Misty Rain of the Old Times

Lu Qingrong was so happy when she got Xiao Gao's love letter. While reading it, she was sometimes happy, sometimes sweet, sometimes shy, and sometimes worried. She didn't know what Xiao Gao wrote to her, but it made the girl's emotions like a roller coaster.

I'm so jealous, look at how it's been adjusted.

After carefully reading the love letter several times, Lu Qingrong finally realized what was happening and asked Chen Xuan why the people around him did not seem to be abnormal when the letter was delivered so blatantly, as if they were blind.

In response, Chen Xuan told her not to worry, as everyone around her had been "bribed".

There's no need to explain. She won't understand even if I do.

Lu Qingrong was naturally not stupid. If such an effect could be achieved by paying money to bribe people, then the Heavenly Prison would not be called the Heavenly Prison. She knew what to ask and what not to ask, and did not dwell on it too much. She motioned Chen Xuan to wait, and then quickly wrote a reply to Xiao Gao.

I'm not that curious about the couple's privacy. Haven't you had enough dog food? Chen Xuan wandered around a bit while she was writing. Even though the business was almost done, he noticed a lot of interesting things.

It has to be said that the Tianlao is really a special place. Chen Xuan doesn't know how many years it has been built, nor how many times it has been renovated, but after careful observation, he found that people had found ways to leave some things in many cells.

Some are criminal evidence, some are criminal experiences, some are poems and songs, and some are even martial arts secrets and unique skills!

In this regard, Chen Xuan could only say that each of them was a talent and he had learned a lot from them.

Of course, in a place like the Heavenly Prison, it is impossible for such things to remain unnoticed. Most of them have been cleaned up, and those that are left are either not very important, or others cannot understand them, or there is no need to clean them up.

In short, it is estimated that the first people to benefit from these things left behind by the criminals in desperation are of course the jailers of the Heavenly Prison. As the saying goes, those who are close to the water get the moon first. Anyway, from Chen Xuan's current height, if you pay attention, most of the jailers have one or two unique skills, and they are all difficult characters in the world.

No wonder they all try their best to get a job in the government. It really is easy to be a public servant. Some jailers have tough jobs, but they enjoy doing it.

Not only was it easy to make money, but in desperation, which criminal wouldn't try to curry favor with the jailers? Whether it was to leave a legacy, or simply to have a better life before death.

"Buddhist scriptures, Taoist scriptures, poisons, medicines, strange hidden weapons... Most of all, there are various criminal methods. Amazing! I really should hang out in places like this when I have time. After all, who can enter the Heavenly Prison is not a top 'talent'? Unfortunately, more than 90% of the good stuff has been destroyed. It's likely that the longer you work in the Heavenly Prison, the more benefits you will get."

Thinking in his heart, Chen Xuan passed by an old and dim-eyed jailer and took a few glances at him. This guy was no ordinary person. Even though he was about to be buried, if he met the Liu Zhenwei from the past, he would probably beat the shit out of him. Just the strange inner energy that seemed to be able to dissolve everything was hard to guard against!
This is probably what is called living in seclusion in the court. Not everyone likes to be high-profile, but it does not rule out the possibility that many young people come here to get some good things and can't wait to go out and make a living.

Things below the Grandmaster level are of little use to Chen Xuan. At most, he can occasionally get some inspiration or reference.

After strolling around twice, he returned to Lu Qingrong's place. The other party had already written a reply. After exchanging a few words, Chen Xuan erased all traces and even destroyed the love letter that Xiao Gao had written to her, even though she was reluctant to do so.

Finally, he told her to remember and pretend that he had never been there, and then Chen Xuan left quietly.

As for whether someone will target the Lu family in the future, there is no need to worry too much. Xiao Gao said that he can get through the connections in the Tianlao, so there must be someone looking after them. Even if such a situation really happens, someone will definitely be notified, and there is enough room for maneuver.

Returning to Xiaomingju at night, Chen Xuan found Gao Jingming who was still waiting, and gave him a brief description of the process and situation of going to the Heavenly Prison. Then he threw the love letter that Lu Qingrong had replied to him to him and turned away, so as not to give him the opportunity to show off. Out of sight, out of mind.

Anyway, the lights in Xiao Gao's room were on until the middle of the night, and I don't know how happy he looked.

The next morning, which was the seventh day of August, everyone in Xiaomingju was busy because the next day, the eighth day of August, was the official start of the Autumn Examination, so they had to prepare in advance.

In fact, there is nothing much to prepare. The specific details about the Autumn Examination have been found out long ago. Except for the necessary certificates and the clothes you wear, no other items can be brought in. The examination center is responsible for the pens, ink, paper, and inkstone, and even food and drink for the entire nine days. Even the clothes you wear are not what you want to wear. They must be the Juren suit issued by the government.

With such a rigorous level, one can even say that he doesn't need to bring anything except his own 100-plus pounds.

Having said that, when it comes to such a major matter concerning Xiao Gao's future, the people below have to pretend and not be too busy so that young master Gao Jingming can understand their good intentions.

