Chapter 39: The Day of Dabi

If Xia Xiang knew that Xiao Jia, who she was always worried about, not only had nothing to worry about at this time, but also approached Lian Ruohan, who he wanted to get to know the most, he didn't know whether to be glad for Xiao Jia's cleverness or to praise Lian Ruohan's wisdom in knowing and employing people.

Fortunately, Xia Xiang didn't know about it, and he didn't get a letter from his mother, at this time, he only met Zhang Hou and Shen Bao every day, said a few words about the topic of taking the exam, and then closed their doors to thank the guests and read with peace of mind. Jin Jia and Cao Shujun didn't bother him, they were busy with their own things, and their affairs were not in a hurry.

Zuo'er came once, only saying that she was passing by unintentionally, and visited Xia Langjun on the way, but Xia Xiang saw from her care that she was entrusted by Cao Xiaoniang to come on purpose. Xia Xiang saw through it and didn't say anything, not only did he answer all questions, but also took the initiative to say some questions that he didn't expect.

When Zuo'er arrived, Shi Er was very vigilant, she stayed at Xia Xiang's door, came in from time to time and pretended to pour water, or asked Xia Xiang what he needed, intentionally or unintentionally casting hostile eyes at Zuo'er. Zuo'er also showed no weakness in an eye for an eye, and responded to Shi'er's provocative look, which means, Xia Langjun is the Langjun of my wife, you don't have to make up your mind. Shi Er was angry, and couldn't help but say that she and Xia Xiang got along day and night, and Xia Xiang was her brother Zhang Hou's best friend, and she and Xia Xiang were the right people.

Xia Xiang couldn't cry or laugh, Shi'er naturally likes to be lively, and if he likes to be lively, he likes to make it lively. It is true that Shi'er is not married, she followed Zhang Hou to the capital to catch the exam this time, one is for fun, and the other is also to escape from marriage, her parents want to marry her, she refuses, so she runs out.

After getting along for a while, Xia Xiang and Shen Bao both fell in love with Shi'er's eccentricity, and treated her like a little sister. Unexpectedly, as soon as she came, she regarded herself as Xia Xiang's fiancée.

I don't know what to do, and when I go back, I talked to Cao Shuli about Shi'er, and I was still angry, first I said that Shi'er was not good, such as rude, willful, rude, no tutor, if so, etc., and then talked about Xia Xiang's bad, only a few days later, I forgot about Cao Xiaoniang's good, and Shi'er eyebrows, really a negative man.

When Cao Shuli began to listen, she frowned, thinking that Xia Xiangzhen and Shi Er's love were compatible. Later, I always felt that something was wrong, and asked carefully, and sure enough, it was the same as her guess, Xia Xiang took the initiative to answer many questions that Zuo'er didn't expect, Cao Shuli was so smart, and immediately understood that Xia Xiang had guessed that she had asked Zuo'er to visit him, and his answer was equivalent to telling her through Zuo'er's mouth, he was fine, don't worry.

Cao Shulifang was secretly happy, but it was hard to say, so she had to ask Zuo'er not to arrange Xia Xiang's anymore. Zuo'er was not convinced, and blamed Cao Shuli for favoring Xia Xiang.

After Zhang Hou learned about this, he asked Xia Xiang very seriously if he really liked Shi'er, and if so, he was very willing to become in-laws with him. Xia Xiang laughed, prevaricating the past with why Jinshi was not in the middle school.

Early the next morning, the sky was clear, Xia Xiang, Zhang Hou and Shen Bao got up early, first bathed and changed clothes, then burned incense to worship the sky, then dressed up, packed up their things, and went to the examination room.

Today is the day of Dabi.

The venue of the examination in Daxia is in Gongyuan, and the Gongyuan in Shangjing is located in Liyu Hutong. Xia Xiang and the three of them walked in the car, and when they came to Mingyuan Tower, there was a tall locust tree in front of them, and the canopy of the tree covered the sky and the sun.

