readsfreenovel Chapter 327 Free Accommodation
Chapter 327 Free Accommodation
Students from all over the country gradually flocked to Xianyang. Among them, some were full of vigor and ambition, as if victory was in their grasp; others were filled with anxiety and trepidation, fearing failure. But regardless of their state of mind, everyone was filled with boundless anticipation and eager expectation for a bright future.
In late February, the city of Xianyang was bathed in warm sunshine and a gentle breeze, and a unique atmosphere of liveliness permeated the streets and alleys. This liveliness did not stem from ordinary market transactions or festival celebrations, but from the fact that the imperial examinations were about to begin, and scholars from all over the country were flocking to the capital to pursue their dreams of an official career.
On this bustling street, a figure stood out from the crowd. It was Chen Xuan. He carried a simple bag on his back, containing a few changes of clothes and some precious books. He had a handsome face, and his brows revealed an air of intelligence, yet his eyes were filled with confusion and unease. This young man, carrying a wealth of knowledge and a grand ambition to serve his country and its people, had traveled thousands of miles from a remote town to this place, hoping to showcase his talents in the imperial examinations and realize the value of his years of diligent study.
Chen Xuan's family was not wealthy; his parents were honest, hardworking farmers who barely made ends meet with their few acres of meager land. Despite their poverty, they devoted everything they had, scrimping and saving to support their son's education, hoping he would one day achieve academic success and bring honor to their family. Carrying his family's earnest expectations and his own bright hopes for the future, Chen Xuan embarked on his journey to Xianyang.
When he finally arrived in the capital city of his dreams, he discovered that reality was far more difficult than he had imagined. There were numerous inns in Xianyang, so finding a place to rest shouldn't have been difficult. However, due to the influx of examinees, almost every inn had a "Full" sign hanging high above its door. Chen Xuan walked from the east to the west of the city, his feet already blistered, and his steps growing increasingly heavy. His initial anticipation was gradually replaced by anxiety; he began to worry that he might end up homeless, or even miss this crucial imperial examination.
At this moment, Chen Xuan stood alone in the middle of the bustling street, surrounded by hurried crowds and the incessant noise of carriages. Looking at the unfamiliar yet prosperous scene before him, he suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of loneliness and helplessness. The city seemed like a giant maze, tightly surrounding him, leaving him unable to find a way out. Just as he was lost and confused, unsure of where to go, a constable in official robes noticed the forlorn young man.
The official strode forward with a steady gait, a kind smile on his face, and asked in a friendly tone, "May I ask if you, sir, are a student here to take the imperial examination?"
Chen Xuan suddenly came to his senses, as if he had grasped a lifeline, and hurriedly nodded and said, "Yes."
The officer then asked, "Then, please tell me your name. Also, may I ask where you are from and what region you are a candidate from?"
Although Chen Xuan had some doubts, seeing that the other party's expression was serious and did not seem to have any ill intentions, he honestly told him his name, hometown and other relevant information.
The official listened attentively, and after Chen Xuan finished speaking, he took out a notebook he always carried with him from his pocket, and then carefully flipped through it. Time passed by, and Chen Xuan stood there quietly waiting, feeling somewhat uneasy.
After a long while, the officer let out a long sigh of relief and said happily, "Found it!" However, before he finished speaking, he did not stop what he was doing. Instead, he continued to ask Chen Xuan for more detailed personal information.
This made Chen Xuan wary. He frowned slightly and asked suspiciously, "Sir, what is the purpose of your questioning me so thoroughly?"
The official looked up, meeting Chen Xuan's wary gaze. A gentle smile played on his lips as he explained softly, "Young master, please don't be hasty or misunderstand. To be honest, it's because our Princess Jiayang is considerate of all the scholars who have come to take the imperial examinations. Knowing that you may have traveled a long way to Xianyang and might be facing the predicament of having nowhere to stay, she has specially arranged several residences for you talented scholars participating in this imperial examination to stay and rest for free. However..."
At this point, the official paused slightly, then deliberately emphasized his words, saying, "To prevent anyone from impersonating another person to participate in the imperial examination, we must verify everyone's identity information before you check in."
Hearing this, Chen Xuan finally felt relieved and deeply admired Princess Jiayang's righteous act. He quickly bowed deeply to the official and sincerely said, "So that's how it is. I am truly ashamed that I almost misunderstood you, sir. I haven't found a place to stay yet and I was just worrying about this. I never expected the princess to be so kind and compassionate. She is truly a great benevolent person."
Seeing this, the official smiled and nodded in agreement, saying, "That's natural. The princess has always been kind-hearted and charitable. This action is also to help all the candidates so that they can focus on their studies and strive for success."
Afterwards, the official led Chen Xuan towards a courtyard. Along the way, Chen Xuan curiously observed the cityscape of Xianyang. The streets were lined with shops of all kinds, and pedestrians thronged the area, displaying its prosperity. Before long, they arrived at an old-fashioned house. The gate was open, and several students were already waiting to register and check in.
Chen Xuan followed the officials into the residence. The courtyard was spacious and bright, with several willow trees swaying gracefully in the spring breeze, as if welcoming these dreamers who had traveled from afar. An elderly man was in charge of registration, carefully checking the identity information of each student. When it was Chen Xuan's turn, the old man carefully examined his documents and compared them with the records in the officials' notebooks. Only after confirming that everything was correct did he write Chen Xuan's name on the check-in list.
Chen Xuan walked briskly into the clean and tidy room, his eyes immediately drawn to its furnishings. The room contained four neatly made beds and an equal number of desks. Although the furnishings were relatively simple, the warm atmosphere conveyed by its simplicity was incredibly comfortable.
He looked closely and noticed that three of the beds already had luggage on them, indicating that others had already checked into the room. So, Chen Xuan went straight to the empty bed and gently placed his belongings on it. Then, he leaned closer to examine the bed more closely. It was clearly well-made, the perfect size for just one person to sleep comfortably.