His handsome face was filled with a murderous expression, but the bluish-purple tinge was so striking that it drew everyone's attention.
Jin Wenting glared fiercely, and everyone was so frightened that they quickly ducked their heads. But when no one was looking, he secretly rubbed his wound with his thumb.
Ouch, that really hurts...
Actually, Qingzhai didn't really intend to beat him up badly. She hit him a few times, and after he sincerely explained, she scolded him a few times, and her anger subsided considerably.
But he was ordered to leave and never again turn into a wolf to take advantage of others.
But he couldn't resist, and was even more reluctant to leave, so he secretly kissed her, which made Tongsu, who was so angry that she raised her hand and slapped him.
However, although he had been beaten up, at least his identity was now public. Jin Wenting thought happily that once she took the provincial examination, he could come and supervise the exam, and then they could meet again openly and legitimately...
In the eighteenth year of the Xinglong reign, the provincial examination was held.
In the provincial examination, two equally excellent exam papers appeared, with detailed content and outstanding literary style, almost evenly matched. The examiners pondered for several days and finally decided to award the paper with the superior official style to the top scorer.
In September, the results of the provincial examinations were announced.
Xia Qingzhai from Yunyang County won the top scholar title in the provincial examination.
Xu Yincheng from Yunyang County won second place in the imperial examination.
The provincial examination was held in the capital every three years. The next provincial examination was held in the spring of the year following the provincial examination, namely the year of Chou, Chen, Wei, or Xu. The next metropolitan examination was held in the twenty-first year of Xinglong. The candidates could study for two more years.
In the twenty-first year of the Xinglong reign, scholars from all over the country flocked to the capital to take the metropolitan examination.
Those who passed the provincial examination were called tribute students, and the top scorer was called the top scorer.
Shortly after the results of the imperial examination were announced, the emperor would personally question the candidates in the palace, and they would be divided into three classes based on their scores, collectively known as Jinshi.
The top three in the first class, namely Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua, were awarded the title of "Jinshi Jidi"; the top several in the second class were awarded the title of "Jinshi Chushen"; and the top several in the third class were awarded the title of "Tong Jinshi Chushen".
From this point on, he will officially enter the officialdom.
The April wind already carries warmth and the breath of spring, blowing along the official road at the gates of the capital. Nimble swallows flit back and forth, tender green grass undulates along the roadside, and even near the teahouses in the distance, dandelions bow their heads and intertwine with wildflowers.
Deep inside the teahouse, three furtive figures sat stealthily: an old man, a middle-aged man, and a child. They all tried their best to suppress their imposing demeanor and put on a friendly appearance, peeking out at the main road.
Spirited and energetic students from all over the country are flocking to the capital, dressed in blue robes and folding fans, looking dashing and debonair.
"That kid Wen Ting said the girl he likes is coming today, right?"
"Father—cough, Dad, of course. He was hiding it from us, he never imagined we could sneak a peek here!"
"Wow, I really don't know what kind of sister Brother Wenting likes. I heard that she was the top scholar in the provincial examination in Yunzhou Prefecture! That's really amazing!"
Those sitting in the tea stall seemed like silent travelers, but those "travelers" were inwardly rolling their eyes to the heavens—
They were imperial guards, yet they insisted on following that father, son, and nephew, who were determined to be mischievous, pretending to be weary travelers!
The old man could barely contain his smug smile: "Heh, those aristocratic families are so disrespectful to me, cough, if they knew that all the scholars in the world couldn't even compare to a woman, I'd like to see where they'd put their faces!"
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