"Wen Zhong, you have caused me to suffer..."

When Li Ling and Xu Cang met in the morning, Xu Zhuowu said this sentence again with a resentful look on his face, just like a resentful woman who was abandoned by her lover.

This is the fifty-second time that he has mentioned this matter again in front of Li Ling in three days, but looking at his appearance, thinking about the noon three days ago when Xu Cang returned home in a daze, Li Ling couldn't help laughing: "Brother Xu, didn't he just spend the night in Hongxiuzhao? Others dreamed of such a wonderful situation, why are you so awkward..."

"You...I...he...you know, I've never been that kind of person. If you hadn't invited Tao Zhongqian that day, I would never have gone to the fireworks place. Now...what should I do now..." As soon as I remembered that morning, I found myself lying on the soft bed of the beauty's boudoir, and there was a beauty in underwear next to me, Xu Cang was frightened and worried, "I really don't be a son of man, I don't be a son of man."

"Okay, Brother Xu, don't think too much, it's just a show. You haven't married, you're all tired, and you're still young. Isn't it normal to be romantic? Besides, you were drunk that day and didn't do anything wrong, and no one would cause trouble for you. If you really don't want to, then forget it." Li Ling held back a smile and persuaded him.

"But... it's not that easy to let go? In the past two days, as long as I lay down and closed my eyes, I will remember the situation at that time. You have really hurt me." Xu Cang said angrily.

"Then you are not calm enough. Look at me, don't you have any ideas?" Li Ling comforted the other party again, and then changed the topic. "Today is the day when the exam is released. If you think about the exam results more or make more preparations for the next palace examination, you will naturally not think about these small things again."

As soon as he reminded him, Xu Cang wanted to go to such an important day today, and he was shocked: "Yes, today is twenty-three, maybe the results will be released at any time, we...we..." This time, he was really nervous because of this, swallowed and couldn't continue.

"Let's go." Li Ling slapped the other person on the shoulder after eating a piece of meat pie.

Xu Cang looked at him blankly: "Where to go?"

"It seems that you have really been attracted by those beauties who are so frightened by the red sleeves. Have you forgotten that someone invited us to the top scholar building the day before yesterday? Today, scholars from all over the country will gather in that area to wait for the announcement of the list. How can we be missing such a grand event?" Li Ling said with a smile.

Although the previous literary meeting with the scholars of Lianghuai ended up in an unhappy end, Li Ling did not intend to miss the gatherings in these scholars. After all, as long as they really make the list, everyone will be in the same year. It is better to have a relationship at this time than to get along in the future. So today, we still have to go to the top scholar building.

Xu Cang also understood the importance of this matter, so he calmed down and went out with Li Ling. As for Yue'er and the others, they could only stay at home and wait for news, because there was never a precedent for bringing their families to a party.

Zhuangyuan Building is the largest restaurant in Dongcheng, Luoyang. It has five floors, and each floor can be placed with fifty or sixty tables. It is also located in Wendefang, which is not far from the imperial city. It also has such a good name. Today, there are naturally many guests, and most of the students who are consciously able to pass the imperial examination came here early.

When Li Ling and the other two arrived, hundreds of tables in the building were almost full, and it was really crowded and lively. Fortunately, they had booked a seat with others early in the morning, so they could sit in just by going in.

In a slightly remote corner on the second floor, more than 30 scholars from Lianghuai sat on six tables, talking to each other. When they saw him coming, everyone's voice stopped and they were paying attention to them with strange eyes.

In a few days, what Li Ling and the others did in Hongxiuzhao were known to many scholars, especially the students of Lianghuai. Even if they didn't go that day, they knew everything afterwards.

In fact, Xu Cang was fine, but Li Ling became the focus of all fellow villagers' eyes. Everyone stared at him with complicated eyes, both envious and curious. Several people even wanted to ask him what it felt like to have a spring night with the flower courtesan that day.

But today is a big day for the examination to be announced, and they dare not be arrogant after all. After hesitating for a while, Tao Yunze smiled and greeted him: "Wen Zhong, Zhuowu, you are here. How about it, do you think you can win this examination?"

As a child of a noble family, Tao Yun's demeanor is indeed stronger than many of his peers, which also made Li Ling look up to him and smiled and said, "I really don't dare to talk all about it. After all, I am a little bit unintentional. Brother Xu, he is one of the five classics of my Huaibei Provincial Examination last year. I think it shouldn't be difficult for him to be on the list this time."

