GBP Chapter 346 The Jiang Family's Disciples Enjoying a Sea of Books and Questions
Chapter 346 The Jiang Family's Disciples Enjoying a Sea of Books and Questions
The changes inside the Fourth Prince's residence were unknown to outsiders, but they could not be kept secret from the palace's secret guards.
After hearing what Minister Tong said, Emperor Zhao Yong did indeed send people to investigate; there were only two.
After all, the palace servants in the Fourth Prince's residence were all essentially the emperor's people, but as the emperor, he couldn't listen to just one side's opinion.
Only then was another group of people sent to investigate, and the information was then integrated to ensure its authenticity.
Even if Zhao Hongsheng is stupid, he knows this period is crucial, so he pretends to be very obedient.
The news Xiao Dezi brought must be reliable. More than three months, over a hundred days, it's nothing to pretend to be well-behaved.
Jiang Xiaoqi, who was leading his family elders and friends on a journey through mountains of books and seas of exercises, was completely unaware of and unconcerned about this.
After they arrived in Beijing, Jiang Xiaoqi asked his grandfather to write letters to his uncles back in their hometown.
Of the dozen or so successful candidates in the Jiang family's imperial examinations, seven or eight wanted to try again for the metropolitan examination.
Now that Jiang Xiaoqi and his group have been in Beijing for over a month, the Jiang family's scholars should be halfway there by now.
Although we might not be able to celebrate the New Year together, we can at least do practice questions and take tests together.
"Ah! Ah!"
Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Wenhai (Jiang Changqing's eldest son) sneezed twice without warning.
"What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"
Jiang Wenhao (Jiang Changqing's second son) handed his elder brother a cup of hot tea and asked him what was wrong.
Jiang Wenhai took the tea, drank a few sips, shook his head, and said, "Perhaps someone is talking about us."
Maybe it's Mingfei, that kid. Ah, that child, we didn't spoil him for nothing when he was little, he's thinking of us!
"Mingfei is indeed a good and intelligent child. Now that he has become the top scholar in the provincial examination, his future is probably limitless!"
The brothers Jiang Wenhai and Jiang Wenhao looked at each other and smiled, their smiles tinged with both relief and bittersweetness.
Alas, the younger generation surpasses the older; these old scholars were once full of vigor and ambition.
However, he failed the imperial examinations several times, and his career was thus wasted.
If Mingfei and several younger members of the clan hadn't passed the imperial examinations, they probably would have continued living like this.
At worst, I could just be a teacher at the Chiang Clan School for the rest of my life.
But the younger generation is too capable, and they don't want to be too incompetent.
Moreover, with Mingfei's letters of persuasion, along with the exam preparation materials and practice questions sent with the letters, they felt they could still give it a shot.
Then let's give it one last try. If we succeed, great; if not, we'll continue to learn to teach in Hui ethnic minority areas. There's nothing to be ashamed of.
Compared to the elderly scholars in the clan with their gray hair and beards, they were only in their thirties, still very young!
My cousin Jiang Changshou also passed the imperial examination at over fifty years old. He was older, but he was more hardworking than us!
And then there's my cousin Jiang Wenqing, who used to struggle so much to pass the county and prefectural examinations, but now he's been a county magistrate for a few years.
Even those worthless scoundrels are acceptable; they believe they are no worse than Jiang Wenqing. Their failure to pass the exam is probably just bad luck.
With thorough preparations and the participation of many members of the clan in the imperial examination, regardless of whether they pass or not, they are contributing to the development of the entire clan.
After figuring it out, the two became Jiang Xiaoqi's persuaders, convincing all the relatively healthy scholars in the clan.
So everyone formed a group to go to Beijing, and they would arrive in about ten days.
Five or six carriages belonging to the Jiang family were lined up in a row, with bodyguards on tall horses protecting them.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow fell in Beijing, and the Zhuangyuan Teahouse on Zhuque Street was bustling with activity as it hosted its last poetry gathering before the new year.
