Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 264 Jie Yuan
……

As usual, Wen Ting inspected the examination room and encouraged everyone, then returned to his room and fell asleep.

As the chief examiner, he does not need to read every test paper. The deputy examiner will send him qualified test papers in a ratio of one out of three.

Due to the great victory in the northwest this year, the emperor has shown mercy and accepted an additional 100 tribute scholars, which means that 300 people are needed.

Invisibly increased his labor force.

You know, in previous years, the maximum number of examination papers was around 200, and the chief examiner only needed to review 600 examination papers.

This year I will be marking 900 papers!
Fortunately, these test papers have been marked by each department, and there are comments from the deputy examiner, so he only needs to take a quick look at the first-class excellent papers.

I’ll take a quick look at the other second- and third-rate articles and include those I like; otherwise, I’ll discard them all.

As I get older, I realize that nothing is more important than my own body.

Serving the emperor with all one's heart and soul until death is what young people should do, just like he did when he was young.

"Huhuhu..."

Sleep until you wake up naturally.

"Xiao Cui, come here and help me change my clothes..."

Wen Ting habitually called for his personal maid to serve him, but suddenly he noticed that the surrounding scenery was not right. Then he remembered that he was the chief examiner in the Imperial Examination Hall.

Alas, it seems I have to do it myself.

Wen Ting got up and washed up, and finally went out yawning until the sun was high in the sky.

Deputy examiner Tang Wenli and several officials had been waiting at the door for a long time.

"You gentlemen are here. I was marking the test papers last night and forgot the time. I got up late this morning. I'm sorry for the embarrassment." Wen Ting said with a smile.

Tang Wenli said respectfully: "Mr. Wen, you have worked hard. You should take care of yourself."

Wen Ting waved his hand and said, "Selecting talents for the emperor is not hard work. Lord Tang has recommended another good article? Bring it here quickly. I want to see it first. As for breakfast... it doesn't matter if it's late."

Everyone was in awe.

Wen Ge is nearly 70 years old, but he is still working hard for the country. What else can we do to be lazy and complain?
Get to work!
"Master Wen, the first round of examination papers for this year's joint examination has been reviewed to the end. Here are the top papers recommended by each department. Please take a look."

Wen Ting smiled and nodded when he heard this.

"I understand. Put it on the table."

The marking of the first essay has been completed, which actually means that the marking of the examination papers for this year's joint examination has been completed. The remaining two examination papers only need to be glanced at as there is not much to be done.

As for the first test paper which had already been failed, the second and third ones were not even worthy of being looked at.

Tang Wenli arranged the examination papers of each room in order in front of Wen Ting's desk. The top examination paper of each room had the red-ink comments of the examiner and deputy examiner of each room: It should be given the top spot in this room.

After everyone left, Wen Ting slowly finished his breakfast while drinking a little wine, then sat on a chair, rolled up his sleeves and prepared to mark the test papers.

As a former top scorer in the imperial examination and third place in the palace examination, his writing skills are naturally excellent. Although his writing skills may have declined a bit in recent years due to paperwork, his vision cannot have declined. Instead, it has become more mature.

This can be seen from the dancers in his house.

Wen Ting only reads the questions when he looks at the test paper.

Just like looking at a beautiful woman, if her face is not good, there is no point in looking at the other things. Even if she has a graceful figure, she is destined not to be a stunning beauty.

Looking at the examination essays over the years, the first place winner must solve the question better than the runner-up winner, and the runner-up winner must solve the question better than the second place winner. This is the reason.

The introduction is a small part of the whole article. The magical changes of the whole article can be seen in the introduction. There is a saying that before the introduction, the article is up to me, and after the introduction, I am the article.

Wen Ting read the top few papers and felt that they were all very good. After all, they were the top papers recommended from below, and each of them had its outstanding aspects. The only thing was that the opening sentence was not quite to his liking.

Of course, this is also expected.

After all, the questions he asked were a bit difficult at the beginning, and it was hard to grasp how to solve them.

I picked up another article from the Book of Rites and read it, and saw the opening sentence:
"If you want to calm the harm done to things, you should also be mindful of the harm done to people's hearts."

Wen Ting's eyes lit up immediately.

Use extraordinary methods to solve extraordinary problems.

The answer to this question can be summed up in three words.

Exquisite, wonderful, and unique.

Looking further, the eight-part contrast section actually uses the writing style of ancient Chinese, and the pure meaning comes to you, like tasting a pot of old wine. After reading all seven articles in one breath, Wen Ting actually felt that he wanted more.

It has been a long time since he has seen an essay that suits his taste so well. Wen Ting concluded that this candidate must have been deeply influenced by Confucian classics since childhood, which is why he could write so effortlessly.

Pick up the red pen and write.

First name volume.

Although it is somewhat against the rules, the examiner has such right.

I lost interest when I read further.

