Aspirations

Chapter 61
What?Was the yellow list just now wrong?When Kao Zi, who had just read his name, heard this, he was shocked. If his name was not on the new list, wouldn't he have fallen off the list after being on the list?All the test students swarmed up, looking for their own names one after another.

"Having my name scares me to death."

"I have my name too, baby don't worry." A Kaozi named Wang Baobao let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest.

"The new list is the same as the old one, why should I change it?" A test student who was close to him watched for a long time, but did not notice any changes, so he was very puzzled.

"Brother, there are three differences between the new list and the old list. Let me explain them one by one. First, in the old list, Cai Bei is ranked third, but in the new list, he is ranked second, an advancement. Second, in the old list, Zhang Hou ranked 25th, and Shen Bao ranked 35th. In the new list, Shen Bao ranked [-]th, and Zhang Hou ranked [-]th. Third, the last one on the old list was Sun Shan, and the new one The last one on the list is...Xia Xiang!" A very fair-looking scholar who looked like a woman at first glance shook his head and said, "I have never forgotten in Xialin, I have been very smart since I was a child, I can see ten things in my eyes, I can't forget with my photograph, hence the name "Never Forget."

Some of the Kaozi families were happy, some were sad, some were dancing, some were happy, some were crying, and some were downcast.

Xia Xiang was stunned for a while, and then laughed: "If you fall off the list in the future, as long as you are after Xia Xiang, you will have no hope of becoming a scholar, and your name will be changed from Sun Shan to Xia Xiang. Brother Sun Shan, I'm sorry for taking your last place. , don't take offense."

"Xia Langjun is really a weirdo." Cao Shuli smiled secretly, her eyes wandered and her eyes were full of brilliance. Although Xia Xiang was finally on the list, she was the last one. She was happy for Xia Xiang, but also slightly disappointed and unwilling. Xia Xiang's talent should have been ranked in the top ten.

"No reason! No reason!!" Zhang Hou was so angry that he walked away, if not guarded by the Imperial Guard, he said that he would have rushed over to the torn yellow list, "You have no eyes, shameless rats! Favoritism and fraud, turning clouds and rains! I don't agree, I want to sue! "

Until returning to the inn, Zhang Hou was still indignant and talked endlessly. He came to Xia Xiang's room and talked a lot, repeatedly emphasizing that Shen Bao was ranked before him, not that Shen Bao was higher than him, but that the examiner's level was too poor Because of this, he will definitely stand out and become the champion by the time of the palace examination.And Xia Xiang ranked last, which is well deserved.Although he was ranked last, after the imperial examination, he was at least a fourth- and fifth-rank fellow jinshi.

Cao Yongguo, Cao Shuli, and Cao Shujun also came to the inn together. The three still had something to say to Xia Xiang, but Zhang Hou only cared about himself and didn't care about Cao Yongguo's presence.

Because it was still early when the first Yellow List was posted, there were not many candidates who had read the list, only a few dozen.Therefore, most of the examinees saw the second yellow list, and they didn't know about the change of the list, and the change of the list did not cause too much trouble.

After Shen Bao responded to the congratulations from all parties one by one, he came to Xia Xiang's room. When he saw Shen Bao appearing, Zhang Hou's face turned cold, and he left without even saying a word to Shen Bao.

"Why is Zhang Hou so narrow-minded?" As soon as Zhang Hou left, Cao Shujun rolled his eyes and cast a look of contempt and disgust at his back. He is better than him, what a villain!"

"Don't pay attention to him." Cao Yongguo saw a lot of all kinds of gentlemen and villains in the court, and he didn't care about Zhang Hou's words and demeanor, "There will be a palace test in a few days, and on the day of the palace test, the emperor will personally As the chief examiner, it is impossible for others to cheat for personal gain.

Although Xia Xiang did not have the heart of being a champion, he didn't want to win only a fourth- and fifth-rank fellow jinshi, or at least a second- or third-rank jinshi.It's just that he didn't know something, so he asked: "The emperor is seriously ill, I wonder if he can still preside over the palace exam?"

"If the emperor does not preside over the palace exam, no matter who replaces him, it will lead to turmoil in the court..." Cao Yongguo frowned, he sat in Xia Xiang's dialogue, the guest room was not big, and there was no living room, so he had to settle. "You only made it to the list when you changed the list at the last minute. Gao Hai co-operated in this matter, and Wen Changju should not know. Whether Wen Changju knew it or not, your participation in the palace exam is a sure thing, and no one can change it. The first emperor entrusted the third prince to preside over the palace exam, I'm afraid..."

