The main examiner of this Shuntianfu Township Examination is Xu Yuexuan, the priest of the country, and the deputy examiner is Tian Xuanlai, the imperial historian of Henan Province.

The examination was held on August 18, but the examiner was appointed on the sixth day of August. Since the sixth year of junior high school, the two examiners have closed their doors to customers, and in order to avoid suspicion, they are not allowed to associate with any colleagues.

Because they are all Beijing officials, Cao Hao also knows Xu Yuexuan. He is a Jinshi in the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi, born in a professional class, and has also served as the chief examiner of the township examination in the local area before.

But because they are not in the same yamen, they have no friendship with each other, and Cao Hao just knows him.

Coming out of the Gongyuan, Cao Song was a little depressed, and said to Cao Hao: "Brother, is my brother unproductive?" The fourth child is a little older, and he didn't say anything about stage fright, but I'm an older brother, but I'm not promising. ”

Cao Hao said: "Well, it's a little irresponsible." In life, there are many times for stage fright, sometimes you can take a step back, and sometimes you have to go hard. However, it is also good for people to have self-knowledge and fear. Isn't that kind of self-righteous guy a joke? ”

Cao Song was confused, but he didn't know whether his brother was reprimanding him or comforting himself.

Without him, Cao Hao is just self-deprecating.

Fang just saw Chang Ling take the exam, which touched Cao Hao a lot. Everyone is about the same age, and it seems that everyone has some pursuits, but he is dull on his side.

I don't know why, he felt a little depressed in his heart, and he took a few long breaths, but he didn't feel happy.

The stars were still twinkling in the sky, but the shadows of the trees on the side of the road were a little faint.

While talking, the two brothers arrived at the mouth of the alley, where the carriage was parked.

A bell rang from the direction of the Gongyuan in the distance, and it was time to seal the courtyard. Cao Hao and Cao Song turned their heads to look, one after another, they were all relatives and friends who had sent the scholars out...... * When the bell of the Gongyuan closed the courtyard rang, Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang brothers carried baskets and held the two candles they received when they entered the venue, and they had already entered their respective examination sheds.

There are messengers who lock the door from the outside, and there is also a saying about it, which is called "locking the courtyard tribute test".

In addition to a set of tables and chairs, there is only one charcoal basin and a candlestick in the examination shed.

Although Cao Xiang is young, he is not afraid of doing eight shares. He untied the small toilet tied to the side of the basket, put it on the wall, and took out the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone from the basket and laid it out on the table.

Cao Xiang's examination shed is in the same row as Cao Shuo's examination shed, but Cao Shuo's is closer to the inside, Cao Xiang's is outside, and there are seven or eight rooms between the two examination sheds.

First, a team of soldiers patrolled, and then the invigilator handed out the test questions according to the row room.

Cao Xiang took the test questions, but he was a little excited in his heart. As a concubine, although he is not very old, compared with his brothers, his fame is heavier.

When the drums came from Mingyuan Tower, Cao Xiang opened the test question, and a line of words was written on it: "Once you say self-denial, the world will return to benevolence." ”

This is a sentence from the Analects, and it is not a problem for Cao Xiang. He was still a little nervous, but when he saw this exam question, he felt much more at ease.

He took out a water bag from the basket next to the table, poured some water from the inkstone, and sharpened the ink. Because he had to take the test for three days, he was not in a hurry for this moment, so he seemed more determined. While grinding ink, I was thinking about how to start and solve the problem.

The format of these eight strands is fixed, which is composed of breaking the topic, undertaking the topic, starting to speak, starting, starting shares, middle shares, back shares and bundle shares, collectively known as eight shares.

In addition to the format, the number of words is also fixed, in the Shunzhi Dynasty it was 505 crosses, and in this dynasty it increased to 655 crosses.

It took three days of hard work to figure out an eight-strand text, which is not difficult for ordinary scholars. The rest, it's up to luck.

