AD (QT) Chapter 98

After Han Daya’s matter was resolved, Han Ze began to pack his bags and prepare to go to the capital.

 

Although he knew that his eldest son fainted in the examination room because his daughter drugged him, Han Youtian had a shadow in his heart. He was afraid that his eldest son would faint in the examination room like the previous times, and no one would take care of him. As usual, he asked Han Erlang to accompany him to the examination.

 

Han Ze knew the feelings of a father and understood him very well. He didn’t say anything and let him arrange it. After all, Han Erlang accompanied him in the previous exams.

 

In addition to Han Ze, there were two other students in the school who were going to take the college entrance examination. They entered school later and were younger than Han Ze. Both knew each other, but they were not familiar with each other. Despite this, they were all willing to go to the prefectural capital with Han Ze. Although Han Ze did not pass the examination for a scholar, he had participated in several imperial examinations and should be very familiar with the imperial examinations. If there was anything they did not understand, they could ask him. In addition, they all came from the same town, the same school, and the same teacher, so they could take care of each other. 

 

The other two students were both from the town. Wang Ziwen was seventeen years old this year, and Zhao Zhengxiu was a little older, just reaching the age of twenty-five. When Han Ze came here, he was already twenty-five years old, and this year he is twenty-six years old. Although he is old, if he can pass the examination for a scholar, he will have a lot of potential.

 

Zhao Zhengxiu’s family was a merchant family. They had a caravan going to Fucheng to deliver goods, so they invited Han Ze and Wang Ziwen to go to Fucheng with their caravan. Han Ze and Wang Ziwen readily agreed. The original body went to Fucheng several times, and they also went with the caravan of merchants in the town.

 

They set out on April 6th, traveling by land. It would take three days and three nights on the road. Fortunately, it was still early before the exam, and they were not in a hurry.

 

At noon on the 9th, the caravan arrived in Fucheng. They found an inn not far from the examination site. They came neither too early nor too late. Nearly half of the people in the inn had already lived there. The rooms in the inn were divided into three classes: upper, middle and lower. The upper room cost 600 coins a day, the middle room cost 400 coins, and the lower room cost 200 coins. 

 

Zhao Zhengxiu was not short of money, so he asked for the upper room directly. Han Ze, considering that he didn’t have much money, chose the lower room and paid the room fee for ten days directly. Although Wang Ziwen was from the town, he was not financially well-off. He and Han Ze also chose a lower-class room and paid for ten days.

 

The accommodation was arranged properly. It was lunch time. After lunch, several people hurried to the government office to handle the formalities. After returning, Zhao Zhengxiu invited them to go to the city to stroll around. Han Ze refused. His purpose was to take the exam. It was better to stay in the inn for a few days before the exam.

 

Wang Ziwen had never been to the city before the city. He was very curious about it. Seeing that he invited him, he was very tempted. Seeing that Han Ze did not agree, he thought about it and regretfully refused.

 

They were all reluctant to go out to play. Zhao Zhengxiu had no interest in being alone, so he went back to his room to read.

 

Calming down, Han Ze took out the book and read it slowly. Han Erlang saw that his elder brother was reading a book, so he went to the lobby of the inn and listened to people talking.

 

During the days waiting for the imperial examination, Zhao Zhengxiu never invited the two to go out to play again.

 

For the candidates, time passed both quickly and slowly, and soon it was the day of the college examination.

 

Before dawn, a long line formed in front of the examination room. Han Ze and others, carrying their prepared examination baskets, waited in front of the examination room for inspection early. After checking the information and completing the inspection, the candidates entered the examination room one by one.

 

The college examination would be held twice over three days. Because he was worried about his elder brother, Han Erlang watched his elder brother enter the examination room and did not return to the inn. Instead, he stayed in front of the examination room door. During the waiting time, his heart was always tense, and he stared at the door of the examination room without blinking, fearing that his elder brother would be carried out of the examination room again like the previous times.

 

Zhao Zhengxiu and Wang Ziwen’s servants looked at him and couldn’t help shaking their heads and sighing.

 

Han Erlang didn’t explain to them. How could they understand his difficulties? His elder brother would faint in the examination room every time he took the exam. Although he knew that it was because his elder sister had drugged his elder brother, who knew if the drug had any sequelae?

 

After all, the shadow in his heart has not dissipated. He couln’t let go of his worry until his elder brother comes out of the examination room.

 

At lunch time, Zhao Zhengxiu and Wang Ziwen’s servants called him to eat. He shook his head vigorously and asked them to help buy some food. He still stood firm in front of the examination room.

 

The first day passed safely, and no one was carried out of the examination room. Han Erlang was relieved. On the second day, he continued to wait in the examination room. No one was carried out of the examination room in the morning, but someone was kicked out of the examination room in the afternoon. Han Erlang didn’t dare to ask around. After listening carefully, he found out that the man was found cheating.

 

Han Erlang took Zhao Zhengxiu and Wang Ziwen’s servants to hide aside. The three of them were frightened. Fortunately, the second day passed safely. His elder brother was not carried out. He breathed a sigh of relief again and prayed everywhere to ask the Buddha for blessings. His elder brother had persisted for two days. He must hold on tomorrow and must not be carried out.

 

On the third day, the three of them went to the examination room early again. As soon as they arrived at the examination room, they saw a commotion in front. It turned out that a candidate had fainted in the examination room and was carried out.

 

Han Erlang was startled and ran forward. He pushed through the crowd and saw the person lying on the stretcher. He felt relieved. It was not his elder brother. He touched the cold sweat on his forehead and kept panting. Fortunately, it was not his elder brother. Maybe the Buddha heard his wish. Until the end of the exam, no candidate was carried out.

