Compared with the simple procedure of the provincial examination, the palace examination is naturally more cumbersome.

Different from the provincial examination at the gate of the Gongyuan, the ranking of the palace examination requires the scholar to take the initiative to go to the ministry to ask for a number. The so-called number, like the admission ticket of later generations, is something that candidates must never lose.

The third day after returning from Fan's Mansion was the time for the officials to ask for a number. Early in the morning, when it was still dark, the four of them walked out of the inn and went straight to the officials' headquarters. When he came to the door, he found many scholars waiting. There are actually many acquaintances of Shen Yun in public.

Ying Qianyi, Cen Shiwang, and Han Yang, these faces were in front, and Shen Yun took the initiative to greet them. When a few people were greeting, suddenly someone came over. When a few people were wondering to themselves, they heard this scholar bow politely: "Dare to ask, but Brother Shen Yun and Shen of Qinzhou are in front of him?" ”

Ying Qian and the others looked at Shen Yun, and Shen Yun looked at Shizi.

When he raised his head, Shen Yun suddenly remembered that this long face should have been seen. After thinking about it carefully, he immediately returned the salute: "I remember, I waited for Brother Ren to meet in the ceremonial department that day." ”

"In Xia Li Zhiyi, Li Cao and your classmates were a little offended that day, and a certain person was quite uneasy. I came here today, but I apologized to Brother Shen and all the benevolent brothers in Qinzhou. When it came to Chuzhou, Zhao Wenqing felt a little unhappy. At the beginning, those guys were too mean to speak, and after the list was released, they and others actually forgot to show off in the past.

"When I saw Brother Li and us greeting each other that day, I knew that Brother Li was not such a shallow person." Picking up Li Zhiyi, Shen Yun said with a smile: "What's more, we are not angry, what we said before is also true, Qinzhou's literary scene has been weak for many years, so I will find a fig leaf, and I can't stop the gossip." ”

"Brother Shen is open-minded. After asking for an appointment today, you might as well go to Li's place to study together. ”

"As long as Brother Li is not too troublesome, I will be respectful and obedient and go to disturb him." After soliciting the consent of Zhao Wenqing and a few people, Shen Yun readily agreed, and at the same time invited Ying Qian and a few others: "Brother Ying, there is something to do after the request, why don't you go to Brother Li's place with me to talk about the article." It's rare for us to see each other, but when we meet today, we happen to have another friend, and it's time to celebrate. ”

"This is natural, such an elegant character as Brother Li, we can't wait to have fellowship with him." Without thinking about it, Ying Qian and Cen Shiwang agreed.

After some greetings, he suddenly called Ying Qianyi's name.

The officials are called according to the ranking of the provincial examination, and Ying Qianyi is still in front of Shen Yun, I have to say that this great Confucian disciple does have real talent and learning. No, he humbly bowed his hand to a few people, and walked into the yamen of the ministry with the little official. After a short half of a moment, Ying Qian walked out with a smile on the corner of his mouth. He was followed by a scholar named Ye Zuqia.

Shen Yun was naturally in the seventh place, and after this Ye Zuqia came out, the little official called out his name. With everyone present, Shen Yun was dressed properly, and then strode into the ministry.

Stepping through the gate, there is a wide front lawn. The bluestone pavement is paved with smooth pavement, and you can walk past the main hall of the official department. According to the etiquette system, the official department would sit in the front hall, accept the worship of the scholars, and then let the scholars write their names. Then the post was cut in half, half of which was given to the scholar and the other half was collected by the officials.

Zeng Gongliang, the secretary of the ministry, was a seventy-one-year-old man.

I have seen six scholars in a row, and I am still in good spirits at this time. Seeing Shen Yun come in and bow down, he smiled and said in that kind voice: "Shen Sheng, please get up, after the number, take it away." Come to the ministry on time and on time, and I will take you to the Jiying Palace. At that time, the number will be inspected and entered the temple. These days, good students study the scriptures, and don't be blind when the time comes. ”

After finishing speaking, he stroked his white beard: "Okay, quickly write your name and take the number post back." The spring morning is still a little cold, don't freeze it, and then the temple will lose the etiquette, but it is not beautiful. ”

When Shen Yun heard this, he became more and more grateful to this old man in his heart. An old man of such an age does not have any shelf because of his high official position. Thinking about this veteran of the Three Dynasties, his life experience can be regarded as legendary, and Shen Yun's heart is more and more full of expectations for becoming such a person.

wrote down her name very neatly, and the little official cut the pages of the paper and asked Shen Yun to put away the post, and then sent her out.

After Shen Yun came out, until Zhou Qingyun took the post, the time had already passed almost an hour. Touching their shriveled stomachs, the group walked to a nearby noodle restaurant with a smile and asked for a few bowls of hot soup cakes, just some cabbage that flowed through the water, and devoured them.

When Li Zhiyi led everyone to his residence, Shen Yun and Zhao Wenqing couldn't help laughing. Isn't this just the place where you and others stay? I think there have been things between each other in the past few days, but I haven't met each other, so until today, this is familiar.

Speaking of this interesting incident, Li Zhiyi also laughed.

