Chapter 662: 733: Palace Examination Results Announced

Zhang Mansion.

"Master Song's visit to the humble abode really makes the humble abode shine."

Zhang He learned the news immediately about Song Qing's arrival and came to greet him.

"I've seen General Zhang. I'm here to bother you." Song Qing bowed his hand.

"What are you talking about, Lord Song? It's my honor for you to come." Zhang He said with a smile.

Song Qing lowered his head and said nothing.

"The dinner is ready, Mr. Song, please come inside."

"We'll talk about the dinner later. I have something to talk to General Zhang."

Zhang He's face condensed slightly when he heard this.

The hall of the mansion.

Zhang He was entertaining Song Qing and said, "Sir Song, this is new tea picked from the south of the Yangtze River this year. It has a sweet aftertaste. Try it."

Song Qing took a sip of the fragrant tea, tasted it carefully, and nodded with enjoyment: "Not bad, good tea."

After saying that, he took another sip, then put down the tea cup, glanced at the servants in the hall, and remained silent.

Zhang He understood, and immediately retreated from the crowd. Then the smile on his face faded slightly and said, "Master Song, what can I tell you?"

Song Qing said calmly: "How much does General Zhang know about his unmarried son-in-law?"

In the Song and Qing Dynasty's view, Zhang He adopted "Guo Xian" as his son-in-law, and he only used the term "not yet married".

Zhang He frowned slightly, realizing that Song Qing's visit should be related to Guo Xian, and then told the story: "I met him in Pingting County, Qingzhou. At that time, he was the first place in the Qingzhou Township Examination, and his daughter happened to be I was in my boudoir, and I particularly respected scholars, so I intended to betroth my daughter to him, and he agreed...

He is from Cangzhou, unmarried, and his parents died young. "

"General Zhang really believed what he said?" Song Qing said.

"At first, I was a little suspicious, and I even had people investigate. But at that time, there was chaos in the north, and the household registration files of the local government offices had been lost. There was really nowhere to check, and the accent he spoke was indeed from Cangzhou. Later, after passing After getting along with him for a period of time, I found that his character was excellent, and I gradually no longer doubted him."

Zhang He had a really good impression of this son-in-law. At the same time, he realized that what Song Qing said was probably related to the identity of "Xian Guo," so he asked, "Did something happen to him?"

During the questioning, Song Qing kept staring at Zhang He's eyes. Seeing that he really didn't know anything, he slowly took out the copied case file from his arms, handed it to Zhang He, and said:

"Today, when the police officers of the Yamen were tracking a suspect, they happened to encounter that the suspect was trying to kill three people outside the city. These three people were an old man, a woman and a boy under ten years old. The police officers The suspect was immediately controlled, and according to his confession, the reason why he killed these three people was because he was ordered by someone from General Zhang's house..."

When Song Qing said this, Zhang He also finished reading the case file, his face darkened, and the hand holding the case file was trembling, there was a sign that a volcano was about to erupt. After being stunned for a long time, he only said: "Mr. Song , is this true?”

"It's true that Peng Si'er killed someone, and both the person and the person got the stolen goods. As for whether Guo Xian instigated it, and whether he was Dai Tu, we are still investigating."

With that said, Song Qing picked up the tea cup and took a breath with his eyes lowered. Then he raised his eyes and said, "I feel that this matter has a great impact on General Zhang, so I came here to inform you."

Zhang He is no longer the ignorant country boy he was before. He can understand the meaning of Song Qing's words. As long as he opens his mouth, the other party can sell him a favor and handle the matter properly.

Zhang He first said that he didn't know Peng Si'er, and then asked: "Does the prince know about this?"

"This matter has been stopped by me on behalf of General Zhang, and it has not reached the ears of the prince yet. In addition, the officer feels that the matter has not been investigated yet. If Guo Xian was unjust and told the prince, wouldn't it be harmful to the prince? There was a gap with General Zhang," Song Qing said.

His city is very deep, so Zhang He will naturally not be able to see any clues.

After Zhang He's expression changed, he considered it and said: "Thank you Master Song for hiding it for me, but this kind of killing of wife and children is simply worse than a pig or a dog, and it is unforgivable. If it is found to be true, I hope Master Song Enforce the law impartially, and if it is false, we can give him a clean slate.”

After saying that, Zhang He stood up and bowed to Song Qing.

Hearing this, Song Qing couldn't help but glance at Zhang He, and quickly stood up and raised his hands: "General Zhang, what are you talking about? This is the responsibility of the lower official."

