To The Land of Nevernight

Tang Shen has been in Shengjing for less than a year, but he has heard of the name of Zhao Ao, Prince of Xiaoyao.

Zhao Ao is the younger brother of today's sage, and his title is Jing. It stands to reason that he should be called King Jing, but people call him Xiaoyao King.Zhao Ao is nearly fifty years old, but unlike other princes and princes, this prince likes beautiful jade and jewelry, and more importantly, he also likes to make friends with scholars from all over the world!

All talented and learned scholars from poor families can get a meal of entertainment if they submit a famous post to King Jing's mansion.Every three years for the test, Xie Yuan from all over the country came to Shengjing, and even participated in the Xie Yuan Banquet hosted by Zhao Ao himself.It is said to be a Xieyuan Banquet, but the guests are not necessarily just Xieyuan from all over the world.Mei Shengze told Tang Shen about this last month: "If you post a famous post, you can also participate in the Jieyuan Banquet in the twelfth lunar month."

Zhao Ao, the prince of Xiaoyao, has no real power, but the left and right are also princes.

Unexpectedly, Qianlilou was actually a restaurant under his banner.

Tang Shen thought for a moment and asked, "Only the Thousand Mile Building?"

Shopkeeper Lu gave Tang Shen a thumbs up when he heard this: "The little boss is smart, of course not only Qianlilou. King Jing likes beautiful jade and jewelry, which is well known in Shengjing. Apart from Qianlilou, Shengjing's largest The jewelry shop Huatangqiu is also under the name of Zhao Ao, and it is managed by shopkeeper Xing."

Tang Shen: "Jade burner incense, red wax tears, partly reflect the autumn thoughts of the painting hall. In the autumn of the painting hall, King Jing is indeed an elegant literati."

Tang Shen asked shopkeeper Lu to inquire about Qianlilou. At first, it was just to find out the situation of the restaurant in Shengjing.The behind-the-scenes owner of Qianlilou is King Jing, who even owns the largest jewelry store in Shengjing.

Tang Shen thought for a while, and said to shopkeeper Lu: "Since this is the case, then we can put our affairs on hold for now."

Shopkeeper Lu was stunned: "What does Xiaodong mean?"

"In three months, I will have a test. I didn't want to participate in the Jieyuan Banquet. I will vote for the post tomorrow. I should be able to meet King Jing. Other than that, you continue to build a good relationship with Shopkeeper Xing." We still have to do the business of Pao Xia Gong, but don't be in a hurry. I was worried that the business of Pa Xia Gong would make other restaurants in Shengjing afraid. This business will attract opponents in Gusu Prefecture, and naturally it will be even more so in Shengjing. "

Shopkeeper Lu knew that Tang Shen was talking about the fact that shopkeeper Wang of Ruyilou in Gusu Mansion once bought someone and framed Xixialou.

Tang Shen: "This is a long-term plan. From tomorrow onwards, you and Yao San and Accountant Lin will go outside Shengjing City. I remember that most of Shengjing's workshops are built in the east of the city. Find a workshop and sell it. We it works."

Shopkeeper Lu is a shrewd person, he immediately realized after thinking about it: "The little boss wants to start the soap business first?"

Tang Shen smiled and said, "Exactly! It's been very cold these days, so it's hard work for you."

"It's not hard, I already understand what the little boss means, so don't worry."

After Shopkeeper Lu left, Tang Shen thought twice, took out a piece of rice paper, and wrote a greeting card seriously.

Early the next morning, he went to King Jing's mansion in person.Tang Shen revealed his identity as Yayuan in this year's Shengjing Township Examination, and sure enough, he was warmly received by the concierge of Prince Jing's Mansion.Tang Shen handed in his name card together with the greeting card, and two days later, people from Prince Jing's Mansion came to deliver an invitation card to Tang Shen, inviting him to come to Prince Jing's Mansion to attend the Jieyuan Banquet on the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

On the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Tang Shen put on a brand new Confucian uniform and came to Prince Jing's mansion.

King Jing's Mansion is already full of guests.

