The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

The young masters were not completely ignorant of the ways of the world. They didn't say anything when they heard this, but they silently excluded Hua Wanli and Zhang Pingan from their core circle.

Zhang Ping'an didn't care, as long as he didn't offend anyone. The three of them were all admitted through patronage. Their families were originally better off, but their education was not that good. There was no need to talk about anyone looking down on anyone. It was enough for everyone to be friendly with each other. There was no need to force compatibility with each other.

This is better than the state school. The young masters only despise you secretly in their hearts, but they won't embarrass you in front of others, and there's no bullying or anything like that.

Zhang Pingan thought that the reason was because their classes were closer. After all, a juren was not someone who could be bullied by anyone.

The doctor who taught the class in the afternoon was younger, only in his forties. His surname was Wang and he was a second-class Jinshi. But he didn't look like he was doing well. There was a heavy dark shadow between his eyebrows and deep wrinkles.

The lecture pace is neither fast nor slow, which makes people feel comfortable listening. When he quotes from classics, you can tell that he has solid knowledge and is knowledgeable. However, he leaves immediately after class and does not assign any homework.

Even the young masters with green bean eyes felt that this was not right. It was too lax. They couldn't help but say, "Isn't it said that Class A has the best teachers? They want to compete with the provincial school for the number of students who pass the examination next year, and they don't even have any lessons?"

"It depends on your own consciousness," Zhang Pingan shook his head.

Then I packed up and went out, ready to go home.

The situation in the Imperial College was not as good as he had imagined. The teacher was very upset and he was also very worried.

Old Man Lu had been waiting at the door on time. After Zhang Pingan got in the car, he drove all the way home.

When they got home, Mrs. Hu had already prepared dinner. Mrs. Xu was collecting clothes in the yard. Seeing her son return, she hurried forward and asked with concern, "Son, how was your class at the Imperial College today? Are you tired?"

"Mom, it's pretty good. I'm not tired, the food is good, and my classmates are nice," Zhang Pingan said with a smile.

"That's good," Xu was relieved.

Zhang Ping'an said worriedly after he arrived at the main hall: "Mother, when I went to school this morning, I saw the imperial edict posted on the east wall of the city. The emperor really wants to select concubines and palace maids as well. Sixth sister hasn't put in the engagement yet, so it's not an engagement. The age is right. I'm afraid the street office will come to discuss this matter in the next two days. You should be mentally prepared."

Hearing this, Xu raised her voice and asked, "What? You really want to enter the palace?"

"Mom, please speak a little more quietly," Zhang Pingan said quickly.

"I was wondering why the people from the Street Office came here to register your age today," Xu said in a low voice, patting her thigh.

Zhang Pingan was surprised: "They have been here?"

"He came. He came in the morning and left after registering," Xu said anxiously.

"They move too fast," Zhang Pingan was speechless.

"I have read the imperial edict carefully. Age and background are just the first step. There will be various screenings after entering the palace, such as appearance and height. You may not be selected. Don't worry," said Zhang Pingan.

After saying that, he looked outside and lowered his voice, "And certainly not everyone will be so honest. What if Sixth Sister suddenly gets a rash or catches a cold? She definitely won't have to go. Let's see what other families are doing first, and then we'll consider it. But please don't spread this matter outside."

"Yes, I know, I will definitely not say anything nonsense," Xu said quickly.

She wiped away her tears after saying this: "All that's missing is a reply from the man's family to discuss the engagement. What should Liu Ya do now?"

Zhang Laoer didn't come back until it was almost dark. He had been out and about all day, trying to find a suitable shop, and he was very tired.

After listening to Zhang Ping'an and Xu's talk about the imperial edict, he felt a little worried: "No wonder I kept hearing people talking about the talent show this afternoon and didn't pay much attention to it. So this is how it is!"

After thinking for a while, he asked, "Can't we hurry up and get engaged in the next few days?"

"Dad, it's written in the imperial edict that this is not possible. All marriage activities must be suspended and can only be resumed after the selection is over. Now the government office can no longer issue marriage certificates," Zhang Pingan sighed.

The marriage that Sixth Sister mentioned before is really pretty good.

Liu Ya didn't know that something had gone wrong in her marriage, and she still enjoyed her dinner with relish.

Wu Ya's wedding date has been set, and it's just one month away. Now she seems depressed every day, sometimes even anxious, and has no appetite to eat properly.

No matter how worried the Zhang family is, life has to go on.

After a few days, just as Zhang Ping'an had expected, people with colds and fevers appeared. Most of them were girls from aristocratic families who wanted to avoid the selection, and there were very few who wanted to avoid the selection of palace maids.

After all, those who can participate in the selection are girls from prominent families. No matter what the considerations are, marrying into other big families is much better than entering the palace and living as a widow!

However, the selection of palace maids is different. If you are selected, you will get silver and a monthly salary in the future, which is similar to that of a civil servant. Girls from good families will marry into commoner families, and the betrothal gifts may not be as much as the silver given by the palace, so it is not a loss from the perspective of money.

Apart from Zhang Ping'an's family, which was of mediocre background, most people were happy to let their daughters enter the palace as maids.

No matter who you ask for help, it will be useless. If you are not careful, you will be charged with disobeying the emperor's order, which is a huge accusation that can kill you.

These girls from noble families who were playing tricks were directly betrothed to the illegitimate sons of fifth or sixth rank officials by an imperial decree from the emperor.

Directly ending their delusions is also a disguised punishment. Bastards generally have poor backgrounds. Their mothers may be singers or actors, belonging to the lowest class. They may get less than 10% of the family property.

Girls from good families had even less scruples. Those who were sick were directly dragged to the charity cemetery and locked up, not allowed to go out.

The weather in Daxia is still hot, so naturally no one dares to openly disobey the order.

After this warning, no one caused trouble anymore and everyone settled down. Even the daughters of the four major families entered the palace quietly and prepared for the selection.

Naturally, Zhang Pingan didn't dare to have any more thoughts.

When the emperor is angry, millions of people will die and blood will flow for thousands of miles. The emperor is still young now, but the people behind him are not vegetarians.

A few days later, Liu Ya finally found out that she was going to enter the palace as a maid, and tears immediately flowed down her face.

She even felt that God was punishing her like this because she was too greedy and always thought about things she shouldn't have.

Xu also felt very sad. In her opinion, Liu Ya's life was difficult. If she was chosen after entering the palace, she would be an old maid when she came out. It would not be easy to be someone's concubine, and it would be difficult to be a stepmother.

Despite her family's reluctance to let her go, Liu Ya finally carried her small bag and followed the people from the Street Office.

Zhang Ping'an secretly gave Liu Ya a lot of silver, all of which were exchanged for small change, so that she could take care of anything after entering the palace.

Things have been so bad lately, and studying at the Imperial College is so difficult that Zhang Ping'an even wants to go to the temple to worship.