Yi Jiuxiao's heart was cold, and he was not on the list, so he could only hope for the top of the list. But Kui Yuan has already determined that it is Qi Yuanhu, will one of the remaining two names be himself? I couldn't help but feel worried.

In any case, what should be watched is still to be watched, Yi Jiuxiao followed a few candidates who shook their heads and turned to the top side. Three names came into his eyes, first place: Qi Yuanhu, second place: Yi Jiuxiao, third place: Zeng Guang.

Yi Jiuxiao touched his forehead, he was a little dizzy, he was actually the second place, is this all true? He was a little disbelieving, opened his eyes and looked at the list again. According to the statements of several candidates who met in the tea shop, the first place Qi Yuanhu is a young master who does not learn and has no skills, so his test score should be the real first place.

For Qi Yuanhu, Yi Jiuxiao did not have any disgust, he knew in his heart that if he hadn't borrowed from the works of famous artists of the previous dynasty, he would definitely not have been able to get this result, he succeeded by plagiarism, and others relied on his powerful father, so there was no reason to complain and ridicule any injustice.

There is also a notice in front of the release table that all the candidates on the list will report to the official department in three days. Because of the large number of candidates, many candidates come from other states and counties in Qi State, thousands of miles away, and the examination institute cannot all go to the government to notify them, so they can only inform the candidates to take the initiative to report to the official department and wait for the arrangement, and the results of the examination will eventually be reported to the states and counties, but that is later.

Back home, Yi Jiuxiao couldn't suppress his excitement, but there was no one to share, so he wrote a letter overnight, and asked the post station to give it to Wan Shufang the next day.

In this world, the person Yi Jiuxiao wants to share with the most is Wan Shufang. This time I came to Beijing, it is estimated that I will rarely return to Kaizhou in the future, and I don't know when I will be able to see Wan Shumad again.

The official yamen is also more than ten miles away from Yi Jiuxiao's house, and this time he did not hire another carriage, but set off in advance and walked over.

For a martial arts cultivator, a dozen miles away was just a casual walk, so when he arrived at the official headquarters, the official headquarters had just finished opening the door.

But Yi Jiuxiao didn't come too early, he saw more than a dozen people who looked like candidates were already waiting at the door.

Because the officials of the official department are all dressed in official uniforms, and the candidates are all dressed in various colors and young, it is easy to distinguish Yi Jiuxiao walked over and waited with everyone, and after a while, the rest of the dozen or so people also arrived, among which Huo Ran was the young man in brocade.

After the brocade-clothed young man saw Yi Jiuxiao, he showed a very exaggerated and very strange expression, and exclaimed, "You are also there?"

Yi Jiuxiao only replied with one word "um", and then stopped talking, although he knew the name of this brocade-clothed young man, but he knew that this person had more background, and it was better not to provoke this kind of gentleman.

However, the brocade-clothed young man seemed to be very interested in Yi Jiuxiao, and he didn't feel sorry for Yi Jiuxiao's coldness, and asked, "Brother, this is the third time we've met, can you tell me your name." ”

"Yi Jiuxiao. After Yi Jiuxiao finished saying these three words, he stopped talking, and the answer was just a courtesy.

"Yi Jiuxiao, are you Yi Jiuxiao?" This sentence was asked three times by the young man in brocade, and then looked up and down around Yi Jiuxiao, left and right, it seemed that Yi Jiuxiao did not look like Yi Jiuxiao.

"Yi Jiuxiao", these words have also been repeated by other candidates, and the second person in the national examination, Yi Jiuxiao, these three words have left a lingering imprint in the hearts of every candidate.

"He is Yi Jiuxiao, who is Qi Yuanhu?" One of the candidates suddenly asked, his words aroused everyone's interest, for a while you looked at me, I looked at you, it seemed that the other party was Qi Yuanhu.

Suddenly, I saw the young man in brocade waving his hand at everyone, and said with a smile: "Ben Shao is Qi Yuanhu." ”

It turned out that this brocade-clothed young man was Qi Yuanhu, Yi Jiuxiao suddenly realized. No wonder this person can be the top in high school, know the exam questions in advance, prepare the answers in advance, and it is easy to explain if he can get the first place.

After Qi Yuanhu introduced himself, a group of candidates stepped forward to congratulate him, this is the worship of the strong, but Qi Yuanhu didn't seem to care, nor did he be polite and salute back, but asked: "Who is Zeng Guang?"

"I am. A young man in green clothes spoke on the periphery, and only he and Yi Jiuxiao did not step forward to congratulate Qi Yuanhu just now.

At this moment, an official came over and said, "All the candidates go inside with me." ”

The candidates followed the official into the official office, took their seats in a council room, and then took the roll call and registered one by one, including the address in Beijing.

After the registration, a waiter from the official department walked into the council hall and made a big phone call, which was nothing more than congratulations and encouragement to the candidates, and one of them was very important, that is, the candidates were required not to leave Beijing in the near future and wait for the appointment of the official department.