The examination will be held in February next year, and most of the Juren from all over the world have come to Shengjing early to prepare for the examination.The township examination is held every three years, and so is the general examination.But not every Jieyuan will take the next year's general examination immediately after being admitted to Juren.Sometimes I feel that I am not talented enough to get a Jinshi degree, and sometimes I am delayed by other things.

Tang Shen came to the banquet hall under the hospitality of the servants of King Jing's mansion, and he saw Liu Fang and Mei Shengze at a glance.

The three of them are all Juren who will take part in the imperial examination next year, and they have all met the saint.The three met and sat together, Mei Shengze said: "I didn't hear you say you were coming, I didn't expect you to come anyway. Jing Ze, why are you here?"

The relationship between Liu Fang and Tang Shen is not that close, and after greeting Tang Shen, he sat aside and did not participate in the conversation between the two.

Tang Shen asked back, "Then why did Shengze come here?"

The two smiled at each other.

Mei Shengze pointed to a middle-aged man sitting across from him: "That man's name is Xiao Gong, from southern Shaanxi. I heard that he is a blockbuster if he doesn't sing. I am not qualified to judge this article."

Tang Shen pointed to the plain-looking young man sitting next to Xiao Gong and said, "Then do you know who this person is?"

Mei Shengze was taken aback: "I don't know."

Tang Shen: "He is Liu Ze, the current Xie Yuan who is better than me!"

The two laughed.

In fact, most of the Juren who participated in the Xie Yuan Banquet, like Mei Shengze, came to observe their opponents who will try next year.Tang Shen drank his tea, glanced over these people, and quietly looked at the main seat in the banquet hall.There was no one sitting there, and Prince Xiaoyao Zhao Ao hadn't come yet.

After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, only the sound of footsteps came from outside the banquet hall.

All the people stood up immediately, but it was not Zhao Ao who entered the door, but a tall and thin young man.

This is Zhao Ao's eldest son, Zhao Qiong, the son of Prince Jing.

Zhao Qiong stepped up to the main seat and bowed to everyone present.The lifters returned the gift immediately.Zhao Qiong said apologetically, "Originally my father wanted to come in person, but it was an unfortunate coincidence that the Holy One got an elixir and decided to take it. My father was called into the palace to accompany the holy driver. I can only hold the Jieyuan banquet this time." gone."

All the people said in unison: "Listen to the son of the world."

Zhao Qiong raised his wine glass: "Respect to all scholars."

Juren: "Respect Your Majesty."

Tang Shen smiled wryly, took a sip from his glass.

Unexpectedly failed to see Zhao Ao!

After drinking, Zhao Qiong talked about some interesting things about this year's various places in the test, and the atmosphere at the banquet gradually became more joyful.After drinking for three rounds, Zhao Qiong personally sent the eunuchs away.As the son of King Jing, a relative of the emperor, he actually stood outside the banquet hall and bid farewell to these people one by one, which moved everyone greatly.

Tang Shen walked up to Zhao Qiong, was about to bow, when Zhao Qiong said: "Looking at the appearance of this scholar, he must not be more than fifteen or sixteen years old."

Tang Shen: "Next year is fifteen."

Zhao Qiong said with a smile: "The people who came to the Xieyuan Banquet are all the top three in each local examination. Dare I ask, but Tang Shen and Tang Yayuan?"

Tang Shen was a little surprised: "Exactly."

Zhao Qiong sent him out, saying: "Father once said that Tang Yayuan is related to Mr. Wang."

Tang Shen: "..."

Tang Shen had a bad premonition in his heart, but he still had to ask: "Is it related to my senior brother Zifeng?"

"Father said, Mr. Wang is such a brilliant, erudite, and thorough talent, his junior brother must also be a talent. When I saw him today, Tang Yayuan was just like Mr. Wang. Grind."

"..."

Tang Shen smiled and said, "Thank you for your compliment."

When Tang Shen returned home, shopkeeper Lu had been waiting for him all night.

