While the Shen sisters were attending banquets day after day, the spring of the 24th year of Zhengyuan arrived as promised.
From Mrs. Nanguo's party to the beginning of the Spring Examination, Shen Zhuo never saw Xie Ze again in more than a month.
Mingshan Academy has regulations that all teachers and students who have to take exams in the spring can take leave to prepare for the exam. The maximum leave can be two months.
Xie Zhe asked for leave after the Xunfang Banquet, and then he seemed to disappear out of thin air. No one saw him again.
Shen Zhuo was a little worried and asked around secretly, but found nothing. On the contrary, she is Shen Yao. She dresses dignifiedly and beautifully every day. She goes out happily and returns home happily.
"Sister, aren't you worried about Master Xie?" Shen Zhuo asked.
"He can prepare for the exam with peace of mind. I have nothing to worry about." Shen Yao smiled, and then commanded Huan'er to insert the golden step wave for her.
Shen Zhuo felt that something was wrong with Shen Yao, something very wrong!
"Sister, are you hiding something from me?" Shen Zhuo picked up the eyebrow pencil and handed it to Shen Yao flatteringly.
Shen Yao took the eyebrow pencil and chuckled: "Is there something wrong with Jiaojiao, hiding it from sister?"
"Hehehe." Shen Zhuo laughed dryly.
She was unwilling to tell Shen Yao about Xiao Cheng even to death.
Shen Yao sighed, poked Shen Zhuo's forehead with an eyebrow pencil, and said, "Don't worry about Master Xie's affairs. Mom said he was grounded by his father."
"Ah?!" Shen Zhuo's eyes widened, "Can dad still control Master Xie?"
Shen Yao smiled and didn't answer. In fact, saying that Xie Zhe was banned by Shen Yuan was just Princess Pingyang's joke on Shen Yao. But Xie Zhe was indeed taken away by Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan had an old friend who was once one of the leading figures in literature in Kyoto. Because he was tired of the quarrels in the court, he lived in seclusion in Nanshan on the outskirts of Beijing. He took in two or three disciples, worked in civilian clothes and farmed, concentrated on learning, and occasionally met friends through literature. , the life is quite comfortable.
Shen Yuan sent Xie Zhe here and went with Xie Zhe. In addition to his book boy Zhuqing, there were also the secret guards around Shen Yuan, Qingyue and Qingliu.
Kang Zhongdao could tell that something was fishy, and naturally Shen Yuan could too.
Before the Xunfang Banquet ended, Shen Yuan sent several secret guards to investigate. All the clues were gathered on the fake maid, and then all the clues were lost. Back and forth, Shen Yuan sent three groups of people to investigate. Without exception, they all ended up with the maid who appeared and disappeared out of thin air.
Shen Yuan didn't let anyone continue to investigate. Sometimes there is no answer, which is also an answer. Anyone who can do it so cleanly and without leaving a trace must be extraordinary. There are only a few possibilities.
After that, Shen Yuan had a long talk with Xie Zhe.
"Do you know what your ending would have been without Jiaojiao?" Shen Yuan asked.
"I know." Xie Zhe's face turned slightly pale, "Tian Sheng's Law says: Men who commit adultery shall be fined, deprived of their official positions, demoted, and banned from serving as officials for life, and are not allowed to participate in the imperial examination."
Shen Yuan nodded: "Then can you guess who will frame you?"
Xie Zhe looked solemn and shook his head: "The student also thought about it carefully afterwards, but he had no clue. The student has never made any grudges with anyone, let alone made enemies with anyone. I really can't think of anyone who would harm me."
Shen Yuan sighed, his voice slow and deep: "The misfortune you suffered is not because of you, but because of Yao'er, or in other words, because of me."
Xie Zhe's eyes widened slightly and he looked at Shen Yuan in shock. Xie Zhe was such a perceptive person. Shen Yuan only needed a few clicks and he figured out the key.
