15

Zhu Qingchen drank the pigeon soup in small sips, and also ate the pigeon meat with it.

The system said quietly: "The emperor wants to divide your five horses." ”

"Man is born dead." Zhu Qingchen chewed carefully, "This pigeon is quite fresh and delicious." ”

He was always like this, and when he ate, he forgot everything.

After breakfast, several civil officials from the library also entered the palace.

After seeing the ceremony, the group began to discuss the exam questions.

The emperor sat in his seat and let them deliberate, not saying a word, not knowing whether he was listening.

The current questions are not easy to come out, and the imperial examination is held every three years, and the topics are almost exhausted.

Of course, the question can't be the same as the one that came out before. Some people have seen it, some people have not, which is too unfair.

So after racking their brains to come up with an exam question, they have to look through the previous files to see if they have used it before.

No wonder they had to enter the palace several days early to take the exam.

Because of his young age, Zhu Qingchen was assigned to this "duplicate check" task.

He sat obediently next to him, facing the exam papers that were higher than himself, and he looked loveless.

At this time, the old scholar called him again: "Xiao Zhu, check if 'Shi Yu Youzheng' has ever been published." ”

Zhu Qingchen raised his head: "I remember seeing it before, I'll look for it." ”

"Okay."

Zhu Qingchen rolled up his sleeves, looked at the spine of the dossier, picked a volume from decades ago, and prepared to pull it out.

As a result, the dossier had not been drawn out, and the entire dossier mountain shook for a moment.

"Huh!" Zhu Qingchen hurriedly opened his hands and hugged the file.

He tried to lift the dossier up, but there were so many things, piled up too high, and the dossier was already falling one volume after another.

The others laughed and helped.

"Xiao Zhu, hold steady."

"Can't hold it back!" Zhu Qingchen held the file, and the whole person fell forward, and he was about to turn over the bookcase, "Don't laugh, hurry up and help!" ”

"Come on, come on, you really are."

Several scholars helped him and dragged him back.

Zhu Qingchen returned to his position, took out a file from it, opened it and took a look: "Look, I remember that 'Shi Yu Youzheng' has come out." ”

There was a chuckle from above.

Zhu Qingchen doesn't need to look at it to know that the faint monarch must be laughing at him again.

*

There are less than five days left until the spring exam.

Liu An left his little guy to Pei Xuan, who was quick and very diligent, and only came for a day or two, and took care of the affairs of the winery in an orderly manner.

Pei Xuan no longer has to sit on the counter to settle accounts, and in the past few days, he has concentrated on reading books in the room and making final preparations.

On this day, King Jing took a group of people out of the city to hunt, and it was almost noon when he came to Pei's Wine Workshop to rest.

He turned over and dismounted outside the door, throwing the reins to the squire behind him.

At this time in the past, Pei Xuan had already run out to greet him.

But today, King Jing waited outside the door for a while, but he only waited for a small servant.

The little guy smiled all over his face: "A few sons, please inside." ”

King Jing frowned, and while walking inside, he asked casually, "Has the winery changed owners?" ”

"No, the little ones are here to help. Our son-in-law is about to take a scientific examination, so he must not be idle. ”

"I see." King Jing sat down in his seat, "You go and report it, and you will say that King Jing is here." ”

The little servant looked embarrassed: "Your Highness, our son-in-law is reading books, even his own mother doesn't dare to disturb it, this ......"

King Jing paused: "Then forget it." ”

"Huh." The little guy breathed a sigh of relief, "The little one goes to prepare drinks and food." ”

"Okay."

King Jing's eyes were slightly dark.

Since the last time, he and Pei Xuan broke up unhappily in the wine shop, and he hadn't seen Pei Xuan for a long time.

He often came to take care of Pei's winery's business, and Pei Xuan was originally very grateful to him and was also a usable person.

It's a pity that Zhu Qingchen was crooked.

When he thinks of Pei Xuan these days, he always itches in his heart.

He didn't know why, but he thought that Pei Xuan was naturally good compared to the group of unruly literati outside.

Pei Xuan looks thoughtful, has a good temper, and always smiles at people.

The most important thing is that he is not from a high background, and King Jing is in front of him, he is the savior who takes care of his family's business, and he is a high-ranking prince, not a student who is taught in front of Zhu Qingchen.

King Jing suddenly liked him very much.

It's a pity that I didn't see it today, just wait for the day of the spring test list, and then take a look at Pei Xuan's ranking.

King Jing had a meal in the winery, and when he was leaving, he took out a piece of gold and gave it to the servant.

The little guy was a little flustered: "Your Highness, this ......"