Tang Shen sighed and said, "There was a temporary change. King Jing didn't come, but Prince Jing's son Zhao Qiong came. But it was just as we had guessed, King Jing's son was graceful and ceremonial. To be able to cultivate such a son, King Jing Wang must also really cherish the scholars of the world. I hope shopkeeper Lu will worry more about the next thing."

Shopkeeper Lu said: "Please rest assured, little boss."

On the second day, Shopkeeper Lu approached Huatangqiu with the top grade red coral purchased from Jiangnan.With such a good red coral, Hua Tangqiu's shopkeeper dared to make an order by himself, so he hurriedly invited the shopkeeper Xing Da from Qianlilou.Shopkeeper Xing had just entered the room, and when he saw Shopkeeper Lu, he was shocked: "Why is it you?"

Shopkeeper Lu also looked surprised: "Brother Xing, aren't you in Qianlilou, why are you here?"

Shopkeeper Xing cupped his hands and said with a smile: "To be honest, Huatangqiu is also the business of our Qianlilou. As the big shopkeeper, I manage two shops. I heard that Brother Lu has a clump of top-quality red coral. Is this true?"

"Brother Xing, please take a look..."

As the Chinese New Year approached, there was another heavy snowfall in Shengjing.

The day before New Year's Eve, shopkeeper Lu braved the snow to find Tang Shen.He patted Snowflake on his shoulder, and said: "Little boss, shopkeeper Xing invited me to his house for a New Year's Eve dinner tomorrow. He knew that I came from Jiangnan and had no relatives in Shengjing, so he invited me over."

Tang Shen thought for a while: "Have you ever thought about what kind of New Year's gift to give?"

Shopkeeper Lu said: "Soap, scented soap, and golden strands, in fact, these things have already appeared in Shengjing. They were brought by traveling merchants from Jiangnan. They are not rare items. Shopkeeper Xing also has these."

Tang Shen smiled and said, "You take a box of golden strands with you tomorrow."

Shopkeeper Lu was stunned: "Small boss, I just said that shopkeeper Xing already knew about golden strands, and he also has them at home."

"You bring a box of golden thread. Don't use the packaging of the Zhenbao Pavilion in Gusu Mansion, or the Jinxiu Pavilion in Jinling Mansion. If you buy a piece of jewelry from Huatangqiu, put it in the box of Huatangqiu. Send up a box of golden strands."

Shopkeeper Lu immediately understood when he heard it. He cupped his hands and said, "My little boss is only fifteen years old this year. Sometimes I feel that I have lived for more than 30 years, but I am not as good as you in business!"

Tang Shen laughed: "Let's talk about it."

The implication is that enough flattery is enough, and if you shoot again, you should get the horse's legs.

Shopkeeper Lu pretended not to understand and scratched his head, looking very innocent.

Putting aside the soap and the pilgrimage offering in advance, Tang Shen began to study hard after the new year, concentrating on preparing for the exam.

Strange to say, when the exam came, Wang Qin didn't ask Tang Shen to write an stereotyped essay every day.

Today Tang Shen came to Shangshu Mansion and gave Wang Qin the calligraphy he had practiced in the past two days.Wang Qin glanced at it briefly, put it aside, and said to Tang Shen, "Have you ever released animals recently?"

More and more Juren gathered in Shengjing, and as the day of the examination approached, they began to cram their feet.

Reading with your head hanging from the beam and thorns every day is like hugging the Buddha's feet; buying some animals in the flower and bird market, and going to Guanyin Temple and Xiangguo Temple to release animals is also hugging the Buddha's feet.The more we got to the test, the more strange the postures of people praying for high school became.It is normal to release life. When Tang Shen came to Shangshu Mansion today, he saw two young disciples standing outside the door of Shangshu Mansion, bowing to pay respects.

"I heard that this is Lord Wang Zifeng's mansion. Lord Wang was praised by the Holy One as 'No.

Tang Shen: "..."

According to this statement, he faces Wang Zifeng day and night every day, even if he closes his eyes, he should be a Jinshi, otherwise he would not be worthy of Wang Zifeng's name!

