Chapter 235: Fulfilling a Vow Outside the City
Soon, the military science exam came to an end.

Then the military scholars were granted official titles.

Of course, the scale and level of attention given to the military examinations were not as large as those of the imperial examinations, so the number of official positions awarded was also far less.

Based on their overall personal scores, the military scholars were awarded military positions such as Congyilang and Baoyilang, which were of the eighth or ninth rank.

At the same time, special cases are made.

The appointment of military scholars this time was only verbal, and all of them had to arrive in Lingzhou before they could officially receive their appointment documents.

Although Wang Ye had great strength and had studied in the Yang family martial arts arena for a long time, there were so many heroes in the world that he could only get a high ranking in the end and was awarded the ninth-rank official position of Baoyilang.

But this result is not bad.

After all, this military examination was the first one to be held after many years. At the same time, in order to support the war in Lingzhou, many military generals and children of noble families participated in the military examination. However, Wang Ye's "Seven Military Classics" was not very good.

This result is quite satisfactory.

Chang Wu, who had clamored to take part in the military examination with Wang Ye, was stopped by Sheng Hong and Sheng Wei as expected. He was unable to take part in the military examination and instead went to work in the Wucheng Bingmasi, where he currently works under a coach.

He has also arranged a marriage with Kang Yuner from the Kang family, and the invitations have been sent to Yang Wenyuan in advance. The date is August and the location is Youyang.

When talking about the Kang family, we have to mention the illegitimate sons of the Kang family who were sent by Wang Ruoyu to take the military examination.

It has to be said that Wang Ruoyu spent a lot of money to send these thorny illegitimate sons to the battlefield for "glory".

Not only did he use the Wang family's connections to hire a coach with rich experience (as for why he could use the Wang family's connections, it was a matter that Wang Ruoyu could resolve by just going home and crying), but he also provided him with good food and drink, and provided him with all the books, homework, and exercise equipment.

Now the results are finally out.

Because in the military examination, the examiners were slightly biased towards the children of upright families (after all, they couldn't all be muscular men, there had to be some "scholar-generals"), just as Wang Ruoyu wished, four illegitimate sons in his family passed the military examination.

At first, Wang Ruoyu was overjoyed - she could pay four fewer gifts!

However, when she learned that other families in Bianjing City had begun to prepare good horses, armor and weapons, as well as some servants as personal guards for their sons who had passed the imperial examination, she immediately felt like crying, but had no tears left.

I want them to die on the battlefield so that they will have less money when they get married in the future. Why do we have to continue to put money into it now? ! !
But she couldn't help but prepare.

Because the imperial edict had written in advance that families participating in the military examination should try their best to meet the needs of military scholars, and if conditions permit, all basic requirements (horses, equipment) must be met, otherwise it would be regarded as contempt of the law.

At first, Wang Ruoyu didn't look at it carefully, and just happily asked her illegitimate son to prepare for a glorious sacrifice. Now, she realized it belatedly and felt that she was being targeted.

After all, if a family wants their children to take the imperial examination and even pass it, who wouldn't help with the preparations with all their heart and soul?
Unless there is someone like her who has bad intentions from the beginning.

But seeing that everyone else had already started to prepare, Wang Ruoyu knew that he couldn't delay, otherwise these things would become more and more expensive as time went on.

In fact, this type of horse is not a big deal. After all, the Kang family is not a family of military generals, so it is reasonable for them to directly purchase ordinary horses on the market.

But the equipment and servants that come later are more expensive than each other!

Weapons and equipment can be a little vague, but having servants to serve as personal guards is the most expensive thing!
To get someone to go to the battlefield with you, either they have to be bought with money or they are your own children that you have raised since childhood. Either way, it is a deal that makes people's hearts bleed.

And there are four such military scholars in my family!

For the first time, Wang Ruoyu experienced what it felt like to spend money like water.

Seeing the money in her dowry box being spent like water, Wang Ruoyu felt as if her heart was broken.

Even the betrothal gifts from these four cheap bastards aren’t worth so much money!

Wang Ruoyu felt even more heartbroken when he thought about the fact that his money was still used to provide them with life insurance.

What if they manage to come back alive and get promoted...

Wouldn't that mean I would have to give even more as a gift? !
When Wang Ruoyu thought of this, he felt like the sky was falling!
At the same time, I began to doubt whether my original decision was a bit rash and perhaps questionable?

Pingyang Houfu.

After the military examination, Yang Wenyuan no longer had to get up early and work late as an invigilator. However, the sword of the imperial examination was still hanging over his head, and Yang Wenyuan could not relax. He still had to report to the Hanlin Academy every day and act as a background board at the court meetings every now and then.

But it's definitely not the life of an ox or a horse.

