Liu Weining's life after returning to Jingzhou was so unhappy.

In the past, the county school classmates would always set up a banquet every once in a while and invite him to the banquet.

The wine is good wine, the food is good food, and there are beauties playing and singing on the side to help the fun, it is like a fairy.

In addition, Liu Weining has not been able to be lifted for many years, and the pent-up emotions have naturally become profligate once vented.

He hugged the courtesan and said softly, "Miss Xue'er will sing another Yulin bell." ”

That Xue'er girl was so drunk by Liu Weining that she frowned, but it was not easy to disobey, so she had to reluctantly squeeze out a smile and said, "The slave obeys." ”

She cleared her throat and began singing.

Yulin bell is an ancient song, after the Song and Yuan dynasties to the emperor and Ming has derived many versions.

The version she sang was adapted by a famous prostitute in Suzhou during the Zhengde period.

This version is widely spread in the prefectures and counties of Daming, so most people can hum a few words when it comes to Yulin Bell.

This Xue'er's voice is excellent, even singing this kind of song with a hundred turns and thousands of times without the slightest sound.

Liu Weining frequently stroked his palms and praised when he was hazy and slightly drunk, and that Xue'er also sang more and more.

Unconsciously, Liu Weining only felt that a figure flashed in front of him, and he looked at it, it was not Ning Xiu but who it was.

"Brother Ning Xian......"

Liu Weining only felt that most of the wine had dissipated, and said with a smile: "You are here too." ”

Ning Xiu shook the folding fan in his hand and said with a smile: "Just allow Brother Liu to go to the banquet to drink, and don't allow Ning to enjoy the joy of peace?" ”

It turned out that Ning Xiu heard that Liu Weining had been invited to various banquets these days, so he was a little worried and came to take a look.

It doesn't matter if you look at it, Liu Weining's erosive state makes Ning Xiu feel sad.

Originally, Liu Weining was such an excellent scholar, but after the middle lift, such a big change occurred, and he was corrupted like this...

Liu Weining's face suddenly turned red, and he said with a wry smile: "Brother Ning Xian said that he was smiling, take a seat." ”

Ning Xiu pushed his hand and said, "Brother Liu likes to listen to music?" Na Ning sang a song for Brother Liu. ”

When everyone heard that Ning Jieyuan was going to sing, they came over one after another.

Xie Yuanlang's level of poetry and composition must be first-class, but they really don't know how to sing music, so they just listened to it this time.

Ning Xiu cleared his throat and sang loudly: "Angry hair rushes to the crown and leans on the railing, and the rain rests." Raise your eyes to the sky and roar, fierce and fierce. Thirty fame, dust and earth, eight thousand miles of clouds and moons. Don't wait for the young man's head to be white, empty and sad. ”

Yes, he sang a song full of Jianghong.

Ning Xiu's voice is extremely high-pitched, and his feelings are sincere, even if there is no drum accompaniment, it makes people's blood boil. It was as if thousands of troops were galloping past, and the flags were whistling...

After singing the song, there was endless applause. This applause was not a courtesy, but a spontaneous gesture from everyone.

Liu Weining's drunkenness completely dissipated at this time.

He didn't dare to look up at Ning Xiu again, he knew that what he had done had disappointed Ning Xiu.

"Now that the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars have traded with each other for a few years, and it has only been a few years since the southeast Japanese were pacified, have you forgotten the humiliation of the year? Although my generation is a scholar, you don't have to go into battle with a three-foot green edge to kill the enemy, but you can't be willing to fall into the arms of beauties, right? What did the imperial court take? It is a person of insight, a person who serves the country, not a person who is drunk and dreams of death! My generation is a scholar, when the goal is to be Junyao Shun, how can we be greedy for pleasure? Ning sent you a word, *******, *******! ”

Everyone present was at the age of strong blood and strength, and they all responded loudly after hearing Ning Xiu's words.

Although Ning Xiu's words were ordinary, they were ordinary and showed a passion for the country.

Especially the last two sentences, *******, *******.

The person who says such a thing must have a sincere heart.

Ning Xiu also breathed a long sigh of relief after saying this.

Of course, his impassioned statement at the banquet was not only because of his "anger against Liu Weining", but also because of his worries about the future of the Ming Dynasty.

Although the Wanli New Deal once filled the treasury, Ning Xiu knew that all this would fall apart immediately after Zhang Juzheng's death.

In the last years of Wanli, Wen Tian was martial, the party struggle intensified, and the country was hollowed out.

In addition, the Jurchens of Jianzhou in the Northeast were born, and the mainland was full of exiles, and the Ming Dynasty finally went to ruin.