After grinding the ink, Cao Xiang picked up the pen, and there were already sentences in his mind to solve the problem and inherit the topic. Just as he was about to put pen to paper, he heard a commotion not far away, and someone shouted: "Hurry up, Lord Examiner, there is a gentleman here who has fainted!" ”

With the sound of talking, a soldier who was patrolling the field came "on the foot", and it seemed that he had invited the examiner.

The lifters in the examination booth all popped their heads to look around, but Cao Xiang was a little immobile like a mountain, and he had already written down the sentence to break the question.

When he was about to write the sentence of the question, an examiner had already hurried over, and asked the soldier who reported the message as he walked, "How many rooms are there?" ”

"Thirty-two, my lord!" The soldier replied.

Cao Xiang listened, like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, quickly put down the pen, and leaned in to take a look with a little anxiety.

In this tribute courtyard, it is divided into east and west fields. Cao Xiang and his brother are both in Dongwenchang, there are a total of 61 examination sheds in this row, Cao Shuo is at No. 32, and Cao Xiang is at No. 41.

Fang just came in with his brother, he is fine, what is the matter now?

Cao Xiangben also hoped that he had heard the errand, or that the soldier had made a mistake. But how can the truth be as expected, the one who was surrounded by a few soldiers was the examination shed of his brother Cao Shuo.

Cao Xiang was anxious and got up to the door, but it was locked outside and he couldn't get out.

The examiner had already arrived in front of the No. 32 examination room, and when he looked at it, he saw that the examiner had fallen to the ground with a chair, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.

The examiner looked at the lock on the examination booth, but the lock could not be opened lightly, and the candidates who left the examination booth would lose their qualification for the examination. He himself was born in ten years of hard study, and he knew the important surname of this imperial examination for scholars, so it was not easy to make a decision on his own, so he leaned over and called: "This scholar, does it matter?" Does it matter? ”

Xu is tongue was bitten open, blood foamed from the mouth of the scholar on the ground, and a foul smell came from the shed.

The examiner was startled, but he didn't dare to delay any longer, so he hurriedly went to ask the examiner.

The ordinary soldiers, seeing that the soldier was already incontinent, rolled his eyes, and spat blood, said, "Is this dead? ”

The one said, "What kind of rarity is this?" In this tribute courtyard, how many are you angry? Poor, is there no such rich life? ”

Cao Xiang heard this, but his heart was turbulent, he knocked on the door vigorously, and said loudly: "A few officials, that's my brother, what's wrong with my brother?" ”

A soldier replied: "Looking at this posture, it is strange and scary, whether it is good or not, the doctor will not know until he has seen it." ”

When Cao Xiang heard this, he was so frightened that his body couldn't help but tremble. Although he looks more sensible in the past, he is just a fourteen-year-old child in the final analysis.

He really couldn't figure out how his brother, who was fine, could say that he would fall ill when he was sick. He was anxious, but he didn't know what to do.

Speaking of which, in the second room, although Cao Song is said to be the eldest brother, because of the age difference, Cao Shuo takes care of Cao Xiang more. Therefore, in Cao Xiang's heart, he is closer to this third brother.

Knowing that the third brother was not doing his homework well, Cao Xiang was still a little worried before, afraid that he would not perform well in the examination room. But because the cousin repeatedly said that in a family like theirs, the imperial examination was nothing, so the two brothers should not take it too seriously, Cao Xiang was less worried.

Yes, even if he doesn't pass the imperial examination, his brother's future will also be mentioned by his cousin, and he won't care too much about fame.

Unexpectedly, this has already entered the examination room, but such a thing happened.

Cao Xiang's tears had already come out, and he poked his head out and said to the soldiers: "Official, let me out, my brother also needs someone to take care of him." ”

When the soldier heard this, his head shook like a rattle, and he said, "How can it be so convenient? The keys are all left at the examiner's place, and it will take three days before the shed can be opened, who can come out in advance? ”

When Cao Xiang heard this, he became more and more anxious, and said, "Then my brother...... Then my brother ......"

