeling that this was not only a test of their intelligence, but also a test of their body and health.

At this time, a team of Jin Wuwei came to check whether they were carrying items that they should not have brought with them. And standing not far from the side of several Jinwu guards were two handsome young men wearing fox furs, luxurious accessories, and extraordinary bearing. One of them glanced at them as if he were just looking at them casually, and then looked away after a moment.

Wang Zixian gently hooked the corners of his lips, with a smile in his eyes.

"That's ...... The king of Tianshui and the king of Xin'an! "Almost all of the students of Guozijian are the children of high-ranking officials and nobles, and there will always be people who know the clan. When this person called out the titles of the two county kings, the people who were sent from other state capitals all followed the prestige of the past - the Xin'an county king, whose reputation had resounded throughout Chang'an, turned out to be like this.

Wang Zixian squinted his eyes, and had to admit that he felt proud, but also inevitably jealous in his heart. At the beginning, it was clear that he advised Xuanqi that he must hold power in his hands and enter the official career, and the higher he climbs, the more he can protect himself and his family. And after he faded away the mannerism, it seemed to wash away the flaws, and it became more and more dazzling, the more heartstrings were stirring, and he couldn't help but feel broken.

However, now that he saw so many people looking up to him with all sorts of thoughts, it was certain that in the future he would be approached in every possible way, and that he would be admired by more and more people—and he could not help but want to hide him in his bosom forever, from anyone knowing.

Such contradictory thoughts also made him laugh.

So, he simply stopped looking, walked into the examination house, and chose a position that was most easily seen by the people on the observation deck - since Xuan Qi had planned for him and paved the way for him, then he must seize the first head of this year and become famous all over the world in front of everyone! ! !