In the imperial examination system, the top three candidates were immediately appointed to official positions.
The top scholar was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official.
This time, the Emperor not only appointed Zhou Yuanzhi, whom Xie Jingyan had chosen, as the top scholar of the imperial examination, but also praised Zhou Yuanzhi's answer sheet several times and asked him whether he wanted to enter the Hanlin Academy or the Six Ministries.
In the past, the emperor always followed the rules in the imperial examinations. This time, however, he both followed Xie Jingyan's wishes and gave Zhou Yuanzhi the title of top scholar, and also made arrangements according to his own ideas.
Zhou Yuanzhi hadn't expected to have another option. He wanted to be the top scholar in the imperial examination, because he didn't think that a good student was one who didn't achieve that. However, he didn't want to become a compiler. The compiler's duties included compiling historical records, recording the emperor's words and deeds, lecturing on classics and history, and writing manuscripts. He preferred to advocate for the common people.
Without hesitation, Zhou Yuanzhi decisively chose to join one of the Six Ministries. Coincidentally, there was a vacancy for an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, which was also a sixth-rank position. The Emperor made an exception and allowed Zhou Yuanzhi to join the Ministry of Personnel.
Nearly twenty years after the emperor ascended the throne, this was the first time that the top scholar in the imperial examination did not enter the Hanlin Academy, but instead went directly to one of the Six Ministries.
The emperor's high regard for Zhou Yuanzhi was evident to all the officials in the court.
With his exceptional talent, good looks, and worldly wisdom, Zhou Yuanzhi was simply the best choice for a son-in-law.
The story of catching a son-in-law after the imperial examination results are announced is also a beautiful tale.
Many ministers wanted to recruit Zhou Yuanzhi as their son-in-law.
The Emperor selected the top-ranked scholar and then tested the other students. By the time Zhou Yuanzhi left the palace, it was almost noon.
On the way back to the inn, they ran into Prince Yanping and Tang Ze, who were off duty in the morning, had changed out of their official robes, and were in a good mood, preparing to go to Deyuelou for dinner.
Well, the monthly salary of these gentlemen who patrol the city isn't even enough for them to eat at Deyuelou every month.
However, even though they don't receive a monthly salary, they still eat at Deyuelou Restaurant.
Upon meeting them, Zhou Yuanzhi hesitated whether to go up and greet them, after all, these people were of noble status and not someone he could possibly befriend. However, while he was still hesitating, the Prince of Yanping and several others rode up to him and asked, "Has Scholar Zhou had lunch yet?"
Zhou Yuanzhi, "..."
Suddenly I blushed.
The title of "Top Scholar Zhou" is really too much for him to bear.
If they hadn't spoken up for him, he wouldn't have even had the chance to continue taking the exam.
They deserve half the credit for his top scholar ranking.
Zhou Yuanzhi shook his head, "Not, not yet..."
“That’s perfect, let’s eat together,” said the Prince of Yanping.
Unable to refuse their hospitality, and given that they had already helped Zhou Yuanzhi, he felt he had no choice but to accept.
And so Zhou Yuanzhi followed the Prince of Yanping and his entourage to Deyue Tower.
As they entered the Moon Pavilion, Yun Qi came out. Zhou Yuanzhi saw him and called out, "Brother Yun..."
Yun Qi looked at the Prince of Yanping and his group with Zhou Yuanzhi in surprise, "You know each other?"
The Crown Prince of Yanping also looked surprised.
He and Yun Qi spoke almost in unison.
Yun Qi smiled and said, "We met in Meizhou."
The Crown Prince of Yanping then said, "Shall we have dinner together?"
Yun Qi said, "I have an appointment today, so I'll have to reschedule."
With that, Yun Qi said to the manager of Deyuelou, "Put this meal on my tab."
The shopkeeper nodded and noted it down.
Yun Qi greeted them and then left.
Tang Ze noticed that the manager of Deyuelou was even more respectful to Yun Qi than he was to them.
Although Yun Qi's status is not what it used to be, they still don't know who the owner of Deyuelou is.
Could it be... that the owner of Deyuelou is Yun Qi?
Tang Ze asked the manager of Deyuelou, "Is that your boss?"
The shopkeeper was stunned and said, "Is Young Master Yun the owner of Deyuelou? You should ask Young Master Yun."
Tang Ze said, "You, the manager of Deyuelou, don't you know who your boss is?"
The shopkeeper was speechless.
The shopkeeper had long anticipated how difficult these gentlemen would be, so he made an excuse and left.
The Prince of Yanping and his companions were stunned, especially the Prince of Yanping himself, who exclaimed, "No way, Deyuelou is owned by the Yun family?"
The shopkeeper didn't deny it, so that meant he admitted it.
Lu Cheng said incredulously, "Given the Yun family's previous foundation, they shouldn't have been able to open such a large restaurant in Kyoto."
The Prince of Yanping said, "No one knows the owner of Deyuelou to this day. Perhaps it is this mystery that makes no one dare to provoke Deyuelou."
To open a decent shop in Kyoto, you need a powerful backer to stand firm. Deyuelou is arguably one of the top restaurants in Kyoto. People subconsciously assume that Deyuelou, which makes a fortune every day, has someone behind it that you shouldn't mess with. Perhaps it is this flamboyance and mystery that makes people afraid to cause trouble for Deyuelou.
If it really is the Yun family, we used to think we wouldn't dare to provoke them, but now it's a fact.
The waiter led them upstairs to the second floor and into the best private room. As soon as they entered, Tang Ze asked Zhou Yuanzhi, "How did you two meet?"
Zhou Yuanzhi said, "My life was saved by Young Master Yun and the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Pingyang..."
The Prince of Yanping and his companions were surprised.
Quickly realizing what had happened, Zhou Yuanzhi said, "They went to Meizhou, and when an earthquake struck Meizhou at night, they saved many lives. On the night of the earthquake, half of the house I was staying in collapsed, and the beam fell onto the bed. If they hadn't strictly ordered my Zhou family to leave the mansion and stay in an open area, I would most likely have died in that earthquake."
The Zhou family was one of the most prominent families in Meizhou. Yun Qi and Shen Du saved the eldest son of the Zhou family, and the Zhou patriarch wanted to reward them handsomely, but Yun Qi and Shen Du refused to accept the reward.
Young Master Zhou invited Yun Qi and Shen Du to dinner and joined them in disaster relief efforts. He witnessed the misery of the poor and suffering people, otherwise he really wouldn't have been able to write such an article.
It would be even better if Zhou Yuanzhi knew Yun Qi and Shen Du.
Since Yun Qi was treating, the Prince of Yanping didn't stand on ceremony with his brother-in-law and ordered a table full of delicious dishes. However, just as the dishes were all served, a waiter went out and a servant came in, bowing to Tang Ze and saying, "Young Master, the Master is in the next private room and wants you to go there."
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