The sky is dark, the sun is beginning to show its edge, and the placket of the clothes is tidied up. Zhang Bai was dressed neatly, and Taiping City waited for a long time for two years. Pushing open the courtyard door, the Liu couple who had pulled their youngest son in the morning and waited for a long time, Zhang Bai's eyes suddenly moistened. Two years is not a long time, and Taiping City has always felt lonely. Yulian's arrival only felt a trace of family affection, and it was not until today that I saw the Liu couple Zhang Bai had a trace of warmth in his heart.

I saw the husband and wife holding hot soup in their hands and a simple breakfast. A bowl of heart-warming chicken broth, a few hard-boiled eggs, and a few flatbreads. The man handed the egg to Zhang Bai and said, "Brother Zhang is bothered about the exam, and there are only these things at home. He touched the back of his head with one hand and smiled stupidly.

The woman handed the chicken soup to Zhang Bai, and when she opened it, it was a whole hen. Zhang Bai didn't know what to say, the Liu couple was not wealthy. I'm afraid that the hen that lays eggs at home has been stewed, if Zhang Bai would not take over, today you can see the sincerity of the husband and wife. The child took a lot of baggage, and said with a smile in Zhang Bai's hand: "Daddy said that the exam time is very long, and my mother made a few flatbreads, and eat more when I am hungry." Uncle, I know, I can't turn my brain around when I'm hungry. ”

Zhang Bai touched the child's head affectionately, hugged the stone pot and ate a chicken. Leave a chicken leg and hand it to the child and say, "Keep a chicken leg and get a blessing." The child looked at his parents and took it happily when he saw the parents nodding.

Carrying the egg and carrying the flatbread, he bowed down and said: "The heart of the eldest brother and sister-in-law, the younger brother will remember it in his heart, if he waits for the Son of Heaven Hall will not be unkind." "I didn't get up for a long time.

The woman hurriedly helped Zhang Bai up, where had she received such a great gift in her life. said: "Brother Zhang's family, how can they talk about two families." This is not outside, isn't it, sister-in-law is still waiting for what Zhuangyuanlang looks like. ”

The man said angrily: "What does the woman say, isn't Zhuang Yuanlang like Brother Zhang." The woman hurriedly pinched the man's waist with a strange look in her eyes.

Zhang Bai picked up his bags and said: "Borrowing the auspicious words of the eldest brother and sister-in-law, the younger brother will leave." Suddenly, he said, "Actually, he is in charge of food." After saying that, he hurriedly fled. Leaving only the couple and children, they were stunned on the spot, and the young man seemed to have stolen some treasure.

I just walked out of Jiming Alley and listened to a carriage, and it was not warm in the morning. I saw a girl in Tsing Yi waiting quietly with her hands in front of her, Zhang Bai suddenly stopped and looked at her beloved girl. I saw that next to the girl in Tsing Yi, the girl in red kept waving.

Walk a few steps quickly and say, "Yulian, why are you here?" ”

Stretched out his hand and took Zhang Bai's hand and said, "Brother Zhang, it's not early, there is still a distance from here to the examination room, go to the car and say." ”

The carriage was galloping fast under the driving of Lu Xiaozhao, and Zhang Bai did not expect that Yulian would come today. Along the way, Yulian said a lot with a smile, she must have a good meal after the palace test. The red clothes were talking and laughing on the side, Zhang Bai sat quietly and looked at the two girls, you said I answered, it seemed that the current Zhang Bai had been approved for the champion.

When they arrived at the examination room, there were already many people, Zhang Bai put his bags on his back and said, "Yulian." ”

Yulian smiled and took out a talisman wrapped in red cloth, with a simple red silk thread. said: "Brother Zhang, this is for you, I wish you good results." ”

The red-clothed man on the side looked up at Zhang Bai and said, "Zhang Gongzi, this is a talisman that my sister personally went to the temple outside the city to ask for, and she didn't rest all night. can't live up to my sister's kindness, if you can't get into the top prize, you have to be a role model. ”

Looking at the delicately embroidered talisman bag, the talisman bag is blessed. It is a good implication, Zhang Bai hung the talisman bag on his waist, and his eyes quietly looked at a pair of beautiful eyes. said, "I will." He turned and walked towards the palace, a day that had been waiting for two years.

