The matter between Xiao Chen and Meng Ling is not that they will get married in the near future, but that they will make a formal engagement.
There is also a welcome letter at the back, that is: marry your wife.
Folks usually get married within a few months after they get engaged. Of course, there are also people who wait for several years before getting engaged.
It's August now. Regarding this matter, Xiao Yuan has set the wedding date of his two children in October next year.
Meng Ya had no objection to this, but Bai Zhi said: "Ling'er will be eighteen years old next year, and your Majesty is really going to do it."
"Hey, what are you talking about?" Meng Ya said, "Your Majesty is very considerate, maybe because the two children are still young."
"Almost eighteen, Ling'er has already grown hair. Look at Xiao Qi, she got married at the age of fifteen or sixteen." Bai Zhi said.
Meng Ya said: "What do you know? The best age to get married is eighteen. Besides, Ling'er is back, and you just want her to get married as soon as possible?"
Bai Zhi thought about it, "That's right, next year will be better. During this time, I can also see my daughter more."
"Okay." Meng Ya said again, "Do you have any idea about the dowry?"
Bai Zhi said: "We can do it according to the normal rules, but in my opinion, if you take care of the people's livelihood and taxes in Nanzhou, for Your Majesty, this is the best dowry for your daughter."
"This makes sense." Meng Ya nodded in agreement: "Our Nanzhou is indeed not as good as other states and counties in all aspects, but development cannot be completed in a day or two. At least, I still have the confidence to do so. I am sharing your Majesty’s worries. If I am called upon again in the great court meeting, I will really have no room for my old face.”
Then he added: "By the way, where is Ling'er? Why haven't I seen her in the past two days?"
"She is holding the marriage certificate all day long, turning it over and over like a treasure." Bai Zhi said with a smile.
"Oh, it's true that girls are not admitted to college." Meng Ya sighed at first, and then changed the subject: "But letting Ling'er go to Chang'an to study in the first place seems to be a very correct decision, making the two children childhood sweethearts. But I have a foundation of love, unlike other girls who don’t know what their husband’s family is like until they get married.”
"Yes." Bai Zhi nodded: "We Ling'er are happy, this is better than anything else."
There was nothing to talk about in Nanzhou. Fu Qingyi was also transferred back to Chang'an due to his political achievements in the past few years. This made him jump up and down with excitement. His excitement was like a surging river and he had insomnia for several nights.
September.
Most areas have ushered in the autumn harvest season. Crops are related to the people's clothing, food, housing and transportation. Busy people can be seen everywhere in the countryside.
Although they are working, people's faces are full of joy. In the past two years, the country has been peaceful and the people have been safe, the weather has been smooth, and the harvest has been good. This is a season worthy of celebration by the people.
In addition to the autumn harvest, there is another major event, that is, the township and county examinations are about to begin.
Because the final examination of the imperial examination is in March and April, and it takes time to mark the papers through the rounds of examinations, so the examinations in various places will be brought forward.
The county examination, also known as the autumn examination, starts in September. After the examination, the county will release the results in October.
Only those scholars who passed the county examination were qualified to enter the designated counties. The state examination was held in November and the results were released in December.
Then I have more than two months to prepare and go to Beijing to take the exam.
The state examination is a big threshold, and those who are screened out here are like crucian carp crossing the river, not only because of the number of people, but more importantly because of the difficulty of the test questions.
Why is it called a state examination? Because it is not just one county, but a combination of several surrounding counties.
Unlike the county examination, the state examination is not decided by the county, but is decided by the court. Before the examination begins, all the test papers are sealed, and even the county guard at the place where the examination is held will not know the content.
The Daqin imperial examination was to select scholars and talents for the country, so it was very strict. Without real materials, you would not be able to go to Chang'an.
Moreover, there is no excuse for practicing favoritism and malpractice.
If the examiner is corrupt and bends the law, no matter who he is, he will be executed immediately.
If the matter is serious, the three tribes of Yi will be merged.
Students who cheat will be banned from taking exams for life.
Never hired.
It was so strict that everyone in the world knew how valuable the imperial examination was.
Suiyang County, Tang County.
There are not that many scholars in a county, so sometimes the exam will be taken in conjunction with several surrounding counties.
This autumn examination is a three-county examination, and the location of the examination was chosen in Tang County.
As for the examiners, they are the local county magistrate, a censor appointed by the imperial court, a county edict, and some supervisors. It can be said that they are very complete.
At present, the examination room in Tang County has been prepared. It is divided into ten halls. Each hall can accommodate hundreds of candidates. It is still divided into three sessions, upper, middle and lower, and the examination will last for three days.
At this time, there were only two days left before the examination, and candidates from three places had already gathered in Tang County.
At this time, in a certain restaurant, a man who looked like a wealthy businessman was pouring wine for the magistrate of Tang County.
His attitude was respectful, with a smile on his face: "I heard that the county magistrate loves duck tongue, so he sent his servants to buy hundreds of live ducks in the countryside, and only took the tongues, and ordered them to be carefully cooked in the restaurant. You can try it. , If it’s not suitable, I’ll ask the chef to change it to another flavor right away.”
The magistrate of Tang County did not move his chopsticks, but said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Zhu, we are here today because of previous business issues. If you have anything to say, just say it."
In fact, if you can be a county magistrate, you cannot be a fool. Now that the autumn examination is coming, he has more or less guessed the other party's purpose.
"In matters of trade, as long as the county magistrate gives an order, the villain can do anything."
The wealthy businessman said, took out a brocade box and pushed it to the opposite side: "A small gift is not a sign of respect. I hope the county magistrate will accept it."
The Tang County magistrate did not dare to accept it: "Let's get back to the business."
"Here" the wealthy businessman looked at the brocade box, then looked at the county magistrate's face, and then said hesitantly: "Now the autumn examination is scheduled for this county. You also know that although my dog's studies are good, but the three counties It may be difficult for us to pass the exam together, and you, the county magistrate, are the examiner this time. If you can, if you can be accommodating."
At this point, there is no need to say anything more.
The magistrate of Tang County decisively refused: "The imperial examination is the most important thing for the country to recruit scholars. If you are lenient in taking the examination, you will miss talented people. Shopkeeper Zhu, what are you thinking!"
"But the county magistrate, if you can," the wealthy businessman did not give up.
"Okay!" The county magistrate's face turned cold: "Shopkeeper Zhu, do you know that if there is fraud in the imperial examination, not only will my official head be in danger, but you will also be sentenced to a heavy sentence!"
"If you bribe someone in the science department, you will also be disqualified from the general examination and will be banned from serving as an official for life!"
"Well, sir, please calm down. I'm just worried about the dog. I have no other intentions." The wealthy businessman also panicked and quickly changed his words.
Why was he willing to take risks and engage in bribery? It was because the imperial examination was actually a way to change his destiny. If he passed the county examination,
