The next day, it was just past midnight. [No pop-up novel website]
To the northeast of the inner city of Beijing is the Gongyuan of the Ministry of Rites, where every imperial examination was held.
On this day, under the gaze of everyone, and nine days later, the gate of Gongyuan opened again, and more than a thousand candidates who took the examination walked out of Gongyuan.
But it was Jinke's imperial examination that finally ended on this day.
Because of their respective performances, the candidates may be happy or sad, cry or laugh, be jealous or show off, all kinds of human emotions are displayed here.
Among them, those candidates who took refuge in Zhao Junchen, because they knew the test questions in advance, performed "extraordinarily" in this examination. Now they are full of confidence and ambition, and they are only waiting for nominations on the apricot list. He became an official in the imperial court, and then rose to the top under the guidance of Zhao Junchen.
…………
But that Zhao Shancai was also mixed in with the crowd at this time, walking towards the outside of Gongyuan.
With Zhao Shancai's intellectual talent, it was naturally only a small test to cope with the examination of Jinke. Although the confidence in his heart was not shown externally, in fact, after answering the test paper, Zhao Shancai was already convinced that he must be among the best in this subject.
Therefore, Zhao Shancai was not worried about the results of the general examination. He just walked out and thought to himself: "Nowadays, it is a troubled time between the government and the public, but the general examination has happened again. During these nine days, I am trapped in Gongyuan, with no news from inside and outside, and I don’t know how many changes have happened between the government and the public, but I have to investigate carefully next."
Zhao Shancai inherited the inheritance of the emperor's mental skills from the former prince and grand master He Ming. Although he was in the grassland, his heart was in the temple. However, Zhao Shancai was not used to the isolation of news for the past nine days, so after the examination, the first thing he thought of was , is to inquire about the changes in the government and the public since these days.
However, while Zhao Shancai was deep in thought, a person suddenly stumbled past him. His shoulders collided, and Zhao Shancai was caught off guard and almost fell.
But this man didn't apologize. He didn't seem to notice at all. He just continued to walk outside the Gongyuan, his steps staggering, and he looked like he was in a trance.
Seeing the man's back, Zhao Shan was slightly startled, and then shouted loudly: "Brother Yan, please stay."
It turned out that Zhao Shancai actually knew this person. His name was Yan Ruan. Although his family background was not good, he was talented, knowledgeable, and knowledgeable. Zhao Shancai had met him several times, and after talking with him, he became quite speculative. Now seeing Yan Ruan's dazed look, as if something had happened, Zhao Shancai felt concerned and naturally wanted to ask.
However, Yan Ruan still didn't notice Zhao Shancai's call, and just continued walking stumblingly. It's like he has lost his soul.
Zhao Shancai frowned and caught up with Yan Ruan. He stretched out his hand to stop Yan Ruan, but saw Yan Ruan's pale face and eyes full of misery and despair. He couldn't help being shocked and asked with concern: "Brother Yan, what are you doing?" I see you looking dazed, but what happened?"
On the other side, Yan Ruan finally noticed Zhao Shancai. He looked at Zhao Shancai blankly for a moment, and then said with a sad smile: "It turns out to be Brother Zhao. With Brother Zhao's knowledge and talent, he must be among the best in this subject, right? I would like to congratulate you in advance. Brother Zhao."
Although it was congratulations, there was a hint of jealousy in Yan Ruan's eyes - the jealousy of a loser towards a winner!
Seeing Yan Ruan's expression, Zhao Shancai frowned more and more, and asked: "Brother Yan's knowledge, I have always known that nomination to the Apricot List is inevitable, why is his expression so bleak now? But in this situation What happened during the examination?"
Yan Ruan looked sarcastic and said: "Something happened, but why do you keep asking, Brother Zhao? What? Is it possible that you can still help me save it? I might as well tell you that I suddenly fell ill on the sixth day of the exam. I fell into a coma. I handed in a blank paper for the last policy exam. I already gave up on the current exam, haha! For more than ten years, I studied hard day and night. It was obvious that I was going to make one move, but God was unfair. It’s because I fell ill at this time! More than ten years of studying hard are all gone now! Haha! God is unfair!”
As he spoke, Yan Ruan looked crazy and smiled miserably, attracting the attention of the surrounding students.
After listening to Yan Ruan's explanation and seeing Yan Ruan's madness, Zhao Shan sighed and silently let go of the hand holding Yan Ruan's arm.
In Zhao Shancai's impression, Yan Ruan was a standard scholar, gentle, elegant, humble and polite. How had he ever behaved like this? ?
However, this is the imperial examination. If you succeed, you will be overjoyed. If you fail, you will have nothing. The ups and downs between success and failure are often the most able to change a person's mood.
The free and easy mentality of "starting over" is easy to say, but not everyone has it.
What's more, Yan Ru'an's family is poor. It is said that he even borrowed the money to go to Beijing to take the exam, and the accommodation and food expenses in Beijing were all on credit. This failure will probably make him lose everything.
For a moment, Zhao Shancai didn't know how to persuade him.
