In early autumn, the bleak official road has been covered with a thin layer of yellowing leaves, and carriages roll over it, making bursts of rustling sounds.
"Lin Nuo, you seem to value the Lin family father and son very much?"
In front of outsiders, Xue Xiuer would give Lin Nuo face and call him husband, but when there was no one around, she would call him by his first name, Lin Nuo directly.
"That's right. The one I'm mainly interested in is Lin Pingzhi!"
In the future, after practicing the evil sword technique, Lin Pingzhi became a top master in the world in a short period of time. He was indeed a talent. If possible, Lin Nuo did intend to take him under his command.
But it's still early to say this now. The most important thing now is the imperial examination.
The imperial examination is related to whether one will be an official or a citizen in the future, and whether one's fortune will be deep or rich. This is a major event and cannot be delayed!
After traveling for several days, the journey was considered peaceful and no bandits were encountered. This made Lin Nuo a little surprised. When did the security in ancient times become so good?
"Autumn is approaching, and many scholars have come from various prefectures and counties. The prefects in various places have treated this matter as a top priority. The official roads leading to various places in Nanchang Prefecture have been cleared as early as a month ago.
Several times, ordinary little thieves really didn't dare to confront the government at this critical time!" Perhaps seeing Lin Nuo's doubts, Xue Xiuer explained aloud.
Lin Nuo nodded, not surprised.
This can be regarded as an unspoken rule between the government and bandits. The government generally does not suppress bandits at other times, but during the spring and autumn seasons, the government will vigorously improve local security, and bandits from all walks of life will also lurk during these two periods.
Don’t interfere with each other, stay safe!
This kind of situation is not uncommon even in later generations, such as during the two sessions.
As a scholar who participated in the imperial examination, Lin Nuo and his party did not encounter any exploitation or search when they entered Nanchang Fucheng. They easily entered the city and found an inn, and then settled down.
...
The ninth day of August is the beginning of autumn.
Early in the morning, when it was still dark and the whole inn was still quiet, Lin Nuo and Xue Xiuer got up separately and started to pack up all the items needed for the exam.
After everything was ready, Lin Nuo held the test box in one hand and the baggage in the other. He said hello to Xue Xiuer, then stood up and walked out.
The two walked out of the inn. The middle-aged coachman who drove the carriage had been waiting there for a long time with a lantern. After the two got on the carriage, he drove the carriage towards the Gongyuan in the east of the city.
Along the way, Lin Nuo also saw many carriages leaving various inns. In front of each carriage, there were lanterns with the words "Nanchang Rural Examination" hanging on them.
The imperial examination is a major national event. At this time, the entire city of Nanchang has been under martial law. From time to time, groups of city guards can be seen patrolling on both sides of the street. All vehicles that do not have a provincial examination lantern hanging in front of the carriage are prohibited from driving to avoid causing damage to the street.
Blockage and delaying the admission of candidates.
The carriage was not very fast, but the Gongyuan was not far from the inn where Lin Nuo was staying. When he came to the square in front of the Gongyuan, he found that there were only a few candidates around, and there were not many.
On the opposite street, there is a row of snack streets. At this time, there are clinking pots and pans, and the aroma of mutton soup, beef noodles, fried dough sticks, meat buns, gruel and other food comes over. Many scholars gather there to eat.
Breakfast and then a long talk.
Lin Nuo also walked over, ordered a bowl of mutton soup, and ate it leisurely. When the number of people in the square gradually became less and less, he got up leisurely, packed two breakfasts, and took them back to Xiu'er and the coachman.
In today's Ming Dynasty, etiquette is prevalent. Even though Xiu'er is a chivalrous woman with no formal etiquette, she does not show her face during the imperial examination, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble to Lin Nuo.
After serving breakfast to the two of them and telling them not to wait, Lin Nuo stood up and walked towards the gate of Gongyuan.
His unhurried and confident appearance attracted the attention of many scholars and soldiers along the way. Even the official conducting the body search at the door looked at him with a hint of approval.
Facing the imperial examination that determines the fate of life, he can still remain calm and calm. This kind of magnanimity is indeed far beyond the comparison of those scholars who are in a hurry.
He raised his head and glanced at the huge plaque of "Nanchang Gongyuan", and then glanced at the plaques on the left and right sides of the Gongyuan with the words "Selecting Scholars for the Ming Jing" and "Seeking Talents for the Country". Lin Nuo walked into the queue of scholars with a calm expression and lined up.
Waiting for admission.
"My dear friend, I just saw that you were calm and calm. I must be confident, right?"
Standing in front of Lin Nuo was a young man with a round face and a slightly plump figure. He was leaning slightly sideways and saying hello to him in a low voice.
Lin Nuo smiled slightly and didn't say anything. Although he had memorized all the books required for the imperial examination, it was his first time to take the imperial examination. He didn't dare to give 100% chance of passing the examination.
100% guaranteed.
Seeing that Lin Nuo was silent, the round-faced young man stopped asking for trouble and shrugged, then turned around and quietly waited for the entrance.
The imperial examination was a very cumbersome matter, so everyone waited until midnight. After three cannons were fired, the gate of Gongyuan was slowly opened.
The first ones to come out were not the examiners who were presiding over the rural examination, but two groups of soldiers holding flags, one group holding a red flag and the other group holding a black flag, walking and jumping while mumbling something.
Although the distance was a bit far, Lin Nuo was a warrior after all and had keen senses, so he could still vaguely hear what some soldiers were saying.
This group of people seems to be summoning spirits!
Lin Nuo watched it with great interest. He didn't have anything to say about being superstitious or not. After all, he was a soul that traveled through time. It was no big deal if someone summoned a soul in front of the Gongyuan.
After a group of soldiers who performed the dance were finished, a group of examiners walked out of the Gongyuan. The head examiner first explained some examination room systems with a serious expression, and then when everyone was a little impatient, he waved his sleeves with unfinished content.
"Open the door!"
As the voice fell, Lin Nuo clearly heard that all the candidates around him could not help but heave a sigh of relief, and picked up their examination boxes one by one, preparing to enter the door.
"Hey, my dear friend, you must remember my name. My name is Xu Wei. I will definitely be on the imperial examination this time. What do you call me my dear friend?"
Before entering the door, the round-faced young man in front suddenly turned his head. He seemed to be very interested in Lin Nuo and wanted to make friends with him.
"Lino!"
After taking a deep look at this capable minister who was extremely famous during the Jiajing period, Lin Nuo uttered two words, and then, at the urging of the candidates behind him, he stepped into the Gongyuan.
The first official imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty is finally about to begin!