"The name of this tree is Wenchang Huai." As Zhang Hou, who took the exam for the second time, he played the role of explaining to Xia Xiang and Shen Bao, "According to legend, this tree was planted by Taizu, and because this is the place where Wenguang shoots bullfighting, it is called Wenchang Huai." You see, the roots of Wenchang Huai are born in the east of the road, but the body of the tree is bent to the west, so the crown of the tree is also on the west side of the road, and it grows like a sleeping dragon. The candidates passed under this tree, as if crossing the dragon gate, and this acacia was the first acacia in the capital. ”

"No, no." Shen Bao shook his head and corrected Zhang Hou's mistake, "Taizu has never crossed the Yellow River in his life, how could he come to Shangjing, which is a thousand miles north of the Yellow River, and planted a locust tree in Shangjing?" Utter nonsense. ”

Zhang Hou's face flashed, and he smiled: "It's just a far-fetched legend, why bother to be so serious?" ”

"The legend should not have a major mistake, otherwise it will be a false rumor that is not the character of my generation of scholars." Shen Bao hugged his fist at Zhang Hou and saluted, "Brother Zhang, although you and I are like brothers, but as soon as we enter the examination room, we only compete. If I'm a top student in high school, you don't have to forget the original bet. ”

"You don't have to forget." Zhang Hou laughed, and pointed to the four regular script characters of "Liyu Hutong" on the side of the roadside wall with his right hand, "Brother Xia, do you know the origin of Liyu Hutong?" ”

Xia Xiang heard Li Dingshan talk about the legend of Liyu Hutong earlier, and said with a smile: "Liyu Hutong was originally called Gongyuan Hutong. More than 20 years ago, there was a candidate who walked to the capital day and night to catch the exam because his family was poor and did not have a relationship. Unexpectedly, it was still late, the inn was all overcrowded, and in desperation, an old man who lived near the Gongyuan took him in. ”

"Three days before the imperial examination, it suddenly rained heavily. With a thunderclap, a golden white carp flew out of the clouds and landed right on the old man's house where the examinee was staying. Then the thunder rose again, and the carp rose into the air and flew straight towards the examination room of the Gongyuan Society...... Everyone says that this is the sign of 'carp jumping over the dragon gate'. ”

"The exam started three days later, and the candidates were really in high school. After high school, the candidate did not forget to help the old man and erected a large torii for the old man. Since then, Gongyuan Hutong has been renamed Liyu Hutong...... Brother Zhang, is the legend I heard the same as what you heard? ”

Zhang Hou was stunned, the legend of Carp Hutong is only circulated among the scholars who took the exam, and outsiders don't know much, Xia Xiang rushed to the exam for the first time, how did he know?

"Probably the same. However, does Brother Xia know who the legendary candidate is? Zhang Hou wanted to show off his knowledge, and he didn't want to be stolen by Xia Xiang, so he was a little discouraged, so he wanted to win back a game.

Xia Xiang really didn't know, shook his head and smiled.

Xia Xiang and the three of them walked in front, and Xiao Wu and Shi Er followed behind. Originally, Xia Xiang wanted Xiao Wu to wait at the inn, but Xiao Wu refused. Shi Er didn't listen to Zhang Hou's words, so he had to follow.

Shi Er and Xiao Wu walked behind, quite reluctantly, she wanted to walk with Xia Xiang, Xia Xiang was okay, and didn't say anything, but Shen Bao always intentionally or unintentionally hindered her from approaching Xia Xiang. She took her anger out on Xiao Wu, and laughed at Xiao Wu when she had nothing to do, Xiao Wu was just an elm pimple, and he should do whatever Shi'er said, so that Shi'er couldn't cry or laugh.

