A large portrait of Confucius and various sacrifices were placed at the entrance of the Gongyuan Courtyard. The ritual and music teams were arranged in the left and right, and the scale was very grand.

The candidates who went to the exam also had some special attention. First, they divided them into two large groups according to the north and south regions, and then divided them into several small groups based on the differences in their provinces. The two capitals were at the forefront, with Jie Yuan as the leader!

So Chen Yichen took the initiative to stand in the position of the "leader" of the northern scholar. The one who was far away from him was Jie Yuan, the new examination of Yingtian Provincial Examination in Nanzhili.

However, Chen Yichen did not know this person. He should not be a celebrity from Yingtian Prefecture, but a scholar from other Taoist prefectures to which Nanzhili belongs.

The waiting process did not last long. As the sky gradually became brighter, the sound of "clang ding ding" came from a distance, with no more or less just thirteen sounds.

There was a regulation during the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty that officials would make their way by ringing the gong!

At the county level, when the gong is sounded seven times, it is called "beating seven rods and gongs"; when the officials at the government level travel, they call nine times, when the gongs are traveled at the admiral and governor level, they call 11 times; when the officials at the commander and above are traveled, they must be beaten thirteen rods and gongs, and they must not be at all wrong.

And after hearing the sound of the gong, the people along the way must consciously give in or kneel down to greet him. If they fail to rush into the ceremonial war, even if they despise the court, they will be beaten at the least, and at the worst, they will be beheaded.

There is no doubt that there is only one official who can reach the level of thirteen gongs in today's examination, that is, Hu Yi, Minister of Rites.

Therefore, the thousands of students present took the exam to avoid the tribute on both sides like a tide, giving up the tribute road in the middle, fearing that they could not escape from the ceremonial guard of Da Zongbo.

Soon a team of soldiers who were leading the way ran over, stood on the left and right to build two human walls, and then dozens of military soldiers holding official digits walked from far to near.

In addition to the conventional "silence" and "avoidance", the official plaque in the head was written with the words "San Jue of the Ministry of Rites", followed by the plaques such as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites, the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, the Thirteen Supervisory Censor, and other plaques.

The momentum is so great that people can't help but feel awe when they see it.

After passing the official title, there are officials from all walks of life, including officials in charge of etiquette, examiner of the inner curtain, invigilator of the outer curtain, and even the inspector of the garrison commander and supply officer.

This is the most important examination of the feudal dynasty. The resources of the entire Ming Dynasty were mobilized, and the solemnity was no less than that of the college entrance examination in later generations. It can even be said that it is even better than that of the college entrance examination.

The leading sedan chair stopped at the starting point of the tribute road, and the curtain was lifted, revealing the cheek of Hu Yi, the Minister of Rites.

"Welcome to the Lord of the Lord!"

The welcome sound like a tsunami sounded across the Shuntian Gongyuan, and at the same time, the sons bowed down.

Hu Yi looked around and nodded slightly, even if he responded. Then he walked towards Shi Dian Confucius' altar, and the officials followed him.

Such momentum and majesty make these students who have not yet obtained an official position look full of admiration and envy in their eyes, and many people can't help but feel that "a real man should be like this."

If you can be named to the Golden List, you will definitely be considered as a marquis and will not be inferior to such a scene!

Hu Yi stood at the ritual altar, turned around to face the examiner, and spoke with a solemn face: "All the talents, today we have received the grace of the holy to be selected. I will serve the master Confucius on behalf of the Shishi. I hope that all the students will be solemnly respectful and live up to the grace of the holy!"

"yes!"

When all the students heard this, they saluted and said yes.

After saying this, Hu Yi nodded to the priest beside him, meaning that the reunion ceremony could begin.

There is a clear record in the "Da Ming Hui Dian" that when the minister saw the king performing five worships, when he saw the prince, he would worship four times in the East Palace, and his son would worship four times in his parents.

However, in the actual operation process, except for the sacrificial ceremony or particularly important activities, the "three kneelings and nine bows" will be used, and the rest will be done with one kneeling and three bows.

However, when I worship Confucius, I must perform four bows, and the steps of bowing are detailed in the "Boy's Rite".