Just as Xu Cang was about to be humble, he heard a sarcastic voice coming from the side: "That's possible. Huaibei has always been unsuccessful in the imperial examination. Unless it is a talented person from Jie Yuan, it is probably difficult to emerge from the imperial examination that gathers talents from all over the world. However, the people in Huainan are the best choices, and our leader of the Five Classics can firmly win the tribute and the Jinshi."

When the people in Huaibei heard this, they quickly turned their heads and saw Dai Wanchun looking at them with a smile. The candidates from his fellow villagers nodded and showed a deep expression of agreement.

The scholars of Huaihe usually have to fight openly and secretly. Now that it is at this critical moment that affects the literary name of their hometowns, it is natural that they are even more unlikely to admit defeat. Seeing the scholars of Huainan so arrogantly, about 20 people in Huaibei are not willing to be outdone, and immediately refuted: "It's just nonsense! Didn't you just rely on your closer to Jiangnan to win a few minor victory in the previous imperial examinations? But you must know that today is different from the past. Our Huaibei is now full of talents, and this exam will definitely not be inferior to you."

"Is that so? Then it depends on the result and then the winner!" Dai Wanchun said confidently, "Don't think that you were lucky enough to get a little cheap the day before yesterday and felt that you were really better than us in literary affairs. This imperial examination is different from other things, and there is no trick to use."

"That's right, maybe someone who bribed Hongxiuzhao by using improper means could beat me on the surface, otherwise why haven't he heard of any good poems recently?" Cui Yuan looked even more angry and mentioned the old story again.

Faced with such a situation, the people in Huaibei shared the same hatred and did not care about the conflict with Li Ling before. They all refuted, and for a while, they were really lively.

Da is the original owner of Li Ling, but at this moment he is only savoring the newly sent tea and has not participated in the argument between the scholars of the two places. Because he felt that such a debate was really meaningless, and in the end, it depends on which side the people who passed the tribute exam can decide the outcome.

However, seeing everyone trying their best to protect their performances and Xu Cang, Li Ling suddenly realized that these fellow villagers were actually quite cute, at least realistic enough.

At this time, Dai Wanchun suddenly slapped the table and said, "It seems that you Huaibei people are really unwilling to admit defeat? Then let's compete this time, how about it?"

"How to compare? What is the bet?" Tao Yun asked immediately on behalf of the scholar in Huaibei.

"It's very simple. It's more than the candidates in the two places who have taken the exam, and which one is the top scholar. If anyone becomes Huiyuan, then he can get ten tributes, and there are five tributes in the three tripods. In the end, he will count which tribute scholar has more. The loser not only has to settle the expenses of both sides of the top scholar building today, but also has to be in front of everyone and sincerely bow and apologize to the winner. He will be respectful when he meets them outside in the future! How about it, do you dare to bet?"

As soon as he said this, the arrogance of the scholars in Huaibei was discouraged, and it was obvious that they lacked confidence.

This is also impossible, because over the years, whether it is an imperial examination or a palace examination, the final result of Huainan always beat Huainan and the winner is not just one or two people.

Today, there are only a few major provinces in the 23 provinces, including the imperial examination, culture and education. In addition to the capital and Jiangnan, Huainan is the strongest. As for Huainbei, although they are located in the Central Plains, they have also produced the top scorer several times, but their overall strength is indeed far inferior to Huainan.

Seeing that they were hesitant and retreating, the people in Huainan became more and more proud: "Why, I really don't dare to do it at this time?"

"It's still time to admit defeat now. As long as you admit that you are not as good as our Huainan, don't make any more rants in the future, this matter will be over!"

"You..." Tao Yun looked at everyone around him, and everyone was also confused. If they really wanted to admit defeat, they would really not be able to raise their heads in front of each other in the future. Even if they were on the list today, they might be suppressed by their colleagues in Huainan in the officialdom, which is closely related to everyone's future.

so……

Tao Yun finally slapped the table and said, "Go bet! Are I a scholar in Huaibei still afraid of you?"

"Yes, I'll bet on which family has more tributes!" Others also responded, but they were stunned by Li Ling - you are too tempted, is this the so-called scholarly spirit?

But at this moment, Li Ling couldn't repent again, so he could only sigh with a wry smile, and then said to Xu Cang beside him: "It seems that it depends on whether we can win back the face now, Brother Zhuo Wu, you have performed this time."

"I..." Xu Cang pointed to his nose in surprise.

"Yes, I always feel that your results in this exam will definitely be good. It is inevitable that you will be on the list. Maybe you can still make it to the top ranking."

Xu Cang smiled bitterly and didn't know how to reply.
Chapter completed!