Time always flies inadvertently, and the whole capital gradually enters the embrace of spring and early spring after the visit of the last first snow. The gradually warming weather, and the branches that began to sprout on the windowsill, reminded Tang Yao all the time that the day of participating in the imperial examination had arrived. In fact, Tang Yao is really not very nervous, for her who has experienced the college entrance examination, this imperial examination is really nothing.....

The day of going to the exam is getting closer and closer, and Tang Yao was full of confidence. Mr. Wu Zhengxiang, who was far away in Nanshan Academy, appeared in front of her early in the morning and rushed back to Nanshan Academy with her. Tang Yao was still in a state of confusion, obviously not understanding what the old gentleman was going to do.

After he led himself to the ancestral hall of the academy, Tang Yao was completely dumbfounded. There are a lot of scholars who are taking the exam in the ancestral hall, and even Song Qingshu, who has not seen each other for a long time, is among them. When he saw Tang Yao, he was also very surprised, beckoned to Tang Yao, and said softly, "Brother Tang." ”

Tang Yao nodded and smiled at him in return. When Sun Zhiwen saw Tang Yao coming, he stepped forward and handed her a pillar of high incense. Tang Yao took the incense and understood that this was to do great things in the ancestral hall of the academy, set up an altar to beat Jiao for three days and nights, worship the ancestors of Qiyun, pray for the protection of the gods, and pray for the behavior of the students in high school.

Although I don't want to be so superstitious, there is a good saying, follow the local customs. Tang Yao held high incense in his hand, and bowed respectfully to the statue in the middle of the ancestral hall that could not be seen whether it was a man or a woman. The examination of the imperial examination is held at the Gongyuan Temple, and admission is made at midnight.

When Tang Yao came back from Nanshan Academy, he didn't read the book anymore, and just slept with his head covered. This midnight exam is like working a night shift at night, and if you don't get enough sleep in advance, if you seem to be asleep in the middle of the exam, you don't know who to ask for.

Just after the hour, Lan Xiang called her up and prepared the things she needed for the exam, from pen, ink, paper, inkstone, to a change of clothes and dry food. Don't think she's there to play, it's really what you need to participate in the imperial examination. For three whole days, she had to stay in the tribute courtyard.

Within three days, it is divided into four books and five classics, and each of the essays and poems needs to be assessed, so Tang Yao can be regarded as fully prepared. She is not worried about poetry and essays at all, and as for the Four Books and Five Classics, she doesn't have to worry about it, because the routine is almost the same as her world.

Tang Yao was carrying a thick burden, and as soon as he walked out of the gate of the Tang Mansion, he saw Banyun waiting at the gate with a carriage. Tang Yao hesitated for a while, then stepped forward and said, "Banyun, what are you .....?"

"The master instructed that his subordinates should send the son to the Tribute Academy for the examination."

Tang Yao looked at the moon that was almost in the center, if he walked from here, he might be late. So she no longer hesitated, and got into the carriage directly, escorted by Banyun.

When I arrived at the gate of the Tribute Courtyard, a dense crowd of people was already waiting there. There are children from rich families in the city, and ordinary candidates who come from other places to participate, Tang Yao, who was not very nervous, was probably affected by the atmosphere and gradually became nervous.

"Brother Tang, you are here." Song Qingshu waved his hand and walked towards her.

"How's the book going?" Tang Yao just threw such a sentence out.

"Uh... I... I think it's okay.... How can you compare with Brother Tang. Song Qingshu scratched his head innocently, with an unconfident expression.

Tang Yao reached out and patted him on the shoulder, and smiled with a slight encouragement, "Come on, you can do it!" I believe you! ”

"Brother Tang...."Song Qingshu was inexplicably moved.

The closed door of the Gongyuan slowly opened, and among the few people who came out, Tang Yao saw Zhang Zigong and Yao Yin at a glance. Zhang Zigong looked around the faces of everyone, and then waved his hand, and an official who followed him walked out with a roll call in his hand.

"The four-year imperial examination of Nanjing starts today, and I hope that all candidates will be cautious. During the entrance examination, I hope that you will follow the order of the examination room and do not violate the rules of the examination room........" The official said a long paragraph, which is nothing more than a reminder to all scholars not to cheat during the exam, because they will definitely be discovered. Never make small gestures during the exam, because once you are discovered, you will be banned from the exam for three years.

From ancient times to the present, the rules of this exam have remained the same! And there are people who can cheat, not only in modern times, but also in ancient times.

"Now read according to the list, please enter the examination room one by one."

"Wuzhou Jiang Peng."

"Huangchi Zhang Tianji."

"Changshan Ma Yunfei." ........

After reporting dozens of names, the official reported Tang Yao's name, "Dingyuan Tang Ziyao, Song Qingshu." ”

Hearing this, Tang Yao and Song Qingshu glanced at each other, then took their respective burdens and walked forward. The official looked at the two of them, corresponded to their identities, and then let them enter. After entering the Gongyuan, there is a special person to check the burden of each exam.

