Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong Courtyard.

The sisters had breakfast. As the eldest sister, Yingchun had to worry about everything. She carefully checked all the things that Jia Cong brought into the venue before she felt relieved.

Xiangyun's personality is just that she loves to be lively and her mind is still unstable. She doesn't have the affectionate and considerate feelings of Yingchun and Daiyu, nor does she have the complicated feelings of Baochai.

As for Xing Xiuyun, she was the one who knew how to be content with what she has. She was satisfied when Jia Cong put a soft pillow she made in his examination box, and she wanted nothing else.

When Jia Cong had completed all the formalities for entering the palace, the sisters were chatting and laughing. Then Yuanyang came with two little maids and told them what Grandmother Jia had said. Since there was nothing to do, they were just spending time in the East Palace.

Time quickly approached noon. Since Wu'er did not go to the West Mansion today, Ping'er, who had been busy with housework in the West Mansion for half a day, also rushed to Jia Cong's courtyard to help.

Even though Wang Xifeng had difficulty moving, she had someone carry her sedan chair over. As the eldest sister-in-law, it was natural for her to come and show her face on the eve of Jia Cong's entry.

At noon, the housekeeper outside came with a message, saying that the master's mistress, Cui, had sent a lucky gift, and asked the maid in the inner courtyard to bring in the new guest.

Because it was a gift sent by Jia Cong's master, it attracted everyone's curious eyes.

Jia Cong recognized the visitor as his master's wife Cui's personal maid, who brought him an exquisite jujube wood food box with intricate and lifelike lotus and egret patterns carved on the outside.

The maid said that this was the rule of the Liu family. Before each young man took the examination, his family would prepare such a food box.

The lotus and egret carved on the outside of the box mean success in every exam.

The maid opened the box, and Jia Cong and others saw that it was divided into many compartments, with snow-white duck meat, green-shell steamed crabs, and vermilion osmanthus neatly arranged. The arrangement was neat, the colors were bright, and it exuded a festive atmosphere.

The maid smiled and said, "These things were all prepared by Madam herself. The duck and crab, one is full-shelled and the other is back-shelled, which means they are ranked first.

This scarlet osmanthus is naturally a sign of success. Madam is hoping that Young Master Jia will pass the imperial examination this time, get his name on the list, and rank high, so that he can achieve his wish and become one of the nine successful candidates in the Liu family."

Jia Cong felt warm at heart after hearing this. His master's wife, Cui, had always treated him as her own son. She gave him gifts before the exam, which showed that she regarded him as a member of the Liu family.

Although he has now become the head of the East and West Mansions of the Jia family, and all the sisters in the family are close to and love him, in terms of recognition and belonging as a parent, Master and his mistress of the Liu family are far superior to Lady Jia.

After seeing off Cui's maid, another servant came over from the East Courtyard and said that he had received instructions from Jia Zheng and asked about the time Jia Cong would go out to the Imperial Examination Hall today.

In fact, Jia Cong spent half a year studying hard, pondering the meaning of classics and contemporary essays day and night, and he could be said to have devoted all his energy to the imperial examination in this life.

What's more, he was already the top scorer in the state and had a famous teacher to teach him. As long as he performed normally after entering the competition, it would not be a problem for him to get into the top three.

Therefore, on the last day of the Spring Examination, he was able to completely let go of his worries and was in a stable and relaxed state.

However, the people close to him seemed to be much more nervous than him. Even Shi Xiangyun, who was usually carefree and playful, spoke in a gentle voice when talking to him today.

This situation reminded Jia Cong of his past life, when he was facing a big test in life, and those parents and friends who came to him with trepidation, and those young boys who were ignorant of the world...

……

The day passed quickly. Just after the Shen hour, the sun was setting in the west, so Jia Cong packed up his things and left the house.

The steward of the East Palace dismissed the servants from the outer courtyard early, because the sisters wanted to escort Jia Cong out of the inner courtyard and all the way to the east corner gate of the East Palace.

When Jia Cong and his sisters arrived, they saw Jia Zheng waiting there. When he saw the people around him, Jia Cong was even more surprised.

Jia Zheng actually brought along Baoyu, Jia Huan, Jia Lan and other children and grandchildren, and it looked as if they were here to see Jia Cong off from the mansion to the Imperial Examination Hall.

