lcionline Chapter 677: The Grand Ceremony (for [Book Friend Kitten])
Chapter 677: The Grand Ceremony (for [Book Friend Kitten])
All papers must be submitted before sunset.
After being processed by the paper collecting officer and the sealing officer, the test paper will be sent to the paper marking officer for review.
All examiners were appointed by the emperor, usually eight in number. Gu Jinxiao, the Minister of Rites, was one of them.
They first read the candidates' test papers, then discuss them collectively, and finally divide them into different batches based on the quality of the test papers.
The top ten test papers were presented to the emperor for approval, and the rankings of top three were determined.
The remaining candidates will be ranked into the second and third places according to their scores.
According to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the palace examination was held on March 15, and the results were announced on March 19, which was also the grand ceremony of announcing the results.
The day before the grand ceremony of announcing the names of the candidates, the emperor would read the examination papers of the top ten candidates presented by the examiners in the western warm pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He would then fill in the order of the top three candidates in the first class with a red pen, and then determine the rankings of the remaining seven candidates.
Finally, these ten people were summoned to the emperor.
This process is called "xiaochuanlu".
The ten people had already received the imperial edict and were waiting outside the Yangxin Palace.
The official from the Ministry of Rites came out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and whispered to the ten tribute scholars, then led them in one by one to meet the emperor.
The emperor met with the ten people in order to further examine them, especially to observe the demeanor of the candidate for the top scholar.
Otherwise, no matter how talented a person is, if he has a rat-like appearance, wouldn't it damage the image of the court if he was chosen as the top scholar?
Finally, we arrived at Jiang Lingzhou.
He was thin and slender, as if the gentlest spring breeze could blow him down. He wore a well-tailored brocade robe, which made his shoulders and waist look narrower. When he walked, the corners of his robe swayed slightly with his steps, and he looked frail but not effeminate.
His eyebrows and eyes were extremely handsome, and his eyes were like a bay of autumn water, with a sense of freedom and uninhibitedness in his eyes. However, there was a hint of fatigue caused by his illness in his eyes.
He has a high nose bridge, light-colored lips, and a hint of paleness on his handsome face.
Among all the candidates of this year's exam, Jiang Lingzhou has the most outstanding appearance. In the previous imperial examinations, he would have been the well-deserved third place winner!
However, everyone understood that even for the auspicious sign of passing the top three exams, His Majesty would select him as the top scorer!
After entering the Yangxin Palace, Jiang Lingzhou knelt down and saluted: "Newly-appointed scholar Jiang Lingzhou pays respect to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
When he raised his hand, the wrist that was revealed looked like it was carved from the finest mutton-fat jade, revealing a slightly sickly white complexion. Every move he made was filled with the dignity and elegance of a young master from an aristocratic family.
But even when he was meeting the emperor, Jiang Lingzhou was not the least bit restrained, and he was casual, free and unrestrained. It seemed as if nothing in the world could restrain him.
If it weren't for his slightly pale face, who would have known that such a handsome and elegant man was actually a person suffering from illness.
The emperor values talent.
Especially young and talented people, they are even more cherished by the emperor.
In fact, it stands to reason that... a sickly person like Jiang Lingzhou is not suitable to be an official in the court, let alone be selected as the top scholar.
However, his talent was indeed extraordinary, and he almost became a Wenquxing, who only appears once every few hundred years and won the top three places in the imperial examination!
In the face of absolute talent, all conventions can be broken.
Nangong Xuanyu had already made up his mind, but he didn't say it out loud. He just said, "Stand up and raise your head to speak."
"Yes."
Jiang Lingzhou noticed that the emperor's voice sounded familiar. He raised his eyes and actually saw a familiar face.
Was it the young man in brocade clothes who guessed lantern riddles with him on the night of the Lantern Festival? !
Although Jiang Lingzhou met Shen Zhinian that night and saved her from the assassin.
But when guessing the riddles, Shen Zhinian was still wearing a hood, and Jiang Lingzhou didn't know that the virtuous concubine and the lady were the same person. Naturally, he had no way of knowing Nangong Xuanyu's identity.
At this moment, he suppressed the surprise in his eyes and said with a folded hand: "I didn't know that the person I met on the night of the Lantern Festival was Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Although all the new candidates have not yet entered officialdom, they have passed the joint examination and participated in the palace examination, and are qualified to become court officials. Naturally, they can call themselves "ministers" in front of the emperor.
The emperor looked at Jiang Lingzhou and said, "That night, I personally witnessed Li Yuanlang's talent and was very happy. What crime have you committed?"
Jiang Lingzhou lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise."
Next, Nangong Xuanyu tested Jiang Lingzhou on some issues concerning people's livelihood and governance.
He answered all the questions one by one, and his insights were very unique. Every solution he proposed was of great benefit to people's livelihood. He is worthy of being the one who won two prizes in a row!
Although Jiang Lingzhou's ideas were somewhat immature, he had not officially entered the court as an official, so it was normal for him to have no experience. After a few years of experience in the government, he would become much more experienced.
The emperor would naturally not mind such a harmless place.
From Jiang Lingzhou, he seemed to see the scene when Gu Jinxiao won the top spot in the imperial examination when the late emperor was still alive.
The same talent, the same young genius, so lovable!
After Jiang Lingzhou left, the emperor met with the remaining people one after another.
The next day.
The ceremony of announcing the imperial edict was officially held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The first class was awarded the title of Jinshi, and there were three people in total, namely the top scholar, the second scholar and the third scholar.
The number of people who were awarded the title of Jinshi in the second class is not fixed.
The third class was awarded the same Jinshi status.
However... there is also a chain of contempt among Jinshi, and there has always been a saying that "the same Jinshi is like a wife".
Tong Jinshi is the last class among the top three in the palace examination. Although they have the title of Jinshi, their status and honor are lower than those of the first two classes.
If the lady is a concubine, her status is lower than that of the principal wife. Although she is treated as a lady, she is not the principal wife in name.
Both are in a relatively awkward position.
The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works prepared corresponding clothing and official hats for each Jinshi.
A ceremonial umbrella was also prepared for the top scholar for him to use when attending the banquet at Jingzhao Yin and when returning home.
Beat the drum and open the palace gate!
The tribute scholars came in through the palace gate one after another and went to the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to wait.
Officials from the Honglu Temple stood on the east side of the Danbi and called out the names.
Many people held their breath nervously!
"The first place in the first class, Jiang Lingzhou, is the top scholar!"
The ceremonial officer led Jiang Lingzhou out of the line and knelt on the left side of the road in the hall.
Although everyone was not surprised by this result, there were still many envious eyes cast on Jiang Lingzhou.
Especially Lu Jianglin, who was standing in the crowd, looked at Jiang Lingzhou with extremely complicated eyes, mixed with a hint of...unspeakable jealousy.
Shen Nanqiao kept telling him every day that he would definitely become the top scorer and the number one scholar in the imperial examination. Lu Jianglin had already considered these two positions as his own.
Now all the glory and honor belonged to Jiang Lingzhou, how could Lu Jianglin not hate him? !
His only sister actually wanted to become Jiang Lingzhou's concubine... This alone was enough to make Lu Jianglin furious!
It’s a pity that no one cares about his feelings.