Interesting, interesting.
The temperature dropped sharply at night, and the candlelight in the cells could still be faintly seen. The howling wind could be clearly heard by everyone.
Shen Mingzhu noticed that her elder brother Shen Qinghong's cell was also lit by candlelight. She checked the time; her shift would be changing soon…
Seeing that her elder brother Shen Qinghong had covered the cell so well, she felt much more at ease.
Hopefully, the temperature won't drop any further!
This makes it much easier for students doing the imperial examination.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Heaven didn't hear Shen Mingzhu's prayers. In the middle of the night, the snow fell even harder, and the temperature dropped again.
The following day, many students caught a cold, and coughing could be heard from time to time in the examination room.
Shen Mingzhu had brewed brown sugar ginger tea in her thermos and sat at the front with Prince An, wearing a cloak.
The weather was cold, and neither of them wanted to walk around.
Guagua, how are the students in this exam hall? Are about half of them catching a cold?
Host, you're being too conservative. More than half the people in the exam room you're proctoring have already caught a cold. If the temperature continues to drop, even more people will catch a cold.
Is it that serious?
What do you think! In the cell, the food, drink, and sleep are truly terrible. Look at those cells. There's so little space, and you can't even stretch your legs out in there.
As Prince An listened to Shen Mingzhu's heartfelt words, he carefully observed the students in the examination hall and couldn't help but feel worried.
Because of the drop in temperature last night, most of the students were listless today, and a few looked pale and unsteady on their feet when they went out to relieve themselves.
This looks like a severe cold!
Everyone must be feeling dizzy and lightheaded!
They might even have a fever!
Guagua, it seems many students won't be able to stay focused this afternoon.
Host, there's nothing we can do! The temperature has plummeted, and the gap between students will widen even further. Unfortunately, luck is also a part of ability.
Guagua, I understand. I'm just a little worried. Will this cause any deaths?
Shen Mingzhu had read many historical books and materials. In ancient times, medical resources were scarce, and there was no advanced medical equipment. A simple cold could be fatal.
Host, once you enter the examination hall, your life and death are preordained by fate! No one will help you with birth, old age, sickness, or death. You can leave after the examination ends in nine days! Except for going to the toilet, you must remain in your cell.
Shen Mingzhu: ...
Uh…Guagua, isn't this like a prison?
Host, take a look at the cell. You'll understand then that this tiny room is worse than a prison!
Prince An: Is it really that exaggerated?
This has always been the case!
After taking a sip of warm tea, Prince An glanced at the candidates and remained silent.
Among those in the exam room who were in top form, Shen Qinghong asked for hot water and made himself a big bowl of instant noodles. He also made a thermos of the brown sugar ginger tea that Shen Mingzhu had given him earlier.
At that moment, he was incredibly grateful to Shen Mingzhu for the thermos cup she had given him.
A sip of warm ginger tea every now and then is simply a lifesaver.
In the examination room, given the weather and the environment, having access to hot water is extremely important.
Across from him, Xiao Yanzhi smelled the aroma of instant noodles and the sweet scent of brown sugar ginger tea and was extremely envious, taking a big bite of the jerky
He needs to replenish his energy and increase his physical strength; he must not catch a cold or get sick.
In this weather, if you catch a cold, who knows what might happen next?
The most unfortunate one was Wang Chuanzong. Although he had a fox fur cloak that kept him warm, he was in a bad mood and didn't sleep well last night. He was feeling the effects of a cold and was currently very upset.
He still didn't figure out how to answer today's exam question.
Prince An got up and walked around the examination hall. Shen Mingzhu asked in a low voice.
"How is it ?"
Watching the falling snowflakes, Prince An shook his head. He felt that many people wouldn't make it to the end!
Why...
Sometimes he couldn't help but sigh, "That's just fate!"
Guagua, what's the temperature now?
Host, it's now -5 degrees Celsius!
That's alright. Everyone has brought warm clothes, so they should be fine.
Indeed, host, as long as your physical condition is slightly better, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Prince An glanced at Shen Mingzhu, then lowered his head and remained silent.
The examination room was completely silent, except for the sound of students writing furiously.
Xiao Yanzhi looked at Shen Mingzhu, who was wearing a white fox fur cloak. He pulled the cloak tighter around himself, thankful that he had the foresight to do so. Otherwise, he would have been freezing.
The most unlucky one was Wang Chuanzong.
Despite the cold weather and the fact that he was near the stinky cell, he still felt like he was being pickled.