After speaking, everyone dispersed, except for the top three, because the emperor would meet with the three two days later. The squire talked about some etiquette and precautions for court meetings, and told the three of them to be prepared and behave well in the face of the emperor.

The emperor wanted to receive him, and the excitement of the three of them was beyond words, even Yi Jiuxiao was no exception.

In his previous life, although he had outstanding military achievements, he had not yet been received by the emperor, after all, he was only a middle- and lower-ranking officer at that time, and in the army, except for the chief and deputy marshals, the rest of the people had no chance to be received by the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, and the emperor was lucky to know his name.

Two days later, early in the morning, before dawn, Yi Jiuxiao rushed to the gate of the imperial city, and the Li Shilang from the official department was already waiting at the gate of the imperial city, and then Zeng Guang also arrived.

The last to arrive was Qi Yuanhu, he got off a carriage, a middle-aged man poked his head out of the carriage, Li Shilang hurriedly bowed and saluted, the middle-aged man just nodded, did not speak, and the carriage drove into the imperial city.

There were many carriages in the early dynasties, and they were all officials of the previous dynasty one after another. Suddenly, a carriage stopped in front of the four of them, and Li Shilang stepped forward to lift the curtain and said, "Good morning, Lord Shangshu, the three of them have arrived, and we are waiting for the emperor's reception." ”

"Very good, I will remind the emperor. After the people in the car finished speaking, the carriage started and drove into the imperial city, Yi Jiuxiao guessed that it was the official department that spoke just now, and among the six departments, the official department was the most authoritative and was in charge of the appointment and dismissal of officials in the world.

After waiting for an hour, a chamberlain came out of the imperial city, saying that the emperor had summoned them and asked them to enter quickly.

The three of them followed Li Shilang into the imperial city, the imperial city sits in the north and faces south, five miles in length and width, the city is eight zhang high, there are forbidden troops patrolling day and night on the city wall, the buildings within the city wall are carved beams and arches, magnificent, and the momentum is magnificent.

After walking for a quarter of an hour, he arrived outside the palace, and the chamberlain led him through the corridor and into the Jinluan Treasure Hall. As soon as he entered the hall gate, Yi Jiuxiao saw a person sitting on the dragon chair in the center of the main hall from a distance, and more than a dozen officials were standing in two rows below.

In the distance, the chamberlain at the entrance of the hall sang in a sharp voice: "Li Long, the right attendant of the official department, led the top three in the national examination to meet the emperor. ”

Then another shrill voice sounded: "The emperor declares you." ”

Li Long was in front, Yi Jiuxiao and the three of them were behind, and when they reached a place ten zhang away from the emperor, the four of them knelt down and kowtowed together.

"Li Long, the right attendant of the minister's department, led the top three in the national examination to meet the emperor, and my emperor is blessed with Jin'an. ”

From the beginning of entering the main hall until kneeling, Yi Jiuxiao lowered his head, he didn't dare to peek at the emperor, let alone release his divine thoughts, there were many masters in the field, and the current emperor Qi Changhao was a master in the late stage of Jindan, which was far better than Kaizhou's Taishou Chengyuan.

"Excuse me, Li Long, introduce me to these three talents. The emperor spoke, and his voice was upright and peaceful.

Li Long pointed at Qi Yuanhu and introduced: "Your Majesty, this is Qi Yuanhu, the first place in the national examination, and the ...... of the people in the capital."

As soon as he was halfway through the introduction, he was interrupted by the emperor: "Yuanhu doesn't need to be introduced, I have been to the Fubu Shangshu Mansion a few times, and I have seen him since he was a child." ”

"Yuanhu, I have read your exam papers, the writing is very old-fashioned, and the foundation is very deep. After the emperor finished speaking, his gaze moved to Qi Yuanhu's face, which was a scrutinizing gaze.

Qi Yuanhu didn't dare to make a sound, he was usually unscrupulous, but at this time, he couldn't help but sift his body like chaff, and he was as silent as a cicada.

Fortunately, the emperor did not continue to stare at him anymore, but shifted his gaze to Yi Jiuxiao and Zeng Guang, and asked, "Who is Yi Jiuxiao?"

"The grass people are Yi Jiuxiao. Yi Jiuxiao bowed to the ground and gave a salute.

The emperor's gaze stayed on Yi Jiuxiao's body for a few breaths, nodded and said: "Excuse me, raise your head, I have also read your exam papers, the poems are very literary, but what impresses me the most is your scriptures, are those strategies my own thoughts?"

Yi Jiuxiao raised his head, his eyes looked at the emperor Qi Changhao on the ten-zhang dragon chair, the emperor was not the kind of majestic and domineering, he looked just an ordinary middle-aged man, but Yi Jiuxiao knew that this was the appearance, the emperor who could rule tens of thousands of miles of territory must have talents beyond ordinary people.

"Those are the childish thoughts of the grass people, if there is anything inappropriate, please don't blame the emperor. ”