Meng Shuang, who was immersed in his own world, was so frightened that he almost choked to death.
He looked up and saw Xiao Tao. He immediately looked past her and looked around for Lian Suisui's figure, with a look of horror on his face.
Xiao Tao followed his gaze and asked, "What is Mr. Meng looking for?"
It's hard to say that she is looking for Lian Suisui, because she is afraid that she will covet her beauty again.
"Nothing, ahem, why is Miss Tao here?"
After successfully striking up a conversation with him, Xiao Tao sat down next to him and said bluntly: "My young master also entered the palace today and has not come out at this hour. Can Mr. Meng inform you about the situation in the palace?"
Meng Shuang breathed a sigh of relief, chewed twice and swallowed the noodles in his mouth.
Turns out he was here to strike up a conversation.
Whose maid from a nice family strikes up a conversation like this...
He rolled his eyes.
"When I came out, there were still a few candidates racking their brains to make up the number of words. There was one candidate who was writing hard, but I didn't know him. I don't know which one is your son."
"Hasn't my young master finished writing?"
The noodle stall owner served the noodles.
Originally, he wanted to scare her, but Xiao Tao automatically ignored his previous words and only listened to the last sentence.
"Thank you."
Xiao Tao thanked her and entered the teahouse with the noodle bowl.
Meng Shuang let out a laugh and put the remaining noodles in the bowl into his mouth to fill his stomach. Their exam this time was based on ranking. He sat closer to the front. When he left the palace, there was only one person left in the front row. I don’t know if he is Lian Sui’s older brother.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, today's question was very difficult, and it was not easy to persevere until now. He had to go home quickly and ask his father how his essay was, and whether he had any hope of getting the top pick or something like that.
In the palace, Emperor Chen yawned while waiting, and Lian Jiaying finally finished writing the paper.
Emperor Chen was curious about the last candidate in the room, who could persevere so much, so he decided to call the person over first and then read the article he wrote.
After handing in the paper, Lian Jiaying shook her sore arms, rubbed her swollen eyes, packed her things, and stood up holding her waist.
The chamberlain walked up to him.
"The emperor wants to see you, please come with me."
Lian Jiaying trembled and hurriedly followed.
Those who pass the Jinshi examination will have a reputation and can call themselves ministers when they see the emperor and bow down.
Following the chamberlain into the room, Jiaying knelt down and kowtowed in salute without even daring to glance around.
"Chen Lian Jiaying, pay homage to the Emperor!"
Emperor Chen was looking through his papers and didn't let him get up. He didn't dare to get up, let alone look around. The room was so quiet that he could only hear his own breathing. I don't know how long it took before Emperor Chen suddenly came back to his senses. Come.
"Lian Jiaying, did you write this article?"
Lian Jiaying found her voice.
"The message to the Emperor was written by me!"
In recent years, natural disasters have continued, and the people's lives have been in dire straits. The topic of this imperial examination is how to let the people recuperate.
This topic is broad, and many candidates have written a lot of colorful articles to impress others. However, if you look closely, they are all false and none of them can be used.
Lian Jiaying put forward some opinions on various aspects such as the labor force of each household, the number of acres of land, the payment of taxes, and the operating mechanism of the court. Although it is not eye-catching, it can be seen that he is a practical talent. .
Emperor Chen asked him a question, and he replied without saying a word.
Unlike the other candidates I met during the day, I had to perform well when I got the chance and flatter him.
After reading the papers all day, Emperor Chen was a little tired.
"Stay back and wait for news."
Lian Jiaying wiped the sweat from her head and breathed a sigh of relief.
Out of the palace gate.
"Second brother! Get in the carriage quickly!"
Lian Suisui waited in the teahouse for a whole day, and the longer he waited, the more impatient he became, so he and Xiao Tao waited at the palace gate. Fortunately, he finally came out.
"Third sister..."
He looked tired and asked Xiao Tao to take his book bag.
"Fourth sister was going to come today, but I didn't let her go out. She should be waiting in a hurry at home."