Walking into the crowd three steps and looking back, the girl in Tsing Yi has been watching herself not far away. Zhang Bai hadn't been so happy for a long time, and strode into the palace with the crowd. Looking at the majestic imperial city, my heart is firm. We have been on this road for many years, and today is finally the last moment.

It is not easy to stand out among the scholars in the world, and the two years of study have endured hardships. Zhang Bai walked all the way to a majestic hall, and his clothes were already waiting. For this old gentleman's inner respect, if it weren't for the old gentleman, he might not have today's Zhang Bai, and he would not have become a closed student of Mr.

Walk in front of Shuang Dress and bow respectfully, there is no false courtesy, just a student courtesy. Shuangshang said with a serious face: "Get ready." ”

Zhang Bai got up and replied, "Okay." Shuangshang just nodded lightly and said, "Then go in." ”

Enter the main hall and walk to the seat, facing the rigorous atmosphere and standing with the courtesy of students. Until everyone was seated, the emperor walked out to accompany His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Shuangshang, as the chief examiner, ordered the next group of eunuchs to come out and distribute the test papers.

The prince pointed to the students, but his eyes were on Zhang Bai, and he said casually: "Which of the fathers is the closed student of Mr. Zhou Wen." ”

did not receive an answer from the emperor, so he had to stand beside his father. There have been many palace examinations in the current dynasty, but the crown prince accompanied his father to invigilate the examination for the first time. The father and son have looked at the world's talents, this is the fundamental future of Daliang. This scientific expedition can be described as the most solemn in ten years, and Beijing lacks a large number of officials. When the test papers were distributed, the emperor waved his hand, and Duke Wei announced the decree. After kneeling down one after another, the students sat down peacefully and put pen to paper.

Everyone put pen to paper, but only two closed their eyes and pondered. In the quiet hall, the emperor looked at the two of them, a young man and a weak scholar in his thirties. The prince looked curiously at which middle-aged man, who had never heard of this person among the many students.

The Emperor asked, "The two who don't use their pens are." ”

Gonggong Wei whispered in front of the father and son: "Back to Your Majesty, which of the younger ones is Zhang Bai, a student from Qingzhou, and the older one is Yu Jian, a student from Huizhou." The crown prince glanced at his father silently, obviously not taking the introduction he had just introduced to heart.

I was a little curious why the two of them hadn't started writing until now, and couldn't help but take a look at Yu Jian again. Gonggong Wei walked up to Yu Jian and said, "Half an hour has passed, and Mr. hasn't written yet." ”

Yu Jian, a middle-aged scholar, opened his eyes and glanced at the test paper, picked up the pen and began to write down his name and place of origin, and then put it down again. Father-in-law Wei reluctantly left and walked to Zhang Bai's side, saying the same thing. Zhang Bai glanced up at His Majesty the Emperor who was seated and took up his pen to write. It can be said that the pen is like the wind, and the pen is hard to write.

Towards noon, the students who had finished writing early had left, and there were less than ten people left writing after noon. The emperor stared at the few people seated, and looked a little helpless at the few students who couldn't write down with a pen. Only Zhang Baiyu Jane, the back is powerful, the pen is fierce, and the pen is full of flowers.

The crown prince looked at his father, who had not eaten a drop of water from morning to now, and stepped forward and said, "Father, the emperor has a son here, you can rest first, your body is important." ”

But he didn't expect the emperor to look at the prince fiercely and didn't speak. I had to stand in my place and wait for the end of the temple examination. Shuangshang meticulously wandered among several people, this group of young people is not the most beautiful students in recent years, but they are the one with the greatest opportunity. Especially the students who fancy Zhang Bai, who can be included in Zhou Wen's disciples, and the students who fancy them, everyone is the pillar of the beam. Shuangshang thinks that he has always lost a chip in the students.