Zhang Hou's question stopped Xia Xiang, and when he heard it in his ears, he suddenly took a step forward and said loudly: "I know, I know who the candidate is, he is Li Dingshan from Xinzhou, Hedong Road." ”

Xia Xiang walked in front, admiring the thick cultural scenery of Liyu Hutong, and did not pay attention to the question of who the legendary candidate was. Legends are legends, and he doesn't think it's true. The word "Li Dingshan" suddenly appeared in Shi'er's mouth, he was suddenly shocked, his footsteps stopped, and he turned around and asked, "Shi'er, what you said is true?" ”

When Shi Er thought that Xia Xiang would suddenly stop, she rushed forward excitedly, couldn't retract her momentum, and threw herself into Xia Xiang's arms. "Ouch", her nose hit Xia Xiang's chest, it was sore and painful, she hugged Xia Xiang hard, beat Xia Xiang's chest again, and said angrily: "Xia Xiang, you hurt me, your nose hurts so much, you compensate me." ”

Zhang Hou smiled on the side, laughing so much that his shoulders trembled: "You have to pay for the time, accompany the time." ”

Shen Bao rubbed his nose, rubbed his hands again, and pulled Shi'er hard: "Shi'er, men and women don't kiss, Xia Xiang is not your second brother, you let him go." If you want someone to compensate you, I will compensate you. Brother Xia and I are like brothers and sisters, I can't watch him being bullied, you might as well bully me. ”

Xia Xiang smiled secretly, and when he took the opportunity to push, Shen Bao was pulled, and Shi'er was pulled into his arms. Shi Er was annoyed, kicked Shen Bao, pushed Shen Bao away, and threw himself into Zhang Hou's arms. Zhang Hou laughed and teased the two: "You are not allowed to bully Shi'er." Whoever you want to pay, you have to pay, and it is irreplaceable. ”

Xia Xiang didn't have any beautiful thoughts in his heart, he was suspicious of what he said just now, and asked Zhang Houdao: "Brother Zhang, the legendary candidate, is it really Li Ding's good?" ”

"Is this still fake? Li Dingshan carp jumped over the dragon gate, and there are not a few people who know about it. As long as you know the legend of Liyu Hutong, you know who the legendary candidate is, no, strange thing, since you know the origin of Liyu Hutong, how can you not know that the candidate is Li Dingshan? Zhang Hou was puzzled, his eyes blinked a few times, and he said with a smile, "Brother Xia, could it be that the person who told you about the legend of Liyu Hutong is Li Dingshan himself?" ”

Xia Xiang shook his head and smiled, but did not answer.

In the past, Yang Tuo was asked by the emperor when he was the first year, but Yang Tuo avoided answering because he didn't want to be the champion. When Li Dingshan talked about the legend of Carp Hutong, he did not say that the candidate was himself, and he did not want to call himself the protagonist of the legendary carp jumping over the dragon gate. I didn't expect Li Dingshan to have such a miraculous thing back then, Xia Xiang remembered the three years he had been with Li Dingshan, and suddenly felt that he knew very little about Li Dingshan, and even Li Dingshan didn't know anything about what position he held in the capital before, when and why he left Kyoto.

When the three of them arrived at the Tribute Courtyard, they were found to be right, said goodbye to Xiao Wu and Shi Er, and stepped into the gate of the heavily guarded Tribute Courtyard.

Countless scholars have studied hard for ten years, just for three days to take the exam. Three days later, whether it was the government or the people, there was a clear distinction between heaven and earth. As the so-called ten-year cold window no one asks, it becomes famous all over the world in one fell swoop.

Xiao Wu and Shi'er couldn't go in, the two waved goodbye to Xia Xiang and the three, and came to sit down under the big locust tree next to them, Xiao Wu took out the baked cake and took a bite, only to remember that Shi'er didn't eat breakfast, so he handed the bite-bitten baked cake to Shi'er: "Shi'er, you eat." ”

"I won't eat the baked cakes you bite, disgusting." Shi Er glanced at Xiao Wu, still puzzled, and kicked him again, "You don't know that I'm a southerner, I don't eat pasta and only rice, hum, it's really a human head pig brain, compared to Xia Xiang's elm head, it's even more stupid." ”

Xiao Wu scratched his head and smiled, and after laughing, he ate the baked cake hard: "Mr. is not an elm head, don't talk nonsense." Shi'er, Mr. only has the righteousness of brother and sister to you, and there is no love between men and women, so don't pester him, he has an intention of falling in love with someone......"