Not only can you not go out of the shed for three days, but the gate of the Gongyuan is sealed, and the door can only be opened after three consecutive exams. Thinking of this, Cao Xiang only felt that his eyes were black.

A soldier looked at Cao Xiang's young age, and when he saw that he was in a hurry like this, he couldn't bear it, and said, "Don't be too anxious, there is a doctor in this tribute courtyard." The examiner went and asked the examiner, and if the examiner agreed, he would carry your brother to the rescue. You can't get out left and right, it's not in vain, it's better to answer the question with peace of mind. ”

Where can Cao Xiang feel at ease, poke his head out, and wait for the examiner to come back.

After a while, the examiner hurried back, followed by a doctor with a medicine box on his back.

When he arrived at the No. 32 examination booth, the doctor looked at it, saw Cao Shuo is eyes rolling, and said to the examiner: "My lord, it's not like a small problem, let's open the shed!" ”

The examiner had taken the key from the chief examiner, handed it to the soldiers, and asked them to unlock the outside of the tent.

The doctor entered the examination booth, carefully looked at Cao Shuo's symptoms, checked his pulse again, his face was a little heavy, and said, "My lord, this scholar is not lightly ill, carry him to the row room over there." ”

The examiner nodded and called two soldiers to carry the man. Because of Cao Shuo's incontinence, his clothes were dirty, and his whole body was full of foul smell, and the two soldiers reluctantly dragged their arms and legs to move people out.

Cao Xiang kept staring, and when he saw that his brother was carried out unconsciously, he couldn't help it, so he hurriedly stretched out his hand and said in a loud voice: "My lord, my lord, that's the student's brother, what's wrong with my brother, let the student go out to take care of it!" ”

The examiner was annoyed because of such a thing in the examination shed he was responsible for, and listened to Cao Xiang's loud voice, and scolded: "The examination room is heavy, no noise!" After saying that, he didn't stop and continued to walk forward.

Cao Xiang saw that the examiner ignored him, and the two soldiers who were dragging his brother stumbled, causing his brother's arms and legs to hit the bluestone slab on the ground from time to time, how could he not be in a hurry?

There is really no way, Cao Xiang shouted: "My lord, Lord Cao of Heshuo and Taifu Siqing is our elder brother, and we are from the Earl's Palace, for the sake of being an official in the same dynasty as my brother, please open up the net and make the students go out to take care of my brother!" ”

The examiner is just a minor official of the six ministries, although he doesn't know Cao Hao, but as a Beijing official, he has to memorize the resumes of the officials of the six ministries and nine qing.

After listening to Cao Xiang's words, the examiner took out the list of this row of examination booths from his waist. From top to bottom, in order to No. 32, it is written "Cao Shuo, Zhili Prison Student, father, late Tongzhi Cao Quan; Zu, the late Cao Xi, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry; Great-grandfather, the late Guanglu doctor Sanpinlang Zhongjia fourth-level Cao Zhenyan He looked down again, and went to the forty-first one, except for the candidate's name was changed to "Cao Xiang", and the year of the donation was changed to "Kangxi forty-nine", other fathers, ancestors, and great-ancestors are the same as Cao Shuo.

Looking at the resumes of the scholars, there is no doubt that these two young scholars are cousins of Cao Hao, the secretary of the Taifu Temple.

Thinking of this situation, the examiner was a little afraid to be self-conscious, and asked the two soldiers to carry Cao Shuo to the row of rows of rooms where the doctor was on duty. He was on his own, and hurried to the examiner's court.

The examiner, Xu Yuexuan, was neatly dressed, sat in the hall, and listened to the examiners who came and went from various rooms to report the situation in various parts of the examination room.

Hearing that the scholar who came to report just now was not lightly ill, Xu Yuexuan couldn't help frowning. The gate of this tribute courtyard can only be opened after a few days, although there are some commonly used medicines in the tribute courtyard, but in the end it is not as complete as outside.

