Soaring straight into the sky, under the towering and majestic Mingtang, the most solemn ceremony in a group of people's lives was being held.
Luan Yiwei set up the Lu Bo Fa in front of the Ming Hall, the Music Department and the Harmony Department set up Zhonghe Shaoyue on both sides of the Mingtang, and Danbi Dayue on both sides of the Qianyuan Gate.
The kings and princes stood on Danqi, and all the civil and military officials were in Danqi. They were all wearing court uniforms and ranked according to their grades. Only the number one scholar, like all the princes in the court, wore court uniforms and two-beam crowns on their heads.
Jia Hui, also wearing a ducal uniform, stood at the forefront among the kings, looking down at the group of new scholars who were still full of vigor.
Jia Zhu is also among them, ranking first among the best.
In fact, unless there is a real monster who creates a big distance from other people's articles, the level of articles including the top three people in the first class, the top ten or twenty people in the second class, or even the forty or fifty people are all about the same.
Then it depends on the additional conditions of the Gongshi itself to determine the final ranking.
Apart from the No. 1 pick and the No. 2 pick, Daqi's No. 1 pick is mainly about selecting the most handsome and youngest person.
Jia Zhu's original ranking was twenty-one in the top two, but because she was originally selected as the top pick, she was really talented. She was not ugly, but she was particularly "square" in appearance.
So we decided on Jia Zhu, who had a beautiful face, a jade-like face, and full of scholarly spirit, among the top thirty who were of similar level, and the rest were ranked one by one.
Moreover, Jia Zhu is also the youngest among the Jinshi, and is only four months older than the youngest Jinke Jinshi who is ranked among the top three.
Finally, after repeated studies between the Ministry of Rites and the emperor, it was decided after comprehensive considerations that Jia Zhu, who was originally ranked twenty-one in the top two, would be the third flower.
It has nothing to do with the fact that his elder brother is Jia Hui, and the emperor felt that the previous reward to him was a bit harsh, so he wanted to roundaboutly compensate him.
The tribute scholars wear dark green robes with blue robes, hold wat boards, and wear Jinshi scarves on their heads. There is a pair of wings behind the scarf, and there are hanging belts at the ends of the wings. There are a pair of green leaf velvet flower hairpins on both sides of the hat. There is a bronze medal on it with the words "Rong En Banquet" written on it. Ranked in order of rank behind the east-west classes of civil and military officials.
The official of Honglu Temple of the Ministry of Rites set up a yellow case on the east side of the Mingtang. The cabinet bachelor held a yellow list and placed it on the yellow case. After everything was ready, he went to the emperor's palace to ask the emperor to leave the palace in crown clothes and ascend to the Mingtang. Zhonghe Shao music plays the Longping movement.
The whip was blown three times at the foot of the stairs. The officials who read the scrolls and deacons knelt three times and kowtowed nine times to the emperor. The bachelor entered the palace and took out the yellow list, handed it to the Minister of Rites and placed it on the yellow table in the middle of Danbi. Danbi made great music.
The official of Honglu Temple introduced the scholars to their seats, and then announced loudly: "On the ninth day of April in the seventh year of Tiansheng, we will test the tributes from all over the world. The first one will be awarded the Jinshi title, the second grade will be awarded the Jinshi background, and the third grade will be the same. Born as a Jinshi."
It was said that Li Mingzhe, who was ranked first in the official singing, was led out of the class and knelt on his left on the royal road. When someone sings second place, he also leads the class and kneels down on the right side of the royal road. The third person who sang Jia Zhu also led the class, and then he knelt down on the left side of the road.
After the roll call, Shao music was played. Officials from the bachelor's degree to the third rank and above, as well as new scholars, kneel three times and kowtow nine times.
Zhonghe Shao music plays the Xianping movement again. After the ceremony was completed, the emperor returned to the palace in a carriage. The Minister of Rites held up the Huang Bang and went out of Yingtian Gate from the middle road, placed it in the Dragon Pavilion, and kowtowed three times. Luan Yi, the captain of the Wei School, raised the pavilion and sent it to Tianjie to hang it up. The number one scholar and all the Jinshi all left the palace along with the list. Immediately Luoyang Prefecture prepared an umbrella cover to serve as a follower, and he returned from the first place.
After paying homage to the Confucius Temple, performing the dish ceremony, and parading the officials in the streets, the ceremonial guard prepared by the court had nothing to do with Jia Zhu. The return of the number one scholar from the ceremony was an honor that belonged exclusively to Li Mingzhe, the number one scholar in the Jin Dynasty, and Jia Zhu could not bear it.
However, Jia Hui was worried that his younger brother would feel inadequate and feel lost, so after the dish-releasing ceremony, the Jinshis put on a full set of Taiwei's ceremonial guard while returning the Jinshi scarf and blue robe to the Imperial College.
Nearly three hundred knights wore helmets and armor, held ritual utensils, held up the fluttering Suzaku flag, and swaggered behind the honor guard of the number one scholar in Tianjie. They didn't make any more movements, and just walked quietly behind.
