The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

Qintong was shocked when he heard this and stopped leading the horse. When the horse saw the boy stopped, he stopped moving forward, lowered his head and stroked the boy's head.

Qin Tong had no intention of playing with the horse at this time. He pushed the horse away gently, raised his head and said, "Lang Jun, this is not possible. If you don't take the imperial examination, how can you get any fame, let alone win the first prize!"

Zhang Sheng laughed loudly on his horse, and the gentle breeze brought a little coolness. Qintong stood in front of the horse, his brows furrowed and his heart uneasy.

"Qintong, I don't want to go to this imperial examination." Zhang Sheng's tone was calm, and there was no doubt in his eyes.

Qin Tong said anxiously: "How can that be done? You have to take the exam, Mr. Lang! Hong... Miss Yingying and Hong Niang are both looking forward to your return with the top prize!"

"Hahaha, besides me, who else is the top pick?" Zhang Sheng said proudly.

Seeing that there were many people on the road, Zhang Sheng pulled the horse's head and said, "Quickly leave, let's talk about it when we get back!" He patted the horse and went to the house.

The two of them entered the house and entered the study. Zhang Sheng pressed the piano boy in front of his desk where he usually sat, threw a pen to the piano boy, and said: "Dog, no, Zong Dan, you write my Look at the name."

Qintong looked at the folding fan in Zhang Sheng's hand, fearing that he would slap it down if he disagreed with him, so he didn't dare to violate it, so he took the pen and wrote the word "Zhang Gong".

Zhang Sheng picked up the paper, read it carefully for a while, and said: "Yes, dog, ah, no, Zong Dan, you have been studying with me since childhood. This word is exactly the same as mine, but it is seven points resemblance."

Qintong asked in confusion: "Mr. Lang, what do you mean?"

"If you practice my handwriting carefully and learn my handwriting very well, you can take me to take the complicated imperial examination!" Zhang Sheng said with a smile while waving his folding fan.

Qintong turned around with a look of surprise on his face: "Lang Jun, this... this is too risky. If discovered, the consequences will be disastrous!" His voice trembled, and his hands clenched unconsciously.

Zhang Sheng smiled, approached Qintong, and patted him on the shoulder: "You have been studying with me and have done a lot of research on poetry. I believe you can do it."

Qintong said in horror: "What a big risk this is. Once exposed, not only me, but also Mr. Hu will be implicated." His mood was like a mess, complicated and difficult to understand.

"But, Lang Jun, this is a capital crime!" Qintong's voice was full of fear and hesitation.

Zhang Sheng took a deep breath and said indifferently: "Humph, others are naturally punished with death, but what about me? I am the default number one scholar!"

Qintong asked in surprise: "Mr. Lang, you, are you so sure?"

"That's natural." Zhang Sheng said with a smile: "I was a little worried at first, but after the last grading official visited me, I was completely relieved. My grandpa's old friend during his lifetime gave great support, and my sworn brother's Take care of things up and down, what else am I afraid of? Oh, by the way, I’m just afraid that I don’t have enough time to have fun in Chang’an City!”

Qin Tong thought in his heart: "What Zhang Gong said is true. Even if he handed in a blank paper, someone would fill it in for him. Why should I go through this muddy water? But for the matchmaker... I also know her situation. I must get her out of slavery as soon as possible."

Qintong's eyes were complicated. He looked at Zhang Sheng silently, and a trace of determination flashed in his heart.

Qintong thought in his heart: "I should risk my life for the matchmaker. But is this really the right thing to do?"

He lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then finally raised his head: "Okay, Lang Jun, I promise you. But we must be careful not to let anyone notice."

Zhang Sheng showed a pleased smile. He walked to the table, picked up a volume of books and handed it to Qin Tong: "Here are my daily notes. You can refer to my fonts. Also, I will teach you some ways to deal with the examiner. Skills. As for the article, it’s not a big deal. I know you are quite good at poetry and prose. However, you only need to write some words and then there is no need to worry about it. "

Qintong took the book, although he was still uneasy, but he had already made a decision. He knew very well that this action was not only related to Zhang Sheng's future, but also to the fate of the matchmaker.

In the morning in Chang'an, the rays of sunshine were like weaving, and Zhang Sheng opened his sleepy eyes. He was sitting in a magnificent brothel room, with catkins flying outside the window. He thought in his mind: "It's another beautiful day, let's live it wonderfully."

During this period, Zhang Sheng stopped studying classics and history and indulged himself in Chang'an City.

He first went to Qujiang. The willow trees by the lake were swaying in the wind. He was walking by the lake and suddenly heard the sound of a piano. Turning around, I saw a woman holding a guqin. Her fingertips danced on the strings, making a melodious sound. Zhang Sheng stepped forward and said, "The girl plays the piano well."

The woman smiled slightly and replied: "This piano is called 'Wangyou'."

Zhang Sheng thought to himself: "Her smile is so pure, as if it can wash away all my dust."