Xia Xiang hasn't seen Jin Jia in recent days. There are different opinions from the outside world about the emperor's condition. Some say that the emperor is already seriously ill, and some say that although the emperor is seriously ill, he can still handle the political affairs.It is also said that the emperor's condition has already improved, but he just pressed it on purpose, as a hard-to-find plan.There is even a saying that the emperor is dying, and now all major affairs of the government are controlled by the three kings.

In short, all kinds of claims are rampant, and I am afraid that only a few people know the truth.Xia Xiang is also clear that, not to mention that Jin Jia seems to have no taboos, in fact, he has always been tight-lipped about the emperor's condition, whether it is the medicine bed, medicine chair, or why the emperor's condition has not improved. It seems to reveal the emperor's condition. Half points were not disclosed.It is still the same as the outside rumors, the emperor is ill, and the disease has not improved. In addition, Jin Jia did not say what illness the emperor had or how serious his condition was.

Xia Xiang admitted that he and Jin Jia talked a lot about the emperor's condition, and Jin Jia was one of the few people who knew exactly how the emperor's condition was.Although Jin Jia was an imperial physician, he was also considered a member of the court. If he had casually disclosed the emperor's condition to the outside world, he would have been dead long ago.What's more, as far as he knew, Jin Jia was not only trusted by the emperor, but also befriended King Qing and King Xing.

"How could the emperor entrust the third prince to preside over the palace exam?" Xia Xiang smiled confidently, "Could it be that Duke Cao still doesn't understand the emperor's intentions?"

Cao Yongguo nodded: "The old man still can't figure out what he wants, the sacred heart is like a sea, unfathomable."

"Mr. Jinjia has actually told Cao Gong Shengxin..." Xia Xiang looked around at several people, Cao Shuli sat dignifiedly and listened intently, Cao Shujun also listened thoughtfully and carefully, Xiao Wu and Mantuo went out to practice martial arts, not in In the room, Shen Bao stood at the door with his hands behind his back. He smiled slightly, "Mr. Jin Jia still has time to go to Cao's mansion to treat Duke Cao, so it can be seen that the emperor's condition has not worsened. , Although Mr. Jin Jia said that the emperor's condition has not improved, he is neither anxious nor urgent. When discussing with me how to improve the medicine bed and medicine chair, he did not forget to accept me as a disciple. If the emperor's condition is critical, where will he be? Are you free to deal with me?"

"It makes sense, it makes sense." Cao Yongguo thought about it, and suddenly slapped the table, "It's such a golden armor, but it's really hidden from the old man. If it wasn't for Xia Langjun's reminder, the old man really didn't pay attention to him. Xia Langjun, why do you infer from Mr. Jin Jia's words and behavior that the emperor's condition has not gotten worse?"

"Speaking of which, it's because of Cao Sanlang's help." Xia Xiang smiled and glanced at Cao Shujun, when Cao Shujun saw Xia Xiang praise him, he straightened his waist immediately, his face full of self-satisfaction, "The so-called father is sick and the child is worried, The main sick minister was worried. When Duke Cao was ill, the young lady Cao frowned and looked worried. When the emperor was ill, Jin Jia was not too worried and relaxed. It can be seen that the emperor's illness was not incurable as rumored. ."

"That's true." Cao Yongguo nodded again and again, and glanced at Xia Xianggao. This young man is not only calm and measured, but also has such meticulous observations. He is truly a great talent.

"And what does it have to do with me?" Cao Shujun put his ears up and listened for a long time, but he didn't hear Xia Xiang talking about him, thinking that Xia Xiang had left out, "Xia Langjun, what about me, what about me?"

"At that time, you looked relaxed and calm, just like Mr. Jin Jia, and I thought, why don't you worry about your father like Mrs. Cao, but don't worry about it? After thinking about it, I understood, you beg Xian Mu Dao, You are half a person from outside the world, you don't care about the worldly affairs..." Xia Xiang mocked Cao Shujun with a few words.

Cao Shujun blushed and hesitated for a long time before he said: "I, I, I don't want to show a frown, it is useless and unhelpful, but it adds to the troubles. It's just death, laughing or crying. It's not the same, why not laugh?"

"Haha..." Xia Xiang laughed loudly, "Congratulations to Cao Sanlang for advancing to another level in the mind, and the Taoism is within reach."

Cao Shujun was overjoyed, scratching his ears and scratching his cheeks: "Is this true?"

Although Xia Xiang was the last on the list, he was considered to be famous on the list. He was in a good mood for a while, and he was not on the list and then on the list again. The fire caused by the list will continue to burn more and more vigorously.

