Prime Minister

Chapter 286 Donghua Gate

The man wanted to flatten his body, and read the Five Classics diligently to the window.

——Song Zhenzong
On March [-]th, the palace examination will be released, and the name will be awarded.

From February 27th to March [-]th, fifteen days passed.

One day before the roll call, the candidate will still go to the bookstore next to Taixue to verify his identity, and then ask for a number paper.

Please call back, Zhang Yue and Huang Lu still had a meal of soup cakes at the soup cake shop they usually ate.

The locust tree leaves here are coldly washed, and Zhang Yue usually likes them the most.In the past, Zhang Yue often had a meal with Sun Guo, Huang Haoyi, Fan Zuyu and the others to come here to eat soup and cakes, which is also regarded as a tooth-beating sacrifice.

It may be difficult to become an official in the future. Today, there are many high school students sitting in the soup cake shop. Many of them are familiar with Zhang Yue.

The owner of the soup cake shop is an old man in his 50s surnamed Xu.When he saw the two of them, he greeted them with a smile: "Mr. Sanlang, I haven't been here for a long time. Today's newly slaughtered sheep, how about a bowl of hot soup cake?"

Zhang Yue looked at the sheep's head hanging outside the store, and said with a smile, "Old man Xu, since we have fresh mutton, here are two bowls of mutton soup cakes."

"Okay."

Immediately Zhang Yue smiled again: "You don't know how to wash your dirty cover."

Old man Xu said with a smile that he went to Zhang Luo.

The soup cake shop is too narrow to accommodate a few tables, so more than a dozen tables are set up outside the shop.In the shop, the old man Xu was stirring the bubbling mutton soup with a spoon. The firewood under the tank was burning vigorously, and half of the mutton was still hanging on the iron hook on the beam.

Zhang Yue and Huang Lu sat at the table, and acquaintances from the imperial court came to say hello and say a few words.

At this time, old man Xu brought two full bowls of mutton soup cakes to the table.

Seeing that the soup cakes were covered with thick mutton, sprinkled with green onions and ginger, old man Xu carefully wiped the rim of the bowl clean with a cloth.

Zhang Yue looked at it and said with a smile: "Old man Xu, you don't shake your hands today. In the past, a bowl of mutton soup cakes cost 35 yuan. You will lose money by putting mutton like this."

Huang Lu immediately put his chopsticks aside and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."

The old man Xu said with a smile: "Mr. Sanlang is making fun of us. I have something to ask you, little old man."

Both Zhang Yue and Huang Lu smiled.Zhang Yue patted the dust on his robe and said, "Old man, you say so."

The old man Xu was overjoyed, cupped his fists and said: "It's like this. The small shop has been open next to Taixue for more than ten years, and the business is still booming, but there has never been a signboard, so the little old man wants San Lang to write me a letter." Shop sign."

The left and right students all smiled when they heard this.

"Old man Xu, you are really a genius."

"I didn't see it. You still have such sharp eyesight. You know that Duzhi is going to be successful, so you rush to ask him to write a signboard."

"Two bowls of mutton soup cakes change the sign, how about I write it for you?"

Old man Xu clasped his fists again and again and said: "Everyone, everyone, don't make fun of the little old man, the little old man is not a picky person, and the little old man will not be less than any amount of remuneration."

"Old man Xu, you must keep your word."

Zhang Yue stood up and asked, "What is the old man Xu's name?"

"Mr. Sanlang always likes to eat locust tree leaves, so you might as well watch and take them."

"Alright."

The pen and ink had been prepared long ago, Zhang Yue picked up the pen and dipped it in the ink, and wrote the words 'Lenghuai Soup Cake' in a hurry.

The Tai students on the side applauded one after another. Zhang Yue's calligraphy is second to none among the Tai students. Even Yang Nanzhong, who had always been at odds with Zhang Youzhi, admitted it.

