Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 420 Shuntian Mansion wants to register names
Shuntianfu Yi,

Inside the Yamen, there is a ceremonial room.
There was already a huge crowd of students outside the door, as well as those who had rushed to take the exam in previous years. They were all queuing up, waiting to be registered and receive replies. This was the case for every major exam. The local county magistrate was personally watching the matter, fearing that someone would commit fraud and investigate. Coming out is a serious crime of beheading.

The door to the Lili Room has long been open.

There are clerks there carefully sorting out the household registration files, while people are queuing up outside, waiting to fill in letters of recommendation to participate in the imperial examination and get acknowledgments.

Yi Xu Jiaqing of Shuntian Prefecture personally sat in the Yamen, fearing that something went wrong below and would cause trouble for him. Also, because he was in a strong garrison in Beijing and there were many children from noble families, if something went wrong, his head would be lost.

"Old Liu Tou, you have to look carefully. Although the pen in your hand is small, the words you write are bigger than my head. If something goes wrong, everyone in the yamen will not be able to escape."

Old Liu Tou, who was still registering, stopped writing, turned around and replied flatteringly;

"Don't worry, sir. I, Mr. Liu, have been eating this bowl of rice for 30 years and have never made any mistakes. This matter will be recorded and verified before it can be given. It's just a little slow."

Mr. Xu looked at the long queue in the Yamen courtyard and didn't care. There were fewer people every year. He ordered,

"Don't be anxious, take your time with this matter. There won't be so many people any time. If you can't wait, just go back. I won't wait for you, so be careful."

"Yes, my lord."

Old Liu Tou continued to lower his head to check the copy. Mr. Xu was lying on the couch, surrounded by government officials to maintain order. He just took a sip of tea and closed his eyes to rest for a while.

Students outside are also chatting with each other, and they are all discussing whether this year's Enke exam is easier than last year's. Most of them are new comers who are taking the exam. Zhuang Jinyun is taking the exam for the first time this year, and his family also As a man with a small fortune, my father asked a lot of people to get letters of recommendation and register names here. Seeing a man behind him who was quite dignified, he couldn't help but ask,
"This dear fellow, you are so polite."

Looking at a young junior in line, he bowed respectfully to himself, and this person also bowed back in a polite manner.
"It's easy to talk. What can I teach you?"

"I don't dare to say anything. This is my first time taking the imperial examination this year. I have never taken the exam before. I am here to register my name. It is fate to meet my senior. So I would like to ask my senior what I need to pay attention to in the imperial examination room."

The young man didn't say much, and asked directly about the matter. He didn't avoid anyone when he spoke. Everyone waiting around heard it. For some reason, many people gathered around him, mostly new faces, but of course there were also many old faces. , also looked over with interest, and seeing that he was a classmate, another person, Gao Wen, praised,
"You asked the right person, Brother Xu, you are polite."

Xu Changwen looked up and saw that it was his classmate Gao Wen. He shook his head with a wry smile.
"Hey, what are you talking about? Enke has always been a great joy. Many restrictions have been lifted, so you have to be tough when you are forging iron."

Xu Changwen didn't want to say too much, but Gao Wen shook his head and said,
"Brother Xu is not authentic. You entered the palace examination directly. Enke will definitely have a place for you this year."

"Thank you, Brother Gao, for your kind words. In this case, I can talk to you."

Xu Changwen couldn't refuse any more, so he simply said some precautions. The test in the examination room was not only about the article, but also about who could endure it.

The surrounding students are flocking here, wanting to hear the senior lectures. This year's Enke examination, however, the junior high school examination, the provincial examination, the general examination, and the imperial examination are all held in sequence, which directly eliminates three years of hard study. In case of success, , is to reach the sky in one step.

Everyone was listening with their ears raised, but no one said anything. Seeing how eager they were, Xu Changwen opened his mouth,

"I, Xu Changwen, am a person from the capital city and also an examinee. I am just one step ahead of you students. Needless to say, there are articles to be tested in the examination. Since you are able to take the imperial examination, you must be confident. I would like to say something different, not much."

"Please give me some advice, senior,"

Zhuang Jinyun did not expect the unexpected surprise and quickly asked.

"Everyone, first of all, when you enter the examination room, you all know the rules. Anyone who cheats will be rewarded, so you must check carefully what you bring. Furthermore, you must eat carefully, otherwise it will be easy to get a bad stomach. I'm afraid I won't be able to take the scientific test. Finally, it's night. The biting cold is very unbearable, so wear more clothes and bring some things to keep out the cold. Finally, it's the article you write. Don't stain the rice paper. As for the final part. If you don’t win, you can only rely on God’s will.”

Xu Changwen also lamented that he had been back and forth for nine years, and the last step was the palace examination. Last year, scholars from the north and the south made a big fuss in the Ministry of Rites. The palace examination was cancelled, and the results were gone. He doesn't know where he will go if he takes the exam again this year.

I sighed a little in my heart, and looked at the young student in front of me with a sigh of relief.

After hearing Xu Changwen's words, the people around him all bowed in admiration.

"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance. If you win, you will never forget Senior Xu's teachings."

Xu Changwen also accepted the gift from them, the Township Party, the Township Party, if he might be able to use it in the future, he would definitely be named on the gold list this year.

Gawain also bowed,
"Brother Xu, see you on the gold list this year."

"Brother Gao, let's go together."

Seeing the two people talking like this, many students were enthusiastic and applauded, making it lively for a while.

at this time,

Housekeeper Zhou Rui, who was riding a horse outside the door, hurried to the Yamen with his people. Seeing so many people, his face darkened. Unfortunately, he got off the horse first.

"You guys come here quickly, what are you talking about?"

