Chapter 246: Banquet of Grace and Honor
Zhu Lan had not yet been officially granted an official position, and it was even more impossible for him to change his clothes at the banquet. So he solemnly put away the court robes that had been awarded to him, and the banquet officially began.
Every Jinshi who attended the banquet was rewarded with a set of silver plates and ivory chopsticks, and the three top scorers were given wine in golden cups as a sign of honor.
However, Zhu Lan was somewhat surprised to find that this Enrong Banquet was not an ordinary banquet with served dishes. Instead, a circular dining table was set up in the center of the Anhe Hall, divided into four layers from top to bottom. Each layer was decorated with a circle of delicacies along the edge, for a total of 8864 dishes.
After the prince announces the start of the banquet, the guests can hold their silver plates and walk along the dining table to taste the delicious food.
It is very similar to modern buffets.
Such a relatively free and open form is intended to encourage scholars to communicate with each other and discuss academic matters.
Of course, for these new scholars, the Enrong Banquet is also a good opportunity to expand their network. Since everyone passed the imperial examination in the same year, they have the friendship of "fellow year", and if they add the relationship of "fellow townsman" or "fellow student", they will become "family members" without knowing it.
Especially these three young top-ranked ones, who have a bright future, should seize this God-given opportunity to get closer to them.
At this time, the two people with the highest status in the entire Anhe Hall were Yan Xiuyun and Yan Changwen. Naturally, they also had to express their opinions on the new top scholar.
"Your Highness, how about you and I go together to congratulate the number one scholar?" Yan Changwen looked at Yan Xiuyun with a smile in his little eyes.
Yan Xiuyun nodded, picked up the wine glass and walked towards Zhu Lan, with Yan Changwen following behind him.
Zhu Lan and Zhu Qingyan were very close to each other. When they saw the two princes approaching, the scholars surrounding them quickly made way.
Zhu Lan saluted to the two princes, looking humble and polite, but in his heart he couldn't help but guess what Yan Xiuyun was thinking at the moment.
She learned from Qin Yuwei that this prince seemed to look down on women. Now that she was a woman and had won the top spot in the imperial examination, she wondered how he would feel.
Yan Xiuyun also felt somewhat complicated and tangled at this time.
He never believed that women could be better than men, but his father had ordered him to review the top ten papers in the current palace examination in Ziyun Hall. At that time, the seal of the papers had not yet been torn off, and he selected the one he thought was the best based on the level of the essays. Later, he found out that it was Zhu Lan's paper.
He remembered what his mother had said in Fengyi Palace. Since he wanted to compete with his third brother, he had to humble himself and win over his future subjects.
Whether you are willing to do it is one thing, whether you should do it is another.
So he raised his glass and said, "I wish you the best in talent and learning, the top scorer in the imperial examination. You are truly a pillar of the country. Women are as good as men. I toast to you."
Zhu Lan held the cup with both hands and responded respectfully, "Your Highness, I am so flattered by your praise. I am just lucky to have received it. I really don't deserve it. I respect your Highness."
After saying this, Zhu Lan raised the golden cup in his hand and drank it all.
Yan Xiuyun looked at her with a deep gaze, but did not drink his cup. "Although I am the crown prince, I am young and weak, and it is difficult for me to bear the weight of power. Miss Zhu is very talented. If you have time in the future, you may come to the East Palace often. If I have behaved inappropriately, I hope Miss Zhu will not hesitate to teach me."
Zhu Lan could tell that Yan Xiuyun's words were just a humble statement, but actually meant to win him over.
However, the other party is the prince, so no matter what I think, I have to give him enough face.
"Thank you for your kindness, His Royal Highness. Zhu Lan is very grateful. In the future, I will definitely..."
Zhu Lan was just halfway through his words when he was suddenly bumped by someone. It turned out to be a Jinshi passing by, and a few drops of wine in the other person's cup accidentally spilled on Zhu Lan.
"I have offended the number one scholar and the two princes unintentionally. I am guilty!" The other party apologized hastily, but because Zhu Lan was a woman, he was not in a position to help her wipe the wine stains off her clothes.
"It's okay, it's okay." Zhu Lan comforted.
"I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Qi had specially ordered two sets of Flowing Cloud Robes for the No. 1 and No. 3 Scholars, but I soiled them. I really deserve to die!"
Zhu Lan's eyes narrowed. There was no outsider present when Murong Lan presented him the clothes. How could an ordinary Jinshi know about this?
The most important thing is, I have clearly changed into another set of scholar's uniform, why did the other party still say this?
She subconsciously looked at Yan Changwen, who narrowed his eyes and gave her a noncommittal smile.
When the man who bumped into Zhu Lan apologized, whether out of emotion or intentional, his voice even rose a few notches, attracting the attention of many people around him.
When they looked at Zhu Lan again, there was a hint of understanding in their eyes.
It turns out that the new top scholar and the second place scholar have already been on His Royal Highness Prince Qi's side.
For a while, all the young scholars who wanted to join Prince Qi's Mansion nodded to Zhu Lan secretly, and even wanted to confirm with their eyes.
Those who were inclined to the East Palace moved away quietly.
"A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in. It seems that the number one scholar has already planned it out. It's me who is just being sentimental." Yan Xiuyun said indifferently, put the untouched wine glass on the tray in the hands of the eunuch beside him, and turned and left.
Faced with Yan Xiuyun's suddenly gloomy attitude, Zhu Lan could only smile bitterly and could not explain anything at this time.
The person who bumped into him just now left quietly after shouting that sentence. It was obviously arranged by Yan Changwen in advance.
"Zhu Lan is a man of limited talent and learning. How can he deserve such favor from His Royal Highness Prince Qi?" Zhu Lan said to Yan Changwen with a faint smile.
"There are many good horses, but there are few good horse trainers. I just admire smart people." Yan Changwen smiled gently, ordered someone to refill Zhu Lan's glass, raised his own glass, and had no airs at all.
Yan Changwen was waiting for her to express her opinion.
Zhu Lan lowered his eyes to look at the refilled wine glass, pondered for a moment, and slowly raised his glass.
"Today, Zhu Lan is offering flowers to the Buddha. I am bold enough to borrow this wine from His Majesty the King to wish our Daliang a prosperous country, a peaceful world, and eternal peace."
Her voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for everyone watching nearby to hear clearly.
This one sentence caused everyone to speculate.
The top scholar and His Royal Highness Prince Qi spoke so eloquently, yet with a hint of strangeness. Could it be that she was still waiting and watching between these two princes?
Facing Zhu Lan's response, Yan Changwen's round and fair face showed no annoyance at all, but became even more interested. After he and Zhu Lan finished drinking the glass of wine, he no longer insisted and returned to his seat.
Not far away, Wenren Yuebai, the runner-up in the imperial examination, was also surrounded by several young scholars.
Although the Left Prime Minister is now in name only, Wenren Yuebai is still the son of the Left Prime Minister after all, and he also won the second place in the imperial examination. Who knows if he will be able to bring honor to the family again in the future.
"Mr. Wenren, I wonder how the Left Prime Minister is doing these days?"
"I've heard of your great name, Mr. Wenren. I wonder what your plans are for your future career?"
"I am from Maocheng. I heard that Master Wenren's ancestors were also from Maocheng. Is that true?"
Wenren Yuebai sat in the wheelchair with a cold expression. People were standing around him, as if surrounding him.
But he still simply answered everyone's questions one by one.
"Make way, make way!" A carefree female voice suddenly sounded, seeming a little abrupt.
Wenren Yuebai raised her eyes slightly and saw Qiao Youyou's bright face.
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