Chapter 62: In the morning a farmer's boy, in the evening an emperor's throne

  At this moment, thousands of households in Chang'an seemed to be frozen in time.

  Only the wolf smoke is left, although it's night, but the eye-catching fireworks still make people with a heart suddenly realize.

  How many people clapped their hands in surprise! How many people wrung their wrists and sighed!

  Then it seemed as if the whole city was boiling over, and for a time thousands of families rushed about, telling each other the news.

  "The war is over!"

  At the same time, all over the country, wherever one could see the beacon fires, people rose up in tumult.

  In the dark, pairs of eyes gazed up at the night sky, some let out a soft sigh, others burst into excited laughter, and still others had an inexplicable glint in their eyes.

  After a long time, Tang Guan withdrew his gaze. Xiao Qi looked at the colorful fireworks and applauded, but didn't see the faint smoke hidden below.

  "Grandfather, go to bed first and rest."

  "Ah, oh, you should get some rest early, I'll call you at the fourth watch." Chen Yunsheng said absent-mindedly, staring straight at the still-spewing fireworks.

  Tang Guan nodded and returned to the house, lay down on his back, closed his eyes directly, as if all this had nothing to do with him.

  But for others, this night was destined to be a sleepless one.

  The next day, at dawn.

  Since Wu Zetian took power, she vigorously attacked the old aristocratic group of Longyou, reused scholars from humble origins, and scholars developed an inexplicable infatuation with the ultimate goal of imperial examination.

  Almost everyone who reads books has the ultimate dream of "being a farmer in the morning and entering the emperor's hall in the evening", striving hard, but some people work hard all their lives without entering the emperor's hall.

  After becoming a Gongshi, students can enter the Imperial Examination. Since the grand imperial examination was held today, this has become a classic example.

  Today, all civil and military officials know that a special imperial examination is to be held, which they consider to be an "exam or not, it doesn't matter" kind of exam.

  Early in the morning, the Luocheng Temple, which had been unused for years, suddenly opened with a loud bang.

  The officials of the Honglu Temple personally arranged the imperial desk and the Huang case, while the officials of the Guanglu Temple came in person to arrange the seats for the candidates. Usually, it would be a grand scene, but now in the vast hall, there was only one seat standing alone.

  Various officials who arrived early shook their heads at this scene, some even had a bitter smile on their lips.

  The scene was quite comical, with all the civil and military officials coming to test a talented young man who wasn't even a tribute student, and that talented young man was only nine years old.

  This undoubtedly broke the conventional rules of using people, and some old officials from prestigious families were even more secretly resentful. The Empress's way of using people became more and more excessive, but there was nothing they could do about it, and they could only be gradually consumed step by step.

  More and more officials arrived, acquaintances nodded to each other, and stood in their designated positions according to their ranks.

  Behind the palace, Dan steps down. (Note: Steps)

  "Go and get rid of the illness, Uncle will go to the palace first, after a while he'll ascend to the throne, you can enter from this door then, got it?"

  Chen Yunsheng helped Tang Guan tidy up his clothes while whispering instructions.

  "Got it." Tang Guan sized up the Luo Chengdian in front of him from the future, his eyes somewhat playful.

  He has left behind many literary giants of his time by a distance of over ten streets, thinking that Lu Binwang was depressed and frustrated, diligent in serving the king but rebelling against him, and looking at He Zhizhang, who still has no official title to this day.

  Reconsidering the famous ministers of the time, such as Di Renjie and Lou Shide, who were still unknown minor officials, Tang Guan couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement in his heart.

  "Haha, it's really better to come late than early. Now Wu Zetian hasn't taken a male favorite yet, and she can't bear the loneliness. Taiping Princess is not married yet, and Shangguan Wan'er is still a palace maid."

  Tang Guan's little thoughts could only be thought about for now, he couldn't even handle a "concubine" like Lin Yuhui, let alone these women who would rewrite history once they were hooked.

  Chen Yunsheng straightened his official robes and turned into the palace.

  At this time, Tang Guan finally saw the guards in the TV series. As more and more officials arrived, several teams of guards also ran to the entrance and lined up.

  Tang Guan stood leisurely at the foot of the Danbi, gazing at the passing guards, when suddenly his eyes lit up.

  "Big Brother Chang" in a low voice

  Only one person in the lead turned his head and smiled at him, and this person was surprisingly Chang Ying.

  Then he put away his expression and stood in front of the temple gate, without looking around.

  Tang Guan realized this was a palace rule and stopped greeting him, instead looking down at Chang Ying.

  Chang Ying had changed into armor at this time, and compared to his usual clothes, he looked more majestic. However, Tang Guan's eyelid twitched.

  Only to see that on Chang Ying's long and large hands, there was another terrifying scar, which seemed to have just healed, with faint traces of herbal medicine on it.