"No matter how well you do in the exam, there will always be an official position. Congratulations to my second brother!"
The uneasiness in Lian Jiaying's heart immediately dissipated.
"I can relax now. Go back and go to bed early tonight. We are waiting for your good news!"
The next morning, Lian Fangyu went straight to his home without going to the Yamen after going to court, and woke up Lian Jiaying who was still sleeping. The excitement on his face was beyond words.
"Go and inform Madam quickly, and prepare to welcome the singer who announces the good news."
"Get up, pack up, and get dressed!"
He was in the Ministry of Rites, and the final rankings were issued this morning. The Ministry of Rites arranged for singers to announce the good news to various houses. He received the news one step ahead and rushed back to inform.
Lian Jiaying was usually inconspicuous, and Lian Fangyu didn't have high expectations for him, but he didn't expect that he would actually earn him a top prize!
The champion!
After the current emperor ascended the throne, the first number one scholar was Song Jingwei, and the second one was his son!
Lian Jiaying had a hunch last night, but he didn't dare to be sure. He didn't expect that the emperor would really let him be the top pick!
Qin's courtyard was busy with work, and even Fang Yu's aunts who were like invisible people in the backyard appeared, some came to congratulate and some came to help clean up.
"Second Young Master should be able to arrange a good marriage after high school! Second Young Master is really capable! With a brother like this, you will be able to make good choices in your future marriages."
Mrs. Liu and Lian Xiao were talking to each other.
"It's the madam who has the foresight. I am not as good as the madam after all. When the two young men in the house go to high school and gain fame, you, the concubine, can follow suit and find a better family. Fortunately, the madam did not get you engaged early..."
Mrs. Liu never talked about her marriage. Lian Xiaoxiao was a little annoyed, but she couldn't explain it to her mother, so she could only keep it in her heart.
"Mom, the whole family is happy about the second brother's high school, but the eldest brother didn't pass the exam. There are also unhappy people in our house. You can't speak. If these words are heard by people in Aunt Zhang's courtyard, you might get into trouble. Trouble!"
Zhang didn't show up after she was released from the rankings. Lian Jialiang was locked in the courtyard by her to study. Except for three meals a day, the mother and son hardly left the courtyard. They were so busy that they didn't even have time to compete for favors.
Lian Xiaoxiao's words reminded Liu.
"Yes, yes, why do I say everything with my mouth? Stop saying it, stop saying it, so as not to be hated by others!"
"However, it is a good thing for us that the second young master has won the first prize in the exam. If you are good at embroidery, help the second young master make a pair of shoes and clothes to express our attitude."
"knew!"
There was a pair of shoes that had been made a long time ago in Lian Xiao's small room. Ms. Liu thought she had made them for Lian Jiaying in advance and said happily: "Auntie has no other wish in this life. I just want you to marry a good family. Auntie will Contented!"
"Mom, I'm going out for a while."
Lian Xiao went back to the house and took out a small cloth bag. He was impatient with Liu's nagging and wanted to go to Lian Suisui's place to hide in peace.
Seeing that she didn't have any shoes, Mrs. Liu asked her maid to go to the house to get them.
"Why are you so careless, kid? Take the shoes I made for your second brother and send them over together!"
Lian Xiao was helpless and ran out of the yard holding her shoes.
In the front yard, Lian Fangyu and Mrs. Qin tidied up and sent away the singer who came to announce the good news.
"Jiaying High School, we have to hold a banquet at our house for a few days..."
It is a custom in Beijing to hold large banquets. If a family has a descendant who has passed the imperial examination, they will set up a flowing banquet at the door for a few days. Show them the meat and potatoes.
This money couldn't be saved, so Qin agreed.
This morning at court, Emperor Chen praised him in public for his ability to raise his son. Among the civil and military officials in the dynasty, only his son got the top prize. Not only did the emperor look upon him with high regard, but also did his colleagues who had been stumbling upon him since he temporarily took over as minister. Flatter him.
According to the emperor, he is too young now. When he becomes familiar with government affairs in the future, he might be promoted to minister!
