Aunt Li had comforted Zhu Niang many times before and advised her to look away, but Zhu Niang was still uneasy.
My son is in a foreign land. Does he have enough clothes when it gets cold? Can he have enough food and clothing? Is it snowing or raining in the north? Is he being bullied?
On the fourth day of April, Zhu Niang was comparing the accounts of the rice paper shop with Aunt Li with an abacus. Shopkeeper Ma was driving his car and rushed outside the shop in a hurry. Because he was in such a hurry, he almost bumped into someone along the way. Waiting
He stopped the carriage in front of the rice paper shop, jumped out of the carriage, and shouted: "Madam, madam!"
It attracts the attention of passers-by.
Not knowing what was going on, Zhu Niang came to the door and looked at Shopkeeper Ma who was rushing over, and was about to ask.
But I heard Shopkeeper Ma excitedly saying: "I hit it, I hit it!"
"What happened?"
Aunt Li followed out.
But at this time, Shopkeeper Ma was running all the way and couldn't even breathe. He was so excited that he could hardly hold his tongue straight. After a long while, he said: "Young Master... No, I should call you Master from now on. I will be the master."
"Huiyuan?"
Mrs. Zhu was very confused.
Even though she had crammed in a lot of knowledge about the imperial examination before, and was already familiar with terms such as student member, examiner, and Jinshi, she was still unfamiliar with the term Huiyuan.
Aunt Li also asked: "Did you fail to get Jinshi? The imperial court published a deputy list, is it the Huiyuan?"
"No! No!"
Shopkeeper Ma didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and hurriedly explained, "Master Zhu got the first place in the examination. Even if he hasn't taken the palace examination yet, he is actually a Jinshi! If you look at it again, this will be equivalent to the number one scholar in the Ming Dynasty!"
When Zhu Niang heard this, blood rushed to her head, and she asked with a flushed face: "You...what did you say?"
Shopkeeper Ma said: "Sir, he has tried the examination and won the first place. He is the first in the Huguang Township Examination and the first in the National Examination. He is the first among the literati in the world. The next step is the Palace Examination. If he gets the first place again, he will be the number one scholar!"
When Zhu Niang heard this, she felt angry and angry. Her head went blank for a moment, and she was confused and unsteady. Fortunately, Aunt Li was beside her and supported her.
"lady!"
Xiaobai also ran from inside and helped Aunt Li hold Zhu Niang up.
Shopkeeper Ma looked at it and said, "Good guy, I'm here to announce the good news. I'll make my wife faint first. Can a gentleman like me enter this widow's house?"
Forget it, it's better not to go in. Not only is she a chaste woman, she is also a woman of destiny, and she will also have to take an imperial edict in the future. This is her official status. How can I dare to get close to her?
…
…
"What's going on?"
The rice paper shop quickly became busy.
When the neighbors saw that Zhu Niang had fainted and was being helped into the shop by her own family members, a group of people gathered around her.
Qian Chuanzi emerged from behind the crowd and said, "Something must have happened to the Zhu family boy in the capital. Either he got seriously ill or he died!"
"Qian, can you say something nice? The young master of the Zhu family is now a civil servant. How dare you talk nonsense? You'll have to go to the Yamen and get dozens of bans!"
Some neighbors made threats.
Qian Chuanzi looked disdainful.
Shopkeeper Ma stood at the door with a smile on his face, looking at the clear sky, which seemed to be bluer than usual. The sun shone warmly on his body, which was very pleasant.
"There's another crazy person here!"
An auntie found out that shopkeeper Ma was smiling foolishly at the sky, and she couldn't help but exclaimed.
Shopkeeper Ma had some free time, looked around at the people watching the excitement, held his head high and said: "Everyone, my little boss is the Master of the Zhu family. From now on, he will no longer be a public prosecutor, but a Jinshi. In the Spring Festival in the capital this year, my master passed the exam.
The first honorary scholar is Huiyuan, thank you all for your love and support."