"Who?" Although Shi'er was too cautious and thoughtful, his eyes blinked quickly, and he smiled slyly, "Could it be that you are a child?" Don't lie to me, Xiao Wu, it's clear that you're a girl, how could Xia Langjun surrender his identity and like a girl? Even if Zuo'er marries him as a concubine, he may not want it. I am also from a famous family, and I am just the right match for Xia Langjun. Xiao Wu, why don't you help me be a matchmaker, help me connect with Xia Langjun, and after the matter is completed, I will take care of your baked cakes for the rest of your life. ”

Xiao Wu looked at the half-eaten baked cake in his hand, thought seriously for a while, shook his head and said, "No, it's not good, you can't betray Mr. for the sake of baked cakes." Mr.'s favorite lady is Cao Xiaoniang, however, the most suitable lady for Mr. is Mantuo Niangzi. Whether it's Cao Xiaoniang or Mantuo Niangzi, I'm still worrying about my husband, and if there is one more lady, it will be even more troublesome. Shi'er lady, I advise you to marry Shen Bao Shen Langjun, he can eat better than Mr. ......"

Shi Erqi knotted: "What does it have to do with him being able to eat and marrying him?" Xiao Wu, you are really stupid. ”

"It's nothing for Xiao Wu to be stupid, as long as Mr. is good." Xiao Wu smiled honestly and took a hard bite of the baked cake, "It's delicious, it's delicious." Shi'er, you help me think about it, if Mr. marries Cao Xiaoniang and Mantuo Niangzi at the same time, who is the big and who is the smallest? ”

"Don't think about it, I'm big." Shi Er's head was raised, and his palm-sized face radiated a light of confidence and joy, "Thank you Xiao Wu, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have figured out how to get along with Cao Xiaoniang and Mantuo Niangzi, you said this, I understand." I'm more generous, I don't care about Xia Langjun's three wives and four concubines, as long as I'm the eldest wife. In the future, I will take care of all the affairs of the family for Xia Langjun, don't let him be distracted by trivial matters, just be a good official and serve the court. ”

As he spoke, he didn't know what he thought of, his mouth pursed, and he was overjoyed: "What Cao Xiaoniang, what Mantuo Niang, all have to listen to me, if not, I want them to look good, hehe......hee"

Xiao Wu shook his head, ate the remaining baked cakes in his hand in one bite, and shook his head: "Is this sick or what's wrong, it's really pitiful." ”

"Let's go, Xiao Wu, I invite you to go to Haojing and eat delicacies from the mountains and seas." Shi Er didn't know how to avoid suspicion, reached out and grabbed Xiao Wu's sleeve, got up and left, "After eating, the two of us will stay in a nearby inn and wait for Xia Langjun and them to finish the exam." ”

Xiao Wu originally planned to wait at the door for three days, he brought dozens of baked cakes, and was pulled by Shi'er to eat delicacies from the mountains and seas, but he had the heart to refuse, but it was difficult to resist the temptation of deliciousness, so he had to say: "It's okay to eat, and you can live in the hotel without it, you and I are alone, after all, it is inconvenient." ”

Shi Er turned around and kicked Xiao Wuyi again: "Don't be delusional, I won't like you." If you want to marry a lady, do a good job. ”

"Zuo'er?" Xiao Wu grinned, "It's not bad to be a child, when did you say that she would marry me?" ”

"I'm going to ask her, how do I know?" Shi'er rolled his eyes, "Let's go, if you don't leave, I'll eat by myself." ”

"Go, go." Xiao Wucai refused to let go of the opportunity to have a delicious meal, and hurriedly followed behind Shi Er, walking towards the restaurant where he could see the good times in the banner from afar, he was carrying dozens of baked cakes and swaying around with the burden of dozens of baked cakes, which was quite funny, he said to himself as he walked, "Mr. just answer the questions well, Xiao Wu will not leave Mr., just go to eat something, go and go back." ”

Xiao Wu's heart, Xia Xiang naturally couldn't hear it, as soon as the candidates entered the Tribute Academy, the gate of the Tribute Academy would be closed. As soon as the door closes, the inside and outside of the door are like two worlds.