Tang Shen was silent, and said, "I didn't expect Senior Brother Zifeng to believe in the theory of life release."

Wang Qin: "You don't believe me?"

Tang Shen thought to himself, I am a socialist successor with a strong root and a strong advocate of materialism, can I believe this?

Wang Qin sighed and said, "It's better to believe in its existence than in its non-existence."

Tang Shen: "Brother?" He always felt that there was something weird about Wang Zifeng today.

"I ordered the housekeeper to buy some animals for you this morning, and let you release them now."

Tang Shen followed Wang Qin to the backyard of Shangshu Mansion in a daze. The housekeeper was already waiting there with a fish, a rabbit and a chicken.

This is still prepared!

Wang Qin: "Pick up this fish."

Tang Shen: "..." Pick it up obediently.

"Let it go."

Tang Shen carried the fish to the pond and gently put the fish into the pond.However, as soon as he put it in, he saw the housekeeper standing by the pond and began to sprinkle fish food.This fish that had just escaped from birth was also stupid enough, it was just caught ashore by humans, and now it has just been released, when it saw the fish food, it went up again, was caught by the housekeeper, and carried up.

Wang Qin said seriously: "It seems that it has a destiny with us, and we don't want to leave just like that."

Tang Shen: "..."

Wang Zifeng, you are sick! ! !

Then Wang Qin said again: "Pick up this rabbit."

Tang Shen picked up the rabbit again, and threw it into the backyard garden as Wang Qin said.But after a while, I saw the housekeeper and two servants bring back the rabbit caught in the trap.Tang Shen released the chicken again, but was caught by the housekeeper again.

Wang Qin looked up to the sky and sighed: "If fish, rabbits and chickens are like this, I will not let them down. Housekeeper, burn it."

Tang Shen had already seen through this person, he interjected, "I like spicy food."

Wang Qin paused, a trace of surprise appeared on his handsome face, and he turned to look at Tang Shen.The clear eyes stayed on the young man for a long time, looking at Tang Shen with intriguing eyes.After a while, Wang Qin turned his head and said to the steward, "Listen to the scene, it's all spicy."

Butler: "Yes."

Half an hour later, the two had dinner together, and what Tang Shen ate was fish, rabbits, and chickens that were released by Tang Shen himself.

After dinner, Tang Shen bid farewell and left.It was rare that this time Wang Qin personally sent him out.

Under the bright moonlight, Wang Qin was wearing a white brocade robe, like a man in the moon.When Tang Shen was about to leave, he paused, then turned around and said, "Brother Zifeng, what you have done today, but you want to tell me that if you want to go to high school, you have to work hard on your own, and you can't seek those illusory things?"

Wang Qin looked at him in surprise, turned around and asked the housekeeper, "Did I say such a thing today?"

The butler honestly shook his head: "Young master never said that."

Wang Qin seemed to be suffering from amnesia, so he turned to Tang Shen and said, "Listen, I never said that."

Tang Shen didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Jing Ze will take his leave first, senior brother don't see him off."

After coming to Shengjing for a year, Tang Shen also got to know Wang Zifeng for a year.

Just like the judgment he made when he saw Wang Zifeng for the first time, Wang Zifeng is an unfathomable person, and Tang Shen still hasn't understood him.But gradually, Tang Shen came to understand that what his senior brother likes and is best at is talking around corners.For example, this time, he obviously didn't want him to follow the example of those impromptu jugglers to release animals, but he refused to say, but pretended to let him release animals, but he didn't like this kind of behavior.

This kind of behavior has a kind of name in later generations, Tang Shen thought to himself: "Don't speak human words!"

However, this may be the official.

This is the officer!

On the way home, Tang Shen looked at the bright moon in the sky and sighed quietly.

On the ninth day of February, the test will begin.

Before dawn, the examinees came to Shengjing Gongyuan and waited outside the gate for a long time.Feng Bi carried the long-eared examination basket, and Yao San put Tang Shen on a fur coat.At this ugly time, they never thought that they would see the housekeeper of the Shangshu Mansion again when they came to the gate of the Gongyuan.Just like the time when Tang Shen participated in the provincial examination, the butler also carried a long-eared examination basket.