 

One after another, candidates came out of the examination room. Han Erlang stared at the candidates coming out of the examination room, fearing that he would miss his elder brother. 

 

When Han Ze came out of the examination room, he saw Han Erlang staring at the door of the examination room. He smiled and shouted: “Erlang.”

 

Han Erlang seemed to hear the sound of nature. The first sentence he said was: “Brother, you didn’t faint?”

 

It was amazing that his elder brother didn’t faint.

 

Han Ze smiled and looked at him, also with a look of relief: “Yes, big brother didn’t faint. He insisted on finishing the exam.”

 

For Han Erlang, he might not care how big brother did in the exam. As long as big brother was fine, it was progress.

 

At this time, Zhao Zhengxiu and Wang Ziwen also came out of the examination room. They heard the conversation between the two brothers and found it quite funny. They wanted to tease them, but they kept quiet when they thought of Han Ze’s feat of fainting in the examination room every time he took an exam. 

 

He returned to the inn, took a bath, had a meal, lay on the bed, and slept soundly. While Han Ze was sleeping, Han Erlang was smiling and listening to people talking about the imperial examination in the hall. Zhao Zhengxiu’s servant came and asked him, “How did your elder brother do?”

 

Han Erlang was confused and scratched his head, “I didn’t ask him.”

 

Zhao Zhengxiu’s servant smiled and said, “My young master did well.”

 

Han Erlang was happy for him and said, “My elder brother was able to last three days in the examination room without fainting. This is a good thing for us. As for how elder brother did, I don’t think it matters.”

 

In fact, he didn’t have much hope that his elder brother could pass the Scholar examination.

 

Zhao Zhengxiu’s servant: “…”

 

He thought, ‘you are so carefree. If you don’t worry about how you do, why do you take the imperial examination?’

 

After Han Ze woke up, he had a full meal. At this time, Zhao Zhengxiu came to him and asked him how he did. Han Ze smiled and said, “Performed normally.”

 

Zhao Zhengxiu smiled and said, “Me too.”

 

As they were talking, Wang Ziwen came over and asked with a smile, “Now that the exam is over, let’s go out for a walk?”

 

Han Ze raised his eyebrows, a little tempted. Han Erlang was also very excited when he heard that he could go out shopping. He had been to the city several times, but because his elder brother would faint every time, he had never seen the city. When others asked him how the city was, he could not answer. This time, his elder brother did not faint, so they finally had the opportunity to tour the city.

 

Zhao Zhengxiu smiled and asked him: “You look so happy, I guess you did well in the exam?”

 

Wang Ziwen smiled and said: “I don’t think so much after the exam. As for how the exam goes, it depends on fate.”

 

Zhao Zhengxiu raised his eyebrows. Wang Ziwen was young, but he thought clearly.

 

Things in the city are more expensive than those in the town. Han Ze didn’t have much money, and he wanted to buy some things for his family, but he gave up when he saw the expensive prices. So, they really just went shopping and didn’t buy anything. 

 

There were still a few days before the announcement of the results, and Han Ze and his friends were completely relaxed. Even if they didn’t have much money, they would go out every day to take a look at the scenery of the city.

 

On the day of the announcement, they went to the announcement place at dawn. They came quite early, and there were still many people around. After the list was posted, everyone crowded there to watch.

 

Although Han Ze was in good health, he was still thinner than Han Erlang. So Erlang was allowed to squeeze in front to look at the list. When he was young, he also went to school for two years, and he knew some words, so he naturally knew his elder brother’s name. 

 

Although he didn’t have much hope that his elder brother would pass the exam, he still had some expectations in his heart. When he really saw his elder brother’s name in the third place, he still couldn’t believe it. He pulled the person next to him and asked, “Brother, can you help me see if the third place is Han Ze?” 

 

The person he pulled was a little impatient at first, but when he heard what he said, he said without thinking, “The third place is indeed Han Ze.” 

 

He remembered the names of the first three, looked at him, and just when he was about to ask something, Han Erlang had already let go of his hand and shouted happily, pushing through the crowd to squeeze out. 

 

When he ran outside and saw his eldest brother standing in the crowd, he said in surprise: “you passed, you passed.” 

 

Han Ze was not surprised, so Wang Ziwen asked hurriedly: “Which place did he get?” 

 

Han Erlang scratched his head, with a smile on his face, “The third name is my eldest brother’s.” 

 

Wang Ziwen looked at Han Ze, “Brother Han, you did well in the exam.” Then he asked Han Erlang, “Did you see my name and Brother Zhao’s name?” 

 

Zhao Zhengxiu also looked at him expectantly. 

 

Han Erlang exclaimed, “I didn’t read on.” 

 

Wang Ziwen was disappointed and was about to speak when his servant came over. Wang Ziwen looked at him and the servant smiled and said, “Yes, yes, yes, yes. You all passed.” 

 

Wang Ziwen and Zhao Zhengxiu breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Wang Ziwen asked again, “Which places did we get?” 

 

The servant said again, “Master, you passed the seventeenth place, Master Zhao passed the forty-sixth place…” 

 

Zhao Zhengxiu heard his ranking but didn’t care much. He smiled and said, “It’s good that I passed.” 

 

Han Erlang returned to the inn, still floating. He couldn’t believe that his elder brother actually passed the exam. He pinched his thigh hard. Oh my god, it hurts so much. He smiled and looked at his elder brother and said foolishly, “Brother, am I dreaming? Did you really pass the exam?” 

 

Han Ze said unhappily, “Do you want me to pinch you again to try?” 

 

Han Erlang quickly hid aside, “No, no. I’ve woken up from the dream.”