Hello Chang’an

Although Sister Chang did not take the imperial examination, she surpassed the imperial examination and was one of the beneficiaries of this imperial examination.

Song Xian is the number one in Huiyuan today. If he passes the palace examination another day, he might be the number one Duke. However, no matter how high he stands, he has been defeated by her sister Chang. This identity cannot be torn away no matter what.

As his reputation grew, Sister Chang's reputation also grew with him.

According to this, Song Xian worked hard to take the imperial examination, but he was also working hard for sister Chang's reputation.

Although Sister Chang's reputation now exceeds his, who would think that reputation is too much?

I never thought that the game of chess in the past was not played carefully, and the "stamina" would be so great.

Wu Chunbai thought jokingly. When she led the female envoy through the lobby and went to the "Bamboo Courtyard" where Yao Xia and the others often met, she could only hear the noisy footsteps in front of them, and a group of people in long robes were crowding around. A young scholar came over.

"...Congratulations to Brother Tan Xian, you finally don't have to endure the scorching heat and winter for three more years!"

"We are all happy! But what we should congratulate the most is Mingming!"

"Exactly...Brother Song is so happy today!"

clear?

Mingming means clearly, clearly, clearly.

When Wu Chunbai heard this, he knew that this was Song Xian's nickname, and subconsciously looked ahead.

There were more than ten people in the group, some were wearing scholar's shirts, and some were dressed as Imperial College students. The young people surrounded had serious eyebrows. Although there was joy between their eyebrows, they did not feel proud.

There were many people who were more excited than him. They were walking and talking without looking at the road, and almost bumped into Wu Chunbai.

Song Xian saw the person coming in front of him, and raised his hand to stop his friend and classmate behind him in time.

The people in front of him smiled and raised their hands to salute Wu Chunbai and apologize. People are in high spirits during happy events, so they apologized with a smile.

Song Xian was born out of town and had no residence in Beijing. Before that, he had been living in the dormitory of the Imperial College. Today, when the results were released, he and his classmates from Xunmei Society came to the Listening Hall to wait for the news.

He was introverted and didn't like to show off, so he didn't go to see the list in person. Tan Li and others had been waiting at the place where the apricot list was posted. As soon as they got the results, they flew over to look for Song Xian.

He was running too fast on the road. Tan Li, who was also on the list, was in a high mood. He lost his purse and didn't realize it. As he ran outside the listening hall, Tan Li realized that his waist was empty. After hesitating again and again, he was persuaded by his friend. He endured the pain and said - It's okay, I'm so happy today, I just want to spread my wealth and rejoice with the people of the capital.

However, the strength of this congratulation is destined to be limited, after all, he only has two copper coins in his wallet.

This friend of Tan Li is already over forty years old and has finally graduated from high school. Although this person is the oldest among the group of literati at this time, he is also the most openly joyful. It is precisely because he has experienced it many times before. Only after the pain of being marginalized by the noble clans did I understand how difficult it is to obtain the status of a Jinshi.

They stayed with them at the place where the results were released, but the candidates who unfortunately failed to pass the results dispersed in depression and did not follow them again. First, they were shameless, and second, they had a gap in their hearts. They knew that they could not share the joy of others well with a normal heart. You don’t want to dampen other people’s interest in celebrating, so why not take care of yourself first?

Therefore, those who failed the exam only asked Tan Li to congratulate Song Xian on their behalf.

At this moment, except for Song Xian, who is a high school student, most of the others are Imperial College students, either they have not yet had the title of imperial examination, or they do not plan to take the imperial examination to become an official. Therefore, at this time, the successful candidates do not need to cover up their achievements for fear of those who fail. Feelings of joy.

Faced with the proud feeling of spring breeze blowing against his face, Wu Chunbai greeted them with a smile and said: "Congratulations to all of you for your high school graduation."

Tan Li and others did not expect that the girl who was almost hit by them would open her mouth to congratulate her, so they all looked over at this moment.

The other party was wearing a sky-green spring shirt and a moon-white underskirt. Her buns were neatly combed, and she wore a pair of orchid hairpins. Her posture was upright and elegant, and she had a decent and stretched smile on her beautiful face.

