The palace examination was held on March 15th of the same year after the joint examination. It only tested one policy question and was presided over by the emperor himself. The emperor also rearranged the candidates' rankings.
On the day of Wei Min's palace examination, at dawn, A'ruan sent her to the palace gate and raised his hand and said:
——I will go to the market to buy vegetables when it gets light, and wait for you to come back for dinner in the evening.
It was still a little cold in the morning in March. Wei Min rubbed his hands to warm them up before touching A'ruan's face. "No hurry. Go back and sleep for a while. Go buy groceries in the afternoon."
Ah Ruan laughed at her:
——If we go there in the afternoon, we will find what others have picked out. They are cheap but not fresh. My wife is doing something big today, so we must have a good meal when we come back.
The candidates at the palace gate came in one after another, and A'ruan pushed Wei Min to urge them. It was a rare moment when he had a smile on his face when they parted ways because of the exam.
Wei Min waved his hand to let A'ruan go back, and entered the palace with everyone else and was taken to Baohe Hall. During the palace examination, in order to take the performance of the candidates into consideration, the emperor would not appear in person. After entering the Baohe Hall, the candidates went through rituals such as roll call, distribution of papers, praise, and salute, and then the essay questions were announced.
The topic for the policy paper is a policy on current affairs, with a length of 200 to 300 words, asking about one or two matters.
There is no limit to the length of a policy paper, which is generally around 2,000 words. The beginning, end and middle parts all have certain formats and word limits. Special emphasis is placed on writing, which must be written in regular script, the so-called "court style" or "Guan Ge style". The characters should be square, round, black and large.
Wei Min remembered that when they were in the academy, it was not without reason that Master Wei paid so much attention to her calligraphy, because from a certain perspective, calligraphy is often more important than writing.
If a long and elegant essay is written in the unrestrained and uninhibited cursive style, it may be beautiful, but the examiners will be more or less visually exhausted and less patient after reading so many test papers.
This kind of current affairs questions are straightforward and interesting. They do not ask about other things, but discuss the pros and cons of having most of the officials in the court be from aristocratic families.
This question was probably asked by the Emperor himself, to test the candidates' attitudes towards the recent torture of the juren and the cheating in the provincial examinations by the children of the gentry.
If a child from a poor family were given this topic, he would probably write passionately about how the gentry controlled the government and exploited the people, expressing his accusation and dissatisfaction. Some bold people might even demand that the power be taken back from the gentry. He would probably mainly write about the drawbacks of the gentry as officials.
On the contrary, if a child of a noble family were given this question, he would probably write about the benefits of being an official.
There are many candidates, with different ages and appearances, but they can be roughly divided into two categories, the gentry and the poor. They stand on their own standpoints, with what they have seen and heard over the years, and when they write, their words will more or less lean towards one side.
Even if there are "smart" people who deliberately do the opposite, with those from poor families praising the gentry and those from the gentry belittling themselves, as long as these pass under the eyes of the examiners who have experienced the ups and downs of officialdom for several years, they will be able to see your true thoughts from your words and sentences.
Wei Min found this question interesting, and even thought more about it, just like her conversation with Jiang Wuque that night.
Today, the two of them are about to take the first step in their plan.
Wei Min held up his sleeves and picked up the pen, pointing out the pros and cons of having too many officials from the aristocratic families with an impartial attitude. He placed himself outside the common people and looked at this phenomenon in the court from a neutral perspective.
In just a few thousand words, from getting the test paper, to reading the questions, to putting pen to paper and handing it in, when I looked up, a layer of clear red sunset had already covered the white jade steps outside the Baohe Hall.
The candidates walked out of the palace through a side door in the afterglow of the setting sun, rubbing their hungry stomachs, talking and laughing. Because no matter what the ranking is in this exam, everyone will succeed, and if nothing unexpected happens in the future, they will all be colleagues in the court.
The papers collected from Baohedian were kept by officials such as those who received the papers, those who were in charge of the papers, and those who sealed the papers.
