Space Food Storage: Daily Travel

The triennial joint examinations were about to begin. These were ministerial-level examinations held at the Imperial Examination Hall in the capital. They were administered by the Ministry of Rites and were held every three years. Those who passed were called Jinshi (or Juren).

The top 50 Jinshi can take part in the palace examination, which is presided over by the emperor himself. The examination only consists of policy questions and the candidates have to hand in their papers on the spot. The emperor and the participating civil officials will select the top three based on their talents.

Liu Yuhan and his parents personally took Liu Lu and Yang Zhi to the capital to take the exam. They also wanted to visit the Liu family. Huo Dong had already arranged for people to set up a residence in the capital. The war had almost stopped temporarily for over a year. He would have more time to travel to the capital.

When they arrived in the capital, Huo Er ushered them into the mansion. It was a well-located, three-story house that had been tidied up and staffed with servants, so they could move in with just their bags.

The plaque on the gate read "Liu's Residence". Liu Yuhan felt warm in her heart. After more than a year of marriage, Huo Dong was always so considerate, worried about her worries and thinking about her thoughts.

The Liu family had already arrived after hearing the news, and everyone was sitting in the main hall, chatting and greeting each other. Liu Lu and Yang Zhi were taken to the study by Liu Zhiyuan and his two sons for an exam, which was ten days away.

Several female relatives sat in the main hall, chatting. Liu Yuhan and Liu Qing sat together. Liu Qing was over 16 years old and had grown into a beautiful young lady. In the past two years since returning to the capital, she had devoted herself to studying hard, honing herself, and teaching.

With the emperor's approval, wealthy officials were encouraged to donate money, and the Liu, Huo, and He families set up an orphanage and public schools for boys and girls in the capital. Liu Qing was currently working as a female teacher at the public girls' school.

In fact, the emperor also had his own little thoughts. He once hinted to Liu Zhiyuan that he wanted to welcome Liu Qing into the palace. This scared the Liu family. They had never thought of letting their descendants enter the palace as concubines.

Liu Zhiyuan and Liu Zhiyi later didn't know how they dissuaded the emperor from the idea. The Liu family then became anxious to find a good marriage for Liu Qing.

Liu Qing was helpless. She really didn't have the man she liked, and she really didn't like those literati who talked a lot of nonsense.

This is also the reason why when she met Huo Nan and Huo Nan expressed his love for her and wanted to marry her, she readily agreed. It turned out that this was the type she liked.

The Liu family also found a daughter of the Wu family for Liu Hong. Liu Hong was very satisfied and the two got married.

There were three examinations in total, one every three days. Candidates had to enter the examination room at Chou time (3 a.m.) and were only allowed to bring writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone. After being searched one by one, they could enter their own small compartment (haoshe), which was about four feet long and three feet wide.

After all the candidates entered, the gates were locked and the Five City Military Commanders led soldiers to strictly guard the walls on all four sides. Unless the capital was about to fall, anything happening outside the walls had no bearing on the candidates.

Next, they will stay in this small box for nine days and eight nights, bring their own dry food, and are not allowed to leave for eating, drinking, defecating or urinating until the end of the imperial examination.

The rules of the imperial examination are that there are three sessions every three days.

……

Liu Yuhan prepared a small exam set for them, just like they had for the college entrance exam, and stocked up on some good charcoal. He also got a lot of dried meat and other easy-to-keep snacks, just in case the charcoal was confiscated. It was cold, so they brought extra thick clothes and cotton socks, and two extra bottles of essential oils for energy.

In addition to studying, they have also been exercising over the past few years, so their physical fitness is not a problem. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to survive nine days in such cold weather.

After they successfully completed the exam and waited in the capital for a month, Liu Lu successfully made it into the top 10. Yang Zhi was disappointed not to be in the top 50, but he still became a juren even though he was in the top 300.

The top 50 took the palace examination the day after their results were released. The emperor presided over their examinations, asking them to write down their policy questions within half an hour. The top three were then announced on the spot based on their talent and previous exam results.

The top three were draped in red silk and rode on tall horses for a parade through the streets.

The main street was crowded with people, and everyone was talking about it: You mentioned the top two scorers, but they didn't seem very young. I heard that these two had secretly taken the exam before, but were not satisfied with the results, so they took it again three years later.

But this third place winner looks very young and handsome, probably not even twenty yet! I heard he was from a farming family, which is amazing. So the most discussed person is actually the young third place winner Liu Lu.

Many young girls threw handkerchiefs or sachets at them, and some of the bolder ones even shouted some explicit words. Liu Lu had never seen such a scene before. The girls in the capital were too enthusiastic... He felt his face burning red. He pulled his clothes closer and hid his hands on the saddle, hiding in his clothes, afraid that a handkerchief or sachet would suddenly get caught on him.

Liu Yuhan and the others were sitting in the teahouse, looking down. Seeing his awkwardness, they felt a little sympathetic. Liu Shinan couldn't help but burst out laughing, earning a glare from Liu.

Liu Lu's success in winning the third place in the imperial examination not only alarmed the capital, but also caused great publicity in Fu'an City and Changle County. They felt very proud.

As a result, when outsiders mentioned the Liu family of Fulai Village, they would say: You don’t know that the Liu family of Fulai Village is the Liu family of Fulai Village that produced the third place in the imperial examination... The Liu family is the maiden family of the Fu’an County Lady... The County Lady is his biological sister...