Wang Qin was born in the Wang family of Langya, and Tang Shen couldn't buy many things even if he had money, such as silver silk wax that doesn't burn his eyes when burned.After summarizing the items in the long-ear examination basket, Tang Shen talked to the butler, and saw the gate of Shengjing Gongyuan opened, and two rows of officials walked out from inside, shouting loudly: "The candidates enter!"

After one official messenger finished shouting, another official messenger continued to shout.

He yelled twelve times in a row, and the voice pierced the sky, ensuring that every candidate outside the Gongyuan could hear it.

Tang Shen picked up the long-eared test basket and said, "I'll go first."

The butler said, "Young Master Tang, there is one more thing."

Tang Shen stopped: "What's the matter?"

The housekeeper said: "Before my son ordered me to come, he asked me to bring a word to young master Tang——Everyone remembers the number one scholar, but few people remember Huiyuan. Have you prepared for the palace examination next month?" "

Tang Shen froze in place, waiting for him to find his number room after he entered the examination room.Tang Shen looked at the silver silk wax in the long-eared test basket, thought for a long time, and said helplessly, "Wang Zifeng, Wang Zifeng, if you want to say something, just say no, you have to beat around the bush, and learn from someone!"

The number one scholar is famous all over the world, but Huiyuan is rarely remembered.

This was Wang Qin comforting him, even if he didn't get Hui Yuan, don't be too sad.I was also worried about him. In order to get good grades in this exam, he would spend all his energy and energy, and he might even go off the beaten track, make mistakes, and even fail to win the Jinshi!

But there is a saying, Wang Qin is right.

Tang Shen's eyes were as bright as a torch: "Ten huiyuan, can't compare with one champion! This time there are so many talents in the competition, I want to get the top three, it's as difficult as climbing to the sky. The top three! The imperial examination does not test stereotyped art, does not test posting poems, only tests current affairs and policy questions. At that time, the main point is the argument, and the diction is supplemented. This is my chance!"

Enter the examination room on the ninth day of February, and the questions are not announced until the tenth day of February.

Tang Shen fell asleep early, woke up before midnight, and sat upright in the numbered room waiting for the official to issue questions.There are thousands of candidates like him.This is the exam, the most important exam in their life.Not everyone can get into the top three in the palace examination and get a good result.But he didn't fail the palace exam, he was just ranked.

Willing to try is the last opportunity they need to strive for.

Upstairs in Mingyuan, Li Dashi, the chief examiner of the 27th Kaiping Examination, vigorously beat the gongs and drums, announcing the official start of the current Examination.

When Tang Shen got the question, he took a deep breath and opened it.

The first question is the eight-legged art question, and the title is: "Please see the Yifeng people".

On a winter night, a gust of cold wind blew, and all the scholars who saw the topic shivered, feeling as if their hearts were falling into an ice cellar.

Even Tang Shen looked up at Mingyuan Building when he saw this question, even if he couldn't see Li Dashi and other deputy examiners standing on it, he wanted to curse.

"How shameless!!!" Juren sitting in the next room scolded him for him.

"Please see the people of Yifeng" comes from "The Analects of Confucius·Bayi". The original sentence is "Please see the people of Yifeng, saying: 'A gentleman is as good as this, and I have never failed to see it.' The follower sees it. It is said: "Why do the second and third sons suffer from mourning? The world has been without Dao for a long time, and the heaven will regard the master as a muduo.""

It means that an official in the place of Yi heard that Confucius was coming and asked to see Confucius. He said, "Every gentleman who comes to me, I haven't seen any." Confucius' entourage took him to see him. Confucius.After seeing him, he came out and said to Confucius' followers: "Why are you worried that the world is in chaos now? The world has been in chaos for a long time, but God will let your master teach the people and restore order in the world."

This sentence is to praise Confucius' excellent character and actions from the perspective of others.

