Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 272 The Eve of the Imperial Examination

Chapter 272 The Eve of the Imperial Examination
……

Time flies, and it is already late March.

The palace examination is approaching.

All successful candidates in the imperial examination needed to go to the Ministry of Rites to receive their examination numbers and learn the etiquette of entering the palace. An official who was very fat and had a big belly was responsible for teaching everyone the etiquette of entering the palace.

He walked slowly in front of everyone with his hands behind his back, and said with a smile: "My fellow students, I am Zhao Tangyuan, a member of the Ministry of Rites. You will be one of us from now on, so don't be nervous. Today I will teach you the basic etiquette of entering the palace..."

This learning process takes half a day.

Finally it was noon and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The Ministry of Rites did not provide meals, so everyone was allowed to serve themselves.

"I want it to last."

After Xie Jiwen walked out of the Ministry of Rites, he curled his lips and said something.

"It's OK." Jia Rong said, "After all, there are more than 300 people here. If the food is too bad, people will complain. If it is good, 300 or 400 taels will not be enough. So let's just help ourselves."

Ye Mengshu was obviously a little unconvinced, and said speechlessly: "Only three or four hundred taels? How could the Ministry of Rites of the imperial court be short of this little money?"

Jia Rong patted Ye Mengshu on the shoulder and said with a smile: "When you become an official in the court, you will know whether the court is short of money or not.

"Haha." Ye Mengshu smiled and said, "Have you decided where to go after the palace examination? Shunzhi, needless to say, will go to the Hanlin Academy to gain experience. I guess he will be sent out as a county magistrate. What are your plans, brother Xie? Going to one of the six ministries should not be a problem."

There was a rule in the imperial court that fathers and sons could not live in the same classroom while serving as officials in the same court. Xie Jiwen's father was a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, so he could not enter the Hanlin Academy, even if he was in the top three.

Xie Jiwen smiled and said, "It's too early to talk about it now, but I am very interested in the Censorate. When the time comes, you two have to watch my face carefully. I might impeach you if I'm not happy with you."

Ye Mengshu said with an envious smile: "The Censorate, what a great place, but it's a pity that I have no hope."

"If you study hard in the palace examination, you may have a chance." Jia Rong suddenly said.

The Censorate is indeed a good place.

Which big boss doesn’t have a few imperial censors under him?
Ye Mengshu's eyes lit up: "Shunzhi, help me..."

Jia Rong said, "It depends on how well you score. If you rank 300th, no one can help you."

Being ranked 300th and being able to enter the Censorate, that’s a joke.

Abuse of public power for personal gain cannot be so obvious.

Ye Mengshu said: "Don't worry, although my writing is average, the palace examination does not test eight-part essays, so it should not be a problem to get 200 points on policy essays."

They talked for a while, and because they had to get up early the next day to gather at the Ministry of Rites, they did not drink and went home to rest.

……

After returning home, Jia Rong first went to see Master Zhen in the east courtyard.

I saw Master Zhen was still breathing, and although his breathing was weak, there was no sign of swallowing.

It's just the last step. Master, you must hold on. After tomorrow, your son will choose a Feng Shui treasured site for you in Tiekan Temple and prepare a good coffin for you. I heard that the Xue family has a very good coffin.

Send you to the Western Continent with great fanfare.

"Brother Rong, go back. I will arrange for someone to guard this place. The most important thing for you now is tomorrow's palace examination."

Jia Jing was well aware that his son Jia Zhen was already terminally ill, and it was all thanks to Miaoyu's prescription, otherwise he would not have been able to survive until now.

"Grandpa, I know. I will do well in the exam tomorrow and will not let you down." Jia Rong said with a firm look.

Jia Jing nodded with satisfaction.

His eldest grandson is his eternal pride.

"Go back and rest, don't worry about this place, your master will be fine." Jia Jing persuaded Jia Rong again.

"Grandson, please leave."

Jia Rong bowed respectfully and then retreated silently.

……

The moon is dim outside and the evening breeze is cool.

When Jia Rong passed by the garden gate, he suddenly found a jade-like figure standing there.

"Brother Rong."

Lin Daiyu looked over with a smile, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

Jia Rong walked forward and saw that Lin Daiyu was wearing thin clothes, so he took off his coat and put it on her.

"It's so late and you're still standing here like an idiot. It's fine, but don't you know how to put on more clothes?"

Lin Daiyu tightened her clothes shyly, then suddenly remembered something, took them off and gave them to Jia Rong, saying, "You should wear them. You have an exam tomorrow, and you must not catch a cold."

Jia Rong raised his fist and said with a chuckle, "I'm in good health, so I'm not afraid. You wear it. Otherwise, if you get sick, I'll be worried and you'll do worse on the exam tomorrow." Lin Daiyu pouted, "That's nonsense. You blame others for your own poor performance." She didn't refuse anymore, and walked forward two steps wearing Jia Rong's clothes. Suddenly, she turned around and said, "You go back and rest. I want to go home too."

Jia Rong chuckled and said, "You've been standing here for so long, are you going to go back just to take a look at me?"

Lin Daiyu blushed: "Pah, shame on you, who would come here to see you, I was just here to admire the moon."

"Oh."

Jia Rong smiled and asked, "Did you see the fairy in the Moon Palace?"

Lin Daiyu combed her temples and said, "I saw her, but she was not a fairy, but a nasty Rong."

"Okay." Jia Rong pretended to be angry and said, "Since you hate me so much, I have no choice but to let you know how powerful I am."

As he spoke, he grabbed Lin Daiyu's hand and pulled her into his arms.

Lin Daiyu wanted to struggle out, but she was too weak to do so.

"Good brother, I won't dare to do it again."

Lin Daiyu began to beg for mercy pitifully.

"hey-hey."

Jia Rong smiled slightly, clenched his fists tighter, and said proudly, "Do you still hate it?"

Lin Daiyu hurriedly shook her head: "I don't dare anymore."

Jia Rong: "I don't dare anymore, what does that mean?"

Lin Daiyu: "Just... um."

Jia Rong: "Well, what does it mean?"

"Yes, guess it yourself!" Lin Daiyu finally got a chance to escape, and turned back to glare at Jia Rong: "You are so annoying, you only know how to bully people!"

"Do well on the test tomorrow."

"I'll return the clothes to you. I'm going back."

After saying this, he stuffed the clothes to Jia Rong, turned around and ran back.

"Slow down, be careful not to fall."

Jia Rong reminded from behind.

"Thanks for caring."

Jia Rong felt relieved when he saw Zijuan and Xueyan carrying lanterns looking for him from afar. After passing two corridors, he returned to his own yard.

Several maids were sitting together in the room, talking and doing needlework. When they saw Jia Rong come in, they all stood up.

"My Lord is back."

"Will you take a bath today?"

"Master, have some tea."

Jia Rong took a sip of tea, looked at the maids and smiled, "Tomorrow is the palace examination. To show my seriousness, you should help me bathe tonight, and then you can all rest in the room."

"My Lord is too dishonest."

Several people were so ashamed that they ran out.

Ping Er: "Qingwen, go back and serve."

Qingwen: "Xiangling, go back."

Xiangling: "Why me?"

Xiao Xiao: "You run the slowest, so stay."

Several people quickly closed the door, and Xiangling was trapped inside.

"Master."

Xiangling walked shyly to Jia Rong's side, not daring to look up.

Jia Rong consoled her with a smile, "Don't be afraid, little girl. Can I still eat you?"

Xiangling: "..."

Silent all night.