Three hundred people were selected from the provincial examination, and those who passed could participate in the palace examination. The three hundred people participated in the palace examination, and their ranking was determined based on their answers.
The first list selected three people: the top scholar (状元), the third-ranked scholar (探花), and the second-ranked scholar (榜眼). Only these three were entitled to parade through the streets on horseback after the palace examination, while the other successful candidates had to walk, which was quite a triumphant moment.
The first person on the second list was called "Chuanlu," and the rest were called "Jinshi," though the exact number was not fixed.
If one falls to the third list, one can only be considered a "same-ranked Jinshi". The word "same" makes all the difference. In the officialdom's disdain for Jinshi, those who passed the second list are higher than those who passed the first list, and higher than those who passed the same list.
The title of "Jinshi" (进士) refers to a person who passed both the provincial and metropolitan examinations through the regular imperial examinations. It is a highly prestigious title.
Another way is through family connections, either by inheriting or donating a place as a student of the Imperial Academy. Students of the Imperial Academy can directly participate in the metropolitan examination, and if they pass, they become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).
To put it bluntly, a "Tong Jinshi" is someone who is not a Jinshi. Those who are not Jinshi cannot enter the Hanlin Academy, and even a Tong Jinshi is not qualified to take the examination for Shujishi. Furthermore, those who are not Hanlin Academy members cannot enter the Grand Secretariat.
Once someone is a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), their future is completely sealed.
However, if we don't compare ourselves to those above, there are also those who passed the imperial examinations (举人) or those who directly purchased official positions. Passing the imperial examinations (同进士) is also quite good.
Li Qingyao did not want to end up on the list of candidates who passed the imperial examination. After being lazy for a while, he started studying with Gao Chuan again. If he passed the provincial examination, he would then have to take the palace examination seriously.
Li Qingyao didn't want to work so hard to pass the provincial examination only to end up as a junior scholar in the palace examination; he would be furious.
On the day the results of the imperial examination were announced, the two men stayed at home. If they passed, the messenger would come to deliver the good news. They were afraid that if they left home, they would miss the messenger.
The Li family was all present today. Although Li Qingyao was unwell during the imperial examination, his family still had great confidence in him. After all, he had performed very well throughout the examination process.
"The messenger has arrived! The messenger has arrived!"
Suddenly, the gatekeeper of the Pan family came rushing over, shouting. The Li family members sitting in the main hall immediately jumped up from their chairs!
"Qingyao, you really won! Hahahaha, the good news messenger has arrived!"
"Hurry, let's go to the entrance to hear the good news!"
"Bring out those baskets of coins, let's go scatter them as a New Year's gift!"
"Is the red envelope for the person announcing the good news ready?"
The Li family was in a chaotic frenzy, chatting and laughing, all beaming with joy.
"Good news from the imperial examination! Congratulations to Master Li Qingyao of the Consort's family for ranking sixty-sixth on the list of successful candidates!"
Sixty-six?! That's actually pretty high on the list!
Li Qingyao ran the fastest and was the first to reach the door. After the messenger asked him what was going on, he loudly announced the good news.
Many people from the surrounding households came out to watch, and upon hearing that he had passed the imperial examination, they repeatedly clasped their hands in congratulations.
Yan Min and Wang Jiao followed closely behind. Yan Min stuffed thick red envelopes into the hands of the messengers, while Wang Jiao led his servants to scatter lucky money along the entire street.
"Dear neighbors, there's a happy occasion in your family today, so let's scatter some lucky money!"
Many people crowded around to grab it, as this was the lucky money for the future Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
"I won! I won!"
Li Qingyao was also happy. He had passed the provincial examination and could now participate in the palace examination. With such a high ranking in the provincial examination, he was unlikely to end up as a junior scholar.
That's great, Dad! Your son did it! The Li family is finally back!
Yan Min wept with joy. Her son had suffered so much this time; if he hadn't passed the exam, wouldn't he have suffered again? Good thing he passed! Good thing he passed!
While Mo Qiaoniang was overjoyed, she also worried about her son-in-law, wondering if he would have a chance...
Gao Mansion.
Gao Chuan waited in the courtyard. He had been up since dawn and had probably circled the courtyard hundreds of times by now.
"Sigh, I'm afraid it's really hopeless. I wonder how things are going with Qingyao."
Gao Chuan looked dejected. Although he felt he wouldn't pass the exam, he still held onto a sliver of hope. He waited until the afternoon, when he finally gave up, his face ashen.
"Madam, this time it really won't work."
"My husband is so young and his knowledge is not bad. What's wrong with taking the exam again? With three years of further study, he will surely succeed next time."
“That’s right. If we go to Grandmother’s house, Qingyao must have passed the test. Since they haven’t received our message, they’ll probably be too embarrassed to send someone to deliver it, for fear of upsetting me.”
Let's take our gifts and go wish him success in the exam. My son and I will want to share in his joy, and we'll need his guidance in the future!
As Gao Chuan spoke, his inner turmoil completely dissipated, and he immediately wanted to take his wife and children to the Pan residence to join in the fun.
After the results of the imperial examinations were announced, those who failed would return to their hometowns. Of course, some people, like Takagawa, would stay in Kyoto to study and wait for the next imperial examination.
Two of the candidates who had previously stayed in Li Jiabei's house also passed the exam, but their rankings were not very high, around 200th.
Now that everyone has moved out, and many people who failed the exam have returned to their hometowns, there are vacancies in the inn. These two people will naturally not stay here anymore; it wouldn't be proper.
The two men specially wrote letters to Pan Jinhua, firstly to share the good news, and secondly to express their gratitude. Pan Jinhua instructed Li Qing to reply, wishing them both even better results in the upcoming imperial examination.
They disappeared at that point, as the two still needed to prepare for the palace examination. After the examination was over and the results were announced, they would hold a banquet at home and invite their fellow graduates to the feast.
Before the palace examination, the Ministry of Rites also gathered three hundred candidates and trained them in palace etiquette. After all, the palace examination was supervised by the emperor, and it would be bad if anyone behaved improperly in front of the emperor.
The palace examination began on April 21st. The date of the palace examination was fixed; it was held on April 21st after each provincial examination.
Three hundred candidates arrived at the palace early, including Li Qingyao. He greeted familiar faces with a smile. As mentioned before, the palace examination was a ranking test; there was no such thing as failing. Everyone present would be a student of the emperor this year, and they could address each other as "fellow examinees" upon meeting, thus establishing connections.
The palace would provide all the writing implements, so the candidates didn't need to bring their own. The palace examination was held in the square outside the main hall. Fortunately, it was already late April, and although there was a slight breeze, it wasn't cold anymore.
Under the guidance of the minor officials, Li Qingyao and the other candidates lined up and stepped forward one by one to verify their identities. Having gone through the examinations many times, the candidates were already used to this; once verified, they lined up to enter the square.
The square was now filled with tables and chairs, making it much more comfortable than any previous exam. "It really is the imperial examination," Li Qingyao thought to himself.
A dragon throne was placed at the very front, with a white marble table in front of it and a canopy behind it, which was the emperor's seat.
The seats in the palace examination were determined by the ranking in the provincial examination. The higher the ranking, the closer the seat was. The top-ranked candidate was in the first seat, where he could see the emperor as soon as he looked up.
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