Chapter 325: Chapter 129: One More Subject_1
Miao Liangfang walked away, anxiety clouding his heart.
Yin Zheng poked her head out from the small kitchen and saw Lu Tong putting the velvet cloth into the medical chest. She came over and whispered, "Miss, could what Medical Officer Miao said be true...?"
She had just thought of coming out and happened to overhear Miao Liangfang’s words, which inevitably made her worry about Lu Tong.
Not to mention the Hanlin Medical Institute being a veritable dragon’s den, just considering Cui Min’s personal disdain and prejudice towards commoners, Lu Tong’s participation in this spring examination was fraught with difficulty.
"Whether it’s true or not, we’ll know when we get there." Lu Tong picked up her medical chest and stood up to walk inside the house.
She managed to sleep very deeply that night.
The next morning, as soon as day began to dawn, Lu Tong had washed and dressed.
As she opened the door, she saw Yin Zheng sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, yawning.
Hearing the movement, Yin Zheng turned her head, got up and walked over, stuffing two hot white cakes into Lu Tong’s hand, "Miss, eat something to fill your stomach for now, we’ll eat on the way."
Lu Tong was stunned.
Just like the autumn examination, the location for the spring examination of the Imperial Medical Bureau was at the Tribute Court. However, the number of candidates was not as many as those who took part in the autumn examination, because although ’medical officer’ does include the word ’officer,’ it wasn’t as prestigious as being an actual ’officer.’
The examination was to start at the hour of si, and Lu Tong had gotten out of bed at the hour of mao, which left two hours for the journey, more than enough time. Moreover, she wanted to go to the Tribute Court alone without Du Changqing and Miao Liangfang sending her off.
Alone, she was used to being alone.
Seeing her dazed expression, Yin Zheng showed a triumphant smile, came over and took Lu Tong’s arm, laughing, "Miss, don’t think about leaving me behind and going alone, let me send you off. I’ve never seen what the spring examination in the Capital City is like! Let me have a look too!"
Slender fingers gripped her arm tightly, as if fearing she might run away in the blink of an eye. The small patch of skin on her own arm quickly warmed up, seemingly dispelling the chill of the early spring morning.
Lu Tong stared at the hand resting on her arm for a while, then lowered her head and said, "Let’s go."
"Alrighty!"
The carriage had been arranged beforehand and was waiting at the alley entrance bright and early.
From West Street to the Tribute Court was neither too close nor too far, not even half an hour’s journey. Lu Tong finished the two white cakes with Yin Zheng in the carriage, had some water, and soon heard the coachman at the front saying, "Misses, we’ve arrived."
The carriage came to a stop.
Lu Tong and Yin Zheng hopped out of the carriage.
In her year in Shengjing, this was Lu Tong’s first visit to the Tribute Court. Miao Liangfang had already briefed her on the spring examination, and she had learned about the layout of the Tribute Court from Scholar Wu, but it felt different now that she was truly there.
It was early spring. The snow on Wan’en Temple mountain had not yet melted, but the willows of Shengjing were already casting swaying shadows.
Thin willows had been planted all around the Tribute Court, budding with fresh green shoots. After last autumn examination’s upheaval, the Tribute Court had been refurbished, and in the midst of those fluttering green mists, the two large vermillion pillars at the entrance stood out strikingly. On one side, the pillars were inscribed in black ink: "When the treasured sword is drawn, the stars stir; as the golden saddle parts from the horse, it whinnies."
The other side read: "With a five-colored brush in hand, one seizes the brocaded title."
The brushstrokes were strong; the energy was soaring.
This was the main entrance to the Tribute Court.
Examining officers patrolled the gate. Lu Tong approached and showed them her exam document. They browsed through a booklet, scrutinized Lu Tong from head to toe, and then gestured for her to go in.
Yin Zheng wasn’t allowed to follow and could only wait outside the court, gripping Lu Tong’s hand a bit too hard.
Lu Tong patted the back of her hand reassuringly and walked in with her medical chest on her back.
...
At this moment, at the entrance of the Tribute Court, some exam candidates were standing around waiting.
Since it was still early, the doors to the exam cells had not yet opened. In front of the exam cells was a large open space covered with a long canopy made of curtains, under which many bamboo stools were placed for the early arriving candidates to rest.
Under the canopy, many early students sat, some reviewing the medical books in their hands, intending to look over them a few more times before the examination began. Most were gathered in one spot, chatting about the recent gossip.
The young man leading the discussion, dressed in the distinctive blue cloth shirt of an Imperial Medical Bureau student, was animatedly sharing the latest gossip he had heard.
"I hear that in today’s spring examination, there’s a commoner medical worker, and a woman at that. Have you heard about her?"
The man at the other end of the canopy, who was flipping through a medical book, raised his head with a grin, "I’ve heard about her too, that woman was involved in some scandals with the house of Minister of Imperial Treasury Dong Lin and even caused a rift between him and his mother!"
"Cao Huai, is what you’re saying true?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding people immediately murmured in wonder.