In front of the high wall outside the gate of the Tribute Courtyard, there is a row of yellow list notices pasted on the wall.

At the beginning is written the words "Hongwu 27th year Jiaxu Branch Examination Notice".

In front of the notice, there were people standing in front of the exam, and they were like geese with their necks stretched, looking up at the notice intently, for fear of missing a word.

Many of them are taking the entrance examination for the first time.

The imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty was divided into five levels: the children's examination, the courtyard examination, the township examination, the guild examination, and the palace examination.

Those who pass the two examinations of the local county and government become children, intellectuals in ten miles and eight townships.

Children participate in the college examinations held by the local government and state, and after being admitted, they become students, that is, Xiucai.

As long as you pass the student examination, even if you leave the civilian class, you are called a "scholar" and enjoy certain privileges.

Xiucai is a lifter, and he needs to go to the provincial capitals of each province to participate in the township test.

The township test is held once every three years, generally held in August, so it is also called "autumn plow".

If you win, you will be lifted, and your status will also undergo earth-shaking changes, and the landlords and gentry in ten miles and eight towns will rush to deliver benefits.

However, the imperial court has a limit on the number of people produced by the township test in each province, generally according to the population of each province, the number of places is as little as a few dozen, and as many as a hundred or dozen.

All in all, the total number of students admitted nationwide for the triennial township examination is 1,000 to 12,300.

The township examination is the most important and arduous part of the imperial examination.

After being promoted, they are qualified to be officials.

And only qualifying.

There is a radish and a pit in the officialdom, and the official master above does not retire, where is the opportunity?

Many people have never had the opportunity to be officials in their lifetimes, even if they are seven or eight small officials.

They wish that those who are officials would die sooner.

Therefore, most of the people choose to continue to take the exam, take the last level of the exam, and will take the exam!

After the title of the gold list, he became a tribute, followed by the palace examination, which was interviewed by the emperor himself, and then he was given the background of a jinshi and became an official directly.

After becoming a Jinshi, he was released to the local government as an official, not to mention the start of Qipinzhi County.

The first and second class jinshi, after two or three years of gilding in the Hanlin Academy, can be the prefect when they are placed in the place.

The status of lifting people and Jinshi is very different!

At this time, in front of the Tribute Courtyard, the people surrounding the notice were all lifting people.

Some of them were very nervous when they came to take the exam for the first time.

Some have taken the test I don't know how many times, and their heads have turned white.

Looking at the emperor's list, he burst into tears with excitement, although the exam has not yet started.

There are 60 million people in the country in Daming, and there are only more than 1,000 people who can go to this step, which is one in a million!

They are proud!

A young man raised his voice in a very high tone, and spoke as if no one was around: "What's so good about the yellow list notice, it's not a gold list, Brother Zhang, let's go to the bar." ”

All the people turned their eyes to this man.

It's the rich guy.

This man is handsome, but in such a cold weather, he is holding a silk folding fan, unfolding it and fanning it gently.

When everyone saw it, they all showed disdain.

It's so loadable!

It's not too cold!

The person who was called Brother Zhang by the rich son showed embarrassment on his face and called softly: "Brother Fang......"

The rich son's name is Fang Zhongxian, and he is the son of Fang Xiaoru.

He was born in a big family, he thinks he is talented, and his father Fang Xiaoru is a waiter at the Hanlin Academy, and Huang Zicheng, the chief examiner of this examination, is not only a colleague, but also a close friend.

Therefore, Fang Zhongxian was very proud, and did not take everyone in his eyes at all, urging his fellow villager and friend Zhang Xindao: "Let's go, brother will take you to Heming Tower to drink!" ”

Zhang Xin had no choice but to go with him.

The Heming Tower is close to the Gongyuan, the high tower is in the north of the street, and the lower floor is a row of six facades on the Zhu Yingqing steps.

The upper floor is a mountain-style roof, and the wooden corridor out of the eaves is adjacent to the street, and there are four red gauze watermelon lanterns hanging in front of the eaves of the wooden corridor.

There is a black plaque hanging above the lintel in the middle of the restaurant, which reads "Heming Tower".

Under the door plaque, Zhu Gaochi pointed with an embarrassed face and asked softly: "Imperial grandson, do we really want to go in?" ”

Heming Tower is one of the sixteenth floors of a state-run brothel, and there are special services above the third floor.

Zhu Yunxi nodded silently: "Don't think about it, we are here to observe the people's feelings." ”

Well, communicate with the scholars.

