Yan Hong stayed and had lunch with the two sisters, and said to them before leaving: "Before the palace test, the emperor will summon more than 100 people in the top ten of the martial arts event, and the emperor will definitely give instructions at that time, and you two will get ready." Miss Sima, especially you, you must be careful when you speak, but don't say whatever you want. ”

Sima Hongyan wondered, "Do you think I'll get into trouble as soon as I speak?" Am I looking so stupid? Isn't it just a few more words about the emperor's sage and the emperor's might? Who wouldn't be a flatterer? Rest assured! ”

Yan Hong told Ban Lingruo to be optimistic about her, so she went back.

Sure enough, three days before the palace test, the emperor decreed that all the top ten people in the martial arts event would enter the palace to see the king.

The night before entering the palace, Ban Lingruo helped Sima Hongyan prepare the clothes for the next day and the necessary outfits.

Usually, Sima Hongyan likes long hair with shawls the most, just find a set of clothes. was stopped by Ban Lingruo, who said, "Have you forgotten what His Royal Highness Jiu said that day?" The emperor specifically asked about you, and above the main hall, the emperor will definitely ask you for questions. I'm afraid it's a little disrespectful for you to dress up like that again, right? ”

Sima Hongyan grinned and said: "But this dress and dress is too troublesome, heavier than the things carried by the porter, and it is particularly inconvenient to walk, it is simply a crime." If you wear it uncomfortably, you trip and fall, then it's a shame! ”

Ban Lingruo said strangely: "But these rules and etiquette in the palace have to be learned since childhood, haven't you been used to it for a long time?" ”

"Where did I learn?" Sima Hongyan blurted out.

Ban Lingruo was even more curious and asked, "You haven't studied?" You grew up in the capital, how could you not have studied? ”

Knowing that he was speechless, Sima Hongyan hurriedly explained: "Good sister, you also know that my memory has been confused since that poisoning, and I can't remember many things, especially the longer I am, the more I can't remember clearly." I can't do anything about it! ”

Ban Lingruo understood and said, "That's it! Okay, let's reduce the clothes and accessories, and Qinghan and I will help you sort out your hair briefly, as long as you don't run and jump, there should be no problem. And there are still a lot of people in the rivers and lakes who entered the palace this time, I don't think you will look too special! ”

Sima Hongyan secretly said in his heart at this time: "You should pay attention when talking to familiar people in the future, the more familiar you are, the more casual you are, and it is easy to leak your mouth." ”

Early the next morning, the two bathed and changed their clothes, changed into prepared dresses, and entered the palace to see you.

Entering the palace this time can be much stricter than the guards of the Dayang banquet, three steps and one post, five steps and one sentry is really not an exaggeration. Moreover, everyone who entered the palace had to go through many checks, and they almost took off their clothes, and the vigilance was so strict that they didn't even want to bring a needle in.

There must be no metal detectors here, and it is all up to trained eunuchs and court ladies to touch with their hands. Sima Hongyan is the most unaccustomed to someone touching her body, even the palace maid feels awkward, and she touches her whole body very finely, more than once, and even her hair has to be checked little by little. By the time she was about to enter the hall for the last time after the inspection, her eyebrows were almost twisted together, and it was estimated that after a few more checks like this, she would have to turn her head and go home. Fortunately, Ban Lingruo was always with her, comforting her from time to time.

When officially entering the main hall of the court, each person stands in a fixed position according to the family title or official position, combined with the rank obtained, and must not move half a step when he stands there. The Imperial Forest Army, the forbidden army, and the guards guarding the main hall were almost lined up one by one, surrounding the people who entered the hall. This is still visible, and it is estimated that there are invisible shadow guards, all over the corner. If you make the slightest move, you'll be subdued in no time.

When the emperor came out, all kneeling down and could not get up, and even if he spoke, he would lie on the ground and say, but anyone who dared to raise his head could be executed on the spot.

With so many constraints, Sima Hongyan scolded in the dark: "Isn't it just to see an emperor?" It's so nervous, like we're all assassins. * The son is so scared, I don't deserve to be the emperor for nothing. ”

When everyone entered the hall, the door at the entrance of the main hall, which was nearly ten people high, "clanged" and closed heavily, and the Imperial Forest Army immediately blocked the main hall in three layers. The hall was silent for a moment, and even the sound of breathing in the hall of hundreds of people seemed to be deliberately suppressed, and it is estimated that the sound of dropping a needle is a loud noise here!

