Mikago

Ruihe early winter of 28.

The street drum had just sounded at five o'clock and three o'clock, and the sky was still as dark as ink.Another night of curfew was over, and there was the sound of the door opening in the distance.

Ten-year-old Ye Zuolan was carried on the horse by her father Ye Kaiquan, and walked slowly out of the Gaodafang Gate on the east side of the Xuanzhengfang.

Maybe because of the excitement last night, Ye Zuolan is still a bit sleepy at the moment.Father evidently sensed this too, holding him tightly in his arms while grabbing the reins.Coupled with the thick cloak that his mother specially wrapped up before going out, he couldn't breathe.

Ye Zuolan twisted a few times with difficulty, and raised his head inadvertently. He found that the faint outline of the Milky Way still remained in the sky above his head.

Ye Zuolan remembered a volume of books in her father's study.The book says that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the stars in the sky and everything on the earth.The Ziweiyuan in the sky corresponds to the Zichen Palace where the emperor lived; and the Taiweiyuan corresponds to the imperial city to the south of the Zichen Palace.

Although Xingzi is far away, the imperial city is within reach.

Ye Zuolan looked down again to her left side—beside the spacious rammed-earth road was the quiet city river, with weeping willows on the bank, and the river was sparkling; and inside the high wall surrounded by the city river was the imperial city of the Daning Dynasty. .

The horses walked south along the roots of the imperial city.Turning around the turret, which was brightly lit day and night, and turned eastward, it took a while before I saw Suzaku Avenue.

Suzaku Avenue is the most spacious and magnificent road in the capital.

It starts from Mingde Gate in the south of the city in the south, and ends in Suzaku Gate, the southern gate of the imperial city in the north. It not only runs through most of the capital city, but also is the only way for officials of the Daning Dynasty to go to the court every day.

In fact, there were so many horses and horses traveling to and from the imperial city every day that they even brought the white sand and fine stones laid in the imperial city all the way to Zhuque Street.On the day of the new moon, the streets outside Suzaku Gate seem to be covered with a layer of hoarfrost.

Ye Zuolan had never seen the spectacle of "Chaoshuang" with his own eyes, but at this moment, he saw a cavalry team slowly walking towards the imperial city.

Ye Kaiquan muttered, then got off the horse, and carried Ye Zuolan off the horse as well.The father and son stood on the side of the road leading the horses, waiting for the horse team to pass by.

Covered by the cloak, Ye Zuolan raised her head quietly.He saw two foot servants in front of the horse team, one of them was holding a lantern, and the other was holding the rein, leading a tall, fat and healthy white horse.

A middle-aged man in a purple robe sat on the white horse.He is about 50 years old, with gray hair, but he is tall and dignified, with an aura of prestige without anger.

Behind him, there were five or six officials in court uniforms, all riding tall horses, and the gorgeous horse ornaments made the sound of clinking and ringing.

These people slowly passed by Ye Kaiquan and Ye Zuolan and his son, but none of them took the initiative to greet Ye Kaiquan.

And Ye Kaiquan just stood there with his head down, waiting until the group of people completely disappeared in the Suzaku Gate.

"Daddy, are those people officials of the imperial court?"

Ye Zuolan was still looking in the direction of Suzaku Gate, curiosity was written all over her small face.

"Yes." Ye Kaiquan nodded, but seemed unwilling to say more.

At this time, three more horsemen came slowly from the south.

This time, Ye Kaiquan took his son's little hand and walked towards him.Those three people obviously saw them too, got off their horses and walked towards this side.

When he got close, Ye Zuolan recognized that one of them was Fu Zhenghuai, a Jinshi who was the same age as his father.This person has a very close personal relationship with his father, and when the family dinner was full of wine, his father would occasionally call Ye Zuolan to compose poems in front of the guests, and it was at that time that he met briefly.

The two sides exchanged greetings and pleasantries.The man in the light scarlet official uniform beside Fu Zhenghuai asked with a smile: "Today is not a great dynasty, why did Brother Ye come here?"

Ye Kaiquan was waiting for this sentence, and immediately pointed to Ye Zuolan with a smile: "My boy, Meng Guozijian Jijiu, made an inquiry in person, and was able to enter the Imperial Academy in an exception, because he was still young, and today I need a gift from my father. Procedure."

Teenagers from ordinary families start elementary school at the age of six or seven. Even if they are accomplished officials, they have to wait until they are fourteen or fifteen years old if they want to pass the entrance examination for admission to the imperial school.

Not to mention, according to the rules of this dynasty, only the heirs of officials of the fifth rank or above are eligible to enter the Imperial College.Ye Kaiquan is just a sixth-rank Du Shuicheng, and Ye Zuolan was able to enter Taixue instead of Simenguan, which is indeed an exceptional promotion.The three officials were naturally amazed when they heard this.

Ye Zuolan stood beside her father, the wide and heavy cloak tightly wrapped his thin body, and also blocked the adults' probing eyes.