"Congratulations Xia Langjun."

Lian Ruohan's voice came from outside the door, like a breeze in the fields under the autumn sunshine, fresh and pleasant.

Cao Shujun jumped up from his chair and was overjoyed: "Little Lady Lian is here, please come quickly." Before he could finish speaking, he had already reached the door, so he opened the door, and Lian Ruohan dodged into the room.

Xia Xiang got up and greeted him: "Even the little lady is coming, and I will be far away..."

Lian Ruohan waved his hand gently: "You and I don't have to be polite." His eyes swept away, and he was slightly startled, "Xia Langjun has guests?"

Lian Ruohan's eyes swept across Cao Yongguo's face and landed on Cao Shuli's beautiful face, with a hint of surprise and amazement flashing in his eyes.Cao Shuli's eyes were also like lightning, and she stayed on Lian Ruohan's face for a moment, and the two quickly separated their eyes.

"Come on, let me introduce you." Xia Xiang didn't expect Lian Ruohan to come so quickly, and he didn't know whether Lian Niangzi was more concerned about whether he passed the test or whether he was concerned about the situation caused by him, "This is Honglu. Si Shaoqing, Duke Cao, this is Mrs. Cao, the daughter of Duke Cao, Cao Sanlang needless to say, he is the son of Duke Cao."

Lian Ruohan, Cao Yongguo and Cao Shuli met one by one.When Cao Yongguo heard that the woman in front of him was the owner of the well-known Hao Jingchang business, he couldn't help being secretly surprised, and secretly looked at Lian Ruohan a few more times.It's okay if you don't look at it, but it's even more surprising at first glance. Originally thought that Lian Ruohan was in control of such a big business, and would be a powerful person.

Cao Shuli is also very familiar with Lian Ruohan's name. She doesn't talk about the rumors from the outside world. She only says that Cao Shujun talks about Lian's wife every day at home, which has made her very annoying. She was both curious and couldn't contain the secret joy in her heart, and took a step forward: "Lian Xiaozi has long admired her name, and it is a great blessing to see it today."

Lian Ruohan smiled sweetly, and even grabbed Cao Shuli's hands directly: "Sister Cao, you and I see each other like each other, how about being sisters?"

"Okay, okay." Cao Shuli smiled happily, "I don't know when the little lady was born?"

Lian Ruohan turned around and glanced at Xia Xiang, smiled quietly, but didn't say his birthday: "I should be a little older than you, you are my sister and I am my sister."

"My sister is here, please accept my sister's bow." Cao Shuli was smart, so naturally she would not ask Lian Ruohan's birthday again, so she immediately bowed.

Lian Ruohan returned a gift and raised Cao Shuli with both hands: "You don't need to be too polite, my sister didn't bring any valuable gifts in her hurry, only a beautiful jade card to give."

With a flick of his wrist, Lian Ruohan had an extra beautiful jade card in his hand and gave it to Cao Shuli.After Cao Shuli took it, she couldn't put it down. She didn't know that the beautiful jade card could be used in hundreds of inns, restaurants, and tea shops in Daxia.

Since Lian Ruohan recognized Cao Shuli as sisters, he met Cao Yongguo and Cao Shujun again.Cao Yongguo was naturally happy to see that Cao Shuli had an older sister, and was also amazed by Lian Ruohan's exquisiteness.According to legend, Lian Ruohan is a proud and aloof woman. It is a good thing that she doesn't want to be so attached to her daughter.

Cao Shujun was unhappy with the boss, so he reluctantly met Lian Ruohan again, but in his heart he wondered how to add another sister out of thin air.It's just that the boat is done, and he can't help it.

Xia Xiang smiled without saying a word. Although Cao Yongguo was the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, in the capital where high-ranking officials gathered, he was only an official of the fifth rank. With Lian Ruohan's vision and power, Cao Yong resolutely entered. Without her eyes, she and Cao Shuli became sisters when they first met, obviously not to make friends with the Cao family.

So what is Lian Ruohan's intention?Xia Xiang didn't dare to speculate randomly, maybe heroes cherish heroes, and beauties pity beauties, and Lian Ruohan really likes Cao Shuli, little lady Cao.Also, Lady Cao is gentle and pleasant, her gestures have both the graceful demeanor of a lady, and the graceful demeanor of a small family jasper. Anyone who sees her will feel pity.

Xia Xiang knew that Lian Ruohan must have something to do, so he asked: "Little lady Lian is here for the emblem?"

