When the Jinwu Guards had searched all 403 successful candidates, the bell of Mao time rang and the Chengtian Gate slowly opened.

Two teams of burly men in golden armor... generals, marched out of the palace in neat steps and lined up neatly on both sides of the palace gate.

Zhao Zhenji led the scholars who had never seen the world into the center of power of the Ming Dynasty, a place that ordinary people could not set foot in their entire lives - the Forbidden City.

The nights in March were noticeably shorter. When the tribute students walked along the straight imperial road through the Duanmen Gate and arrived at the Meridian Gate, the main gate of the imperial palace, the sky had already brightened.

The majestic Five Phoenix Tower was like a building surrounded by three mountains with five protruding peaks. It was nearly 20 feet high, majestic and imposing, and stunned all the candidates at once.

Zhao Zhenji reminded them to line up in two teams according to their ranking in the imperial examination. Odd-numbered people should go through the left gate on the eastern side, and even-numbered people should go through the right gate on the western side. Do not go through the three doorways in the middle. Especially the main gate in the middle, if you go in the wrong way, you will be beheaded...

Because it was a place reserved for the emperor to enter and exit, and the empress could only use it once on her wedding day.

"Oh, right." Seeing that the examinees were a little confused, Zhao Zhenji encouraged them, "Only when the palace examination is over, the top three candidates can also leave through this door!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the effect was indeed excellent.

The tribute scholars' eyes lit up at once, and they coveted the honor that only a few people in the world could enjoy.

"My brother walked out from there..." Wang Dingjue's heart was beating even faster, and he clenched his fists secretly as he looked at the main door. "I absolutely cannot lose to him!"

Being a younger brother of a genius brother, it would be even more difficult if you don't have to be strong.

~~

The candidates passed through the Meridian Gate, crossed the Outer Golden Water Bridge, and arrived at the Huangji Gate.

At this time, the sky was bright and the sun was rising, but the Huangji Gate was still closed and there was no sign of opening.

The candidates followed Zhao Zhenji and stood obediently outside the Huangji Gate waiting.

As soon as the Chen hour arrived, melodious drum music was heard from inside the Huangji Gate.

The vermilion-painted, gold-nailed door finally slowly opened. The Huangji Hall, the highest palace of the Ming Dynasty, was shining brightly under the morning sun, making people dare not look at it closely.

Dozens of officials in charge of the palace examination, led by Lord Xu and Duke Cheng, were already standing on the steps of His Highness, awaiting their arrival.

Seeing the high-ranking officials in scarlet robes, the candidates' hearts beat faster. They didn't dare to raise their heads or move their legs, and they didn't know how they followed Minister Zhao forward.

After paying homage to the big guys in a daze, they lined up behind them under Zhao Zhenji's instructions, waiting for the emperor to arrive.

Fortunately, the wait was not long. At one o'clock in the morning, the He Shao music started playing in the Golden Palace.

Emperor Longqing made a grand appearance wearing a leather cap, which was second only to his imperial crown, with his exclusive background music playing!

After the emperor ascended the throne behind the golden platform, everyone knelt on the ground, shouted "Long live the emperor", and performed the ritual of five bows and three kowtows.

Afterwards, Teng Xiang, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, personally read out the imperial edict:

"On the tenth day of the third month of the second year of the Longqing reign, the Minister of Rites Gao Yi and other officials reported at the Huangji Gate: For the imperial examination, 403 candidates were selected from all over the country. On the fifteenth day of the third month of this year, the palace examination was held, and the examiners and stewards, including Xu Jie, the Grand Secretary of the Jianji Palace, and 45 others were invited. Their Jinshi degrees were determined according to the qualifications set by Emperor Taizu Gao. The first class was selected as the sixth rank, and the second and third were the seventh rank, and were awarded the title of Jinshi Jidi; the second class was the seventh rank, and was awarded the title of Jinshi Chuan; the third class was the eighth rank, and was awarded the title of Tong Jinshi Chuan. This is in accordance with the imperial decree. I decree this."

Xu Jie, along with a group of officials and candidates, knelt down to receive the imperial edict.