  Tang Guan withdrew his gaze, and at this moment an imperial eunuch walked out of the palace. It was that Wang Gonggong they had met before. At this time, he was still holding a food box in his hand. Tang Guan saw this and was slightly taken aback.

  The old eunuch walked up and said, "Young master, please have some pastries first, the morning court is about to begin."

  Tang Guan was stunned upon hearing this. These things weren't written in any books, only those who had experienced the imperial examination would know. Entering the palace to dine, these were indeed imperial matters.

  After finishing speaking, Wang Gong opened the food box. Tang Guan took a look inside and saw a pancake lying in it, which looked like a mooncake but didn't seem to be one. Tang Guan picked it up with his hand.

  Just as Wang Gong was about to speak, Tang Guan opened his mouth and bit down. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Ah! Young master! Don't really eat it!"

  Tang Guan chewed for a while and swallowed, saying: "The taste is not bad"

  Wang Gonggong was so shocked that he couldn't help but cry and laugh at the same time. This palace cake is just a formality, the imperial examination will be held from dawn till dusk, and it's inevitable that scholars will feel hungry. Although the sage said it could be eaten, in previous years, which scholar who came to take the imperial examination didn't treasure it like a precious thing and carefully kept it? Unexpectedly, Tang Guan actually took a big bite of half of it.

  "I'm hungry, is this all?" Tang Guan didn't understand the implication and thought Wu Zetian was worried he would go hungry, so he quickly ate the pancake in his hand.

  The old eunuch shook his head and whispered: Young master, when you go to the imperial court later, be sure not to take the wrong door, remember it's this one.

  Tang Guan nodded upon hearing this, and Wang Gong finally turned around and left.

  After sending him away, Tang Guan made another series of flirtatious expressions at Chang Ying, who only occasionally glanced at him sideways before returning to his usual expressionless stance.

  Tang Guandong felt a wave of boredom, just as he was anxiously waiting, suddenly the palace hall transmitted a pleasant sound of silk and bamboo.

  Hearing this sound, Tang Guan was stunned, why is music still being played during the imperial examination?

  "The Emperor's Crown Advances into the Temple!"

  Just as Tang Guan lowered his head in silence, the announcement came, and Tang Guan stepped up onto the stage. As he passed by Chang Ying, they exchanged a glance, and all that could be heard was Chang Ying's low voice saying: "Congratulations"

  Tang Guan smiled and glanced at him before entering the hall.

  "We your subjects have seen the Holy One!"

  As soon as he entered the hall, he heard a loud shout in unison. Tang Guan looked up and his eyelid twitched, "Well, it seems the morning assembly has changed venues."

  Only in the hall were the civil and military officials, but it was still the same group of people from the Huanyuan Hall, except that Chen Yunsheng's position had been added to the list of civil officials.

  It was strange that the music did not stop, and it was only then that he discovered a group of palace maids had appeared in the hall, playing musical instruments.

  Just then a voice came from the top of the hall: "Tang has gone, where is He?"

  The music stopped abruptly, and Tang Guan hurried forward a step, shouting: "I am here!"

  Only then did Wu Zetian sit upright on the imperial throne, glanced at the Tang crown below, looked at the civil and military officials, nodded and said: "Take your seats."

  Tang Guan heard this and looked around, discovering that in such a large hall there was only one seat, which was directly opposite Wu Zetian's throne.

  He immediately sat down with great interest and said, "Ah, it's quite comfortable."

  Tang Guan sat down with a fart, and suddenly felt a sense of comfort. This was the place where Gong Sheng's gift was located, and it could be said that everything was exquisite, and the courtesy was at its limit. From the table and chairs to the paper and ink, they were all good things that scholars dreamed of.

  After sitting down, Tang Guan secretly looked around again, looking at the literary and military officials on both sides, and couldn't help but feel a sense of joy in his heart, thinking back to his high school entrance exam in his previous life.

  Although it is said that the Chinese are extremely good at taking exams, due to the eight-part essay strategy of the Ming Dynasty, Tang Guan disagrees. He thinks that even without the Ming Dynasty, the imperial examination system, which was fully restored from the Wu Zhou Dynasty, would have determined this character.

  "But there's only one examinee, me, yet hundreds of eyes are staring at me, which is even more intimidating than cameras." Tang Guan sat upright with a straight face, but his mind was secretly cursing nonstop.

  I thought Wu Zetian was just going through the motions, but it seems like a big deal and she's actually going to test me.

  "Was it not enough that she had written the article and the rebellion was also quelled?" Tang Guan secretly suspected in her heart.

  Just then, Wu Zetian's voice came out again.

  Minister of Rites

  "I am here!"

  Tang Guan heard the words and looked back, looking at the person who walked out, but it was a middle-aged man with a somewhat despicable feeling.

