After someone screamed in surprise, everyone in front of the list rushed to the top.
The top four people on the list are Mei Ruochu, the first place winner, Mu Hanshan, and Chen Aoshuang and Wei Xi.
Although the four people's hometowns are different in terms of specific counties or villages, they are indeed from Qingzhou Prefecture.
"There is definitely a problem..." someone shouted, "There are less than 60 people admitted to the provincial examination. If we divide them among the various prefectures, how is it possible that Qingzhou alone has so many people admitted, and their rankings are so good?"
"Yes, the literary style of Qingzhou Prefecture has always been only average!"
"Absolutely impossible! There must be something wrong!"
Some scholars who were not on the list looked crazy.
In the early years, people in Cuiwei had seen people lose their composure on the list, but the provincial examination was different from the previous ones. Not only was it held every three years, it was also an examination that determined whether they could achieve the huge class leap from a scholar to a juren.
Therefore, the degree of "madness" of many people is far beyond their imagination.
Before Mu Erpang and his friends could squeeze to the front to see, they had already found out their rankings from the people shouting.
Unlike before when they were shouting and laughing around Cui Fei, the few of them just exchanged tacit glances with each other and then curled their lips implicitly.
He had just criticized them for being two scholars from a small academy, but seeing that they were silent, he stopped them and said, "Brothers, your classmate almost became a candidate on the second list. If it weren't for those people in front... this brother wouldn't have to sit on this 'red chair'!"
The other party was filled with righteous indignation, as if that person was determined to drag them into the group and that they shared the same hatred for the enemy. After he finished speaking, he stared at them without blinking.
The scene was indeed a bit awkward. Mu Erpang and Mei Ruochu looked at each other, and no one knew what to say.
Cui Fei had no choice but to say, "I am not very talented and learned. I failed the exam last year and I thought I couldn't even make it to the secondary list this year. I am very lucky to be on the 'red chair' of the main list."
Cui Fei meant that he had failed the exam once, so he didn't have much hope this time. He would be satisfied just to pass, so don't count him in if there's any trouble.
The scholar who was waiting to hear their answer misheard the key point and said in astonishment, "You're only taking the exam for the second year..."
For a moment I didn't know how to react.
However, the people who occupied the top few positions at the front were the "biggest concern", so that person did not bother them anymore.
Mu Erpang and the others were finally able to break away, because now they only didn't know Wei Shu's ranking, and his ranking had always been in the middle, so there was no need to squeeze forward, and it was the same when looking from the back to the front.
After a while, they really found it. Wei Shu was ranked 20th.
"I have had a connection with this 'second' several times." Wei Shu couldn't help but mutter with a smile.
During the time they checked Wei Shu's ranking, more and more people gathered at the top of the list. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was packed.
Many scholars followed the instigation and became more and more indignant than others. They whispered to each other and criticized the situation non-stop. They were sure that there must be something fishy going on and some even said they would go to the capital to file a complaint.
Finally, someone couldn't stand it anymore and said, "The chief examiner this year is Shangshu Wang! His reputation is as famous as that of Elder Shen, but it is also well-known. He is indifferent to fame and fortune, and wanted to resign two years ago. Do you think it is credible that he would cheat in an exam of this level?"
"Yes, if they really wanted to play tricks, they wouldn't put so many people with similar registered residences in such prominent places. If they were scattered all over the list, who would be able to find any mistakes?"
Most of those present were scholars and were not young anymore. They all had a certain ability to distinguish. Especially at this time, many of those who stayed here to help speak out were those on the list - the scholars who failed the exam had already left this sad place, or mingled with those at the top of the list.
If something really happens to these people, wouldn't the results they have worked so hard to get would be wasted?
Even if it was not invalidated, people might still point fingers at them behind their backs in the future, saying that there was something fishy about the provincial examination they took, and that their title of Juren was not obtained legitimately!
Rumors are terrible and can melt metal into dust. How could they just sit there and do nothing?
"That's right. Minister Wang dares to rank them like this, which proves that he is upright and honest. He only looks at talent and does not care about other things!"
After some calm analysis, more people on the other side began to agree.
The scholars who failed the exam were not as talented as those who passed, and there was really no evidence at the moment, only groundless speculation, so for a moment no one knew how to refute it.
Finally, someone asked back, "What you said is indeed correct, but how do you explain that the first four people are all from Qingzhou Prefecture?"
The first person who stood up to refute them snorted and laughed, "Why should I explain this? Can't Qingzhou Prefecture produce four talents?"
"Yes, although Qingzhou Prefecture is not as good as Linnan Prefecture, it is also one of the best places in the province. You have all read the books of sages and must have heard the saying 'A scholar who has been away for three days should be looked at with new eyes'. Why can't Qingzhou Prefecture be allowed to have a flourishing literary style this year?"
"That's right, don't you all look down on Qingzhou Prefecture?"
Naturally, there were people from Qingzhou Prefecture among the group of people who failed the exam. When they heard this, they all thought at the same time: yes, they were from Qingzhou, so why would they believe what outsiders said? Don't underestimate your hometown.
