Cao Shujun circled around Xia Xiang, stood in front of Xia Xiang, suddenly looked serious, and bowed deeply to Xia Xiang: "Thank you Xia Langjun for saving your life." The grace of saving lives, the grace of rebuilding, never forget in the next, must be dedicated to Xia Langjun's immortal tablet, burn incense day and night, and pray that Xia Langjun will live a long life and be safe and worry-free. ”

Xia Xiang returned the salute: "Such a trivial matter is not enough to worry about." Enshrined in the immortal tablet is even more life-saving, and I can't afford it. If Cao Saburo doesn't want to go and give me a fan, I will forget about it. ”

Cao Shuli covered her mouth and smiled, laughing without saying a word, but she thought in her heart, Xia Xiang is really smart, Cao Shujun repaid Xia Xiang for saving his life with an immortal tablet, and the implication is that the money of fifty yuan is not a life-saving return, but a reward for other things, and the two cannot be confused. Xia Xiang was thorough at one point, and directly responded to the request for a fan, which was both elegant and generous, and also implied that he did not pay attention to the matter of saving people.

Cao Shuli couldn't help but look at Xia Xiang a few more times, and became more and more convinced that Xia Xiang was not only pedantic but also quite elegant reader.

Cao Shujun didn't expect Xia Xiang to be so powerful, he was slightly stunned, and then laughed: "Wonderful, wonderful." Okay, the fan will be sent to you, but the immortal tablet also needs to be offered. ”

Xia Xiang took the fan handed by Cao Shujun, didn't open it, and bowed: "Thank you Cao Saburo for giving me the fan, you can give me the immortal tablet directly, you don't have to offer it, otherwise I will burn incense on my tablet every day when I think of you, how can I sleep peacefully in the future?" In case one day you and I turn against each other and step on my immortal tablet under my feet, I will be uncomfortable again, so it is better to give me the tablet directly, I will worship myself, I will do my best, and you will save trouble. ”

Answering like this, Cao Shuli couldn't help but wonder: "That's fine, Zuo'er, let Uncle Cao prepare an immortal tablet and send it to Xia Langjun." ”

"Got it, lady." As soon as Cao Shuli's words fell, Zuo'er's voice sounded outside the door, crisp and cheerful, indicating that she had not gone far, just waiting outside the door.

Xia Xiang laughed, knowing that it was time to get to the point: "What I'm most concerned about now is, what does the fifty money lead me need me to do?" ”

"It's very simple...... Cao Shujun glanced at Cao Shuli meaningfully, shook his head and said, "The rich don't need to buy good land, there are thousands of millets in the book; There is no need to raise a hall to live in peace, and there is a golden house in the book; Don't hate to go out with no one, there are many cars and horses in the book; Don't hate unscrupulous matchmakers when marrying a wife, there is Yan Ruyu in the book; If a boy follows his life's aspirations, he reads them in front of the window in front of the window...... This poem of the first emperor persuading students has hurt many scholars in the world, and it has also hurt me. Xia Langjun, if you can persuade my father not to force me to take the Jinshi exam, the money will lead me to give it with both hands. ”

"This ......" Xia Xiang gasped, Cao Shujun made a big problem for him, Daxia heavy literature and light martial arts is a rule set since the establishment of the Taizu Dynasty, and today, it has become a common practice, don't say that the Cao family is a big family, that is, a small family, but if you can afford to read, who doesn't want to be admitted to the Jinshi to seek a background?

"My ambition is to be a posthumous and independent scattered person, debauchery and free in the world, not bound by the rules of the world, not restrained by the world's things, just like Li Taibai back then, a person 'the white emperor of the court, a thousand miles of Jiangling in one day', how comfortable and chic." Cao Shujun looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, with a look of infinite yearning, but unfortunately he was in the house, and he could only see the roof but not the sky.

Besides, it's night again, and even if you see the sky, it's the night sky.