"ah?"
People present were talking a lot, and they obviously couldn't believe the news.
Qian Chuanzi said: "There are so many scholars in the world, but this kid got the first place in the exam? What a fool?"
"I'm not fooling you, just forget it if you don't believe me."
Shopkeeper Ma didn't bother to argue with this group of people.
Someone with a little knowledge asked: "I won first place in the general examination, but what about the palace examination?"
Shopkeeper Ma said: "The imperial examination has not been held yet."
"You can only be a Jinshi after passing the palace examination. You are obviously talking nonsense. The general examination and the palace examination are held in conjunction with each other. This book mentions..." Someone else questioned.
Shopkeeper Ma was quite helpless. He had knocked out his wife first, and now he had to explain the general examination and palace examination to a group of white-collared neighbors. He felt tired for a while, shook his head and said: "Neighbors, did you know that the emperor is currently leading the army?
I am in the Jiangnan area and have not returned to Beijing yet, so the palace examination cannot be held as scheduled! However, if you pass the general examination, you will definitely be admitted in the palace examination, which means that my husband is guaranteed to be a Jinshi."
"Oh, I see."
Many people had only half-understandings, but nodded their heads, looking proud of themselves.
"So, the young master of the Zhu family is really awesome, but I don't know whether the news is true or false. No one from the government came to report the good news!"
"Yes, when I passed the exam, the scene... was so lively, you can't believe it or not."
The neighbors felt that this was a bit unreliable. A person passed the examination, such as the state government or Xingwang Mansion. Groups of people came to announce the good news. A steady stream of gifts piled up at the door. Now the shopkeeper of the Zhu family was there to explain that Zhu Hao had passed the examination.
I'll give it a try, the contrast is a bit big.
At this moment, Zhu Niang woke up and walked out of the shop again, but she was still a little unsteady and needed Aunt Li's support.
When everyone saw Zhu Niang, they all looked at her with questioning eyes.
Zhu Niang first saluted the onlookers and said: "My dear neighbors, if you work hard, you will pass the Gongshi examination in a few years, and you will be a Jinshi in one step... We, orphans and widows, would like to thank our neighbors for their care over the years... Sister, you
Go quickly, wear red and colorful clothes, prepare more reward money, and give out happy money to the neighbors."
"Oh, Mother Zhu is still so awesome."
The onlookers saw that Zhu Niang was bleeding profusely again. How could it be false?
I have also forgotten my previous doubts. If you have money for a wedding, why don’t you go up and congratulate me quickly?
…
…
Outside Zhu's shop, there were lanterns and colorful decorations.
This time Zhu Niang spent a lot of money. Not only her own shop, but also the surrounding shops could hang up red silk and red lanterns if they wanted. Later, they could ask the Zhu family for reimbursement, and it soon became a festive street.
Firecrackers were set off several times in a row.
Qian Chuanzi firmly disagreed with the red hanging in front of his shop and muttered: "It's best to be extremely happy and miserable. If you don't win the Jinshi, you will die!"
That afternoon, when Prince Xing's Mansion learned the news, Zhang Zuo brought people over to congratulate him.
Zhu Niang originally set up a flowing banquet to greet the neighbors and people who came to congratulate her. Zhang Zuo was regarded as an honored guest. After hearing the news, he hurried out to greet her.
Zhang Zuo said with a smile: "The palace learned about the situation a few days ago. I wanted to wait for the results of the palace examination to be released. Mr. Zhu Xiao came over to congratulate him after he was named on the gold list. However, at present, it will take some time for His Majesty to return to Beijing to preside over the palace examination. After hearing this
I was celebrating, so I came over to congratulate you!"
The channels in Prince Xing's Mansion are obviously more informed than Shopkeeper Ma's, and they get the exact news more than ten days in advance.
According to the general rules, the good news will be announced after the palace examination is over. At that time, people from the government will also come forward, and the scene will naturally become more lively.
