It was already a matter of time. Duan Cizong was sitting under the lamp reading a book. His wife Cheng was repairing her clothes on the other side, and she was speechless under the lamp. Occasionally, her eyes met, but silence was better than sound at this time.

The dog barking outside the door of the house kept barking. The eldest daughter Duan Yiping rubbed her eyes and came out of the side room, and asked sleepyly: "Dad, are Dahuang and Xiao Hei sick? Why are you screaming constantly?"

Cheng put down his clothes, glared at her husband with a angrily, hugged her daughter in her arms, and comforted her: "Da Huang Xiaohei is fine, it's your father's fault."

Duan Yiping said: "Dad, what's wrong with you? Can you stop calling Dahuang and Xiaohei? It's so quarrel that my brother and I can't sleep." Duan Cizong has a son and a daughter, a daughter is nine years old and a son is six years old.

Duan Cizong put down the book in his hand guiltily and said with a smile: "Dad, let's put Dahuang and Xiao Hei in the kennel, so you can sleep with peace of mind." He winked at his wife, and Cheng took his daughter back to the room.

Duan Cizong walked away from the door. It was already dark, and there was no moonlight, and it was dark everywhere. When he came to the door, he took off the ropes of Dahuang and Xiaohei. The two dogs rushed to him. Duan Cizong rubbed the dog's head and was about to bring two dogs into the house.

Suddenly, Dahuang and Xiao Hei turned their heads and shouted at the mouth of the alley. A lantern lit up at the mouth of the alley and moved over slowly. Duan Cizong frowned. It was so time since the sky was so long, why were there still people squatting outside the door?

"Dr. Duan, it's so hard to get into your home."

"Who?" Duan Cizong asked vigilantly, and he didn't think he was learning to do the exam.

The lantern was raised high and shone on the face of the visitor. It had a red face, a steel needle-like beard, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a bit familiar.

"Who are you?"

"Hahaha, Doctor Duan forgets the matter, how did you forget the old friend on Fengshan fifteen years ago?"

"You are Guard Ning." Duan Cizong shouted in surprise, "Why are you here? Please come in quickly."

Duan Cizong casually tied the dog to the yard and looked down on Yanke.

A table and two chairs, a bookcase against the wall, several benches, and some debris were piled up against the wall, making the house narrower. The lights were not on, and it looked dark everywhere. Guard Ning looked around and said, "Dr. Duan's residence is poor enough. Isn't this house still rented?"

Duan Cizong boiled water and tea, and replied with a smile: "It is much better than back then, Duan is content."

After hearing Duan Cizong's sincere words, Guard Ning nodded secretly, took the hot tea handed over by Duan Cizong, put it on the table, and smiled and said, "The young master asked me to send you a message, 'Take out the spirit of the past, open my eyes and watch this exam for me'."

Duan Cizong knelt down when he heard this, saying, "I received the order."

Fifteen years ago, Duan Cizong participated in the examination and traveled to Fengshan with his friends to climb Wangyuan Tower. Duan Cizong was enthusiastic and pointed out the country, and bluntly stating that officials were corrupt, annexed the land, and meat the people. He attracted the attention of a rich young man next to him and came forward to talk to him.

Other powerful sons were stabbed by Duan Cizong's words and ridiculed them all. The rich sons helped each other, which triggered a group attack.

One of them sneered: "These people who climbed this building today are all famous families. Those unknown rats go downstairs. There is no place for you to stand here, which has defiled the breeze of the Fengshan Wangyuan Tower. A family throws bricks and attracts jade. My son, Lu Yufeng, is from the Lu family in Hedong, and is a father, the fourth-rank minister of the Ministry of War."

As soon as Lu Yufeng finished speaking proudly, someone immediately shouted: "I was born in Huang Tianshi, the Huang family in Guanyang, the third-rank Taifu Temple Minister of the family, and the fifth-rank Censor of the family."

...

The powerful sons all raised their eyebrows and spoke sternly, and their friends around them left one by one. Duan Cizong was wearing cloth shirts and surrounded by a group of gorgeous clothes. In the eyes of the powerful sons, Duan Cizong looked pale and almost couldn't stand firm.

A hand reached out to hold his cold hand. The rich son who was in love looked around and whispered: "The lonely name Shi Fangzhen, the current prince, and his father, Emperor Zheng."

The voice was like iron stone, and everyone fell to the ground, shocked and scared. Duan Cizong also knelt down on the ground and heard the prince's voice in his ears: "Dun Cizong, take care of yourself." The prince brought two guards back then, one of whom was this Ning guard, Ning Tao, the general of the Left Wei Guard.

Duan Cizong woke up from his memories and laughed at himself: "Fifteen years have passed, but I didn't expect to see General Ning again." Time passed, and the prince became the emperor and the guard became the general. He thought that this past incident had been forgotten and had never mentioned it to anyone.

"I, Lao Ning, often see you," Ning Tao took a sip of water and smiled, "When you came and went to the palace, I noticed you several times by the palace, but the palace has a heavy responsibility and it is not easy to call you."

Ning Tao paused for a moment, recalling the emperor's words, and slowly said, "Long live, never forget you. Your official career has been unsuccessful over the years. Long live, deliberately suppressing you to see if you can still stick to your virtue in difficulties. Long live, let me pass on a message, 'I am very satisfied'."

Seeing Duan Cizong's eyes were filled with tears, he was about to get up and knelt down and kowtow. Ning Tao quickly stopped him and said, "Brother Duan, don't kneel down, just keep respect in your heart. It's getting late. After I said that, I have to go back to work."

Under the light, Ning Tao lowered his voice and explained to Duan Cizong a few words, got up and left. He sent Ning Tao away and returned to the house. Duan Cizong was so excited that he looked at her husband with concern and asked silently.