On the next day, the papers were divided among eight examiners, each at a table. They took turns reading the papers and adding five kinds of marks: "○", "△", "", "1", and "×". The paper with the most "○" was considered the best paper. Then, the ten papers with the most "○" were selected from all the papers and presented to the emperor, who would personally approve them.
The first, second and third places in the class are called the top scholar, the second place and the third place. The top three are called "Jinshi Jidi" or "Sandingjia".
A number of people in the second class, accounting for one-third of the admitted candidates, were called "Jinshi Chuan", and the first one in the second class was called Chuanlu.
A number of people ranked in the top three accounted for two-thirds of the admitted candidates.
After the emperor has reviewed and approved it, the list-filling official will fill in the list and announce it.
It usually takes no more than two or three days from the palace examination to the announcement of the results.
During this period, Ah Ruan looked indifferent. He only asked "How is it" on the day Wei Min came back. After Wei Min replied "It's okay", he nodded as if he understood and didn't ask any more questions. However, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time at night.
A Ruan was afraid of waking Wei Min up, so she was very careful when turning over. She tried to lie flat and motionless, staring at the bed curtains with her eyes open, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Wei Min turned over, facing A'ruan, put his arm around his waist, and hugged him close to him, "What are you thinking about?"
She seemed not to have slept yet. Her voice sounded like fine sand flowing through fingers, clean and without any sleepiness at all. She asked him with her lips close to his ear.
Ah Ruan raised his hand and patted Wei Min's arm apologetically:
——I kept you awake because of the noise.
Wei Min pressed his legs against A Ruan's, and his hands slipped into his shirt and caressed his waist and abdomen, "Can't you sleep?"
The meaning of her words was too obvious, and Ah Ruan had to pull her hand out of her underwear:
——My period has come.
A Ruan pulled Wei Min's fingers and placed them on the belt that she used to tie her menstrual period, and looked at her silently.
A Ruan discovered that his wife seemed to be in a good mood every time she heard that he was having his period. Even if he forgot about it when they were making love and she put him on the bed, but he couldn't have sex because of his period, his wife never showed any disappointment or annoyance on her face.
This time was no exception. After Wei Min heard that Ah Ruan had her period, he honestly retracted his naughty hands and feet and gently rubbed his waist and abdomen with his warm palms. "Then why don't you go to bed early? Are you worried about the results of tomorrow's palace examination?"
A'ruan's thoughts were guessed, so she didn't hide it anymore. She pursed her lips and nodded slightly.
Wei Min studied hard for many years, and A Ruan hoped from the bottom of her heart that his wife could pass the imperial examination in one go. If so, she would have won three first places in a row and become the youngest legendary person in Jiang.
It's no problem for him to rise to prominence, but...
The palm with just the right amount of strength was still massaging his lower abdomen affectionately, relieving the pain he felt during his menstrual period. A Ruan gently lowered her eyelids, not thinking about anything else, resting her head on Wei Min's neck, pulling her clothes at the side of her waist, and rubbing her face against her chest.
On the second day, after the palace examination results were filled out, Wei Min was summoned to the palace. Before leaving, A Ruan stood at the door to see her off, with her hand on the door frame, but did not go out. She looked at her intently, with an indescribable complex emotion in her eyes.
Wei Min frowned, "Ah Ruan?"
A Ruan suppressed his expression, pursed his lips slightly, and shook his head at her.
——Go ahead.
A Ruan didn't know how educated his wife was. He only knew that since the Eighth Princess came to greet her personally, she must have extraordinary talent.
Ah Ruan had a premonition that his wife would be able to win the first place in the palace examination and become the top scholar in front of the imperial street.
After Wei Min walked away with the others, Ah Ruan squatted down with his back against the door frame, buried his head between his arms and knees, and breathed softly to relieve the soreness and pain in his chest.
When going out on the streets these days, A'ruan always hears rumors on the street that the current sixteenth prince is only fourteen years old and has just come of age, and His Majesty is planning to choose a good match for him.