In the afternoon, Zhang Sheng went to the Liyuan. There was the sound of opera and colorful clothes flying. He looked at the actors on the stage. Every move they made was so perfect, and every line they spoke was so beautiful. Zhang Sheng thought in his mind: "How is such a wonderful performance tempered?"

As night falls, Chang'an City is brightly lit. Zhang Sheng walked into a wine shop, where there was a lot of people. He sat down, ordered a few side dishes, and ordered a bottle of wine. The guests at the next table were talking loudly. A middle-aged man said: "Today's Chang'an is really as prosperous as a dream."

A young man next to him replied: "Isn't that right? It would be great to watch a theater during the day and admire the moon at night."

Zhang Sheng listened to their conversation, but felt a little depressed in his heart: "Does such prosperity also cover up a little loneliness?"

After leaving the wine shop, Zhang Sheng went to the brothel again. The women there were all charming, and they were surrounding him, laughing and talking. Zhang Sheng thought in his mind: "What kind of stories are hidden behind these smiles?"

In this way, day after day, Zhang Sheng left his footprints in every corner of Chang'an City. He traveled to various prosperous places and experienced various tastes of life.

On this day, in a lively wine shop in Chang'an City, Zhang Sheng and Liu Zongyuan were sitting by the window. In front of them were a pot of fragrant wine and several plates of side dishes. Outside the window was the bustling street, but their conversation was about a major event in the city recently.

Zhang Sheng said softly: "Brother Liu, have you heard? The news coming from the city recently is that those powerful officials who impeached Liu Ri'an many years ago were assassinated one after another, and their blood was written on the white wall of his home. Words: Anyone who falsely accuses Liu Ri'an will die! It's really shocking."

Liu Zongyuan put down his wine glass, with a flash of deep thought in his eyes, and replied: "Yes, Brother Zhang. These powerful officials framed Liu Ri'an for their own interests, causing him to die unjustly. The entire family was killed, and dozens of people in the court were implicated. . Ten days after his death, the edict to execute Liu Ri'an was issued, announcing Liu Yan's crimes. The fate of these powerful officials now can be described as karma."

Zhang Sheng nodded, with a hint of complexity in his eyes, "What happened to Liu Ri'an back then really shocked the government and the public. As soon as the news of his being wronged came out, the whole of Chang'an was moved. Now these people have been killed one after another, although on the surface they didn't People mention it, but many people secretly applaud it."

Liu Zongyuan sighed softly and said: "This Chang'an City is calm on the surface, but in fact there are undercurrents. Many innocent people suffered from those who were involved in the Liu Ri'an family and the court back then. The fate of these powerful officials today, although it is God's good. Reincarnation, but how can such bloody revenge be said to be a just act."

Zhang Sheng was silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "What Brother Liu said is absolutely true. This kind of bloody cycle will not bring true justice."

But I thought in my heart: "My grandfather was the Minister of Rites back then, and he also signed his name on the impeachment. Fortunately, the people who were assassinated this time were all powerful officials themselves, and no family members were involved. My grandfather has passed away, and I don't seem to have anything to worry about. of."

The two were silent again, with only the sound of the clinking wine glasses echoing in the air. They are all thinking about the deeper meaning of this issue and its impact on Chang'an City and even the entire Tang Dynasty.

But Qintong seems to be intoxicated in the fragrance of books these days.

He sat quietly in front of the window, the sunlight shining on his meditative face. He held a piece of Zhang Sheng's notes in his hand and looked at them intently. The tip of his pen dances across the rice paper, and every stroke is filled with a deep understanding of Zhang Sheng's handwriting. He thought to himself: "I want my handwriting to be like Zhang Sheng's, so that no one will find out when I check it in the future."

His room was filled with copies of papers, some of which were yellowed. Qintong spends most of his time practicing calligraphy in addition to necessary errands every day. His calligraphy, from the initial stiff imitation, gradually became smooth and natural, as if he had captured the soul of Zhang Sheng's calligraphy.

Suddenly one day, Zhang Sheng came to the study and was surprised to see papers all over the floor. He picked up one, looked at it carefully, and then said: "Qintong, your calligraphy has improved rapidly, and it is already as good as mine."

Qintong replied humbly: "It all depends on Lang Jun's notes."

Zhang Sheng looked at Qintong and thought to himself: "This dog slave is quite talented. Fortunately, he was not born into a noble family like me. Otherwise, he would be a powerful enemy."

He sat down, pointed to a piece of paper and said, "Look, although this character is similar in shape, it still lacks some charm. Calligraphy is not only about imitation, but also about understanding the artistic conception of each character."

Qintong turned his head to listen and thought in his heart: "Zhang Gong is right. I can't just imitate on the surface."

Qintong wrote a few more words, and Zhang Sheng nodded and said: "Well, that's enough, that's it. Tomorrow is the day of the imperial examination. You pack up, put on my clothes, and go by yourself!"