novelden Chapter 105 The Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination
Chapter 105 The Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination
Three days later, the palace examination will be held.
By the time of the palace examination, the examination content was no longer limited to essays and poems, but turned into policy questions, with a limit of more than a thousand words. The examination papers were reviewed by the Hanlin scholars and graded into A and B grades. The top ten papers were then presented to the emperor for his review.
The top three in the first rank were collectively known as "the bestowed Jinshi degree," and their appointments were made immediately after the selection.
There were about fifty people in the second class, and the first place was called "Chuanlu". The second class was collectively called "Cijinshi Chushen".
The top three ranks consisted of approximately 150 people, collectively referred to as "given the title of Jinshi".
Those ranked in the second or third class still need to undergo another imperial examination before they can be granted official positions.
The morning light is slightly dew.
The candidates for the imperial examination had already gathered outside the palace gates, their faces showing tension and unease.
At the summons of the imperial aunt, the palace gates slowly opened, and two hundred tribute students entered in turn.
Because of the large number of candidates taking the palace examination, and because the seating arrangement was determined by the ranking in the provincial examination, nearly half of the candidates were placed in the square outside the palace.
As the top scholar, Lin Shu naturally sat at the very front of the Golden Palace, on the right.
Once everyone had found their place, they waited quietly for the emperor's arrival.
As the sun rose higher, it shone on the faces of the candidates outside the hall. Whether from the sun or from nervousness, some candidates had beads of sweat on their foreheads.
As a melodious bell rang, an aunt cracked a whip in front of the palace. Empress Feng Han, dressed in a black phoenix robe and wearing a pearl crown, walked slowly into the palace with more than a dozen supervising ministers. The Prince of Dingbei was also among them, his face cold and stern.
"Long live your majesty!"
Lin Shu and the other examinees knelt down and kowtowed, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The voices of the two hundred people resounded throughout the entire imperial city.
"Rise! Take a seat." Feng Han's voice echoed in the hall, booming and solemn, quite different from his usual private demeanor.
Her gaze slowly swept down, lingering briefly on Lin Shu.
After all the students had taken their seats in front of their respective examination desks, Feng Han first offered a few words of encouragement, and then said, "This year's palace examination will be personally presided over by me. You are all pillars of my Fengming nation, and I hope you will all display your talents!"
Upon hearing this, some candidates with poor mental fortitude turned pale. In previous imperial examinations, the questions were drafted by ministers and ultimately decided by His Majesty, but they were all written down in lengthy documents.
If it were to be dictated now, wouldn't it be easy to accidentally omit a sentence or two...?
However, before they could think further, Feng Han had already spoken:
"To ensure that officials are honest and upright, the people are simple and honest, the populace is prosperous, etiquette and education are complete, music is harmonious, schools are thriving, and agriculture and sericulture are developing in competition; good teachers hope to win without fighting, and generals emphasize strategy first; to eliminate the chaos in the palace without resorting to war; to eliminate the dust and strife on the border for a long time without arduous transportation, so as to benefit the country and defend the border, we urgently need good strategies. Speak frankly on the key points of government affairs, and I will read them personally."
Fortunately, the question was not long. After Feng Han finished speaking, Lin Shu heard the candidates behind her all groaning inwardly.
It wasn't just because of the palace examination questions, but also because the supervising ministers had been moving among the candidates ever since they ordered the exam to begin. In particular, wherever Ling Huanan went, there was a candidate silently trembling.
Until one student, overwhelmed by anxiety, suddenly fainted...
"Quickly! Take him away." The imperial aunt hurriedly ordered the guards in the hall to take the person away.
Such a commotion was naturally seen by Feng Han in the hall. While sighing with disappointment at the restless candidates, she also glared at Ling Huanan with a warning.
Ling Huanan caught her gaze, raised an eyebrow, and stepped forward from behind.
Lin Shu did not rush to write, but closed her eyes and pondered, seemingly thinking of a solution.
