Ordered to wait, Jiang Anyi stayed at home and didn't dare to go anywhere, and all the entertainment outside was postponed, and he only played chess with Fan Shiben at home to pass the time.

Fan Shiben was strange and asked a few reasons, Jiang Anyi shook his head and said, "Brother Fan still doesn't know." ”

The information to the outside world was brought by Tian Shoulou once every three days, and what made Jiang Anyi quite strange was that the outside was calm and calm, and he could not see the slightest abnormality.

At the end of the examination on April 15, Jiang Anyi read the articles of Fan Zhichang and Li Dongsheng, and said with a smile: "Zhichang's poetry is excellent, and he should be able to go to high school, and Dongsheng's is slightly inferior, but the others are okay, and there should be great hope of winning the middle." ”

Twenty examiners in the Gongyuan began to mark the test papers they read, and their signs were "○", "△", "|", "x", representing the fifth grade, the circle is the best, and so on the fork is the worst. After reading the test paper, add comments, and indicate the last name of the examiner at the end and back, and recommend the first two classes to the examiner.

This year's examination papers were completed on May 9, and Ma Suizhen, the chief examiner in Mingyuan Building, summoned everyone to the gathering, and said: "Today's department will try to get everyone to work together to finally end successfully, this department is the beginning of the military and the opening of the department, and it is the year of the imperial examination, and there are slightly more scholars than in previous years, a total of 388 scholars. ”

Zhou Chucun sat in the third position on the right, eating and living in the Gongyuan for more than a month, and he was really tired. However, Zhou Chucun was proud in his heart, and the six people he brought with him all successfully entered the list, and it was quite cost-effective to exchange 60,000 taels of silver for a month.

Glancing at the people beside him, all of them were happy, Zhou Chucun understood that these people were carrying no less private goods than themselves, and he knew that he should add two more, and the money shopkeeper of Yixianglou was willing to take 20,000 taels of silver for his youngest son, and he was not too familiar with him, and he was timid for a while and didn't dare to agree, alas, the silver of 20,000 taels in hand flew.

He Yingjie, the deputy chief examiner, said with a smile: "You have worked hard for more than a month, just work hard for another day, tomorrow when the old man and Ma Zhongshu have seen the holy car, post the emperor list, and you can go home for a reunion." ”

On May 10, Ma Suizhen and He Yingjie came to see the driver with the list of admitted tributes, and the Son of Heaven summoned them in the Zichen Palace. Huiyuan is Du Qiuliang, the prisoner of Guozi, Shi Fangzhen has heard of his name, and then looks down at Fan Zhichang.

Shi Fangzhen pointed to his name and asked, "Who is this Fan Zhichang?" ”

Ma Suizhen said with a smile: "This Fan Zhichang is the grandson of Fan Yanzhong, I heard that this son first studied in Jiang Anyi, and then studied under Zhang Zhicheng, after Master Zhang took office in Qianzhou, he also studied with Guozijian Siye, the former head of Zechang Academy, Deng Haonan, it is considered to be cultivated by many masters, this son is only eighteen years old this year, young and talented, just like Jiang Anyi back then. ”

The top ten candidates of Gongshi, Ma Suizhen and He Yingjie, did not dare to be negligent, and selected people whose words were like pearls and whose writings were like brocades, so the Son of Heaven asked questions and answers.

Shi Fang's heart moved, this Fan Zhichang has been cultivated by so many good teachers, he should be a talent that can be created, and in time, he will be Jiang Anyi, Zhang Zhicheng and the like. Shi Fangzhen remembered that Queen Wang once joked that if there was one more daughter, Jiang Anyi would be recruited as a concubine, and his second daughter, Princess Xinle, was fifteen years old this year, and she was in her prime, and Liu Guifei also said to him a few days ago, asking him to pay attention to looking for a talented and beautiful person in the new science and technology jinshi, I don't know what this Fan Zhichang looks like, and I want to take a closer look when I wait for the palace test. If the appearance is agreeable, you might as well recruit him as a concubine, so that Xinle will get a good son-in-law, and he will also envelop the Fan family, Jiang Anyi, Zhang Zhicheng and others.