Her clothes are simple but not simple, and the female attendant behind her is also well-mannered. It is obvious at first sight that she comes from a wealthy and scholarly family. And judging from the relaxed aura around her body, she is definitely not an ordinary lady who is **** in a high cabinet all day long.

Song Xian did not look directly at the other party until the woman's voice sounded again, mentioning him alone.

"I've heard about Song Huiyuan's name a long time ago. Today, he is ranked number one on the apricot list, and he has the qualifications to be number one on the imperial list." The voice said with a smile: "The imperial examination is coming soon. I hope that one day I can see Song Huiyuan riding the number one horse and see all the flowers in Chang'an."

Song Xian then raised his eyes and met those very sincere eyes.

That sincerity made him slightly startled. He and this girl were strangers to each other.

He quickly looked away and subconsciously raised his hand to thank you: "Thank you for your kind words."

After Wu Chunbai nodded and saluted, he took the female envoy away with a smile.

"...That is the daughter of Wu Siqing of Taichang Temple, and her grandfather is Mr. Wu! A famous and talented girl, the girl of the Wu family!" A member of the Xunmei Club said in a low voice.

"I also remembered that I saw her and Mrs. Chang visiting this place together!"

This last sentence attracted Song Xian's attention even more.

Mrs. Chang’s friend?

He looked back at the back of the girl who had gone away.

The older Jinshi stroked his beard and said meaningfully: "This little girl just went out of her way to congratulate the top pick in Mingxi High School. Could it be..."

Immediately, a supervisor raised his hand with bright eyes and shouted: "I know, I will catch my son-in-law!"

"Yes, yes, Brother Song is at the top of the list. After exiting the gate of the music hall, I don't know how many families have dignitaries waiting for girls to be married!"

"This girl from the Wu family is a first-class talented woman. Speaking of it, she is even comparable to Brother Song..."

Song Xianwei frowned and stopped his classmates from continuing: "Don't talk nonsense, it will only ruin the reputation of your daughter's family."

Before he was in high school, he had some prestige among his classmates, and the Xunmei Club he founded was known as the first poetry club in the Imperial College, so his words have always had weight, let alone now.

The students and scholars all laughed and stopped talking.

"No..." After thinking for a moment, Tan Li said: "In my opinion, it doesn't look like someone is trying to catch a son-in-law under a banner, but more like..."

What does it look like?

Everyone looked at him.

"It can be seen that she sincerely hopes that Brother Song will be the number one scholar in high school..." Tan Li whispered: "Probably because the more glorious Brother Song is, the more honor he will bring to Mrs. Chang. After all, Brother Song has been in this listening hall before. Everyone knows about the defeat at the hands of Mrs. Chang..."

Song Xian's expression condensed: "..."

It sounds outrageous at first, but after thinking about it carefully, it actually makes sense.

In this reasonableness, there are also two specious feelings of immorality.

The same feeling occurs in others.

Having said this, why do you think that Brother Song was dedicated to the imperial examination, but at the same time he was shining a bright light on Mrs. Chang's family?

It should be noted that this is the glory that can only be enjoyed by a high-ranking person... In other words, Mrs. Chang has enjoyed the treatment of a high-ranking person!

This conclusion made everyone silent for a moment.

It doesn't matter what they think in their hearts. Some people want to take the opportunity to show their alignment, so they quickly ask: "...Okay, this girl from the Wu family, I thought she was sincerely congratulating Brother Song, but I didn't expect that she would hide such thoughts! In the future, her poems , I will never read it again!”

Tan Li smiled and said: "You can't say that. This kind of thing can be considered a win-win situation."

Everyone: "..."

This kind of win-win approach is really unheard of.

A scholar reminded Tan Li with a slight cough: "On a happy day, don't mention old things too much..."

Who would want to hear someone mention the humiliating defeat of the past in his glorious days?

Tan Li smiled nonchalantly.

As far as he knew, Song Xian came here today not only to wait for the results of the apricot list, but also to inquire about Mrs. Chang, no, General Ning Yuan.

"It doesn't matter, this old thing should be mentioned again and again today." Song Xian's tone was not displeased at all, and it was obvious that he was not making sarcasm or self-sarcasm.