"It's not for you." King Jing said, "Take it to your son-in-law, and say that it was given by King Jing, and he will take it first, and then come to King Jing's mansion to get it." In the future, if he enters the court as an official, he will just think of my goodness. ”

The little servant hesitated a little and wanted to return the things to him: "Your Highness, wait a minute, I'll call my son-in-law." ”

"No need." King Jing made a gentle appearance, "He has an exam, and there are a lot of places to use the money, so take it." ”

"I don't dare, if Childe knows, he will definitely teach me a lesson."

The little guy waved his hand, gave him back the gold ingot, and ran away immediately.

He went to tell Pei Xuan, but Pei Xuan naturally didn't accept it, so he could only come out in person to excuse himself.

King Jing saw that he resolutely refused to accept it, so he could only give up.

King Jing could only say: "Then I will collect it for you for the time being, and on the day of your gold list inscription, I will use this ingot of gold to invite you to go to the tide tower to celebrate." ”

Pei Xuan bowed his head and saluted without answering.

King Jing finally patted him on the shoulder, and Pei Xuan unconsciously dodged to the side.

King Jing rode away, full of pride.

Anyway, Zhu Qingchen went to the palace, he wanted to come to Pei Xuan, and he could come at any time.

In the wine shop, Pei Xuan dusted off his sleeves, turned around and went back to the room, and continued to read books.

Because he was disturbed by King Jing, Pei Xuan was always a little uneasy.

He stood up, walked into the backyard, rolled up his sleeves, and punched two sets.

The master told him that the imperial examination is not only about talent and learning, but also about the body, and he also needs to be physically fit at all times.

The Master's teachings were always taken to heart.

*

In the evening of that day, the little maid who helped in the winery went to Liufu to reply as usual.

Liu An sat in front of the desk, with a new article written today in front of him.

The little servant said: "Today, King Jing came to the wine shop. ”

Liu An raised his eyes slightly: "Huh? ”

"He wanted to see Pei Gongzi, but I stopped him, and later forced Pei Gongzi to give him a gold ingot."

"Pei Xuan received it?"

"Naturally not, Pei Gongzi came out and sent people away."

Liu An sneered.

It's really ...... to respect the king

It had only been a few days since the master entered the palace, and he couldn't sit still again.

What exactly does he want to do?

Liu An said lightly: "Pei Xuan went out to see him, and if he has less than a quarter of an hour to read, I will have an extra quarter of an hour to read, and the probability of beating him in the examination room has increased by three points." ”

Little Guy: ?

It's you, Childe.

Liu An paused and said, "Go back." And if King Jing came to him again, he put a lock on his door and locked him in his room. If someone asks, they will say that I commanded it, and the eldest brother is like a father, and so is the senior brother. ”

“…… Be. The little servant automatically corrected, "If King Jing comes again, I will come back to find Childe." ”

Liu An looked at the article, couldn't take his eyes off it, and responded lightly: "Hmm." ”

*

The group worked in the palace all day, and in the evening, they finally gave the exam questions for the first day.

Zhu Qingchen took the pen to copy, and after the copy was completed, he first presented it to His Majesty for inspection.

After His Majesty had read it, he made another copy, and the original was archived, and the copy was handed over to the printing workshop in the palace, which was responsible for printing.

After repeating this for several days, I finally decided all the exam questions before the sixth day of the second month.

On the eve of the spring exam, after Zhu Qingchen bathed in incense, he sat cross-legged in front of Manjushri Bodhisattva, folded his hands, closed his eyes and recited: "The title of the gold list, the title of the gold list ......"

The system asked, "Why don't you kneel?" Isn't it more sincere to kneel? ”

Zhu Qingchen was confident: "My legs are sore, and I didn't sleep well last night." ”

“……”

Zhu Qingchen continued to read in pieces: "Bodhisattva bless, Pei Xuan has a smooth spring test, and the title of the Liu'an Gold List ......"

Zhu Qingchen read for a quarter of an hour, then opened his eyes, picked up the tortoise shell on the table, held it high and shook it, and the copper coin in the tortoise shell jingled.

The system said: "According to scientific search, this does not belong to the category of Buddhism, and you are blaspheming the Bodhisattva by mixing and matching like this." ”

Zhu Qingchen's face did not change: "Nonsense, is the Bodhisattva's accounting more than these?" Wouldn't it be more reliable to ask a few more immortals? ”

Although he said this, Zhu Qingchen thought about it and turned his back to tell the hexagram.

With his back to the Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva is invisible.

With a clang, three copper coins lined up in a hexagram shape on the ground.

Zhu Qingchen lay on the cushion, picked up the branches, and fiddled with the copper coins.

Probably because this hexagram was not very good, he picked up the copper coin and stuffed it back into the tortoise shell.

"Zi Bu is silent, and the power is confused, do it again, this time it doesn't count."