"So, do you still want to marry Yao'er now?" Shen Yuan asked.
"Of course." Xie Zhe said without any hesitation, "A true man stands between heaven and earth. He should report to the king above and protect his wife and children below. There is no shame in looking up to him. Why should he be afraid of it?"
Shen Yuan stroked his beard and smiled slightly: "Now that you have made up your mind, just go with me."
Then, Xie Zhe went to Nanshan, and did not return to the city quietly until the day before spring.
Spring Festival lasts for nine days in total.
On the day when the exam started, Princess Pingyang took out a brand new bright red brocade robe for Shen Wei to put on, with the auspicious pattern of "Spring Swallows in the Apricot Grove" embroidered on it. Breakfast is also full of lucky foods such as Zhuangyuan cake, Jidi porridge, and sweet-scented osmanthus cake. When she took out another hairpin embedded with rubies and tried to plug it in for Shen Wei, Shen Wei couldn't bear it anymore, turned around and ran away.
As soon as he walked out of the gate, Shen Wei saw Shen Yao and Huan'er standing beside his carriage.
Shen Wei has a calm temperament and is very quiet. His clothes have always been light and elegant. Suddenly seeing Shen Wei in a gorgeous red robe, Shen Yao almost recognized him as Shen Xi. Huan'er burst out laughing.
Shen Wei came over and said helplessly: "What do you want to give me? No more red..."
Then, Shen Wei saw Shen Yao take out two sachets, bright red, extremely bright red, a bit brighter than Shen Wei's brocade robe.
"Second brother, there are mosquitoes at night at this time of year. I put some insect-repelling and refreshing herbs in the sachet. You, you..."
Before Shen Yao could finish speaking, Shen Wei took the sachet with an expressionless expression: "Don't worry, I will bring the sachet to Brother Xie."
"Second brother, this, this is for you too." Shen Yao's face turned red and she said in embarrassment.
"Okay, let's go back to the house. Don't go to the Gongyuan today to join in the fun."
Shen Yao nodded.
Shen Wei said as he got into the carriage, Qingshan raised his whip and drove away.
The release of the list in the spring is scheduled for more than a month later, on May 23rd.
On this day, the outside of Gongyuan was extremely lively. Before dawn, there were people guarding the gate of Gongyuan, waiting for the announcement of the results. Many people who have candidates at home secretly give red envelopes to officials of the Ministry of Etiquette, hoping to get information and know as early as possible whether their children have won the exam.
The teahouse and tavern outside the Gongyuan are even more difficult to find today, and the private rooms are almost fully booked before spring. Fortunately, Lu Wan'er acted quickly and booked a private room in the Zhuangyuan Building two months in advance.
"Wan'er, you have such good taste. These windows are facing the gate of Gongyuan." Zhang Jingyi praised.
"Not only are they facing each other, but they are also very close. You can see all the excitement coming soon." Meng Qinglianfeng looked out from the window with a smile in her eyes.
"That's right, this is the location I asked Feng Er to visit several stores and select specifically." Lu Waner said proudly.
"Look, look, it's coming!" Xiao Yushu shouted excitedly.
At this time, the sound of bells and drums was heard outside the window, and Shen Zhuo and others crowded around the window and looked towards the Gongyuan. I saw officials from the Ministry of Rites filing out holding gold lists. After a while, in the midst of great expectations, the golden list was posted on the wall, and people who were looking forward to it swarmed up and surrounded the list.
Some good-hearted people crowded in the front row read out the names on the list loudly, while the crowd behind them listened carefully through the wall, fearing that they might miss something.
For a time, some people laughed wildly, some cheered, some were sad, some sighed, and some cried bitterly, as if they were crazy... It's really all the different things in life, but it's nothing more than this.
"I got it, I got it! Miss, the second young master and Master Xie are all on the list!!" Ying'er shouted loudly and broke through the door, her face full of excitement.
Shen Zhuo smiled slightly. Sure enough, he was already in high school.
