The old Hanlin saw Xu Xian turn around the screen wall and walk out of the courtyard. He turned his eyes to the locust flowers on the tree and sighed softly, "You must be recorded in the history books, together with those famous sayings. But I don't know if you will be recorded in the biographies or in the noble families." The biographies of ordinary officials were recorded in the biographies, but the biographies of dukes and marquises were recorded in the noble families.
"Today, let me write the first stroke for you!"
The old Hanlin withdrew his eyes and looked at the white paper in front of him, which was already half full. Among the words, "A gentleman loves money, but he takes it in a proper way." It recorded some of Xu Xian's words and deeds. He picked up the brush and added, "Approachable." He wanted to write something else, but he put down the brush.
Though his feelings about Xu Xian were far more than that, the historian couldn't mix his personal opinions in the history books. Even if he wanted to express his own opinions, he had to use other people's words to describe how people or famous people evaluated Xu Xian. Even if he couldn't help but imitate Sima Qian by saying "Taishi Gong said", he had to be concise and cautious.
The old man smiled leisurely. Xu Xian would also work in the Hanlin Academy in the future, so he couldn't get away from the old man. The old man had to observe him carefully and record him in detail. Maybe one day he would be able to leave his name in the history books.
As a result, his dream came true. His records provided rich historical materials for the later generations to study the great poet Xu Xian.
…
The sun rose little by little. In front of the Wenyuan Hall, the scholars who had finished their examinations entered the hall one by one.
Though the questions were strange, including all kinds of classics and history books, the scholars were not easy to answer. Most of them could answer the questions.
Even if some of them were embarrassed and couldn't answer the questions, the Grand Secretary only said a few words of encouragement and then let them into the hall. It was not as strict as they had imagined, which made the scholars feel relieved.
It was reasonable. The positions of the scholars were nominally appointed by the Emperor, so the Grand Secretary had to accept them. Even if they were not talented enough, they would be graded according to the evaluation in the future.
But the atmosphere in the hall was still very serious. The Hanlin didn't relax at all. Instead, they became more and more serious, and looked at the door from time to time.
Those who could come here were not stupid. On the contrary, they were young and vigorous. Even if they didn't realize it at the beginning, they now realized who the real target of the scholars was.
They lowered their voices and discussed. A young scholar smiled and said to the scholar next to him, "It turns out that we are the fish in the moat in the fire of the city gate."
The person at the side replied, "That's right, I was wondering why something like this suddenly happened. I wonder what these people will use to test that Xu Xian. It can't be poetry, right?"
The young Jinshi raised his eyebrows. "Compose a poem?" He looked around, lowered his voice, and whispered into his companion's ear, "You're courting death!
"Xian is Xian Hanlin won't." Xian won, even if he, "." He Lin Academy Xian Xian Chen Book.
"He is. and. Hanwon't do do. know what he Xian Xian Xian teach.
Let's see if it's' Xu Xian sweeping Hanlin Academy 'or' Xu Xian receiving teachings from Hanlin Academy '. "
At this time, two figures appeared outside the door. They were Xu Xian and Pan Yu.
Seeing them, all the onlooking scholars stretched their necks, and the Hanlin's eyes lit up.
Xu Xian couldn't help but sigh. He was still so energetic after staying up all night!
Only the Grand Secretary didn't say anything. He didn't even look at Xu Xian. After the other scholars finished questioning, Xu Xian stepped forward and said, "I'm Xu Xian. Greetings, Your Excellencies. I saw something in the Hanlin Academy on the way and thought of something, but I couldn't figure it out. I'm late. Please forgive me."
He looked up and saw that the Grand Secretary's hair was sparse and gray, and his face was full of wrinkles. He looked very old, at least 50 or 60 years old.
The Grand Secretary looked at Xu Xian and said in a hoarse voice, "You are Xu Xian!" Then he asked, "I don't know what you saw that made you late!"
Xu Xian smiled and said, "I saw a small pond in the Hanlin Academy, with some willows and pagoda trees planted by the pond. The willows had green leaves, and the pagoda had white flowers.
At that time, the red sun was rising, and the morning mist had not dispersed, lingering in the air. It was very elegant.
The Hanlin Academy is really a different world. "
Seeing Xu Xian talking about the scenery, the others thought he was making up an excuse for being late, but they felt that it was not a good excuse.
The young scholar laughed and said, "It's too late to flatter now!
Should he beg these masters to let him go? "
His companion sighed and said, "People under the eaves have to bow their heads. Do you think these people are easy to offend?
It's not a bad thing to know when to yield and when to stand tall! "
Cheng Cangjian said nothing. He saw that Pan Yu didn't go back to the hall, but stood not far from Xu Xian, waving the folding fan in her hand. She looked at Xu Xian, who was talking with confidence and composure, with a faint smile on her lips.
Suddenly, a thought came to his mind, "It would be great if these Hanlin Scholars made a fool of Xu Xian."
He was also shocked by his own thoughts. How could he have such a dark and gloomy thought? Where did all the effort he had spent on cultivating his nature and Qi go?
