Getting Rich from Legend of Zhen Huan

Therefore, the eve of the Spring Examination, which should have been full of turmoil, was so quiet that it frightened the old people in the capital. Even the Eight Banners children who were catching chickens and playing with dogs everywhere did not dare to go out. Until Jiang Chen left the Jiang family and sat on the carriage specially prepared by Li Guangdi, the one driving the carriage was the guard sent by Kangxi. He calmly passed the inspection and sat in his seat.

In the first month of the year, Li Guangdi was specially arranged by Kangxi to be the Shuntian academician. Although he could not directly contact matters related to the Spring Examination, if an accident occurred, the local academician had the power to participate in the handling. Li Guangdi sighed in his heart, thinking that his little apprentice had caught the emperor's eye and chose the teacher who was least likely to harm him to protect him. However, good and bad are interdependent, and prosperity must decline. Li Guangdi was worried that Jiang Chen's future would be difficult.

Nine days passed quickly. Jiang Chen was no longer as weak as he was three years ago, but he looked haggard and his clothes were smelly as he got on the carriage that had been waiting for a long time. Li Guangdi did not come to avoid suspicion, but he sent many servants to escort Jiang Chen away. Jiang Chen did not want to greet people under such circumstances, so he got on the carriage quickly and went home.

But the candidates who stayed behind and knew his identity did not think so. One candidate, despite being very excited after just finishing the exam, directly mocked him: "This Jiang Sanyuan is so arrogant that he doesn't even want to get to know his peers! It seems that he is confident!"

Someone nearby said, "The most promising talent in Jiangnan this year is the first place winner in the 20th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign - Hu Mengxing (real name Hu Renyu). Who is not a first place winner? Why is Jiang Sanyuan so different? Could it be that he thinks that he has won the small third place, so he thinks that he will definitely win the sixth place?"

The students in the capital did not want the students from the south to be arrogant, so they retorted: "Hu Jieyuan passed the imperial examination 20 years ago, and it has been 33 years now. I wonder where he wasted the past 13 years?"

This was a blunt remark, and some of the northern students also laughed along. How could the southern students tolerate it? The two sides argued more and more fiercely, and even looked like they were going to fight in front of the Imperial Examination Hall. However, the officers and soldiers guarding the door were smart and invited the person in charge, the examiner of the examination book Shen Tingwen. He was originally from Jiangnan, and naturally did not want this matter to become a big deal because of the dispute between the north and the south. He severely reprimanded the candidates. Fortunately, the candidates were stopped before they could fight, so Shen Yanwen let them go.

The candidates were just getting excited, but now they regained their heads after being questioned by Shen Tingwen. They couldn't help but feel scared. A verbal dispute was a small matter. If they really fought at the entrance of the Imperial Academy, not to mention their future, they might even lose their heads! When Shen Tingwen returned to the Imperial Academy, the candidates hurriedly covered their faces and fled.

How could this little thing escape Kangxi's eyes? He originally just wanted to find out Jiang Chen's background and true talent, and by the way, see the trend of candidates from all over the country. Who would have thought that he would see such a good show. The eye repeated this matter to Kangxi, and then lowered his head and dared not move, complaining in his heart, what kind of thing is this! Why did I have to encounter it?

After listening to this, Kangxi asked his spies to continue to monitor the movements of the candidates in Beijing, and then looked at the letter of apology submitted by Shen Tingwen today. It vaguely said that he was guilty of failing to evacuate the candidates in time, which almost caused an accident.

Kangxi smiled coldly, threw the memorial in his hand onto the imperial desk, and said to Liang Jiugong: "I remember that Shen Tingwen's hometown is Hangzhou Prefecture?"

Liang Jiugong replied: "I remember that Lord Shen was the top scholar in the 27th year, and his hometown is indeed in the Jiangnan area."

This statement further touched upon Kangxi's inner worries, "Twenty-seven years of number one scholar! Ever since the imperial examination was reopened, the number one scholars in each year have all come from Jiangnan? It is indeed a place where literary style prevails!" The words were a compliment, but Kangxi's tone was not light, and even ambiguous.

"How could this servant remember it clearly!" Liang Jiugong was cunning. Knowing that this matter involved the turmoil of the previous dynasty, he did not dare to say a word.

"What else do you know, old man?" Kangxi said. He wanted Liang Jiugong to call a few people to discuss, but he couldn't find a suitable candidate. He had no choice but to write a letter to Cao Yin, who was the Jiangning Weaving Factory. Cao Yin was Kangxi's study partner, and the two grew up together. Since the 29th year, Cao Yin followed Kangxi's order to stay in Jiangnan and act as Kangxi's eyes in Jiangnan.

Now Kangxi wanted to know about the candidates from Jiangnan, who could know them better than Cao Yin? At that time, water transportation was inconvenient, and Cao Yin's reply would take a long time. But the examination results could not wait, and a month later, the capital had not yet warmed up, but the candidates were eager to wait for the golden list to be posted.

The list was opened from top to bottom, and the first place was very conspicuous. The southern candidates who saw it were very disappointed. They didn't even want to look at their own results, and said in a trance that it was impossible. In this way, the news that Jiang Chen won five prizes in a row spread from inside to outside.

At the same time, the gong and drum announcer walked to the front door of the Jiang family with Jiang Chen's "transcript". Seeing this, the gatekeeper knew that Jiang Chen had won the first place, and he rolled inside and shouted: "Young Master has won! Young Master has won!"

Jiang's mother and Jiang Chen, who were waiting in the main hall, heard the voice and stood up together, regardless of their appearance, and walked out the door quickly. Jiang Chen thanked the reporter and gave him silver as a thank you. The doorman congratulated everyone by throwing two baskets of brand new copper coins that had been prepared long ago. Everyone rushed to grab them. These were copper coins with the literary spirit of Wenquxing. If they took them home and worshipped them, maybe their family would also have a scholar!

After Jiang Chen finished his socializing, he wanted to tell the teacher in person. Jiang's mother understood and told Jiang Chen to go quickly and not to make the teacher wait anxiously!

But when Jiang Chen arrived at the Li Mansion, because Li Guangdi was appointed as the Fushun Education Commissioner this year, in order to prevent Jiang Chen from being gossiped about, Li Guangdi rarely invited him to the mansion. Therefore, as soon as Jiang Chen arrived at the gate, he felt something was wrong. He got off the carriage, and the gatekeeper saw that it was him and came to greet him. With a sad face, he tried to show joy and said, "Master Jiang, you are here! Are the results out today? The master has ordered that when you come, go to the study and wait!"

Jiang Chen felt something was wrong, so he said to the doorman, "Uncle Li, we have known each other for so many years, has something happened in this mansion?"

Seeing that he could no longer conceal the truth, the concierge burst into tears and wiped them with his sleeves. Uncle Li said, "Master Jiang, the old lady has not been in good health this winter. But the master said that we cannot disturb you from studying, so he did not let anyone inform you. Now it is almost spring, but the old lady is so sick that she cannot get up. In early March, I couldn't conceal it anymore, so I sent a letter to the master, who hurried back. However, the imperial physician he invited also said... also said that there is no cure!"

Jiang Chen heard it, and his ears roared. He had been studying with Li Guangdi since he was a child. Although he didn't often go to the backyard, the old lady loved this smart child very much and had a good relationship with Jiang's mother. To Jiang's mother and son, she was like an elder in their family. But today, he heard such bad news. Jiang Chen walked to Li Guangdi's study with weak legs. Li Guangdi also received the news from Jiang Chen, and the master and apprentice met at the entrance of the study.