At the beginning of the fourth morning of the first month of August, the sedan car that greeted the examiner in Aino Mansion stopped in front of the post house. Last night, Qiu Anqing lived in a post house outside the city, and the post man notified the government office, and Jiang Anyi asked Hua Sima to bring people to greet him. The city gate is closed at night, and the city gate is not opened if there is no emergency, so there are post houses and inns outside the city for people who miss the time to enter the city, and Qiu Anqing calculates the time to enter the city and intends to wait in the post house.

Jiang Tingshi and Ma Beijia took the officials to greet them at the east gate, Qiu Anqing got off the sedan chair and greeted Jiang Anyi, and said with a smile: "Lord Jiang, after four years in Beijing, the adults are more and more powerful, which is enviable." Turning to Fang Shishu and said: "Fang Gong, you are an elder, how dare you work hard, Qiu really doesn't dare to be it." "Two sycophants in his hand, and everyone liked it.

Humility a few words, Qiu Anqing sat back in the sedan chair, the drums played, the team rushed to the government office, the people along the street and the test child competed for the examiner, Qiu Anqing's heart fluctuated, this kind of scenery was never seen in the year.

If you live in the guest house in the palace, you can't interact with people as usual, and you should avoid suspicion. Qiu Anqing was a little restless in the study, according to the rules, tomorrow is the curtain banquet, after the banquet, the deputy chief examiner, the same examiner, and the promotion, invigilator and other officials should enter the tribute courtyard with him, and then the tribute courtyard is locked, and it will not be opened until the eighth day of August, if Jiang Anyi wants to do anything, he should be sent to contact him before the sedan car starts tomorrow.

There was something in his heart, it was difficult to sleep, and the sound of the wind blowing and bamboo at night woke Qiu Anqing several times, thinking that someone was coming, but he got up early the next day with dark circles under his eyes, yawning, and full of worries. No one came, it was possible that Jiang Thorn Shi wanted to take materials impartially, Qiu Anqing sat still and suffered from gains and losses, and asked whether the Ning family and the Cui family should sell this favor, 14,000 taels of silver is enough for him to spend the rest of his life in Beijing, it is a pity to give up like this.

There was a voice outside the house, and Yi Cheng came in with a smile and said, "Lord Qiu, Lord Thorn Shi sent someone to send a horse salute." ”

This is a custom, the local government will send a gift before the curtain banquet, Qiu Anqing's heart moved, will there be a gift in Mingtang. The horse salute is the two ends of the table ceremony, and the gold and silver ingots are twenty taels each, which is double the normal situation. Qiu Anqing had no intention of rejoicing, dismissed the person who gave the gift, and hurriedly looked at the gift, what disappointed him was that there was nothing.

Sitting back in his chair dejectedly, Qiu Anqing's mind was blank, and he was annoyed that he was assigned to Huazhou as the chief examiner, and now he was in a dilemma, and he couldn't feel at ease.

Outside came to urge him to participate in the curtain banquet, Qiu Anqing took a sedan chair to the tribute courtyard to attend the banquet. Get off the sedan chair in front of the Gongyuan, hang a paper bottom plaque in the middle of the vermilion gate, gilt the big characters "Gongyuan" on it, the left and right stone workshops on both sides of the door, the east stone workshop engraves "Ming Jing to take the scholars", and the west stone workshop says "seek talents for the country". Go inside and pass through the "Three Dragon Gate", but see the high-rise buildings towering, the arches and cornices, the momentum is solemn, solemn and elegant.

The banquet was placed in the public hall, Jiang Anyi smiled and introduced to him the officials of the township examination, the deputy chief examiner was the other driver Fang Shishu, and the eight same examiners were the county commanders and county officials of Huazhou County, these people were all from Jinshi, and dozens of other officials such as promotion, supervision of the examination, acceptance of papers, sealing the inspection of the prison gate, and searching and inspecting Huai Coercion stepped forward to salute him.

