Wang Ruoling received the "Pictures of Ladies" presented by Cui Weizhen and carefully appreciated it like a treasure. It took half an hour before he reluctantly looked away and landed on Cui Weizhen, who was waiting patiently.
"I remember that this painting was your father's collection, and was later borrowed by Mr. Zhou. I asked him several times to ask for it, but he stingily refused. Now he is willing to return it to you, which shows his noble character.
"
He put the "Picture of Ladies" back into the box and pushed it over, "A gentleman never takes what others like. This painting is your father's favorite. You can keep it as a thought."
Cui Weizhen didn't answer, "A sword is given to a hero, and a famous painting is given to a famous person. Students don't know how to appreciate the paintings of saints, and the pearls in their hands are covered with dust. I might as well give this to you, the teacher."
Wang Ruoling really liked it and couldn't resist the kindness. In the end, he blushed and accepted it. However, he didn't have anything for nothing. After learning that Cui Weizhen passed the Jie Yuan exam, he had already made plans for him.
Before that, he still asked Cui Weizhen for his opinion, "The exam will be held in February next year. What are your plans?"
Cui Weizhen said respectfully, "The student plans to finish school next year. I wonder if the teacher has any suggestions?"
"You can go to the Imperial College to study."
There are 300 students in the Imperial College, and most of the students are children of the nobility. Most of them are descendants of powerful people, or are children of various high-ranking families, or their families have titles, and they are the second generation of power worthy of the name. Occasionally, there are also low-ranking officials who are appreciated by the emperor.
He protected his children and allowed them to study in the Imperial College.
These students are called supervisors. As long as they successfully graduate, they can become officials without taking the imperial examination. Unlike Qingliu, who has a formal imperial examination background, it is very difficult for officials who have a supervisor's background to be promoted to the third rank or above, so they only need to be juniors.
, powerful families will still let them take the imperial examination seriously.
Wang Ruoling's son is an example. His son Wang Yuxuan is the same year as Cui Weizhen and will also take the exam this year.
Cui Weizhen also studied in the Imperial College when he was young. Although Cui Shichang has passed away, his academic status is still retained. Wang Ruolin can smooth the relationship and let him continue to study. It will not be a problem.
He warned, "There are only a few months until the National Examination, and we don't expect you to learn much knowledge when you go in. You go in to collect information. This year's National Examination questions, the Imperial Academy's wine offering, and several Ph.D.'s in Confucian classics may all be taken away."
The emperor chooses to give the questions, you go in and listen to their lectures carefully, and if you gain something, you will have a bit more advantage than others."
These are words from the bottom of my heart.
Cui Weizhen thanked him solemnly, and Wang Ruoling expressed his satisfaction, and continued, "If you are free, you can participate in more poetry gatherings, or submit works to famous scholars in the world. If you get a few words of praise, you will be able to make a name for yourself. In the future, if you are nominated for the imperial examination, Your Majesty
Priority will be given to famous scholars."
Cui Weizhen also knows this hidden rule.
Cui Shichang was a talented scholar who won three yuan in a row and was also a favorite of the emperor. Every year during the examination time, the concierge would receive several baskets of submission papers every day, all from scholars who came to try their luck.
Why do you say it's luck? Because Cui Weizhen knew that his father didn't have time to look at the submissions. Even if there were people with amazing literary talents in them, they would just disappear.
A scholar once wrote a poem about this, "The red candles were lit in the bridal chamber last night, and I waited in front of the hall to pay homage to my uncle and aunt. After putting on makeup, I asked my husband in a low voice: Is the thrush dark or dark?"
It seems to be about the uneasiness of a newly married woman meeting her parents-in-law, but in fact it alludes to the expectation and anxiety of scholars submitting papers. From this, it can be seen that the hope of getting ahead from this is very slim.
So Cui Weizhen has reservations about this.
After the master and apprentice finished their discussion in the study, they went to the backyard together.
At this time, Wang Yu'an had been tortured by Ye Zhenzhen, and Mrs. Wang was eyeing her, so although she was excited when she saw Cui Weizhen, she didn't do anything drastic.
It was just that those affectionate eyes made Ye Zhenzhen feel a toothache. Her eyes kept drifting to Cui Weizhen, and she found that he was not looking directly at her. She bowed and greeted Mrs. Wang in a polite manner throughout the whole process, and she did not go overboard in treating Wang Yu'an.
This move prevented the old jealousy in her heart from overturning.
Cui Weizhen, who was being followed the whole time, had no emotion on his face, but could not hide the smile in his eyes. Zhen Zhen's jealous look was also very cute.
Ye Zhenzhen, who was praised as cute, soon lost her cuteness.
The reason is that after finishing the visit and setting off to go back, Wang Yu'an sneaked out and met with Cui Weizhen.
She stopped Cui Weizhen at the gate who was about to get on the bus. Regardless of Aunt Cui and Ye Zhenzhen standing by, she said with a face full of stubborn friendship, "Brother Weizhen, I have something to tell you. Can you lend me a step?"
say?"
Ye Zhenzhen's expression changed immediately.
Although the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty were said to be open and women had a lot of freedom, there was no way a daughter who had not left the palace would seduce a married woman in front of her first wife, right?
Cui Weizhen held Ye Zhenzhen's hand comfortingly and rejected Wang Yu'an before she exploded. "Ms. Wang, men and women are not intimate. Zhenzhen and my mother are not outsiders. If you want to say anything, just say it here."
Wang Yu'an stared longingly at his handsome face, his eyes full of sadness and sadness, "Brother Wei Zhen, you have changed. You used to call me Sister An, and you said you wanted to marry me as your bride."
Someone suddenly pinched him hard on his waist. Cui Weizhen's expression changed slightly and he glanced at Ye Zhenzhen without any trace. Seeing that she was about to explode with anger, he suddenly had a headache. He didn't know how to explain it when he got back.
He was worried, and he could no longer maintain a gentle expression towards Wang Yu'an, the culprit.
"Ms. Wang, it was just a joke when we were young. It should not be taken seriously. Now that I am married, you are still a girl who has not left the court. Please don't say such misleading words again."
Wang Yu'an had probably never seen Cui Weizhen's cold face before. She was startled and her eye circles immediately turned red. She looked at Ye Zhenzhen who was intertwined with him, holding back her tears and asked, "Do you like Mrs. Ye?"
?Daddy said that Mrs. Ye’s grandfather forced you to agree to this marriage. Do you also like this kind of forced marriage? "
There was an unnoticeable look of expectation on her face, as if Cui Weizhen replied that he didn't like it, and she would have a chance.
Ye Zhenzhen, who was originally competing in secret, unconsciously let go of her hand and looked at Cui Weizhen expectantly.
She had thought about this question before, but felt there was no need to ask it. Now that someone had asked it for her, she still wanted to know the answer.
Cui Weizhen's brows furrowed slightly, and he didn't know who he was angry with, but when he came into contact with Ye Zhenzhen's expectant gaze, the cold and hard lines gradually softened.
"No, I'm very glad that I agreed in the first place."