Under the stars and moon in Bianjing City, there is still a lot of traffic and people coming and going.
It is an unforgettable night for the new Jinshi. The arrest of a son-in-law is not fake. Countless wealthy families wait for the announcement of the results to gather outside the Imperial Academy. When the new Jinshi leaves, they will directly abduct the son-in-law and marry him, or even directly marry him. Raw rice is cooked.
After paying homage to the Holy Master, Wang Gui led his people to hang the list outside Donghua Gate, and the other Jinshis could disperse.
However, there were many people outside the Imperial College who wanted to capture their son-in-law. They blocked the front and back of the Imperial College, and everyone stretched their necks to look in.
A group of unmarried Jinshi were in trouble when they were about to go out. You pushed me and I pushed you. The Jinshi who were married or thought they could sell for a good price gathered their friends and went to Fan Tower to meet the Immortal Tower to celebrate their moment of success.
For many Jinshi, passing the Jinshi examination may be the most glorious moment in their lives, and many of them will be wasted in their official career.
Zhang Yue was amused when he saw these people who wanted to refuse but still welcomed him. When he saw Han Zhongyan again, Huang Lu was tempted to invite him to climb the building, but he remembered that his brother and sister-in-law must be waiting for him, so he still declined and hurried home. .
At this time, Zhang Yue's expression changed when he heard a woman outside Taixue call him "Zhang Lang" or "Zhang Lang", and he felt that something was wrong.
He borrowed a carriage and clothes from Fan Zuyu, pretended to be a student of the Imperial Academy, and then left the Imperial Academy.
Fan Zuyu was worried and sent his own boy to see him off.
Today, the number one scholar in the Golden Palace is riding back in a carriage, still looking like a commoner.
The carriage was driving on the bustling streets of Bianjing. Zhang Yue opened the curtain and looked at the barbecue grilling on the street, and the smoke was coming.
To be honest, although the emperor in the palace gave him food today, it was only two pieces of cake. Besides, he did not rush to eat during the roll call at the Golden Palace.
Now that he is busy paying homage to his ancestor, Zhang Yue is tireless. At this moment, he tenses up and relaxes for a moment. He smells the aroma of barbecue and immediately feels hungry.
Immediately, Zhang Yue stopped the carriage and got out of the car to buy beef and sheep kidneys to eat. Countless people in front of the stalls talked vividly about how they praised the officials on the imperial street today.
The beauty of the number one scholar, the youth of the number one scholar, the handsomeness of the number one scholar.
Zhang Yue was eating lamb kidneys and listening with relish. Halfway through, his words became more and more outrageous. Zhang Yue, despite his glib mouth, kindly corrected some minor mistakes, but was kicked back by a group of people.
"You are young, what do you know?"
Fan Zuyu, who was standing by, was also anxious and was about to defend Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue waved his hand and said, "You are right. In short, you are all right."
When the man saw Zhang Yue admitting defeat, he immediately showed a proud look and started talking again. No one knew that the young man holding a garlic bowl to dip the lamb kidneys was the No. 1 Scholar they were talking about.
After eating, Zhang Yue took out the money and gave it to the stall owner. The stall owner smiled and said, "Young man, please don't get angry because of other people's words."
Zhang Yue laughed and said: "I am joking, there is nothing to be angry about. Only the royal city is the most hidden, with thousands of people hiding in the sea."
When others heard this sentence, there was something different about it, which was different from ordinary people. They were about to get acquainted with each other, but saw that this young man had already rolled up his sleeves and boarded the car.
…………
After eating and drinking, the carriage arrived at Zhang's house under the moonlight.
Zhang Yue saw that the house was prosperous, the courtyard was brightly illuminated by the fire, and countless red candles were lit in the hall. I don't know how long ago a colorful tower had been erected on the door, and bright red silk and satin were tied on the scaffolding. It looked very festive.
As for the original door of the house, it was also pushed open, and the door leaf was left by the road.