Xia Xiang put his hands behind his back, and looked up at the roof at a forty-five-degree angle like Cao Shujun, and sighed: "I can't eat when I stop the cup, and I draw my sword and look around." If you want to cross the Yellow River and ice congestion river, you will climb the snow-filled mountains of Taihang. Idle fishing on the blue river, suddenly take a boat to dream of the sun. It's hard to walk! It's hard to walk! Many divergent roads, where are you now? He smiled indifferently, "Cao Sanlang, Li Taibai has the wildness of 'looking up to the sky and laughing and going out, how can my generation be a Penghao person', and also the loss of 'An Neng destroys his eyebrows and bends his waist to deal with the powerful, making me unhappy', and even sighs that it is difficult to travel, how can it be so easy to be debauched and free?" ”

"You mean, you can't convince my dad not to force me to take the Jinshi exam?" Cao Shujun was slightly disappointed, flicked his sleeves, and showed displeasure on his face, "If you don't say it earlier, it will cause me to waste my time in vain." ”

To tell the truth, he wanted to ask Xia Xiang to come forward to persuade his father, not to mention that he didn't know whether Xia Xiang was a person who didn't learn or was knowledgeable, because Xia Xiang saved his life, Xia Xiang came forward to plead, and his father would not be able to refuse, after all, the grace of saving lives is as heavy as a mountain, and his father is the most following the way of Confucius and Mencius, and the grace of dripping water must be reciprocated by a spring. Who knew that Xia Xiang was also deeply poisoned by Confucianism, and he didn't want to come forward for him, so he couldn't help but be disappointed.

Cao Shujun knew too well that Confucianism was deeply rooted in the bones of a scholar like Xia Xiang, and it was the code of conduct and the foundation of life for a person, even if he was killed, he would not violate the words and teachings of the sage.

"Who says I can't do it?" Xia Xiang smiled smugly, "Before I met Ling Zun, if I said that I could do it, it would be a big deal." If you can't do it, you are also not confident in yourself and have no responsibility. ”

Cao Shujun understood what Xia Xiang meant, and hurriedly put away his previous disdain, with a flattering smile: "Xia Langjun, my father is a rigid person, he likes to quote scriptures and classics in everything, and he admires the imperial examination very much, thinking that the imperial examination is the most fair and reasonable, and can select talents for the imperial court...... It's too hard to convince him. ”

"Cao Sanlang, have you ever passed the state exam?" Xia Xiang didn't care what Cao Shujun said, and asked him about the questions.

In the early years of the Great Summer, there was only a two-level examination system, one was the examination held by the prefectures, and the other was the provincial examination held by the Ministry of Rites. In the tenth year of Taizu, in order to personally select those who have both ability and political integrity, Taizu implemented the palace test. Since then, the palace examination has become the highest level of the imperial examination system, and the three-level imperial examination system of the state examination, the provincial examination and the palace examination has been formalized.

Xia Xiang passed the state test of Zhending Prefecture a year ago, and the state test was for lifting. The lifting of people in Daxia is not a meritorious name, but only a qualification to participate in the provincial examination, and it is also valid for one time. If you fail in the provincial test, you will come back to take the provincial test three years later, and you need to pass the state test again.

Taizu implemented the palace examination for the sake of the country's plan, and after the palace examination, there was no need to go through the official examination, and the official was directly awarded. Because the palace examination is conducted by the emperor himself, and after that, all candidates no longer call the examiner a teacher, nor do they call themselves protégés. In this way, all those who are in rank become protégés of the Son of Heaven. After the palace examination, it is divided into three and released the list, and the ceremony of the emperor announcing the ranking of the Dengke Jinshi will be held, and the banquet will be given in Qionglin Garden, so it is called the Qionglin banquet.