When Jia Zheng saw Jia Cong wearing a brand new royal blue round-necked robe, with a tall and slender figure, a dignified bearing and an extraordinary demeanor, he could not help but nod with satisfaction.

He said, "Brother Cong has studied hard for many years and is finally on the road to success. Since our eldest brother Ningguo passed the imperial examination thirty years ago, our Jia family is finally able to show off our literary talent again. We are very fortunate!"

He then said to his children and grandchildren around him: "Today you all remember Cong'er's appearance. A young man should not waste his time. He can pass the imperial examinations with his literary talent and protect the country with his martial arts. This is not a life wasted.

Don’t indulge in wealth and laziness. When you get older and it’s too late to regret it! "

After hearing Jia Zheng's heartfelt words to his children and grandchildren, Jia Cong felt a little strange.

It turned out that Jia Zheng had brought them here to use himself as an example, to inspire them, and to teach his children and grandchildren on the spot. He had finally become someone else's child...

Jia Zheng did have some good intentions, but I'm afraid the actual effect was very limited.

Jia Cong saw that Baoyu's face was pale and he seemed to not know where to put his hands and feet. He looked as if he was about to be punished and was in a state of panic.

Jia Huan was much calmer. His eyes rolled around and he responded to his father's words in a submissive manner, seeming to be somewhat receptive.

Jia Lan was still young and was not the main target of Jia Zheng's teaching, but he was the one with the clearest expression among the three.

Perhaps it was because he was taught by his widowed mother Li Wan since he was a child, and his worldview was corrected, so he looked at Jia Cong with envy and admiration.

He said something that was not clear enough: "Uncle San, I passed the imperial examination."

Jia Cong sighed slightly, smiled and touched his head, guessing that this sentence was probably taught by Li Wan before he went out.

Jia Cong saw three or four carriages parked at the west corner gate. He asked the housekeeper of the inner courtyard and learned that Yingchun, Daiyu and others had asked the housekeeper to prepare vehicles to take Jia Cong to the Imperial Examination Hall.

Although he was grateful for his sister's care and concern, he still said to Yingchun: "This year is the big year of the Spring Examination, there are more than 3,000 candidates taking the examination, although they have left an hour in advance.

But the streets leading to the Imperial Examination Hall will definitely be congested. It is really inconvenient for a girl to go out at this time. Second sister and the sisters can just send me to the corner gate and wait for me to finish the exam and return home."

After hearing this, Yingchun and the others had no choice but to give up. They also asked the housekeeper to bring more smart servants to accompany Jia Cong along the way, to help him enter the Imperial Examination Hall, and to report back home in time.

When Jia Cong got on the carriage, he saw Jia Zheng and his sisters still standing inside the east corner gate.

……

He had just lowered the curtain and was about to let Jiang Liu drive the horse when he suddenly heard the sound of hurried horse hooves behind him.

Jia Cong stood on the shaft of the cart and looked back, and saw a slender woman wearing a moon-white Hu robe and a veil hat on her head, riding a horse towards him.

The mane of the black horse under his crotch fluttered in the evening breeze.

The horse that the woman was riding was a gift from King Kangshun to Jia Cong.

When the horse galloped to Jia Cong's carriage, the woman lifted her veil, revealing a delicate face as white as snow, a pair of beautiful eyes rippling with the meaning of sea water, and her hair fluttering in the wind.

Jia Cong asked in surprise, "Aili, why are you here?"

Ai Li smiled and said, "I heard from my mother that today is the day for the Spring Examination. You have been studying for many days and have not gone out. I haven't seen you for a long time, so I came to see you off."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "After the Spring Examination, you won't have to waste time on scriptures anymore. I'll go out for a walk with you when you have some free time."

Ai Liqiong wrinkled her nose slightly and said, "You said it yourself. When you leave the Imperial Examination Hall, you are not allowed to cheat."

Jia Cong asked Ai Li to get off the horse and get on his carriage, but Ai Li would rather ride a horse.

Jia Cong knew that she grew up in Liaodong. Although she was a woman, she did not like red makeup, but only loved BMWs and swords. For her, riding a horse was probably more interesting than riding in a car.

