The sky had just dawned, and it was still night.

Gu Yanzhang stood outside the imperial city, along with hundreds of tribute students, patiently waiting for the palace gate to open.

The scholars gathered in twos and threes, gossiping, or discussing the possible questions of the temple examination, or talking about the ranking of the Ministry of Rites examination.

"Which one is Gu Yanzhang?"

Someone asked in a whisper.

"I don't know."

"Aren't you from Yanzhou? I heard that Gu Yanzhang's solution to the exam is also the first place, how can he not know the students in the same state? The man asked.

"What's all the fuss, how many of these Gongsheng from Yanzhou are really Yanzhou people? Look at Zhang Ting in Chuzhou, Wang Ruilai in Bingzhou, and Qin Zhongkai in Hezhou, which name is not followed by the word 'Yanzhou' now? The person who answered just now said, "I heard that Gu Yanzhang is from Jizhou, and like the rest of the people, he came to Yanzhou to take the exam, just to get a good household registration." ”

It has been more than half a month since the trial list of the Ministry of Rites, and the scholars saw that the one ranked at the top of the yellow list, Yishui's Yanzhou background, but they didn't understand it at the time, so they went back and pondered it carefully, and eight out of ten people understood it when they boarded. The mystery here, as long as it is broken, is actually not worth the price.

His tone was a little sour, and he said: "This one and two talented people are coming to occupy it, and it is really fame and fortune that move people's hearts, for the sake of a little benefit, even the birth township can be changed, and there is nothing that can not be changed!" The world is declining, and people's hearts are not ancient! ”

Gathered around him, all unknown tribute students, echoed at this moment, and looked at the group of people standing in front of the palace gate from time to time.

Those are all scholars who rank high in the Ministry of Rites exam, half of them are famous, and nearly half of them are "from Yanzhou", and they are all quietly lined up in front of the palace gate at the moment, and they do not speak.

Gu Yanzhang stood in the corner.

The place he chose was originally because there were few people, and he didn't want to be biased, so it was very convenient to gossip, but it attracted more and more idlers to gather.

Listening to this group of candidates criticizing the talents, it was as if they had committed some great sin by changing their nationality to take the exam. And his own Huiyuan has become the key target of everyone's verbal criticism.

Gu Yanzhang only listened to it as a joke - if he can enter the palace to test, most of them are literate, he scolds people, he doesn't bring half a word of swearing, he is scathing and mean, and he has a layer of crepe skin on his head, quoting scriptures, which is really interesting.

How can there be any such thing as taking advantage of the advantages, if you can really get the champion because of the household registration, take full advantage, and let them say it, what then?

It doesn't drop a piece of meat.

Besides, he is not afraid of the shadow, he is upright Yanzhou people, three generations up, all of them are from Yanzhou, although he is just a businessman, but his family is used to building bridges and roads, not to mention soup and medicine, and his family has only dedicated a lot of property, and then forward, Qingling's father and brother died in the country and died in Sheji, these scholars, and what to mock.

Even if many people turn this matter over in the future, it will only be asking for their own hardships and touching their noses.

Thinking of his wife at home, Gu Yanzhang couldn't help but have a faint smile on his face, and his whole person softened a little.

- I told her not to send it in the morning, but I wanted to send it, and I didn't know if I would be home at this time.

I really want to take the palace test later, in recent days, the little guy feels sorry for his hard work, he should do anything, and he can't hide at night...... It's just called him...... I couldn't be more satisfied......

Next month, he will be able to make a hairpin, and when the time comes, he will insert the hairpin with his own hands, and the hairpin will ...... Well, what kind of hairpin should I use?

Gu Yanzhang was still thinking about it, so he might as well walk straight to this side by a person in the distance.

The people who came quickly got closer.

Someone whispered, "Isn't that Yang Yifu?" ”

"The fourth one in the Ministry of Rites?"

"I heard that it is Mr. Houzhai's personal disciple, Fan Dashen read his article, and praised and praised."

Everyone whispered and discussed, and when they saw that Yang Yifu passed through their group of people and headed towards the corner, they all stopped their mouths suspiciously and looked in his direction.

"Yanzhang! You're hiding here! With a smile on his face, he bowed and said, "When I saw the release list, I wanted to congratulate you, I didn't want to go through half of the capital, and I didn't even find a shadow!" ”

He also said: "I heard that many powerful officials are looking for you, but Mr. Oyanagi is not at home, and no one seems to know where you are!" You're a ghost! ”

The last time the two met in Jixian County, it had been more than half a year, and Yang Yifu's few words, as well as ridicule, brought the distance between the two closer.

However, his words also exposed Gu Yanzhang's identity at the same time.

The group of people next to him was in an uproar.

"It turns out that he is Gu Yanzhang!"

"The husband needs to be upright, dodgy, eavesdropping on others, what kind of bearing!" Someone whispered sarcastically.

Gu Yanzhang couldn't help frowning.

Yang Yifu deliberately came over, and pointed out his identity, and said something like "the powerful officials are looking for you", although he couldn't find the slightest fault with his actions, and he was still affectionate, it seemed that he just wanted to compliment, but it made him feel a little weird.

Gu Yanzhang has been an assistant in the transfer department of the security army for more than a month, and has experienced many things, and has met those officials and petty officials who have been trained in the sea and official offices for decades, such as Zheng Xian, such as Sun Jian, such as the little officials who stumbled him in the transfer department.

What's going on with this Yang Yi Mansion?

According to his former shrewdness, he should not have acted like this.

He bowed back and said, "It turned out to be Yifu, and I accepted it!" There is no high or low article, and the ranking is up and down, but it is just a fluke. ”

After chatting a few more words, I greeted Qian Mai again.

The two stood aside and talked, and the scholars next to them eavesdropped with their ears sideways for attention.

At this moment, with the sound of the bell, the palace gate was pushed open from the inside, and the pavilion envoy walked out.

Seeing that the door was open, the tributes outside the palace were busy holding their breath and concentrating, not daring to speak again, for fear of suppressing the voice of the angel.

"Everyone lined up by number."

The envoy of the pavilion only whispered, and everyone hurriedly took out the number plate they had received the day before and lined up according to the number on it.

Gu Yanzhang stood at the front of the team, followed the pavilion envoy, passed through one palace after another, and walked quickly to the Jiying Palace.

Standing in the Jiying Hall, he was on the far right of the first row.

There are only three people in the front row, and the person on the left is half a head shorter than his own, he should be the second place in this provincial examination, Fang Jiucheng of Guozijian, and the one on the left is a familiar face - Zheng Shixiu.

I haven't seen him for half a year, even if he stands in this Jiying Palace, the arrogance on Zheng Shixiu's face has only been restrained a little. 10