The imperial examination system in Bactria was not only more standardized than that of the previous dynasties, but also more rigorous. Beginning in Bactria, the imperial examinations began to be obfuscated and transcribed, and new rules were established to prevent favoritism. Blurring the name is to seal the name and place of origin on the candidate's examination paper, also known as "sealing" or "sealing the name". During the time of Taizong, the name system was only implemented for the palace test. Later, the current emperor and the emperor have implemented a vague name system in the provincial and state examinations. Subsequently, it was pointed out that handwriting could also be recognized after the name was obscured. Therefore, further precautionary measures have been taken to transcribe the candidates' examination papers separately. When the examiner marks the examination paper, not only does he not know the candidate's name, but he also cannot read the candidate's handwriting.

When Sima was the chief examiner for a year, he read Lianche's article, and he praised it well, and he was willing to admit it as the first place, but he concluded that it was his disciple's article from the penmanship and talent, so he was listed as the second. After unpacking, I knew that it was a car article, and I couldn't help but regret it.

"I just passed the state exam in the spring of this year." Cao Shujun looked smug, stood with his hands in his hands, and smiled proudly, "It's not that I can't study, but I don't want to get famous, not to mention the state exam, even if it is the provincial exam, it is easy for me." ”

"Sir, along the way, I also learned to read and memorize poems, the state exam is so easy, if I go to take the state exam, maybe I can pass the exam." Xiao Wu didn't know that Cao Shujun's words were boastful and conceited, so he took it seriously, "I'll sign up for it tomorrow, I must be bold, what if it happens?" ”

"Hahahaha......" Cao Shujun laughed heartily, Xiao Wu looked ignorant, and his speech and demeanor can also be seen that he is not a smart person, it is not the tradition of Daxia to emphasize literature and light martial arts, throughout the ages, literati are in charge of the world, it can be seen that reading is not something that anyone can do, with Xiao Wu's qualifications that cannot be written or martial arts, he also wants to participate in the imperial examination, it is really a fool's dream.

No matter how stupid Xiao Wu was, he could hear the ridicule in Cao Shujun's laughter, and scratched his head and laughed innocently: "Cao Sanlang, don't make fun of me, I can read and recite poems, but I can't write. Although I am stupid, I also know how to follow my husband to serve the court. Cao Saburo doesn't want to gain fame, he just wants to be at ease, I don't understand, you have no skills to make a living, and you don't have a salary for fame, so do you want to sit and eat the family business left by Lingzun in the future? A boy was born between heaven and earth, and when he was self-reliant, served the country, and asked for his life, how could he not serve the court and honor his parents for his own selfishness? Is it not in vain to be a servant and a son of man? ”

"Uh......" Cao Shujun's laughter stopped abruptly, and Shengsheng was choked back by Xiao Wu's words, his face turned red, and he stammered, "You, you, you, you are a martial artist and a subordinate, do you know what the Tao is and what is the principle of nature?" Lao Tzu said, I do nothing, but the people are self-reliant; I am so quiet, and the people are upright; I have nothing to do, and the people are rich; I have no desire, but the people are simple......"

"I don't understand." Xiao Wu was also real, bowed respectfully, took a step back, and looked humble, "I have self-knowledge, just follow Mr. Yes, I will do whatever Mr. says, and there will be no mistakes." ”

Cao Shuli was secretly surprised, Xiao Wu seemed stupid, but he was simple and natural, and his words and demeanor showed his kind nature. I don't know how Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu met, it seems that the two are not masters and servants, nor are they classmates, but Xiao Wu obeys Xia Xiang's words, is it Xia Xiang's talent or his conduct that makes Xiao Wu willing to follow?

Cao Shuli had an opinion to know Xia Xiang's true talent and learning, and smiled lightly: "Let Xia Langjun smile, San Lang likes to debate by nature, and even his father can't talk about him." If Xia Langjun can persuade San Lang to take the Jinshi exam, his father will also be happy. ”

How could Xia Xiang not understand Cao Shuli's meaning, he wanted him to retreat in the face of difficulties, and instead persuaded Xia Shujun to participate in the provincial examination, he also saw that Cao Shuli was also willing to Cao Shujun to take the examination to gain fame, and Cao Shujun was the only one in the Cao family who did not want to take the imperial examination.