Ma Suizhen and He Yingjie saw the Son of Heaven smiling, and they didn't know what he was thinking, but the Son of Heaven was in a good mood, and they could pass the test smoothly this time. Both of them were sweating in their hearts, half of the three hundred and eighty-eight people were entrained, and some of the articles were really unsightly, and they only hoped that they could pass the test in the palace.

Shi Fangzhen was dazzled by the dense names, and he paid attention to finding the names of Zhang Kejie and Tang Yuxuan. Feng Zhong had already found out the person who was lying in the restaurant that day, and Shi Fangzhen couldn't bear it, and was ready to go down the vine to see who was slandering the prince. Zhang Kejie took the two hundred and ninety-three, Tang Yuxuan took the three hundred and twenty-six, the name is behind, Shi Fangzhen knows that every imperial examination will inevitably have entrainment, and most of the princes and nobles are manipulated in the back, as long as it is not too much, Shi Fangzhen just doesn't know.

Extracting the pen and approving the word "quasi" on the list, Ma Suizhen and He Yingjie were secretly relieved, Zhang Bang's affairs were handled by the Ministry of Etiquette, and the Son of Heaven comforted him with a few words. Coming out of Zichen Palace, Ma Suizhen and He Yingjie looked at each other and smiled, and said goodbye. After the announcement of the imperial list, this year's and the first tributes will worship the master and send silver to the door.

On the east wall of the south courtyard of the Ministry of Rites, the name written on the golden paper is shining, and a few people are happy and most people are sad.

Ma Yuanxiang's eyes widened, and he looked carefully from beginning to end for the fifth time, but he still couldn't find his name and fell off the list. Walking on the street in despair, coming with pride and returning disappointed, Ma Yuanxiang wanted to roar angrily, why did he fail to win as Xie Yuan and Chen Hanhai only relied on studying the articles of the main and deputy exams to get two hundred and twenty-one.

Returning to the inn in a daze, seeing that there was a table of wine in the house, Chen Hanhai sat in the middle with joy, and Qiao Tiantong flattered and complimented with a smile on his face. Seeing Ma Yuanxiang, Chen Hanhai's eyelids twitched, but he didn't see it, but Qiao Tiantong saw Ma Yuanxiang's face turned blue, and said with concern: "Brother Ma, it doesn't matter to you, wait another three years if you don't get into this department, with Brother Ma's talent, don't be too sad, I set up a table to congratulate Brother Chen, Brother Ma might as well drink two glasses." ”

Chen Hanhai said triumphantly: "Brother Ma, don't look at you as Xie Yuan, if you want to take the test essay compared to me, it's still a little worse than me, but don't be too discouraged, Chen will definitely take care of you in the future." ”

Ma Yuanxiang was furious, pointed at Chen Hanhai's nose and scolded: "The villain has a good will, see how long you have been proud." ”

Chen Hanhai lowered his face and said: "Ma Yuanxiang, if you want to be rampant, you have to look at who you are right, can you scold me Chen Hanhai at will?" I don't know what to do, Brother Qiao, let's drink, don't pay attention to him, he is jealous. ”

Qiao Tiantong glanced at Ma Yuanxiang apologetically, raised his glass and said with a smile: "Brother Chen High School, Pengcheng Wanli, don't forget Qiao in the future." Come, Qiao gives Brother Chen a drink. ”

Ma Yuanxiang couldn't bear it anymore, stretched out his hand to pick up the table, and sprinkled Chen Hanhai with wine and food on the table.

