One monk and one Taoist stand apart, not moving like a mountain, just like the mountain pagoda and the Zhengyi Temple have been far away for so many years.

In terms of appearance, Taoist Master Zhengyang is of course much better than the thin old monk.

Taoist Master Zhengyang suddenly raised his hand, and suddenly a wind blew, swept across the lake and the lotus on the water—

hiss!

A piece of lotus that was originally blooming near the corridor faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the green lotus leaves were withered and yellow.

The old monk chanted the Buddha's name: "Amitabha!"

Put your palms together, and then the sound of water on the lake gurgles, forming a strange wave, which rises and falls by. The dead lotus flowers return to life, with broad and fat green leaves and beautiful flowers.

Taoist Master Zhengyang frowned and took a step forward. The wind was even louder, whistling, like an invisible sharp blade, cutting the waves on the lake surface. The water splashed up, and some water droplets fell on the old monk's gray monk's robe and moistened in.

The old monk sighed and shook his hands. The Buddhist beads that were originally hanging on his wrist emitted a circle of light yellow light, peaceful and solemn.

Where the light appears, the wind is calm.

Taoist Master Zhengyang said "Huh" slightly and smiled: "Eighteen years of dry Zen have finally made you practice this string of Buddhist beads... However, that scholar is the person wanted by the governor's mansion, and no one can touch it."

The old monk refused to comment: "Do you want to use the governor's mansion to suppress me?"

"So that's it."

Taoist Master Zhengyang was not afraid of any gaze because he was not willing to go to war with the other party at this time. It was not the time yet, and there was no need for the time being.

The old monk's eyelids drooped and looked frowning. After thinking about it, he slowly said: "I will leave Yangzhou today, but I think that the scholar will leave Yangzhou one day."

Taoist Master Zhengyang heard his implicit meaning and his expression changed: "You must not let go?"

"He has a connection with my Buddha, and the Buddha has a connection with someone. This is the meaning of my 18-year-old meditation."

Taoist Zhengyang raised his eyebrows: "I can tell you. He must not be the one you are waiting for. How could a person who is about to die?

"A person who is about to die?"

The old monk looked surprised, then he thought of something, and when he opened his eyes, he showed his gleam: "Would you be afraid of retribution if you change your destiny?"

Taoist Master Zhengyang sneered, "I am not afraid of death. I am afraid of retribution? I have said this, so you can do it yourself."

As he said that, his figure floated away.

The old monk's expression changed several times, and he suddenly sighed: "Looking at the face of the scholar, he is not like a short-lived person, his fortune is ridiculously high. He has been kept in captivity and has become a resource. It's a pity, it's a pity..."

In a flash, my body disappeared out of thin air.

After they left, the entire lotus leaves on the lake were broken and fragile, like piles of garbage.

...

Time flies, it is late July, the weather is getting hot, and during the day, the sun shines brightly, making people's face hurt.

Yangzhou is a water town in the south of the Yangtze River. The water system is open and there are many weeping willows beside the water. The shade is covered with green, which relieves the sultry heat of the summer day.

Calculate the days, there are only ten days left before the provincial examination will be held.

The provincial examination is the imperial examination, which is not the same as the boy examination. The provincial examination requires nine days in total, divided into three games, and three days in each game. Between each game, one day off. Then, the entire process will last for twelve days.

This is a long-lasting exam, which is a very severe test for every scholar who refers to it. Not only mentally but also physically. In this joint eye, any problem may cause all the hard work before to be wasted.

The scholars from Fucheng County came to Yangzhou early to accumulate energy; almost all local candidates moved into inns arranged by the prefectures and counties.

In this provincial examination, there were more than 300 scholars in Yangzhou who were qualified for the examination. Of course, a Longmen Inn could not be arranged. There were four inns designated by the prefectures and counties, and they were basically full at this time.

The inn full of staff has become quiet. Because the provincial examination is about to begin, everyone is starting to feel nervous and they seize the time to review the final homework. Some experienced and experienced people have started to focus on the questions.

The so-called "grasping the question" means to figure out the meaning of the superior, to think about the possible test questions, narrow the scope, and then focus on studying the meaning of the scriptures. If you really get the final estimate, you will be as lucky as you will be, and you will be able to win the exam in the end.

Time becomes tight, and the scholars sometimes ask the waiter to send their meals to the room just to save the effort of running out.

However, Chen Sanlang basically had to go out to eat every meal, even if he was alone - some experience in his previous life told him that being calm during major events is the right way to perform on the spot. The more nervous he is, the less he can't achieve results.

In fact, he was quite confident about this provincial examination. He had no problems with his destiny and fortune, but he could never succeed with this alone. After these days of rest, his body has improved and his physical strength is more than enough. As for his spirit, due to the "Haoran Silk Book", it is his most advantageous aspect at present, full and tenacious, and he can never forget it after watching it.

These days, Chen Sanlang was worried that the nervous old monk would come and get entangled, but he didn't see the other party appear, so he saved a lot of trouble. If the old monk came again, he would really be unable to help but want to stab him with a flying sword.

