Ji Shu originally had an elder brother with excellent feelings, but he died of illness a few years ago, leaving a son who was smart and clever, and Ji Shu has always raised him as his own son. This nephew also took the exam this year. He knew that the list should be released today, and told the little guy in the house to go to the yamen to tell him as soon as he got the good news.

But I waited for a day and didn't wait for news. When it was time to go down in the evening, he hurried home, and as soon as he entered the house, the porter ran over with a nervous look and whispered: "Master, Lord Jing is here." ”

Ji Shu was taken aback and asked, "Why did he come?" ”

Although he is the cousin of Zhao Chang, the king of Jing, the noble concubine has few relatives, and he is the only cousin like him, and the relationship is relatively close. But it is not suitable for the prince to make friends with courtiers, so Zhao Chang is not close to him on the bright side. Although there are courtesies during the New Year's holidays, Zhao Chang has never been to Jifu before. The last time I made an exception, it was because of the old lady's 70th birthday.

So when he heard Zhao Chang coming, Ji Shu was so surprised.

The porter shook his head.

Ji Shu looked left and right, and asked defensively, "When he came, no one saw it, right?" ”

The porter was stunned, and shook his head again: "When Prince Jing came, he came by carriage, although there was no sign of King Jing's Mansion on the carriage, he didn't seem to want to avoid people, so he came generously, and brought a few servants and entourage. ”

The second monk Ji Shuzhang was puzzled, and asked again: "Where is he now?" ”

"The hall of the outer court."

Ji Shu didn't have time to change his official uniform, so he ran directly towards the hall of the outer courtyard.

When I entered the hall, I saw Zhao Chang standing on the corridor, boredly teasing the birds in the birdcage under the corridor. The retinue he brought with him stood aside.

Ji Shu strode closer, and raised his hand from a distance and saluted: "Lord Wang." ”

Zhao Chang turned his head, bowed slightly towards Ji Shu, and said with a smile: "I have nothing to do to go out for a walk, you don't have to be nervous, and go back and change into regular clothes and come over for tea." ”

The official uniform is not comfortable to wear, and the movement, sitting and lying must be more particular, not wrinkled and dirty, in order to show respect for the court and the saint.

Although Ji Shu couldn't figure out Zhao Chang's intentions, seeing that he looked relaxed, he didn't seem to be fine, so he put his mind at ease and sued him to change his clothes.

However, he didn't dare to be contemptuous, so he asked Zhao Chang to wait for a long time, so he only went to the study in the outer courtyard, took out the regular clothes that were placed there and changed them, and hurried back to the hall.

After entering the hall and sitting down, the servants made tea again, and Zhao Chang asked with concern: "How did Ji Yanhui do in the exam?" Today's list, right? How many won? ”

Ji Yan is Ji Shu's nephew.

As soon as he heard this, Ji Shu was greatly moved, stood up and arched his hand: "Back to the prince, the list has not been released today, and we are waiting for the news of the release." ”

Zhao Chang nodded and looked at the sky outside: "It's not too early, you're all in the office, aren't you not on the list today?" ”

Ji Shu became more and more moved, and replied: "Based on the experience of the ministers, the Ministry of Rites is going to release the list today. After all, the emperor added several more fellow examiners to go in to mark the papers, and no matter how slow the review papers were, it was almost the same. ”

He was about to thank Zhao Chang for caring so much about Ji Yan, when he heard Zhao Chang ask again: "How is the old lady's body?" ”

"Okay, I can eat and sleep, and there is nothing wrong with my body." Ji Shu said with a smile, "This is also thanks to the fact that Niangniang often sends some ginseng bird's nest to come over to make up for her body, and she and the prince remember it." ”

Zhao Chang nodded and stopped talking.

Ji Shu came back from the yamen in a hurry, thirsty to death, but he didn't dare to pick up the teacup to drink, so as not to be suspected of serving tea to guests. I want to ask Zhao Chang what is going on here, but it's hard to ask. Sitting there in the middle of winter, sweat broke out on my forehead.

Fortunately, at this time, a little guy ran in quickly, panting and said: "Old, master, the list is released, our eldest and young master has been hit, and ...... has been hit."

Ji Shu stood up and asked excitedly, "How many have you won?" ”

"Two hundred...... Two hundred and seventy-eight. ”

“……”

Although this ranking has been frustrated, I am afraid that I can only be a top three in the palace examination, but Ji Yan is only nineteen years old this year. At the age of nineteen, he was admitted to the Jinshi, which is also a very proud thing.

"Go tell the old lady, the lady, and the young master. Then send an order to go down and give a reward, and all the people in the house will be rewarded with a month's worth of silver. Ji Shu said happily, and then turned his head and ordered the housekeeper who followed in, "Reward him with a tael of silver." ”

"Thank you, sir." The little guy took the silver, smiled so hard that he couldn't close his mouth, and hurriedly went back to pass the word.

"Congratulations." Zhao Chang said.

"Thanks to the blessings of the mother and the prince." Zhao Chang said, very pleased, "Brother Yan'er's child can be regarded as a fighter, and he is willing to work hard." ”

Zhao Chang nodded, looking out uneasily.

Seeing this, Ji Shu was a little confused. Looking at Zhao Chang like this, it seems that he is not here to wait for the news of the list, there should be something else.

What is it?

He was about to speak, when he heard the sound of gongs and drums outside, as if the annunciation had come.

Ji Shu's eyes lit up, and he was about to get up, but he felt that something was wrong.

Because there are many people who can try, the good news is not like the hospital test, the government test, and the township test, which starts from the last place, but directly starts from the first place. The little guy in Jifu has just returned from watching the list in the Gongyuan, and it stands to reason that even if he wants to report the good news, it will not be the turn of two hundred and seventy-eight. Isn't this team reporting the good news to Ji Yan?

He suddenly remembered that there was a lifter living next door, and at the old lady's birthday banquet, Zhao Chang was quite polite to the lifter named Du Jinning. Could it be that the person who reported the good news came for Du Jinning?

He was depressed, and saw that Zhao Chang had already gotten up, took his little servant out of the door directly, and walked out of the courtyard.

He hurriedly followed up and asked, "Lord Wang, Lord Wang, what are you doing here?" ”

Zhao Chang ignored him, stopped when he walked to the gate of the Ji family, and stood there waiting. And his little servant ran out, apparently going next door to watch the excitement.

After a while, the little girl came back happily and said, "Lord Wang, Lord Wang, Young Master Du has won the first place in Huiyuan." ”

"Really?" Zhao Chang was overjoyed.

"Really." The little guy nodded.

Ji Shu was a little stunned and asked, "Are you talking about Du Jinning who came to congratulate him at that birthday banquet?" ”

The little guy nodded: "Exactly." ”

"It's not...... How old is he? Ji Shu thought back to Du Jinning, who looked white and tender, about fifteen or sixteen years old. Why did you get into the Jinshi, and you are still Huiyuan?

He wasn't hallucinating, was he?

Before the little girl could speak, Zhao Chang said, "Du Jinning is fifteen years old this year. ”

Saying that, he arched his hand towards Ji Shu: "I'll go back first." As he spoke, he led his subordinates out of the door.

Ji Shu was even more confused.

Lord Jing, what the hell is he doing here today? Why didn't he understand?