Chapter 778 Zhao Sidan Becomes the Top Scholar

The palace examination began on April 26th.

Before dawn, Cheng Wanwan's courtyard was already bustling with activity.

Zhao Sidan and Yu Zhan were dressed in the full set of scholar's robes, with brocade cloud robes over them and youthful crowns on their heads, looking very energetic.

Granny Qi and Yan Hong, along with the servants, said a lot of auspicious words in the courtyard. After serving the two children the "Top Scholar's Feast," they went out.

At this time, just as dawn was breaking, carriages and horses were already moving about on the streets, all heading towards the imperial city.

When the carriage reached a point not far from the imperial city, they had to disembark and walk. Cheng Wanwan and Lu Yingxue escorted the child all the way to the imperial city gate.

She had already given her son countless instructions, so Cheng Wanwan had nothing more to say. She reached out and straightened her son's collar, then smiled and said, "Let's go inside."

Lu Yingxue followed suit and adjusted Yu Zhan's hat, saying, "Go on, your mother will be waiting for you at the city gate."

Before the two even went inside, they saw Shen Dongming and Shen Zheng walking towards them from afar.

"Godmother!" Shen Zheng's face was full of smiles. "I've always been lucky, and with the blessings of my ancestors, I'm sure I'll pass the imperial examination this time. Don't you think so, Godmother?"

Cheng Wanwan saw the nervousness hidden beneath his playful smile. This kid was much more nervous than Si Dan and Yu Zhan.

She patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Answer the questions seriously and stay focused on the meaning of the questions. You won't do too badly. It's getting late, let's go in."

Shen Zheng nodded, put his left arm around Zhao Sidan, and hooked his right arm around Yu Zhan. The three of them entered the palace chatting and laughing.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Cheng Wanwan, Shen Dongming went into the palace.

"Are you really going to wait here?" Cheng Wanwan looked at Lu Yingxue beside her. "Then you can hold the spot. I'm going back to take a nap."

The palace examination lasts about two hours, which is four hours in modern terms. She can't wait here for four hours.

Lu Yingxue was extremely anxious. Having someone with her meant she could at least talk to them, but if Cheng Wanwan went back, she would definitely worry herself to death waiting here alone.

So the two of them headed back home, but naturally they couldn't go back to sleep. Instead, the whole family sat together and chatted.

While everyone was talking about unrelated things, they were all checking the time. As noon approached, Old Man Zhao and Old Lady Zhao could no longer sit still. The two old people looked at each other and stood up at the same time, saying, "Let's go, let's go, let's hurry to the palace gate to wait for news."

Zhao Youyin said, "This is the first person in the Zhao family to become an official through the imperial examination. We must give him the proper recognition. Our whole family must go."

Zhao Youcai nodded: "I need to see Sidan become a Jinshi with my own eyes, and then I'll tell my elder brother in detail when I get back to Dahe Town that my elder brother's son is promising."

Sun said in a flurry, "Stop dawdling, let's go!"

The children in the courtyard got excited and quickly followed the adults out the door, climbed onto the carriage, and peered out the window.

It was nearing noon, and the streets were bustling with people. Everyone in the capital knew that the imperial examination was today, and everyone wanted to know who the top three scholars would be. They all unconsciously moved towards the palace gate.

The closer you get to the palace gate, the more people there are. The carriage can't squeeze in at all, so you have to get off and walk.

Mrs. Sun, Old Mrs. Zhao, and Lu Yingxue led the way.

Mrs. Wen stared at the children: "Slow down, slow down, don't run around..."

Zhao Yuezhu held Zhao Mingxuan's hand with one hand and Zhao Mochen's hand with the other. The three children were unaware of what was happening; they only knew they could watch the excitement.

Wu Huiniang and Cao Yingying each carried a child who could barely walk, and walked in the middle of the crowd, protected by Granny Qi.

The whole family finally squeezed to the front.

Just then, the closed gates of the imperial city slowly opened from both sides.

Several imperial guards emerged from the imperial city, carrying gongs and drums, and banged them loudly, creating a deafening roar.

What else did these imperial guards say? But the Zhao family didn't listen carefully because they saw that the person riding the tall horse at the very front behind the imperial guards was none other than Si Dan.

"Sidan passed the exam!" Grandma Zhao exclaimed with joy. "The first person to ride a horse must be the top scholar, right? Our Sidan has become the top scholar!"

Old Man Zhao gasped, “Heavens above! Our Zhao family has produced a top scholar! This is incredible, truly incredible…”

Zhao Youyin's eyes welled up with tears: "Big brother, did you see that? Si Dan has made something of himself."

Zhao Youcai roared, "Four Eggs, look this way, we're all here!"

Unfortunately, there were just too many people here, and Zhao Sidan was right in the middle of the crowd, so his line of sight couldn't reach this corner at all.

Cheng Wanwan's gaze fell on Zhao Sidan.

The young man's attire was different from when he entered the palace that morning. He was wearing a bright red silk robe, a hairpin and tassel crown, with a blue silk sash and a black court belt on his left and right shoulders, felt socks and boots on his feet, and a large red flower tied on his chest.

His small face exuded the youthful vigor and spirit unique to young people, displaying all his sharpness. The sunlight fell on his shoulders, making him look exceptionally different.

Cheng Wanwan knew that Zhao Sidan would definitely pass the exam, but she never expected that he would become the top scholar. As the mother of the top scholar, she was very proud.

Many people around me were talking about it.

"Why does this year's top scorer look so unfamiliar?"

"This is Lady Sui's son, the cousin of the previous third-ranked scholar. Lady Sui's family will be extraordinary in the future."

"Madam Sui is truly skilled at raising her son. A peasant woman, she actually gave birth to a top scholar, who even achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations. If Madam Sui were to establish a school, I would definitely send my good-for-nothing son there."

"It's a pity that Madam Sui only ran one girls' school..."

"..."

"The second-place scholar is the second son of Grand Scholar Pang. Grand Scholar Pang truly deserves his title!"

"The only one in the Pang family who has any learning is this eldest son. Their youngest son, Pang Jie, is a notorious playboy in the capital. He has taken the exam for so many years but has achieved nothing."

"It's already quite good that the Pang family has one successful son."

"..."

"I have to say, this year's third-ranked scholar is not good-looking at all. He is far inferior to Lord Cheng from three years ago."

"The top scholar is much better looking than the third-place scholar. This third-place scholar is an insult to the title of third-place scholar."

"The top scholar has the talent to be the top scholar, so he can't be relegated to third place just because of his appearance."

"..."

The top three scholars, along with dozens of newly appointed scholars, slowly walked out of the imperial city and paraded through the streets.

Lu Yingxue had been searching for Yu Zhan's figure. When all the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) walked out of the capital, she finally came to her senses: "Our Xiao Zhan has also become a Jinshi! Sister Wanwan! Please help me see if Xiao Zhan is in the second or third rank?"

Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Xiao Zhan is a second-class Jinshi, and Xiao Zheng is a fourth-class Jinshi. They both passed."

The top three scholars (状元, 榜眼, 探花) are those who have passed the imperial examination and become Jinshi (进士).

The second and third class were those who had passed the imperial examinations.

Those ranked fourth and fifth were graduates of the same rank (or equivalent).

In any case, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) is a great joy.

The onlookers were in an uproar, and they threw their flowers at the three men on horseback. However, this year's third-place scholar was not very good-looking, and most of the bouquets ended up on the head of the top scholar.

The main reason was that the top scholar was handsome and young, and he was obviously unmarried. Who wouldn't want to take him back as a son-in-law?