Although the selected Jinshi did not have the leisurely life of normal officials, with only three days of rest and one day of day off that year on average, they also benefited from their status as preparatory Shujishi and had time to rest once every five days.

Today is a rare day off.

However, today is not the day for Yang Wenyuan to sleep in. He has to get up early and accompany Hua Lan to the temple outside the city to pray for blessings.

The reason, of course, is because of the museum selection.

During the imperial examination the month before last, Hua Lan went outside the city with Wang Ruofu every few days to burn incense and pray for blessings. Now it was the critical period of the imperial examination selection, so naturally they had to follow the old customs of the imperial examination and go outside the city to fulfill their vows and pray again.

It's like paying back the money first and then borrowing it.

Early in the morning, Yang Wenyuan did some morning exercises in the courtyard of Zize Residence. After Hualan finished washing up in the room, the couple had a simple breakfast and then went out.

at the same time.

In the stable of Pingyang Marquis Mansion.

The coachman, who had been full of confidence and ready to equip the carriage and wait at the door, was now watching with despair as the horse was ridden away again after half a month.

The culprit, on the other hand, was beaming with joy and snatched the whip from his hand.

"Old Yang, thank you for your hard work. Leave it to me!"

After saying that, Chang Qing weighed the whip in his hand, and while it was still hot, he whipped the horse in front of him hard.

"drive!"

"..."

Changqing just came back yesterday.

This morning, he returned to work with honor.

The entrance to the Hou Mansion.

Yang Wenyuan went out with Hualan and the maids Cuichan and Caizhan behind them.

"Young Master!" In the carriage, Chang Qing smiled foolishly.

Changqing had never been away from Yang Wenyuan for such a long time since he was a child. When he saw him now, he felt the joy of reunion after a long separation.

Yang Wenyuan also nodded happily.

He had been with Changqing for a long time, and when Changqing first left, he was a little uncomfortable and was not happy with his work and the people around him.

Fortunately, Changqing is back now.

Yang Wenyuan nodded with relief.

I have already fed you the pie in the sky that I painted, so you can use me however you want with peace of mind in the future.

There are more useful oxen and horses to use!

Soon the carriage began to move.

As Yang Wenyuan expected, the direction was Jiying Lane. Come to think of it, it made sense. After all, among all the people Yang Wenyuan was familiar with, Wang Ruofu was the one who was most familiar with cramming and burning incense to pray.

Even going outside the city to burn incense today might have been suggested by Wang Ruofu.

Jiying Lane.

There was a huge crowd of people standing in front of the gate of Sheng Mansion.

"Wow! Such a big scene!"

Yang Wenyuan got out of the car and saw this scene, and couldn't help but be amazed.

It must be said that, let’s not talk about anything else about the Sheng family, just talking about the enthusiasm of the masses, it is definitely one of the best in Bian Jing... Oh no, it’s one of the best in the Great Zhou.

No matter what the occasion or what the matter is, as long as it is an outing or a visit, the family members will definitely bring as much as they can. Emphasize that one person has great strength, and a small temple...

"Finally I'm here. Come on, Hua'er, come in the same car with me."

After a brief greeting, Wang Ruofu immediately began to call on everyone to get on the carriage, and then pulled Hua Lan towards the carriage while saying:
"Today we will visit all the temples and Taoist temples we visited last time in the same order. Mother has already made a list. Look, we will go to Ci'en Temple first, and then to..."

Wang Ruofu was chatting happily and Hualan was listening with interest.

Yang Wenyuan saw this scene and couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"They are indeed mother and daughter. Even though their personalities are very different, they have some similarities."

In Yang Wenyuan's impression, Hua Lan had never burned incense to pray to Buddha before, but after experiencing what happened during Wang Ruofu's imperial examination, it was as if she had awakened some attribute and she also built an incense hall in Zizeju. Like Wang Ruofu, it was usually idle...

"Why do you want to go too?" Yang Wenyuan asked Changbai in the carriage.

"My mother insisted on calling me here."

Changbai smiled bitterly and said:

"During the imperial examination, I was in the Imperial Examination Hall and didn't go. The gods and goddesses can understand that, but now it's my turn to be selected by the Imperial Academy, and I just happened to be on leave at home. I can't justify not going to fulfill my vow."

"..." Yang Wenyuan remained silent.

He was also fooled by this set of rhetoric.

He said he just happened to be taking a day off at home, and today was the day he chose on purpose.

Soon, the carriage stopped outside Ci'en Temple.

Today is not only a day off for Yang Wenyuan and others, but today happens to be April 15th, a day off for officials, so there are many officials and their families here today.

Moreover, looking around, there are many officials who have free time, wearing casual clothes and accompanying their families to Ci'en Temple.

As for how Yang Wenyuan could tell that others were officials, it was indeed not difficult.

You can tell a thing or two just from the aura and the clothes they wear.

