Anyway, the emperor was very good at praising people, and several students came forward one after another to express their opinions.

Finally, it was the exam. After half an hour, all the students handed in their completed papers. Their names were sealed and would only be revealed at the end.

After another hour of reviewing the papers, the top three were finally announced with the approval of the ministers and the emperor.

When the emperor removed the cover from the paper, everyone felt a little moved.

The three of them still have to compete and rank according to their abilities.

After two cups of tea, the ranking came out.

Feng Laosi was the well-deserved number one in the imperial examination, Yan Hao was second, and Feng Zhong was third.

The Emperor said, "This palace examination is over. Feng Zhong was originally ranked second, but all previous third place winners have been considered very good-looking. Is Feng Zhong okay with that?"

Yan Hao: ???

"He was originally in third place, and he wasn't as good-looking as Feng Zhong, but he still got second place. Should he be happy, or not?"

The ministers said: "I have no objection."

"You three will be parading in the afternoon. Follow the eunuch downstairs to change into your official uniforms."

The news from the palace had spread outside. When the Feng family learned that one of them was the top scorer and the other was the third place in the imperial examination, they were all very happy. After all, this was the honor that the two had earned through their own hard work.

The Feng family also wanted to watch the No. 1 Scholar Parade in the afternoon, so the whole family packed up and went to Fengkelai to wait, as the No. 1 Scholar Parade would definitely pass by there.

At the time of Shen, the person walking at the front of the parade was a "runner" holding a sign saying "Silence" and "Avoid". Following closely behind him was the "number one scholar" wearing a black hat with a golden flower and a bright red robe. Beside him were officials holding the "imperial edict", who were guarding him. The number one scholar paraded through the streets, with gongs ringing to clear the way, looking very majestic.

Seeing such a lively scene, the innocent children jumped and danced, and shouted happily: "The number one scholar is here, the number one scholar is here..." At this time, the rural women in the suburbs of the capital also put on bright new clothes and colorful shoes, and walked to the streets to watch the number one scholar parade without fear of hardships.

On the bustling street, the newly crowned top scholar came slowly riding a tall horse.

His appearance is as if carefully carved by God, which is amazing.

His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, like the sharp strokes of an ink brush, revealing heroism and courage.

A pair of starry eyes are as bright as cold stars, deep and clear, as if they can see through everything in the world.

His straight nose is as firm as a mountain, showing his indomitable spirit and perseverance.

Her thin lips were slightly pursed, with a faint smile, like a spring breeze, warm and charming.

His skin was fair, and under the sunlight, it seemed to emit a soft halo.

The facial contours are smooth and clear, with a firmness yet a gentle beauty.

The few strands of hair on the forehead fluttering in the wind add a touch of casualness and elegance.

At this moment, he wore a golden flower on his head and a red robe. Amid the cheers and admiration of the crowd, his unparalleled appearance became even more radiant, as if he was an immortal who walked out of a painting, descended into this mortal world, and became the focus of everyone's attention.

At this moment, the top scholar's gaze was fixed on a beautiful woman on the second floor opposite. He looked at the woman with a fiery and lingering look, and the woman smiled gently.

At this moment, the Feng family members were all upstairs watching the two people's highlight moment, and the two elders had tears in their eyes.

Fengjiu leaned on the windowsill and shouted, "Daddy, big brother, you are all the best."

The third place winner rode on a fine horse with a graceful posture and an unparalleled appearance, which made everyone on the street fall in love with him.

His eyebrows were like distant black ink, and the slightly upward curve carried an unruly charm, like the twinkling stars in the night, bright and deep.

A pair of peach blossom eyes with slightly upturned corners seem to be full of affection, and seem to contain endless poetry and talent. Just a glance can make people fall deeply in love with them and cannot extricate themselves.

The straight nose bridge is like a steep mountain, adding a bit of firmness and courage to the delicate face.

Her thin lips were lightly pursed, with the corners of her lips slightly raised. She exuded an indescribable charm in her smile, as if all the joy and sorrow in the world could find a home in this smile.

His skin was as smooth and delicate as mutton-fat jade, and under the sunlight, it seemed to be covered with a soft glow.

The facial contours are graceful and smooth, and the jawline is clear and sharp, as if carefully outlined by gods.

His black hair was tied up and fixed with a golden crown, with a few strands of hair scattered in front of his forehead, which made him look even more handsome, as if he was an immortal who had come down to earth and mistakenly entered this mundane world.

At this time, the third place winner was also looking at the direction of the second floor opposite and smiled at his family.

The young ladies from all families were captivated by this smile, and they began to throw the sachets in their hands to the man who had won the third place in the imperial examination. From today on, Feng Zhong would become a frequent visitor in the dreams of countless young ladies.

Yan Hao in the middle was depressed. He was usually regarded as a modest gentleman by the young ladies in Beijing, but today he felt ashamed after being compared to this uncle and nephew!

The people around were discussing, "Whose family are these boys? They are so handsome. I wonder if they are married?"

A man dressed as a shopkeeper said, "Hey, you guys don't know this, but our number one scholar is quite extraordinary! He's the Duke of Feng, newly conferred by the Emperor. You should know that in Nanli, no Duke has ever been bestowed with a surname. This is an unparalleled honor."

Someone who was listening to what the shopkeeper said asked, "Is his daughter the Princess Protector of the Nation?"

"He's the biological father of the Princess Protector of the Country. Have you seen that scholar who took the third place in the imperial examination? He's also from the Duke of Feng State and the eldest grandson of their Feng family. His appearance and temperament are not inferior to the current prince, right?"

"Who says it's not true? Look at him. He went from a commoner to a Duke in just half a year. Who else in the capital would dare to offend the Feng family?"

Another person who didn't know the truth asked, "Then why does this Duke Feng still need to take the imperial examination since he's already a Duke?"

The man dressed as a shopkeeper said, "You probably don't know this. Our man was born a commoner. His family grew high-yield crops, and the emperor granted them the title of Marquis of Anping. He was afraid that his family would be laughed at for their farming background, so he wanted to pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar."

"Then this Duke Feng is incredible, he is a man of great ambition."

"Who says it's not? If it were someone else, who would be willing to take the exam?"

Passerby: "I heard that too. His daughter is the disciple of a god, and that flying thing in the sky is the artifact given by her master."

Passerby B: "I've heard that too. The Protector Princess was responsible for rescuing the people from the drought in Nanyang Prefecture. She also provided them with food and water. A relative of mine lives in Nanyang Prefecture and she said she was very kind to the people and had no airs at all."

Passerby C: "Yes, yes, I heard that too. The Protector Princess borrowed some powerful weapons from her master, and that's how she managed to repel the 500,000-strong northern army in just two weeks. The Crown Prince led his troops back to the capital yesterday."