  In fact, Wu Chengsi's appearance was not particularly despicable, but Tang Guan saw his "first-class" temperament from the heart at a glance, and he couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

  "Can this salesperson also be a Shangshu?" Tang Guan thought for a moment before realizing something, "Could it be?"

  "Are there any mock test questions?"

  Wu Chengsi heard this and smiled slightly, then loudly exclaimed: "Chengsi is not talented! This young friend is a reincarnation of a heavenly being, with talent surpassing all others. Last night, there was the joyful news of the wolf smoke signal, and this young friend's single article quelled the bandits and captured the city. This is truly a great blessing for our dynasty and our emperor! It foretells that our Great Tang Dynasty will produce many talented individuals. Today, we are honored to meet him in person, as if he were a student of the Son of Heaven. How dare we show off our meager skills in front of this brilliant young man!"

  "Haha! As expected, it's Wu Chengsi!" Tang Guan couldn't help but laugh in his heart. This person had just confirmed his true identity with a single fawning and flattering remark.

  "People say Wu Jialang is a smooth talker and a bootlicker, indeed it's true."

  As expected, Wu Zetian smiled upon hearing this and said: "Since that's the case, I'll personally come to test you today"

  Tang Guan was secretly sizing up Wu Chonggui, who had a knack for flattering people. He couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself after their previous conversation, but when he heard Empress Wu's words, he immediately withdrew his gaze.

  Still need to take an exam?

  "Take up your pen!"

  There was a eunuch holding up the brush and ink, only to see Wu Zetian pick up her pen and start writing. The Tang Emperor below also became somewhat nervous.

  He also discovered a law now, that is, the benefits given by Wu Zetian are not free, the greater the benefit, the more he has to endure.

  We thought Empress Wu would take a long time, but she finished with just a few strokes. Tang Guan was stunned, and the eunuch didn't even glance at it, putting the test into a brocade bag.

  "The Shangshu" was immediately handed over to Wu Chengsi by bowing down.

  Wu Chengsi took over, in fact, he also wanted to know what Wu Zetian wrote. In previous years, the test questions were all discussed and measured by the Ministry of Rites, but now it was Wu Zetian who personally set the questions, and judging from the appearance, they were extremely short. The shorter the question, the less space for elaboration.

  This is also a convention, unexpectedly didn't know the topic, and didn't analyze it again, directly walked up to hand it over to Tang Guan.

  Tang Guan stood up and took over, still smiling slightly at Wu Chengsi. This smile made Wu Chengsi's heart bloom with joy. Tang Guan's expression was completely genuine, full of gratitude and admiration.

  He smiled back and retreated.

  Tang Guan's smile was genuine, he truly admired Wu Chengsi, and his flattering skills were something he himself could never match.

  As for that gratitude, it was all made up by Wu Chengsi himself.

  "Dissect the question," Wu Zetian said in a soft voice.

  Tang Guan heard this and opened the silk pouch in his hand, taking out the test questions inside.

  "This won't be asking me to imitate her several nephews, will it?" Tang Guan said with a smile as he opened the test paper.

  But when he saw the test questions, Tang Guan was stunned for a moment, and his smile slowly faded away.

  Tang Guan suddenly lifted his head and looked at Wu Zetian, seeing her smiling face looking at him, and hastily lowered his head.

  All officials present were slightly stunned and involuntarily used their peripheral vision to take a glance, but unfortunately couldn't see clearly.

  Tang Guan's eyebrows were tightly locked as she stared at the large sheet of paper with only four words on it, and her heart was stirred up like a stormy sea.

  "What does she mean!?! Is she implying something?"

  Tang Guan's hand trembled slightly as he saw that there were only four words written on the paper.

  "Bei Yan and I!"

  For a moment, Tang Guan stared blankly at these four words.

  "Get rid of the illness and write a poem. If it's well-written, I'll reward you heavily, and your whole family will be rewarded."

  "Those words again!?" Tang Guan raised his head to look at Wu Zetian, every time she said those words, now he finally understood the meaning behind them, she was using everything of his to threaten herself!

  Tang Guan nodded silently and said in a low voice: "Yes"

  Wu Zetian nodded at one of the officials in the hall, who then brought out paper and ink and handed them to Tang Guan.

  Tang Guan absent-mindedly took the paper, and didn't pay attention to it. The paper was very delicate, with red grid lines on it. Tang Guan knew that this was a standard for word spacing, but Empress Wu had actually come up with such an exam question. For a moment, Tang Guan's mind was racing, thinking about what the intention behind it was.

  On the other side, Chen Yunsheng understood Tang Guan's personality and rarely saw him so surprised. One moment he was confidently smiling, the next his face was tense, and he couldn't help but secretly wipe away cold sweat.