Chapter 31 A penny can hardly kill both the master and the servant (Part 1)

When they woke up from the inn early the next morning, the master and the servant finished washing and getting ready to dress up. Because they had to go through the formalities in various ministries today and get the admission certificate for the college entrance examination, they wanted to be more energetic. Ning Que sat in front of the window, facing the rising morning light, holding a scroll and looking at it half-heartedly. He squinted his eyes and prepared to enjoy Sangsang combing his hair behind him, but he didn't expect a pain when his hair was pulled. He turned his head helplessly. He looked at the little girl and said, "Is it so difficult to comb your hair?"

"Why don't you, young master, try combing it yourself? In the past years in Weicheng, you could just comb your hair into a bun, but today you have to imitate those scholars. I have never imitated that." Sangsang's hand holding the comb shrank behind her, He said angrily.

"Look at your attitude. You also know how to call me Master!" Ning Que said angrily: "Who is the Master and who is the girl? Just say a few words to you and you actually asked me to comb it myself! You have to understand, Master, I will do it right away. If you want to enter an academy, you must be a serious scholar. Why don't you just go and learn? You will have to dress like that every day from now on!"

Ever since they looked at the portrait in the rain on Suzaku Street yesterday, the master and the servant have been having some emotional problems. It's just that they couldn't understand what they felt at that time, let alone whether their feelings at that time were true. In addition, there were some very The reason was obscure, so there was no communication on this matter.

Ning Que looked at Sang Sang's face, which was darker than before, and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, I'll take you to Chen Jin Kee after we finish the business."

Hearing this, Sangsang raised her face and smiled, then turned around and took out a knife from the package and handed it over. Ning Que took the knife and walked into the small courtyard behind the inn, and began to practice the knife in the morning light. His precise movements looked powerful, but his messy and fluffy hair also trembled with the movements, which made him look a little funny.

The Tang Empire was the center of the entire world, Chang'an City was a place revered and worshiped by all nations, and the academy was the center of the Tang Empire in a sense, a place deeply respected and worshiped by all people, and sometimes even faintly exceeded the influence of the royal family.

Ever since he learned about the academy when he was a child, Ning Que's head was washed by vulgar conspiracy theories, and he had never figured out why the Tang Empire or the royal family would allow such a place to exist. It is said that there is only one sky above the head of a person. There is only one sun, so how can an empire have two voices?

Regardless of whether he can figure it out in the years to come, at least this whole day's experience finally made him truly feel the lofty status of the academy in the Tang Empire, and also the respect and even awe of the imperial court for the academy. Just a simple academy admission examination qualification certificate actually needs to be stamped and confirmed by three of the six departments, and only officials above the rank of doctor are qualified to perform this work.

In the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Ministry of Etiquette, Ning Que saw more senior officials of fifth rank and above on this day than he had seen in the previous sixteen years combined. If his military status had not been converted to civilian status, he would even have to go to the Hubu Yamen. Although the spring day was warm and pleasant, he was sweating profusely after going through so many twists and turns in Chang'an North City. He couldn't help but think to himself, even if the imperial court wanted to send troops to the Southern Jin Dynasty, it wouldn't be so troublesome. Bar?

The Imperial Ministry is such a hierarchical place. Ning Que is just a soldier from a border town with no background. He thought that he would encounter countless contempt and cold treatment, but he did not expect that when those officials saw his name, although there was no special He said, but he did not do any of the things that General Ma Shixiang warned him about, and let him go with a gentle wave of his hand.

Ning Que thought carefully and found out that someone from the princess's mansion should have sent someone to say hello. The princess returned from the grassland, but was assassinated again on the way. After returning to Chang'an, she must have been congratulated by all the officials, had a banquet in the palace, and had to conduct a strict investigation in secret. Anyone else would be grateful if she still remembered what happened to him. But he wouldn't think so, because this was something that he had agreed with His Highness before. Although he said it next to the fire, His Highness didn't quite look like His Highness.

After stamping the last seal at the Ministry of Rites, the sun was beginning to set in the sky. Fortunately, the bureaucracy of the Tang Empire was not too bureaucratic and was quite efficient. The Yamen responsible for issuing academy admission examination qualification certificates was not far from the Ministry of Rites, and it was here The door was still open, and around the door were three or two young people who had just received their vouchers, talking in low voices.

"It's not a problem to live in an inn all the time. I can't get close to my classmates."

"It would be good to move to the academy in advance. Maybe we can get to know some senior brothers and sisters."

"Living in the academy is not cheap. It is more expensive than the best Yuelai Inn in Chang'an City. It was better than the time of Emperor Taizu. At that time, the academy provided free food and accommodation."

"Instead of saving these little money, I think it's good to go to the academy a day in advance. I'll be more familiar with the environment and have a greater chance of passing the admission exam. I heard that the military department went crazy this time and recommended more than seventy A prospective candidate..."

Ning Que was about to walk inside when he suddenly stopped, looked at the young scholar, bowed his hands, and asked, "Brother, what did you just mean to say... that the academy does not include room and board now?"

The three of them looked at Ning Que like he was an idiot, probably trying to say that if he didn't even know this, why would he take the academy exam?

Ning Que's favorite thing to do was to laugh happily at others as idiots behind their backs in front of Sangsang. At this time, being told that you were an idiot in front of others, naturally he couldn't accept it and turned around and entered the door.

When he came out again, the young scholars at the gate had long disappeared. Otherwise, seeing the boy's pale face, he would have ridiculed them.

Sang Sang had been waiting outside the door. She held up a big black umbrella to shield her face from the sunset to prevent her face from getting darker. Just when she was squinting her eyes and happy that this was a good idea, she suddenly saw Ning Que's appearance and suddenly became nervous. , trotted up to him, and asked in a trembling voice: "What's wrong? The academy doesn't allow students to bring maids? Have you told the adults inside that I can work as a helper for the academy, as long as I have a place to live."

"That's not the problem." Ning Que's lips were a little dry, and he looked at her and said with a slightly hoarse voice: "I asked clearly just now. It turns out that the academy does not include room and board at all. That means that if I pass the exam, I will have to pay for it every month. Thirty taels of silver are required."

"Thirty taels?" Sangsang subconsciously raised his voice and screamed: "Then why are you reading?"

As soon as she said these words, she knew there was no meaning. She frowned and looked at Ning Que sadly and said, "Master, we have saved seventy-six taels and four cents of silver over the years, but we have followed the princess all the way without even a single copper." After spending it, plus the money from selling the carriage, the general's support and the final collection of gambling debts, the total amount was less than 200 taels of silver. After arriving in Chang'an, I stayed in an inn for two days and had five meals. …"

Ning Que stopped the little maid's thoughts and said uneasily: "The admission test will be held in one month. It seems that we will have to stay in the inn for another month. You have to include this expense."

If Sangsang could see her own face at this time, she would be in a slightly happier mood, because her slightly upturned black face had turned a lot whiter due to shock and uneasiness.