Wen Changju stood on the steps of the main hall, he stroked his beard, his eyes were majestic and his face was solemn and staring at the students. There are as many as 3,000 candidates for this year's examination, and the black pressure is overwhelming, and it looks like thousands of troops.

It is also strange that among the many candidates, Wen Changju glanced at it and not only saw his protégé Cai Bei, but also noticed Xia Xiang, Zhang Hou, and Shen Bao. Although Xia Xiang's clothes are clean and tidy, they are neither gorgeous nor luxurious, while Shen Bao's clothes are much more gorgeous, in contrast, Zhang Hou's clothes are more luxurious in addition to gorgeous. He secretly bowed his head, Xia Xiang was inferior to Zhang Hou and Shen Bao in terms of clothing and style, among the three, Zhang Hou was the first, Shen Bao was second, and Xia Xiang was the second.

Although the third prince specially took care of admitting more students this year in order to plan for the future, Xia Xiang would still be taken down by him. Wen Changju thought to himself, no matter how outstanding Xia Xiang's article is, there is no possibility of being on the list. The third prince had already learned that Xia Xiang was a student of Li Dingshan, and he also secretly found out that Li Dingshan was in the capital and was plotting with King Jing for a big matter. If Li Dingshan returns to Beijing and admits his mistakes to the three princes, the three princes will have a large number of them, and they may not be guilty of the past. Li Dingshan not only repented sincerely, but also intended to help King Jing plan to win the throne, no matter how elegant the third prince was, it was difficult to tolerate Li Dingshan's actions. It was because of the anger of the third prince that he wanted him to win Xia Xiang's fame no matter what, so that Xia Xiang cut off the road to Jinshi.

Xia Xiang, Xia Xiang, don't blame the official for winning your fame, the third prince left you a nickname, which can be regarded as the fulfillment of benevolence and righteousness. Among the staff of the three princes, there were not a few people who persuaded the three princes to kill Xia Xiang, and Yan Hao also volunteered to easily take Xia Xiang's life. The three princes are not allowed, the three princes are concerned about the world, and they do not want to chill the hearts of the world's scholars because of Xia Xiang alone. However, Wen Changju also knew that the third prince learned of Xia Xiang's talent, and cherished his talent, if Xia Xiang came to the exam again after three years, when the third prince was seated, Xia Xiang would definitely be used by him.

Xia Xiang was fortunate to be born in Great Xia, if it was the Tang Dynasty, he didn't have to deliberately ask the third prince to fall off the list, and he didn't have any hope at all. At the time of the Tang Dynasty, every year in the big examination, there were only 30 people who won the Jinshi, and some poets sighed, "Mai raises a pair of hands, and the laurel tree only grows 30 branches." At the end of the Tang Dynasty, there were 266 tributes to Jinshifan, and the number of Jinshi was 6,642, with an average of less than 25 Jinshi and the first Jinshi.

After the establishment of the Great Xia, in order to better recruit talents, Taizu and Taizong successively ordered the world to take the Jinshi examination, and those who were born in the commoners and Shu tribes were given priority in admission, and greatly increased the number of Jinshi.

Taizu also opened Enke, and those who were not admitted to the examination for more than 15 exams could no longer pass the examination and be given a bachelor's degree. Since the founding of the Great Xia, there have been many talents, and the national strength has become stronger and stronger, which is not unrelated to the rules for selecting talents established by Taizu and Taizong Dynasty.

Wen Changju's gaze stayed on Xia Xiang's face for a moment, and seeing Xia Xiang respond to him with a kind smile, he withdrew his gaze and coughed lightly, and thousands of students on the huge field were suddenly silent.

"Students, this official is Wen Changju, the chief examiner of this year's competition, entrusted by the emperor, presiding over the examination, abiding by his duties, being diligent and dedicated, and living up to the emperor's orders. You should also follow the teachings of the sages, no cheating, no plagiarism, no entrainment, once investigated, remove the fame, and never be hired. Have you written it down? Wen Changju first said a moral article.

"Got it."

All the students responded to the sea.

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