He understood that his father was expecting him to communicate with these adults in a graceful manner.But he only saluted, and then remained silent like a shy and ordinary kid.

Several adults looked at each other, and in the end it was Fu Zhenghuai who smoothed things over for Ye Kaiquan.

"Your son is very talented. He can recite poems, compose Fu, and recite the Five Classics at a young age. Right now, even Master Jijiu of the Imperial College has been promoted. The future is naturally limitless. Don't forget to support us when the time comes!"

Ye Kaiquan was really proud in his heart, but he was always humble on his lips.At this time, the sky had gradually brightened, and the two sides exchanged a few words of greeting before saying goodbye to each other.

When those three people also disappeared in the Suzaku Gate, Ye Zuolan raised his head and asked again: "Father, who was the one who was riding a white horse, wearing a purple robe, and had a servant holding a lamp just now?"

"That's Empress Xiao's cousin, Minister of the Ministry of Officials."

Ye Zuolan asked again, "Why don't they get off the horse and talk to father?"

Ye Kaiquan's expression froze, but he still responded: "The way is different, so we don't conspire with each other."

Ye Zuolan was not satisfied with this answer, he pursed his lips, and suddenly asked: "How do you know that Uncle Fu and the others are fellow-men with you?"

Ye Kaiquan was slightly startled, and then reached out to touch the child's tender cheek.

"Others say you are a child prodigy. But this person has sophistication, but he doesn't understand at all. Uncle Fu and I were both Jinshi in the same year, and we are old friends who have been classmates for many years. Now we are officials in the same dynasty, and we have always supported each other. You After entering Taixue, you will naturally meet such bosom friends, who will be your lifetime wealth."

While speaking, the father and son had remounted their horses and continued walking westward to the gate of Anshang in the imperial city.Ye Kai Quanxu pointed to the inside of the door and said that the Dushui prison is in the northwest of the cross on the door.Further north past Youchunfang in the East Palace is the Zichen Palace where the emperor lived.

However, Ye Zuolan's eyes turned to the east - at this moment, the sky is only slightly red, but in the southeast direction, inside the towering square wall, it seems that a round of vigorous red sun is gestating, emitting thousands of lamps and candles bright light.

There is Wubenfang, and the whole Lifang is divided into two by a north-south straight street.Among them, the half square on the west side is the Guozijian of the Daning Dynasty, the holy place of Piyong that carries the hope of the whole country.

Although Wubenfang has a north-south straight street, in order to avoid breaking into the imperial city, the gate on the north side is only opened during grand festivals and ceremonies.On weekdays, those who enter and exit the Imperial College often choose to pass through the west gate of Wubenfang.

However, Ye Zuolan entered school on the first day and had to complete some etiquette.So Ye Kaiquan led him around to the south gate of Wubenfang.After entering the archway, go west and pass through two bluestone archways, rows of Chinese houses and high platforms spread out in front of you.

The left temple is right to learn, and the bells and drums face each other.There are many steles and ancient locust trees.

This is not the first time Ye Zuolan has come to the Imperial College, but he still opened his eyes wide, looking at everything around him excitedly.

Ye Kaiquan tied up his horse in front of a stele, and led his son towards a majestic gate with four pillars and three rooms.

As they got closer, Ye Zuolan realized that the plaque on the door said "Dachengmen" and there was an old man with white beard and hair standing underneath.That benevolent look looks like a fairy old man walking down from the scroll.

Ye Kaiquan walked a few more steps, bowed to the old man, and called "Mr. Hong".Ye Zuolan had been warned before leaving the house, and knew that this was the instructor her father was studying at the Imperial College, so she hurriedly bowed to her.

Mr. Hong stroked his long beard, smiled and let Ye Zuolan excuse him, looked him up and down again, and then sighed: "You are much younger than Kai Quan."

Ye Kaiquan said ashamedly: "Students entered the Simen Hall at the age of 19, started to achieve success at the age of 28, and became a Jinshi at the age of 32. Suddenly, they have reached the age of forty. Fortunately, the child is talented, and I hope he will seek the truth sooner. , I will live up to my limited time in this world.”

Mr. Hong seemed to be quite emotional, but he reminded: "However, the Imperial College is not what it used to be."

Ye Kaiquan smiled wryly and said: "Sir, the student understands what you mean. However, the student is a poor official and has no noble blood. If you expect your child to achieve something, this is the fastest shortcut. As for the Taixue Hall What is right and wrong, then I have to ask Mr. to help and support me."

Seeing that Ye Kaiquan had made up his mind, Mr. Hong stopped talking.He lowered his head to look at Ye Zuolan, and Ye Zuolan raised his head seriously to meet his gaze.

Mr. Hong touched Ye Zuolan's small face, took his hand again, and led him across the high threshold.

"Good boy, let's go."

Behind the Dacheng Gate is the Confucian Temple. If you have paid homage to the most holy teacher, you will be officially admitted to the Taixue Hall.