When I ascend to the Emperor's Hall in the morning and return to my farm in the evening, will the courtyard be different?
However, Zhang Yue was only wearing civilian clothes, and his green robe and official hat was still in his bag.
So Zhang Yue carried the package and walked to the back door. From time to time, neighbors passed by and talked. However, Zhang Yue mostly lived in Taixue and rarely lived at home, so these neighbors did not know Zhang Yue.
No one would have thought that Zhang Yue was supposed to be wearing official uniform and walking home in glory, but how could he take the back door instead.
Zhang Yue saw that the back door was half-covered and thought it was just right.
Zhang Yue pushed open the door and walked to an unoccupied room. He closed the door and covered himself with a green robe. He dressed neatly before going out.
Walking to a pavilion, Zhang Yuezheng saw Guo Lin and Zhang Qiu eating soup cakes from bowls.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but said: "Why are you two eating soup cakes here?"
Guo Lin and Zhangqiu both stood up.
"Third uncle..."
"Junior brother..."
Just as the two of them were about to change their words, Zhang Yue rushed to say: "It's boring to call him the number one scholar."
They both laughed. Zhang Yue said: "Why are you here?"
Zhang Qiu said: "Third uncle, the front hall is full of guests who are here to congratulate you. It would be pointless for me to go there."
Guo Lin said: "Axi and I are hungry, so feel free to eat here. Sanlang, you don't have to worry about us."
Zhangqiu looked full of admiration when he saw him. Guo Lin glanced at Zhang Yue's green robe and looked away unnaturally.
Zhang Yue remembered that it was in this courtyard that on New Year's Eve, he, Huang Lu, and Guo Lin rode on the wall to watch the fireworks and firecrackers in Bianjing City.
Zhang Yue asked: "Is there anything to eat? I haven't eaten anything all day today."
Zhangqiu said: "I'll go to the kitchen and have a look."
Zhang Yue said: "Don't bother me. I'll share the leftovers with you."
After saying this, Zhang Yue took the bowl from Guo Lin, put in Zhangqiu's leftover soup cakes, and slurped up the soup cakes with Guo Lin's bowl and chopsticks.
"Third uncle, are you so hungry?" Zhang Qiu asked confused.
"What do you think?" Zhang Yue chewed up the soup cake and poured the soup into his stomach.
Zhang Yue said to Guo Linyan: "I'm going to be here soon. My senior brother will help me take Axi to meet me. Axi is too old and doesn't know the rules. You can help me with some advice."
Guo Lin was stunned for a moment, and then said: "San Lang should leave this matter to others. I'm not very good at talking... I'll go to the front first and take a look."
After saying this, Guo Lin saluted Zhang Yue and then said, "Congratulations to junior brother for winning the first prize."
Watching Guo Lin go away, Zhang Yue sighed helplessly, and Zhang Qiu said to the side: "Third uncle, I'm worried about Uncle Guo."
Zhang Yue said: "This person has gone through many obstacles, but others can't help him. He can only get over it by himself."
Zhang Yue concealed his emotions and asked, "How are you doing, Wen Shu? You'll have to make up your mind in a few days."
Zhang Qiu said: "Third uncle, I read for nine hours every day, even while eating and sleeping."
Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Diligence is good, but the most important thing is to be calm. No matter what you want, whether it is a person or an object, you can achieve it with only 70% or 80% of your strength."
"Why?"
Zhang Yue said: "There are too few things in this world that can be solved easily."
After Zhang Yue finished speaking, he heard someone say from the front yard: "Senior Brother Guo, Senior Brother Guo, go and see where Sanlang has gone? Maybe he was invited by his classmates to have a drink. Now that the guests are all here, how rude is this? Can you help? I'll try and find it."
As soon as Zhang Yue heard this, he knew it was Zhang Shi who was shouting furiously.
The three of them looked at each other and smiled. Zhang Shi walked to the backyard and saw Zhang Yue standing there.