Of course, Ning Xiu couldn't watch this happen. But with his current energy, it was not enough to influence the decisions of those temples.

Even if he and Zhang Juzheng make a speech, how much can Zhang Juzheng listen to?

After all, there's a world of difference between listening to you and doing what you say.

He can only start from the small things around him and influence everyone around him as much as possible.

Therefore, when he saw a group of Jingzhou scholars drunk and dreaming of death, he would be so angry, and he would say what Fang Cai said.

Wen Tian Wu Huan, martial arts he can't influence now, but Wen Tian's signs must not be there.

"What Ning Xie Yuan said, my generation has been taught."

Everyone rushed to Ning Xiu in unison, and there was a bit of repentance in their faces.

Ning Xiu said abruptly: "In the two hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there are many shortcomings, which require us young people to work hard, and we must not fall into depravity. ”

Having said that, the banquet will naturally not continue.

And they all dispersed.

Liu Weining was very embarrassed and arched his hand at Ning Xiu and said, "Brother Ning Xian, the foolish brother knows that he is wrong. ”

Ning Xiu's expression softened slightly: "Knowing that mistakes can be corrected, and kindness is great." Brother Liu is a person who does great things, how can he be bound by these trivial things? ”

After a pause, Ning Xiu continued: "Next February will be Dabi, and now it's the end of October, why don't we leave for Jingshi to prepare for the exam in a while." I don't know what Brother Liu thinks? ”

Liu Weining knew that Ning Xiu was not worried about him staying in Jiangling when he said this, so he was addicted to wine, so he sighed and said, "Brother Fool also has this intention. ”

In fact, it is not impossible to leave for Beijing after the New Year.

Although Huguang is a long way from Beijing, it will be there in more than a month if it goes well.

But what if something happens?

Therefore, many candidates tend to leave room to leave before the year.

This has another advantage, after arriving in Beijing, you can have enough time to choose the inn to live, at this time the inn room is loose and the price is not high.

A month before the exam, the price was skyrocketing, and it was hard to find a room.

Even the hometown hall is not unlimited, and if you go to the hall late and the room is full, it will definitely be impossible to stay.

The imperial examination is a lifelong event, and the big competition is the most important thing, and Ning Xiu doesn't want any accidents in this regard.

The only regret is that I can't celebrate the New Year with my family. However, this also has to be adapted, if you are released after the election, you will not spend more than a month with your relatives in that year.

"Okay, then we will agree, and the day after tomorrow we will officially leave for Jingshi!"

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In mid-October, Ning Xiu and Liu Weining set off for Beijing to prepare for the big competition.

Their route was to take a boat down the Yangtze River from Jingzhou Wharf to Nanjing, and then change boats from Nanjing to cross the river to Yangzhou. When you arrive in Yangzhou, you will change boats and go north along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

The reason why I chose such a route is because this road is all waterways, and it is more comfortable to take a boat.

It's not impossible to walk by land, and it's not necessarily much slower than taking the waterway, but it's definitely more tiring than taking the waterway.

In order to reduce unnecessary fatigue, Ning Xiu naturally chose to take the waterway.

It was a smooth journey. The section from Jingzhou to Nanjing is extremely smooth, and it goes without saying that Nanjing to Yangzhou is not to mention. However, there were some small changes on the way from Yangzhou to Jingshi.

It is said that there are official ships of the imperial court officials passing by, and the river is controlled.

Ning Xiu didn't care much. Wait a minute, just wait, anyway, they came out early, and it was more than enough time to get to the capital division.

By the time they arrived in Beijing, it was already November, but fortunately, it was just in time.

Otherwise, in a few days the river will freeze and the canal will not be able to pass.

When we arrived at Zhangjiawan Wharf, there were many scholars gathered.

As soon as Ning Xiu stepped forward to ask, he knew that they were separated from Tiannan and Haibei, and they were all Jingshi who came to prepare for the exam months in advance.

He couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart, for scholars, the imperial examination is greater than the sky.

Ning Xiu entered Beijing City with these scholars, and wanted to rent a good inn with Liu Weining, but Liu Weining took the initiative to propose to live in the hall.

Ning Xiu thought about it for a while and agreed.

The so-called guild hall is a guest house built for the temporary residence of fellow villagers, and most of the people who live here are fellow villagers, although there are exceptions.

Of course, these halls are not free, but they are slightly cheaper than regular inns.

The people who opened the hall are all famous seniors in the province, so there is no need to worry about the environment.

When Ning Xiu and Liu Weining found the Huguang Guild Hall, it was already dusk.

