This year's imperial examination was rather strange, and quite a few things happened.
First, the Royal Academy students flaunted themselves, causing dissatisfaction among many people and even sparking major conflicts;
Then, the examiners set the exam questions, and Xunzi's "On Heaven" was included in the exam, causing a huge public outcry. Some students even rioted in the capital, and it is said that many were arrested by the Imperial Guards.
For a while, public opinion was boiling, and now that the results were finally about to be announced, it naturally attracted even more attention.
At the same time, all the government offices in the capital were also very nervous, because every time the results were announced, it would be the peak period for unrest.
Many people who failed the exam would question the unfairness of the imperial examination and cause trouble.
Deshenglou is a relatively large restaurant in the capital, located not far from the Imperial Examination Hall. Every year, many candidates wait here to hear news.
However, this year Desheng Building was booked by someone, a student from the Royal Academy, and it can be said that he spent a huge amount of money.
Dozens of people from the Imperial Academy who were taking the imperial examinations were all here, chatting and drinking tea while waiting for the results. Although they all looked cheerful and cheerful, they were all quite nervous.
There were several people sitting in a private room on the second floor.
The leader was Zhang Yu and Zhang Tuizhi, next to him were the Song brothers Song Yingsheng and Song Yingxing, on one side were Lu Xiangsheng, Cao Wenzhao, and Wu Xiang, and the least conspicuous was Liu Xian.
Everyone was waiting for the results, and had no desire to talk. They were all familiar with each other and didn't want to put on a show, so the room was very quiet.
At this moment, the street outside suddenly became noisy.
Someone shouted loudly, "The results are out!"
Suddenly, the streets became bustling.
Zhang Yu and the others glanced at each other. Although their expressions were calm, they were still quite anxious. When facing such a major life event, no one could be sufficiently cautious.
There was a commotion outside, and suddenly the sound of a gong was heard.
Someone quickly ran over, shouting, "Congratulations to Mr. Song Yingsheng from Fengxin County, Nanchang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, for winning the imperial examination!"
After hearing this shout, everyone in the room became excited.
Song Yingxing suddenly jumped up, turned to look at his brother, and said loudly: "Brother, you won! You won the first place in the high school entrance examination!"
As he spoke, Song Yingxing laughed out loud.
The others laughed too.
Obviously, Song Yingsheng won the first place this time, which was the pride of all of them.
For a moment, the room was filled with sounds of congratulations.
Song Yingsheng sat there with an expression of disbelief on his face.
He had expected to pass the exam, but failing would be unbelievable. However, he got first place, which was something Song Yingsheng had not expected.
Soon the person who brought the good news arrived, and the people around were all congratulating him. The rewards were quickly given out, and then there were voices of people announcing the good news one after another.
For the students of the Royal Academy, they had an advantage in this exam.
Because these are the things they usually learn in the Royal Academy, and the examiners are their teachers, there is basically no possibility of failing the exam. After all, this is not a ranking, so it is not surprising that you can pass.
Soon the entire Desheng Building was filled with congratulations, and many people passed the exam.
After passing the exam this time, the palace examination will only determine the ranking. Although it is also very important, you will not be dismissed. Everyone present can enter the officialdom.
For a while, there was laughter and joy on the upper floor of Desheng Building, but some people did not win, and there was a mixture of sadness and joy.
None of the people in their small group failed the exam, and since Song Yingsheng had won the top spot in the high school exam, they were naturally extremely happy for a moment. All the food and wine were laid out, and the banquet began straight away.
In the Western Garden, Zhu Youxiao naturally also got the news.
This time, the imperial examination admitted 356 people, which was considered a relatively large number of people. Among them, 47 people from the Royal Academy passed the exam, which was an extremely high proportion.
Zhu Youxiao took the list and began to look for familiar names on it.
According to Zhu Youxiao's memory, this time the imperial examination was able to select some relatively useful talents. The next step was the palace examination, which was to rank the candidates, so he had to study it carefully to see who to choose as the top scholar. This was very crucial.
Days passed one by one, and the celebrations in the capital never stopped, and soon the day of the palace examination arrived.
The palace examination was held in Jianji Hall. After the roll call, distribution of papers, praise, worship, and other etiquette, Zhu Youxiao could only act as a tool and cooperate with everyone.
After all the formalities were completed, Zhu Youxiao sat on the dragon throne and announced the start of the palace examination.
The palace examination only tested policy questions, with the topics pre-written by the cabinet and then submitted to the emperor for selection. However, this time, the topic was not chosen. Zhu Youxiao came up with the topic, which consisted of only one question: a policy essay. The title consisted of only a few words: "Control the destiny of heaven and use it."
After the questions were distributed, everyone looked at the questions in front of them, some were happy and some were worried.
For the students of the Royal Academy, this question is not difficult, because this is the core idea of Xunzi, which they have studied and practiced a lot in their daily lives, so it is not difficult to write it.
As for the others present, most of them wouldn't find it too difficult. To have emerged victorious from the imperial examination, they naturally wouldn't have written irrelevant material. They must also be followers of Xunzi, otherwise they wouldn't have passed.
Most of those present had a clear connection. They were essentially all members of the cabinet ministers. Even if they hadn't studied at the Imperial Academy, most were the backup forces of their respective factions. Their identities were clearly visible, and this was also the most unified thought of all the previous imperial examinations.
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