I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 128
After the body of the staff member Zhou Wenquan was found, although his fingertips were cut off by a sharp knife, Butler Liu had already been taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guards. It must be only a matter of time before he confessed.

Liu Jian returned to the capital in a hurry, but was followed by the Forbidden Dragon Guards. This time, it wasn't that he joined Yin Wuyan, but that the Forbidden Dragon Guards wanted to expose Liu Jian's background.

Prince Yu and his party also left Shangsi County, and Gu Qingzhou left a letter to Zhan Feiyu and the land deed of the farm and returned to the capital. Shangsi County returned to peace again, but only the big families in Nanxuan Mansion knew that Nanxuan Mansion The layout of Xuanfu is about to change.

Zhan Feiyu goes to the county school every day in a carriage to study, and there are two brothers and sisters beside her. He Sheng is responsible for driving the carriage to pick up Zhan Feiyu, and He Nuan takes care of her daily life.

And in the blink of an eye, the time went from midsummer to severe winter, and February [-]th was the day of the county examination. Although the north wind was cold, the market became lively because of the county examination, especially in various inns, teahouses, and wine shops. Scholars were often seen gather.

In the Sansheng hall of the county school, Zhao Jiaoyu put down the article in his hand and looked at Zhan Feiyu, who was one year older but still looked childish.

It is estimated that the new year has been raised well. The little girl has grown a bit, but her cheeks are still round and plump. The round collar trimmed with a circle of rabbit fur makes her lips red and white. , more like a daughter carefully raised by a scholarly family.

"Based on the popularity of your current articles, it is not a big problem to take part in the county examination." Zhao Jiaoyu is really optimistic about Zhan Feiyu. He has taught many students in his life, and some are talented, but like Zhan Feiyu, he is as diligent and self-disciplined. But there are very few.

"Students do their best." Although Zhan Feiyu spoke modestly, Baozi smiled.

Zhao Jiaoyu was also amused by her smiling face, and explained in detail the points that need to be paid attention to during the exam. Although Zhan Feiyu is valued by the magistrate Chen, the magistrate Chen is rigid and serious. He will never release water, this county test still depends on Zhan Feiyu's ability.

"Xiaoyu, although the county examination is held in this county, and the chief examiner is County Magistrate Chen, but..." Thinking of the case of Wan Yunhao being poisoned last summer, Zhao Jiaoyu couldn't help but look a little more serious.

"Liu Jian has been dispatched to the frontier, Tong Tongzhi has also been dismissed, and the Qin family has been implicated, but after all, Jiangnan Road is the territory of the four major families headed by the Chen family. You have to be more careful." Zhao Jiaoyu is not Worrying is unfounded, the more peaceful the past six months, the more uneasy people feel that the mountains and rains are about to come.

Jiangnan Dao was originally monolithic and controlled by the four major families, but now it has opened a hole from Nanxuan Mansion, coupled with the change of salt tax, the current situation of Jiangnan Dao is unpredictable.

Although Zhan Feiyu is just an insignificant little fish, she is likely to be swallowed by the stormy waves. Who told her to be the fuse for all this to happen.

"I understand." Zhan Feiyu nodded obediently, but there was no fear in his crystal-clear eyes. Instead, he was burning with a steaming fighting spirit. One, come two to kill one pair!
With Gu Xueshi as her teacher, the little girl has enough confidence!Zhao Jiaoyu couldn't help feeling that if he had a backing back then, he might have been able to give it a try.

County magistrate Chen has been suppressed in Shangsi County for eight years, and he may be transferred after the imperial examination. Thinking of this, Zhao Jiaoyu can't compare to Zhan Feiyu's good luck. There are thousands of scholars in the world, and there are no hardworking Few, only a little girl can learn from Master Gu, and she will die!
After leaving the county school, there was snowflakes outside. In the vast white world, Zhan Feiyu gathered his heavy cloak and walked quickly towards the carriage not far away.

"Miss." He Sheng jumped out of the carriage, walked over quickly holding an umbrella, and took the bookcase behind Zhan Feiyu with one hand, "The ground is slippery, miss, walk slowly."

"It's okay, let's go to Wenxing Study first." Zhan Feiyu got into the carriage and hugged the stove in his arms.

Although she insists on exercising every day, she spends most of her time on reading, and her skills can only protect herself. Fortunately, she is in good health, and she won't feel too cold even in snowy days. Exams will definitely be overwhelming.

The fat shopkeeper was wrapped into a ball when it was cold. Seeing Zhan Feiyu who had braved the wind and snow to enter the door, he couldn't help but greeted him in surprise, "Why are you here in this snowy day? Don't freeze."

"Buy some pens and ink." Zhan Feiyu shook off the snowflakes on his body at the door, and it was no surprise to see many scholars reading in the study.

Looking at the quiet and dignified little girl, the fat shopkeeper couldn't help but recall that two years ago, the little girl was from a poor family, and she always bought the cheapest jute paper for posting. At that time, the fat shopkeeper was still wondering how long this little girl could last.