Zhang Shi rubbed his eyes and looked at Zhang Yue, who was wearing an official hat and green robe, standing by the pavilion. He stared at it for a while with joy dancing in his eyes.
"Let me see first, if you win the first prize, my life will be complete."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Brother, don't be like this, what is perfection? You will still have a lot of blessings in the future, and this is just the beginning."
"That's it, that's it," Zhang Shi wiped his tears and took Zhang Yue's hand and said, "Third brother, come with me, the congratulators are all waiting for you in the hall."
Zhang Yue said: "Brother, let's not be busy for now. Let's burn incense for our ancestors first!"
Zhang Shi was stunned for a moment and said seriously: "That's right. That's right. You can be said to have honored our ancestors."
Come out of the ancestral hall.
Zhang Yueze said: "My brother has told me several times not to be so extravagant and arrogant. Many of my classmates are not in high school..."
"You won the first prize, but you don't allow me to be glamorous and look good. Besides, your classmates couldn't pass the Jinshi exam. Not only did you win the Jinshi, but you were also the top scholar. That's amazing... Yes, are you hungry? Again In the roll call in the Golden Palace, it is the imperial sister who praises the officials."
"Let me take a breath first."
"Okay, I'm just too talkative."
"That's right, have all the official rewards been delivered to your home?"
"That's...all placed in the courtyard, I'll let the guests look at it..."
"Don't be extravagant..."
"How can a younger brother teach his elder brother a lesson?"
The two brothers were talking nonchalantly. Zhang Qiu followed Xiaobu and looked at Zhang Yue wearing a green robe and official hat and thought to himself, I will do this in the future.
I don't know who said, "The Number One Scholar is here." All the congratulators in the hall stood up...
Under the bright lights, the guests who came to Zhang's house all had smiles on their faces...
Zhang Yue wanted to be more casual, so he smiled and said: "Zhang is late, please forgive me."
Everyone laughed, and Zhang Yue said: "Today, Sanlang became the number one scholar, and I have just paid my respects to the ancestral tablet. Now the most important thing is to thank my brother and sister-in-law."
Zhang Shi and Yu Shi both smiled and said, "I don't dare to take it seriously."
Everyone pushed them to sit down and brought a futon. Zhang Yue immediately knelt down and saluted the two of them.
Zhang Yu thought to himself that he had the longest seniority among the Zhang family present.
He thought it would be his turn next, but Zhang Yue said, "Thank you again, Master."
Immediately, Zhang Yue thought of Chen Xiang, Zhang Youzhi, Guo Xuexu and other names and paid homage in vain. He also enshrined Ma Zhijiao of Taixue and paid homage again.
Zhang Yu was ignored.
…
Then Zhang Yue entertained the guests, Ouyang Fa came with his younger brother Ouyang Pei, Zeng Gong came, Lin Xi came, Wang Anguo came, Lu Huiqing also arrived...
Su Shi and Su Che also arrived.
After Su Shi and Su Che retired to study, Su Shi and Zhang Yue met two or three times. Su Shi liked Zhang Yue's seals and thought they were very exquisite and ingenious, so he came to Collect Zhai and asked Zhang Yue to customize two seals, one for himself and one for his younger brother.
After going back and forth, Zhang Yue also had contacts with Su Shi.
Zhang Yue was very happy to see Su Shi and Su Che coming.
Su Shi smiled and said: "Du Zhi congratulates you."
Zhang Yue's face was full of joy and he said: "Brother Zizhan, brother Ziyou, it's really great that you can come here."
Su Shi smiled and said, "I'm here to apologize to you."
Zhang Yue asked: "Brother Zizhan, why did you say this?"
Su Che on the side also smiled, and Su Shi said with a smile: "In the past, when Zi Ping was the number one scholar, I told people that Zi Ping's talent has not been matched by anyone for a hundred years. Now that I have measured it, do you think I made a mistake in saying this?"