Wen Ting looked at more than a hundred test papers in the morning, had a little wine at noon, took a nap, and got up in the afternoon to look at more than a hundred papers. Most of them were kept, and only a few were missed.

The second day was even easier. Most of the questions were just glanced at and thrown aside. Only a few that were pleasing to the eye were kept.

This went on for three days.

Three hundred examination papers have been selected.

The chief and deputy examiners confirmed it again.

No problem.

But Tang Wenli suddenly wondered, "It seems there are only 299 copies?"

Wen Ting was slightly stunned for a moment, then he took out a copy of the test paper as if nothing had happened, and said seriously: "Although the essay of this candidate is not well-written, I read it carefully and found that there are some good points in it. Minister Tang can also read it."

Tang Wenli had no doubts about it. After all, it was common for articles to be undecided and finally decided to be kept.

After receiving the article, Tang Wenli read it carefully from beginning to end and found that it was indeed... mediocre, the kind that could not be found even among thousands of examination papers.

But there's nothing wrong with that.

There is no problem in selecting such an article.

It is also optional.

But since the examiner said "there are some good points", I couldn't let him down, so I smiled and said, "It is indeed good."

Wen Ting smiled and said, "Then let's put him at the end of the list, so that we can make up the total of 300."

Tang Wenli cupped his hands and said, "Master, what do you think? Shall we roll out the names and write the list tonight?"

Wen Ting nodded: "Yes!"

He has wanted to go home for a long time.

Although being the chief examiner was a great honor, it also prevented him from enjoying the dancers' figures for more than a month.

It turns out that things in this world are like fish and bear's paw, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

……

The names of candidates are called out and the list is written just like in the provincial examination, starting from the last one.

everything's ready.

Under the watchful eyes of the chief examiner, deputy chief examiner, examiner, and censor, the clerk in charge of calling out the names slowly read out: "The 300th place in the Yisi year of the imperial examination, the Shuntian Prefecture Juren Night Dream Book."

This is the test paper that Lord Wen just picked up casually. He doesn’t care much about who it belongs to.

After all, it’s only one of three hundred.

The roll call continues.

The candlelight flickered, and before we knew it, it was already the second half of the night.

Everyone became excited.

Several of them went to the casino to buy lottery tickets before the exam. At that time, because the exam had not yet taken place, the odds of winning were particularly high, ranging from ten to one or twenty to one.

Although there is a possibility that you will lose more money, as long as you win, you will get ten or twenty times the return.

"Fifth place, Liu Weiye, a scholar from Jiangxi!"

the roll call officer shouted.

Everyone's spirits were lifted.

Some people were excited: "Liu Weiye really passed, and ranked fifth in high school!"

One step closer to the target.

Some people feel cold in their hearts.

Done!

What a loser! I only got fifth place!
It’s a waste of my efforts to support you in winning the first place!
"Fourth place: Jiang Meng, a scholar from Shanxi."

"Third place: Zhao Wende, a juren from Jiangsu."

People below were whispering.

"Who is Jiang Meng?" "Zhao Wende won third place!"

“I don’t know who the three people behind are.”

"Jinling Zhou Yanru has not appeared yet."

"Jia Shunzhi's name wasn't called out either."

"And the second senior brother of Yingshe, Master Yuan..."

"Sun Xiao, the champion of Shandong, also has no name."

"Half of these talented students failed the exam."

As everyone waited, the roll caller finally called out the last name.

"The first place winner of the Yisi Imperial Examination is Jia Rong!"

"Jia Shunzhi!"

"incredible!"

"It's really him!"

"As expected of you, he is the grandson of Lord Jia and comes from a family of scholars!"

Everyone couldn't help but make a loud noise.

Some are happy and some are sad.

Wen Ting was very worried.

He couldn't believe his ears!

Did you choose Jia Rong as the first choice?

……

As for Jia Rong, he was not idle in the past few days after the exam. He first had two banquets with his aunts at home. Jia Yuanchun, who had just returned, also invited Jia Rong to her courtyard...

"Brother Rong, please sit down."

"This is the Yunlu tea from the Empress's palace. The Empress usually treasures it very much, but I still took advantage of the opportunity and secretly took out two taels of it." Yuanchun personally poured tea and water for Jia Rong and was very attentive.

How could Jia Rong, a junior, bear this? He refused again and again, saying, "Aunt, please don't do this."

Yuanchun smiled and said, "It's okay. You are a talented person in our family. It's my duty to take care of you." Then, she said to Baoqin beside her, "Go outside and get some wine. Take the Shaoxing tribute wine I brought back from the palace."

"Okay girl."

Baoqin agreed and ran out holding up her skirt.

"Slow down, don't fall."

Yuanchun gave instructions from behind.

"Know it."

Baoqin's voice came from outside. Yuanchun chuckled and shook her head: "This girl has become more and more exciting since she left the palace. She has lost all her manners."