Jia Cong had been studying at home during this period. Worried that Ai Li would be bored, he gave his BMW to her to ride for fun.

Ai Li rode the horse to accompany him, and Jia Cong did not enter the carriage, but just sat on the shaft, and the two chatted and laughed all the way.

When the carriage arrived at Wenchang Road in the east of the city, we saw that the road was crowded, with carriages constantly entering Wenchang Street from the surrounding streets.

As soon as Jia Cong's carriage entered the intersection, he saw the entire Wenchang Street, which was crowded with many carriages, looking end to end from afar.

He wanted to get the carriage out of the intersection, but it was too late because another carriage soon followed behind, blocking the way back.

Wenchang Street was originally a prosperous street in the east of the city, with shops lining both sides of the street and bustling with pedestrians. With so many carriages pouring into the road, it quickly became overcrowded.

The road was crowded with people, making it difficult to walk. The drivers held the reins tightly, fearing that the noise would attract the animals and cause trouble.

As a result, all kinds of complaints, urgings and shouting were heard on various roads, which seemed extremely chaotic and aggravated the congestion on the road.

From time to time, anxious passengers came out of the carriages that were stuck in the road. Judging from their attire, they were all candidates going to take the imperial examination, because Wenchang Road was the only way to get to the Imperial Examination Hall.

Ai Li, who was beside the car, smiled and said, "Before I came here, I heard that Wenchang Road is the closest to Gongyuan, and the road here is the widest. I think everyone wants to go here, so it's blocked."

Jia Cong smiled bitterly: "You can't even walk, and you still laugh."

Ellie smiled and said, "So, I had the foresight to come here on horseback."

Jia Cong took a look at the majestic black horse under Ai Li's crotch, and his eyes lit up slightly.

……

Ai Li smiled and said, "What are you waiting for? We just need to take a longer route and we will definitely arrive earlier than them. We won't delay your exam."

Jia Cong took out the Western gilt pocket watch he carried with him. Although there was still some time before the Imperial Examination Hall was closed, it was not safe to be stuck on Wenchang Road.

So he gave Jiang Liu a few instructions, and then tied the packed bedding, cloak, and two bamboo tubes filled with water behind Ai Li's saddle.
He casually picked up the test box, lightly stepped on the stirrup, jumped onto the horse's back, and sat behind Ellie.

Although the Wenchang intersection is not as congested as the center of the road, there are still many pedestrians and vehicles passing by, and movement is beginning to become a little inconvenient. I am afraid that it will soon be congested as well.

Ai Li smiled softly. She grew up riding on horseback and was an excellent rider. She shook the reins and turned the horse's head nimbly. She rode through the gaps between the cars and horses at the intersection. In just a moment, she got out of the increasingly congested Wenchang intersection. Jia Cong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Ellie jogged her horse for a few steps and turned into a nearby street that was not very wide but had few pedestrians.

He said, "If we take a short detour and choose a road that is easier to travel, we will definitely arrive at the Imperial Examination Hall earlier than others."

She suddenly chuckled and said, "Why are you sitting so straight? You look like an old scholar. This must be the rule your teacher taught you. Hold my waist, or you might fall off the saddle."

Jia Cong smiled awkwardly, holding the examination box in his right hand, and gently reached out with his left hand to hug Ai Li's slender waist.

Like Jia Cong, Ai Li has been practicing martial arts and sword skills since childhood. She has slender limbs and a flexible and strong waist.

Jia Cong only felt that the touch was warm, smooth, soft and elastic, as if he could hold it in his hand, and the fragrance permeated his body. It really felt very good...

At the beginning, Jia Cong met Ai Li by chance in Liaodong. The two had fought together on the battlefield, going through life and death together, and their friendship was extraordinary.

If it weren't for Ai Li's ability to detect the enemy using birds, Jia Cong would not have been able to accomplish the great feat of wiping out the Jurchens, and he would not have been conferred the title of earl.

From this point of view, Ai Li means very much to Jia Cong, and it was he who brought Ai Li and her daughter back to Shenjing for settlement.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

To each other, they are the most special existence to each other.

The horse galloped slowly on the street. Ever since Ellie and Jia Cong settled in Shenjing, Jia Cong would always take her out for a stroll when he had free time, so she was very familiar with the streets of Shenjing.