Now is the time when the results are announced in late spring and early summer. Everyone says that the top scorer is likely to become a princess consort.
The Emperor grants marriage, a great honor, cannot be refused...
The Sixteenth Prince is deeply loved by the Emperor, and his wife, Wei Min, has a handsome face, bright eyes and a tall and graceful figure. When the Emperor chooses a wife for his son, he will certainly choose the best one.
In A Ruan's opinion, his wife is the best among Chiang Kai-shek's women.
Every time A Ruan heard this, she felt uneasy, but she didn't know how to tell Wei Min. Could it be that he should ask his wife, "After you win the first place in the imperial examination, will you still want me?"
A Ruan shook his head, biting his lower lip with his teeth, and he couldn't ask.
It was common for a woman to have three husbands and four maids, but he was afraid that his wife would become a prince consort, and the prince would be of noble status. By then, let alone being a common husband, he might not even be able to be a maid...
A Ruan scratched his palm with his nails, slowly calmed down, wiped the tears from his face, and prepared to go to the street to buy some vegetables and make a delicious meal.
He wanted to wait until his wife came back on horseback with a red flower tied around her body.
…
After the results of the palace examination were announced, the emperor held a ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to announce the results of the palace examination.
The list of names was announced in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in a ceremony that was extremely grand.
The Imperial Guards set up the imperial procession in front of the hall, the Music Department and the Harmonious Music Bureau set up the Zhonghe Shao music on both sides under the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Danbi Da music on both sides inside the Gate of Supreme Harmony.
All officials below the king and above the rank of Duke sat on the Danbi, while the civil and military officials sat inside the Danchi. They all wore court robes and were arranged according to their rank. The tribute scholars wore official uniforms and wore three-branched and nine-leaf crowns, and stood behind the civil and military officials in the east and west rows according to their ranking.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple set up a yellow table on the east side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the cabinet scholars held the yellow list and placed it on the yellow table. After everything was ready, they went to the Qianqing Palace and requested the emperor to dress in formal attire and leave the palace to ascend the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The emperor arrived and sat on the dragon-carved and gilded chair that was held high up by seven steps. After everyone knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, the official from the Honglu Temple began to read the decree: "On the 25th day of the fourth month of the tenth year, the imperial examination was held for the tribute candidates of the whole country. The first class was awarded the title of Jinshi. The first place winner of the first class, Wei Min, was led out of the class and knelt on the left side of the imperial road."
The number one scholar had been announced, attracting the envious gazes of the new scholars. Wei Min followed the temple officials and knelt on the left side of the imperial road.
The princess stood beside the emperor, pretending to be in high spirits, but in fact her eyelids were drooping and she didn't care much. It was not until she heard the word "Wei Min" that she suddenly opened her eyes wide...
Then, the second person led the class to the right and knelt a little later. The third person led the class to the left and knelt a little later.
The names of the three people in the first class are chanted three times.
Call out the names of the first place in the second class and several other people, call out the names of the first place in the third class and several other people, each only once and without leading out the class.
After the singing, the Danbi Grand Music played "Qingping Chapter", and all the Jinshi candidates performed the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows. Afterwards, an official from the Ministry of Rites held the list, supported by a cloud plate, and led by a yellow umbrella, and exited from Taihe Gate and Wumen Gate.
At this time, the emperor returned to the palace, and all the scholars, princes, and officials followed the list out and went to the East Chang'an Gate to hang the list.
The number one scholar went out with other successful candidates to see the list. All gold lists must be returned three days after being posted.
The princess saw the emperor returning to the palace and became anxious, so she hurriedly followed him.
Soon, the Palace Director led two attendants out of the palace and walked quickly to the middle gate of the Imperial Road, the road that the number one scholar took to leave the palace. They stopped Wei Min and said with a smile, "Your Majesty invites the new number one scholar Wei Min to enter the palace."