The peasant family is poor, and for a boy to study, more than a dozen members of the family have to tighten their belts to live, but even so, many people give up after studying for three to five years. I ran out of money.

The fat shopkeeper didn't expect that Zhan Feiyu not only went to the county school to study, but was also accepted as a disciple by Master Gu.

Although Xiaoyu stayed in Shangsi County after Gu Xueshi returned to the capital, there were rumors that her disciple was just a false name, if Gu Xueshi really accepted his apprentice, why didn't he take her to the capital?
But regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, Zhan Feiyu had already registered at the county government office last month, and was only waiting to take the county examination ten days later.

"Little Mengtong Zhan?" Suddenly, a young man who read a book came over. Compared with Zhan Feiyu who was wearing a jacket and skirt and a rabbit fur cape, this person was only wearing a washed white cotton coat with a face Thin, it can be seen that the family background is ordinary.

After the two parties greeted each other, Qian Pingchao asked: "Adhering to the outline but self-defeating, sticking to the basics but not self-sufficiency. I don't know the meaning of this sentence, please give me some advice from Zhan Xiaomengtong."

After finishing the words, Qian Pingchao saluted again, as if he was not ashamed to ask his subordinates.

The remaining seven or eight people in the study involuntarily looked over after Zhan Feiyu entered the door. Last year, the case of Wanjuren being poisoned and murdered was full of excitement, not only the scholars in Shangsi County, but the entire Nanxuan Mansion and even several neighboring states. Scholars from the prefecture came to Shangsi County one after another.

Zhan Feiyu also became famous in the first battle, and won Wan Yunhao and Tong Xu as Meng Tong. One of them was a man and the other was a scholar. Absolutely.

Even if there were rumors later that Xueshi Gu did not accept her as an apprentice, it did not shake Zhan Feiyu's position among scholars at all.

"Have you read this sentence?" The man not far away asked his classmate in a low voice. He was well-read, but he still didn't know.

The classmate shook his head after thinking about it, "I don't know."

Regardless of whether the other party is sincerely asking for advice or has other purposes, Zhan Feiyu pondered for a while and then said: "This sentence comes from "Fu Zi". Flee, Qi Sunmeng is going."

This sentence means that if you grasp the main rope of the net, the mesh of the fishing net will open naturally; if you grasp the root, the rest of the details will follow naturally.

Do you really know?Qian Pingchao smiled and sincerely thanked him, "Thank you little Mengtong Zhan for clarifying the confusion. I saw this sentence a month ago and couldn't understand it."

"Threesomes must have my teacher, and you don't have to be polite." Zhan Feiyu's face was calm and flat, without the complacency of self-satisfaction, nor the arrogance and coldness of being a child prodigy.

After receiving the two pieces of paper handed over by the fat shopkeeper, Zhan Feiyu, who was about to leave, paused, and said with a smile: "The book "Fu Zi" is concerned with governing the Tao, expounding Confucianism, and the famous sayings are always here, dear friend You can read more, goodbye."

The scholars in the study looked at the little girl who stepped into the wind and snow with great admiration. When a person's height far surpassed them, they could not feel jealous and could only look up.

Qian Pingchao returned to his original position and continued to read the book, with a quick flash of coldness in his eyes.

Zhan Feiyu is too self-disciplined. She goes from home to the county school every day, and occasionally goes back to the farm next to the official road for a short stay when she is late. Don't talk about pouring dirty water on Zhan Feiyu, she can't even see her.

Fortunately, Zhan Feiyu would come to Wenxing Study every ten days to buy pens, inks, papers and inkstones. In the past few months, Qian Pingchao came to Wenxing Study every now and then to read and occasionally to buy something. He had also met Zhan Feiyu five or six times before. , but he has never acted. To be recognized and praised by all the members of the county school, Zhan Feiyu must have real talents.

It was not until today that Qian Pingchao found a sentence from a rare ancient book. He originally wanted to release a wave of rumors before the county examination in order to tarnish Zhan Feiyu's reputation, but who would have thought that Zhan Feiyu would be able to answer it straight away? .

"Miss, is there something wrong?" He Sheng is in his twenties, with ordinary features, looks simple and honest, and will never attract attention in the crowd, but he is the bodyguard sent by Yin Wuyan to protect Zhan Feiyu.

"Although the book "Fu Zi" has not been lost, it is not in Shangsi County." Sitting in the carriage, Zhan Feiyu curled his lips into a smile, "He is dressed like a child from a poor family, where can he find this ancient book? Furthermore, as an inquisitive scholar, if you have any doubts, you will ask at that time, why wait until I come to the study."

Whether it's Zhan Feiyu or the students of the county school, if you encounter something you don't understand, you should either ask your classmates, your teacher, or other well-educated people.

He Sheng drove the carriage, and after leaving the county seat, he opened his mouth and said, "Ah Nuan also found someone wandering outside Zhuangzi in the past few days."