Ugh, ugh, ugh ~~~ "
Ugh, ugh, ugh ~~~ "
Ugh, ugh, ugh ~~~ "
That's absolutely disgusting!
He keeps vomiting acid.
Zhao Deren, Leng Lujie, and Xue Pengfei followed the rules and prepared according to Xiao Yanzhi's instructions. They were very fortunate.
Luckily, they brought thick clothes and a cloak; otherwise, they might have frozen to death in the exam room.
Of course, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but they knew their own bodies and whether they could make it to the end was uncertain.
Shen Qinghong glanced at the candidates around him, then smiled and happily sealed his answer sheet.
He tentatively stretched, but the cell was too cramped for him to fully extend; he could only move his stiff neck and continue…
Shen Mingzhu took a sip of ginger tea and chatted idly with Guagua, while Prince An happily ate the melon.
Guagua, give me some melon.
Alright, host, look at that guy in the grey fur coat. His name is Zhou Dafu, and he has four younger brothers: Zhou Erfu, Zhou Sanfu, Zhou Sifu, and Zhou Wufu. They're from Suzhou and run a grain shop there. They're incredibly popular.
Guagua, his parents really know how to name their children! Dafu, Erfu, Sanfu, Sifu, Wufu—five sons in a row! Don't they have any sisters?
Host, no, their family only has boys! To be precise, their lineage hasn't had a single girl born in a hundred years!
Oh, doesn't their family usually prefer sons?
Host, the Zhou family hasn't had a girl born in a hundred years, and now they like girls!
Oh, what does this have to do with Zhou Dafu?
Host, speaking of which, Zhou Dafu is truly blessed. This time, he made the list, and on his way back to Suzhou, he picked up a little girl. This made the entire Zhou family extremely happy. Looking at the exquisitely beautiful little girl, everyone was overjoyed.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhu, based on her experience from reading so many novels, knew that something was definitely going on.
Guagua, don't tell me this girl will grow up to be an ungrateful wretch.
Host, how could that be! His parent named this little girl Zhou Baozhu. Since Baozhu came to the Zhou family, the family has prospered. It turns out this little girl carries a bit of lucky charm energy; she's a little lucky charm!
Isn't it a coincidence that Zhou Dafu picked her up? His career will be smooth sailing, and his family's shops will make a fortune. They'll even expand the shops, with each of the five brothers owning two shops. They're very satisfied with their lives. Look at how lucky they were to have picked up an abandoned baby girl!
Guagua, haven't the parents of this lucky baby come looking for them?
Host, no!
They are really lucky!
"That's right. Otherwise, why would someone be called Dafu (Great Fortune)? Look at Fufei (Consort Fu), and then look at Dafu (Great Fortune). Don't names with the character 'Fu' (fortune) more easily bring happiness and joy?"
Shen Mingzhu disagreed but still chatted with the system Guagua, nodding in agreement repeatedly.
They are indeed lucky.
Prince An: May I go and pick up the lucky doll?
Where?
Time and place?
The Crown Princess, please tell me quickly...
He wanted to bring Baozhu home so that she could be properly cared for.
Shen Mingzhu:...
Is this how you play games?
Prince An curled his lip. Really, he only said half of what he meant, which was really irritating.
It's okay, it'll be fine in a few days.
Prince An believed Shen Mingzhu's words without a doubt.
If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them.
Host, look at that person wearing the rabbit fur hat.
Oh? Guagua, what's wrong with this student?
Host, he cheated!!!
Prince An: Who?
They're cheating!
This is outrageous!
They actually dared to cheat in his exam room; they simply don't respect him at all.
You're doomed, kid!
Guagua, who is this person?
Host, this is Liu Tao, a student from Yunnan. He's really been bewitched this time, buying exam questions from an adult, and now he's changed his mind and disappeared!!!
Why...
After Prince An locked onto his target, he pretended to be nonchalant. However, when he saw the fox fur coat the man was wearing, Prince An immediately noticed him and ordered the patrolling officers to remove him from the cell.
Prince An: I am just that outstanding.
Hahaha~~~
He was originally going to sing a few lines, but then he suddenly remembered the imperial examination exam and stopped talking.
He was afraid that his singing would affect the children's exams.
Shen Mingzhu: he has a conscience, but not many!
The commotion among the students in southern Yunnan aroused everyone's curiosity. Of course, they were still test takers and were still answering questions seriously.
Prince An: Hmm, not bad, you have a good attitude.