The old monk didn't come, and he was so happy that his ears were pure. Sometimes everything was silent, and he sat on the bed and thought quietly, recalling the illusion that appeared when the old monk pointed at the seal hall: no matter what, he was unwilling to put down the long sword in his hand...

The reason why the little obsession at that time arose was not clear.

Is it because of fear? or suspicion...

Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot, but I don't want to!

There is an extremely famous verse in my memory: There are people in the world who slander me, deceive me, insult me, laugh at me, look down on me, belittle me, and lie to me, how to deal with it?

If you ask yourself to answer, you will definitely be: "I can't bear it, there is no need to bear it, why should you bear it?"

If the left face is slapped and the right face has to be sent to someone again, then what is the point of doing this person? If you are unhappy, you won’t be happy to become a Buddha immediately.

It seemed that he felt his obsession in his heart, and the small sword in the box was ready to move, and the room was cleared, without a trace of mosquitoes. Since he moved into this room, the mosquitoes have escaped without a trace, and the stubborn and unsatisfied sword energy has been killed completely by the invisible sword energy.

In summer, there are no mosquitoes in the room. This strange phenomenon was discovered by some scholars who visited each other and were shocked. Every night, when the lights were lit, a large area of ​​buzzing immediately. Lighting mugwort leaves and other things could not be eliminated. If conditions permit, it is possible to light incense, but the effect is average. If you want not to be bitten by mosquitoes, it is best to hide it in the mosquito net. But in that case, it will be difficult for someone to concentrate on studying.

In contrast, Chen Sanlang is the most carefree. He moved a stool and sat in front of the window. If the moonlight is bright, he would even avoid the oil lamp. Sometimes it would be a cool breeze, and it would be a great pleasure.

In August, the moonlight is very good, and the climate of autumn is slightly cool at night.

Three days later, the provincial examination will begin.

...

The imperial examinations are related to the selection of talents in the court, and they are very cautious and strict. Those who are still relaxed in the examination, but when they arrive at the provincial examination, they immediately become extremely strict. Needless to say, the examination room disciplines are the main examinations of the provincial examinations, in order to prevent fraud, they are not under the jurisdiction of local prefectures and counties. Instead, the court directly selects people as chief examiners and deputy chief examiners, and goes to each prefecture and county in advance. In addition, local prefectures and counties will also send some people to cooperate with the work of chief examiners and deputy chief examiners, and form an institution team that supervises the examination and reviews the examination papers, which is called the "Can Dept."

On the sixth day of the eighth month, it is auspicious day of the zodiac. It is advisable to travel and pay tribute to the sacrifices; avoid marriage.

In the early morning, a team of men came to the Yangzhou Examination Institute. Two rows of soldiers were fully armed, carrying more than a dozen sedan chairs in the middle. The one who opened the road at the front was eight fierce cavalry. Some of them beat gongs and drums, and the sound of the sound of the way was opened.

These are all officials from the curtain department who came to the examination institute to attend the curtain horse banquet. The curtain department is divided into internal and external parts. The outer curtain is responsible for supervision, maintaining order in the examination room, and preventing cheating; the inner curtain official enters the back hall of the examination institute; the examiner then seals the door, and the inner curtain officials do not interact with each other. The inner curtain official cannot hear external affairs except for reviewing the test paper.

At the inn around the test institute, the scholars heard the sound of gongs and drums, and stood curiously at the window and watched. Some people even ran out and stood on the side of the road to watch.

At the entrance of Longmen Inn, scholars flocked to see it in a daze.

Chen Sanlang was also among them. A scholar beside him, with a mature face and short beard, pointed to a large sedan chair in the front of the ranks and said, "Look at Daoyuan, the person sitting in that sedan chair should be Lord Su, the chief examiner of this autumn examination."

Lord Su, whose name is "Ming", and whose courtesy name is "Yanran", was a Jinshi, and has always served in the Hanlin Academy. Although the Hanlin Academy is the Qingliu, it has a position but no power. But everyone knows that it is a talent reserve base for dynasties. Once you have the opportunity, you will at least be a prefect. If you move in the country, you will either be a minister or a supervisor.

Su Yanran was highly valued by the imperial court this time and went to Yangzhou to preside over this provincial examination. It is conceivable that when the task is completed, he will be appointed as a real-powered official without waiting for a long time.

Chen Sanlang asked, "Old Zhou, what do you know about Lord Su?"

Lao Zhou was a scholar he knew in the inn. His surname was Zhou and his courtesy name was "Hezhi". He often ate together and he was generous in character, but his career was not good. This session was the fourth provincial examination he participated in.

In the twelfth year of the fourth session, Lao Zhou is 45 years old this year. In other words, he participated in the first provincial examination when he was 33 years old. If he could not pass this session, he would be afraid that the road to the imperial examination will become narrower and narrower and there will be no future. In the next session, with his age, it is hard to even say that he has obtained the qualification for the provincial examination.

Sighing, Old Zhou said, "It is said that Lord Su is quite honest and has a reputation... Haha, it has nothing to do with us. The fundamental reason is to get a good exam. Otherwise, even if you inquire clearly, you will not have the chance to talk to the adults, what's the point?"

Upon hearing this, the scholars around him nodded with consent and his face tightened.

Tomorrow, the first provincial examination will begin.
Chapter completed!