In these few days, regardless of Ning Boqiu's thoughts, Fang Xin was thinking about taking the imperial examination to become a jinshi.

  Tens of millions of people in the empire read books, but only tens of thousands are Xiucai. The vast majority of readers stop at the level of Xiucai for their entire lives after obtaining it!

  The number of successful candidates, nationwide, was limited to a quota set by the imperial court, with as few as thirty and no more than fifty per province. As a result, it was extremely difficult to obtain the status of juren, with only about one thousand being selected nationwide every three years.

  However, there is an unwritten rule for becoming a juren or jinshi: under the same conditions, the younger you are, the easier it is to pass. The reason is simple: if a young person has already reached this level, they have great potential and can still develop further; after middle age, it's difficult to make progress again.

  Secondly, from the imperial examination candidates onwards, the relationship between the teachers and the officials who administered the examinations, and the students became very close.

  Because of the direct granting of official positions to those who passed the imperial examination, passing the examination was equivalent to formally entering the official circle. The official circle is nothing more than factions, and factions are nothing more than teacher-student relationships. Which official wouldn't want enough students from their own faction to join?

  Therefore, the chief examiners will promote their own talents during the examination, and those who were selected as jinshi during this time had to address them with respect as "Fang Shi" or "Zuo Shi", which is a heavy favor.

  Whether it is a housemaster or a zushi, in the feudal officialdom, this master-disciple relationship follows closely after blood relationships and sometimes even surpasses them. This statement is indeed not empty words.

  It's common for sons to betray their fathers, but it's rare for students to betray their teachers. The crime of selling out one's teacher is a serious offense, even if the emperor himself were to intervene. It's likely that in official circles, too, advancement would be impossible.

  Based on this idea, whether it's Fang Shi or Zuo Shi, they all promote young people. This is not only easy to control but also has great potential, and in the future, they can support each other for decades. If you're middle-aged or older, think about how much value you have left? Moreover, even if you follow the imperial court's idea, you won't become a jinshi until your 40s or 50s. How many years of service can you still provide to the imperial court? Isn't this just the imperial court raising you for nothing?

  Forty is not yet established, fifty is not yet a scholar, and very few people can transcend this rule.

  But this time it's a bit different. I just took the Imperial Examination last year and now I'm taking the Enke again, which is equivalent to double the quota, so it's relatively easier to pass the Imperial Examination.

  Having understood this point, Fang Xin was no longer in a hurry. At such a young age, even if it were just the normal provincial exam, there would be people who saw his potential and took him under their wing. Not to mention now?

  At the moment, I am spending my days in leisure. Sometimes I play some fun games with the two little maids on the bed, and sometimes I eat the delicious dishes carefully prepared by Lan Ji. Of course, I don't forget to tell my mother He Shi about the news of taking another concubine. Thinking about it makes me laugh. A few months ago, this body was still a poor man with no one coming to propose marriage, but now I've suddenly taken in several more, and there are also several beautiful little maids serving me.

  This time, the chief examiner, Fang Xin also found out. Surname Zhao. Name Yangbin.

  This is a Hanlin scholar sent by the imperial court, a fifth-grade official. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be Fang Xinde's master. However, since there was no examination, neither the examinee nor the examiner could come and go freely to avoid idle talk, so both of them were quietly paying attention to each other - Zhao Yangbin also heard that a 15-year-old boy who had passed the imperial examination had gained the favor of the Marquis, and if he took him under his wing, it would be equivalent to establishing a relationship with the Marquis, so he was naturally attentive.

  The days passed quickly, and soon it was March 1st. Fang Xinyi got up early and went to the Provincial Academy for the exam. The process here was similar to that of the Imperial Examination, so I won't say much more about it. The only differences were that the rooms were a bit better and the supervision was stricter. Even the food brought in baskets was better - still not allowed to bring private things, fearing hidden items.

  Upon entering the room, this exam will still last for three days.

  The first day was the test of Tie Jing and Mo Yi, which is to test the basic skills. Fang Xin naturally wrote with spirit, and one stroke became a finished product. However, this time, when the time was up, no one came to collect it, nor did any examiner come in to see what you were writing - this is taboo. During the imperial examination, the papers are sealed and copied, and even the chief examiner is not allowed to enter the examination room to look at the papers, for fear of remembering the content and cheating.

  The next day was the examination on the meaning of classics, which was a discussion centered around the meaning of books. It was to see who could interpret the core of the classics better. At this time, Fang Xin made great progress in his studies and with just a little concentration, he wrote an essay that was extremely exquisite. Even he himself felt that it was more advanced than when he passed the Imperial Examination as a young man, and couldn't find any flaws in it.