Lian Ruohan folded his hair and smiled lightly: "I'm glad to hear that Xia Langjun is on the list, and I'm here to congratulate you. Regarding the emblem, it can be fulfilled as we agreed before. In addition, I have another matter with Xia Langjun. Discuss one or two."

"What's the matter? Caught a son-in-law under the list?" Xia Xiang smiled amiably. Good times are often [-]/[-] of the shares, but a large amount of wealth. It is no exaggeration to say that he will have enough food and clothing for his entire life.With fame and wealth on the list, how could he not be extremely happy.

What's even happier is that there are two beauties in the dream, and now the two beauties are in front, does it really fulfill the dream?
Xia Xiang just thought about it for a while. He was very clear that although he was on the list, the road ahead was still difficult.After the palace examination, whether it is to be an official or to enter the Hanlin Academy, they will be shrouded in the shadow of the Third Prince.

"It's a big thing to catch a son-in-law under the list, and a little girl is just a small thing." Lian Ruohan didn't care about Xia Xiang's jokes, and looked at Cao Yongguo and the others, but he stopped talking, as if he wanted to avoid a few. People, but hesitated again, and said, "Xia Langjun is in the capital, and the guest house is not a long-term solution. Haojing often has a house that has been idle for a long time. Near Taipingju, I want to invite Xia Langjun and Cao Sanlang to stay. , I don't know what Xia Lang wants?"

"Okay, even the little lady's kindness is hard to resist, but she is disrespectful, so it is better to be respectful than to obey." Cao Shujun didn't wait for Xia Xiang to speak, and immediately agreed, "Xia Langjun, the two of us move in, just so we can make together. The emblem of always good times, no need to run back and forth."

Although Xia Xiang also knew that Lian Ruohan was so generous and gave a house, he must have intentions, but he did not want to refuse. Lian Ruohan and Cao Shuli became sisters and agreed to exchange the emblem for [-]/[-] shares of Haojingchang. , Obviously it was a layout. He didn't want to keep Lian Ruohan at a distance, but he also had the heart to make friends. After he accepted Lian Ruohan's generous gift, he would definitely give it back in the future.

How to double the service in the future is still a matter of the future, and the matters of today should be settled today first.Xia Xiang secretly admired Lian Ruohan's wit, and brought Cao Shujun on purpose. She also knew that Cao Shujun was a straight man, and wanted Cao Shujun to answer for him.

Lian Ruohan smiled quietly, the corners of his mouth pursed slightly, and there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes, and there was a little tightness and tacit understanding. Xia Xiang smiled slightly, pretending to be reserved: "How does this make it? No merit is not rewarded."

"The rent is deducted from the dividends." Lian Ruohan blocked Xia Xiang's back path, his beautiful eyes kept turning, three points provocative and seven points cunning.

Well, Xia Xiang was defeated, and it would be hypocritical not to accept it, so he had to cross his hands and salute: "I am ashamed of it, I am ashamed of it."

"Sister Lian..." Cao Shuli saw the clue, her heart was angry, but her face was full of smiles, "Xia Langjun's life-saving grace to the Cao family, the Cao family has prepared a guest room for Xia Langjun, come today , it is to ask him to move in. Even my sister, please take back your kindness and don't steal the beauty of others. "

Lian Ruohan lowered his eyelids lightly, turned around and glanced at Cao Shujun, but said to Xia Xiang: "Xia Langjun, whether to live in Guanxin Pavilion or to live in Cao Mansion, please listen and respect."

Cao Shujun was afraid that Xia Xiang was going to Cao Mansion, so he stood up and was about to speak, but Cao Shuli gave him a stern look. He swallowed his words again, and muttered: "What are you staring at me for? It's better to live in your own house than to rely on others."

Cao Shuli wanted to kick Cao Shujun, but she couldn't be rude in front of Lian Ruohan, but she hated Cao Shujun for helping outsiders.

Xia Xiang thought for a while, and bowed his hands to Cao Yongguo and Cao Shuli: "Xia has thanked Cao Gong and Cao's little lady for her kindness and kindness. I like to live alone, and I have Xiao Wu to accompany me. In addition to having some things to do with Cao Sanlang, I also have some things to do. It is inconvenient to live in the Cao Mansion when dealing with some personal affairs. I hope that the Eunuch Cao and Mrs. Cao will forgive me."

A look of disappointment flashed in Cao Shuli's eyes, but Cao Yongguo nodded and smiled: "It's better that Xia Langjun lives in Guanxin Pavilion, so it's easy to do things. I have something to do, so I'll leave now."

(End of this chapter)