The wine and food are very rich, but the delicacies of the mountains and seas are like chewing wax in Qiu Anqing's mouth, and Qiu Anqing hates to strangle Jiang Anyi, who has cut off people's wealth. When the banquet was over, Jiang Anyi sent Qiu Anqing and others to the Caution Hall behind the Zhigong Hall, where the houses on both sides of the Zhigong Hall and the Caution Hall were the office accommodations for the staff who were promoted, accepted, and honored, also known as the outer curtain door. There is a stone bridge through the outer curtain door, and the end of the stone bridge is the inner curtain door, and the inner curtain door is the Hengjian Hall, which is the place where the chief examiner and the examiner read the papers. There is a difference between inside and outside during the township test, and it is not allowed to cross this bridge to show that there is no collusion.

Jiang Anyi stood in front of the stone bridge and smiled softly at Qiu Anqing: "Thinking back to the past, Jiang suddenly felt that he was far away and happy. Lord Qiu, you are tired, and when the township test is over, Jiang invites the adults to Qixian Tower to drink again. ”

Qiu Anqing listened inexplicably, "Yao Xiang Fu Chang, Yixing Flying" These eight words come from the "Legend of the Manwang Pavilion" by the sage Wang Zi'an, which means that looking far away, feeling comfortable in the mind, and the interest of Chaoyi immediately arises, what does Jiang Anyi mean, is that he feels that the middle and the beginning of his life are just the beginning, and now the official residence is full of pride.

There was no time to ask more, Qiu Anqing and Jiang Anyi said goodbye, and took a group of fellow examiners across the stone bridge to enter the inner curtain door, the door was closed, and the seal was pasted, and the door was opened three times a day.

Qiu Anqing couldn't understand the meaning of Jiang Anyi's words, but one of the examiners understood in his heart that Jingyuan County ordered Zhao Zehe. Zhao Zehe and Jiang Anyi were both born in Zechang Academy, and Zhao Zehe and the corrupt disaster relief silver were caught by the wind patrol envoy in the previous snow disaster, and Jiang Anyi helped him and helped him tide over the difficulties. Zhao Zehe was grateful to Dade and expressed his willingness to recognize Jiang Anyi as the master. But Jiang Anyi was disgusted that he was not standing upright, and he never agreed.

This time, in order to ensure that Liu Yixing was promoted, Jiang Anyi selected Zhao Zehe as the same examiner, and arranged Liu Yixing's examination seat in his marking range. Zhao Zehe was very jealous of Liu Yixing's good life, and also regarded Jiang Anyi as the main father, and he was ignored for many years, but Liu Yixing's father-in-law personally arranged for him to be promoted, and I heard that he would take over the post of recruiting and joining the army in the future. After thinking about it, Jiang Anyi confessed that he came to handle this confidential matter, that is, he regarded himself as a confidant, and when he handled this matter, the lord's trust in him would inevitably increase, and in the future, with the lord's flying Huang Tengda, his own benefits would be indispensable.

On the eighth day of the eighth month of August, Liu Yixing stepped into the examination room of the Gongyuan Academy, and his position was Xuanzi Bazi, which was in the middle. Strange and familiar scenes reappeared, Liu Yixing sighed a little, and when the exam questions were sent, his mood settled down, I don't know if it was because of the bottom of his heart, his thoughts became extraordinarily clear, and he wrote briskly.

There are 587 scholars who participated in the examination in Huazhou this time, only 20 people were taken, almost 30 were taken, and a good test did not mean that they could be selected, Liu Yixing walked out of the Gongyuan, looked back at the vermilion gate, shook his sleeves, and walked towards the family in front of the Gongyuan with ease.

In the first hall, Zhao Zehe has already singled out what Liu Yixing did from the sixty examination papers, although the name is transcribed, but the words agreed are impressive, and it should not be wrong. I was a little unwilling in my heart, and carefully read Liu Yixing's answer sheet with a provocative mentality, Jingyi remembered it very accurately, there was no mistake, the poems were stable and stable, and they were qualified.

Liu Yixing put forward the policy of governing the country and the people from six aspects, including thin recruitment, selection of officials, removal of redundancy, promotion of commerce, general benefit, and land reclamation. Zhao Zehe nodded secretly, no wonder Jiang Tingshi would plan for him, this person is clearly one of the arms of the lord, and he raised his pen and commented: "The article is to the point, there are things in words, and the policies are practical and effective, and it is a good work." ”

On August 23, each room began to submit the rolls one after another, and Zhao Zehe deliberately left behind, and it was only on the 25th that he sent over the six sets of good rolls he had seen. The number of papers submitted is about 50, and the principal and deputy examiners select 20 sets from them, which are the people who are selected in this subject.