The team of top picks in front ran to the Imperial College as fast as their buttocks were on fire. In previous years, the top picks would usually not reach this short distance without walking for half an hour. Today, miraculously, they arrived in less than a quarter of an hour.
"Brother, if you do this, how can I behave in front of my younger brother?"
On the four-horse carriage, Jia Zhu leaned on the backrest stuffed with duck down with a look of despair.
"Haha, wasn't I worried that you would feel uncomfortable because you were only two places away from the top prize?" Jia Hui laughed.
It’s great, I’ve been named on the gold medal list, I’ve been paraded around the streets to praise my officials, and the wedding ceremony is about to take place.
"To tell you the truth, my eldest brother also dreamed of being named on the gold medal list when he was a child."
"Ah? Didn't eldest brother want to take up martial arts from the beginning?" Jia Zhu suddenly became energetic and looked at Jia Hui in surprise.
"How could it be that practicing martial arts is so tiring, hard, dirty, and easy to get injured? In the beginning, I only practiced while living with the old man, and almost stopped when I started school." Jia Hui sighed softly, falling into memories.
"Then why don't you continue studying, brother? I remember, brother, don't you really like reading?" Jia Zhu asked.
"Oh, I like to read miscellaneous books. I feel sleepy when I read the Four Books and the Five Classics. I can read the "Book of Songs" and "Spring and Autumn" to some extent, but I feel sleepy when I read the Four Books." Jia Hui said nonchalantly, "Then I I accidentally fell asleep while memorizing in the study, and happened to be seen by the old man. From then on, I focused on martial arts."
From then on, Jia Hui changed his family, from a Confucianist to a military strategist.
"It's a pity." Jia Zhu didn't know what to say for a moment, feeling a little regretful.
"It's not a pity at all. If I had studied, I might not be able to pass the examination even now. Maybe even the scholar would have to donate one to me. How could I be the official who would become a Taiwei and open another school? The situation of a genealogy?
How did you say that? How can you know that a blessing in disguise is a blessing in disguise? "
Jia Hui waved his hand towards Jia Zhu, indicating that he didn't care.
Jia Zhu nodded, feeling the noise outside the car getting louder and louder, so he opened the curtain and poked his head out to take a look. His classmates who usually studied at the Imperial College were gathering on both sides of the street, cheering towards the Jinshi.
Jia Zhu froze at the window for a moment, as if she was in another world.
Yesterday we made an appointment to go out for an outing in the city, discussing which of the Qingyin troupes has the prettiest lady.
Today, the old friend is still the same, but I have become the top student in high school and will soon marry the eldest uncle’s niece.
"What's wrong? You're just standing there, not moving?"
The caring words of the elder brother opposite brought Jia Zhu back to her senses.
"No, it's nothing. I just feel it's a pity. I only wore this tribute uniform once and I have to return it."
Jia Zhu made an excuse casually. He didn't really want his elder brother to know that he had some pretentious thoughts just now.
"Jinshi uniform? Ah, you can take it back if you want. If you like it, I'll send someone to the Ministry of Etiquette to help you get a new one later."
"Why can't you take this thing back with you?"
"Because this outfit doesn't belong to you alone! Didn't you realize that this dress is a little too big for you, and the cuffs and collar, haven't they all been washed away?" Jia Hui pointed to the sleeves of the Jinshi uniform. and neckline.
"Oh no, you have learned etiquette for three days and you don't even know this. What on earth were you thinking about just now? You had a look on your face, please tell me."
Jia Hui stood up and came to Jia Zhu's side, squinting and waiting for his reply.
"It's just that I feel a little like a world away, as if there is a gap between me and my former classmates and friends. Brother, am I being pretentious?" Jia Zhu smiled bitterly.
"It's not easy for you to be so self-aware. I don't care about others. Do you think there is ever a half-way barrier between me and my little brothers?"
Jia Zhu thought for a moment and shook her head.
"Although my eldest brother has a higher official title, all my brothers are also young heroes, and they all have titles."
"But I am a Taiwei, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zuo Army, or the Duke of Dunhuang. They are only earls at the highest level. What is the essential difference between them and you?"
"The highest level is only an earl." The corners of Jia Zhu's mouth twitched and she was speechless.
The title of Dafang that his father had always dreamed of obtaining was also an earl!
Seeing that Jia Zhu didn't speak, Jia Hui continued: "There is no difference, but everyone should still eat and drink. The day before yesterday, Niu Zhao invited me to have fun on the boat. After he got drunk, he got drunk and fought with me. There is one
Moreover, it was the Imperial College, and those who were either the children of powerful people or those who had reached the Juren Festival would be recommended to study there. Juren!
You should also know about Jin Juren and Yin Jinshi, right? "
Compared with thousands, choose two or three hundred in Chunwei. The National People's Government Examination, in which tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of scholars compete for the few hundred pitiful places, is the truly insurmountable mountain. Only by climbing over this mountain can one initially enter the ruling class and have the qualifications to enter the officialdom.