The centipede is dead but not stiff!The same family fell, and the Qin family was implicated, but Zhan Feiyu was Gu Qingzhou's disciple. The two families have been silent for more than half a year. It is estimated that they plan to tamper with the county test, so that Zhan Feiyu can be destroyed forever.

As for the eldest prince's niece, the Chen family, a small person like Zhan Feiyu can't get into the Chen family's eyes. If Zhan Feiyu goes to the country test in the future, the Chen family may do it, but now she is a little Mengtong, and she is not qualified to let her go. The Chen family put their minds to it.

When the carriage stopped in the yard of the farm, Zhan Feiyu just got out of the carriage, and the maid in dark blue skirt walked over quickly. The road was slippery in the heavy snow, but her steps were extremely fast but exceptionally steady.

"Miss, hurry up and go inside to warm up." He Nuan took the umbrella that He Sheng handed over, and quickly covered Zhan Feiyu, while he was completely exposed to the wind and snow.

Entering the house, the warmth of the charcoal fire made people feel comfortable. Looking at Zhan Feiyu with a soothing expression, He Nuan couldn't help saying: "The county school has been closed for several days, but the young lady set off before dawn. You will suffer a lot along the way. gone."

After taking two sips of hot water from the teacup, Zhan Feiyu laughed, with a naughty tone, "Don't say it's snowing, even if there is a knife in the sky, I have to go to school. If I fail the college exam, I guess the teacher will have to send me to school." Kill him, save his reputation from being ruined."

He Nuan hung the untied rabbit fur cloak aside, and glanced at the room. There was a plum blossom in full bloom in a vase in the corner, and the light fragrance permeated the room.

The landscape screen divides the room into two, and all the decorations in the room are exquisite. These are arranged by Mr. Gu in name, but in fact they all come from Yin Wuyan's orders.

Only the boxes of books and the Four Treasures of the Study that are sent from the capital every half a month are really from the scholar's mansion, and Zhan Feiyu also packs his articles and poems and sends them back to the capital every half a month. Canoe review.

"It is said that strict teachers produce high-quality apprentices, Master Gu is a bit stricter." He Nuan is a military maid. She has met many daughters of rich families when she was in the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Although she still needs to read and write, she also has to learn piano. Chess, calligraphy and painting, and even inner house methods, are ultimately easier than men studying for the imperial examination.

For more than half a year, He Nuan took care of Zhan Feiyu's daily life, and only then did he truly understand what it means to study hard in the cold window!
My hands are frozen and stiff, and I still have to pick up a pen to write after rubbing. An article can be revised five or six times, seven or eight times. Practicing handwriting can really dye a pool of water black.

Zhan Feiyu safely agrees with Gu Qingzhou's strictness, and sighed with a downcast face, "The teacher said that I don't need to study after I can take the test, and then I can be a famous master of mathematics in the Daqing Dynasty."

He Nuan estimated that it will take ten years, right?

……

At this moment, Qian Pingchao, who had left Wenxing Study, bought a few steamed buns at a small stall before returning home. He rented a house in the county during this period.

After the old servant came in with hot water, Qian Pingchao drank two cups of tea to warm himself up. The door was left open, saying that he was watching the snow scene, so it was not to prevent someone from eavesdropping.

"Uncle Huang, our previous plan may not work." Qian Pingchao ate two mouthfuls of steamed buns, his brows were full of disgust.

But in order not to arouse suspicion, he can only pretend to be a poor boy with a small pocket, wearing patched cotton clothes, and eating steamed buns, pickles and white porridge.

His back was slightly hunched, and the old man Huang was wiping the tables and chairs with a rag. He looked out of the window twice, and his lowered voice sounded like a 60-year-old man, "Is she really so smart?"

"The test papers for last year's competition were pasted outside the county government office. The scholars in Nanxuan Mansion witnessed it with their own eyes, not to mention the inspection by the Forbidden Dragon Guards. Who would dare to doubt that Zhan Feiyu's policy question was written by someone else?" Qian Pingchao looked jealous. Contorted, if such a talent is placed on himself, why would he worry about not being named on the gold list?
Qian Pingchao is indeed a child from a poor family, and he also has a bit of talent for reading. He was enlightened at the age of eight, and met Old Man Huang when he was ten years old. They are all 20 years old, and they have not yet passed the exam.

After Mr. Huang thought about it, the hoarse voice sounded again, "In that case, let's wait until the county test. This time, if you fail again, in the future..."

Old Man Huang didn't finish the rest of the sentence, but Qian Pingchao understood the threat in the words. If he couldn't pass the exam as a scholar, then Old Man Huang would no longer give him money for his studies, and those precious books he had read before There are no more books, and no one will review and give him pointers on the articles he wrote.

After nightfall, Old Man Huang hunched his body and went out with a wooden bucket. There were few pedestrians on the road. Even if the neighbors next door saw him, they would only think that he went to the old well at the end of the alley to fetch water.

After making sure that there was no one around, Old Man Huang let go of his hand, and a pigeon flew into the night sky with a swish, instantly blending into the night, and then disappeared under the vast night.

(End of this chapter)