Chen Hanhai stood up in embarrassment and scolded: "Ma Yuanxiang, what are you crazy about?" ”

Ma Yuanxiang pointed at the door and said, "Get out, get out of me, Ma someone doesn't serve you, Lord Chen, you can find a place to live by yourself." ”

Chen Hanhai's face turned white, and he snorted angrily: "Brother Qiao, let's go, don't be fed by the groan." ”

Qiao Tiantong sighed, saluted Ma Yuanxiang, and left behind Chen Hanhai. Looking at the mess all over the ground, Ma Yuanxiang sat on the ground, the wine jar fell to his side, and there was half a jar of wine in it, picking up the wine jar, Ma Yuanxiang raised his head to drink, and soon fell drunk to the ground.

In Yongchang City, an uneasiness is surging.

Jihe Inn, more than a dozen unsuccessful scholars drank together, Fangzhou Shizi Ye Zi held a wine glass, drunk and smoky: "It will be unfair to try, most of the people on the list are Wang Sun, and I can't compete with the silver of white flowers for decades." ”

"Brother Ye is right, then Huang Zhehe, Wang Zhixiang, Cui Zhengquan...... They are all children of the powerful, I met Cui Zhengquan when I was writing, the poem was written bullshit, such a person can actually get the ninety-sixth, God is blind. The man called more than a dozen names in one breath, raising the resentment in the room.

"No, I'm not reconciled, I'm going to beat the Dengwen drum tomorrow and sue the emperor." Ye Zi was already seven points drunk, and shouted with a roar.

"Yes, sue the royal court, let Banzai be our master." There was a chorus of voices in the room.

There was an old man in the house, and he hurriedly said: "Whisper, how can the royal court be sued casually, just a dozen of us, I'm afraid we won't see the Son of Heaven, tomorrow everyone will string it around, find some people who also failed the list, and everyone will discuss going together, the law is not responsible, otherwise even if you win the lawsuit, you will inevitably be distributed." ”

"This method is good, I saw that Huazhou mad Ma Yuanxiang also fell off the list today, and Jingdewen of Huangzhou is also a famous talent......"

Everyone was gossiping, and in a moment there were as many as fifty or sixty people. The more the people talked, the more angry they became, and they stopped drinking, so they immediately scattered out of the door to find the scholars who had failed the list, and everyone discussed going together to beat the Dengwen drum and sue the emperor.

A scoop of cold water splashed on his face, Ma Yuanxiang woke up, and there seemed to be a lot of people in front of him.

I heard a call in my ears, "Brother Ma, wake up, wake up." ”

Ma Yuanxiang was helped up from the ground, sat on a chair, someone wiped his face with a towel, Ma Yuanxiang sobered up a lot, and saw that the person who called him was Feng Zhicai, and there were five or six people behind Feng Zhicai, and he didn't know him.

"It turned out to be Brother Feng, which made Brother Feng smile." Ma Yuanxiang smiled bitterly and struggled to get up to salute.

Feng Zhicai held him down and said: "Brother Ma, don't be sad, this will be unfair, and those who fail the list are ready to go to the imperial city to beat the drum and sue the emperor." Brother Ma is Huazhou Xie Yuan, and he has learned to be appreciated by Lord Jiang, so it is said that he should not fail the exam, do you want to go with us to sue the royal court. ”

Ma Yuanxiang surged with enthusiasm and shouted: "Ma is willing to die with him." ”

"Okay", Feng Zhicai took out a stack of papers from his arms and said: "This is a joint book of all beings, Brother Ma might as well sign it, and tomorrow Chen Zheng will go to the imperial city together to kneel down." ”

The front was written by Ye Zi, and Ma Yuanxiang glanced at it, mainly saying that it was unfair to take scholars in today's department, and the princes and nobles secretly bribed the examiners, causing the learned people to lose the election, but the stupid people were on the list. The more Ma Yuanxiang looked at it, the more reasonable he felt, he picked up the paper and added his name after the article, and after a rough look, more than 300 people had nominated it.