Since the hospital exam was the next day, Aunt Yun prepared a rich and nutritious dinner early.
After dinner, it was still early. Meng Xinghe asked Aunt Yun if she wanted to go for a walk. Aunt Yun had nothing to do, so she just went for a walk with Meng Xinghe. She nodded in agreement, because she would see Meng Xinghe go out for a walk after dinner every day. Time. She didn't know that this was Meng Xinghe's after-dinner activity, so she was very curious every time she saw him going out. She just didn't ask him face to face.
Meng Xinghe led Aunt Yun out of the Imperial College. He planned to walk to Gongyuan to have a look. By the way, he would familiarize himself with the place where the exam would be held tomorrow.
Aunt Yun accompanied him to the Gongyuan. She didn't say anything along the way. It wasn't until Meng Xinghe decided to return that Aunt Yun said quietly: "I have seen too many people come out of the Gongyuan before. They either fainted or died on the spot. Screaming almost crazy. So I always thought that the imperial examination would be difficult. I didn't expect it to be so difficult. Even people like you would come here in person and walk around the Gongyuan three times before choosing to go back."
Looking at the students who were lingering in front of the Gongyuan gate and refusing to leave, Aunt Yun helplessly shook her head and said: "Some people, working hard all their lives, always think that being able to enter the Gongyuan is a supreme honor. But how do they know? .They are just chess pieces in the hands of the emperor. When they are useful, they will appreciate you very much. When they are not useful, they are like treating toothless dogs. They can be kicked far away. In the eyes of the emperor, there is nothing but killing. Ambition and other things are simply not something he can take notice of."
Meng Xinghe walked in front, with his hands behind his back. He looked quite mature. If the imperial examination is not difficult, then what are the explanations for those scholars who passed the exam in history? In high school, I learned about Fan Jin who passed the imperial examination. At that time, a single examination was considered a success. Such a sensation, let alone a Jinshi.
Three feet of ice did not last in a day. Countless people fought hard and suffered bloody blows. They studied hard for ten years and did not listen to what was going on outside the window. They even spent their whole lives working just to walk into the magnificent Gongyuan in front. Then he will be famous all over the world by being named on the gold medal list. Even though everyone knows that accompanying the emperor is like accompanying the tiger. But what can be done for those students who can only take the imperial examination road to survive in the world.
Being used by others is better than being useless. So Meng Xinghe has always planned to stay away from the temple and go to a peaceful corner of Jiangdu to live happily. The imperial examination is just a shortcut for him to enter the official career, rather than signing a contract to sell himself to the emperor. Deed.
Familiar with the place where tomorrow's exam will take place, Meng Xinghe has some details in his mind. Returning to the private room of the Imperial College, Aunt Yun walked to Meng Xinghe's room and carefully told him to check the writing and ink of tomorrow's imperial examination to avoid any mistakes. He also asked Meng Xinghe carefully checked the bottom layer of the box to see if there was an interlayer. Because the hospital inspection was stricter, if someone had tampered with the box during the inspection, Meng Xinghe would not be able to explain it even if it was justified.
Meng Xinghe had not thought of this yet. He checked the bamboo box containing pens and papers again. After confirming that there was no sandwich inside, Meng Xinghe closed the lid of the bamboo box with confidence. Aunt Yun had already brought one for Meng Xinghe. Octagonal treasure box.
"It contains some snacks and dry food. You have to stay in the Gongyuan for three days. Just make do with these things. When you come out, I will cook a delicious meal for you."
Put the octagonal treasure box in front of Meng Xinghe's bamboo box. Aunt Yun said: "Go to rest early. Take the test tomorrow. Take the test well. Mengdie is still waiting for you to get the top score and go back." Aunt Yun said and exited the door. .
The next day, early in the morning, when the sky was still white, Aunt Yun knocked on the door in front of Meng Xinghe's room.
"Come in." Meng Xinghe said calmly from inside.
Aunt Yun opened the door and left. She saw that Meng Xinghe had already dressed and was ready to come out.
"You're up." Aunt Yun said softly. She thought Meng Xinghe would sleep deeply as usual, so she came to wake him up so as not to delay the imperial examination. "Breakfast is ready. Come and eat quickly. Come on. I'll take you to take the exam later."
"Yes." Meng Xinghe nodded. Compared with other students, he is lucky. He has a close person to take care of his daily life. This kind of high-end treatment is as warm as at home. He heard Aunt Yun say that he was sent to rush for the exam. Meng Xinghe was startled. I used to often hear that wives sent their husbands to take exams. After all, Aunt Yun was a princess of the former dynasty. She sent herself to take exams. It was so touching.
Breakfast was still red bean porridge and hot steamed buns. Meng Xinghe's mouth was already in Aunt Yun's mouth. If breakfast didn't have these two things, he would have no appetite.
After breakfast, he stayed in the house for a while. When the sky turned white, Meng Xinghe started walking to Gongyuan. Originally, he didn't want Aunt Yun to deliver the exam, but he saw that Aunt Yun had already picked up his box. .I just followed her temper and asked Aunt Yun to take the exam.
The students pouring out of the Imperial College walked in twos and threes to the Gongyuan with a box for taking the exam. The students who live in Chang'an were okay. They had relatives at home to see them off. Most of their words were about gold list questions, but there were also many waving words. Scenes of tearful farewells. Meng Xinghe had long been accustomed to it after the scientific examination. He led Aunt Yun to the front of the Gongyuan.
