On this day, Shen Yi went to the academy to meet Junior Sister Lu again and invited her to appreciate the chrysanthemums in the Autumn Garden.
After Miss Lu hesitated for a moment, she shook her head and refused.
Her original words were that it was not good for a man and a woman to go out together.
Shen Yi also understands Junior Sister Lu very well. After all, although the etiquette of this era is not as strict as that of the Song and Ming Dynasties in the other world, it is far less unrestrained than that of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It is still not good for two single men and women to go out on a date.
But there was improvement. Junior sister Lu left Shen Yi in the academy and the two of them had a conversation.
Shen Yi told Miss Lu some interesting stories about Jiankang, and Miss Lu also told some about what happened in Jiangdu.
Shen Yi stayed with Miss Lu for more than half an hour before he got up and left to see Mr. Lu. Before leaving, Miss Lu seemed to have something to ask Shen Yi, but in the end she was too reserved to say it out.
Regardless, the relationship between the two seems to have eased a bit.
After saying goodbye to Junior Sister Lu, Shen Yi went to see Master Lu again and took away two ancient books that were not available outside in Master Lu's study, intending to take them home and read them.
Then Shen Yi stayed in the academy for most of the day. When the afternoon was approaching evening, he left the academy. Before leaving, Shen Yi gave Shen Heng a good reminder to have a good time studying here.
Originally, Shen Yi could live in the academy, but tomorrow he will go to the bookstore to buy Wu Shilang's books to read, and when reading Wu Shilang's books, he has to avoid people to some extent, so living in the academy is not suitable.
The next day after returning to the city, Shen Yi found Wu Shilang's collected works in the largest bookstore in Jiangdu.
Wu Kan, the Minister of Wu, was originally the young minister of Dali Temple, and his official position was not low. Especially after he became the Minister of Rites, he was likely to be the abbot of Chunwei, so his books are not difficult to find in bookstores.
Shen Yi searched for more than half an hour and found two or three books written by Wu Shilang. In order to avoid suspicion, he also bought a book by another minister in the Ministry of Rites, as well as several "candidates" who were rumored to be in charge of the exam. Book.
The reason why I want to buy a book written by the examiner is not to copy the examiner's article, nor to say how profound the literary value of Wu Shilang's book is, but to know the "academic thinking" of the examiner.
In other words, his views on the books of sages and some issues of this era.
For example, if he understands the same "Sage's Quotations" differently from you, then he is the examiner, so he should follow his interpretation.
There are also opinions on some current affairs, such as the Northern Qi Dynasty, the restructuring of the court, and the opinions on some acute issues. You need to know more or less.
You don’t necessarily have to follow the examiner’s ideas when writing your policy, but you must not go against them. Otherwise, no matter how well you write on the exam paper, you will have to wait at least three more years before you can take the exam with just a stroke of someone else’s pen.
Therefore, it is crucial to research the examiner.
Not only are they looking for articles he has written in the past, but if possible, they will even look for memorials he has published, or find out what he has said recently.
Of course, Shen Yi did not have these "conditions", and it was even less possible for him to go to the palace and read the memorials that Shilang Wu had written. He could only try to understand this person from these articles written by Shilang Wu. Understand his views on the world.
This is a very time-consuming job, because the words that can be written on paper are usually very concise classical Chinese. Sometimes it takes a long time to think about a word and why it is used.
Therefore, in the next period of time, apart from daily reading and composition, Shen Yi spent most of the other time in the study room, reading Wu Shilang's masterpieces.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a month passed, and the time came to the twelfth lunar month of the sixth year of Hongde.
There is less than a month left before the Chinese New Year.
Early that morning, his father Shen Zhang woke Shen Yi up early, and then the father and son went to Shen Ling's house again, and followed Shen Ling and his wife to pick him up at the west gate of Jiangdu.
Except for Shen Ling, who was studying in the academy and did not return, all the Shen family members in Jiangdu were here.