According to the rules, each candidate can only bring nothing more than pen, ink, paper, inkstone, a change of clothes, and dry food for three days, and the rest cannot be carried. There are nearly 3,000 compartments in the Gongyuan, and each compartment is separated by wooden boards to prevent plagiarism on the way to the exam.

Looking at such a scene, Tang Yao couldn't help but marvel, this ancient exam is no different from modern times, such a large examination room, there will be an invigilator in five compartments, so if you want to cheat, you also need to be skilled.

The seats in the examination room were not fixed, so Tang Yao and Song Qingshu deliberately chose a remote and quiet seat. In this way, even if something happens in the middle, it will not disturb the two. Tang Yao and Song Qingshu blessed each other before parting, and then got into their compartment.

Tang Yao put the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone on the bookcase one by one, always ready.

"Ziyao, are you ready?" Zhang Zigong and Yao Yin walked over slowly.

Tang Yao hurriedly stood up and said respectfully to the two, "The student will definitely live up to the expectations of the two gentlemen." ”

Yao Yinran's solemn face raised a touch of relief. Then he stroked his beard and said, "In this way, just do your best." ”

"Yes, student, remember."

The three-day exam is not something that ordinary people can survive, from the Four Books to the Five Classics, from poems to songs..... Although Tang Yao couldn't remember the time, the only thing she remembered was that on the way, she used up a whole inkstone and broke two brushes. The concentration of concentration also represents the victory or defeat of this exam.

There are not a few people who give up leaving on the way, and there are many people who are found to be cheating. And the oil lamp in the corner has never been extinguished. The invigilators walked in front of Tang Yao one by one, and they were all amazed that this handsome man who didn't look very old could persist in such an environment for two days, which was a rare occurrence.

When the wine red of the dusk of the third day rendered the entire sky, the three pillars of high incense in the Gongyuan slowly extinguished, and Tang Yao put down the pen in his hand.

"It's time, hand in the papers!"

Tang Yao, who was sitting in the appearance of an old monk, raised her head in hindsight, she first stretched her waist, and looked into the distance a little blankly. My whole body was sore and weak, and I was almost losing the strength to stand up.

After struggling for a long time, she slowly stood up. has a decadent appearance, and she can't be compared with the clear appearance before the entrance exam. At this moment, her hair was disheveled, her clothes were wrinkled, and her eyes were red and bloodshot, and she looked like someone who hadn't slept for days and nights.

handed in the test paper and staggered out of the examination room with his baggage. Tang Yao, who was dizzy, had only one thought now, that is, to go back to her bed and sleep hard for three days and three nights.

"Childe!" Lan Xiang was already waiting at the gate of the Gongyuan, and when she saw Tang Yao coming out, she waved at her with a happy face.

Tang Yao looked at Lan Xiang's back for a long time, and walked down the steps towards her. Who knew that his feet were weak, he stepped on the air, and threw himself straight on the ground in front of him. She couldn't hear Lan Xiang's call, she just wanted to lie down and sleep now, even if it wasn't a bed.

A black figure jumped over lightly, and reacted very quickly to catch Tang Yao, who was about to pounce on the ground. Tang Yao didn't even have the strength to raise his head, he had just come into contact with a soft embrace, just as it was a mattress, his eyes were closed, and he fell asleep directly.

Yes, that's right, just standing and falling asleep against the man.

In the hall of the Tribute Academy, Zhang Zigong took the lead in picking out Tang Yao's from the test papers of the candidates. Then he looked at the answers on the test paper seriously, and the more he looked at the old face, the more excited he became. Immediately, he raised the test paper in his hand and said to Yao Yin, who was not far away, with a serious face, "Old man Yao, have you seen it!" I'm really an excellent student. ”

Yao Yin glanced at the test paper in his hand lightly, and did not forget to remind the complacent Zhang Zigong, "Don't forget, that Tang Ziyao was recommended by the old guy Wei Chi Hou Ye and Wu Zhengxiang." ”

Zhang Zigong's face was cold, and he said indifferently, "So what!" The students who came out of my academy, does he Wu old man dare to rob us! ”

"Old man Wu doesn't dare, but the Marquis of Wei Chi ....."

"......." Zhang Zigong was silent, yes, there is also a Wei Chichenfeng.

Since he went out of the Tribute Courtyard, Tang Yao didn't care about it and slept for two days and two nights without waking up. It seems that if she doesn't make up for those three days of sleep, she feels unwilling! Lan Xiang also understood her hard work, and no one bothered her during this time, even Xuan Qing, this little girl personally warned her.

Don't disturb your childe's sleep! There must never be a single sound, not even chopping wood!

This makes Xuanqing entangled, how to chop wood so that it doesn't make a sound?

It wasn't until noon on the third day, when the warm sunlight shone in from outside, that she opened her heavy eyes. After sleeping well, Tang Yao felt that the spirit of the whole person was different. She got up, washed up, changed into clean clothes, pushed open the door and walked out.

There seemed to be no one outside the house, and there was no Lan Xiang and Xuan Qing, Tang Yao still felt a little strange.