When spring comes, the scenery in the capital changes day by day. Before anyone can get over it, it's early April. The imperial court has released a list of apricots to win tributes, and literati from all over the capital are busy.

Some welcomed the invitation with joy, while some were dejected. In the blink of an eye, countless poems, either full of ambition or sincere and plaintive, were heard in restaurants and theaters all over the capital.

Wang Shuo was apparently at the top of the list. Everyone in the Wang family was naturally happy, and even his subordinates were all smiling.

Mrs. Xiao called all the maids and nuns in Wang Shuo's house over again and gave her a lecture, asking the servants to be more alert and not to disturb the master before the palace examination. Several maids and nuns hurriedly knelt on the ground and agreed.

"After the palace has tried it, it's time to put two girls in Wulang's room." Mrs. Xiao stood in the yard for a moment and said with emotion to Aunt Ruan, "I think the girl from the Lin family is really good, but she is a little younger.

.There are two more people in Wulang's room, it would be good to give her a helping hand."

Nanny Ruan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Madam is so kind, she only worries about her children."

Mrs. Xiao smiled and put on Nanny Ruan's hand, thought for a while, and asked: "Qingqiao who is serving in Wulang's house is a good person. He is good-looking and has a decent temperament. And there is Yinglu in front of me, she

After following me for so many years, doing things is the safest thing. I thought about giving her two to Wulang, what does grandma think? "

Nanny Ruan couldn't say anything bad about it. She nodded in agreement: "There's nothing wrong with the person Madam picked. I think these two girls are the best." After saying that, she paused, with a bit of embarrassment on her face.

, He wanted to speak but stopped.

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

Aunt Ruan sighed and thanked her hurriedly. "Madam, you are so generous. Our Fifth Master has a good mind and has never been as obsessed with women as the young men outside. The Fifth Master is also someone with ideas. Madam might as well go with you first."

If the fifth master mentions it, he has to let the fifth master nod his head."

Mrs. Xiao pondered for a moment, nodded, and pulled Nanny Ruan to sigh with emotion. "Nanny is still thoughtful. Since she is someone who is going to be sent to his house, it is natural that he should take a fancy to her."

After the apricot list was released, the palace examination was immediately followed, and young people from various families began to prepare one after another. Those who studied behind closed doors, and those who wrote essays, the streets of the capital became less lively for a while.

The imperial examination was scheduled for the ninth day of April and lasted for three days. On April eighteenth, the imperial court released the gold medal. Early in the morning, before dawn, the entrances of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial College were crowded with people, and all the slaves and even masters stretched their arms.

He held his neck and waited for the door to open.

Until the door of the Ministry of Etiquette creaked open, and several people came out with lists and pasted them on the wall. The crowd rushed forward, scrambling for the first place, and widened their eyes to carefully search for their familiar names in the lines of small characters.

From time to time there were cheers and sighs from the crowd. Some were excited, and some were crying. The excitement lasted until the afternoon, when the crowd dispersed completely.

The Wang family also sent many people out. The boys saw Wang Shuo's name on the top list at a glance. They couldn't restrain themselves with excitement and shouted happily all the way back to the house. "Thanhua! The young master won the third flower!"

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

"Our Wang family has not produced a first-class Jinshi for thirty years, and today we have fulfilled our wish." Old Mrs. Wang stroked his beard and patted Wang Shuo on the shoulder with relief. Then he asked his son again.

: "I heard that the second best person is also a young man? Is he from the Chen family?"

Wang Chengren nodded repeatedly and praised: "He is a nephew of the Chen family. It seems that he also became Chen Yanting's disciple, and Chen Yanting was full of praise for him."

"Chen Laosan has always been stubborn and straightforward, and he never knows how to speak tactfully. It is rare for him to praise others." Mrs. Wang twirled her beard and was silent for a moment, then started laughing again. "Old man Chen is old.

When he gets older, it is inevitable that he is unable to do what he wants. Since he retired a few years ago, the Chen family has become more and more popular. Fortunately, there is still Chen Laoer who is holding down the pressure. Unfortunately, the younger generation is far behind what they were thirty years ago! But it is a side branch of their family.

In the past ten years, it has gradually emerged from Jiangnan, and many talents have emerged."

Wang Chengren was stunned for a moment, his mind changed, and he stepped forward to hold his father's arm, and the father and son went to the study together.

"The Holy One appointed Xu Chengshan as the number one scholar." Wang Chengren first helped his father sit down and said with a frown.

"Yes, I know." Old Mrs. Wang leaned on the backrest with a trace of exhaustion on his face. He squinted his eyes slightly and sighed. "Xu Chengshan has a reputation as a genius and is eloquent. The Holy Father has praised him before.

He came back two or three times. The Xu family has been silent for more than twenty years, and this time it is always time to give it another try."

"The Xu family began to decline when the late emperor was in power. Now that the number of people is withering, it is not easy to rise." Wang Chengren sat across from Mrs. Wang, frowning for a long time before sighing. Back then, the Xu family

But the big families in the north just made a wrong step and ended up in that situation. Now they don't even have anyone who can support the family. Hey, it's not like there are none. At least Xu Chengshan can barely support it. It's just a question of how high he can support it.