"That is to say, you classmates. Even if you, your classmates, who are successful in the examination and fail to pass the Jinshi exam, go back and join the local government or enter the Sixth Ministry to fill vacancies, they will be ninth-grade officials at the end. Those who have entered the first-grade are countless people. It’s beyond the reach of anyone in several lifetimes.”
He patted Jia Zhu on the shoulder.
"So, keep in touch when you need to, and eat and drink when you need to. The gap between you is not as big as you think. Besides, you never know when you will need their help again."
The carriage stopped, the soldiers brought a small ladder and opened the door curtain, and Jia Hui and Jia Zhu came out.
At a glance, he saw the dark-faced Li Shouzhong staring at him, as if he was going to stab him in three ways.
"Hiss—" Jia Hui took a breath, how could he forget that the Imperial College was the territory of Wa'er's grandfather!
What a disaster!
Just as he was about to go up to say good things to his father-in-law, he was stopped by his father-in-law with a wave of his sleeves and an expression of "I'll take care of you later". Li Shouzhong led everyone in the Imperial College and started talking to Li Mingzhe, the top scholar in Jinke. The Jinke Jinshi headed by them exchanged polite courtesy with each other before allowing them to enter the Imperial College to change into their regular clothes.
At this point, there was no need for Li Shouzhong to follow.
"come over!"
Jia Hui, who was standing respectfully next to the carriage, quickly came to his father-in-law's side in three steps and two steps at a time.
"My son-in-law pays his respects to his father-in-law!"
Jia Hui bowed towards Li Shouzhong.
"Get up, you are a father, why are you still so unstable! You have not only slapped the face of the new champion, you have also offended the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial College! Do you need your reputation? !”
Li Shouzhong said to Jia Hui with some resentment that iron could not become steel.
"How could it be? My son-in-law just came to the Imperial Academy to see you as a courtesy, and by the way, he sent my young brother, who is a new beauty, to change his clothes. Besides, I am a military general, why do I need such a good reputation?"
Jia Hui was a little unimpressed.
Why does a general like him have such a good reputation among scholars?
It's not necessary and it only adds to the trouble.
"You! Forget it, you have become a lieutenant. But I still want to tell you that you have a family now. Don't act on your temper before doing anything. Think more. Sister Wan, think more about Xiao Daner."
After saying this, Li Jijiu still had some matters to deal with, so he drove Jia Taiwei away.
After changing clothes, Jia Zhu also walked out laughing and chatting with her classmates. In fact, except for those who were really heartless, no one among these Jinshi would care about Jia Zhu's rudeness towards the number one scholar Li Mingzhe just now.
First of all, it was probably not his intention, and maybe it was the Taiwei's own initiative. After all, the Taiwei has a domineering temperament. Only when he wants to do this, he will bring out the full set of Taiwei's honor guard. .
Secondly, so what if Jia Zhu did it on purpose? The Jia family has deep roots in the Daqi Dynasty. It was originally a double-official family and the top nobles in Daqi. Now it has produced another duke and is honored as a Taiwei. It is just a matter of face to find someone from this kind of family. Theory is completely unnecessary.
Maybe this kind of person will not do anything to you, but those brats who want to curry favor with the Taiwei by showing favor to Jia Zhu will make life worse than death for them who have no real backing in officialdom.
Master? The commander himself is afraid of Captain Jia!
"Brother Zhu!"
Jia Zhu's face stiffened when he heard his eldest brother calling him again from a distance, and he complained repeatedly to the peers around him. After everyone expressed that the Taiwei and Jia Nian were truly brothers, he trotted to the carriage. .
"What other feast do you have today?"
"This seems to be gone."
"Well, that's just right. Here, here are fifty taels of silver. You should also keep these three thousand taels of banknotes for emergency use. If something happens and you need the money, don't worry. Have someone come to my house. Just ask me if you can, go and treat your classmates properly."
Jia Hui put a bag of silver in the hands of Jia Zhu's personal soldiers, and then took some silver notes from the personal soldiers and handed them to Jia Zhu.
Jia Hui understands the ways of the world, but most of the time it is not his turn to talk about the ways of the world.
"Relationships of the same age need to be maintained by frequent visits, and the eldest brother also caused you some trouble just now. Don't listen to what they say, 'Oh, it's okay, it's okay, I don't care!'
Maybe some people really think so, but people are far apart from each other. Who knows what they are thinking? Maybe it's hidden in the deepest part of my heart, waiting to be revealed one day."
Jia Hui gave Jia Zhu instructions impatiently, and did not let Jia Zhu go back until it seemed that the Jinshi were about to disperse.
Alas. The kid who followed me to the imperial city with a runny nose when I was a child is now the top student in high school.
Jia Hui smiled with emotion, turned around and climbed up the small ladder to re-enter his carriage.
"Xiyuan." Jia Hui ordered the soldiers outside.
When summoned by the emperor and the emperor, there were many things to discuss.
(End of chapter)