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Brother Zizhan is serious, I will still seek advice from Xian Kunzhong in the future."
Su Shi smiled and said: "I don't dare to take it anymore. The Pucheng Zhang family has become the leader twice in four years. I really admire you and my younger brother."
Su Zhe also said: "I read Brother Du's palace examination article, and he is really talented."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "I heard that you two are going to Da Ke this time?"
Su Shi and Su Che both nodded. Zhang Yue said: "I heard that when Fu Gong (Fu Bi) and Han Gong (Han Qi) first visited the farm, Chief Mu Xiubo said to the two princes: "Jinshi is not enough to exhaust your son's talents. You should be famous for your great science. "
"Now that Xian Kunzhong is gone, I will be shocked to see you behind him."
Zhang Yue told a story about Fu Bi. When Fu Bi was taking the imperial examination, the examiner said that just passing the imperial examination was not enough to make him famous, and he had to take major subjects (systematic subjects).
But Fu Bi had already become a Jinshi and went to serve as a local official. As a result, Fan Zhongyan immediately sent people to chase Fu Bi and said that if there is a big department in Beijing, you should come back as soon as possible.
After Fu Bi returned to Beijing, he said to Fan Zhongyan, "I have never learned how to take the college entrance examination."
Fan Zhongyan said, "I and other officials have recommended you to the emperor, and I have prepared a room full of texts for you. You go and learn."
As a result, Fu Bi really passed the major exam. By the way, he was introduced by Fan Zhongyan and married the daughter of Prime Minister Yan Shu.
What Zhang Yue said was referring to the fact that Su Shi and Su Che should be in Dake this time. If they ranked well, they would still be above his own title of No. 1.
After all, in the Northern Song Dynasty, there were tens of thousands of Jinshi, but there were only about forty in major majors, and only one person entered the third class in major majors.
Su Shi smiled and said: "They were all recommended by Duke Han, Duke Ouyang and Duke Yang. I and my brother-in-law don't dare to resign, so I just gave it a try."
The three of them were talking and laughing, and Zhang Yue quickly pulled Zhang Qiu over to recommend him to the Ersu brothers.
Of course, Zhang Qiu had heard of Ersu's name and had learned from their articles, so he had a look of admiration on his face.
Su Shi was very affectionate towards Zhangqiu and said, "Duzhi, your nephew has the potential to be a civil servant. I'm afraid your Zhang family will have a third number one scholar in the future."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Don't praise me, Xi'er, without saying hello to you two."
Zhang Qiu bowed as he was told. Seeing that Zhang Qiu was sensible and well-behaved, Su Shi immediately took off a mutton-fat jade pendant from his waist and placed it in his hand.
Zhang Yue said quickly: "Brother Zizhan, it's too precious. This is something you have worn for many years. You can't do it, you can't do it."
Su Shi said with a smile: "How can I accept this uncle's call in vain? Besides, your nephew and I seem to be in love, so don't refuse."
Su Che smiled and took off the jade pendant from his waist and put it in Zhang Qiu's hand.
This is a big gift.
What else could Zhang Yue say, but he could only tell Zhang Qiu that the boss was so generous and generous, and asked Zhang Qiu to accept the two jade pendants.
Su Shi and Su Che sat down for a while and then left. Zhang Yue immediately went out to see him off.
As for Zhang Yu, he was always watching. As soon as Zhang Yue left, he immediately spoke to Zhang Qiu, and his attitude suddenly became extremely cordial and enthusiastic. Zhangqiu was unable to react to this change in attitude.
Zhang Yue sent Su Shi and Su Che out of the door. Su Shi suddenly asked Zhang Yue, "Does Du Zhi intend to go to a major university?"
Zhang Yue was stunned and said: "That's not what I meant."
Su Shi said: "That's right. I have never heard of a top scholar going to a major university. His articles and classic skills can be regarded as an example for the world. If you don't go to a major university, it will be a pity for the world."
