Twin Brocade

Chapter 28 Songxi Academy
The title was passed on to this generation of Marquis Cheng En, and it was safe and smooth.There are no particularly outstanding descendants, and no particularly prodigal ones.

Cheng Enhou has some ambitions and also has a place in the court.

But under Empress Dowager Xiao's ten thousand orders, he had no choice but to suppress his further ambitions, hang out in the back house all day long, and raise some actors to listen to music.

For Empress Dowager Xiao, as long as her natal family is stable and wealthy, it is better than anything else.

"Master Hou, the person you want to meet has arrived!"

The long follower led Quan Moxian's family into the Changxuan, and reported.

Cheng Enhou looked at the dan roles on the stage, beat the beat with his hands, and said, "Bring them here."

Hou's mansion is more luxurious than Fang's house, with carved beams and painted buildings everywhere, and the atmosphere of wealth and honor blows across the face.

Fortunately, the three of them, Quan, Mo, and Xian, had entered Fang's mansion, and were personally received by Mrs. Fang, so they seemed much calmer now.

Cheng Enhou glanced at the three of them, and because of Quan Moxian's extraordinary bearing, he looked twice more, and asked, "You look familiar, are you his son?"

Quan Moxian answered respectfully, and Cheng Enhou asked again: "I was saved by your father back then, and I promised that if I came to Cheng Enhou's mansion in Beijing with this jade pendant, I would be very grateful."

"I didn't expect that I became Lord Marquis from the eldest son, and he didn't even show up. He is so proud." Cheng Enhou said with a sigh, "I thought this jade pendant would never show up again."

Quan Moxian listened quietly to him reminiscing about the past.

He was the son of Marquis Chengen back then, why he was living in Luqiu, Tangzhou, and why this jade pendant was so inferior, this is another story.

Quan Moxian has no interest nor plans to dig out this secret.The less you know about the affairs of the Hou Mansion, the better.

"They are?"

Quan Moxian introduced: "This is my mother, and this is my elder sister. After my father passed away, it was my mother who single-handedly brought us up."

"It's not easy!" Cheng Enhou sighed, and said, "What request do you have? Let's listen first."

He first readily admitted the favor he owed, but now he was vague.In order to avoid the other party making excessive demands, and he can't do it to ruin his reputation.

"Back to Lord Marquis, Xiaosheng has already made a name for himself. The purpose of going to Beijing this time is to prepare for Chunwei in two years' time."

The imperial examination is held every three years, and now it is the early autumn of the first year of Qinglong, and the spring of the third year of Qinglong two years later will be the spring of the third year of Qinglong.It is said that there are two years, but in fact it is only one and a half years.

Thousands of scholars walked the single-plank bridge of the imperial examination, but in the end only a few hundred people were admitted, so the fierce competition can be imagined.

Therefore, qualified students will go to Beijing in advance to prepare and submit papers everywhere.

The imperial examination not only compares talent and learning, but also contacts.

Since the early death of their father, members of the Quan clan have forced each other everywhere, encroaching on their clan land and occupying their clan property.Quan Moxian has endured for many years, he must win this spring!

Hearing what he said, Cheng Enhou said "Oh?" in surprise, and finally became serious, and stopped talking to him while watching a play.

Although there are such young Juren, they are really rare.

"How can I help you?" His voice revealed sincerity.

Quan Moxian cupped his hands and said: "Master Hou, you know Xiaosheng's family background, and it is quite difficult to gain a foothold in Beijing."

Cheng Enhou waved his hand, and said in a warm tone: "This is not a problem. You are the son of my savior, how can I see the son of an old friend embarrassed."

"Call Steward Liu!" He raised his voice to order.

He also asked the servants serving in the Changxuan to add chairs, serve tea and cakes, and let Quan Moxian and the three of them sit and talk.There is a world of difference between the attitudes before and after.

Quan Lu secretly slandered in her heart: If my younger brother hadn't been a Juren, I'm afraid they wouldn't even be able to get a seat in this Hou's mansion.

No one in the mansion would dare to neglect what Cheng Enhou personally explained.Butler Liu came very quickly, seeing Li, he asked, "What orders does the Marquis have?"

Cheng Enhou pointed to Quan Moxian and said: "He is the son of my old friend, you should recognize it carefully, and you must not neglect it in the future."

Butler Liu agreed, and Cheng Enhou said again: "I remember that there is an empty house in the east of the city, isn't it?"

"Master Hou has a good memory. That house was originally used as a warehouse, and it was vacated a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Master Hou ordered the villain to pack it up for later use, and it is still empty."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Cheng Enhou turned to Quan Moxian and said: "I originally planned to rent this house to candidates in Beijing, and I just finished buying it. This meeting is just right."

"Your family will live there, and I will send a few rough envoys over there to listen to you."

Aunt Quan felt very wrong.Since she was born out of her mother's womb, she has done everything by herself, since when has she ever ordered a servant around.

But Quan Moxian accepted it graciously, and thanked him.

Cheng Enhou laughed, and said, "Sweet! I just like cheerful people. If there is anything else, just say it."

After settling the residence, Quan Moxian said: "I also hope that Master Hou will write a letter to Songxi Academy, and I will be specially granted a place for the entrance examination in autumn."

This time he went to Beijing, he came prepared.

Tangzhou is located at the junction of the north and the south, and Luqiu Town, where the Quan family clan is located, belongs to Biyang County.Because it is next to the Tong River, it is convenient to travel, the climate is suitable for planting medicinal materials, and it also produces a special kind of Tong eggs. There are many merchants traveling from south to north in Luqiu, and the news is not blocked.

Quan Moxian studied hard behind closed doors, and after obtaining the honor of juren, he began to pay attention to the news in the capital.

Until the clansmen pressed each other step by step, Aunt Quan took out the jade pendant and explained the reason, and he began to prepare for the trip to Beijing.

These preparations are not just as simple as selling the family property.He also realized the ways of the imperial examination in Beijing through the few words spoken by businessmen.

This "Songxi Academy" was established by Tu Shanchang, a great Confucianist in the former dynasty, who made great contributions to the founding of the country by supporting the first emperor, and was later deposed for discussing state affairs indiscriminately.

Because of Tu Shanchang's prestige in Shilin, although he did not re-enter an official, he still had great influence on the civil servants in the court.Today's newly promoted Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Liu Bocheng, is his favorite student.

In the academy, learned people abound.The instructors are all seniors in the examination field.

Not to mention that the classmates in the academy were all handsome at the same age.Needless to say, the contacts in the academy alone will be enough for him to use in official affairs in the future.

It can be said that as long as you enter Songxi Academy, even if you don't get a Jinshi, you are still much better than other students who failed.

However, Songxi Academy has a rule that an entrance exam is held in spring and autumn each year, and only those who pass the exam can become students of the academy.In addition, new students are not accepted at any time, even if the emperor intercedes in person.

This is also the most important reason why Quan Moxian wants to go to Beijing at this time.

On the first day of September, it was time for the admission exam.

However, the entrance examination for the academy had already closed for registration during the Mid-Autumn Festival.At this time, Quan Moxian had no choice but to ask Marquis Cheng En to recommend him to add another exam quota.

(End of this chapter)