, how long it will last, no one can predict. 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 Mrs. Wang had said before, and finally extinguished the fire of improvement in his heart.

"Xu Chengshan is not the only one in the Xu family..." Old Mrs. Wang's voice was almost murmuring, as if he was talking to himself or expressing emotion to his son.

In the inner courtyard, Mrs. Xiao's face was full of joy, and the smile in her eyes was about to overflow. She hurriedly directed the maids and mothers to scatter the money they had prepared early, and ordered the servants at home to go to Yong'an Lane to give porridge.

Shimi, I still have to go to Cishou Temple to burn incense to fulfill my vow...

The outer courtyard was also full of joy. Everyone in the Wang family was running around happily telling each other, and the voices of "Amitabha" were heard everywhere. Chen Liuyi got the news early and rushed in from the main gate of the Wang family. When he saw Wang Shuo, he came up and grabbed his arm and shouted: "Let's go quickly."

Let’s go! Tanhualang is going on a parade!” he shouted while dragging him out.

Wang Shuo was made dizzy by being dragged by Chen Liu. He quickly pulled his arm back, straightened his clothes, waved his hands and said with a smile: "Why are you in a hurry? It's still early. If you have nothing to do, go outside and see the number one pick and the number two pick!

"

Chen Liu stamped his feet and held a jade fan in his hand. He opened it and fanned twice. "Okay, okay! I'll leave first. I'll come back to see your excitement!"

Wang Shuo smiled and asked the boy to see Chen Liu off. He turned around and pulled Ming'er over and solemnly told him: "Go to the Lin family and report a message."

Ming'er rubbed his head and handed several large packages of copper coins in his hand to Wang Shuo, and said anxiously: "Master, I can't leave at all! The master has won the top prize, the Lin family must have known it for a long time!"

"Go if I tell you to! Why are you dawdling!" Wang Shuo hit Ming'er on the head with one hand and scolded him with a tigerish face.

Ming'er hurriedly collected the copper coins, responded with a smile, walked out of the second door, grabbed another boy in Wang Shuo's room, stuffed the copper coin bag in his arms into it, and asked as he walked: "You put it

Spread this money!”

After more than half an hour, Ming'er ran back from Lin's house panting, struggling to push through the crowds in the yard, and finally found Wang Shuo, who had redressed and was about to go out on the street. He immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

Said: "Master! Master!"

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

Ming'er finally squeezed into the courtyard, panting heavily and speaking intermittently. As she spoke, she pushed the things in her hands into Wang Shuo's hands. "The Lin family... The Lin family... said... congratulations to the young master...

…”

Wang Shuo raised his eyebrows in surprise, took the long box from Ming'er's hand, opened it, and saw a scroll inside, so he returned to the house and put the things on the desk, carefully and carefully.

Opened slowly.

It is a poem written by Wei Wen, the famous commoner prime minister of the previous dynasty, when he was first granted the title of prime minister. The lines are full of pride and ambition, and the font is elegant and unrestrained, but there is a sense of handsomeness and restraint.

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

While he was lost in thought, Chen Liu's shouting outside came into the room. Wang Shuo hurriedly put away the blessing character carefully and put it into the small drawer under the desk. He stared at it for a long time, then closed the drawer and went out.

The door.

"Why are you still in the house? There are people outside, clamoring to see Tan Hua Lang!" Chen Liu grabbed Wang Shuo, rolled his eyes around Wang Shuo, and said with a smile,

"Oh, Tan Hua Lang is really handsome today! Come on, come on, I've already asked about that weird old man Xu Chengshan and Lao Qi - not our Lao Qi, that one, the one who won the second place, his name is Chen Xu, this

Both of them have gone to the city gate, and I’m just sending you!"

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

Chen Liu was very proud, his face was full of joy, and he pulled Wang Shuo and muttered: "Hey, you haven't seen Lao Qi, it's Chen Xu. I really didn't expect him to get the second place! Look at him silently

Damn, I was studying in the hands of my third uncle again, so I didn’t dare to go to him more. If I had known he would get the second place, I should have gone to talk to him more!"

Wang Shuo listened to Chen Liu's mutterings and sighed for a long time. The two of them walked out of the door together. Wang Shuo then asked Chen Liu seriously: "How is your temperament, the seventh disciple of the side house? How is your behavior? Tell me about it later.

You won’t have to be embarrassed if you see me.”

Chen Liu slapped 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 have not had much contact with him, but this time

I have already inquired about it clearly. I have asked all the boys in the house, hehe! He is an honest man, mild-tempered, and polite to everyone. In addition to being knowledgeable, he is also very good at painting. My third uncle has said it many times, saying that he is

He also writes good policy papers and is a down-to-earth person who can do practical things." As he spoke, Chen Liu went off-kilter again, "By the way, I heard that he hasn't gotten 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 votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
Chapter completed!