Su Zhe said: "Brother, I have no other intentions. I just respect your talent."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "I understand that it is rare to have a close friend in life. Thank you Xian Kunzhong for taking him so seriously."
As they parted, the three of them reluctantly spoke to each other, expressing sympathy for each other.
In the end, Su Che helped Su Shi get into the car. When they met just now, Su Che always looked at him with his brother's head and acted respectfully. Zhang Yue couldn't help but sigh that the relationship between the two brothers was so good.
The night breeze was slightly cool, and Zhang Yue watched the carriage of the Su brothers disappear into the streets of Bianjing.
After the Su Shi brothers left, Zhang Yue sent other congratulators out.
Zeng Gong came with his younger brother Zeng Zhao. When Zeng Gong went out, he suddenly asked: "Du Zhi, I think my nephew is smart and steady. He will not be a thing in the pool in the future."
Zhang Yue was stunned and thought to himself, are you here to congratulate me or to see my nephew.
Zhang Yue said: "Editor Zeng was so complimentary."
Zeng Gong smiled and said: "I think people are not wrong. I wonder if my nephew has promised to marry me?"
Zhang Yue's heart was like ten thousand sheep running past him and he said: "Not yet, I want to study for a few more years before discussing."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, is it possible? Are you interested in Zhangqiu again?
Zeng Gong said with a smile: "Don't discuss marriage before you have passed the imperial examination. I can see that your nephew has a bright future. Now he is still content with the imperial examination. Arranging a marriage now will be a humiliation for him."
Zhang Yue thought that it turned out that he had misunderstood Zeng Gong.
"Thank you very much for the editor Zeng's words. I will tell my brother and sister-in-law right now."
Zeng Gong nodded and said: "Very good. You really didn't disappoint me, Duzhi. I'll take my leave."
After saying this, Zeng Gong said goodbye to Zhang Yue.
Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and hesitated to speak. He was optimistic about Zhang Yue first. Unfortunately, the two of them did not meet each other in the end, but he could not change his appreciation for this young man no matter what.
Zhang Yue looked at Zeng Gong and left with a little regret.
Others said goodbye.
Everyone was very happy to see that Zhang Yue was proud but not arrogant. Such a serious temper was a sign of great talent. When they were leaving, everyone couldn't help but praise him.
At the end of the day, Zhang Yu, Yang Shi, Huang Haoqian, Huang Haoyi, Wu Anshi and other family members were left.
Wu Anshi and Zhang Shi were having a good chat, while Yang and Yu held arms and talked to each other.
Huang Haoqian had a good friendship with Su Shi and Su Che, who were Jinshi in the same year. When the Su brothers came just now, they had a chat.
Huang Haoqian's son Huang Shi also came to congratulate today.
Finally, a banquet was set up at home, and all the relatives came and sat down to eat wine together. Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue invited Guo Lin again. After Guo Lin arrived, everyone started the banquet.
Zhang Yue drank several drinks and became very drunk, so he went back to his room to sleep.
On the way back to my room, I felt that the night was dark and the bamboo shadows were fluttering. As I walked on the path, I felt that I had a chance to concentrate on myself for a moment. The joy of winning the top prize finally calmed down little by little in my heart. .
When the moon reaches its zenith, the day will pass like this.
I wonder if life can be like today when we are proud again?
Zhang Yue thought of this and pushed the door open. He found a man lying on the cave with his back stretched out and fell into a deep sleep.
That night Zhang Yue fell asleep for a long time, not knowing whether the dream was true or false, as if yesterday's winning the top prize was just a dream.
After sleeping until dawn, Zhang Yue opened his eyes and saw green bamboo leaning against the window, with the breeze blowing. Thinking of what happened yesterday, he couldn't help but feel as unreal as a fleeting glimpse.
Zhang Yue didn't confirm until his eyes fell on the official hat and green robe.
This is really not a dream, I really won the top prize.