It's just that this can't be helped. In his early years, he also served as an examiner in other provinces, and it was not unheard of the soldier who died in the examination room, but he could only sigh.

The examiner hesitated and told the identities of Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang's brothers.

Xu Yuexuan listened, but he was a little puzzled. This Cao family is a banner person, a close minister of the Son of Heaven, and a relative of the emperor, why should the disciples of their family seek trouble to take the road of this imperial examination?

He asked the examiner for the roster of candidates, and when he saw that one of the brothers was sixteen and the other was only fourteen, he felt a little admiration in his heart. Not to mention the powerful families, even the children of ordinary scholarly families, it is rare to take the exam at this age.

After thinking for a while, Xu Yuexuan got up from his seat and said, "Let's go, take the official over to take a look!" ”

I went to the doctor's side first, but according to the doctor, there were some symptoms of epilepsy, and there was also an emergency typhoid fever. Although there are some medicinal materials in the Gongyuan, whether they can survive or not depends on the life of the scholar himself.

When Xu Yuexuan heard this, he had some scruples in his heart, and his expression became heavy, and he said to the examiner: "Which shed is his brother in, go and see!" ”

While talking, the group came to the side of Dongwenchang again.

Cao Xiang stood at the door of the examination shed, already waiting for his eyes. Seeing the examiner turn around, he was followed by an official wearing a four-grade hat, and his face showed a bit of sincerity.

Xu Yuexuan stood in front of the examination shed and asked, "Are you Cao Shuo's brother?" You said you wanted to come out and take care of your brother? ”

Cao Xiang saw that there was a sense of relaxation in his words, so he nodded busily and said, "Yes, my lord, the student is worried about his brother's illness and has no intention of taking the exam, so I also ask the adult to be kind and let the student go out to take care of his brother." As he spoke, he couldn't afford it for a long time.

Because the sky was already bright, Xu Yuexuan could also see the handwriting on the test paper on the table by resting on the window.

Seeing that Cao Xiang was only a half-grown teenager, but he knew that he loved his brother, Xu Yuexuan also had a good impression of him. Seeing that there were two lines of writing on the paper, he pointed to it and said, "Bring that one to the official!" ”

Cao Xiang listened, although he was puzzled, he still respectfully took the test paper and sent it to Xu Yuexuan with both hands.

Xu Yuexuan stretched out his hand to take it, although there were only two sentences to break the question, but it was a good hand, and he could see that it was not good. He had the idea of loving talent in his heart, and said: "Although you are young, this imperial examination is also a major event in life. Your brother has a doctor to take care of him, even if you go over, you may not be able to help one or two, why don't you take the exam here with peace of mind, and wait for your brother to be better, and the official will tell you again. ”

When Cao Xiang heard this, tears came out, and he said: "My lord, although fame is important, but the brotherhood makes the students even more anxious, the students are willing not to take the exam, and they also want to serve their brothers!" Please also fulfill the earnest hearts of students! ”

Seeing him like this, Xu Yuexuan didn't feel a little moved, nodded his head, and said, "Since this is the case, the official depends on you." You can have this filial piety, even if you miss this subject, you should have a great future in the future. Lord Cao has a younger brother like this, which is really enviable! ”

Cao Xiang saw that he agreed, and thanked him again.

Xu Yuexuan sent someone to get the key, opened the examination booth here, and let Cao Xiang out.

After Cao Xiang thanked the two adults, he didn't delay for half a moment, and hurriedly went with the soldiers he received.

The examiner was relieved, this was taken care of by the Cao family themselves, if there was really something missing, they wouldn't do his job. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, the Cao family is really angry, how can he stand it...... It was only an hour before and after, but Cao Xiang felt that his throat was swollen so much that he was already foaming in his mouth. What happened to my brother?

The two brothers went down together, in case the elder brother ...... So what kind of face does he have to face his brothers......*

(To be continued)