Chapter 274: In the Stinking Exam Cell, I Have a Mask After the ink had dried, Zhu Ping’an collected the examination paper and carefully placed it into the exam paper bag, hanging it on the wall to the side. By now, the sky had turned dark. The night was as thick as ink, so dark […]
Chapter 273: Jin Has Feng Fu When he woke up from his sleep, it was already late afternoon, with the setting sun slanting westward. As Zhu Ping’an opened his eyes, he saw the exam paper for this round of the imperial examination. It had been placed on the makeshift wooden table, held down by his
Chapter 272: Unfortunate Times Candidates were searched one after another, from the dim pre-dawn to the rising of the red sun. Such searches were not without effect. One candidate ahead of Zhu Ping’an was caught with a concealed cheat sheet during the inspection. His method of cheating involved his quilt, which was densely covered in
Chapter 271: Searching and Inspecting the Civil and Military Papers Although still young, the number of essays steadily increased; Let’s wait till fifteen or sixteen, and he shall succeed in a single try. Zhu Ping’an slightly curved his lips, silently reciting this poem about a child prodigy, quietly watching the various expressions of his fellow
Chapter 270: Waiting in Line for the Exam Xu Jie was feeling a bit unsettled. Just yesterday morning, he had been appointed by His Majesty to preside over the metropolitan examination. On his way out of the palace, he ran into Yan Song and even took the opportunity to provoke that old scoundrel a bit.
Chapter 269: Old Yan Is a Genuine Person As soon as Elder Yan entered the palace where Emperor Jiajing practiced cultivation and alchemy, he was surrounded by the scent of sandalwood. Outside, the spring chill was still biting, but inside the palace it was unbearably hot. However, Elder Yan had long since adapted to this
Chapter 268: Old Yan’s Happy Life Before dawn, the sky still held a few scattered fading stars. A sedan chair carried by eight men appeared on West Chang’an Street, heading all the way toward the Western Garden where Emperor Jiajing practiced cultivation and alchemy. A gust of wind blew past, lifting the sedan’s curtain to
Chapter 267: The Imperial Examination Arrives Unexpectedly Zhu Ping’an returned to the inn and began a secluded life of studying. Other examinees generally still attended poetry gatherings, poetry societies, and assemblies to gain some fame, but Zhu Ping’an did not participate in any of these. Except for a few occasional joint visits by Zhang Siwei
Chapter 266: A Woman Comes from the South The dispute in front of the eatery had come to an end, and the people offered various praises to the two embroidered uniform guards for their fair judgment. The shabby boy also kneeled and kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude. When everyone recalled the honest and straightforward boy who
Chapter 265: This Matter Is Easy “The sun rises a zhang above Fusang;All things in the world are fine as hair.” “The rustic rages at injustice,Sharpening the ancient blade in his chest.” — “Casual Writings” by Liu Cha The morning sun rises in the east, red clouds fill the sky, warmth descends from above, and