The doorman of the Huguang Guild Hall looked like he was loveless, and he didn't know how to greet Ning Xiu and Liu Weining when they came.

Ning Xiu was naturally very displeased.

He took a step forward and cleared his throat and said, "Ning Xiu, Jiangling County, Jingzhou Prefecture, and Liu Weining, the same county, are here to stay in the hall. ”

After that, he handed the two of them the guide to Menzi together.

Although the various systems were gradually abolished in the late Ming Dynasty, the road guidance system has always been adhered to.

The road guidance system was really abolished at the end of the Ming Dynasty, when it was less than twenty or thirty years after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, and it is obvious that it has not yet reached that time.

Lu Yin is the identity certificate of the two, and having Lu Yin is enough to prove that the two are from Huguang.

The man snorted and said arrogantly: "We can't live here for anyone. Do you understand? ”

"You!" Seeing that he looked arrogant, Liu Weining was angry.

He took a step forward to reason with the manzi.

Ning Xiu stopped him.

"We are readers."

Ning Xiu said lightly.

"Do you have a certificate?"

That disciple didn't know what he ate, he still spoke with sparks, and his nostrils were facing the sky!

"Does this count?"

Ning Xiu took out a piece of paper that was very neatly cut.

The man glanced at it casually, but it was this glance that made him directly frightened.

"You, you are the master of Huguang Township Trial New Branch Xie Yuanning?"

Ning Xiu knew that in the Ming Dynasty, Xiucai was honored as the prince, and the people were honored as the master.

This guy still has some acquaintances.

It's just that he just gave Ning Xiu too bad an impression, even if he desperately tried to make up for it at the moment, it would be useless.

"Yes, this is Ning Xiu, this is the same year of so-and-so, Liu Weining."

That man regretted it.

When he heard Ning Xiu's name just now, he only felt a little familiar, and he didn't think about it at all.

After all, there are many people with the same name and surname in this world, and it is impossible for everyone named Ning Xiu to be Xie Yuanlang, right?

But his luck was too bad, and the Ning Xiu he met was the new Kejie Yuanlang who was fake.

Just now, his attitude towards Ning Xiu was so bad, Ning Xiu naturally wouldn't give him a good look.

"Ah, two masters, please come inside. The little one who didn't know Taishan collided with the two masters, and asked the two masters to spare the small ones a lot. ”

Liu Weining shook his head and snorted.

His cold snort was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, and he was about to pee his pants!

"Damn the little ones, damn the little ones!"

In a hurry, the man actually pumped his mouth hard.

I saw him open his bow left and right, and he didn't hesitate to pull it at his cheeks.

I only heard a crackling sound, like a cannon fire.

The man did have a ruthless force, and after a while, his cheeks were red and swollen like a pig's head.

Ning Xiu sighed and said, "That's it, take us to the room." ”

Only then did the man dare to stop, and said with a crying voice: "The little one will take the two masters there." ”

No wonder he was so scared. In front of him were two old men, one of whom was Xie Yuanlang. He has lived for so many years, and he has never heard of Xie Yuanzhong's Jinshi.

Doesn't that mean that he offended the quasi-jinshi, the quasi-official?

He is just a grass man, relying on the Huguang Guild Hall to beg for food, how dare he offend such a nobleman. So at that time, he made up his mind that he couldn't stop even if he was spitting blood from his mouth.

That Menzi was weak in his heart, so he chose two best rooms for Ning Xiu and Liu Weining.

These two rooms are in a courtyard with a great view of the garden and the street in the distance.

Ning Xiu found that there was already a person living in this courtyard, and that person lived in the north-facing main house, and he and Liu Weining had to go to live in the east wing and the west wing.

Menzi led Ning Xiu and Liu Weining into the courtyard, still standing there.

Ning Xiu waved his hand to signal him to step back, and then he left in despair, as if he might be fired by the owner at any time.

Ning Xiu and Liu Weining put down their luggage and went to the restaurant in the hall together to order some wine and food.

Although there are some better restaurants in the market, it is not early at this time, and there is really no need to go out and toss again.

Although the small restaurant in this hall is not large, the sparrows are small and have all kinds of organs. Ning Xiu ordered some hometown-style dishes, asked for a pot of rice wine, and talked with Liu Weining.

"Fang Cai's man is a little condescending, but he has also suffered, Brother Liu doesn't need to be unforgiving."

Liu Weining shook his head and said, "No, no, no." We must not be merciful in dealing with such people, otherwise they will gain an inch. ”

Liu Weining seemed to have a lot of experience in fighting against this kind of person, and talked eloquently.

"Don't talk about that, let's rest early today, and I have to go to Old Taishan's mansion early tomorrow morning."

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