After saying that, Song Qing made an excuse to leave and did not stay for dinner.

After bidding farewell to Song Qing, Zhang He lowered his eyes and looked extremely ugly. The other party said that the matter had not yet been investigated, but he understood that if he was not very sure, the other party would not come to talk about it.

But everyone has a luck mentality.

Especially "Guo Xian" was related to his face. After arriving in Xiangyang, he often boasted in front of his old friends that he had found a good son-in-law. If this was true, then he would lose face.

He called his servants and asked where his uncle had gone.

After the servants returned, my uncle went to meet his friends.

Zhang He frowned, put his hands behind his back, and asked his servants to call Zhang Zhu.

After meeting his daughter, Zhang He did not say anything about "Xian Guo" and asked her to stay away from "Xian Guo".

After all, if there is a misunderstanding about this matter, it will be even worse than the loss is worth the loss if they fall out now.

He just gave Zhang Zhu a few words of advice.

She said that she was going to get married to "Xian Guo" soon.

During this period, let her keep a little distance from "Xian Guo" and let her be more reserved.

Don't give your body away before you get married.

Zhang Zhu blushed and said she understood.

……

On the other side, in the south of the city.

Wearing a mask, Dai Tu asked around when he saw that Peng Sier had not been seen. As a result, he found out that Peng Sier had been caught by the government.

Peng Sier had many friends. People like them would watch the gate of the government every day, so that they would know in advance if the government had any major actions.

When Peng Sier was taken to the government, he was seen by someone.

Upon hearing the news, Dai Tu panicked and fled to the south of the city in a panic.

After arriving at an empty dark alley, he took off his mask and gasped.

After calming down, Dai Tu began to think.

At that time, he was wearing a mask, so Peng Sier should not know his identity.

Even if Peng Sier was caught, he would not be implicated.

But here, Dai Tu had a point of worry.

Where was Peng Sier caught by the government?

If he was caught when he was killing Huang Zhaodi and the others, and Huang Zhaodi and the others were not dead yet, it would be bad.

After all, if the government took Huang Zhaodi and the others back for investigation, everything would be over.

At the same time, Dai Tu especially hoped that it would be best if Peng Sier was caught by the government after killing Huang Zhaodi and the others. In this way, he would have no worries.

…

Time flies, day and night.

Three days passed in a flash while Dai Tu was worried and frightened.

Seeing that nothing happened, Dai Tu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that when the government arrested Peng Sier, Huang Zhaodi and the others were not encountered.

In this way, Dai Tu was relieved.

However, because he was in a state of fear, he did not notice that Zhang He was not so enthusiastic about him.

At this moment, Dai Tu suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums.

He thought that today was the day for the palace examination to be announced.

Dai Tu was shocked!

I passed?

Dai Tu was shocked and ran out of Zhang's house. Looking at the guard of honor coming towards him, his heart was beating.

At the same time, Zhang Zhu heard the sound of gongs and drums and came out to see.

When he first saw the honor guard, there was a surprise on his face.

People from nearby neighbors came out to watch the excitement, and they basically knew what day it was.

As a result, the honor guard passed by the door of Zhang's house and stopped in front of the house on the street next to Zhang's house.

And here, Qin Shi and Qin Hao, father and son, lived.

The two did not live here often. This was just a house purchased by the Qin family in Xiangyang. After the list was announced, Qin Hao would return to Jiangnan.

Hearing the sound of gongs and drums outside, the father and son and the servants hurried out to check.

As soon as they arrived at the door, the messenger who announced the good news bowed and said, "Congratulations to Mr. Qin, congratulations to Mr. Qin, congratulations to Mr. Qin for passing the imperial examination."

As soon as these words came out, the Qin family father and son and the people watching around were stunned and silent.

After a moment, there was an uproar.

The first place in the second class is called Chuanlu, which is the first person below the top three.

"I am Chuanlu?" Qin Shi was also stunned for a long time. Although he felt that he had performed well after the last palace examination, he never expected to do so well.

Qin Hao, who was next to him, smiled and quickly took out gold leaves from his arms and rewarded the person who announced the good news. Even the people who were watching were rewarded, but they were no longer gold leaves, but broken silver.

It was enough to prove his excitement and happiness at the moment.

And the people who got the reward money naturally would not be stingy with words of praise, and there was another round of congratulations.

Not long after, Qin Shi's friends also came to visit, obviously knowing the news that the other party had passed the high school entrance examination.