Although the old man Xu didn't know calligraphy, he was very happy to hear others say that. He kept the calligraphy thankfully, and then gave the reward to Zhang Yue.

Zhang Yue sat down and ate mutton soup cakes facing the market together with Huang Lu.It's night in Bianjing City, but the pedestrians on the street are still unabated, and the night wind suddenly blows yellow dust all over the sky.Both Zhang Yue and Huang Lu covered their bowls with their sleeves familiarly, and when the dust passed, they continued to eat soup cakes in disgrace.

Old man Xu was still busy in front of the bright stove, and the business was still very good at night.

After Zhang Yuehuang walked away, the old man Xu went to clean up, but saw that besides the empty bowls and chopsticks on the table for the two of them, there was also the reward he had just given.

The old man Xu was taken aback, his lips moved slightly, but he saw that the two had already walked away.

The scholar's green shirt fluttered in the night wind.

It was night, Zhang Yue and Huang Lu stayed at Zhang Shi's house, and it was not cold after Qingming, and it was very comfortable to wear a single shirt.In the evening Zhang Yue stood in the yard feeling the bright moon breeze, and saw that the lights in Zhangqiu's study were still on.

A few days ago, I heard from my sister-in-law that after my second uncle and third uncle were admitted to Jinshi, Xi'er didn't say anything, but was very touched, and worked harder than before.

Zhang Yue felt very relieved, that's how it is in studying, sometimes if even a large family can't pass the exam, then none of them can really pass the exam.But if one child passes the exam, the following children will follow the example, springing up like mushrooms after rain, one after another, generation after generation.

This is how the family prospered.

The bright moon moved between the shadows of the flowers, the lamp was still on in the study, the night was getting darker, but Zhang Yue didn't feel sleepy.

At the fourth watch, Zhang Yue got up. After calling Huang Lu, he went to the kitchen stove to make hot soup and went back to the room to wash his face.Zhang Yue soaked the black Futou in the soup, wrapped it tightly on his head when it was wet, and then put on a white sweatshirt and boots.

Yu came over and asked him to eat, Zhang Yue ate some buns and stopped.

Zhang Shiyu sent Zhang Yuehuang out of the door with a smile on his face. Zhang Qiu read too late last night, but he didn't get up.

Arriving at the huge city of Bianjing on the street, Tang Jiu had already harnessed the carriage and stopped in front of the mansion gate, and was wiping the carriage with a rag.

A veil-like morning mist rose on the Bian River, and the carriage drove on the quiet street towards Donghua Gate, and the sky gradually brightened.

On the street on the other side of the Bian River, one after another ornately decorated carriages were heading to the palace.In less than four watch days, all officials from Bianjing, large and small, had already rushed to the imperial city.This is also the case in the court on weekdays, but today is different. Today is the day when Jinshi is named and bestowed, which is even more grand.

Not only the court officials, but also the clan, son-in-law, envoys, envoys, and governors also came to the court.

The officials were going, and the female family members of several officials and ministers' families were also invited to accompany the queen to watch the ceremony on the stage.

The chariots and horses of the Wu family were also among them. Li Taijun took his eldest daughter-in-law Fan, his second daughter-in-law Wang and Shi Qiniang to the palace in the palace carriage.

Taijun Li and Mrs. Fan took the same car, and Mrs. Wang and Shiqi Niang took the same car.

The car curtain was closed, Wang looked at Shi Qi Niang and asked, "Going back to the palace for the first time?"

Seventeen Niangs said: "I saw Mount Ao in Xuande Tower during the Shangyuan Festival, but I have never entered the palace before."

Wang said: "I will get used to it in the future."

Seventeen Niang's cheeks blushed slightly when she heard this, Wang turned and said indifferently: "I don't like going to the palace very much, there are too many people and it's too noisy, but I like to be quiet at home on weekdays."

Seventeen Niang said: "Yeah, singing a name will require so many people to support the scene."