At the same time, other veteran scholars also locked themselves in their rooms, or divination, or closed their eyes and chanted Buddha, and there were also multi-pronged methods.

It is they who are more nervous than the students.

There was no exchange of news inside and outside the palace, so they stayed in the palace and couldn't see the students, so they became even more nervous.

Zhu Qingchen counted the hexagram dozens of times in one night, counting from the ground to the bed, and finally fell asleep with the tortoise shell in his arms.

In the early morning of the next day, before dawn, Yang Gonggong came over and called him to get up.

"I wish Master, Your Majesty's grace, several scholars can climb the palace wall and tower to watch the students enter the examination room."

Zhu Qingchen opened his eyes in a daze and got up from the bed: "Hmm? Are you sure? ”

"Really, I wish the master to get up and wash up quickly."

"Good!"

Zhu Qingchen happily lifted the quilt and got ready.

In the next second, the tortoise shell in his arms and the copper coin fell to the ground together, with a "clang".

Zhu Qingchen was stunned, Gonggong Yang glanced down, and said with a smile: "This is a hexagram of great luck, Master, get up quickly." ”

"Good!" Zhu Qingchen picked up his clothes and put them on himself, "I'll be fine right away!" ”

"Huh." Father-in-law Yang smiled and withdrew from the room.

I wish Qingchen to wash up quickly and fly out like a kite.

He had not yet flown out when he saw the Emperor standing on the stone steps with his hands behind his back.

Zhu Qingchen stopped and stepped forward to salute: "Your Majesty." ”

The Emperor walked down the stone steps: "Let's go." ”

Zhu Qingchen hesitated a little: "The old scholars ...... them"

"They haven't gotten up yet, and the students are already entering."

"Okay."

Zhu Qingchen followed the emperor and climbed the palace wall.

The exam room is not far away, and you can see it clearly from a high place.

Outside the door was heavily guarded, and the students lined up in front of the door early, carrying bookcases and burdens.

There are compartments in front of the door, which are checked one by one.

Zhu Qingchen stood behind the emperor and quietly stood on tiptoe, wanting to see more clearly.

The Emperor moved his hands behind his back to the side.

Zhu Qingchen looked fixedly.

The carriage of the Liu family was blocked outside and could not enter, so Liu An got out of the carriage and said a few words to the people in the carriage.

Not long after, Mrs. Chen was driving a donkey cart and was also blocked outside.

Pei Xuan jumped out of the car and went in with Liu An.

Zhu Qingchen browled his eyebrows, looked at them with a smile, and arrived smoothly.

Suddenly, the emperor asked, "These two are your students?" ”

"Yes." Zhu Qingchen nodded, "It's my student." ”

Zhu Qingchen also raised his hand, wanting to wave it at them, and then suddenly remembered that there was no way to exchange news inside and outside the palace, glanced at the emperor, and hurriedly put his hand down.

Zhu Qingchen cleared his throat and explained casually: "I haven't seen them for a long time. ”

He just said hello and didn't exchange messages.

The Emperor glanced at him, and suddenly took a step in front of him, blocking his view.

The time has come and I can't look any further.

Zhu Qingchen: ?

What a stingy emperor!

At this time, Liu An and Pei Xuan had already entered, and Zhu Qingchen couldn't see them.

The emperor asked again: "I heard that Pei Xuan is very close to King Jing in private. But at your behest? ”

Zhu Qingchen suddenly raised his vigilance and opened his round eyes: "There is no such thing!" It's all about respecting the king and hooking ......"

Seduce......

Zhu Qingchen paused for a moment, and quickly changed his words: "The minister has always taught students to be pure ministers, dedicated to the people, and loyal to the king. ”

The emperor lowered his eyes and looked at him seriously: "Really? ”

Zhu Qingchen thought that the emperor was suspicious, and hurriedly leaned over: "The minister is willing to guarantee Pei Xuan." ”

The emperor still seemed to be a little dissatisfied, and his tone was strange: "You still guarantee him?" Does he matter that much? ”

"Yes." Zhu Qingchen raised his head slightly, "If Your Majesty thinks that the courtiers are soft-spoken, other scholars can also prove it." ”

"That's not what I meant." The emperor seemed to be a little helpless, and stretched out his hand to help him, but before he touched his hand, it was as if he had been stung by something.

The emperor tilted his head slightly, and the small red ball of light immediately flew away, and broadcast to him from afar: "Please pay attention to the host to maintain the character of the character, don't reveal your identity, you are a faint monarch, and a faint monarch can't help the minister......"

The sound is getting quieter and weaker.

The emperor's face was not good, he reached forward, broke through the obstacle, grabbed Zhu Qingchen's hand, and helped him up.

Zhu Qingchen was frightened.

What's he doing?!

System, help me! I'm going to be caught!