The spring rain came and went. In the morning, it was still sunny, but in the afternoon, it was dark. The lingering rain continued to fall from the sky, making one feel refreshed.
This rain lasted for two days and two nights before it completely stopped, soaking the dry ground.
Early in the morning, the sky had yet to brighten, and it was pitch-black outside. Only the morning star twinkled in the sky. At this time, many people were still asleep, but Hong Yi had already woken up and started packing.
Today was the day of the imperial examinations.
It was also the most important way for Hong Yi to step out of the Hou Residence and become a 'High Scholar'.
The imperial examinations of the Da Qian Dynasty only lasted for one day. Only the imperial examinations of the Jin Dynasty lasted for three days. This time, Hong Yi was taking the imperial examinations to become a High Scholar, so he did not have to worry too much.
Although this was an examination that concerned his future, he was very calm. For this examination, he had already understood the mentality of the examiners. As for the writing on the examination paper, he felt that there was no problem.
As for the examination, he was confident that as long as there were no accidents, he would definitely pass.
He got up and packed his things to prepare to move to the Hou Residence after the examinations.
Yujing City was under the control of the Emperor. After the imperial examinations, the results were released very quickly, unlike other places where the results were only released half a month after the examinations.
For the past two days, Hong Yi had already rented a quiet courtyard from Fang Xiandao at the foot of Mount Jade Dragon outside Yujing City. He was prepared to move out immediately after the results of the imperial examinations were released. He would then ask around to buy a house and land.
Once everything was settled, he would be the master of the house.
There were very few things to pack. Other than some books, there were only a few clothes. But other than that, there were some secrets that had to be hidden seamlessly.
"I have 40 gold coins on me now. These are the gold coins that I got from the Daoist priest. Gold is 1 to 15, so 40 of them is 600 taels of silver. Other than that, I also have 456 taels of silver, which is enough to buy a house and a few plots of land. With my status as a High Scholar, I still have a lot of money left. I can live a good life in the future. "
After checking his belongings, Hong Yi felt more at ease.
In fact, he had very few belongings. Other than the money that Consort Yuan had given him, he only had a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He also had a Tuomu White Bull Bow that weighed 120 kilograms, and a fine steel sword.
Consort Yuan's steel sword was made exclusively for the Imperial Court. It could be bent with one's fingers, loosened, and then straightened again, emitting a ringing sound like a silver bell.
This kind of sword was good at stabbing, but it was far from being as sharp and sturdy as the Shark Cutter. However, it was still worth a lot on the market.
However, these treasures were secondary. The most important thing was the small box in Hong Yi's arms.
There were three items in the small box. The first item was the folded Amitabha Sutra of the Past. This sutra would not be destroyed by water, burned by fire, torn by pulling, and could not be cut by swords or sabers. Therefore, it was not a taboo to keep it.
The second was the small dagger, which was known as the "Explosive Flame Rune Sword". Hong Yi did not know how to use it. He could only keep it and explore it when his spirit cultivation was higher.
The third item was the blood-patterned steel needle.
Although Hong Yi had not tested the power of the legendary immortal steel like the blood-patterned steel, its toughness, sharpness, and hardness had truly made Hong Yi feel it.
Hong Yi picked up the needle and tried to poke the wood. The result was, without a doubt, that it easily pierced through like tofu.
Then, he poked the iron piece and actually pierced it deeply. When he pulled it out, the needle did not show any signs of damage.
What was even more outrageous was that Hong Yi tried to poke the chrysanthemum steel ring on his thumb. Although it did not pierce through, it left a pinhole!
"Indestructible."
This was Hong Yi's evaluation of the blood-patterned steel.
The box that contained these three items was only the size of a palm. It was an ordinary wooden box and would not be conspicuous no matter where it was placed. It could be safely stored.
After packing everything, the sky was already starting to brighten. Hong Yi then stood up and placed the brush, ink, and inkstone into the bamboo basket that he had prepared beforehand. He did not call for any maids and went out.
At this point in time, the streets were already filled with people. There were Elementary Scholars everywhere.
Jade Capital was the largest city in the world and had a flourishing culture. Every time, the number of people taking part in the Imperial Examinations was a few times more than the number of people taking part in the provincial examinations.
Of these Elementary Scholars, the poorer ones who came from the surrounding villages carried baskets, while the wealthier ones sat in horse carriages. There were also some Elementary Scholars who loved martial arts, who rode on horseback, feeling proud of themselves.
When Hong Yi arrived at the examination hall, there was already a sea of people.
In front of the examination hall, there were two rows of soldiers dressed in military uniforms. They held long spears in their hands and had swords strapped to their waists. All of them looked majestic and dignified, giving off a feeling that no one dared to breathe too loudly.
Because of these soldiers, there was very little noise even though there was a sea of people in front of the examination hall.
In contrast to the solemn atmosphere in the examination hall, there was a row of food stalls on the opposite side of the street. At this point, pots and pans were clanging and the aroma of tofu, lamb soup, beef noodles, deep-fried dough sticks, meat buns, sesame seed cakes, porridge, and many other food wafted over. Many Elementary Scholars had gathered there for breakfast and were chatting loudly.
Hong Yi also walked over and ordered a bowl of beef noodles. He ate slowly until the number of people in the square gradually decreased. They all lined up to be searched and entered the examination hall. The sky was bright. Only then did he wipe his mouth, stand up, and walk towards the door.
His unhurried and calm demeanor made a few of the soldiers who searched him at the door and the official in charge secretly nod their heads.
However, the body search was still a routine procedure. The Da Qian Dynasty took the Imperial Examinations very seriously. If an examinee could not be found before the examination, and was smuggled into the examination hall, the deputy chief examiner would lose his position. If it was serious, he would be exiled. If it was serious, he might even face the risk of being beheaded.
After a thorough body search, Hong Yi entered the examination hall of the Tribute Courtyard. He saw a few scholars from the Ancient Era worshiping in the center.
On the other hand, the Elementary Scholars who entered the examination hall had to first pay their respects to these scholars before they could enter their respective seats and wait for the examination.
These ancient saints and scholars were all wearing tall hats and long robes. Their faces were calm and resolute, and they even looked a little wooden. Looking at them for a long time, one could understand their great benevolence and broad-mindedness in establishing morality and etiquette for the world, completely distinguishing humans from beasts.
"The ancient scholars had this kind of temperament. The Buddhas of Buddhism had another kind of temperament. I wonder what kind of temperament the Daoists have? When will I go to a Daoist temple and have a good look at them? "
Although Hong Yi had seen the statues of the Sage Great Scholars in the past, he had never seen them as thoroughly as he did today.
He had a thought.
Hong Yi quietly gathered his soul and slowly came out from the top of the door.
But as soon as he came out, he felt a strong aura that filled the heavens and earth surging toward him. This aura was being emitted from the statues of the Sages.
This kind of masculine pressure was even stronger than the blood Qi pressure of his father, Hong Xuanji.
Hong Yi was prepared and immediately returned to his body. That was why his soul was not injured.
"These are just clay statues, yet they have such a strong pressure! Could it be that they have received incense and become gods? " Hong Yi was astonished. He focused his eyes and looked at the statues of the sages, but they were still clay puppets. There was nothing spiritual about them at all.
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