Although the roads chosen for horse riding are not busy streets, there are not many pedestrians passing by, so the horses can gallop very smoothly and appear to be unobstructed.

At this time, the night had already covered the sky, and the scenes on both sides of the road were rapidly receding.

What was originally just a gentle evening breeze became stronger as the horses galloped, exuding a strength that combined hardness and softness, squeezing and wrapping the two people on the saddle together.

As the horse galloped, Jia Cong's body could not help but press against Ai Li's back. He seemed to be able to feel her beating heartbeat and the intoxicating blush on her delicate and beautiful earlobes...

After riding for quite a while, they entered the East Street of Gongyuan. There were many carriages and horses heading to Gongyuan on the road, but it was far less congested than Wenchang Street.

Jia Cong could already see from afar the huge archway standing tall in front of the Imperial Examination Hall.

The four large black characters "Kai Tian Yun" on the archway exude an aura of cultural elegance that seems to blow towards you, making you feel awe-inspiring.

At this time, there were already quite a few candidates on the East Street of Gongyuan who were heading to the Gongyuan to enter the palace. Some of them drove black donkey carts, some sat in carriages with canopies, and some walked on foot.

However, a man and a woman riding on the same horse as Jia Cong did was a unique and strange sight, as the ethics and morals in today's era were very strict.

Except for a very small number of daughters of generals, very few women rode horses on the streets. For those from families of officials and poets, this was even considered a rebellious act.

What's more, the person riding the horse was seen by others to be a graceful girl.

He was dressed in moon-white Hu clothing, with narrow shoulders and a tight waist, and looked handsome and charming. Although he was wearing a veil and his face could not be seen clearly, it was not difficult to guess that he must be a noble person.

The young man behind the woman is youthful, handsome and handsome, carrying an examination box. It is obvious that he is a candidate taking the exam this year.

After all, Jia Cong's way of entering the Imperial Examination Hall was a little too eye-catching.

Many scholars and candidates secretly slandered Jia Cong, saying that he was so wild and dissolute at such a young age. In the grand spring examination, he rode on the same horse with a woman, and paraded through the streets in a romantic and charming manner, which was not decent.

Ailile stopped the horse and the two men jumped off the saddles. They found that there were several long lines of candidates waiting at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall, waiting for the officials to search and interrogate them and then lock the gates before entering the Hall.

Although there were quite a few candidates present, this was only a small part compared to the more than 3,000 candidates taking the exam this year.

Fortunately, Ellie rode a horse to accompany him, which allowed him to avoid the congestion on Wenchang Road and reach the Imperial Examination Hall one step earlier.

Jia Cong smiled at Ai Li and said, "It's getting late, you should go back early. I'll be out of the customs after the exam on the 27th. We'll go to Liufangju for tea and I'll accompany you to taste the Su-style desserts there."

Ellie smiled and said, "I'm waiting for you to come, don't break your promise."

Jia Cong waved goodbye to Ai Li with some difficulty, then walked into the queue of candidates with his things in both hands.

Ai Li got on the horse again, pulled the reins and walked forward, looking back at Jia Cong in the team of candidates from time to time.

……

At this moment, in the shrine of the Great Sage and Teacher in the Imperial Examination Hall, the air was filled with the curl of incense and candles. Twenty officials from the Ministry of Rites, dressed in vermilion sacrificial robes, each holding an instrument, lined up to offer sacrifices.

Emperor Jiazhao ordered Cabinet Grand Secretary Cai Xiang and Minister of Rites Guo Youchang to preside over the memorial service for Confucius.

The three chief examiners and eighteen co-examiners of the Spring Examination lined up in order behind the two men, solemnly kowtowed, paid their respects, and burned incense to the spirit tablet of the great sage teacher.

Another prayer-reciting official from the Ministry of Rites unfolded a yellow satin imperial edict and brocade silk, and prayed to heaven and earth: The Spring Examination is a grand ceremony to select talents for the country, with fairness and strictness, without missing out on any pearls, and heaven and earth are witnesses, and humans and gods are aware of it...

This ritual of paying homage to the great sage and teacher is a grand Confucian ceremony that must be completed before each spring examination.

