After the exam is over

  Three thousand examinees, as if they had put down a heavy burden of a thousand catties, did not think much about anything else and spent their days playing in the imperial capital with their companions. Even those who were usually serious and never joked also did so.

  At this time, Gongyuan no longer managed them. The Jia Shi basically withdrew and left only 50 people to maintain order.

  But such revelry is like the death throes, after all, taking the Imperial Examination is actually equivalent to taking the Provincial Examination, and since none of the successful candidates in the Palace Examination were eliminated, they were only rearranged by the Emperor, so there was no difference - among 3,000 people, less than 60 were taken, how tragic?

  This grand examination of three thousand people, with five days for reading and writing papers, and another five days to determine the names and post the list, thus it is that on August 11th, the list will be posted.

  Not to mention that day, even in the few days leading up to August 7th, everyone was already distracted and restless. By the early morning of August 11th, it was as if everyone had fallen silent, with an air of tension, anxiety, and even fear hanging over them. Among the three thousand people, only about three hundred managed to appear calm on the surface, while only thirty were truly calm at heart.

  When it comes to the crunch, Zhu Mingyi, Zou Lixing, Li Rui and Zheng Chengyi all have no choice but to go.

  Along the way, I saw a large crowd of people surging forward.

  Everyone was silent, just walking along the road, not far from the Gongyuan, they saw some candidates returning along the way, each with a dejected expression, listless, and it was clear at a glance that they had already failed.

  Seeing this situation, except for Fang Xin, the other three people all turned pale.

  Fang Xin didn't say a word, but even Zheng Chengyi, who was known for his broad-mindedness, had clenched his fists until they turned white. In his heart, he let out a sigh. Once on the list, he would be famous throughout the land, and his future prospects would be vast. If he wasn't selected, what face would he have to meet his family and the hopes and expectations of his clan?

  No wonder they turned pale.

  Arrived at the gate of Gongyuan, there was no longer a stern row of armored soldiers, only small teams of ten people. However, there were several more minor officials at the gate, and anyone who held a copper plate could enter, but the copper plates were also taken back.

  Inside the Gongyuan, there are a total of four identical lists, so you can choose any one to look at. Although there are three thousand candidates, even if they are divided, there are only hundreds of sheets. Moreover, those who did not pass the exam would also be ashamed to stay there and naturally went out. Therefore, Fang Xing and his three friends chose to look at the nearest east wall. At that time, there were more than 200 candidates.

  There weren't many people, and Fang Xin didn't need to exert himself to squeeze in. He just took a glance from the outside. Lin Lei

  Gongsheng list, same as Juren list

  The first list had ten people, the second list had twenty people, and the third list had thirty people. Fang Xin quickly scanned the first list, and as soon as he saw it, he noticed that the second place was taken by Pei Xu Ye. The other few people were all unfamiliar, and after scanning through the ten names, he didn't see him, so Fang Xin's heart tightened.

  He thought to himself that the article he wrote was the essence of a thousand years of sages. How could he not be on the first list? Fang Xinde calmed down and ignored the curses and sighs of the surrounding scholars, continuing to look at the second list. At a glance, the first name was his own, Li Rui from Jiangfu.

  Fang Xin also let out a sigh of relief, and then looked again, but did not notice that there were three other people's names on the second list. It wasn't until he scanned to the third list, at number twenty-one, that he finally saw Zheng Chengyi's name.

  After scanning for a moment, there was still no name of Zhu Mingyi and Zou Lixing. It was clear that the two had not passed the Gongshi examination. However, since two people from Jiangfu had passed the Gongshi examination, it was already considered good enough. Moreover, who knows if there were any unfamiliar scholars from Jiangfu who also passed?

  He no longer looked at the list and walked out.

  At a glance, indeed, Zhu Mingyi and Zou Lixing were pale as paper, with no dignity to be seen. In fact, they had also looked at the list and knew that they had fallen, but they still didn't give up, thinking that maybe they had missed it, and looked carefully again.

  As for Zheng Chengyi, his eyes were fixed on the twenty-first name on the third list, his whole body trembling so much that people thought he was ill.

  But this is a very normal situation, and some people even fainted from watching, making everyone in the hospital busy.

  At this moment, several officials in the Imperial Academy shouted in front of the list: "Those who have not passed the examination should leave the Imperial Academy. Those who have passed as tribute scholars should wait for an audience."

  Under this urging, Zhu Mingyi and Zou Lixing finally woke up with a start, and had to walk out. Fang Xin shook his head with a bitter smile, comforting them by saying: "Alas, the examination has its destiny, my younger brother was lucky enough to pass, but I feel that my talent is limited and I am ashamed. However, two great talents like you did not pass, it must be that your luck was not good this time, next year will surely be better." Zhu Mingyi had now fully woken up, and said gloomily: "Brother Li's talent, we all admire, passing the examination as a tribute scholar is only natural. As for us, alas, we should still study hard for three more years!"

  Zou Lixing had not yet woken up, with a dazed expression, Zhu Mingyi pulled him away, after all, the Gongyuan was already urging them.

  A moment later, everyone on the scene had already become a gentleman.

  Zheng Chengyi finally came to, with boundless joy, and sighed as he said: "Younger brother, who would have thought that today we can finally become a jinshi, it was not in vain for me to study diligently for twenty years."

