The man wants to calm down and read the Five Classics diligently in front of the window.
——Song Zhenzong
On March 12, the results of the palace examination were released, and the names were awarded.
From February 27th to March 12th, fifteen days passed.
The day before the roll call, the candidates will go to the bookstore next to Taixue to verify their identity and then ask for their number papers.
After calling back, Zhang Yue and Huang Lu had a meal of soup cakes at the soup cake shop where they usually ate.
Zhang Yue usually likes the cold locust leaves here. In the past, Zhang Yue often came here with Sun Guo, Huang Haoyi, Fan Zuyu and others to eat soup cakes as a tooth sacrifice.
I'm afraid it will be difficult to get an official position in the future. Today, there were many imperial students sitting in the soup cake shop. Many of them were familiar with Zhang Yue. When they met, they stood up and saluted, smiling and congratulating.
The owner of the soup cake shop is an old man in his fifties named Xu. When he saw the two of them, he greeted them with a smile: "Mr. Sanlang, I haven't been here for a while. Would you like to have a bowl of hot soup cake with the newly killed sheep today?"
Zhang Yue looked at the sheep heads hanging outside the store and said with a smile: "Old man Xu, since we have fresh lamb, here are two bowls of mutton soup cakes."
"Okay."
Then Zhang Yue laughed again and said, "You don't know how to clean up your dirty guise."
Old man Xu smiled and said that he was going to make arrangements.
The soup cake shop is very narrow and cannot accommodate a few tables, so more than a dozen tables are placed outside the shop. In the shop, old man Xu was stirring the bubbling mutton soup with a spoon. The wood fire was burning brightly under the vat, and half of the mutton was still hanging on the iron hook on the beam.
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu were sitting at the table, and familiar Tai students often came to say hello and say a few words.
At this time, old man Xu brought two full bowls of mutton soup cakes to the table.
Seeing that the soup cake was covered with thick mutton and sprinkled with green onions and ginger, old man Xu carefully wiped the rim of the bowl clean with a cloth.
Zhang Yue looked at it and said with a smile: "Old man Xu, your hands are not shaking today. In the past, a bowl of mutton soup cake cost thirty-five yuan. If you put the mutton in this way, you will lose money."
Huang Lu immediately put his chopsticks aside and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."
Old man Xu smiled and said: "Sanlangjun is laughing at us. I have something to ask you."
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu both smiled. Zhang Yue patted the dust on his robe and said, "That's what you say, old man."
Old man Xu was overjoyed. He cupped his fists and raised his hands and said, "It's like this. The shop has been open next to Taixue for more than ten years. The business is still prosperous. However, there has never been a signboard. So I want Sanlangjun to write me a message." Shop sign."
The students on the left and right all smiled when they heard this.
"Old man Xu, you are really a spirit."
"I didn't realize that you still had such sharp eyesight. You knew that Du Zhi was about to make a career, so you hurriedly asked him to write a sign."
"How about changing the signboard between two bowls of mutton soup cakes and I write it for you?"
Old man Xu repeatedly clasped his fists and said: "Everyone, everyone, don't make fun of the little old man. The little old man is not a picky person. The little old man will not lose a penny no matter how much he should be paid."
"Old man Xu, you must keep your word."
Zhang Yue stood up and asked, "What is old man Xu's name going to be?"
"Sanlangjun always likes to eat locust leaves cold Tao, you might as well watch and take it."
"That's fine."
The pen and ink were already prepared. Zhang Yue dipped his pen in the ink and quickly wrote the words "Leng Huai Soup Cake".
The Tai students on the side applauded one after another. Zhang Yue's calligraphy was second to none among the Tai students. Even Yang Nanzhong, who had always been at odds with Zhang Youzhi, also recognized it.
Although old man Xu didn't know calligraphy himself, he was very happy when he heard others say this. He put the calligraphy away with thanks and gave the reward to Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue sat down and ate mutton soup cakes with Huang Lu facing the market. It was night in Bianjing City, but the number of pedestrians on the streets remained unabated. The night wind blew up and filled the sky with yellow dust. Zhang Yue and Huang Lu both covered their bowls with their sleeves in a familiar manner. When the dust passed, they continued to eat soup cakes in disgrace.
Old man Xu was still busy in front of the bright stove fire, and business was still very good at night.
After Zhang Yue and Huang Lu left, Old Man Xu went to clean up, but saw that in addition to the empty bowls and chopsticks on the table between the two of them, there was also the reward he had just given.
Old man Xu was stunned for a moment, his lips moved slightly, but he saw that the two of them had already walked away.
The scholar's green shirt fluttered in the night wind.
It was night, Zhang Yue and Huang Lu stayed at Zhang Shi's house. It was not cold anymore after Qing Dynasty, so it was very comfortable to wear a single shirt. At night, Zhang Yue stood in the courtyard, feeling the bright moon and breeze, and saw that the lights in Zhangqiu's study were still on.
A few days ago, I heard my sister-in-law say that after my second uncle and third uncle passed the imperial examination, Zhangqiu didn't say anything, but he was very touched and worked harder than before.
Zhang Yue was deeply gratified. This is what studying is like. Sometimes if a big family fails to pass the exam, then no one really can pass the exam. But if one child passes the exam, the following children will follow the example and spring up like mushrooms after a rain, one after another, one generation after another.
The family prospered like this.
The bright moon moved between the shadows of the flowers, and the lights were still on in the study. The night was getting darker, but Zhang Yue did not feel sleepy.
At the fourth watch, Zhang Yue got up. After calling Huang Lu, he went to the kitchen stove to make hot soup and went back to the room to wash his face. Zhang Yue soaked the black futou in the soup, wrapped it around his head and pressed it until it was snug, then put on a white t-shirt and boots.