"Buddhism said that there is a fate to meet thousands of miles away, and it seems that the fate between me and Brother Shen has not arrived before, until today. Since Brother Shen also lives here, it is better to get some more food and drink, and let's talk about Tianming today. ”

This time, it was Ying Qianyi and Cen Shiwang who inquired. After all, the two of them live elsewhere.

The two looked at each other and smiled: "I can't ask for it." I knew that Brother Shen was so lively here, so it was only right to rush over early, but the two of us still got together to be each other's company. ”

There is no need to repeat what articles are discussed. It's just that after some joy, in a blink of an eye, it came to the Jihai day that Zeng Shangshu said.

Early in the morning, almost at the beginning of the day, Shen Yun got up to pack his things. In fact, there is nothing to clean up, as long as you bring the pen and ink together, you don't need to pay attention to the rest. It's just that I'm still a little nervous before the exam, so I can't get up to sleep.

Zhao Wenqing and the others were in the same situation, they stumbled in the house for a while, and when they heard a sound next door, they knocked on the door one by one to gather a few people together, and then laughed in a low voice: "I thought I was the only one who couldn't sleep, and I didn't want a few brothers to do the same." As he spoke, even Li Zhiyi walked downstairs.

After confirming it again, the number and pen and ink were all ready, and the group of five hurried to the ministry.

Three hundred people gathered in one place, but it was less than three hours. This time, it was only the officials and Lang Zhong who received everyone, and a few people took these people to enter from the left door, took the left Shenglong Road, and passed through the academy between the red walls and green tiles, and walked for almost half an hour before arriving at the Jiying Hall where the palace test was located.

At this time, the servants of the Ministry of Officials and the three of Langzhong began to check the names of each scholar.

Fortunately, no one who was unlucky enough to lose something so important. After some inspection, the sky gradually brightened. At this time, a lieutenant official in front of the Jiying Hall took a drawing and hung it on the branch in front of the hall. According to the ranking of the provincial examination, the scholars stepped forward one by one to find their seats.

In order to prevent fraud, the seats are all mixed. For example, although Shen Yun was the seventh in the provincial examination, he was sixth in the third column on the left. Neither before nor before, left or right, they are all unknown scholars. But when he saw his seat, he still couldn't enter the temple. At this time, the early dynasty of Baiguan had not yet ended, and even the emperor had not yet arrived at Jiying Palace.

The line was arranged according to the position on the map, and suddenly a sharp voice was heard in the hall: "Your Majesty is coming, and all the scholars will enter the hall to pay respects." ”

The door of Jiying Hall was slowly opened by a few wrestlers without a single harsh sound. When the sun shone into the hall, the neat queue of scholars also stepped on the vermilion threshold one by one and walked into this golden and brilliant hall.

The hall that can accommodate 300 people is naturally not small, and if you raise your head without permission, you will be reprimanded for being disrespectful. This palace test, naturally, there is no need to take the test. A group of people bowed their heads and walked into the main hall, kneeling on the ground and prostrating. The idea of the Heaven and Earth Monarch has a long history, although the officials will not bow down to each other, but in the face of this emperor in front of their parents, where do a group of scholars dare to mess around.

After the mountain shouted long live, he finally got the emperor's approval and allowed these scholars to raise their heads and face the saints.

The emperor in front of him was only about ten years older than Shen Yun and the others, with dragon eyebrows and phoenix eyes, just his appearance was enough to make some of them admire.

"All beings are the pillars of the nation, and stand up. I have arranged the arrangement, sealed it, read it and other officials, and mobilized the people, all of them are for you. Today's palace test, you should do your best to prepare for your family and country. ”

"We will live up to Your Majesty's high expectations."

The officials waved their hands, and the scholars exited the hall in an orderly manner, but they found their seats under the corridor of the main hall according to the previous location map.

The seat was covered with white paper, Shen Yun carefully put the inkstone and pen and ink on it, and after a while, the chief examiner entered the hall to ask for the test: "Your Majesty, the reference person for the examination of the Gengxu Science Palace, there are three hundred students." There are four reading officers, one test paper officer at the initial examination checkpoint, and one test paper officer at the re-examination checkpoint, and the test questions are correct. I respectfully ask for the royal question. ”

"Exam questions are handed out and the book is officially opened."

With the emperor's permission, soon the palace guards each carried some yellow gauze bags and distributed them on each table in turn. Move a few gently, for fear that the yarn bag will be contaminated with unclean things. Shen Yun had a detailed description in the "Imperial Examination Instructions" obtained by the Ministry of Officials that day, that the unclean test paper would be regarded as a great disrespect, and the examiner had the right to refuse to accept the paper.

Such a formal process made Shen Yun's originally somewhat relaxed heart instantly tense. Needless to say, I carefully took the test paper bag, took out the very clearly printed test paper from it, and carefully studied every handwriting on it.

"I am not the same as virtue, entrusted to the people, and the ruler of the world, but the request of all directions, the details are extended to the court, and the world affairs are not examined, and what the scholars and doctors have learned, and what I have heard."

Obviously, this is a question with no specific questions. The general meaning is to write the strategy of governing the world in his heart, and use it to broaden the emperor's knowledge and experience. But the more this is the case, the more it means that the topic seems to be a bit difficult.