As long as he wears brocade clothes, walks with open arms and does not show any sign of shrinking, he can be considered a member of a family even if he is not an official.

And there is another feature.

An official who dares to go out with his family to such a crowded place on such an official day off must be of a high rank.

After all, think about it, if you were a small official of the fifth rank, and you came to Ci'en Temple with your family, and you saw your boss on the left and a senior official on the right, and when you looked up, you happened to meet an earl or a marquis, then as a small official, you would definitely take the initiative to step forward and salute.

Not only will you fail to burn the incense, but you will also be exhausted to death.

Especially at times like this, there are still quite a few censors.

As the most active and nitpicking officials in the Zhou Dynasty, the censors like to make "secret visits" to crowded places when officials are on leave, especially Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, and restaurants.

At this time they will look at people with a magnifying glass.

Once you find any flaws, congratulations, when you go to court tomorrow, you will immediately experience the feeling of being a hot topic and it will become the topic of the paper at the court meeting that day.

Wang Ruofu naturally had no idea about the twists and turns and led a group of people straight into Ci'en Temple.

Soon, we arrived at the temple gate and an old monk came out to greet us.

As the saying goes, Buddha has his predestined friends.

As the financial sponsor of many temples and Taoist temples outside the city, Pingyang Marquis Mansion is a real Yuan Dynasty person.

Hua Lan was recognized by face when she came here before, and this time, as soon as she came in, someone was there to greet her.

"Donor, please come this way!"

After saying this, the monk led everyone, passing the people queuing in front of the incense burner at the door, and walked into the main hall.

After leading the people to the main hall, the monk asked them to burn incense and interpret the lots first. Then he apologized and temporarily withdrew. After a while, he brought the abbot of Ci'en Temple over.

The host, who looked old and peaceful, obviously knew who the main guest of today was. He simply bowed to Yang Wenyuan, and when he saw that Yang Wenyuan was not in the mood to talk, he went to Hualan and Wang Ruofu.

After a while, Hualan and Wang Ruofu brought a handful of incense sticks. After the incense sticks were burned, they distributed them to everyone one by one, and they began to kowtow and kneel in front of the Buddha statue.

After that, they drew lots and interpreted them, and then there was a ceremony unique to Yang Wenyuan and Changbai to fulfill their wishes.

After completing the whole process, you will arrive at Yuqing Temple after exiting Ci'en Temple.

It’s the same process as before.

Go out again...

Burn incense again...

Soon, we arrived at the last Buddhist temple, Daxiangguo Temple.

After entering the door and completing the same process, Yang Wenyuan and Changbai went out to get some fresh air. As a result, Changbai turned his head and glanced inadvertently, and saw a familiar figure.

"Zhong Huai?" Changbai called out doubtfully to the figure not far away.

As the shout fell, the voice paused for a moment, then turned around.

Yang Wenyuan took a look and found that it was Gu Tingye.

This made Yang Wenyuan look at Changbai with a strange look.

"Abai, you can do this too?"

I can only say that he is worthy of being called Bo Lan, he is so bold and domineering that he has such a telepathic connection with others.

"Why are you here?"

Gu Tingye also looked surprised and walked towards this side.

Changbai immediately explained the original quickly.

Gu Tingye suddenly realized, but then his expression dimmed a little, as if he was a little envious of Yang Wenyuan and Changbai for having such a big family to accompany them and having elders to take care of things.

"But Zhong Huai, what are you doing here?"

Changbai asked curiously:

"Are you here to fulfill a vow as well?"

Yang Wenyuan also looked over with the same curiosity. After all, Gu Tingye didn't seem like the kind of person who believed in gods and Bodhisattvas.

"I...what can I have..." Gu Tingye's eyes suddenly became uncertain.

Seeing that Gu Tingye was unwilling to speak, Yang Wenyuan suddenly asked:

"By the way, how is your relationship with Miss Yu going? Could it be..."

Yang Wenyuan said jokingly:
"Could it be that the elders of the Yu family refused to agree, and you had no choice but to come here to pray to the gods?"

Gu Tingye's face froze. He didn't expect Yang Wenyuan's thoughts to be so unconventional that he could actually think of this.

What about trust between people?
Besides, am I, Gu Tingye, that kind of person?
Gu Tingye was silent.

Seeing Gu Tingye remained silent for a long time, Changbai looked incredulous:

"No way? Zhong Huai, are you really...?"

"How can this be!"

Gu Tingye rolled his eyes at Yang Wenyuan in anger. Seeing that he couldn't pretend any longer, he simply came clean:

“It’s true that I came here for Miss Yu, but I’m not here to pray to the gods, but to seize the opportunity to win!

Old Master Yu has examined me these past few days and seems to think I am OK, but he is still unsure, so I came here to ask for divination."

(End of this chapter)