Qiu Anqing and Fang Shishu have already picked out thirteen test papers, but among these thirteen, there is no record of the Ning family and the Cui family's request, and it is very likely that the papers requested have not been submitted. Although the examiner has the power to search the papers, both copies fell into the papers, and Qiu Anqing was afraid of being discussed. Didn't the Ning family and the Cui family go to the same examiner to present the papers, and directly pressed the treasure on themselves, Qiu Anqing felt a headache, if so, at least half of the silver in his hand flew away.

Seeing Zhao Zehe entering the door with the scroll, Qiu Anqing greeted: "Lord Zhao, put the scroll on my side, Ma Gong just accepted the scroll presented by Lord Cheng." ”

The six volumes that Zhao Zehe had seen were all good, and when he turned to the third copy, Qiu Anqing's eyes lit up, and he saw the words that had been agreed with the Ning family, so he immediately picked out this set of volumes and put them aside, and the remaining volumes were hastily turned over without the word "Jide", knowing that the scrolls entrusted by the Cui family were not among them.

Zhao Zehe did not go back to the room after sending the test papers, but stood by the aisle and looked into the distance, seemingly resting. When Fang Bei drove out to go to the toilet, Zhao Zehe hurriedly returned to the examiner's room. Qiu Anqing looked at Zhao Zehe who flashed in in surprise, and Zhao Zehe said with a smile: "The next official just thought of an important place, and I want to share it with adults." ”

Qiu Anqing remained silent, not knowing what kind of medicine Zhao Zehe was selling in the gourd. I saw Zhao Zehe take out a copy from the unsuccessful submission, and whispered four words: "Yixing Feifei." ”

understood, Qiu Anqing's heart was overjoyed, and his 14,000 taels of silver had arrived. He was afraid that Jiang An would not show favoritism, and since he was in the same stream, everyone would be happy. Without looking at it, when he was about to put the paper in the pile of pickup, Zhao Zehe bowed slightly and calmly returned to his house.

The list was released on September 1, although he knew it, Liu Yixing still came to wait outside the Gongyuan early. At the end of the day, the sound of drums came out of the tribute courtyard, and the crowd hugged him. In the lead of the guard of honor, the list was placed on the yellow silk pavilion until it came to the wall of the list. The little official respectfully saluted the list, stepped forward to take it out, and unfolded the list one left and one right. Everyone held their breath and looked at the list, and in an instant, the sound exploded like fireworks, scattered in all directions, turning into joy, anger and sorrow, and heaven and hell were only a piece of paper away.

Liu Yixing watched from a distance, and wanted to step forward but his steps were heavy, and a small official next to him saw him, and ran up with a smile to report the good news: "Congratulations to Lord Lushi, you are the fourth in high school." Congratulations. ”

"Really?" Liu Yixing took the little official's hand in surprise and asked, "Brother Tong, can you see it clearly." ”

The little official surnamed Tong smiled and said: "Liu Lushi, it is clearly written on the list, don't believe me will accompany you to take a look." ”

Liu Yixing of Huiye Mansion, it is clearly written on the red list, Liu Yixing stared at his name deadly, tears fell unconsciously, and the little official surnamed Tong smiled: "Congratulations to the adults, I hope the adults will take care of them in the future." ”

Liu Yixing wiped his tears indiscriminately and said with a smile: "Thank you, Brother Tong, I didn't say it, wait for Liu to make a special trip to invite Brother Tong for a few drinks." ”

On the fourth day of the ninth month, Lord Thorn Shi and the chief examiner invited a banquet for Xinjuren, and there were 20 people in the township test, the first name Xie Yuan was in Fuxue, Liu Yixing was in the fourth, and Ning Qinghua, the son of the Ning family, was in the fifteenth place, and Qian Zhonghe, who was entrusted by the Cui family, was searched out by Qiu Anqing from the falling papers, and was ranked nineteenth. There are four people in the school this time, and three people from Jimin Academy are also on the list, and most of the people on the list are famous people, and the most suspicious is Liu Yixing.

After Jiang Anyi read Liu Yixing's answer sheet, he asked people to copy and post the top five test papers under the list, and everyone was convinced after reading the posted answer sheets.