The participants in this poetry gathering were mostly successful candidates in the imperial examinations the following spring.
In a private room on the second floor, Jiang Xiaoqi was drinking tea, with several plates of exquisite pastries on a sandalwood table.
I received a message by carrier pigeon yesterday; my uncles and elders will be arriving soon.
As the host and also as a junior, Jiang Xiaoqi felt that he should come out to greet them.
Fearing that his young master would catch a cold, Li Mo rode his tall horse out of the city first, and if he saw the Jiang family's caravan, he would ride back quickly to report.
Jiang Xiaoqi, on the other hand, was in the teahouse closest to the city gate, warming herself by the fire, drinking hot tea, and eating snacks.
Dressed in a brocade crane-feather cloak and waving a gilded folding fan, it was hard to tell whether she was cold or hot...
If this were in later generations, Jiang Xiaoqi would definitely say something like, "Haven't you ever seen people using air conditioning and sleeping under quilts in the summer? Haven't you ever seen people eating popsicles indoors in the Northeast during winter?"
Fuss!
At this moment, the underground heating system in the Fourth Prince's residence was burning brightly, fueled by charcoal sent from the Ministry of Rites.
Zhao Hongsheng will finally be able to have a relatively comfortable New Year this year.
The fourth prince, who was also warming himself by the fire, unwrapped the paper roll that Xiao Dezi had sent him.
—Eight members of the Jiang family who passed the imperial examinations arrived in Beijing today; a total of twelve members will participate in the provincial examinations next spring!
His fingertips traced the characters "举人" repeatedly.
The red plum blossoms outside the window, reflected in the snow, resemble cinnabar spreading on rice paper.
"Your Highness?" Xiao Dezi held the hot soup, afraid that his master would act impulsively.
Zhao Hongsheng put down the note and threw it into the charcoal brazier not far in front of him.
Flames leaped and engulfed everything in an instant.
A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Interesting, the Jiang family actually attaches great importance to this imperial examination."
Xiao Dezi chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness. I've heard that the Jiang family patriarch is quite capable, having founded the Jiang Clan School more than twenty years ago."
Over the years, it's not surprising that they've produced more than a dozen successful candidates in the imperial examinations. I've even heard that the Jiang family has produced five or six successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations, who are now serving as officials in various places.
Zhao Hongsheng narrowed his eyes slightly, "I know that!"
How could I not know? Jiang Wenqing, who was only a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), was granted the position of magistrate of Tongzhou County only by personally pleading with the emperor!
At this moment, Li Mo, who had run outside the city, saw the dust raised by the Jiang family's convoy in the distance and hurriedly turned his horse around and galloped back.
Upon receiving the news, Jiang Xiaoqi straightened her clothes and strolled downstairs.
As the Jiang family's convoy drew closer, everyone's faces showed signs of exhaustion.
However, they were overjoyed to see their younger relatives.
Jiang Xiaoqi cupped his hands in greeting, "Thank you for your hard work on the journey, uncles, elder brothers."
"Why did you come all this way in this freezing weather? We're all grown up, do you think we can't find your front door?"
Jiang Xiaoqi smiled and said, "As a junior, it is my duty to come and greet all the elders. Besides, I have been practicing martial arts for many years, so this bit of cold is nothing to me!"
He then led the group into the city.
The Jiang family had prepared a welcome banquet long ago, but before the meal, Jiang Xiaoqi still gave everyone a bath towel, a bathrobe, and a bath soap that had just been made last month.
After explaining how to use it and having the servants prepare bathwater, Jiang Xiaoqi went to his study to see the four people who were engrossed in reading.
Four ribbons hung down from the roof beam, each tied to the end of a person's hair.
The four men, who were hanging their heads from the rafters, saw the study door open, and merely looked up slightly, then nodded slightly, then lowered their heads again...
"Aren't you... hungry?"