  The third day is the policy argumentation, which is mostly derived from classics and connected with reality. This has high requirements for candidates, not only requiring good basic skills and article level, but also deep understanding of the intention.

  If it weren't for now, I would have made great progress in my studies. Writing this is still possible, but the grasp has decreased a lot. However, at this time, I wrote a piece with ease and fluency.

  After checking, it was found that there were no typos or format errors (i.e., no taboo characters or incorrect formatting), and Fang Xin rang the bell to indicate completion. Immediately, a man wearing an eighth-rank official uniform entered, followed by two ninth-rank officials' attendants. The three men did not speak, and the attendant stepped forward, performing the ritual of sealing the document in front of Fang Xin and the others.

  According to the imperial court's laws and regulations, during the examination of juren and jinshi, local educational officials and chief examiners dispatched by the imperial court supervised each other. Local educational officials presided over the process of covering up names and sealing, and also made copies of the examination papers; only then could the papers be sent to the chief examiner, in order to prevent revealing the examinee's identity from their handwriting.

  "Now that the exam is over, you can leave." The eighth-rank official, after affixing his seal, said indifferently: "On March 6th, you will be released from your duties. You may watch from in front of the Imperial Academy."

  "Yes, sir, I'm leaving." Fang Xing bowed his head and bid farewell with a slight bow before departing.

  After taking the exam, he felt that he had passed this time. This feeling is similar to the sixth sense, which is naturally produced after Yu Ruyi's upgrade and has been verified by several events.

  As soon as he returned to his own shop, he saw Lan Ji bringing two maidservants and waiting anxiously at the door. Seeing him come in, she calmed down instead, saying: "Husband, you must be tired, come have a cup of tea first."

  Fang Xin was overjoyed and had a cup of tea. Then he said: "Lan Ji, come out with me!"

  "Where is he going?" Lanki couldn't think of what he was saying now.

  "Go take a look at your house, I've already contacted them. After seeing several houses, now let you pick one again!"

  Originally the provincial capital, house prices are much more expensive than those in the counties, but there is also a good thing, that is, the Lu Hou Mansion is located here, close to the ground, I'm sure no one dares to disturb Lan Ji, Lan Ji comes from the Lu Mansion and can receive some care.

  At the moment, he ordered the shopkeeper to close the door and took the two maidservants and Lanji out. Lanji was so beautiful that they had to hire a horse-drawn carriage. On the carriage, looking at the scenery around, they arrived at Zhongli Alley, where an intermediary came to guide them. After viewing three houses, Fangxin smiled and said: "Let's take the second one!"

  This is a large mansion with five courtyards, covering an area of over 1,000 square meters. It's just that it's too old and worn out. Fang Xinyang looked up at the peeling paint on the eaves and said, "How did it end up like this? What year was it built?"

  "Master, this place was only built for eleven years and was originally the mansion of a seventh-grade official. Later, he was convicted and exiled, and this land became desolate. Don't look at its age, it's actually still sturdy, just repair it and it will immediately become a top-notch house!" The man said hastily.

  Fang Xing pointed again at the small building in the west and asked: "What is that building used for?"

  After hearing this, the man became somewhat nervous and said: "This is the boudoir of the young lady from that family. It's also extremely elegant!"

  Fang Xin couldn't help but laugh as soon as he heard it. In fact, he had already sensed a yin energy inside, probably another little ghost, maybe even a female ghost. Others might be afraid, but Fang Xin didn't care at all. He remained silent and watched the person walk away, pointing along the way.

  There are wing rooms, stables, ancestral halls, outer courtyards, middle courtyards, inner yards and so on. Although the garden inside is a bit small, it can be said that although the sparrow is small, all five internal organs are complete.

  Fang Xin listened attentively and nodded with a smile, then sighed and said: "In that case, I'll put up 300 taels of silver!"

  "Good heavens, sir! Your price is far too low. This should be worth at least 2,000 taels of silver. You're driving a hard bargain this time!" The man immediately cried out as if he had been stabbed several times.

  Fang Xin seemed to hear but not hear, looking at him shouting, this person shouted and shouted, seeing this gaze, the voice lowered.

  "Don't shout anymore. In front of a real person, don't tell lies. This house, except for me, there aren't many people who can afford it. I'm offering this price, which is already fair." Fang Xin said resolutely.

  This man, however, was stubborn and still refused to budge. He begged bitterly and finally added another 50 taels of silver before he would agree to process the land deed. Only then did he return to face the three people who were staring at him in shock.