Chen Xuan was no different from usual. He could sense that although Gao Jingming was full of confidence, he was still quite nervous when the time came, so he joked with him to help him relax.

Chen Xuan did not go out for a walk that day. At noon, he set off for the examination hall with Gao Jingming and others. They did so a whole day in advance. There were many people taking the imperial examination, so it would never be a bad idea to prepare early.

In fact, many people rushed to the examination hall two or even three days in advance, which shows how much importance people attached to their future in the imperial examination. Even if they went early, they still couldn't get in. The streets were bustling with people, and everywhere there were figures of scholars. Occasionally, someone would exclaim, "Who is this famous talent from somewhere?" and be recognized, attracting attention and discussion.

An imperial examination attracted the attention of the entire nation. Casino owners wanted to take the opportunity to make a fortune, and people from all walks of life also made a fortune by taking advantage of this lively opportunity. Some women of marriageable age dressed up beautifully and went to the streets, hoping to find a good partner. After all, no one knew which unknown person would soon become successful.

An ox cart was heading towards the examination hall. Gao Jingming still looked absent-minded and haggard, but he was still pretending to be a man who felt that his father-in-law's family's imprisonment had a huge impact on him, which made Geng Hong and the others who were seeing him off feel uneasy.

What if I fail the test? But they can't help me.

There are so many people on the street, most of them are heading towards the examination hall. It is really crowded. I guess you will only see such a scene once in your life, and you can brag about it for the rest of your life when you go back.

Along the way, Chen Xuan pretended to comfort Gao Jingming, but in fact he was extremely bored inside. Forget it, just play along with him.

It was several hours later that they finally arrived near the examination hall. After all, an oxcart couldn't move fast. However, the place was already crowded with people, and several nearby streets were blocked. It was already the evening of the seventh day of August, and martial law had been imposed around the examination hall, so it had not been opened yet. They could only wait.

While eating, drinking and waiting, time slipped away unknowingly. The number of people around the examination room not only did not decrease, but increased.

Late at night, with the sound of gongs, soldiers and officers rushed everywhere to separate the crowds and make way for the candidates. It was time for them to enter the venue.

After Gao Jingming double-checked and took the credentials, Chen Xuan patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Master, do your best in the exam and strive to become the top scorer. Let our Yang County be famous throughout the world and have two more eye-catching memorial archways."

If he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, he would definitely have a memorial archway. If he also became the top scorer, that would be two. In fact, Xiao Gao, who won the first place in the imperial examination and the first place in the provincial examination, both received memorial archways. It was very glorious. Now, no one in Yang County who mentions Gao Jingming of the Gao family does not give a thumbs up. It is truly a glory for the family.

Gao Jingming was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "This is the imperial examination, and the champion has to take the palace examination."

"It's all the same, you can do it," Chen Xuan said with full confidence in him.

Gao Jingming forced a smile and looked towards the entrance and said, "I'll go over first. Ah Xuan, you guys should go back early too. It will last for nine days. There's no need to wait here."

"I'm waiting here because I'm full. At most, I'll come to pick you up on the day the exam is over. Having said that, you'll have to suffer a lot next. It's okay, just close your eyes and bear with it. Don't take it to heart. After all, every candidate who enters the examination room has to go through it," Chen Xuan said with a wink, looking sympathetic.

Entering the examination room is a "humiliating" experience. Not only do you have to strip naked for inspection, but your buttocks will also be spread apart. Just thinking about it makes Chen Xuan feel his anus tighten. Fortunately, he did not choose the imperial examination. The examination for students back then was not so strict.

Sometimes Chen Xuan thought that if he took the exam and was humiliated like that, he would probably get angry on the spot, and at worst he would just not take the exam.

Hearing this, Gao Jingming turned around and glared at him speechlessly, "A Xuan, could you please stop talking? I'm feeling really nervous, and I'm a little discouraged by what you said."

"It's not a big deal, it's just a top-down check inside and out. Who among us hasn't been naked when we were kids?" Chen Xuan said seriously, trying to suppress his laughter and emphasizing the words "inside and outside".

Pointing at Chen Xuan, Gao Jingming gritted his teeth and said, "Xuan, just wait and see. When I become a general and a prime minister, I'll deal with you in the future. I'll just accuse you of a crime and leave you with nowhere to hide!"

"Who are you trying to scare? If you really have that ability, I can just ask my wife for protection, hehe." Chen Xuan refused to be threatened by him.

Gao Jingming curled his lips, waved his hand and said, "I'm going first, wait for my good news."

Not to mention, after the quarrel with Chen Xuan, his heart was completely calmed down. He thought to himself that now that A Xuan had reached the level of a Grand Master, it was hard to say whether he would pass the imperial examination, but at least he had to return with a complete imperial examination.

I watched Gao Jingming leave until his figure disappeared at the entrance of the examination room.

Under the eager expectations of countless people around them, candidates rushed to the examination hall one by one. After years of hard study, who can make it to the top in one day?

...(End of chapter)