Do you know the long song of laughter?

Chapter 174 Good intentions

The next morning, Xu Shigao came to the inn and confessed that he had cheated in the county examination.

Liu Xuewen was not surprised by this. The scholars brought back through questioning yesterday were almost certain that Xu Shigao did it.

It’s just that it’s not enough to have witnesses, you need to continue to collect evidence.

With Xu Shigao's confession, it is easier to collect evidence.

Sufficient evidence was soon found, which was exactly the same as what Xu Shigao said.

By this time, there was no need to continue investigating the case.

Although Xu Shigao was the mastermind behind the fraud in the county examination, it was up to the officials to decide how to deal with it.

In order not to expose the news, they did not restrict his freedom of life, but only sent people to monitor him secretly.

Liu Xuewen discussed with Zhao Tong and Zhao Xian, wrote a memorial, and sent it to Bianjing in a hurry.

On weekdays, he continued to pretend to be investigating the case and waited for the official's decision.

Liu Xuewen did not hide this from Li An, but only told him not to leak it.

"By the way, the matter here will be resolved in about half a month. When do you plan to return to Beijing?" Liu Xuewen said.

"Teacher, it's almost November now, and the provincial examination will be held in March next year. The student wants to stay in Yangzhou and go back after taking the provincial examination next year," Li An said.

Liu Xuewen pondered for a while and said, "Actually, you can take the exam in Bianjing."

"Huh?" Li An was stunned when he heard this.

Liu Xuewen explained: "Children of officials can take the exam with their father in the district where they are appointed. In addition, those who are civilian officials can also do it. It's just that your situation is special. This is the first case like you, so many people don't know about it."

Wensanguan is actually an official. In fact, most of the Jinshi who can take the top three examinations are awarded Wensanguan, and actual positions are rarely assigned.

There were many officials in the Song Dynasty, but there were not that many positions at all. There were even some Jinshi who never received actual official positions until their death.

In addition, the Song Dynasty also had Yin Feng. Children of officials and nobles who were qualified to Yin Feng's heirs would apply for Yin Feng when their heirs were hopeless in the imperial examination.

These people have a backer and it is not difficult to find a position.

This leaves fewer positions.

However, whether they are casual officials who passed the imperial examination or were awarded the title of Yinshi, they all have one thing in common: these people will not continue to participate in the imperial examination.

An official like Li An, who participated in the imperial examination, was not only unique, but also very rare.

Therefore, many people don't know that a literary official can take the imperial examination anywhere at will without geographical restrictions.

Sheng Hong must have known about it, but Liu Xuewen deliberately confessed it, so Sheng Hong didn't tell Sheng Changbai.

"Then why didn't the teacher tell you before?" Li An asked doubtfully.

"First of all, you haven't been back for several years. When you go back to Yangzhou to take the exam, you can spend time with your parents and relatives.

Secondly, your four words of caution are posted at the gate of the Imperial College. If you take the exam in Bianjing, the examiner will definitely be affected by this and will not let you fail. Xu Shigao has a grudge against his teacher. If there is a chance that you will fail the exam, he will not worry about it.

However, you have a literary officer, so as long as you do well in the exam, he won't dare to let you fail on purpose. Only in this way can you show your true talents. "Xu Shigao said.

Li An stood up after hearing this, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, teacher."

"Haha, just don't blame me as a teacher." Liu Xuewen said with a smile.

"Teachers are good for students, how can students dare to blame teachers." Li An said.

It is true that Liu Xuewen did this deliberately to make it more difficult for him.

However, the four sentences he plagiarized from Hengqu can only be said to have far-reaching intentions, and he did not write a book or biography, and his reputation among scholars was also very limited.

You may not have noticed, but Zhang Zai’s Four Sentences on Hengqu are indeed very famous. It would be an exaggeration to say that it is a household name, but most people who have read it in later generations should have heard it.

But most of them were unknown to Zhang Zai.

In the words of later generations, the work is popular but not popular. It was luck that Li An was granted the title of Prose Officer. At most, it would be good if he could protect him and pass the examination.

The general examination must rely on real talent and practical learning, let alone the palace examination.

Liu Xuewen did this because he didn't want Li An to be treated deliberately because he was an official.

This will not be of any benefit to him in the subsequent rural and county examinations.

"It would be great if you could understand my intention. Although Jiangnan has a prosperous literary style, the fierce competition is still far behind Bianjing. I want you to go back to Bianjing to take the provincial examination. Do you have the courage?" Liu Xuewen said.

Bianjing gathers talents from all over the world, and the descendants of hundreds of civil and military officials in the DPRK and China will basically refer to Bianjing. Therefore, the competition in the provincial examination in Bianjing is also the most fierce.

Some official families even ask their children to avoid being exposed and return to their place of origin to take the exam.

Liu Xuewen did the opposite and asked Li An to take the exam in Bianjing.

"Of course students dare." Li An said with firm eyes.

No matter how intense the Bianjing Provincial Examination is, it is just a Provincial Examination. It is possible that it will be more intense than the National Examination.

If you don't even have the guts to take the provincial examination in Bianjing, don't take the national examination.

You must know that although the Bianjing Rural Examination is fierce, among the people who are nominated for the gold list each time, the Bianjing Rural Examination candidates account for the most.

Liu Xuewen nodded with satisfaction and said: "I have read your answer sheet for the county examination. Your answer is very good. Although there are many flaws, you have been studying hard during this period. There is still hope for the provincial examination next year."

"Yes." Li An responded.

"Pack up your gifts these days and spend time at home with your parents. When the official decree comes down and the affairs in Yangzhou are dealt with, you can return to Beijing with your master." Liu Xuewen said.

"Teacher, students should go back by themselves." Li An refused.

He should take Cai'er to Bianjing by then. It would be inconvenient to have female relatives with him.

What's more, if we go back together, we will be on the same boat as Zhao Xian.

When the time comes, he won't have anywhere to hide.

Liu Xue pondered for a while and said, "That's fine, you can just figure it out yourself."

"Teacher, my parents would like to invite you to our house for a meal. When will it be convenient?" Li An said with a smile.

"Not now. Now I have to pretend to investigate the case as a teacher. Let's wait until the matter is resolved." Liu Xuewen said.

Li An nodded when he heard this, chatted with Liu Xuewen for a while, asked for advice on some recent problems, and then left.

"Zi Qian!"

Li An was about to leave the inn when Zhao Xian came over from the side corridor and said hello with a smile.

"I have met His Highness Prince Yan."

Li An secretly complained, but had to stop saluting.

"No need to be polite."

Zhao Xian waved his hand, walked forward, stopped a few steps away, and said with a smile: "I heard that Zi Qian was caught by the cold a few days ago, but it seems to be better now."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It's no longer a serious problem." Li An said.

The corner of Zhao Xian's mouth twitched. Li An's face was rosy and full of energy, and he didn't look like he had been sick.

Although he had known for a long time that Li An was pretending to be ill, Li An continued to tell lies in front of him, which made him feel a little angry.

Zhao Xian suppressed the anger in his heart and said, "Since Zi Qian has recovered from his illness and I am bored, I wonder if Zi Qian can take me around Yangzhou?"

(End of this chapter)