Chapter 198 Palace Examination
Well, it’s not like no minister mentioned it.
Before the morning court session, a minister asked Shen Sui, but was blocked by Shen Sui's words, "Today is the day for the imperial court to hold the palace examination and select talents. Lord Li, do you want to trouble the emperor because of the family affairs of Shen Sui and Old Prince Ning?"
The palace examination is the most important thing. As for whether Xiao Huan is the grandson of Prince Ning, Shen Sui has lost his son for more than ten years, so there is no need to rush for one or two days. Besides, it is Shen Sui who lost his son and has no children. Shen Sui is not in a hurry, so why should they be in a hurry?
After the morning court session, it was time for the palace examination.
The students on the imperial examination list entered the palace, where their identities were confirmed, and then the essay questions were issued and they were required to hand in their papers at dusk.
There is no elimination in the palace examination, so except for the top ten, the rankings are not that different. But there are still differences after all, and naturally the higher the ranking, the better.
Chen Tang prayed in his heart for his two cousins, hoping that they would answer the questions smoothly and get a good final ranking.
Sitting on the swing in the garden and looking at the gorgeous sunset in the sky, I knew that the palace examination was over.
There were few people taking part in the palace examination and few questions, so the marking was very fast. The marking officials would present the ten best papers to the emperor for his review, and the emperor would select the top three.
The results will be released in three days at most, and sometimes as fast as two days.
The second branch was driven out of the mansion, and there were 90% fewer troubles in the mansion. Chen Tang stayed in the room reading books and doing needlework, and two days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the day the results were announced, the weather was fine and the sky was clear and cloudless.
There were many people looking at the list, so Chen Tang did not leave the house to join in the fun. Ginkgo took over the job of looking at the list, took Si'er out of the house, and left Qiu Tong to serve Chen Tang.
Gingxing and Si'er went out after breakfast. After lunch, they hadn't come back yet. Chen Tang watched Qiu Tong knitting clothes. There was a sound of footsteps outside, and Qiu Tong said, "Gingxing and the others are back."
Chen Tang raised his head and looked towards the screen, and saw Gingko running in. He had been running all the way back, and a layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead due to his tiredness.
Ginkgo wanted to speak, but her mouth was dry and smoking, so Qiu Tong quickly poured her a cup of tea.
Gingko drank it all in one gulp, and Chen Tang asked, "How did the two cousins rank?"
Gingko grinned, his eyes sparkling, and Shen Tang knew that his two cousins must have done well in the exam.
Ginkgo said, "My eldest cousin ranked first in the second class, and my second cousin ranked last in the second class."
Chen Tang, "..."
By coincidence, this ranking took up all the second place.
Chen Tang knew that his eldest cousin was a good student, but he didn't expect him to rank so well. Being first in the second class was already an excellent ranking, and the next level up was the first class, which only had three people.
It was in this spring examination that Jiang Mingxiu ranked fourth.
Grandparents, uncles and aunts must be very happy. Chen Tang is happy for the Jiang family from the bottom of his heart.
Qiu Tong asked, "Who is the top scholar?"
Gingko covered her mouth and laughed, "It's the one who stepped on my cousin's foot, the one who ranked first in the examination list, the eldest young master of the Jiang family."
Last time Jiang Mingxiu said that this year's top scorer would most likely be him, and it turned out to be true.
Ginkgo said, "Last time a group of people came to catch Young Master Jiang, but I didn't see it. But today I saw it. Many stewards from ministers' houses sent invitations to Young Master Jiang, inviting him to come to their houses to appreciate the flowers. Young Master Jiang was so scared that he ran away..."
Chen Tang, "..."
Run away in panic.
Hearing these four words, Shen Tang's forehead was covered with black lines.
Is there any way to describe the newly crowned top scholar?
Ginkgo said, "When Young Master Jiang was walking in front of me, I almost couldn't help but reach out and grab him."
Chen Tang raised his hand and knocked on Ginkgo, "Why did you arrest the top scholar?"
Ginkgo grinned and said, "I am here to find a husband for my cousin. The Jiang family has produced two Jinshi in the first imperial examination. If we can find another champion to be the son-in-law of our granddaughter, all the wealthy families in Kyoto will be envious to death."
Chen Tang laughed, "I don't even dare to think about such a beautiful thing."
But it would be nice if it were true.
It was getting late today, so Chen Tang didn't go to the Jiang family to congratulate them and planned to go tomorrow.
The next day was also a sunny day.
After breakfast, Chen Tang went to Songhe Hall to pay his respects to the old lady. The old lady had been bedridden for a few days and finally recovered. Chen Tang did not pay his respects in front of the sickbed.
The old lady sat on the Luohan couch, and the third wife sat on her left and right. When she saw Chen Tang come in, the third wife smiled and said, "The two young masters of the Jiang family did really well in the exam this time."
Chen Tang said, "I didn't expect my two cousins to do so well in the exam."
The old lady smiled and said, "The Jiang family is upright and honest. The two young masters Jiang are both good. The court needs such upright officials."
For so many years, the old lady never mentioned the Jiang family, and no one dared to mention it in front of the old lady. Suddenly, Shen Tang was a little uncomfortable with praising the Jiang family like this.
Chen Tang said, “Grandma, I want to go to the Jiang family to congratulate you later.”
"It should be," the old lady nodded.
The fourth wife said, "I will have someone prepare a gift right away..."
Chen Tang shook his head and said, "I can just go empty-handed, my father will send a gift."
For such a big event, of course it would be more formal if the father sent it.
The old lady nodded and said, "When you go back to the mansion to get married, you can't leave easily. Go earlier today and stay at the Jiang family for a while."
Chen Tang was also in a hurry, so he stood up.
They arrived at the gate of the Marquis' Mansion and waited for a while before the servant brought the carriage over. After Ginkgo and Qiutong helped Chen Tang get on the carriage, they also got in.
Normally, when Chen Tang went to the Jiang family, he would only bring one maid with him. Today, both maids were going to the Jiang family to share in the festive atmosphere, so Chen Tang did not show favoritism and brought them both with him.
The carriage arrived at the Jiang family without any obstruction. When the servants of the Jiang family saw Chen Tang coming, they all smiled brightly. After the results were announced yesterday, Old Madam Jiang was happy and rewarded the mansion with monthly wages for the first and second half of the year. Everyone in the Jiang family couldn't help but be happy.
Just then, Ginkgo Qiutong followed Chen Tang into the mansion, and the Jiang family's steward stuffed two purses in front of them. Ginkgo Qiutong took them, feeling very heavy, and was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.
After entering the inner courtyard and walking more than a hundred steps, Jiang Ning and Jiang Li came over. Jiang Li said, "I thought my cousin would come to the Jiang family to wait for the results to be announced with grandmother like last time."
Chen Tang said, "If I had known the results would be announced yesterday, I would have definitely come."
That's true.
The results will be announced in the next two days, but the exact day is uncertain, so it is possible that they had made a wasted trip yesterday. They waited for the entire morning and thought that the results would not be announced yet, so they were ready to go home. Fortunately, they waited a little longer, otherwise they would have waited for the entire morning in vain.
Jiang Li took Chen Tang's arm and said, "Cousin, you don't know how happy grandparents were yesterday..."
One can imagine without even looking, that in a hundred years the Jiang family may not encounter one or two things as happier as yesterday.
When Chen Tang went to Cuibai Courtyard, he saw Madam Jiang sitting on the Luohan couch. She was in high spirits. Chen Tang bowed and saluted, then sat down next to Madam Jiang and stretched out his hand for the wedding money, "Grandmother, I also want to share in the good fortune of my two cousins."
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