The scholar of Five Classics who led the way said, "That's it?
The great Xu Tanhua, who came from the south of the Yangtze River, is used to the beautiful scenery of the West Lake. Will he be fascinated by this small scenery? "He was the mastermind of this plan, so of course he had to stand out.
Xu Xian laughed and said, "Each has its own charm!"
The Grand Scholar understood the underlying meaning of Gu Xijiu's words, and asked, "When you saw this scene, what puzzled you?"
Xu Xian said, "I thought of a couplet, but I could only think of the first one. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't think of the second one. Has it become absolute?"
The scholar of Five Classics said, "Oh, you can't even think of the Tanhua?
Then it must be very difficult. Why don't you tell me? All the scholars here are knowledgeable, and maybe they can help you to understand it. "
He thought, "You're good, Xu Xian. You even used the strategy of" preemptive strike ". It must be that person in the library who leaked the information.
But you are exposing your own shortcomings and showing off your slight skill in front of an expert. Haven't you heard that there are no absolutes in the world?
As long as you are matched by us, you will immediately lose your limelight. "
"There are no absolutes in the world" was said by a great scholar of the previous dynasty, which meant that there were no couplets in the world that could not be matched. This truth had been proven for thousands of years.
Even if there were one or two couplets that were regarded as absolutes, there would immediately be scholars who were knowledgeable to solve them.
Each of the so-called "Seven Absolutes" found by the Hanlin scholars also had an answer. Otherwise, if Xu Xian couldn't answer them and they couldn't answer him, they would be humiliated.
At this time, all the Hanlin scholars and scholars were excited. Now the "Number One Scholar in the World" admitted that he was incompetent. No matter who could match the couplet, it would prove that they were better than the "Number One Scholar in the World". This kind of temptation was not small. Scholars might not have good benefits, but they all had good reputations.
For these people, matching couplets was like eating and drinking. No one would think that they could not match it. Now they only had to wait for Xu Xian to come up with a couplet.
Only Pan Yu was a little worried. On the way, Xu Xian did not tell her what he had thought of. Now it seemed that this method was not very good. Even if he came up with a difficult couplet, these people could not match it for a while. In the future, when it was spread all over the world, there would always be people who could match it. It would inevitably damage his reputation.
Pan Yu thought to herself, "No, let me match it. If anyone here can match it, I will find the right time to say it in advance. If no one can match it, I will go back and ask Hanwen to match it immediately."
Cheng Cangjian was keenly aware of the hidden worry between Pan Yu's eyebrows. He immediately made up his mind to match the couplet!
Hanlin scholars, scholars, even Cheng Cangjian, and Pan Yu were all focused. Under their intense gazes, Xu Xian felt like he was in a wolf's den, surrounded by hungry wolves. He was shocked. Even the Grand Secretary, who had always been calm, showed an expression of interest. He did not expect that a small couplet would be related to the title of "Number One Scholar in the World".
Xu Xian coughed into his fist and said loudly, "Do you have water?"
Everyone was stunned. A few highly focused Jinshi almost fell to the ground.
Pan Yu glared at him, but a smile appeared on her face.
Xu Xian scratched his head and pretended to be embarrassed, "I'm just joking!"
The scholars urged, "Hurry up and say it!"
Xu Xian said, "Then it's for real this time!
When I saw the scenery by the pond, I suddenly thought of a couplet. It's called 'Smoke Locks the Willow Over the Pond'. "
As soon as Xu Xian's voice died away, the crowd immediately responded, "Fog Encircles the Pine Mountains", "Clouds Seal the Moon in the Sky", and so on. Not long after, there were more than a dozen couplets.
Xu Xian couldn't help but sigh at her own charm when she saw how many people responded to her call.
Pan Yu, Cheng Cangjian, the Grand Secretary, and some of the more composed Hanlin scholars all had a thoughtful look on their faces.
The scholars were slow and did not catch the opportunity. It was too late for them to match it now. They said with disdain, "Xu Tanhua, this is too simple …" But they suddenly realized that the five couplets contained "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth". With the five elements as the side, none of these couplets that came out were correct.
And those who matched the couplets immediately understood after being reminded by the people around them. Their faces turned red and they hurriedly tried to think.
At this time, only Xu Xian did not think of any couplets. He observed the expressions on everyone's faces. He knew that this couplet was the closest to the answer, "Cannon on the Tower of Suppressing the Sea". But even this couplet was not only different in concept, but also in rhythm. It could only be regarded as far-fetched, not to mention other couplets.
In China's thousands of years of feudalism, the number of couplets that could be called couplets was less than a handful. But the other couplets were either lacking in concept or only good at mechanisms. The couplet that could really be recognized by scholars was actually only "Smoke Locks the Willow Over the Pond". The couplet was beautiful and natural. It was almost an extravagant hope to come up with a couplet of the same standard.
It was the only couplet that existed throughout the ages.
When Xu Xian presented this couplet, it was really the king of all couplets. Gods and Buddhas avoided it.
He laughed in his heart, "My couplet has penetrated my intestines!"