Lin Jiabiyu

When the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, the scenery of the capital is changing every day. Before anyone can get over it, it is the beginning of April.The imperial court released the apricot list to select the middle tributes, and some literati from all over the capital invited them with joy, while others were dejected.In the blink of an eye, countless aspirational or sincerely sad poems came out from restaurants and theaters in the capital.

Wang Shuo was among the first few on the list, everyone in the Wang family was naturally happy, even the servants were all smiling.

Mrs. Xiao called all the maids and nurses in Wang Shuo's room to give them a lecture, telling the servants to be vigilant and not to disturb the master before the palace examination, and the maids and nurses hurriedly knelt on the ground to answer.

"After the palace test is over, two maids should be placed in Wulang's house." Mrs. Xiao stood in the yard for a while, and said to Nanny Ruan with emotion, "I think that girl from the Lin family is really good, but she is a little younger. .There are two more people in Goro's house, so it would be good to give her a hand."

Ruan Nanny was stunned, then smiled and said: "Madam is kind, she is always worried about her children."

Mrs. Xiao smiled and took Ruan Nanny's hand, thought for a while, and asked: "Qingqiao, who serves in Wulang's house, is a good person. After following me for so many years, it is the safest thing to do. I thought about giving both of her to Wu Lang, how would you feel about it?"

Nanny Ruan couldn't say anything bad, she quickly nodded her head in agreement: "Is there anything wrong with the person chosen by Madam? I think these two girls are very good." She paused for a while, her face was a little embarrassed , hesitant to speak.

Mrs. Xiao stopped, patted Nanny Ruan's hand and said with a smile, "If you have anything to say, just say it."

Nanny Ruan sighed.Thank you in a hurry. "Ma'am, let me tell you. Our fifth master has a righteous mind, and never cared about women like those young masters outside. Fifth master has his own ideas. Madam may wish to mention it to fifth master first, and let fifth master order it himself." It's good to have a head."

Mrs. Xiao pondered for a moment, then nodded, and pulled Aunt Ruan to express emotion. "It's still Mammy who is thoughtful. Since it is the person who is going to be sent to his house, he naturally has to take a fancy to it."

After the apricot list was released, it was followed by the palace examination, and the youngsters of each family started preparing one after another.Those who read books behind closed doors, those who write essays write essays, and the streets of the capital are less lively for a while.

The palace test is scheduled for the ninth day of April and lasts for three days.On April [-]th, the imperial court released the gold list.Early in the morning, it was still dark.The gates of the Ministry of Rites and the Guozijian were crowded with people, and the servants and even the masters of various families stretched their necks waiting to open the gates.

Until the door of the Ritual Department opened with a creak, several people came out with a list and pasted it on the wall. The crowd swarmed forward, scrambling to be the first, widening their eyes and carefully looking for their familiar names from the lines of small characters.

There were cheers and sighs from the crowd from time to time.Some were excited, some were crying bitterly.The excitement lasted until noon.The crowd dispersed completely.

The Wang family also sent a lot of people out, and the servants saw Wang Shuo's name on the top list at a glance, couldn't contain their excitement, and shouted happily all the way back to the mansion. "Tanhua! The young master has won Tanhua!"

After getting the news, the Wang family courtyard naturally burst into cheers.

"Our Wang family hasn't had a first-class Jinshi in 30 years, and today it's a wish come true." Mrs. Wang stroked his beard and patted Wang Shuo's shoulder with satisfaction.Then he asked his son again: "I heard that the second place in the list is also a young man? Is it from the Chen family?"

Wang Chengren nodded repeatedly, and said in admiration: "He is the nephew of the Chen family. It seems that he also worshiped Chen Yanting as his teacher, and Chen Yanting praised him full of praise."

"Chen Laosan has always been stubborn and straightforward, and he never knows how to speak euphemistically. It is rare for him to praise others." Mrs. Wang twirled his beard and fell silent for a moment, then laughed again. "Old man Chen is getting old, so it's inevitable that he can't do what he wants. Since he retired a few years ago, the Chen family has become more and more popular. Fortunately, there is still a second brother Chen, but it's a pity that the younger generation is far behind 30 years ago! It's their family. Over the past decade or so, the branch of the branch has gradually risen from the south of the Yangtze River, and has produced many outstanding talents."

Wang Chengren was stunned for a moment, his thoughts turned, he hurriedly stepped forward to support his father's arm, and the father and son went to the study together.

"His Majesty appointed Xu Chengshan as the number one scholar." Wang Chengren said while helping his father to sit down, frowning.

"Well, I know." Mrs. Wang leaned on the backrest, with a trace of fatigue on her face, narrowing her eyes and sighing. "Xu Chengshan is known as a genius and eloquent. His Majesty has praised him two or three times before. The Xu family has been quiet for more than twenty years, and this time we always have to give it another go."

"The Xu family began to decline when the late emperor was in power. Now that the number of people is withered, it is not easy to get up." Wang Chengren sat opposite to Mrs. Wang, his brows were tightly furrowed, and he sighed after a long time.At that time, the Xu family was a big family in the north. Later, they only took one wrong step and fell into that situation. Now they don’t even have anyone who can support the family. Hey, it’s not that there is no one. At least Xu Chengshan can barely support it, but he can No one can predict how high and how long it will last.As far as the Wang family is concerned, it is best for the Xu family to maintain the current situation.

