Although the two major factions, Zhao Junchen and Huang Yourong, are currently fighting each other, both are sharply preparing to cause trouble for each other, and each has prepared some corresponding plans and means, but in the morning of the next day, the situation was different. There was unexpected calm, and the fight between the two factions did not continue.
There is no other reason. The day before, the examination examiners and officials from the Ministry of Etiquette finally finished reviewing the examination papers for this subject, and the list and ranking of the apricot list will be reported to Emperor Deqing this morning and will be announced to the world.
Although this is not a very important matter to Zhao Junchen or Huang Yourong, it is ultimately a grand event in the court and a happy event in the literary world, so neither Zhao Junchen nor Huang Yourong will continue to fight in the morning. Criticize it, otherwise it will ruin Emperor Deqing's enthusiasm, and if it spreads in the future, it will also ruin each other's reputation among scholars.
In the morning meeting, after hearing the rankings on the apricot list, Emperor Deqing did not have any surprise or objection to the fact that Zhou Shangjing's grandson Zhou Suwen became a member of Jinke Huiyuan. He only congratulated Zhou Shangjing and praised Zhou Shangjing for his good tutoring. Zhou Shangjing was naturally self-effacing, so between the king and his ministers, there was a completely harmonious atmosphere in the morning, let alone the atmosphere.
In fact, Emperor Deqing had already anticipated this situation when he originally arranged for Zhou Shangjing's disciples to be the examiners of the Jinke Examination - this was just a deal between Emperor Deqing and his chief assistant Zhou Shangjing - Emperor Deqing tacitly allowed Zhou Shangjing to gain some benefits from the Jinke Examination, and Zhou Shangjing was not allowed to object to Emperor Deqing's support for Prince Zhu Heyu in the following period, and they understood each other tacitly.
Because it was the joint will of Emperor Deqing and his chief minister Zhou Shangjing, the list and ranking of the Xing Bang were passed smoothly in the morning.
Then. When there was nothing else to report from the ministers, Emperor Deqing ordered the Ministry of Rites to step up preparations for the palace examination and the southern tour, and then announced his intention to go down to court.
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The announcement of the apricot list is a major event that attracts much attention.
After the morning court ended, under the auspices of officials from the Ministry of Rites, the capital quickly became lively.
The government officials rushed to various places in the capital to post the lists, and then read out the apricot lists in front of countless people watching and cheering.
There are even some favored government servants. I asked for a good job from the Shangguan of the Ministry of Rites, and personally went to the residences of each successful candidate to deliver the good news to them, and took the opportunity to ask for some wedding money and wine.
And those candidates who participated in the examination were either happy or sad after receiving the news, or they were supported by everyone and accepted congratulations, or they were secretly sad when no one was around, or even crazy.
For a while. In the capital, the sound of firecrackers, gongs and drums, and cheers come and go; cries, laughter, and shouts can be heard everywhere.
Many restaurants and inns are holding feasts at this time! And many ordinary people who had nothing to do were running around to watch the fun! The whole capital was in shock because of the announcement of the apricot list. They were all caught up in an atmosphere of excitement and even madness.
But all the excitement has nothing to do with Xiao Wenxuan!
Because, since the end of the exam. Xiao Wenxuan already understood that this time the test will definitely have nothing to do with him!
Therefore, although the apricot list will be announced to the world today, Xiao Wenxuan does not have any expectations in his heart.
…………
Xiao Wenxuan did not perform well in this examination. It was not until before the examination started that he discovered that all the candidates who had taken refuge in Zhao Junchen, except him, had been informed of the examination questions in advance. And everyone hid the news from him intentionally or unintentionally!
This made Xiao Wenxuan angry, and he also lost his calm mind during the examination, even after entering the examination room. I couldn't calm down my thoughts for a long time, so even Xiao Wenxuan himself felt that his exam answer sheet was unsightly. As a result, Xiao Wenxuan's hope of getting on the apricot list was naturally extremely slim.
This is the fourth time Xiao Wenxuan has participated in the examination, and it is also Xiao Wenxuan’s last attempt at the examination!
You can imagine how Xiao Wenxuan feels after such a failure!
After the examination, Xiao Wenxuan first resented the candidates who took refuge in Zhao Junchen - he had obviously given up his reputation and friends and took refuge in Zhao Junchen just like you. Although he was once excluded by you, he still followed Zhao Junchen's suggestion. Now that I'm back in this circle, why can everyone else get the exam questions, but I am the only one who has the information withheld? Now that you have prepared in advance, you will definitely be on the list, but what good will it do to you if you are not listed? ! Just to laugh at yourself? !
Then, Xiao Wenxuan began to inevitably resent Zhao Junchen - why did you, Zhao Junchen, reveal that you know how to test questions? Is it possible that the ten years of hard study and hard work of other candidates for the imperial examination are so worthless in your eyes, Zhao Junchen? ! Don’t you, Zhao Junchen, know how many candidates’ lives you will ruin by doing this? ! The most important thing is that you, Zhao Junchen, have clearly hinted to Liu Zimin and the others to accept you again, why don't you send Buddha to the West? Watching Liu Zimin and the others deceive him about the news, not only did he not benefit from it, but he also performed abnormally in the examination room?