Such a solemn, depressing, and dull atmosphere made Sima Hongyan uncomfortable, she lowered her head and didn't dare to move, but her eyes kept rolling in her sockets, but she couldn't see anything except the hems of a bunch of clothes.

Everyone stood quietly for a long time, and occasionally Sima Hongyan would hear a slight "tick" sound, and she was still wondering in her heart: "Yo? Is such a good palace still leaking? After thinking about it, I realized that it was the sweat that someone had shed on the ground.

Although it is not hot here, but just standing motionless, the atmosphere is so heavy, it is inevitable that some people are under great psychological pressure and sweating. But thinking of this, Sima Hongyan suddenly wanted to laugh, but she tried her best to hold back and didn't laugh out loud. It turned out that she was thinking: "If someone wants to be convenient at this time, but can't move, and can't raise their hands to call me to the toilet, will they hear the sound of 'whooshing' running water?" ”

Just when Sima Hongyan was thinking wildly and entertaining himself, suddenly the eunuch's high-pitched voice shouted: "The emperor has arrived!" "Don't look at the number of people standing in the main hall, but the space is still very empty. This voice shouted suddenly and loudly, and the room kept echoing, startling Sima Hongyan.

This scared her, Sima Hongyan almost raised her head and scolded: "You call mourning?!" "Fortunately, I reacted quickly and held back!

I can't look up, I can only hear the sound of shoes walking on the ground, not in a hurry, not slow, slow and steady! Sima Hongyan secretly said in his heart: "Don't let us see it, what the hell is a stinky shelf?" ”

After walking for a while, the footsteps stopped. Then I heard the eunuch shout, "Kneel! He also deliberately pulled a long note.

Sima Hongyan knelt down with everyone, his forehead touching the ground.

"Flat!" The eunuch is another elongated version.

Sima Hongyan was about to stand up with his knees, and suddenly felt that the person next to him just raised his head from the ground, but he still maintained a kneeling posture, and hurriedly retracted his strength, so that the whole person who was not reckless stood up.

Then, a gentle voice said slowly: "You are the outstanding talents selected by my Yanling this year!" I would like to congratulate you on standing out from so many young people. I have summoned you this time to give you a few words of advice! Although I can participate in the palace examination, I can't relax, whether I can do things for the country in the future, and what I can do for the country, depends on the judgment of the military officials in the palace examination. ”

Listening to the voice, it was the kind Emperor Yanzhen who had seen him at the Chongyang banquet.

The last time he saw the emperor at the Chongyang Banquet, Sima Hongyan also felt that it was common to see the emperor in ancient times, and it was not as rare as it was said in books or on TV. can look at such a big pomp and rules today, it is really possible that the legend that an official who has been an official all his life has never seen the emperor is really a fact. In fact, this kind of face saint who can't lift his head is almost the same as not seeing it, which is a great honor!

Sima Hongyan thought in his heart, but he didn't hear what Emperor Yanzhen said later. In fact, if you don't listen to it, you can guess that it's all some encouragement, consolation, and nonsense. This situation is even more uncomfortable than listening to the leader's meeting at work in modern times! It's good to be able to sit, this kneel here and bow down, and the cervical spine is not good, and I really can't hold on. It seems that being an official is like this every day, and there is nothing fun about it.

Sima Hongyan was distracted again!

"Sima Hongyan?! Sima Hongyan?! The eunuch's voice was an octave higher than before.

Hearing that his name was called, Sima Hongyan came back to his senses, and hurriedly responded: "The courtiers are here!" ”

Emperor Yanzhen asked, "Sima Hongyan, didn't you hear me?" What are you thinking? ”

"Did the emperor add me just now?" Sima Hongyan thought to herself.

The mouth responded: "Go back to the emperor!" It's not that the courtiers didn't hear it. Yes, the courtiers didn't expect the emperor to call the courtiers, but the courtiers couldn't believe it for a while, thinking that they had heard it wrong, so they didn't dare to agree. Please also ask the emperor to forgive the sin of nervousness of his courtiers! ”