The Wang family and the Chen family... Wang Chengren remembered what Old Madam Wang had said before, but after all, he extinguished the fire in his heart.

"Xu Chengshan is not the only one in the Xu family..." Mrs. Wang's voice was almost murmuring, as if she was talking to herself, but also seemed to be expressing emotion to her son.

In the inner courtyard, Mrs. Xiao's face was full of joy, and the smiles in her eyes were about to overflow. She hurriedly directed the maids and mothers to disperse the money they had prepared earlier, and ordered the servants in the family to go to Yong'an Lane to give porridge Shi Mi, I still have to go to Cishou Temple to offer incense sticks to fulfill my vows...

The outer courtyard was also full of joy, everyone in the Wang family ran around happily to tell each other, and the voices of "Amitabha Buddha" could be heard everywhere.Chen Liu got the news early in the morning and rushed in from the gate of Wang's house. When he saw Wang Shuo, he came up and grabbed his arms and shouted: "Go, go! Tanhualang parade!" shouting and dragging out.

Wang Shuo was dragged dizzy by Chen Liu, quickly pulled his arm back, straightened his clothes, waved his hands and said with a smile: "What are you in a hurry for? It's still early, if you are in a hurry, go outside to see the champion and the second place! "

Chen Liu stomped his feet, held a jade fan in his hand, opened it with a bang, and fanned it twice. "Okay, okay! I'm leaving first, and I'll come back to see your excitement!"

Wang Shuo smiled and asked the boy to send Chen Liu off, then turned his head and pulled Ming'er over and solemnly said, "Go to the Lin's house and report a letter."

Ming'er scratched his head and handed several large packets of copper coins in front of Wang Shuo, anxiously said: "Master, the little one can't go away at all! The one among the young master is Tanhua, the Lin family must have known about it long ago!"

"Go if you are told! What are you dawdling about!" Wang Shuo knocked Ming'er on the head with one hand, and reprimanded him with a fierce face.

Ming'er hurriedly collected the copper coins, responded with a smile, went out the second door, pulled another servant in Wang Shuo's room, stuffed the copper coin bag in his arms, and asked as he walked, "You take Get the money out!"

After more than half an hour, Ming'er ran back from Lin's house panting, struggled to push through the people coming and going in the yard, and finally found Wang Shuo who had redressed and was about to go to the street, and immediately shouted Said: "Master! Master!"

Wang Shuo stretched out his hand and waved the girl back, and called out to Ming'er: "Come in, Ming'er!"

Ming'er finally squeezed into the yard, panting heavily, speaking intermittently, and stuffing something in Wang Shuo's hand while talking. "The Lin family... the Lin family... say... say congratulations, young master..."

Wang Shuo raised his eyebrows in surprise, took the long box in Minger's hand, opened it, and saw a scroll inside, then went back to the room, put the things on the desk, and slowly Slowly opened.

It is a picture of words written by Wei Wen, a famous commoner prime minister in the previous dynasty, when he was appointed prime minister at the beginning of the year.

Wang Shuo lightly brushed the paper, his eyes were filled with soft light, the softness in his heart gradually spread, and the excitement and joy spread from head to foot. At this moment, there was only one thought in his mind - this word was written by Ah Wan.

While he was in a trance, Chen Liu's yelling outside came into the room.Wang Shuo hurriedly put away the word "Fu" carefully, and put it in the small drawer under the desk by himself, stared at it for a while, then closed the drawer and went out the door.

"Why are you still in the mansion! People outside are all around, clamoring to see Tan Hualang!" Chen Liu grabbed Wang Shuo, rolled his eyes around Wang Shuo, and said with a smile, "Hey, Tanhualang is really handsome today! Go, go, I've already found out, Xu Chengshan's strange old man and Lao Qi—not our Lao Qi, that is the one who won the second place, named Chen Xu, this Both of them have gone to the gate of the city, and you are the only one missing!"

"Okay, okay, don't drag me!" Wang Shuo glared at Chen Liu, "Let's go now."

Chen Liu was complacent, his face was full of joy, and he pulled Wang Shuo to mutter again: "Hey, you haven't seen Lao Qi before, it's Chen Xu. I really didn't expect him to be ranked second! See if he doesn't say anything. It's loud, and I was studying in the hands of my third uncle, so I didn't dare to look for him more, if I had known that he would be in the second place, I should have talked to him more often!"

Wang Shuo listened to Chen Liu's muttering and sighed for a long while, and the two went out of the gate together. Wang Shuo asked Chen Liu seriously: "How is your temper, the seventh brother of the concubine? How do you behave? Tell me, in a while You won’t have to be cold when you see it.”

Chen Liu patted the jade fan in his hand, winked at Wang Shuo, and said with a smile: "I knew you would ask! Let me tell you, although I haven't had much contact with him, this will I have already inquired clearly. I have asked all the boys at home, hehe! He is an honest man with a gentle temper and is polite to everyone. In addition to being good at learning, he is also very good at painting. The third uncle said many times that he The policy theory is also well written, and he is down-to-earth and capable of doing practical things." As he spoke, Chen Liu misunderstood again, "By the way, I heard that he is not engaged yet. Hey, don't you have several younger sisters in your family? , do you want to consider my seventh brother?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)

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