Mrs. Yu came over and asked him to eat. Zhang Yue ate some steamed buns and stopped.
Zhang Shi Yu sent Zhang Yue out of the door with a smile on his face. Zhang Qiu read too late last night and didn't get up.
When they arrived at the huge Bianjing City on the street, they were still sleeping. Tang Jiu had already hitched the carriage and parked it in front of the mansion, and was wiping the carriage with a rag.
A gauzy morning mist rose over the Bian River. The carriage drove along the quiet streets, heading towards Donghua Gate, and the sky gradually became brighter.
On the street across the Bian River, gorgeously decorated carriages were also driving towards the palace. Before the fourth watch, officials of all sizes in Bianjing had already rushed to the imperial city. The scene is like this when going to court on weekdays, but today is different. Today is the day when Jinshi is called and awarded, which is even more grand.
Not only the court officials, but also the royal family, consorts, envoys, military envoys, and governors also came to the court to respond.
The officials were going, and the female relatives of several officials and ministers were also invited to accompany the queen to watch the ceremony on the stage.
The Wu family's carriages and horses were also among them. Li Taijun took his eldest daughter-in-law Fan, his second daughter-in-law Wang and his seventeenth daughter-in-law to the palace in the palace carriage.
Li Taijun and Fan took a car, Wang and Qi Niang took a car.
The curtains of the car were closed, Mrs. Wang looked at Seventeen Niang and asked, "Is this the first time you are entering the palace?"
Seventeen Niang said: "I saw Aoshan at Xuande Tower on Shangyuan Festival, but I have never entered the palace before."
Wang said: "I'll get used to it in the future."
The Seventeenth Mother's cheeks turned slightly red when she heard this, and Wang turned to say calmly: "I don't really like going to the palace. There are too many people and it's too noisy. I prefer to be quiet at home on weekdays."
The Seventeenth Mother said: "Yes, it would take so many people to support the scene if you sing your name."
Mrs. Wang smiled when she heard this, and then said softly: "The queen invited us to watch the ceremony. This has not been done before. I don't know why?"
After saying this, Mrs. Wang looked at Qi Niang carefully. The spring shirt with gold threads was just right for her age and would not show off her appearance.
"That's great." Wang said.
Han Qi once said to Di Qing that it is a good person who rolls his name outside Donghua Gate.
But in fact, the roll call for Jinshi is not at Donghua Gate, but at Chongzheng Hall.
In front of Donghua Gate, eunuchs and officials arrived one after another.
The veteran minister who had not been seen for a long time arrived by car and horse, and the officials went up to attend the ceremony. The old minister would slightly lift the corner of the car curtain and have a good talk with his former disciples. As the carriage and horse drove off, the officials resumed their conversation.
The most eye-catching among the officials are undoubtedly the officials of Chikanin. They are not so gregarious and can be recognized at a glance. As for the Hanlin Pavilion, it's easy to identify them. They prefer to stick together, so-called gentlemen's party.
Wang Anshi and Sima Guangzheng walked together. The two chatted for a while, then looked at Donghua Gate as if they were worried about something.
It can be seen that the two of them came on foot, unlike other ministers who were surrounded by Yuan Sui. Although both of them are now considered to be high-ranking officials, they are just ordinary people in front of Donghua Gate.
As for Han Qi further away, Zeng Gongliang's guard of honor seemed to have arrived, and many officials were stepping forward to greet him.
The most eye-catching thing is Zhang Yue and his new faces in black and white shirts.
People in the Tang Dynasty valued Jinshi, and there was a saying that those who should be admitted to the imperial examination were "one grade white shirt". It means that one day he will be a high-ranking official, but today he is still wearing a white shirt. And today is the day when they move from white shirts to green shirts.
When Zhang Yue Huanglu arrived, everyone held their hands to each other nervously.
Zhang Yue looked around and saw the candidates, including the old man who had experienced years of wasted time in the examination room, showing some comfort in his life.
As for the middle-aged people who are in their prime years, they have ambitions for the future, and at the same time they are a bit envious of the young people beside them. As for those looking at Donghua Gate with eager faces, most of them were Zhang Yue and Huang Lu's age.
Zhang Yue also saw Wang Kui, who smiled nonchalantly and held his hand in front of him, then turned away.
Soon the officials came to teach the Jinshi people to perform rituals. Soon the palace gate opened and the officials entered the Donghua Gate one after another...
The people were still waiting outside the door and performed the ceremony three times.
The teaching official wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced at the rising sun, and then said to everyone: "It's almost done. When you get to the Chongzheng Hall, just follow the instructions given before. Don't panic in your heart. Your name will be sung in the hall. When the time comes, just answer the question, and the imperial guards will come to question you. Just report your place of origin and the names of your father and ancestors before going to the palace. Don't be unable to say a word when the time comes."
Everyone laughed when they heard this.
"Finally, I would like to congratulate you all." The official said with a pleased expression. .
After saying this, the other party bowed and bowed, and everyone responded enthusiastically. Everyone was less nervous and finally felt a little happy.
Zhang Yue and others were about to enter according to their provincial examination rankings, but they heard the noise of people around them.
It turned out that countless people had gathered at Donghua Gate at some point. Some were standing in the streets and alleys, while others were climbing upstairs to the rooftops, pointing at the people in front of the gate with their hands.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but smile, and immediately raised his hands to give a big salute to the people beside him.
Seeing Zhang Yue's behavior, the people on the left and right followed suit and saluted the common people. At this time, the front of Donghua Gate became even more lively.
An old woman kneaded a young man's head like dough and said, "Alang, you have to study hard and be like these gentlemen when you grow up."
The leisurely bell rang, Zhang Yue and other people lined up to enter the palace with solemn expressions.