For Zhang Bai, a student who came to Qingzhou two years ago dared to study in front of many important ministers with an invaluable envelope. Just with such courage, he is worthy of his double clothes, and he had the heart to be included in the door. If Zhou Wen didn't accept it, he wouldn't mind relying on the old and selling the old. It's a pity that the student Zhang Wenzheng is not in this palace examination, and I really want to see who of the two young people can win the top prize.

Seeing that there were only two people in the main hall, Zhang Bai gently put down the ink pen. Slowly got up and bowed to the emperor and crown prince, and turned to bow to the students in double clothes. Shuangshang didn't talk but smiled, seemingly satisfied. Just a few glances, you can see that Zhang Bai's article work is neat. has his own unique views on the elaboration of things, and Zhou Wen is fundamentally another style, a little more immature, but not heroic.

Only Yu Jian, who was in her thirties, was still writing on the top of the main hall, which aroused the emperor's concern. There are really few people who can make the king of a country wait, and the prince is a little dissatisfied with this middle-aged student. Throughout the twenty years of Daliang, except for Prime Minister Wang An, there is really no one who can make His Majesty the Emperor wait. Shuangshang was seriously guarding Yu Jian's side, but he saw that Yu Jian was not panicked because there was only one person left. The pen is strong and powerful, and each paragraph is in an orderly manner.

It took half an hour for Yu Jian to pick up the pen, and he was extremely steady. On the opposite side, the emperor, the prince and the crown prince, as well as the chief examiner, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, are not lacking in etiquette at all. However, unlike Zhang Bai, it is also a student courtesy to the emperor and crown prince, rather than a courtesy for monarchs and ministers.

Yu Jian respectfully bowed to Shuangshuang, which was heavier than the emperor's etiquette. Shuangshang nodded lightly and did not say anything. There is a unique good impression of this student, this person is arrogant, but he is serious about learning

The emperor did not leave, but walked to Shuangshang's side with the support of the crown prince and asked, "What does Aiqing think of Jian Zhangbai and the others." ”

Shuangshang replied: "Back to Your Majesty, the talent of the two is considered to be the best talent in this year." Zhang Baisheng is young, and Mr. Zhou Wen has done his best to pass on science. In this regard, it is better than Yu Jian, on the other hand, Yu Jian's rigor of learning is rare, and he is an upright person. ”

The emperor nodded slightly, and after finishing the examination papers one by one, Shuangsheng took the bachelor and asked, "What does the prince think of these two?" ”

Xiao Yin, the prince of talents, has always been fancy, and more of them are outside the court. It is very different from King Qi's approach, because it is more convenient for talents outside the court to use, and there is no need to think about it. Now that he is the prince of the prison country, he has less to think about.

replied: "My father and the emperor are among the dragons and phoenixes, no matter whether they can get official positions or not, they should be given a chance to enter the court."

The emperor strode ahead and said, "I have one last question for you, Prime Minister Wang An, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and the bachelor of Hanlin, that person is a talent of the manor. "The prince doesn't understand what the emperor means, how many champions in ancient and modern times are as good as being on the list, and there are countless examples.

Watching his father walk away, the prince calmed down and found that King Qi had no opponent after being imprisoned, and he thought a lot less about things outside the court. remembered that Zhou Heng once said: "The emperor and the general, the conspiracy methods are only for a while, but not for a lifetime." ”

At that time, he was angry, and he abandoned Zhou Heng's advice. When I heard my father's words, I suddenly realized. It was not honorable to deal with the King of Qi, and he knocked the King of Qi down with one move. Many close ministers in the court are getting farther and farther away, only the friendship of monarchs and ministers, as if something is missing.

Outside the palace, Zhang Bai didn't walk fast, and Yulian hurriedly ran up and asked, "How is Brother Zhang?" ”

Zhang Bai said: "I don't know, it's different from the previous palace exams. Your Majesty's topic of snow disaster in the land of the three northern states is not so easy. ”

The excited red-clothed man stepped forward and said, "Zhang Gongzi, don't think so much. The champion must be yours, let's have a good meal and relax first. ”

Seeing Zhang Bai's unyielding appearance, Yulian asked, "What's wrong with Brother Zhang." ”

Zhang Bai said: "I want to wait for someone. ”