But now that the palace examination has been postponed, Zhu Hao's passing the Huiyuan examination is something worthy of celebration. The Zhu family has already celebrated on its own. If he doesn't show up now, it will make it look like Prince Xing's palace doesn't care about Zhu Hao's passing the Huiyuan examination.
Zhang Zuo could only quickly ask Princess Jiang for instructions, and then came to the door with gifts.
Madam Zhu was very respectful: "Zhang Fengzheng, my son's success depends entirely on the support of the royal family. From now on, my son..."
"You can't say that, madam. Mr. Zhu Xiao's future appointment as an official in the court has nothing to do with Prince Xing's Mansion. That's because of your own ability."
Zhang Zuo knows how to measure things very well.
In the past, Zhu Hao was a civil servant, so he could openly say that it was related to Prince Xing's Mansion, but that was nothing.
But in the future, Zhu Hao will be a Jinshi, and he will be an official in the court. Moreover, he has close contacts with Prince Xing's Palace, which will have an impact on Zhu Hao and Prince Xing's Palace. It is best to keep this relationship in secret and everyone knows it. Why bother to get it?
Everyone knows?
"Yes Yes!"
Zhu Niang was not unreasonable, and she was very grateful to Prince Xing's Mansion. She felt that it was all the support given by Prince Xing's Mansion to her son that led to today's success and fame.
"Hurry up and put your things down. The palace here has also prepared firecrackers. Let's set them off!"
Zhang Zuo greeted with a smile, "After Master Zhu is named on the gold medal list, come over and celebrate."
Zhu Niang felt a little regretful when she heard this.
This was obviously to force Prince Xing's family to come over to congratulate him. In fact, his son is not yet a formal Jinshi, and it seems that he has become a Jinshi. It might be easy for him to have a situation of "excessive joy leads to sorrow".
While people were busy, Zhu Niang walked up to Zhang Zuo and asked quietly: "Zhang Fengzheng, I...have you been too hasty?"
Zhang Zuo pointed to the inside of the shop: "It's noisy outside, let's go in and talk."
Zhu Niang was startled.
If it were another man who made such a request, she would definitely have concerns, but considering that the other man was a eunuch from Prince Xing's Mansion, she had nothing to worry about and invited Zhang Zuo to the shop.
Zhu Niang, who had been watching the money outside, pointed at the string of money and deliberately shouted: "Look, the widow has welcomed the man in!"
Immediately an acquaintance held his hand and said, "Are you looking for death? That is the chief eunuch of Prince Xing's Mansion. He has a very high status. Do you believe that someone from the government pulled out your tongue when word got out?"
Only then did Qian Chuanzi realize that he had acted recklessly. He was so frightened that he hid in his shop and could not come out.
…
…
"Third Madam, I would like to say congratulations to you first."
After Zhang Zuo entered the shop, he said with a smile, "This is all a happy event. Who would have thought that this year's palace examination would be postponed because His Majesty is not in the capital? Logically speaking, by the beginning of April, the news of the palace examination results will be announced soon.
The journey from Anlu to the capital can only take more than ten days, and everyone wants to wait and congratulate her together."
Zhu Niang nodded and said: "Yes, yes."
Zhang Zuodao: "No, there are many things going on in the palace. The young prince is currently stranded in the capital and has not returned yet."
As he spoke, Zhang Zuo felt a little sentimental.
Zhu Niang asked with concern: "Little Prince, he...?"
"It's okay. Isn't your master, Mr. Zhu Xiao, also in the capital? There is news that the master has been giving lessons to the prince without any delay. The prince's palace is very grateful for this...
"We are all members of our own family, and there is no need to meet outsiders. But now that your son has passed the Jinshi examination and will soon be an official in the court, there are some things that we should avoid. If this relationship spreads, it will not be good for your son or the palace."
Zhang Zuo's words are serious and thoughtful.
Zhu Niang suddenly had some political awareness and hurriedly saluted: "I will remember this."