Therefore, Chen Yichen and others went to the exam to take the exam and could only follow the chief ritual officer Hu Yi and bow to the portrait of Confucius.

After the worship ceremony, Si Ye burned incense, music, and danced in Li Qi. After a while, it took almost half an hour to finish the operation. It was not until Chen Yichen felt that he was sweating slightly on his forehead in the cold wind, and the whole Shu Dian was over.

Hu Yi faced the disciples again and said some encouragement words: "Ten years of hard work will last, and the youth of my life will be expected. You are all outstanding talents in the Ming Dynasty. I hope you and others can all be on the emperor's list and have a banquet together!"

"Thank you, Master Tong!"

Although I understand that this is a polite saying, it is impossible for everyone to pass the imperial examination, but when these words were said by the Minister of Rites, many scholars were excited.

After the ceremony was over, a cannon sound came from a distance, and the gantry door of Shuntian Gongyuan slowly opened again.

The examiners of the inner curtain first entered the tribute court, and the invigilators of the outer curtain also entered their posts. Hu Yi, the Minister of Rites, who served as the tribute officer, and Wang Ying, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, were also preparing to leave.

However, when passing by Chen Yichen's side, the two of them looked at him intentionally or unintentionally, with deep meaning in their eyes.

Chen Yichen didn't know what Hu Yi was thinking. It is hard to call a derogatory term for civil servants like him who have experienced four dynasties. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are daily adjectives.

If you want to see through his thoughts, Chen Yichen does not have this skill yet.

But Chen Yichen understood what Wang Ying was thinking very well. He hoped that he could become an official in the high school, which would add a lot of help to the generals in the court.

Not only Chen Yichen's own strength, but also Duke Cheng, who stood behind him. After experiencing the incident of Kou, many people realized that these two people could not be cut.

With the release of Confucius, all the important officials of the dynasty left the venue. The students who had been in a serious and quiet atmosphere before finally could relax their social interactions during the period of waiting to enter.

Chen Yichen undoubtedly became the primary target of the disciples, and even crossed the geographical restrictions of the north and south. Whether from Yingtian Prefecture or Shuntian Prefecture, there were people who kept bowing and greeting him.

After all, Chen Yichen won the title of Little Sanyuan Case in Yingtian Mansion and surpassed the heroes at the Winter Solstice Poetry Conference. Not to mention Shuntian Mansion, it is no surprise that Jie Yuan’s title and the leader of Kouque became the focus of the audience.

"Chen Jieyuan has long admired him. He is a student of the Imperial College in Shinna. His mentor can clear up grievances. He relies on Chen Jieyuan to uphold justice!"

"I heard about the name Chen Jieyuan for a long time. I was the son of Yingtian Prefecture. I saw a heroic figure at the Winter Solstice Poetry Conference. I regretted that I could not have a close relationship with him at that time!"

"Xie Yuanlang is very wise and does not fear the power to sign a memorial. I admire him very much!"

Compliments from all parties kept coming, and Chen Yichen could only bow with a smile, trying to make himself look humble and not be so proud.

His actions have aroused the favor of many unfamiliar students. You should know that since ancient times, literati have been despised. Especially some young and famous talents are even more arrogant than others, and there are very few people as humble and low-key as Chen Yichen.

But these praises were extremely harsh when heard by others.

He Pingyan and others stood behind Chen Yichen. What happened in Xueling Pavilion that Ri was almost like a thorn in their hearts.

You should know that Gongxing Society has a certain status among the young scholars in the capital, and others cannot join. As a result, a Hongmen banquet was arranged for a mere maid. Not only was he slapped in the face, he was even killed after taking action!

How can you forget such a great humiliation?

"Don't be afraid of power? Humph, just those who seek fame and reputation!"

Sun Shaozong looked at the scene where Chen Yichen was sought after, and was jealous and couldn't help but sarcastic.

Moreover, the tone of this sentence was obviously too high, and many people around him heard it.

When many of the Shuntian Prefecture students were dissatisfied when they heard this sentence. You should know that the Dasi incident, many students in Shuntian Prefecture were participants in person, and even among the thousands of people who knelt in the snow with grievances. There were also many of them.