Everyone exchanged glances curiously, but Tan Li smiled clearly.

After walking a few more steps, Song Xian turned his head and looked at the stone table quietly placed under a ginkgo tree not far away.

He seemed to see the scene where he and Chang Sui Ning played chess here last year again.

At this time, he looked at it from the perspective of a bystander, and what he saw was his own arrogance, narrow-mindedness, prejudice, and the inferiority and arrogance deep in his heart that he was unwilling to admit.

All these things made him feel conflicted and tense, which made him blind and complacent. Looking back, he must have lost that day, and he lost well.

This conclusion was not reached in a day or two. He had reviewed the game again and again, especially every time he heard news about her returned to the capital.

As he reviewed the game again and again, he became more and more aware of the magnanimity and goodwill of the person who defeated him in the first place.

He gradually realized that the chess game that day was not even a game. Because of the great disparity between the two sides, they should not have sat in the same place and played such a game.

And as the news about her came back, it confirmed what he had felt during the chess game. She was the roc that was supposed to soar in the sky. She had the feathers to soar ninety thousand miles away. Before that, what she lacked was just someone to take advantage of. the wind.

In comparison, when he thought he was superior to her and looked down on her with prejudice, he was really overestimating himself to the point of being ridiculous.

But looking back, she had never really targeted him, never been angry because of his shallowness and rudeness. She could have defeated him more easily in that chess game and made him lose face, but she didn't.

She is very tortuous, and there is a tenderness in her.

She even proposed to play two more games with him, a best-of-three game. After a long time, he believed that if there were two more games, she would let him win one to preserve his dignity.

But he was already scared away by the aura she displayed during the chess game. He was still a bit cautious and suspected that she would defeat him again and again, so he did not dare to play chess with her again.

On the eve of the test, he restored the game again.

That time, he was distracted and thinking about a lot, including her actions at the Confucius Temple, so he inexplicably felt the aura of another person among the black and white chess pieces.

The person who saved him when he was young also saved many people in the world.

Although the two were a man and a woman, they both gave him the same feeling - those who are strong and have benevolence do not compete with the grass, trees and flowers for spring, and stand on high places, but do not seek to dominate others. , but pity and protect all things in this world.

At that moment, he quietly looked at the chessboard under the moonlight, and suddenly he became enlightened. In the silence, he felt the breath of heaven and earth surging, and his heart resonated with him. Finally, he could see the majestic spirit that can truly last forever in the world through the ages.

Only the insignificance of the prophet himself can reveal the vastness of the world.

He needed this loss in his life.

After losing to the opponent that day, he should fulfill his promise and call her "teacher". There is no shame in losing to her, and he is definitely not being fooled by her.

That day he felt that he could not come to the stage, but she said: "Only one who can solve people's doubts can be a teacher." If Juren of the Song Dynasty thinks that my words are useful in clearing up doubts, if you are interested in becoming a disciple in the future, it will not be too late to do so. 】

He should worship.

She is a very good teacher.

The last question in this examination was about policy theory, and it was set by the always strict Master Chu himself.

The style of policy analysis, in addition to talent and learning, can also observe people's character. If the character is slightly shaken and deviated, the writing will be completely different.

If it were the same person who had such a self-important and nagging attitude in the past, he might be in danger of failing the ranking this time. Even if he was lucky enough to win, he would definitely miss the top spot.

Just as he had written poems and articles before, he had also intended to use Qiao Jijiu's hand to ask Taifu Chu to give him advice and review, but there was no response. It is obvious that the Taifu did not like him.

But this time, he was the number one chosen by the Taifu himself.

The difference is so great that it cannot be reached without his sudden enlightenment.

He knew better than anyone where this epiphany came from.

It was him who wanted to thank her, not her taking advantage of him.

In addition, this great victory over Bianshui was a miraculous victory that no one had expected. It was a miraculous victory with miraculous feats and extraordinary talents. Her name must be spread throughout the world. From then on, who in the world dares not to recognize you?

Why do such people need to borrow the name of Song Xian?

She won such a beautiful victory, and he still had another battle to fight next.

They each have their own battlefield, and although he is insignificant, he should go all out.

One day, when we meet again, he will apologize first and then thank you.