  Fang Xin laughed: "Brother Zheng, you must calm down first, the ceremony to meet the master is about to begin, and tomorrow is the imperial examination, you must take care of your spirit, don't make a mistake in front of the emperor."

  The chief examiner is the one who holds the power to decide the fate of the candidates. For those who have passed the provincial examination, whether or not they pass the imperial examination is another turning point in their lives. Among three thousand candidates, only sixty will be on the list - what an honor it is!

  In an era that attaches great importance to etiquette, this kindness is heavier than the kindness of parents and is as important as rebirth. Therefore, once a new scholar has been accepted, he must be grateful to his master for life.

  However, as the emperor felt that this relationship was too heavy, after the imperial examination, he immediately proceeded to the palace examination and did not allow successful candidates to call themselves disciples of a certain master, so they were only allowed to pay their respects on the day the list was announced, at noon in the Imperial Academy.

  As expected, it didn't take long before the sixty new jinshi, arranged in order of ranking and divided into three batches, entered to pay their respects to the chief examiner. They each reported their names, and the chief examiner casually pointed out a few things and handed out silver plaques on the spot. These silver plaques were the certificates for entering the imperial city, paying respects to the emperor, and taking part in the palace examination.

  "Tomorrow, you will be waiting in the palace to meet the emperor. The emperor will directly grant a decree, and after the examination is completed, the papers will be read on the spot, and the names will be determined and announced on the spot. Those who pass will be divided into three grades: the first grade has three people, who are granted the title of Jinshi (presented scholar) and the top three are called Zhuangyuan (first place), Bangyan (second place), and Tanhua (third place). The second grade has twenty people, who are also granted the title of Jinshi. The third grade has thirty-seven people, who are granted the title of Tongjinshi (equivalent to Jinshi). You should already know this." Minister of Rites Xu Xiangqing and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Chamber Du Zhao simultaneously received the tribute scholars.

  "The students have already understood." Everyone knelt down and said, taking over the silver medal.

  After the ceremony, they had lunch again, which was called "thank you noodles", actually it's just big plate of noodles with some scallions on top. The officials would thank them and then leave after eating the noodles, wasting time, but only for a short while, this is to avoid suspicion according to the imperial court rules. Of course, in reality, this relationship cannot be cut off, now it's just going through the motions.

  Fang Xin was observing the sixty people during the audience, and as a result, he not only saw Pei Xu Ye but also saw two others with extraordinary aura on their heads. He was greatly shocked in his heart, thinking that there were many people with exceptional destiny among this group. Immediately, he made a mental note of their names.

  One is Zhou Lihua, 29 years old, from a family of officials. Another one is Peng Huanzhi, 26 years old, from an ordinary civilian family. Both have extremely noble physiognomy.

  Zheng Chengyi sighed and smiled, saying: "My younger brother is listed in the second grade, I think he will be demoted from the seventh rank to the county lieutenant, and after three years, he will be promoted to the regular seventh-rank county magistrate. As for my foolish older brother, I don't know where he will go!"

  What he said is the norm. Generally speaking, the top three winners, Zhuangyuan, Bangyan and Tanhua, directly enter the Hanlin Academy, holding official positions of sixth grade and seventh grade. The job is very noble, just to let these three people familiarize themselves with the operation of the central government and the cabinet, and then they may be promoted to participate in politics in the cabinet. Although it's only fifth or sixth grade, but with great power, known as the small cabinet.

  And two jinshi, from the seventh rank, are generally assigned to various counties as county lieutenants.

  The county lieutenant is the deputy officer of a county, assisting the county magistrate, and is higher than any other official in the county. In theory, he can inquire about all political affairs in the county. Under him are the county registrar and the county captain, each with their own specialized duties.

  However, in reality, due to the county lieutenant's position being higher than that of the chief clerk and captain, and close to that of the county magistrate, it is customary to avoid suspicion (so as not to make the county magistrate feel suspicious of being usurped) by not expressing approval or disapproval on public matters.

  Then all official documents can be read and any matter can be participated in, but generally no speech is made, only signing according to the rules when signing.

  The imperial court naturally knew this, so the jinshi were placed in these positions to let these scholars who became officials as soon as they arrived understand the situation of county governance, know the official rules and regulations, and since they were not responsible, they would not make mistakes. The Ministry of Personnel generally evaluated them as good, so after three years, they could be transferred to other counties as magistrates. Therefore, the local magistrate was very polite and did not dare to treat them as subordinates.

  As for the three lists of jinshi, there are two possibilities. One is to go to Hanlin as a Sheng Ji Shi. The problem is that there are too many Sheng Ji Shi, although they are noble, but promotion is relatively slow.

  Another possibility is to directly assign him as the chief clerk of a county, with a relatively low starting point. Due to lack of experience, he will be leading practical work from the beginning, which can easily lead to mistakes, and this is also a major risk.

  That's why Zheng Chengyi has such feelings.

  Fang Xin smiled and said, "Brother Zheng, no matter what, we have already passed the Gongshi examination. What's left is just ranking, even if we are demoted to a county position, as long as we are careful in our work, there will be opportunities for promotion. Compared to others, we are already ahead by many steps. Why worry now? If it weren't for the early court audience tomorrow, I'd get drunk with you today, what's the harm?"

  Zheng Chengyi heard this and suddenly smiled: "That's right, I was being pretentious."

  After finishing their conversation, the two of them laughed and walked out of the palace gate.