Although the questions for this imperial examination were short, they examined various aspects, including clean governance, prosperity of the people, complete rites and music, flourishing education, and military strategy, requiring candidates to propose sound policies for national benefit and border security.
After a long while, she opened her eyes and noticed that someone was standing beside her. It was Ling Huanan. Ling Huanan frowned when he saw that she had not written anything for so long.
Seeing this, a woman to Lin Shu's left and behind secretly rejoiced: So what if you passed the imperial examination? Let's see how you write under the watchful gaze of the Prince of Dingbei, the god of death.
Lin Shu seemed oblivious, and amidst the sympathetic gazes of the other candidates, she picked up her pen and began to write:
By restoring simplicity and honesty, revitalizing decadent customs, bringing prosperity, promoting the virtuous and talented, and dismissing the wicked, by employing capable people, commending those who are studious and diligent in farming, and by sending envoys to open up trade routes with other countries, the nation can achieve prosperity, peace on its borders, and widespread renown.
Ling Huanan watched for a while, and seeing that she wrote with divine inspiration, he gave her a complicated look before returning to the Empress's side with a bored expression.
For a moment, all that could be heard was the scratching sound of the pen tip moving across the paper.
At noon, more than two hundred scrolls were collected, and dozens of Hanlin scholars reviewed them one by one. In less than half an hour, they selected the ten best scrolls and presented them to Feng Han.
Feng Han reviewed each paper, nodding or frowning from time to time. Each of the ten papers had its own merits, and two of the first few papers were particularly noteworthy, both of whom came from poor families.
When Feng Han read Lin Shu's passage, her eyes lit up. She picked up her pen and marked many places with circles. The strategy was clear, logical, and well-organized. It not only proposed solutions to the problem but also foresaw possible difficulties and countermeasures...
Although Lin Shu's subsequent papers were also well-written, they were ultimately a little lacking and slightly inferior. However, these top three papers were causing her some concern.
At that moment, Feng Han caught a glimpse of a name—Qi Min!
The eldest daughter of Qi Xin, the Minister of the Six Ministries, wrote a beautiful essay, which also revealed her genuine talent and learning. The top three cannot all be from commoner families, so the top three can be determined.
Once the results were announced, the Queen herself read out the names.
During the half hour of reviewing the papers, all the officials had gathered in the hall. The candidates were led away by the officials of rites to have their meals and change into their official robes, wearing three-branched, nine-leaf crowns. They were now all standing at the end of the court, awaiting orders.
After all the officials had paid their respects, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial began to lead the newly appointed scholars to their places.
"The announcement begins!" the official from the Court of State Ceremonial announced loudly, his voice echoing throughout the hall, each word carrying a sense of solemnity and reverence.
Feng Han sat upright on the high platform, his expression calm, and said:
"I have seen the essays of all the candidates, and they are all brilliantly written and insightful. I hereby express my approval through the grace of Heaven."
Lin Shu was exceptionally talented and was awarded the title of Zhuangyuan (top scholar) in the imperial examination.
Chen Jin was exceptionally talented and was awarded the second-highest rank in the imperial examination.
Qi Min was renowned for his elegant writing and handsome appearance, and was awarded the title of Tan Hua (third-ranked scholar) in the imperial examination.
As soon as Feng Han finished speaking, Lin Shu quickly snapped out of her reverie at the name 'Chen Jin' and joined the other two in expressing their gratitude:
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
"No need for formalities. As for the official position, I will bestow it upon you at the Deer Cry Banquet three days from now."
……
Next came the announcement of the second-class and third-class Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). After all this was done, it was time for them to parade through the streets on horseback.
At the exact hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Lin Shu and her two companions rode forward, followed closely by the ceremonial guard, with the second and third-ranked scholars trailing behind.
Today, the top scholar is parading through the streets, and the city's main streets and alleys are teeming with people. Many noble men will choose the elegant high places on both sides of the parade to try and catch a bride.
"Ah! The three ladies who topped the list this year are all outstanding individuals!"
"The top scholar's wife is truly beautiful, aloof as ice, yet utterly captivating..."
"..."
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