Madam Yang passed away on the day of her daughter's wedding, which led to even more heated discussions about Yang Jiyan and Zhou Yun's reconciliation in Xinglou. It was said that Madam Yang was angered to death by giving birth to such a shameless daughter.
The announcement of the palace examination results the next day did not stop the discussion of the matter among the people.
Early in the morning, all the tribute students entered the palace and waited outside the Fengtian Hall in an orderly manner, waiting for the eunuch to summon them in.
Only three people are selected from the first class of the imperial examination. The first one is called the top scholar, the second one is called the second place, and the third one is called the third place.
All the scholars were secretly observing Yu Qizhe. This man was unknown before the imperial examination, but after the results were announced, no one dared to underestimate him. They had already inquired about him privately. He was the top scorer in Qingzhou in the provincial examination and the top scorer in the imperial examination. If he could win the top scorer this time, he would be the first top scorer in Taiyan's history to win three first places in the imperial examination. His future would be limitless.
There were also a few people who were very dissatisfied, including Xiao Yantai. He ranked third in the imperial examination and was defeated by Yu Qizhe at the Xinglou Poetry Meeting that day. Now the first place was snatched away by Yu Qizhe. With new and old grudges, he naturally disliked Yu Qizhe.
He was just a country boy, but he kept stealing his limelight. Xiao Yantai narrowed his eyes and stared at Yu Qizhe, thinking that he would trip him up a few times in the future.
Chen Zhiqing stood beside Xiao Yantai, his eyes cast gloomily on Yu Qizhe. Although he did not perform well in the imperial examination and was at the bottom of the list, he was lucky enough to be admitted as a tribute scholar, which was a great joy for someone from a poor family. However, Yu Qizhe topped the imperial examination. Compared with Yu Qizhe, his achievement of barely passing the exam seemed particularly insignificant.
This humiliation reminded Chen Zhiqing of the time when the results of the provincial examination were announced. The officials came to his doorstep to announce the good news, and the neighbors rushed to congratulate him. He was overjoyed, but was suddenly poured a bucket of cold water on his head. Yu Qizhe won the first place in the imperial examination, and the neighbors all looked to Yu Qizhe, the first place in the imperial examination. The gap in their words was like being slapped in the face in public.
Chen Zhiqing knew clearly that with his talent, it would be a blessing for him to pass the imperial examination, and he could forget about getting first or second place in the palace examination. Now he just hoped that Yu Qizhe would not be among the first place. Otherwise, when Yu Qizhe returned home in glory, he would look even more embarrassed and insignificant under his brilliance.
Fortunately, he has already gotten close to Xiao Yantai. If Xiao Yantai helps him, he may not have to be sent out and can stay in the capital to find an official position. Although being a local official is also a good job, the remote and poor countryside with high mountains and far rivers cannot compare to a minor official in the capital. Having seen the prosperity and wealth of the capital, Chen Zhiqing only wants to join it and never return to that poor countryside.
When the sun was high in the sky, the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department came out of the Fengtian Hall and sang, "Yu Qizhe, Song Ziqian, Xiao Yantai... Wu Yun entered the hall to see the emperor."
The people who were chosen couldn't help but show joy on their faces, but they quickly suppressed their emotions, straightened their robes, walked steadily, and followed the eunuchs into the hall.
Emperor Mingzheng sat on the dragon throne on the high platform, just like he did on the day of the palace examination. He was in great spirits today, with a ruddy complexion, and looked vigorous and energetic, with some of the look of a man in his prime.
Next to him stood a man, dressed in a bright red python robe with gold-woven flying fish patterns, with an unparalleled handsome appearance. Even though he was standing next to the emperor, his aura was not diminished in the slightest. Unlike the other eunuchs, this man did not have the servile and servile attitude of a eunuch. Instead, he had a straight back and stood tall and straight.
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