  "Husband, what's this?" Lan Ji was too embarrassed to say that Fang Xin was even more mercantile than a merchant, and asked: "Is there something wrong with the house?"

  "There's nothing, just a ghost, you go and gather some people to clean up the house or come with me to take a look?" Upon hearing about ghosts, Lan Ji was fine, but the two maids turned pale.

  Martial arts are not ordinary, if they don't reach the fifth stage, they can't deal with ghosts, and can only defend themselves. No wonder they changed color, Fang Xindi's sword energy is special, originally it was to communicate with the air and move, at the fourth stage there is already a lethal force.

  "What are you afraid of? As long as a person has a strong sense of justice, ghosts and gods will not dare to intimidate them." Fang Xin smiled at them. In fact, this saying is also correct, but one must cultivate a strong sense of justice in order to do so.

  "Since you must go, I will naturally follow." Lan Ji gritted her teeth and said.

  Fang Xin smiled and went upstairs, but as soon as he did, he felt a darkness. This little ghost had indeed become a bit of a weather phenomenon, but he didn't think much of it. His body emitted holy light, which was like a small sun. Wherever the light reached, the dark energy was immediately purified.

  Went upstairs, but saw that it was different from other places, still no dust, and there was a piece of white paper on the table, elegant and proper, even the ink marks were not dry, Fang Xing took it to take a look.

  In a small foreign loft, I am buried in sorrow; painful memories of my parents come with the passage of time.

  There are still some poems that can be read, but tears fall as I try to write and no words come.

  "This is obviously the work of a female ghost. Fang Xin thought for a moment and praised, 'This female ghost still remembers her parents, not bad. Let's take a look at this female ghost's poetry.'"

  The two girls shrieked and huddled together, trembling uncontrollably, their teeth chattering. Lan Ji was also stunned, her face pale as she took a closer look and asked, "Is this the work of a female ghost?"

  "Ah, I suppose we can't leave this building, and just watch as our parents move away!" Fang Xin didn't think much of it, he took out a volume of the Hou Tu Jing from his bosom: "I won't be able to exorcise ghosts, but this scripture can, you all just wait and see."

  After finishing speaking, a white light rose up, and the three of them were stabbed by this white light. Their eyes hurt, and they vaguely saw a young lady floating out from the air.

  The two girls were so scared that they didn't dare look or scream, and hugged each other tightly.

  Lan Qi looked over with difficulty, but saw a vague black air mass, like a human shadow.

  "Your poem is quite good, what's your name? Have you ever killed anyone with it?"

  "I don't dare, I'm Du Shu, a young woman. Although I scared people away, I never dared to hurt anyone." The figure kneeling on the ground said, and in her eyes, both the scripture and the person were so terrifying.

  Fang Xin nodded his head in praise and said: "Not bad, how many years have you been dead?"

  "It's been eleven years since the young lady passed away, I wonder if her parents are still alive? Has my younger brother grown up, and is our old home still standing?" As she spoke, she couldn't help but cover her face, transparent tears falling into thin air, only to disappear without a trace.

  "In eleven years, how did you cultivate such powerful magic?" Fang Xin was somewhat curious, this female ghost had almost reached the second stage of Yin Spirit cultivation.

  "When I was a little girl, I used to love reading classics and books, and I also learned some breathing techniques from ancient scriptures. After I died and was trapped in this place, I would worship the moon every night, and unexpectedly, it really worked."

  "Unfortunately, you've been dead for too long and are probably in the underworld, where you'll be punished. Alright, I'll use this scripture to make you a household spirit girl. Although you're not a proper deity, you won't have to follow ghostly rules anymore. First, help my family by watching over us. Later, when you've made progress, you can naturally become a land spirit. How does that sound?"

  "Thank you, young master, for your great kindness!"

  Fang Xin was also experimental in nature. At the time, he recited the Hou Tu's Birth Scripture and then pointed with one finger: "From now on, the name of Hou Tu Niang Niang will be specially bestowed upon you as the Household Spirit Girl, it is done!"

  The words were spoken casually, but as soon as they were uttered, the earth shook in response. Suddenly a white light flew in and landed on the female ghost's body. The female ghost let out a mournful cry, rolled around on the ground, and after a moment got up. She transformed into a woman with autumn water-like eyes, wearing elegant clothes, and with dignified manners. She looked like a beautiful young lady from an official family. She bowed down: "Thank you, noble lady, thank you for your great kindness, sir."

  "Go now, you can go out and see your parents, come back by yourself later."

  "Yes!" Although it was daytime, the woman suddenly rolled up and transformed into a gust of wind, disappearing without a trace.