Zhu Gaochi wanted to say something, but saw that the imperial grandson had already stepped in.

In the restaurant is the hall, and there are already dozens of people sitting around, and they are all dressed up.

Some of them shouted five and drank six, and they were drinking together.

Some were drunk, looking up at the ceiling.

Others are shaking their heads and chanting poems.

Some are even drunk, and they pull others to listen to the articles they have just written......

They come from all over the country, and there are people of all kinds.

Zhu Yunxi and the others walked in, followed by Wu Qiang and a few Jinyi guards in plainclothes far behind.

The runner immediately greeted him with a smile on his face, and smiled at Zhu Yunxi: "Ho! Good sign! ”

glanced at Wu Qiang and a few people behind him: "How many sons are there?" ”

Zhu Yunxi said: "Just the two of us, I don't know the one in the back, go pick a seat." ”

Wu Qiang, who has excellent hearing: "......"

The guy who ran the hall raised his head and shouted upstairs: "Two champions, upstairs elegant seats, please!" ”

The two went upstairs, and Zhu Gaochi said teasingly: "The first time I was called the champion, I felt beautiful in my heart." ”

Zhu Yunxi smiled faintly and pointed to the pile downstairs: "Those who come are all champions, in this kind of place, let alone being a champion, you can be a father if you give money." ”

"If you want to be a father, I'm afraid you have to go to the third floor." Zhu Gaochi said.

Zhu Yunxi looked at him in surprise: "It seems that you know a lot!" ”

The two laughed together.

Upstairs, there are quite a few people.

Through the curtain, Zhu Yunxi saw the previous rich son.

The guy was bragging with a young man in his early twenties.

I saw Fang Zhongxian put the wine glass on the table, and sighed: "This time I will take the test, my father let out a word, I will not be allowed to go home if I don't pass the test, and I am not allowed to go against the beautiful woman to chant poetry, saying that I will go to the temple to be a monk." ”

Zhang Xin said with a smile: "Brother Fang is talented, suave, and the means between flowers cover Jinghua, if you become a monk, then the nuns in the temple will be blessed." ”

At this time, I suddenly heard a voice coming from next door: "I don't want Jinke Zhuangyuan to speak so lightly." ”

Fang Zhongxian and Zhang Xin were stunned.

When I walked to the next seat, I saw an old Taoist priest sitting inside!

The old Taoist priest did not wear a Taoist robe, but only wore a bun on his head and a Lei Yang scarf.

He has two faint eyebrows, a high nose bridge, a face as white as paper, and his lips are blood-red, which makes people think of ghosts and gods at first sight.

Seeing the two of them walking in, the old Taoist priest looked at Zhang Xin and smiled: "It's really rare for the old Taoist to see the champion today." ”

Zhang Xin said with a smile: "You said that I am the champion of the current department, and the people who ran the hall just now also called us the champions, and those downstairs are all champions." ”

Fang Zhongxian also smiled: "I said the old way, if you want to cheat money, just say it, I'll give you ten taels." ”

As he spoke, he really took out ten taels of silver and slapped it on the tea table.

Lao Dao didn't look at the silver, but looked at Fang Zhongxian: "I'm afraid your father's wish will be disappointed, don't say that you can't pass the exam, even if you want to be a monk, you have no chance." ”

His voice was as thin as a copper wire, and his ear drums were buzzing.

Fang Zhongxian asked: "Old Dao, what do you mean by this?" ”

Lao Dao smiled faintly: "Within three days, you will be imprisoned, and if you go home to meditate and recuperate at this time, it may be avoided." ”

When Fang Zhongxian heard this, he did not hide the contempt in his heart, and immediately laughed, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

In his heart, with his own identity and status, dare to let him go to prison?

Fang Zhongxian pointed at the old man: "Nonsense! What if I get away with it in three days? ”

"Poor Yuan Hui." Lao Dao simply declared his identity.

But neither of them reacted.

Fang Zhongxian said: "Who is Yuan Hui?" Haven't heard of it. ”

“......”

Lao Dao was embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

Back then, he was famous in Jiangnan with his amazing physiognomy, but these two juniors didn't know?

Lao Dao didn't want to pay attention to the two, so he turned his head.

found Zhu Yunxi and Zhu Yunxi who were walking not far away.

Lao Dao's brows jumped unnaturally twice, and an incredible expression appeared on his face.