The Central Gate of the Imperial City is the gate reserved for the emperor, also known as the Imperial Road. In addition to the emperor, there are several other people who have only one chance in their lifetime to enter or exit from here.
Those who entered were the emperor's legitimate wives who brought the royal bloodline into the palace. They were carried in from here. The ones who came out were Wei Min and his two companions who won first place today.
This road is the road that all the literati in the world dream of taking, and it carries the dreams of countless literati.
Coming out of this road, the original meaning refers to the three people who won the first place, who can spread the ideal of governing the country with culture to the world.
No matter what the court is like now, no matter what the three of them think, when they set foot on this road, their backs straightened unconsciously.
The man who won the second place was already in his thirties. He was so happy that his eyes were not visible. He smiled as he talked to Wei Min and the third place winner.
Just as the three were about to leave, the Hall Master who was waiting by the door came out through a shortcut, smiled and stepped forward to greet the three of them first.
The Palace Province is both a province and an official position, in charge of His Majesty's food, clothing, housing and transportation. The power is not great, but not small either. She is the person in front of the Emperor, and many court officials have to greet her politely when they meet her.
How could the three of them dare to just stand there and accept her greeting just because of their first-class ranking? They immediately bowed in return.
The Palace Department smiled and said to the second and third place winners, "You two go first. His Majesty has something to discuss with the first place winner."
Look ahead, the author has something to say and there is the main text~
The author has something to say: As soon as she said this, the other two people had different expressions, and their eyes looking at Wei Min were full of undisguised envy. They had also heard that His Majesty intended to recruit a consort for the Sixteenth Prince this year.
After the two left, Wei Min followed the palace official to the imperial study.
The emperor, still in his dragon robe, was sitting on a chair behind his desk, while the princess stood beside him in a well-behaved manner.
When Wei Min entered, the Palace Governor winked at her, and she immediately lifted her skirt, knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and said, "Your humble servant greets the Emperor and the Crown Princess."
She is the top scholar in the first class. If nothing unexpected happens, she will be appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy in a few days. It is not wrong for her to call herself a minister now.
Jiang Kunjun raised his hand to support Wei Min across the desk, and said with a smile: "Wei Qing has won the top three places in the imperial examination at such a young age. You are really the pride of my great Jiang."
The princess immediately responded, "Your Majesty is right. I think so too. Wei Zhuangyuan is not bad in appearance and character. Such a talent should not be given to others."
When Wei Min heard her say this, his heart skipped a beat.
Jiang Wuyong looked at Jiang Kunjun and said, "Didn't the Queen Mother want to find a wife for Little Sixteen? I think there is no one else who can catch your eye except Wei Zhuangyuan. Don't you agree?"
After hearing this, the emperor really looked at Wei Min carefully, smiled and nodded, "Not bad, not bad."
Jiang Kunjun raised his chin slightly, looked down at Wei Min, and asked in a slightly dignified tone, "Mr. Wei, what do you think?"
He didn't even ask her if she was married!
Wei Min lowered his eyes, and before he could say anything, he heard a servant outside the door come to report: "Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince wants to see you."
When Jiang Wuyong heard that Lao Ba was coming, his face immediately drooped. Why come at this critical moment instead of earlier?
"Oh?" Jiang Kunjun stretched out the last word and raised his chin to agree, "Old Eight is really lucky, let her come in and take a look at Wei Zhuangyuan, who won the third place in the imperial examination."
Then he smiled at Wei Min and said, "Although Old Eight has been to the border frequently in the past two years because of the Feng family boy, her literary talent is not inferior to that of ordinary people. You can compare with her."
Wei Min lowered his head and said humbly, "I dare not."
As they were talking, the Palace Director pushed Jiang Wuque in.
Well, most of the information about the palace examination and the imperial examination in the article comes from Menghualu, documentary videos and Baidu (for those very professional words), which took up some words. I feel embarrassed, so I wrote some more for free and put them in the author's words as compensation for you [clasping hands]
Love you~
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