The long queue was like a giant dragon lining up in front of the tribute courtyard. Aunt Yun frowned and said, "With so many people, how many can be hired by the imperial court?"
"Not many. Twenty or thirty people at most." Meng Xinghe said a little self-deprecatingly. In fact, among these twenty or thirty people, only the top ten are the Jinshi who have been accepted by the official examination. The ones behind are recommended and have the title of descendants of the official clan. When a Jinshi was born, there were only dozens of people taking the imperial examination in one year. This was already considered the most magnificent imperial examination.
Looking at the crowd of people in front of her, Aunt Yun couldn't believe it and said, "Only a few dozen people will be hired. How sure are you?"
At this time, Aunt Yun was a little concerned about Meng Xinghe's situation. According to the recruitment ratio mentioned by Meng Xinghe, not to mention getting the first prize, it would be good to get the Jinshi.
Thousands of troops are crossing the single-plank bridge. Meng Xinghe is not sure that he can squeeze across the bridge. But he is at least confident and will not let others kick him off the bridge easily. The purpose of this scientific examination is very clear. It is aimed at the top ten. .I will no longer go around to take the exam like the provincial exam and the provincial exam. After all, there are so many people in the family. At this moment, I must be praying to God and Buddha, burning incense and praying. Praying for myself in Chang'an. I hope I can win my ancestors. Bless your high school success.
Therefore, Meng Xinghe cannot live up to their expectations. Not even one of them can.
Smiling at the worried Aunt Yun, Meng Xinghe took the things she had prepared for the exam and walked into the long queue.
"Don't worry. Everyone who kneels down in front of him will have to make a difference once in this life. Otherwise, how can he be worthy of my golden and beautiful Princess Xiruo."
Although Meng Xinghe's voice was low, Aunt Yun's face turned red. She had never sent a man to take the exam. At this moment, she felt a sense of belonging. She also finally realized why the man who was buried in the tomb was in the past. . His little daughter, who has always been simple and elegant, will bring him to the grave to have a look after finding a man who satisfies her. And whether the man is a beggar or a white man, he will recognize this son-in-law. Now think about it. That man will be buried for a long time. The people in the underground are just trying to make his little daughter realize how a woman should belong, instead of spending her whole life hating the country and family, living outside and being a rootless duckweed.
Hearing Meng Xinghe's words and seeing him step into the queue for the exam firmly and calmly, Aunt Yun's eyes suddenly became wet. If she could meet a man who could impress her in this life, then Meng Xinghe would be the first one. .also the last one.
"Father."
Aunt Yun whispered softly, as if she was crying. In her heart, the man who killed his father and brother was indeed a good father. And this father, when he was facing troops approaching the city in Jiangdu and was surrounded by enemies on all sides, he resolutely used his own life to let... My little daughter escaped from birth just because of what he said. Bring a man you like to kneel down in front of my grave. Even if I, Yang Guang, are reviled by the people of the world for thousands of years, I can't let my pity be received. Not even remotely implicated. So, during the Jiangdu mutiny, all the literary and historical information about the three princesses of the Sui Dynasty were burned. From then on, the beloved Princess Xiruo, whom Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty loved, took the imperial seal with her, as if she had disappeared from the world. I don’t know where I went. I can only leave a trace in the unofficial history, and the tragic fate of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty being buried in the canal.
Meng Xinghe turned around and saw Aunt Yun who had been standing behind him, watching silently. She was like a watchman's stone by the river, watching the distant sky day and night. He smiled slightly and gave Aunt Yun a victory sign. fist. Then he pushed forward along with the queue to enter the examination room.
The inspection of the college examination is an extremely strict procedure. There is a long line of people walking through the gate of Gongyuan one by one. Everything they bring must be checked before they can be put in for the exam. Some candidates want to get lucky. Because He had a cheat sheet on his person. He was cuffed on the spot and immediately sent to prison. He was also declared immortal and unable to enter the officialdom.
This scene frightened some students. They quietly quit the queue, took out the cheat sheets hidden in the soles of their shoes, and then queued up again to wait for admission.
Meng Xinghe walked in the middle of the team with high spirits. He saw all the candidates in front of him entering the examination room. Meng Xinghe gathered himself. It was his turn to step forward and accept the inspection in front of the tribute hospital.
"What's your name?" An official in front of the Gongyuan Gate was preparing to register and inquire whether this person would participate in the scientific examination. He asked in a very formal manner.
"Taoyuan Meng Xinghe." Meng Xinghe answered normally. This is how he entered the examination room for both the provincial and provincial examinations. He wasn't too worried. He just wanted to go in early, find his own exam place, and then start preparing for the exam.
The invigilator glanced at Meng Xinghe and said, "Self-search."
Two men dressed as guards came up to check Meng Xinghe's box and see if there were any cheat sheets in his clothes and shoes.
"Your Majesty, I found that this man is carrying a cheat sheet." The two guards searched Meng Xinghe's box for a while. Then they took out a rolled piece of paper. It was densely filled with "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Ming Jing". ". They were immediately handed over to the invigilator without any delay.
The invigilator, seeing the evidence in hand, said seriously: "Taoyuan student Meng Xinghe was investigated in front of the Gongyuan gate because he was carrying cheat sheets. Someone came. He was handcuffed and handed over to the Ministry of Rites. He was stripped of all honors and demoted. For the common people."