A good friend said: "Brother Qin, do you know who is the top scholar this time?"

"Who?" Qin Shi asked curiously.

"It's Brother Suncheng Sun, he is the top scholar this time, and the second scholar is Brother Guoning Guo." The friend said.

"Hiss." Qin Shi took a breath of cold air.

Qin Hao, who was standing next to him, rolled his eyes and quickly asked his servants to pack some silver and go to visit.

At the same time, this scene also happened in Liu's steamed bun shop.

Liu Taoshu was at the bottom of the top three in high school.

After the person who brought the good news left, an hour had not passed, and the people who came to the Liu family to give gifts had almost trampled the threshold of the Liu family.

...

But people's pessimism is not the same.

There was silence in the Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Zhu was also a little disappointed, because the name of "Guo Xian" was not on the list of the palace examination.

And Zhang He didn't seem surprised by this result.

After all, before the matter was investigated, for the sake of influence, the name of "Guo Xian" would definitely not be put down.

Because if it was true, the news would spread, which would also damage the face of other students on the list.

However, Zhang Zhu didn't show any displeasure to "Guo Xian" for this, but comforted him instead.

In her heart, she was actually very satisfied with "Guo Xian".

...

In the evening.

Chen Mo held a banquet at Fuze Restaurant, inviting the students on the list and the noble families in Xiangyang.

He also said that they would go to Beijing with him to meet the emperor in a while, and His Majesty would confer them the status of Jinshi and the subsequent arrangements, so that they could prepare.

At the dinner, Chen Mo followed the previous tradition and gave several poetry and prose topics to set the atmosphere.

As the atmosphere became more intense, the noble families present came into contact with these students one after another.

The most welcome one among them was not the top scholar Sun Cheng, nor the second place Guo Ning.

Instead, it was the third place scholar Wang Haosheng.

Although Chen Mo was ranked according to grades, it is not known whether it was destined or not. Among all the students, Wang Haosheng was indeed the most handsome.

The ladies present had such a straight look in their eyes that they wanted to eat Wang Haosheng alive.

After today, Sun Cheng, Guo Ning, and Wang Haosheng were like stars. As long as they appeared in any store, the store would be full of business.

Because it was a brothel in Xiangyang City, it even spread the word that a thousand gold coins were needed to ask the champion for a calligraphy.

It can be said that the three of them did not have to spend money to eat. Instead, the restaurant had to give them money, and they gave it willingly.

It was not until the end of July that this situation gradually stopped.

At this time, the heat of the palace examination also dissipated in Xiangyang.

At the same time, Zuo Gang, who had led people to Taoyuan County, Yanzhou for investigation some time ago, also returned to Linzhou and was rushing to Xiangyang.

At this time, Zhang's mansion.

In the hall, Zhang Zhu was asking her father when she and "Guo Xian" would get married.

It's not that Zhang Zhu is anxious.

After all, it was agreed that they would get married after the palace examination.

But now more than 20 days have passed since the results were announced, and the people no longer discuss the palace examination. She and "Guo Xian" haven't set a specific date for their marriage.

Zhang He said: "We must choose an auspicious day for marriage. I will go to the Prince of Wei's mansion and set a date with the prince."

Zhang Zhu nodded.

"Guo Xian" on the side also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Since Peng Si'er was arrested, and his name was not on the list after the results were announced, although "Guo Xian" was not confident that he would definitely be on the list, he always felt that this matter revealed a bit of weirdness.

Especially a few days after the results were announced, he could feel that Zhang He was no longer so enthusiastic about him.

This made him worry whether his marriage with Zhang Zhu would fail.

This made him nervous all the time.

Until today, nothing bad has come to him.

The arrest of Peng Si'er did not affect him.

Moreover, he had inquired about it a lot these days, but he didn't hear any rumors, which made him feel relieved.

The only thing he was worried about now was Huang Zhaodi and the others. He didn't know whether they were alive or dead.

...

Wei Wangfu.

In the hall of the backyard.

Ning Wan specially called Qingwu.

Qingwu, who had taken the "Rejuvenating Pill", had a more tender skin after taking it for a few days, and she looked much younger overall.

This made Wu Mi and the others look happy, and they praised Qingwu for managing the business of Fuze Restaurant well and gave her some silver as a reward.

Qingwu didn't know that she had become a tool for "testing poison".

Instead, she felt that the princess and the lady were very good to her.

She must repay them well.