Seeing that Zhao Shancai was silent, the sarcasm in Yan Ruan's expression became more intense, and then he stopped talking to Zhao Shancai and left with a sad smile.
…………
Zhao Shancai stared at Yan Ruan's leaving figure, sighed and shook his head. The book boy Zhao Mu, who had been waiting outside the Gongyuan for a long time, finally found Zhao Shancai in the crowd.
"Sir, I finally found you. Did the exam go well?"
After what happened to Yan Ru'an just now, Zhao Shancai was not interested in saying anything more. He just nodded and said: "Fortunately, the question is not difficult, and the scope of the question is expected, so I can perform normally."
Although Zhao Shancai didn't show off anything, in Zhao Mu's view, Zhao Shancai's knowledge and talent, even if he only performed normally, was enough to win the Huiyuan. He couldn't help but feel overjoyed and congratulated him repeatedly.
Zhao Shancai sighed, shook his head, and then told Zhao Mu: "You can help me find out which inn Yan Ruan is staying in Beijing later, and then bring some money to help him settle the debt." I heard that Yan Ruan spent all his expenses in Beijing on credit, but the innkeeper knew that he was knowledgeable and was likely to be nominated for the apricot list, so he wanted to form a good relationship, so he never I want to pursue him, but Yan Ruan has had an accident in the meeting now, and if he can no longer look at Xingbang, the innkeeper may turn his back on him."
"There was an accident during Mr. Yan's test?"
After hearing Zhao Shancai's instructions, Zhao Mu was surprised.
Zhao Mu did not witness Yan Ruan's crazy performance just now. He just thought of Yan Ruan's gentle and polite attitude in the past and had a good impression in his heart. Now that he knew that Yan Ruan had an accident during the examination, he couldn't help but feel pity for her.
Seeing that Zhao Shancai was not looking good again, Zhao Mu quickly promised: "Master, don't worry. I will go find out immediately after I get back and help Master Yan settle the debt. Master Yan is your friend, and we can't let him go." He was so wronged."
Zhao Shancai shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Friends? I'm afraid we won't be able to make it in the future, but after all we got to know each other, it's just a little effort. I hope he can look away."
From Zhao Shancai's point of view, Yan Ru'an might have changed his temperament because of his failure in the general examination, and had some cynical and extreme thoughts. Yan Ru'an not only did not appreciate Zhao Shancai's concern and condolences for him before, but showed a look of jealousy. People can no longer be friends.
After hearing what Zhao Shancai said, Zhao Mu seemed to understand but was about to ask.
But Zhao Shancai asked in advance: "By the way, Zhao Mu, during the nine days I took part in the examination, did anything happen in the capital?"
Thinking of the ups and downs in the past few days, the flaws in the preparations for the southern tour, and refugees from all over the country coming to Beijing to complain, Zhao Mu nodded repeatedly and was about to say something.
But before Zhao Mu could speak, Zhao Shancai suddenly raised his hand to stop him and looked behind Zhao Mu.
Zhao Mu turned around and saw a young man in casual attire walking towards the two of them with a look of reluctance.
Arriving in front of Zhao Shancai, the man held up his hands to Zhao Shancai and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, Mr. Zhao. How did you go well in this examination? My master wants to see you again and talk about something. Mr. Zhao, please come!"
With that said, without waiting for Zhao Shancai to answer, the visitor already extended his hand to lead the way, as if he was not afraid of Zhao Shancai's rejection at all.
After Zhao Shancai pondered for a moment, he nodded and said, "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey."
At the same time, Zhao Mu finally recognized the identity of the person who came, it was Xu Qingyan, Zhao Junchen’s long-term follower!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the same time, on the other side, Yan Ruan finally left the bustling crowd of scholars and walked forward in confusion.
As for where to go, even Yan Ruan himself didn't know.
The inn where he stayed in Jingzhong was greeted by Yan Ruan, but Yan Ruan did not dare to go back.
Because, as Zhao Shancai knew, most of Yan Ruan's accommodation and food expenses in Beijing were on credit. However, the innkeeper knew Yan Ruan's knowledge well and thought that Yan Ruan would definitely be nominated for the apricot list. Take care to please.
But all this is based on the premise that Yan Ruan can be nominated on the apricot list.
If the innkeeper knew that Yan Ruan fell ill during the examination, that Ce Wen had turned in a blank test, and that he would never look back at the exam, Yan Ruan could not even imagine how his face would change, and what kind of humiliation he would face!
He wanted to study hard for nearly twenty years and now he was fighting against the odds. However, all the efforts he had made were wasted due to a sudden illness. Yan Ruan thought of death for a moment.
"Remember, if you go further south, you will reach the moat..."
Thinking like this, Yan Ruan walked south without knowing it.
However, after walking a few steps, I suddenly heard another call.
"Mr. Yan! Mr. Yan! Oh! I finally found you! I have been waiting for your good news, Mr. Yan!"
Hearing this call, Yan Ruan's expression changed.
This was the voice of the innkeeper where he was staying!
Unexpectedly, the innkeeper was waiting for me outside the Gongyuan!
Then, Yan Ruan turned around stiffly and saw the kind and kind face of the innkeeper. To be continued. )