The student was asked to leave, and it was clearly just a brief incident that quickly subsided.
A student's path to officialdom will be recorded because of today's cheating, and he will never be able to enter the court as an official again.
Guagua, do you think it was worth it? He cheated. What was he thinking?
Host, who knows! Cheating on the imperial examinations is wrong; since he did it, he has to bear the consequences.
Why...
Shen Mingzhu let out a long sigh.
Seeing her expression, Prince An took out some pastries from his food box and offered them to her.
"Miss Xiao Shen, come and have a taste."
Shen Mingzhu smiled and took out a series of delicious snacks from her food box, including potato chips, chocolate, thumb biscuits, preserved plums, spicy strips, and more.
"Your Highness, let's eat together."
"Okay."
The two of them smiled and started eating in front of them.
Soon, the examination room returned to calm...
Time passed slowly. After eating with Prince An for a while, Shen Mingzhu looked at the students in the examination hall.
Guagua, tell me something interesting.
Prince An: I would like to hear the story of Zhou finding a baby.
Shen Mingzhu: ...
That was an opportunity unique to the Zhou family.
Prince An: Okay.
Host, Guagua doesn't know what kind of melon is considered interesting, but you should be interested in this one.
Oh? Really? Tell me about it.
Look at the student on the far right wearing the tiger-fur coat. His name is Zheng Fei, and he's from Yangcheng. He used to have a very happy family of three, but this year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, he brought his wife and son to Shengjing for a visit. In the end, three people came to Shengjing, but only two went back!
Guagua, is it his wife or his son who's lost?
It's Zheng Fei's wife who was too beautiful. While they were strolling through the lantern festival, her veil fell off due to the crowds, and she caught the eye of someone with ulterior motives. He eventually kidnapped her and took her to his mansion as a concubine!
What?! In broad daylight, under the clear sky, is there no law anymore?!
Prince An: Yes, who is it!
Don't you want to live anymore?
Who is it!
Don't let me find out! If I do, I'll wipe him out!
Host, Zheng Fei, is very pitiful. According to how things will unfold, he originally planned to pass the imperial examination with flying colours and then appeal to the emperor, but he failed. In his despair, he still tried to appeal, but the person discovered him and dragged him into a deserted alley and killed him! His son was also used to threatening his wife into serving the nobleman well. However, his son, despite his young age, was a man of principle. Knowing his predicament, he refused to eat or drink and starved to death!
Who is that powerful figure? He'll be finished the moment the imperial examination is over!!!
Host, you know him very well.
Who is it?
Host, he is Gongsun Yao, a cousin of the Duke of the State, from the Gongsun family!
Okay, I got it, he's finished! I've already written it down in my little notebook!
Prince An: Gongsun Yao, you're finished!
...
This continued until the last day of the Imperial examinations.
In recent days, several people have been carried out one after another. Seeing the unwillingness in the students' eyes and their painful tears, Shen Mingzhu couldn't bear it.
Fortunately, Shen Qinghong persevered until the very end.
In the very end, only one question remained.
Looking at the title, it says, "Gather the people of the world, collect the goods of the world, trade and then leave, each getting what they deserve."
This is a sentence from the Book of Changes (I Ching), which means to gather the people and goods of the world, trade them, and then leave, so that the people can get what they want.
As the son of the Minister of Revenue, Shen Qinghong knew that the Ministry of Revenue was short of money, very short of money.
Looking at the falling snow, Shen Qinghong could vaguely guess some of the things his younger sister had said before, as well as the recent actions of the court.
This illustrates the difference in information transmission between scions of prominent families and students from humble backgrounds.
It could even be said that children from poor families have absolutely no access to information about the upper echelons, while those in power are fully aware of what's happening at the bottom.
This question isn't difficult...
Shen Qinghong answered the questions with confidence, addressing issues related to agriculture, commerce, and the policies of the Great Yan Dynasty, emphasizing the principle of addressing whatever was lacking.
If all else fails, ask Mingzhu!
Shen Mingzhu: You are truly my good older brother.
Shen Qinghong: Hehe~~~ "
I'll benefit from the younger sister's fame.
Shen Changyuan: You bastard!!!
He wrote a long, detailed essay, checked it to be error-free, sealed the paper, left the cell, and handed it in!
He simply couldn't stand being here any longer.
Guagua, my older brother, handed in his exam paper!
Yes, he'd had enough of that examination cell. Now that he'd finished the questions, he naturally wanted to hand in his paper and leave the examination hall.