"Take people's money and eliminate disasters with people." Xia Xiang smiled slightly, and had a plan in his heart, "Since I promised Cao Saburo first, I should keep my promise and relieve Cao Saburo's worries." ”

Cao Shuli was angry and annoyed, and couldn't help but say: "Are you because you have a short hand, or do you still keep your promise?" ”

Xia Xiang neither elevated his sentiments nor concealed his needs, and smiled unhurriedly: "Both." ”

"You ......" Cao Shuli was laughed at by Xia Xiang angrily, "So, you really want to stand up for San Lang?" Don't blame me for not reminding you, if you don't agree, it's possible for Daddy to kick you out. ”

"Don't listen to my sister's nonsense, my father is a reasonable person, how can he drive guests out?" Cao Shujun was overjoyed, although Xiao Wu's words made him extremely embarrassed, but the entourage still had such talent, it was conceivable that Xia Xiang was even more erudite, thinking that if Xia Xiang could really persuade his father to stop forcing him to participate in the provincial examination, his joy was overflowing, "Xia Langjun, please." ”

"Well said, well said." Xia Xiang smiled, swept his eyes, noticed Cao Shuli's slightly displeased look, and said, "Don't be angry, little lady Cao, I'm just entrusted by others to be loyal, besides, everyone has their own ambitions, don't force them, if you don't like a person, Ling Zun has to marry him, what should you do?" ”

"You don't want to talk nonsense, how can fame and marriage be compared?" Cao Shuli was shy for a while, and a red cloud flew on her face, "The major event of marriage is naturally the words of the matchmaker of the parents, and the major event of fame is the foundation of self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world." ”

"If the lady doesn't like it, she won't marry." Without waiting for Xia Xiang to answer, Zuo'er's voice came from outside the door, and as soon as the door rang, she walked briskly like a cat, quietly came to Xia Xiang, and handed over something, "Xia Langjun, your immortal tablet." ”

A long wooden plaque is made of high-quality sandalwood, but fortunately there is no name written on it, otherwise Xia Xiang will be stunned. Also, anyone who sees their name on the tablet will also leave a shadow area of varying sizes in their heart.

Xiao Wu stretched out his hand to take the immortal tablet, and smiled: "Thank you." ”

Zuo'er glanced at Xiao Wu: "Do you want to thank you?" Not uncommon. Call me Li Zuozuo, don't call me Zuo'er, remember! ”

"Remember, I don't call you Zuo'er, I call you Li Zuo'er." Xiao Wu smiled dumbfoundedly.

Zuo'er glared at Xiao Wu very dissatisfied: "You are so stupid, why did you become Xia Langjun's entourage?" It's also a strange thing, did you bribe Xia Langjun? It's not right, you don't have any money, what do you want to bribe Xia Langjun. What's even stranger is that what did Xia Langjun like about you and let you follow you? You are completely a burden to Xia Langjun, not only can you not help much, but you will also cause trouble, alas, if it were me, I would have walked away by myself in a good way, and I would have been driven away by Xia Langjun when I got it, how embarrassing and embarrassing it was......"

Xiao Wu didn't defend either, just kept giggling.

"Zuo'er, you hurry down." Cao Shujun waved his hand impatiently, he was anxious to tell Xia Xiang's father's temperament and preferences, so that Xia Xiang had a good chance of winning, so he didn't want to listen to Zuo'er's noise, "Xia Langjun, Daddy admires Confucianism the most, and he also likes Buddhist classics, and he doesn't like ...... the most."

"Ahem......"

A majestic cough sounded from behind the screen, and then as soon as the footsteps sounded, a tall old man with a Chinese face, thick eyebrows, and a long beard flashed in front of everyone.