Duan Cizong hugged his wife and whispered in his ear: "Pinger and Xin'er are sleeping, let's rest as well."

Cheng blushed and struggled gently. He felt the heat coming from her husband. He spat lightly, his body became weak, and he let his husband carry him back to the room.

It was already the second day, and Jiang Anyi was still sleepy. He had just discussed Duan Cizong's articles with Fan Shiben and Zhang Zhicheng. From several memorials, we can see that this man's iron-mindedness and devoted himself to the people, which really makes people respect him. His policy of preaching the Tao is "Theory of the Tao", which bluntly stated that "things are the accuracy of the Tao. Keeping things, by following the accuracy of the Tao, and then the Tao remains. If you leave it, you will lose the Tao." He advocated the concept of being an official and practicing the Tao.

Looking back on what he has done in the past two years, Jiang Anyi became suspicious of himself. Mr. Fan and Mr. Yu both warned himself to accumulate strength. Along the way, he was a little anxious and was always urged by things. He had no time to see the scenery around him, he had no time to calmly appreciate everything that happened, and he had no time to distinguish between right and wrong.

Jiang Anyi came prepared for this exam. In addition to the title of the poem, "Like Ji Yun Ji" was a secret move. It was an unexpected surprise to be appreciated by Duke Shen on Fengshan. There was also a killing mace to be used before the exam.

Before entering Beijing, the compilation of "Yunshuitan Talk" was completed. Jiang Anyi and Mr. Fan agreed that they would start printing in March and calculate the time. It would almost flow into the capital in early April. Fan Yanzhong was a contemporary great scholar who served as the chief of Zechang Academy and the Imperial College Priest. His books would inevitably cause shock in the scholars, and the emperor would also read them.

The book is written in the form of a question and answer, and the three characters appearing in it must be eye-catching. In addition to Master Fan, Jiang Anyi and Fan Shiben asked questions and received teachings in the form of their sons and nephews. They occasionally had insights and insights, and took a ride and made some comments.

The sages taught scholars that they should "establish a straightforward way". Are the things they have done considered taking wrong paths? Can you still remember your original intention of being a family member and the people? Can you be a officials like Duan Cizong?

On the second day of the lunar month, it was a regular court. Only officials above the fifth rank and above entered the court. Just after the Chen hour, the officials dispersed. Yesterday, Wei Xiang passed the message and asked the two examinees to go to the prime minister's office to discuss matters. Li Shihong did not dare to delay, and talked and laughed a few words with his colleagues surrounded him, and then said that the prime minister would invite him, and he got into the sedan chair in the envious eyes of everyone.

The Prime Minister's Mansion arrived soon, and a sedan chair fell in front of the door to explain his purpose. A minor official welcomed him into the side room of the Zhengshi Hall to rest. Duan Cizong did not have to go to court, but came to the Prime Minister's Mansion to wait early. At this moment, there was a circle of extremely enthusiastic officials around him. When he saw Li Shihong entering the door, the people roared, like a green-headed fly that was being coaxed, and turned to Li Shihong.

Duan Cizong secretly wiped his cold sweat. Seeing Li Shihong being versatile, he finally got a moment of quietness. Li Shihong secretly saw Duan Cizong being neglected, and felt secretly proud. After all, this main examination is different from the deputy chief examination. It seems that everyone understands.

At the end of the Si period, Wei Yishen returned to the prime minister's mansion. With a respectful call, Wei Yishen walked into the lobby of the Political Affairs Hall. The lobby faced north and south, both deep and wide. In addition to the two seats in the middle, there were several long tables and tables on both sides. Near the wall, there were many bookcases and station classics.

Wei Yishen dealt with several urgent matters, took a sip of tea, and asked, "Are Li Shihong and Duan Cizong here?"

Hearing the summons, Li Shihong and Duan Cizong entered the Political Affairs Hall, and after saluting, they sat down on the right. Wei Yishen talked a few words, turned to the main topic, and said: "Training talents for the country is related to talent selection, national prosperity and political stability. Long live the examination, attach great importance to this examination, and only selected two of them, you two have a great responsibility."

Li Shihong said with a sigh: "Please don't worry, Prime Minister, Li will never dare to neglect his duties and commit fraud in private affairs. He will definitely be devoted to serving the public and gaining talents for the country."

"Brother Li said that Duan should also do his best and be loyal."

Wei Yishen nodded and said, "According to statistics from the Ministry of Rites, there are as many as 8,543 candidates who participated in the exam in turn, nearly 300 more than those who were admitted to the subject. You two will suffer. The 18 candidates for the same examiner have been drafted, and you will know at that time."

Wei Yishen patted a book on the table and then said, "Long live to enter the palace today. I gave me a book, which was written by Fan Yanzhong."

"Oh, Mr. Fan is not willing to be lonely. Have you written books and made words? I have to read it that night." Li Shihong rolled his beard and looked like a famous scholar.

"This book can be bought in the bookstore in the past two days." Wei Yishen's eyes were slightly condensed and he smiled: "I read this book "Yunshuitan Talk", which really makes people think deeply. Fan Yanzhong is worthy of being a contemporary scholar. I can't give this book to you, and I have to study it carefully when I have time."

"But, there are two people in this book, one is Fan Shiben, the son of Fan Yanzhong, and the other is Jiang Anyi. Fan Yanzhong regards him as his nephew. Both of them are going to take the imperial examination today, so this book is timely."

Li Shihong frowned and said, "Is Mr. Fan asking for fame for the two of them? This is contrary to Mr. Fan's character." Duan Cizong said silently. Although he did not speak, his impression of Jiang Anyi and Mr. Fan was greatly reduced.

This time, Jiang Anyi backfired.
Chapter completed!