Therefore, a 'traitor' soon emerged among these people, helping to say: "Yes, you are from other places and don't know that the top few people on the list are very famous in our prefecture school..."
After the snow-appreciating poetry gathering earlier, didn’t the poetry club of Mr. Zhao’s family print out the poems of Mei Ruochu and others and compile them into a collection of poems?
In order to increase sales, Mr. Zhao often used their resumes as promotional selling points. The poetry collection at the back is selling really well.
Therefore, many scholars in Qingzhou Prefecture who were not in the prefectural school had heard of them to some extent.
As soon as that person reported the resumes of Mei Ruochu, Mu Erpang and others, the number of scholars who reported to file a complaint to the emperor decreased at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Mu Erpang and his friends didn't want to cause trouble at first, so they didn't step forward to reveal their identities. Later, the two groups started arguing, and they didn't have the opportunity to interrupt. Just come out directly.
Chen Cui and Lao Buyu listened for so long that they not only knew their rankings but also heard the entire process.
Chen Cui couldn't help but sighed, "Before, I thought that you had encountered Shangshu Wang this time, and the exam questions were more difficult than in previous years, and you suffered a lot. Now I know that this is actually a great blessing for you."
Lao Buyu also sighed: "The saying 'blessings lie within the shadow of misfortune, and misfortune lies within the shadow of blessing' probably refers to this situation."
If the examiner was less experienced or did not want to cause trouble, he would never risk attracting criticism from the scholars and rank the Cuiwei students according to their actual level.
Only Minister Wang, an upright man who meant what he said, would not even give face to the present emperor when he was angry. Naturally, he would not take such trivial matters seriously.
After saying this, Shen Cui again worriedly whispered: "But many people don't know the inside story right now. If they knew the relationship between our Qingzhou Prefecture's academician and Shangshu Wang...will it cause new criticism?"
Right now, those people have no evidence at all, yet they dare to make groundless accusations. If they knew that Liu Xuezheng of Qingzhou Prefecture was half a disciple of Shangshu Wang, wouldn't they be more targeted?
Lao Buyu said, "What we can think of, can't Minister Wang think of it? He has been in the court for many years, so he must have some tricks up his sleeve. Let's hold back for now."
Shen Cui thought about it and it was true. Minister Wang dared to rank like this because he really only looked at talent and was not afraid of taking on responsibilities. But that doesn't mean he would be willing to let these young guys make up stories and criticize him. He must have a trick up his sleeve.
Any rash action might disrupt his plans.
While she was pondering, Chen Aoshuang took the initiative to speak again, "Shanzhang, don't worry about this. Even if Shangshu Wang doesn't do anything, in the future..."
He paused for a moment, and no one heard him clearly. Then he continued, "Besides, we should go back and prepare for tomorrow's Luming Feast."
The so-called Luming Banquet is a banquet held for the newly-appointed candidates after the provincial examination the day after the results are announced.
This kind of banquet is hosted by the local official, and in addition to the students, the inner and outer curtain officials are also invited. It was very grand and lively.
At such a grand banquet, the young men not only had to clean up, but those who had done well in the exams might also be called out to compose poems or essays in front of everyone.
By that time, the lowest status of those present would be those who had passed the imperial examination in the same year. If one's poems or essays were not outstanding enough and did not live up to one's ranking, one would definitely be laughed at.
This is actually also a kind of assessment, so now is not the time to celebrate or worry about other things.
After hearing this, everyone was shocked.
Later, Chen Cui led everyone back to Shusheng Lane, and soon they met the person from the government office who came to report the good news.
Although we already know the rankings, we still have to go through the necessary procedures.
Chen Cui distributed congratulatory money to every group of people who came to announce the good news.
Because there were six groups of people coming to announce the good news, the scene became quite big and the neighbors all opened their doors to come out and watch the fun.
Chen Cuixian didn't care about these neighbors who usually stayed at home and whom she had never met, and asked the boys to go out and find a bathhouse to take a bath.
When they come back from outside in the afternoon, it is time to prepare clothes for tomorrow.
Chen Cui didn't need to worry about this. When Cui Fei went out earlier, he bought gifts for everyone in the academy, including brand new clothes.
After all, Cui Fei felt at that time that it would be no problem for others to pass the exam, and they must go to the banquet. When the results were announced, they were afraid that in order to take care of their own emotions, it would be difficult to celebrate or buy new clothes, so he prepared something specially for them. However, he did not expect that he happened to sit on the "red chair" later, so he just didn't buy himself.
He himself had never lacked food and clothing, and his luggage when he went out was packed by Cui Wuniang and Sun Ruowei. He could take out any clean item from the luggage without losing his status as a juren.
Chen Cui didn't care what they wore. She told them to read for a while and get ready. Then she went outside and bought dozens of red envelopes. She started filling them with different amounts of wedding money, and then distributed them to everyone and asked them to distribute them tomorrow.
The next morning, the government sent someone to invite the young men to a banquet.
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