However, the question posed by Li Dashi is "Please meet Yifeng people"!

If you contact the full text, of course you can easily solve the problem.But no matter what, the articles you write must always revolve around the five words "Yifengren, please see".

An official wanted to ask to see Confucius.

It is easier said than done to write an article with this sentence!

Shengjing Gongyuan, all the people were worried and broke their hair, looking at the papers and not knowing how to answer.Li Dashi himself was admitted to Jinshi, and he is a world-renowned Dashi, but the Juren in the Gongyuan are still waiting to make their debut!It is not without reason that he asks such side questions to test himself, embarrasses himself, and asks people to scold him "how shameless".

However, no matter how much you scold, the paper still needs to be written.

Tang Shen took a pen and sketched on the draft paper. He wrote a few broken points, but he was not satisfied.This kind of topic is easy to go off topic. Once you go off topic, or write a wrong article, it is tantamount to ruining your road to this exam.

Wang Qin said, let him play steadily, don't think about getting the first place, but think about getting into the imperial examination.On this basis, the pursuit of rankings.

Tang Shen thought bitterly, could it be that Wang Zifeng had known for a long time that Master Li had deviated from the topic this time, making it easy for people to write off topic?

Then he thought again, that must not be the case.Because of him, Wang Qin had avoided suspicion for a long time and failed to become the examiner of this conference.

The general examination is different from other examinations. The chief examiner of the general examination must be a senior official of the Ministry of Education, and even the three deputy examiners are also senior officials of the Ministry of Education.Wang Qin was the champion at the age of 17. He was not qualified enough in the previous two examinations. He had only been an assistant examiner and had never been a chief examiner.Originally there were rumors that this year Wang Qin was very likely to be the chief examiner, but because of his junior brother Tang Shen's reference, he could only avoid suspicion, and this time he didn't even become the deputy examiner.

The chief examiner of the examination is the great achievement of every official and the milestone of their official life.

However, in the next session, with Wang Qin's qualifications, he is very likely to be the chief examiner in three years' time, and the possibility is even greater than this time.

After thinking wildly for a while, Tang Shen sighed and continued to think about the topic.

Officials visited Confucius, and after talking with Confucius, they sincerely praised Confucius.Before he met Confucius, he praised Confucius as a gentleman.Then "Yifeng people, please see", please see... What a "please see"! The word "please" not only shows the official's respect for Confucius, but also shows that the official's visit to Confucius is to visit a sage and gentleman.

Regardless of whether it is the respect that the officials had before seeing Confucius, or his performance after seeing Confucius, they are all praising Confucius' noble character and behavior.

Officials in Yidi want to see Confucius, who in the world doesn't want to see him?

Even after a thousand years, they want to see more than 1 Juren who are immersed in writing in the No. [-] room!

Although it was out of date, Tang Shen remembered a line of poem: "I was born before I was born, and I am old when I was born."

Born out of time!

Inspiration came to his mind in an instant, Tang Shen picked up a pen, and quickly wrote on the draft paper: "If you want to see a sage, you should ask for it. If you see a sage, you will marvel at his deeds. A husband is born to be a master, but he can't see him. Please see him three times." The Holy Word is to see the Holy Word without knowing it..."

After solving the problem, Tang Shen thought carefully again, carefully considering each sentence, and finally finished writing this article after spending two hours.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

The first question of the test is too difficult, he does not seek no merit, but no fault.Tang Shen thought that what he wrote was unconventional, and under the dual guidance of Liang Song and Wang Qin, his stereotyped art has always been rigorous in structure and orderly in diction. As long as he solves the problem well, he will not make mistakes.

After taking a good rest and transcribing this article into the test paper, Tang Shen looked at the second question again.

Seeing the title of the second question clearly, Tang Shen opened his eyes wide, let out a breath, and looked up at Mingyuan Building in the distance: "How shameless!!!"

In the 27th year of Kaiping, the second question of the Shengjing Examination——

"Escape from ink must belong to Yang"!

The author has something to say: Pharaoh next door: What a coincidence, I also like spicy rabbit heads.