Mrs. Wang smiled when she heard the words, and then said softly: "It was the empress who invited us to watch the ceremony. It has never been like this before, and I don't know why?"

After finishing speaking, Wang carefully looked at Shi Qi Niang, the spring shirt with gold thread was just right for her age, and it wouldn't look gorgeous.

"That's great." Wang said.

Han Qi once told Di Qing that Fang Nai'er, who was named outside the Donghua Gate, was good.

But in fact Jinshi roll call is not in Donghuamen, but in Chongzheng Hall.

In front of Donghua Gate, eunuchs and scholars arrived one after another.

Veterans who hadn't seen their faces for a long time arrived at this time, and the officials went up to attend the ceremony.The old minister would raise the corner of the car curtain a little bit to say goodbye to the old disciples.When the chariots and horses left, the officials resumed their conversation.

Among the officials, the most eye-catching ones are the officials of Zhijianyuan. They are not so gregarious and can be recognized at a glance.As for the Hanlin pavilions, they are easy to identify, they prefer to hold together, the so-called party of gentlemen.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guangzheng were walking together, the two of them chatted for a while, and then looked at the Donghua Gate as if they were worried about something.

It can be seen that the two came on foot, unlike other ministers who were surrounded by Yuan Suizi.Although both of them can be regarded as high-ranking officials, they are nothing more than ordinary people in front of Donghua Gate.

As for Han Qi farther away, Zeng Gongliang's guard of honor seemed to have arrived, and many officials were stepping forward to greet him.

The most striking thing is Zhang Yue's new faces in black and white shirts.

People in the Tang Dynasty valued Jinshi, and those who should be Jinshi subjects have a saying of "first-class white shirt".It means that he will be a first-class official in the future, but today he still wears a white shirt.And today is the day when they change from white shirts to green clothes.

When Zhang Yuehuanglu arrived, everyone bowed their hands to each other nervously.

Zhang Yue looked around and saw that the candidate was an old man who had experienced many years of frustration in the examination room, showing a little bit of comfort in his life.

As for the middle-aged people in their prime, they not only have ambitions for the future, but at the same time they are somewhat envious of the young people beside them.As for those who looked at Donghuamen eagerly, they were mostly Zhang Yue and Huang Lu's age.

Zhang Yue also saw Wang Kui, who smiled nonchalantly and bowed his hands to him, then turned around.

Soon the officials came to teach the Jinshi to perform rituals, and soon the palace gate opened, and the officials entered the Donghua Gate one after another...

All the people were still waiting outside the door and performed the ceremony three times.

The teaching official wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced at the gradually rising sun, and said to everyone: "It's almost there. When you arrive in front of the Chongzheng Hall, do as you said before. Don't panic. The hall sings your name." When the time comes, you should respond, there will be imperial guards coming to ask you, you report your birthplace and the name of your father and grandparents before you go to the hall, don’t be speechless at that time.”

All the people laughed when they heard this.

"Finally, I would like to congratulate you all first." The official said with a gratified expression. .

After speaking, the other party saluted and bowed to each other, and the crowd responded in a loud voice. Everyone felt a lot less nervous, and finally felt a little happy.

Zhang Yue and others were about to move in according to their rankings in the provincial examination, but they heard the noise of people around them.

It turned out that Donghua Gate had gathered countless people at some time. Some people stood in the streets and alleys, some climbed upstairs to the roof, pointing at the people in front of the gate with their hands.

Zhang Yue couldn't help smiling, and immediately raised his hands high to give a big gift to the people beside him.

Seeing the more so, the people from the left and right followed suit and attended the ceremony to the common people. At this time, the front of Donghua Gate became even more lively.

An old woman kneaded a boy's head like dough and said, "Ah Lang, you have to study hard, and when you grow up, you want to be like these gentlemen."

When the leisurely bell rang, Zhang Yue and the crowd all looked solemn and lined up to enter the palace.

(End of this chapter)