Then Teng Xiang announced the names of fifty-nine officials, including the file reading officer, the supervisory officer, the file receiving officer, the sealing officer, the file holding officer, the patrol officer, the file sealing officer, and the supply officer.

Then, Gao Yi, the Minister of Rites who was in charge of the palace examination, directed the candidates to thank the emperor again. Then, they sat in the order they had arranged, with odd-numbered candidates sitting in the left corridor and even-numbered candidates sitting in the right corridor.

When all 403 candidates knelt on their cushions, the examiner began to distribute the examination questions and answer sheets.

~~

After getting the test questions, candidates can start answering the questions.

Jin Xuezeng and his group were ranked high and were among the first to receive the topic, so they couldn't wait to see the title:

'The emperor said: "I believe that the ruler of the country should promote civilization and bring order to the country. There are many policies. However, the most important ones are to focus on agriculture, train the army and strengthen the defense... There are many idle people in all directions, and not all of them return to agriculture. How can we make people work hard and not lose their jobs? The ugly barbarians are bandits, and the alarm is heard every year. How can we create a new one so that they dare not spy again? ... You scholars have been accustomed to the affairs of the time for a long time. You should follow the teachings and advice of our royal ancestors. If there is anything that can benefit the people and the country, please tell me clearly and I will implement it. '

The Yangyangs were so excited that they almost jumped up.

'Oh my god, Master is amazing!'

Both questions are among the three predicted by the Master!

Moreover, even the third question that the emperor did not ask is closely related to these two questions. Is it their common solution?

In other words, not a single bit of effort put in during the past half month was wasted, and all of it was put to good use!

"Master, I love you, I worship you, I will wash your calf's nose for two lifetimes!"

"Master must have used scientific predictions. I must study mathematics and make predictions for Master in the future!"

"I'm sorry, brother, my idol has changed. I want to be like Master! Absolutely!"

"When I become prime minister in the future, I will make the imperial examination a science exam!"

"Oh my god, I was still trying to plot against the master. What a fool I am..."

After the fellow disciples vented their excitement, they only had one last thought - Master has helped me get to this point, and if I don’t bring back a top scorer, I would be so sorry to him!

Then they put aside all distractions and concentrated on breaking down their three policy papers and blending them into a perfect whole!

The disciples here had already started to think about their ideas, while Zhao Shouzheng over there had just received the paper.

There was nothing he could do. Who made him the last one? He was the last one to enter the venue, and he was the last one to sit down... He had already left the left corridor, with the sky above his head and the floor tiles under his feet.

If it rains suddenly, we won’t even have to take the exam.

When Mr. Zhao got the paper and looked at it, he couldn't help but laugh. He thought that although the ancestor didn't show up this time, the little ancestor did.

Well, let’s get started.

Mr. Zhao hadn't drunk alcohol for a while, so his mind was much clearer. In addition, this policy essay was much more flexible than the eight-part essay, so he was naturally more comfortable writing it, and his writing was more fluent.

By noon, he had finished drafting a 3,600-word policy essay, and after checking it carefully to make sure it was correct, he began to copy it on the answer sheet.

The paper was made of seven layers of rice paper, which was very exquisite and thick. There were red lines on it, and only 24 characters were allowed to be written in each line. Each character must be written neatly in the "Guan Ge style".

It would be impossible to master this beautiful style of calligraphy without more than ten years of hard work. Mr. Zhao practiced for nearly twenty years.

When he finished copying and put down his pen, the sun was still high in the west.

Master Zhao heaved a sigh of relief, then he felt hungry and his stomach rumbled like thunder.

But he kept in mind the rules he had heard yesterday and sat there not daring to move, for fear that if he looked up he would be considered plagiarizing by the examiner.

He gritted his teeth and endured until dusk. The inspector rang the bell and ordered the candidates to stop writing. Only then did he dare to raise his head.

I was stunned when I saw it.

It turned out that the emperor had long been gone from the Golden Palace, and it was unknown what time it had been since Lord Xu and the other ministers who were reading the papers had left.

Even under the east and west wings, most of the seats were already empty...

Can I submit the paper early?

"Isn't this bullying an honest man?" Mr. Zhao, who was about to faint from hunger, almost cried out.

ps. The third update is here, please give me monthly tickets and recommendation tickets~~