Jia Rong sighed: "Life is precious, but love is more precious. If it is for freedom, both can be abandoned."

Although the palace is filled with overwhelming wealth, what else is there besides wealth? Those who enter are either helpless or confused.

Yuanchun nodded in agreement.

Not to mention Baoqin, even she herself, didn't she feel relieved since she got out of the prison in the palace?
It's ridiculous that I was so foolish at that time that I actually thought that I could save my mother by staying in the palace. If that were true, I would probably never see my mother again in this life.

That's the tragedy.

Although my mother is in the small Buddhist temple now, I can see her whenever I want, and if I sincerely ask for her help, I may have a chance.

Thinking of this, Yuanchun looked at Jia Rong and said with a smile: "Although what you said makes sense, you are so young and you are not ashamed to talk nonsense about love."

Jia Rong said seriously, "I'm already engaged."

"Oh, I forgot. In the blink of an eye, you have grown up and are about to get married. When I first entered the palace, you were only this tall." Yuanchun stretched out her hand and gestured at her waist.

The two were not much different in age, Yuanchun was two years older. At that time, their relationship was not particularly good, but they could still talk a lot when they met occasionally.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Don't just talk about me, what are your plans, aunt?"

"I...what plans can I have." Yuanchun smiled helplessly: "It's just to stay at home with my mother and spend the rest of my life."

Jia Rong advised, "You are too pessimistic. Aunt is in her prime and there are many men waiting to marry her. How can you say that she is living a miserable life?"

Although it is difficult for female officials who leave the palace to get married, they still have no worries about finding a job due to the power of the Jia family. As long as the news is spread, there will always be people who come to propose marriage.

Yuanchun shook her head and said nothing.

Eighteen was an old maid, not to mention she was already twenty. And getting married was, in a sense, entering another prison.

Years of living in the palace have made her understand many things, especially... love!
At this time, Baoqin struggled to bring a jar of Shaoxing tribute wine. Yuanchun laughed and said, "Why don't you ask someone to help you? Do you have to do it all by yourself?"

Baoqin said stubbornly: "I'm not showing off, it's just very easy."

"Ok!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Baoqin is so capable, she will definitely find a good husband in the future."

"what!"

Baoqin covered her face with shame and anger and said, "Girl, look at Master Rong. He is bullying me."

Yuanchun smiled and said, "I think Rong'er is right. You are not young anymore. It's time to find a husband."

"Woo woo." Baoqin covered her face and said shyly: "You are all bullying me. I won't talk to you anymore."

"Okay." Yuanchun waved her hand: "Go play outside, we can talk, you don't need to serve me here."

"it is good."

Baoqin felt as if she had been pardoned and hurried out.

……

As the sun sets, Jia Rong leaves the Rongguo Mansion.

He understood why Yuanchun came to him. She just wanted him to go to the master and plead for mercy and release Madam Wang.

Jia Rong did not agree out of pity, but he did not refuse cruelly either.

In fact, Mrs. Wang is nothing in Jia Jing's eyes. But Wang Ziteng is still very active and has been trying every means to go against the master.

This is intolerable.

When Wang Ziteng passed away, he asked his grandfather to release Lady Wang and burn paper for her brother.

After returning home, Jia Rong had nothing extra to do and went to bed early. Tomorrow was the day when the results would be announced, so he had to get up early to check the list.

Although Xiao Zhuzi and others had been waiting at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall all night, no matter whether this kind of thing was successful or not, they had to see it with their own eyes to feel at ease.

With a feeling of uneasiness and expectation, Jia Rong fell asleep in a daze.

I had some messy dreams at night. One moment I passed the imperial examination, had my wedding night, and married several aunts.

After a while, Master Zhen turned into an evil ghost and came to take revenge on him.

"Give me back my life..."

Master Zhen opened his bloody mouth and bit him.

Jia Rong had nothing in his hand, so he picked up a scroll of scriptures next to him, which was the "Book of Filial Piety" written by Confucius. Just as he was about to offer it to the audience, he suddenly heard the sound of firecrackers outside the door.

Master Zhen was frightened by the firecrackers and disappeared instantly.

"Who has a wife?"

The thought just flashed through Jia Rong's mind.

woke up.

"Sir, are you awake?"

"I won, I won the first place!"

Qingwen and Xiangling were chattering in the room. Several aunts had already arrived outside, and Xiaoxiao and Ping'er were serving them.

Jia Rong rubbed his head and said speechlessly, "Why didn't you wake me up? Has the result been announced?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn't call you."

Does it smell good?

In the first half, I married a few aunts, which was still very sweet.

Jia Rong could still vividly remember the horrible look of Master Zhen at the back.

Amitabha.

When Mr. Zhen passes away, we have to find monks and Taoist priests to perform a ritual for him.

Help him to be liberated!
……

(End of this chapter)