Chapter 2207 Announces the Rankings

Still in the Zichen Hall, all the newly appointed scholars had changed into their official robes and waited anxiously outside the hall for their announcement.

After the civil and military officials in the hall paid their respects, an official from the Court of State Ceremonial quickly came out and led all the scholars into the hall, where they knelt down one by one to listen to the instructions.

After the imperial examination, the candidates were divided into three grades.

The first class was awarded the title of "Jinshi Jidi" to three people: the first was Zhuangyuan, the second was Bangyan, and the third was Tanhua.

The second class was awarded the title of "Jinshi Chushen" (进士出身) to several people, with the first place being named Chuanlu (传胪).

The third class of scholars were granted the title of "successful candidate in the imperial examination" (同进士出身).

Originally, after kneeling and bowing, the emperor would personally announce the names of the three first-ranked officials.

However, for some reason, the Emperor ordered the officials from the Ministry of Rites to start reading out the names from the third class onwards.

The Ministry of Rites would naturally not disobey the Emperor's decree in such a matter, and immediately began announcing the names of those who had passed the imperial examination.

None of the candidates present wanted their names to be called. Although a fellow Jinshi was still a Jinshi, their situation was extremely awkward. To put it bluntly, it was merely a consolation for those who failed the imperial examinations; they were called Jinshi, but not entirely so.

Therefore, no one wants to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) like 'Lady Consort'.

However, the number of candidates for the Jinshi degree was always the largest, and from the moment the Ministry of Rites officials began calling out the first name, many people began to show expressions of disappointment and pain.

For a moment, only the sound of the Ministry of Rites officials calling out names could be heard in the main hall.

There were a total of 292 people in the top three categories. After all the songs were sung, the candidates who were sure to pass the imperial examination stepped forward, knelt down and expressed their gratitude.

The emperor looked at them, offered a few words of encouragement, and then told them to wait aside.

The remaining scholars whose names hadn't been called, though their heads were bowed, all secretly breathed a sigh of relief, their complexions gradually brightening, and a hint of anticipation appearing on their faces.

Apart from the three who were ranked first, the rest were all graduates of the second rank.

This time, when the Ministry of Rites announced the names, everyone's reaction was completely different.

Meng Yunzheng, standing in the crowd, kept his head down and did not react until the Ministry of Rites announced, "Second-class candidates, Xie Bo."

Meng Yunzheng finally raised his head slightly, looked at Xie Bo who was looking at him with unexpected joy not far away, and smiled.

The successful candidates in the second rank knelt down to express their gratitude, and then stepped aside.

At this moment, only three people remained in the very center of the hall.

Many people's eyes fell on Meng Yunzheng, their expressions somewhat complicated.

The events that occurred during the earlier imperial examination led many to conclude that he had incurred the emperor's displeasure. Even if he was indeed a skilled examinee, the final ranking was still determined by the emperor. While it might not be ideal to grant him the rank of a junior scholar, he would at least be among the second-class scholars.

Unexpectedly, it's the top-ranked team. I wonder... what place it will be.

Everyone looked at the three people present, and it seemed that Meng Yunzheng was the most handsome among them. It should be said that among all the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), Meng Yunzheng's appearance was second to none.

Otherwise, the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family back then wouldn't have disregarded his background and future prospects, and would have wanted to marry him just because of his face.

Everyone felt a pang of envy; someone so respectable was most likely a third-place scholar.

On the other hand, Grand Tutor Qi, Yao Tianqin, and others nodded with satisfaction. The top three were indeed a good match for Princess Wen'an.

The emperor, unaware of their thoughts, stood up and looked down at the three people in the hall.

He then took the list from the Ministry of Rites, glanced at it, and closed it again.

(End of this chapter)