The boy who was still running behind him panted heavily, finally caught up and replied;

"Butler Zhou, here he comes, here he comes,"

"You guys, clear the way ahead and push those students aside."

The boy and the guard glanced at the people in front of them. Many students shrank their heads. These were candidates rushing to take the exam. There might be a master of scholar examinations among them. If they collided with them, they would be punished.

"Butler Zhou, I'm afraid it's something bad." "What's wrong? I didn't ask you to really drive people away, just help me squeeze out a way."

Housekeeper Zhou Rui also realized that something was wrong, and it was fine just to squeeze in. The boy and the guard nodded, and then they started pulling at the yamen gate, shouting,

"Excuse me, please. I have something urgent to see you."

Just like that, they squeezed in while shouting, and Butler Zhou Rui naturally followed behind.

But this scene,
Feng Ziying, who was passing by, saw him and looked at Bo Laosan next to him and asked;

"Three of you, look over there, do you recognize them?"

Bai Guangfeng was riding a horse, stroking his belly. He was still thinking about the roast mutton in the restaurant just now. He was so full that he couldn't bear it. When he heard Feng Ziying's words, he looked over.

Seeing the mess at the entrance of the yamen, I looked over curiously, only to see a few people who looked like servants and butlers forcing their way in, and I couldn't help but curse;
"It's just a matter of relying on people's strength. With so many people crowding in, which young master wants to take the exam?"

Feng Ziying looked back and asked,
"Third brother, you really don't know who that person is?"

"You look like a servant at first glance. How would I know who it is? If this were in my eldest brother's house, I would whip him."

Mr. Bai was rude and cursed.

Feng Ziying really didn't know when she saw Bai Guangfeng, and sighed,

"Third brother lives a cool life, and the Marquis of Xiangyang relies on him. I am envious of him."

"You're out of sight, I've accomplished nothing. What else can I do besides having fun every day? I'm not good at literature or martial arts, so I might as well find some kiln sisters to have fun with. Don't interrupt, who did you just see?"

Bai Guangfeng replied somewhat self-deprecatingly, and asked urgently who he saw.

Feng Ziying smiled and shook her head.

"My younger brother is even more ashamed. There is no way to pass the martial arts examination. Let's not talk about it. Third brother, just now we saw the steward of Rongguo Mansion entering. You said you came here, not to register your name,"

"How is that possible? You have seen it clearly. No one in Rongguo Mansion has taken the imperial examination for many years. Jia Zhu is quite talented, but he failed and left a widow. What a pity."

Bai Guangfeng couldn't believe it. The Rongguo Mansion was asking someone to take the exam. It must be the legitimate son. Who could it be? It was impossible for Jia Lian of the Jia family. It would be Jia Baoyu. How could it be possible? That was the darling of everyone in the Jia family. , Bo Laosan has met Jia Baoyu, and he is destined to be rich and noble at first glance. How can he be willing to let him take the imperial examination? If something goes wrong like his elder brother Jia Zhu, the whole Rongguo family will be turned upside down.

"Third brother, I must have read it right. He is indeed the steward of Rongguo Mansion."

Feng Ziying was also puzzled. The person had gone in, but it was not clear whose name was recorded. He was thinking about who in the Rongguo Mansion would take part in the imperial examination. Could it be that he was a member of the side family? Rongguo Mansion also began to train children of the side lineage. It was the old lady's suggestion. I will definitely remember it in my heart and discuss it with my father when I get back. He is worthy of being the founding father of the country and has a long-term vision.

In the yamen,
From the front, I heard Butler Zhou Rui squeeze in impatiently, and then walked to the front, which made many students dissatisfied. However, when he saw many young guards following this person, he dared not speak out in anger.

Housekeeper Zhou didn't care about those poor people. He walked straight to the front, pushed aside the students who were lining up, took out the recommendation letters and put them on the table.
"Greetings to your lord, a letter of recommendation from Rongguo Mansion."

Xu Jiaqing opened his eyes suddenly. How could it be possible for a recommendation letter from Rongguo Mansion? It has been many years since he heard that a child from Rongguo Mansion came to take the imperial examination. What is going on today?

asked,

"Old Liu, bring the letter over and let me have a look."

"Yes, my lord."

Old Liu took the recommendation letter carefully.
After handing it to Xu Jiaqing, he opened the letter and read it before realizing that it was Jia Zheng's second son, Jia Baoyu, who was preparing to take the exam, and what came with him was a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Industry. Jia Cunzhou was still so careful, remembering that his eldest son was so poor, no Thinking of Jia Cunzhou's courage, Jia Baoyu seemed to remember that the man who was born with jade in his mouth was destined to be rich and noble. It seemed that the Jia family had a noble man.

Then he handed it over,
"Old Liu, please fill it out for Jia Baoyu first, and be more careful."

"Yes, sir, write it now."

Old Liu Tou carefully received the letter and started writing when he went back. Housekeeper Zhou Rui didn't know that Mr. Xu was an old member of the Jia family. He bowed his hands and said,
"Thank you, Master Xu."

"Well, say hello to Jia Cunzhou."

"Yes, my lord."

With just a few words, the angry students behind him were like a bucket of cold water poured on them. They calmed down, lowered their heads and stopped watching.

Old Liu Tou finished writing the receipt and pasted it on the piece of wood and handed it over.

"Put away the wooden piece of note. This time Enke will use this note to enter the examination room. The time is set to be in early April. Remember the time."

"Thank you."

Butler Zhou carefully put away the wood chips and anxiously took people back to Rongguo Mansion. The Yamen naturally continued, and Old Liu Tou shouted;
"Come on, next."

(End of this chapter)