I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 15 Spring
The ninth day of the second month in the first year of the Qingli period.

This day is the day when the scholars of Qing Kingdom sell their life's learning to the imperial family.

As for whether the emperor will buy it or not, it depends on the next few exams.

Those scholars in long gowns gathered at the Imperial Examination Hall from all directions like swimming fish, either in panic or excitement. They looked like fish rushing into a fish cage without hesitation.

Li Chengzong stood at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall, holding a wooden megaphone in his hand, and said loudly: "I, Li Chengzong, am the chief examiner of this year's Spring Examination. Today is the day of the Spring Examination. I wish you all success in the Spring Examination and that you will get what you wish for.

But I have to say this beforehand. If you have anything you shouldn't be carrying, see the two big baskets at the door, take it out honestly. If you are found carrying anything when you enter the courtyard, you will be stripped of your official title."

After saying this, Li Chengzong entered the Imperial Examination Hall.

The academy had already arranged everything. The Blood-Clothed Guards who had returned from the border were responsible for the search. It was impossible to smuggle contraband into the examination room, but there were always some people who refused to believe in it.

As several students with smuggled goods were dragged away, the students who had originally held out some hope became scared. Those people were too strict in checking. Not only did they have to take off all their clothes for inspection, but even their mouths, buttocks and hair were spread open for inspection.

So some students who had originally entered the Imperial Examination Hall hurried back to the outside of the hall and threw the things they had smuggled with them out of the basket.

The reason why they were not in the baskets was because two large baskets were not enough, and the money had already piled up into two small hills in front of the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall.

However, when they tried to enter again, they found that they could no longer enter.

Li Chengzong always kept his word. As long as someone smuggled something into the courtyard, no matter whether it was discovered or not, he would be stripped of his title.

This move naturally made some scholars dissatisfied.

With a clang, the Blood-robed Guard at the door drew out his knife: "The prince has ordered that if there are any troublemakers, we will regard them as attacking the Imperial Examination Hall and kill them on the spot."

Hearing the noise outside the door, Li Chengzong, who was sitting on the armchair, shook his head and said, "Jun Xin, why don't you think they listen to my advice?"

"There is always a shortage of fools in the world who won't listen to advice."

As the captain of Li Chengzong's guard, Li Junxin was very clear about the arrangements for this year's spring examination.

According to past practice, the Spring Examination was jointly organized by government runners, officials from the Ministry of Rites, and officials sent by the Censorate.

But this year, except for two deputy examiners from the Ministry of Rites, that is, two assistant ministers of the Ministry of Rites, everyone inside and outside the examination hall was from the royal palace.

Moreover, for the candidates taking part in the Spring Examination this year, during the examination period, except for their own clothes, everything else was provided by the palace. For this reason, all the restaurants under the palace's name were closed.

The exam questions were also changed overnight. All the officials who set the questions are still in custody and will not be released until all the candidates enter the examination room.

It's too difficult to cheat.

Of course, it is also difficult to trip up Li Chengzong in the examination room.

Unless one of them betrayed Li Chengzong.

But will they betray Li Chengzong?

Guo Zheng, who later became the Minister Guo who liked to pose, and is now the Minister of Rites, looked at the situation of the inspection and hurried to Li Chengzong. Without saying a word, he bowed down with a great ceremony and said with some embarrassment: "Third Prince, it is getting late. If we follow your inspection, I am afraid we cannot start the examination today."

Li Chengzong glanced at the future Shangshu and said calmly, "I will make my own arrangements."

With so many students participating in the Spring Examination, it was impossible to check every one of them. So after checking a group of people, the Blood-clothed Guards only checked randomly, and the speed was much faster. By noon, the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall had returned to silence, leaving only two small mountains of smuggled goods, which looked a bit desolate. The young eunuchs who came out of the palace hurried to clean up to facilitate the reading of the imperial edict to start the examination and the arrangement of the incense table and the firing of cannons. While the young eunuchs were busy, they thought that the Third Prince's behavior was indeed different from that of ordinary officials. If it were the examiners in previous years, they would not care about these smuggled goods, and they would not dare to delay the time like today and let them wait at the door. You know, they are here to read the imperial edict. It seems that the Third Prince will inevitably be reported by the Censorate for what happened today, but with the Third Prince's temper, he is not afraid.

The imperial edict was read out, spring cannons were fired, the incense table was removed, and the courtyard gate was closed. The three-yearly spring examination officially began.

Hearing the heavy door of the Imperial Examination Hall slowly closing behind him, Li Chengzong walked towards the examination room.

The two ministers of the Ministry of Rites hurriedly followed, and Guo Zheng bowed and said, "Your Highness, this is your first time to take on this mission, so you may not know that you don't have to worry too much once you enter the examination room. Your Highness can go back to the courtyard to rest. I will handle the inspection and defense matters."

Li Chengzong stopped, turned to look at Guo Zheng, and said coldly: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

"I don't dare, my subordinates."

Guo Zheng quickly bent down. He couldn't understand why a boy who was only fourteen or fifteen years old could make him feel so much pressure that he even broke out in a cold sweat.

They walked through the front yard and came to the examination room at the back. The cold wind of early spring blew up from the door. Li Chengzong sat on the armchair in the middle, and Zhao Huai'en, who was in charge of the examination room, immediately trotted over.

"Master of the house."

"how's it going?"

"All gates have been closed. They cannot be opened without the master's order. At this moment, students from all counties and states in the courtyard have received their examination papers and started to work on them. The corner gate responsible for drinking water is also guarded by people from our palace."

"Well, hard work."

Li Chengzong nodded and said to the two vice ministers of the Ministry of Rites who were invigilating the exam: "Master Guo, Master Zhao, do you have any instructions?"

Speaking of which, this Lord Zhao has some connection with him.

The teacher of this Lord Zhao was the current head of the Imperial Academy, Lord Zhang, who was also the teacher that Li Chengzong met when he first entered the Imperial Academy. In a sense, they were from the same school.

Of course, Guo Zheng’s teacher was also not a simple person. He was a Grand Secretary of Tongwen Pavilion. Although he has retired and returned to his hometown now, his network of contacts is still there. Otherwise, he would not have been able to become the Minister of Rites after Guo Youzhi’s downfall.

"Your Highness has made all the arrangements. I have no other instructions." Lord Zhao bowed and said, with a hint of intimacy in his tone and expression.

Guo Zheng nodded in agreement and added, "Your Highness, according to the rules of previous years, you have to go down and inspect the venue every hour. The Spring Imperial Examination is to select talents for the country, so we must be careful. I hope your men will be more careful."

"Don't worry, Lord Guo. We will do our best." Zhao Huai'en retorted indifferently.

The assignment for this year's spring examination was actively requested by their head of the family, so they would naturally take it seriously.

Moreover, for those scholars who are buried in their desks and writing, this spring examination is the most critical moment in their lives. If they pass it successfully, they will be like a fish jumping over the dragon gate. If they fail, they can only return home sadly and wait for another three years to take part in the spring examination. I don’t know how many people’s youth will be wasted by this cycle of twists and turns. For example, the stubborn and arrogant people, once they fail, will linger in the capital and refuse to return home. Some are decadent, some are dissolute, but most of them disappear without a trace.

He had seen too much in Kyoto over the years.

The Spring Examination is a grand ceremony for the country and also a place of life and death for scholars.

This year's Spring Examination was presided over by their master, and it can be said to be the cleanest one in history. It may not be the same in the future.

Even for these scholars of ordinary origins, they would also put in their efforts and there was no need for Guo Zheng to remind them.

(End of this chapter)