They saw Chen Yichen's behavior at that time. Who could have such great courage to face the Jinyiwei and take charge of the overall situation?

Who dared to lead the lead and write a memorial to offend Wang Zhen?

In order to take into account the overall situation and protect the students, Chen Yichen even refused to submit a joint memorial to everyone, and took the consequences alone.

Who dares to talk nonsense about such a great act of kindness and righteousness?

So many scholars were ready to refute immediately, but when they saw that the other party was the son of Huichang Bo, they did not dare to say anything when they spoke, and could only suppress their dissatisfaction.

After all, this is the Empress Dowager's younger brother. She is really an infrared relative and most people can't afford to offend them at all.

However, among the crowd, there were also people who dared to speak out for justice. A little thin raised his head stood up and bowed to Sun Shaozong and said, "This brother is such a bad word. I have seen with my own eyes that Chen Jieyuan ran around for my teacher. The superiors are not afraid of power, and the subordinates are not afraid of hawks and dogs. How can I find fame and reputation?"

Sun Shaozong was already jealous and saw someone who dared to jump out to refute him, and cursed: "What are you, how dare you question me?"

"In Xia Nai Imperial College student Zhou Hongmo, I feel deeply grateful for the grace of Shen Jieyuan!"

With someone taking the lead and being a student from the Imperial College, the dissatisfied disciples around him began to agree.

"That's right, I saw Chen Jieyuan's actions with my own eyes, and there is absolutely no falsehood!"

"The Grand Master's illness has not yet recovered after his pardon. If it weren't for Chen Jieyuan's rescue, I'm afraid..."

"I am also a student of the Imperial College, and I will remember Chen Jieyuan's grace in my heart!"

Facing the more and more people around him talking to Chen Yichen, Sun Shaozong had an extremely blue face. He never expected that the other party had such popularity and status in the hearts of the literati of the capital.

At the same time, He Pingyan's face was extremely ugly. He founded the Gongxing Society and served as the president, just to become the leader of a literati in the capital and even the world. This would be of great benefit to his future career as a power.

But now he found that Chen Yichen had vague signs of a young scholar in the capital. How could he tolerate this?

"Shao Zong, tell Chen Yichen's memorial and let everyone see his true face."

Chen Yichen's memorial was not disclosed. Currently, only Tongzhengsi, Wenshu officials, and a very small number of ministers in the court knew about it, including Huichangbo.

In theory, the content of this kind of memorial is not a confidential document and there is nothing to keep secret. However, because it is related to Wang Zhen and the Imperial College Priest, even if the officials have seen it, they dare not disclose it at will. Therefore, ordinary scholars of Shuntian naturally cannot know it.

In their hearts, they subconsciously believed that the content of Chen Yichen's memorial must have been to denounce the traitor and treacherous ministers like Wang Zhen, and asked the emperor to help the Grand Secretary clear the grievances.

This is why Chen Yichen has received high praise and respect now. After all, if he handed over a memorial, he could be considered a death sentence.

The scholar-official spirit of a scholar-official who values ​​integrity and commits life and death can be described as fully demonstrated.

If they learned that Chen Yichen had no intention of criticizing Wang Zhen at all, they would not know whether the opposite would be true for the evaluation.

“Can this be said?”

Sun Shaozong was not stupid at all. He understood that it had not been circulated, so naturally no one dared to say it.

Others are afraid of offending Wang Zhen, may they not be afraid?

"You are the son of Huichangbo and the younger brother of the current Empress Dowager, what are you afraid of?"

"Besides, would you like to see a person like Chen Yichen who seeks fame and is highly respected?"

He Pingyan added another fire, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he could tear off Chen Yichen's hypocritical mask, then his reputation in the hearts of literary scholars would definitely not be able to turn over!

"Okay, then I will tell the world that Chen Yichen flatters power and deceives the world and steals reputation!"

After making up his mind, Sun Shaozong also took the initiative and directly told the core content of Chen Yichen's memorial.

For a moment, the audience was in an uproar. The men who had just spoken for Chen Yichen were full of incredible words on their faces at this moment.
To be continued...