…

In the evening, the new scholars who were famous on the list gathered together in the Dengtai Tower, drank fine wine and wrote poems about success. They were full of scenery and high spirits.

After three drinks, Meng Lie rarely appeared in person and invited Hui Yuan to leave a poem and hang it in the building. If Hui Yuan was willing to appreciate it, Meng Lie would be the host today.

Everyone gathered around Song Xian and asked him to write poems - this was a glorious thing, and it saved a lot of money on drinks and wine!

Song Xian couldn't refuse, so he composed a poem on the spot, which attracted countless praises.

These compliments were not just out of flattery or because of drinking. In their eyes, Song Juren, who had always been calm and reserved, actually had a grand ambition to go out in this poem, like thousands of armies marching and rivers rushing. .

Meng Lie was also amazed and exclaimed that although he did not know how to write poetry, he had eyesight. Otherwise, how could His Highness have single-handedly selected him to be the restaurant manager?

Meng Lie could see from everyone's reaction that this was a good poem and it would surely bring him a lot of business, so he immediately had it hung in the building.

"Wait a minute—"

When the two guys were hanging high, they suddenly heard Song Xian speaking from the fence.

Meng Lie smiled and asked: "Song Huiyuan, what's wrong with it?"

Song Xian looked at the picture of Tigers in the Mountain Forest, which was at the same height as the one in the hands of the assistant, and said sincerely: "Please hang Song's humble work lower. Thank you for your help."

…

The lights in the Dengtai Tower were brightly lit. As early as this morning, the city had ordered the temporary lifting of the curfew, and everyone was celebrating for seven days.

It is unprecedented to celebrate the release of the curfew in order to celebrate the results of the examination, and it is also unprecedented for seven out of ten of the top candidates to come from poor families.

This was the emperor's determination to put the poor family back to good use, and this determination was finally implemented and bore fruit. This congratulation was an act of prestige for the imperial power to temporarily win in the competition with the nobles.

In addition, Xu Zhengye is dead, and his head will soon be presented to the emperor. For the emperor, these days are a double blessing, and he should be congratulated. Firstly, he will show off as a winner, and secondly, he will give his people the stability of their country. Xiang, in order to calm the people's hearts that have been shaken recently.

As for whether everything is really as stable and prosperous as it seems on the surface, most people are unable to judge. Just like the people in the capital who are cheering and celebrating at this moment, they have never had the ability to jump out of this brightly lit bustling place and see further away. .

…

The next day, Song Xian and other Jinshi who had studied in the Imperial College returned to the Imperial College to thank their mentor and offer wine to Qiao.

Song Xian and others went to Qiao Jijiu's residence and drank tea and talked in the outer hall. Many supervisors also came to join in the fun and celebrate, and it was very lively for a while.

At noon, Qiao Jijiu prepared some thin wine and fatty fish, plus the bacon and fruits brought by Song Xian and others, to make a table of dishes, and the teachers and students sat down and drank together.

Qiao Yumian was eating alone in her courtyard. Taking advantage of the good spring weather, she took her maid out for a walk. When they reached the lotus pond, they simply sat down on a stone beside the pond to bask in the sun.

The spring sun was warm in the afternoon, and there seemed to be the scent of lotus leaves stretching in the spring water. Qiao Yumian, whose eyes were covered with soft gauze, felt the increasingly brighter world, and felt that she was also reviving together with the world.

She thought about the news about Ning Ning she heard today and yesterday, and she felt very good for a moment, so she told the envoy: "Xiaoqiu, go and get some fruit wine, and some fruits, and we can also celebrate."

Congratulations to Ning Ning.

Xiaoqiu saw that her mood was getting brighter and brighter, and she was very happy. She smiled and agreed, gave a few instructions, and went back to get the fruit wine.

After a moment, Qiao Yumian heard footsteps coming from behind.

She turned her head slightly subconsciously. It was quiet all around, and her hearing was amplified. She could tell that this was not Xiaoqiu's footsteps, but something like...

"Cui Liulang?" Qiao Yumian asked tentatively.

A 4800-word update, just to catch up on the day off yesterday. My waist is better today, but it will still feel numb after sitting for a while. I am recovering and my blood is slowly returning~ Good night!