Shen Ling, who had always been cynical and out of character, now became surprisingly serious. At the west city gate, he held Shen Yi by the hand, even looking a little nervous.
Because his father is coming back.
In Jiangdu in the twelfth lunar month, the weather was already very cold. Both brothers were wearing thick clothes, but they didn't know whether it was because of fear or the cold. Shen Laosan took Shen Yi's sleeve hand and kept swaying.
"The Romance of Fairy Wood"
Shen Yi glanced at his hand. Shen San felt Shen Yi's gaze and smiled awkwardly: "This winter in Jiangdu Prefecture is getting colder and colder. Not long after the twelfth lunar month, people are already freezing."
Shen Yi smiled hoarsely, reached out and patted Shen Ling's shoulder, and said comfortingly: "It's okay, third brother, you didn't do anything bad, why are you afraid of seeing your uncle?"
Shen Ling looked at Shen Zhang, then at Shen Yi, and let out a long sigh: "Not passing the exam is the biggest bad thing, especially since you, Qilang, won the imperial examination. When dad comes home, he won't be able to forgive me..."
Shen Yi was startled, and then smiled dumbly: "Don't worry, I will stay at your house tonight. I don't believe that uncle dares to do anything to you in front of me?"
Although the Shen Ling family was defeated a lot by their father Shen Hui, the emaciated camel was bigger than a horse, and they still lived in a big house. Not to mention Shen Yi lived in it, and even if it accommodated ten or so people, it would still be a decent place. of.
Shen Ling was overjoyed when he heard this. He pulled Shen Yi's sleeve tightly and said, "That's it, Qi Lang, don't lie to me!"
Just as Shen Yi was about to continue speaking, he saw two or three carriages in the distance, swaying toward Jiangdu Mansion.
None of the three carriages were good carriages, but the carriage in front of them had a flag hung on it. The flag had the word "深" embroidered on it, and on the back was embroidered the character "深" written in seal script.
When Shen Ling and Shen Yi saw this, they looked at each other and saw a little embarrassment in each other's eyes.
Because there is a fact that they have to admit before them.
That is...the Shen family has been ruined.
At least that's what it looks like among the nobles, and Shen Hui seems to be still immersed in the glory of the past. He even hangs the Shen family flag when he goes out.
But no matter what, Shen Hui is the head of the Shen family, the so-called "patriarch". When his carriage arrived, the four of them stepped forward. The one who called him elder brother called him brother, and the one who called him father called him father.
Shen Yi also stepped forward and bowed to the carriage.
"My nephew, Shen Yi, pays homage to my uncle."
The carriage with the Shen flag hanging on it slowly stopped at the west gate of Jiangdu City.
After the carriage stopped, a tall old man with half gray hair but good spirits stepped out of the carriage.
The old man was dressed in brocade clothes. After getting off the carriage, he looked around at everyone and walked directly to his brother Shen Zhang. He patted Shen Zhang on the shoulder and sighed: "Fourth brother, I haven't seen you in a few years. Why are you so thin?" A lot? What will happen if this continues?"
Shen Zhang lowered his head slightly and said with a smile: "Brother, don't worry, my little brother is in very good health."
Shen Hui nodded silently, then looked at Shen Yi behind Shen Zhang, walked up to Shen Yi, patted Shen Yi on the shoulder, and said, "Seventh place in the Lao Qixiang Examination, very good, very good."
A smile appeared on his face: "For the next generation of the Shen family, I'm afraid it will be you, the seventh one, who will carry the banner."
Shen Yi didn't even dare.
Shen Hui smiled: "It's your duty."
After saying this, he said a few words to his wife, Shen Ling's wife, and then waved his hand.
"Okay, it's cold outside, let's go home and talk."
From beginning to end, he never glanced at his own son Shen Ling.
Shen Laosan lowered his head and followed the crowd without saying a word.
