Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 319 First place on the list

  Fang Jifan didn't really care much about this rural examination.

  The only few words I heard were just complaints about this year's test questions from outside.

  The paper was kept in a cover, and then the chief examiner led the examiners to start marking the paper in the Gong Yuan.

  Zhang Sheng's mood is quite happy.

  Because in his impression, if he could write a passable eight-legged essay test paper for this question, it would not be much.

  In this subject, I am afraid that the articles that can barely answer the questions are enough to be shortlisted.

  It's just... reading this paper all the way, he felt something was wrong.

   Actually found a lot of good articles in it.

  In just one day, I came up with such a strange problem that many people didn't have time to conceive it. Even if they barely solved the problem, it was extremely difficult to undertake it.

  How could there be so many people... writing articles eloquently?

In Northern Zhili, among the two capitals and thirteen provinces, the level of the rural examination has never been high. Zhang Sheng believes that if such a question is placed in the rural examinations of Southern Zhili, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, all the examinees there will stand out. It is not uncommon for a large number of articles that can answer the questions to be published, and there may be a few good articles.

   But this is Beizhili.

   Zhang Sheng went all the way to review, dumbfounded, Beizhili... when did he become so abnormal?

  By the third day, he began to lose heart.

   This is absolutely insane.

  Those well-organized articles with fluent answers were more than twice as many as he had imagined. From those articles, he could even feel a calm and unhurried atmosphere.

  Before the exam started, he kept it in his heart, so there was no possibility of leaking it...

   What a weird thing...

  ...

   After reading the papers, it is time to prepare for the rankings.

  The news has come out that the Tribute Court has selected the ninth day of November. This day is an auspicious day, and the list will be released on time.

   Hearing that the rankings were released on the ninth day of the ninth day, Fang Jifan was really taken aback.

  In fact, he is not very interested in the mere rural examination.

  My own six disciples, in the past, pressed the scholars in the world to the ground and rubbed them repeatedly several times.

   It's just... I heard that thirteen students from Xishan Academy participated in the provincial examination, but Fang Jifan also paid attention.

   Early in the morning on the ninth day of the ninth day.

  The sky is still snowing heavily, and the snow on the ground is an inch thick, and the ground is getting colder and colder!

  Fang Jifan got up late, Xiao Xiangxiang dressed Fang Jifan, Fang Jifan patted her thin shoulders and said: "It's early in the morning, are you freezing? Come, young master, give me a hug."

   In the past, it was because of the needs of brain disease that I used to play stream*, but now, it seems to be a bit of a habit.

Sure enough, the environment will change a person. When Fang Jifan blurted out this sentence, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Out of the mud but not stained, clean and clean but not demonic. Sure enough, only sages can do it. This young master has only achieved half of it. , is still a few inches away from the sages.

  Xiao Xiangxiang's face was slightly pink, with a little bit of shame, she raised her pretty face and said: "Master, others saw it, it's not good."

  She didn't say it was bad, but said that it was not good for others to see it.

  “…” means that if others can’t see it, they can…

  My daughter’s thoughts are really deep, and there are too many routines.

  Fang Jifan is a man after all, and Xiao Xiangxiang has shown her intentions in many ways. Fang Jifan was a little distracted, but he finally calmed down, and said instead: "Recently, you are studying?"

   "Yes, I'm reading the Four Books for Women." Xiao Xiangxiang said proudly, "Master, I'm already literate, and it turns out that it's not difficult to read."

  Fang Jifan frowned and said: "Don't read the Four Books for Women, Biography of Martyrs, these are all harmful things, what's the use of learning them?"

   "..." Xiao Xiangxiang didn't even show any surprise on her face, she was no stranger to Fang Jifan's "strange talk".

   "Next time, I'll find some good books for you to read." Fang Jifan gave her a wicked smile, and walked out excitedly.

  Today, I have to go to Xishan first to arrange the exit of the Tuntian Thousand Households.

   I have to go there quickly, and I have to come back early, and then I will see how the results of the list are released.

  ………

  Forbidden City.

  Emperor Hongzhi also got up early today. When he came out of his bedroom, the first thing he asked was: "Today is the provincial examination, right?"

  Xiao Jing is accompanying him today, he hurriedly said respectfully: "Yes."

  Emperor Hongzhi nodded lightly, then with his hands behind his back, he stepped onto the chariot and ordered: "I've released the list, and report to me as soon as possible."

   "The servant obeys the order." Xiao Jing naturally knew what it meant.

  The reason why His Majesty is interested in the mere Shuntianfu Township Examination is because of Liu Jian. Liu Jian won the trust of His Majesty. When he was in the East Palace, Concubine Wan Gui was in disorder. It was the ministers headed by Liu Jian who tried their best to protect the crown prince at that time, who is now Emperor Hongzhi, so that Concubine Wan Gui did not succeed in her mind.

