novelhk Chapter 328 The Imperial Examination Begins
Chapter 328 The Imperial Examination Begins
Although sharing a room with four people was a bit cramped, Chen Xuan was quite satisfied to have such a clean and comfortable place to stay, where he could shelter from the wind and rain. After all, if it weren't for Princess Jiayang's generous help, he would probably be homeless on the streets, suffering from the elements, let alone living in such a comfortable place. Whenever he thought of this, Chen Xuan felt endless gratitude towards Princess Jiayang.
Just then, a burst of cheerful laughter drifted closer, interrupting Chen Xuan's thoughts. He looked up and saw two figures walking into the house. The one in front was a tall, thin man, followed by a slightly shorter man. The shorter man noticed Chen Xuan first, his face immediately breaking into a warm smile as he greeted him, "Hey! Hello there, my name is Wang Feng, and this tall brother's name is Jiang Yuan."
With a smile, Chen Xuan politely cupped his hands and said, "My name is Chen Xuan. From now on, we will be living together here. I hope you will all take good care of me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Feng laughed and patted Chen Xuan on the shoulder, saying heartily, "Haha, Brother Chen Xuan, don't be so polite! If you need any help, just let me know. From now on, we're family!" Wang Feng lived up to his name; his personality was as fiery and passionate as a whirlwind, and he was extremely hospitable.
In stark contrast to Wang Feng was Jiang Yuan, who stood to the side looking somewhat shy. He nodded slightly to Chen Xuan and said softly, "Um... hello, Chen Xuan, I'm Jiang Yuan, nice to meet you." Although he didn't say much, his sincere and slightly shy smile immediately won people over.
Chen Xuan was a cheerful and easy-going person, and he quickly became familiar with Wang Feng and Jiang Yuan. Just as the three were chatting enthusiastically, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a cold figure slowly entered the room. This person had a stern expression, looked straight ahead, and went straight to his bedside. He sat down without saying a word, opened a book, and began to read, as if everything around him was irrelevant.
Seeing this, the previously lively atmosphere instantly became somewhat awkward. Wang Feng opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately held back; Jiang Yuan glanced at the man before lowering his head and remaining silent. Chen Xuan thought to himself: This person seems so aloof; he's probably not easy to get along with. Since he doesn't want to talk to us, we shouldn't make a fool of ourselves. So, he smiled slightly at Wang Feng and Jiang Yuan, signaling everyone to quiet down. Then, the three of them took books from the bookshelf and began to read them carefully.
As the days passed, Chen Xuan gradually learned that his aloof roommate's name was Deng Zhou. As for other aspects, he knew very little. However, Chen Xuan was quite philosophical about it; after all, everyone has their own personality and lifestyle, and there's no need to force others to be close to you. As long as they respect each other and don't interfere with each other, maintaining this peaceful coexistence is a good option.
In the days that followed, the students in the manor were all preparing intensively for the imperial examinations. Chen Xuan rose early every day to recite classics and study policy essays. Sometimes, he would exchange ideas with Wang Feng and Jiang Yuan, discussing their scholarship with each other. They came from different places and had different experiences, but they all shared the same dream—to achieve good results in the imperial examinations and serve the Qin Dynasty.
As the imperial examination drew closer, the atmosphere in Xianyang grew increasingly tense. The talk of the town was filled with discussions about the exam, and bookstores were once again experiencing a buying frenzy for exam preparation books, which quickly sold out.
The innkeepers were all talking about the students who might pass the high school entrance exam this year. Chen Xuan knew his opportunity was hard-won, so he studied even harder, often burning the midnight oil.
In comparison, Su Jin's situation was much more convenient. He was a native of Xianyang, and although his home was in a village not exactly close to the city, he didn't have to travel as far as other out-of-town candidates. Moreover, he had the foresight to rent a small courtyard in Xianyang beforehand. However, he didn't rent it alone; he shared it with others. Even so, his living conditions were much better than Chen Xuan's and the others.
As time went by, students from all directions arrived in Xianyang. With the date of the imperial examination drawing ever closer, a tense yet expectant atmosphere permeated the entire city of Xianyang.
Finally, the day of the imperial examination arrived. At dawn, outside the examination hall, thousands of students, filled with dreams and hopes, lined up in long queues. They came from various counties and prefectures of the Qin Dynasty. Some came from impoverished families, yet they had persevered and studied diligently all the way here with unwavering perseverance and a thirst for knowledge; others came from prestigious families, yet they dared not slack off in the slightest, hoping to prove themselves in this examination.
Chen Xuan opened his eyes early and quickly got out of bed. He deftly straightened his clothes, smoothing out every wrinkle to ensure he looked neat and presentable. Then, he carefully packed his necessary stationery into his schoolbag.
After everything was ready, Chen Xuan, Wang Feng, Jiang Yuan, and Deng Zhou went out together. The four of them walked quickly towards the examination hall. When they arrived outside the examination hall, the scene before them shocked them—the area outside the examination hall was packed with people, a dense crowd resembling a surging ocean.
The candidates displayed a variety of expressions. Some were pale and their hands trembled slightly with nervousness; others stood tall and proud, their faces radiating confidence; still others closed their eyes and muttered prayers, silently praying to heaven for a successful exam.
Chen Xuan took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. Then, he followed the surging crowd and consciously formed a long queue. Just then, a loud and clear gong sounded, breaking the slightly noisy atmosphere. Immediately afterward, a shout came from the front: "Enter!" Hearing this shout, the crowd began to move slowly forward.
Not long after, Chen Xuan noticed that everyone in front of him was being asked to remove their outer garments for inspection. This surprised him greatly, but he quickly understood the reason: they were worried that someone might bring cheat sheets into the examination hall to cheat. Although this method of removing clothing for inspection was very embarrassing, even somewhat unacceptable, Chen Xuan felt much more at ease when he thought that not doing so might lead to someone obtaining official rank through improper means, affecting the fairness of the imperial examination. Moreover, since all candidates had to undergo the same inspection, everyone's mindset naturally gradually relaxed.