After the memorial ceremony was completed, Cabinet Grand Secretary Cai Xiang and Minister of Rites Guo Youchang immediately left the Imperial Examination Hall. All affairs of this spring's imperial examination were officially taken over by the three chief examiners.

The Wenhua bell set up in the Imperial Examination Hall was rung, and the booming sound echoed in all directions.

The bell would ring once every quarter of an hour. After the bell rang three times, if any candidate had not arrived at the Imperial Examination Hall, he would be disqualified from taking the exam.

As the Wenhua bell rang, the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall opened, and the officials who had been on high alert began to check the candidates entering the hall.

As the cultural bell rang, it cast a silent majesty and oppression in the hearts of every candidate...

The long line of candidates began to move slowly forward.

……

The inspection of candidates entering the imperial examination was still very strict and meticulous, but the attitude of the officials in charge of the inspection towards the candidates was much better than that of the provincial examination.

Unless the candidate being searched has an unusual expression or obvious suspicions arise during the search, there will basically be no embarrassing scene of him taking off his clothes or pants.

This is because all the candidates who passed the imperial examination were already the best among the scholars and almost all of them possessed considerable talent.

They all cherished the chance to enter the final stage of the imperial examination, the Spring Examination, and unless they were too foolish, they would not usually cheat at the entrance and thus ruin their reputation.

Moreover, as a scholar, he has already entered the ranks of scholar-officials and is eligible to be selected as an official.

In fact, among the candidates, there were quite a few who already held official positions, like Jia Cong.

Therefore, as long as the inspection at the entrance to the examination hall was under normal circumstances, the officials in charge of the inspection would maintain some decency.

When Jia Cong entered the customs, his clothes were briefly searched to make sure he had nothing smuggled, and his examination box was also opened and checked layer by layer.

Xing Xiuyan was indeed foresighted. The soft pillow she made was indeed opened, but fortunately she had straightened the buttons in advance so it would not be damaged.

Jia Cong carried a bamboo tube of water with him, and the clerk who checked it made him drink it on the spot to prevent fraud.

Just as he was about to say something, a man who looked like an official whispered something in the clerk's ear.

The clerk looked at Jia Cong with surprise, immediately stopped the interrogation, handed Jia Cong a bamboo slip with his dorm number, and let him enter the hospital.

Jia Cong recognized the official. He was Liu Shuyou, a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. It seemed that he was also an official in this spring's imperial examination.

Jia Cong was a top scorer in the Yongzhou County Examination, and his talent and fame spread throughout the world. No one would believe that such a person would cheat, and Liu Shuyou was just one of them.

The two of them nodded slightly, and Jia Cong carried his things and walked into the Imperial Examination Hall with his head held high.

All candidates who entered the Imperial Examination Hall had to go to the main hall of the Imperial Examination Hall to pay homage to the three chief examiners of this spring's examination before entering the examination rooms.

This will also be their master after they pass the imperial examination, of course, provided that they can pass the imperial examination.

Jia Cong followed the other candidates and, under the guidance of the clerks of the Imperial Examination Hall, went to the main hall of the Imperial Examination Hall one after another.

At this time, the lights around the main hall of the Imperial Examination Hall were as bright as stars, and many candidates had gathered there waiting to pay their respects to the chief examiner.

However, the clerk in charge of leading the way in the Imperial Examination Hall only allowed twenty candidates to enter the main hall to pay homage to the chief examiner at a time.

After all, the area of ​​the main hall is limited and cannot accommodate too many candidates at one time.

Every time a candidate came to the hall to pay homage, the accompanying clerk would read out the official title of the examiner as a sign of respect.

The imperial edict for the Spring Examination was posted at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall that day. All the candidates present had gone to see it, so they naturally knew who the three examiners were.

When the first group of candidates entered the hall to pay their respects, the voice of a clerk announcing the chief examiner could be heard loudly.

The cabinet students led the Minister of Revenue Wang Shilun, the Minister of Personnel Chen Mo, the Right Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Liangxiong...

No matter whether they were the candidates paying respect inside the hall or waiting outside the hall, when they heard the names of the two examiners in front of them, their expressions remained calm.

However, when the name of the third examiner was announced aloud by the clerk, almost all the candidates looked surprised, and some even changed their faces drastically... (End of this chapter)