Xiao Wenxuan even began to complain about the Ming Dynasty's imperial examination system, believing that this system caused his talent to be underappreciated! He buried his true talent!
In this way, Xiao Wenxuan spent the few days just after the examination in a mood of resentment.
However, after a few days of resentment, when Xiao Wenxuan gradually calmed down, he remembered what Zhao Junchen said to him when he met Zhao Junchen by chance that day!
"...Sometimes, you and I understand some truth and think it is right, but if it is wrong in the eyes of the world, then you and I can only think that it is wrong, no matter what we think in our hearts . This has nothing to do with hypocrisy or integrity, otherwise it will only be regarded as a heretic and suppressed by the world. The four words "go with the flow" are not just a choice for people to live in the world, but also the fundamental way for us to live in peace. Because of you I cannot go against the general trend. Although the truth is in the hands of a few people, it is never a few people who determine the general trend..."
"...I think you seem to have your own thoughts in your heart, which are different from the world. Although you haven't said it clearly, I am afraid that there is also a lonely and arrogant feeling in your heart that the world is drunk and I am alone. But please forgive me for being brief, but there is more to say here. A few words, in this world, how many smart people and how many confused people are often the most difficult thing to guess, because everyone in the world is pretending, so you and I must also pretend. Many people understand many truths. It's just that no one has said it clearly. No matter whether the world is really drunk or fake, whether it is true that everyone is drunk and you are the only one awake, or you think you are sober alone, if you can't pretend to be drunk among everyone, then you are destined to not have the world. Good results..."
"...If you can't follow the crowd and keep company with the mediocre people in your eyes, and you still look like you are alone, then just follow Tao Yuanming's example and hide from the world. Why bother to join the world and look at the mediocre people in your eyes, but you don't care at all. Can’t change the mediocre thoughts in your eyes?..."
At that time, Xiao Wenxuan was certainly touched by Zhao Junchen's words, but after all, he had not experienced a real setback yet, so it was only a little touched. Although Xiao Wenxuan also felt that these words had some truth, these truths did not really change Xiao Wenxuan.
Then, in Tianhai Tower that day, under Zhao Junchen's suggestion, Liu Zimin and others accepted Xiao Wenxuan again. At first, Xiao Wenxuan also deliberately restrained some of his temperament, but it didn't take long for him to become solid and still always He has an aloof and aloof look and demeanor that is dismissive of others, and he is sober when everyone else is drunk.
In this way, Xiao Wenxuan will naturally be hated and ostracized by others.
Since those candidates would seek refuge with the corrupt official Zhao Junchen, they were naturally not good people. It was naturally expected that they would hide information from Xiao Wenxuan, secretly retaliate, and wait to see Xiao Wenxuan's jokes.
After figuring out such a relationship, Xiao Wenxuan suddenly realized that the person he should blame was not Liu Zimin and other candidates, nor Zhao Junchen, nor the current imperial examination system, but himself!
Because I am arrogant and unsociable, because I always feel that I am smart and look down on others, because although I am full of knowledge, I cannot see through the unpredictability of people's hearts, so I ended up like this!
What was sown yesterday will bear the fruit today.
Everything is just deserved!
After people suffer setbacks and reflect on the setbacks, they will always grow a lot and change a lot.
The same was true for Xiao Wenxuan. The moment he understood this, he grew and changed.
I am no longer aloof and arrogant, and I have recognized my own ordinaryness. I am less egoistic and blind, and more cautious and sophisticated.
Although this change is many years late, it is not too late.
…………
At this time, Xiao Wenxuan was sitting by the window on the second floor of Fudou Building, like an outsider, quietly looking out the window at the bustling capital city with a little sadness and a little calmness - at this time, in front of the door of the inn opposite, Amidst the sound of firecrackers, an official was receiving congratulations from everyone.
"The exam is over, and it's time for me to return home."
Then, Xiao Wenxuan said softly,
After drinking all the tea in the cup, Xiao Wenxuan stood up and walked towards his room, but never turned his head to take another look at the lively world outside.
The excitement has nothing to do with him anymore.
Next, Xiao Wenxuan plans to return to his hometown, put down his pretense of being a scholar, and either make money in business or serve as a government staff. In short, the whole family supported his education in the past few years, and now it is time for him to repay his family.
However, as soon as Xiao Wenxuan got up, he saw an exam candidate who was also staying at the Ford Inn walking towards him.
The examiner was smiling all over his face, but he was not talking about anything. He was asking Xiao Wenxuan loudly: "Brother Xiao, how are your results in this examination? Is there any news? I think with Brother Xiao's talent, It must be on the list, right?"
Although the visitor was smiling, Xiao Wenxuan clearly felt the deep malice contained in it!
