Chapter 538 The Handsome Third-Rank Scholar
Cheng Wanwan specifically asked someone about the imperial examination system of this era.
The successful candidates in the imperial examinations of the Great Yu Dynasty were divided into five categories.
The top three in the first rank were awarded the title of Jinshi, the highest honor for a scholar.
Other ranks, such as "granted the title of Jinshi" or "same-ranked Jinshi," represent a significant difference in social status.
The top three people will have the opportunity to enter the Hanlin Academy. Although it is only a minor official position of the seventh or sixth rank, once you enter the Hanlin Academy, you will be the emperor's secretary and work by the emperor's side. Whether it is a local official being sent to a post or a promotion of personnel from the six ministries of the court, people from the Hanlin Academy are the first choice.
It can be said that entering the Hanlin Academy is the most coveted thing for all scholars.
Grandma Cheng didn't know many characters, but she could clearly recognize the name Cheng Zhao. Her hands and feet went weak: "Third place! Our Zhao'er is the third-ranked scholar! My God, the Cheng family has produced a third-ranked scholar... Quick, quick, help me up..."
Brother Cheng rushed to help the old lady, but then Old Man Cheng also couldn't stand up, his breathing became rapid, his face flushed, and he almost fainted.
"Oh dear, you two mustn't faint!" Sister-in-law Cheng exclaimed excitedly. "Even the third-ranked scholar gets to parade through the streets! Our Zhao'er must be riding a tall horse, looking so majestic! Come on, let's go see Zhao'er parade through the streets. We can't miss our son's most glorious moment!"
Old Man Cheng immediately perked up: "Yes, yes, let's go see our grandson parade through the streets."
The Cheng family also had two children around ten years old, who were also overjoyed and hurriedly helped the two elderly people of the Cheng family walk towards the center of the street.
Cheng Wanwan also wanted to see her nephew parade through the streets. As a modern person, she had never seen such a grand scene before, so she followed the crowd towards the direction of the surging crowd.
Because their own family members were being paraded through the streets, the Cheng family members exerted all their strength and squeezed their way in, finally securing a favorable position.
The horse at the very front was Fu Zheli, the newly appointed top scholar. He wore a golden black gauze hat and a bright red robe, looking very cheerful. Flags and drums led the way, and officials held up signs on the side that read "Silence" and "Avoidance".
But the crowd did not quiet down at all, nor could they avoid it; their shouts grew louder and louder.
Following the top scholar were the third and second-ranked scholars, and then all the successful candidates in the imperial examinations. All of them were dressed in festive red, and even though they were all dressed the same, Cheng Zhao could still be spotted at a glance.
He was dressed in red and wore a black gauze hat. His face stood out among the group of scholars. First, he had fair skin, then regular features, and an extraordinary and refined temperament.
Cheng Wanwan had only known that her nephew was decent-looking before, but after comparing him to others and seeing him in such nice clothes, she realized that he was not just decent-looking, but exceptionally handsome.
After discussing the top scholar, the crowd turned their attention to the third-place scholar.
"This year's third-ranked scholar is too handsome, even more handsome than the four famous young masters of our capital."
"Do you remember that third-place scholar from three years ago? The Emperor originally intended to bestow a marriage upon the princess, but the princess thought he was too ugly and refused outright. This year's third-place scholar is so handsome, he will definitely become the princess's husband."
"Haha, you're overthinking it. There are no princesses of marriageable age in the palace these days. The third-ranked scholar doesn't have the good fortune to marry a princess."
"I wonder which young lady will get it..."
"Look, many young ladies are throwing bouquets of flowers from the attic, all of them aimed at the third-ranked scholar."
"..."
The people watching on both sides of the street were ordinary people, while those watching the parade from the pavilions on the street were high-ranking officials and nobles, as well as many young ladies who came in groups. When they saw the face of the third-ranked scholar, the young ladies could not resist and asked their maids to buy flowers and throw them out of the window, hitting the third-ranked scholar on the body.
In the Great Yu Dynasty, it was customary for women to throw flowers at men on the day the list of successful candidates was posted and paraded through the streets. This was not considered immoral, but rather a refined pastime.
There were even instances where women would publicly take a liking to a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and they could arrange a marriage on the same day. This was considered a major custom brought about by the imperial examination system.
The Cheng family was ecstatic.
Especially Sister-in-law Cheng, who jumped up and down on the spot, waving her hands and shouting wildly: "Zhao'er! Look over here! Zhao'er, your father and mother have come to see you!"
Unfortunately, amidst the clamor of the crowd, Cheng Zhao did not hear her voice.
However, Shen Zheng, who was in the crowd, overheard it.
At this moment, Shen Zheng was watching the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) parade through the streets with a large group of failed candidates. These candidates were all dejected, and the more glorious the Jinshi were, the more they regretted their mistakes in the examination...
Only Shen Zheng was incredibly excited. He grabbed someone and introduced, "See the third-ranked scholar? He's my good brother, my best brother who shares a bed with me! Hahaha, he's become the third-ranked scholar, so I'll have connections in the court now..."
He was feeling smug when he heard the Cheng family's voices. So, forgetting all about showing off, he immediately pushed his way through the crowd to that side.
"Godmother, why did you arrive two days early!"
Shen Zheng became even more excited.
Cheng Wanwan wrote a letter before she came and continued to correspond with her along the way. She was originally scheduled to arrive on the last day of April, but she arrived a day or two earlier.
"Grandpa and Grandma Cheng, Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng, you must be tired from your journey." Shen Zheng said with a smile. "Come on, let me take you to the courtyard where Brother Cheng and I rent to rest."
Aunt Cheng quickly said, "Zhao'er is still parading through the streets. Let's go back together after Zhao'er finishes parading."
“Brother Cheng definitely won’t be able to come back with us,” Shen Zheng laughed. “After the parade, we’ll see the list of successful candidates, and after that, there will be a banquet for the successful candidates, followed by boating on the lake, composing poems, and drinking. We probably won’t be back until tonight.”
As the group spoke, the procession had already moved far away, and the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, making it difficult to squeeze in.
The Cheng family was indeed tired, and Cheng Wanwan also wanted to rest for a while, so she followed Shen Zheng back to the rented courtyard.
This courtyard is located in the western part of the capital, in a slightly less bustling area. It's a small courtyard with one entrance. Although small, it has all the necessary facilities, but there are only four rooms. Shen Zheng, Cheng Zhao, Cheng Ding, and Afu each have one room. With so many of them coming, the courtyard is immediately overcrowded.
Sister-in-law Cheng looked around and frowned: "Our Zhao'er is now a third-ranking scholar, about to become a high-ranking official. Can he still live in a house like this?"
“Aunt Cheng, don’t worry. I’ve inquired. Of the three people who passed the imperial examination, the first place went to the Fu family, and the second place to the Xie family. Both are prominent families in the capital. Only Brother Cheng comes from a humble background.” Shen Zheng said, “After the imperial examination today, the emperor immediately rewarded Brother Cheng with five thousand taels of silver as a settlement allowance. Five thousand taels of silver certainly won’t buy a large courtyard house in the capital, but it’s not a big problem to buy a two- or three-courtyard house in a more remote area.”
Sister-in-law Cheng's eyes widened suddenly: "My goodness, five thousand taels of silver... The Emperor is really rich..."
Grandma Cheng was also stunned. In the past, she would have thought that five taels of silver was a huge sum of money. Now, with more than a thousand taels of silver in her hands, she always felt like a rich woman and couldn't feel at ease no matter where she put it. But now, the Emperor just asked for five thousand taels... She suddenly realized that they, as country folk, were really too shallow in their understanding...
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