  Since then, His Majesty has inherited the great rule, and Liu Jian has been working with Emperor Hongzhi for ten years, handling state affairs.

  This is not only the friendship between monarchs and ministers, but also friends, and no one can replace it.

  As for Liu Jie, although His Majesty didn't pay much attention to him in the past and saw him rarely, but after all, His Majesty still treats him as a nephew because of Liu Jian.

  Your Majesty, this is how much you should look forward to Liu Jie being able to become a Juren, even if it is just hanging at the end, it is something to celebrate.

  ...

  When it comes to the day when the rankings are released, no matter how much snow falls or how cold the weather is, the capital will be more lively than usual.

  Early, there were shopkeepers setting up stalls outside the Gongyuan.

  Liu Jie also woke up early, and then went out alone.

  Actually, this time, he didn't want to read the list, but if he didn't, he was even more restless at home. After all, he was still unwilling.

  So, stepping on the snow and facing the cold wind, Liu Jie came to the list early.

   At this time, there were actually countless students waiting here, and outside the entire Gongyuan, there was a turmoil of people.

   Some people also recognized Liu Jielai and greeted each other.

  Liu Jie was anxious and depressed at home for many days, not knowing whether he would have a chance. In the midst of this anxiety, standing at the bottom of this list, with the noisy voices of countless people around him, he felt restless.

  He couldn't help thinking in his heart, if he doesn't win this time, he can study in Xishan with peace of mind from now on. Stereotypes, why should one decide one's fate and judge one's knowledge.

  He stood numbly, thinking wildly in his mind, as if he was crazy.

  At this time, I finally heard someone shouting loudly: "Here comes the list..."

   Sure enough, the Gong Yuan finally opened the middle door, and the scribes carefully held the sealed list, opened the first list, and posted it.

  The crowd of heads was like a wave, and countless people stretched their necks, staring at the list.

   "I hit it, I hit it..."

  Someone shouted excitedly.

  More people have stopped breathing, still staring at the list.

  The second list is posted.

  However, Liu Jie's name is not included in these two lists.

   Liu Jie became disheartened, and the last hope in his heart froze a little bit in this cold winter!

  There is only the last one left on the list, and there is no one at the end, let alone this list with a higher ranking. It seems that this time... is another failure.

  He couldn't help smiling wryly, shaking his head.

  This...maybe really is fate.

  The book of a lifetime... Now, I have nothing in exchange, so I really should accept my fate!

  Tears have already unconsciously wet the skirt of his clothes.

  The painstaking efforts of a lifetime, the cold window of thirty years, is worth nothing!

   But when the last list was posted, Liu Jie subconsciously looked up.

  About one hundred and fifty people were admitted this time.

   And the last list obviously has forty or fifty names.

   Liu Jie's tears were blurred and he had to rub his eyes.

   Then, he began to look from the bottom of the list.

No……

   Still no...

still none…

   When I looked from bottom to top, I saw almost 30 people, but still didn’t have his name.

   But continue to look, he saw a name - Zhao Xing.

  This person...has actually won, and...he is also held high at the top sixteen or seventeen.

  Liu Jie is very familiar with this person. Like himself, he is studying in Xishan.

   Then, he continued to watch... Yang Wenchang.

  It was him...

  Yang Wenchang is also my classmate studying in Xishan.

   Liu Jie's mind seemed about to explode.

   On to...Wen Sheng!

  Wen Sheng!

   Is that the little guy? Both gentlemen said that his stereotyped essays were not correct enough, and that he was too slanted.

   Let's go again...Deng Mingxing!

  Hoo...

   These familiar names made Liu Jie's face pale all of a sudden.

  He knows these people, he knows them all... almost everyone has been together day and night.

  Originally, they invited themselves to take the exam and look at the rankings together, but they did not agree. On the one hand, they were afraid that their identity as the son of the chief assistant would be exposed.

  He continued to watch, and then it was Zheng Ying.

  I don't have much impression of this person, but it is said that he is a talented person from the North Zhili. Of course, the talents from the North Zhili, generally speaking, are more watery, and are often ridiculed by scholars in the south.

   Going on...another acquaintance...

  Liu Jie's eyes couldn't help but jump.

   He gasped, looking all the way up.

  Among the remaining names, except for two, which he is not very familiar with, the rest are all Xishan's classmates.

  He was completely stupefied, and when he finally...saw the most prominent position, on that position, it was written—Liu Jie...

  Liu...Liu Jie...

  Top...

  Northern Zhili Township Examination No. 1.

  This...is Jieyuan...

  How is this possible? Although his article is still completed in one go, he feels that it is not outstanding enough.

  Or… it is because he has done too many questions and lost his appreciation for stereotyped essays. Just like what the gentlemen said, the so-called stereotyped writing is just handwork. There are no skills to speak of, only familiarity.

  As if struck by lightning, he stared straight at the word "Liu Jie" on the group, completely speechless.

  His body began to tremble slightly.

  (end of this chapter)