The names on the gold list are just a few names drawn by the examiner, but they are the honor of the scholars' lifetime.
After grading, Li Qinzai checked with several other grading officials. After confirming that they were correct, Li Qinzai picked up his pen and wrote the names of the top three on a piece of red paper, and then sent them to someone along with their test papers. Enter Tai Chi Palace.
According to folklore, the top three were called the "number one scholar", "second place" and "third flower". However, in the early Tang Dynasty when the imperial examination system was implemented, there was no such term for the top three.
The first place is usually called "top of the list" or "like head", and although the title "Tanhua" also appeared in the Tang Dynasty, Tanhua did not originally refer to the third place.
After the scientific examination rankings were determined, a banquet was held in the palace, and two young and handsome candidates were selected from all the Jinshi. They were elected as "Flower Visitors". The Flower Visitors were responsible for collecting the most beautiful flowers in the Huanglin Garden and giving them to them in person. The first one wears it, so he is called "the flower explorer".
It was not until the Song Dynasty that Tanhua became a fixed title for the third place in the scientific examination.
During the Tang Dynasty, Tanhua was really just Tanhua, literally, and it was a temporary nickname, unofficial.
A total of 62 people were admitted to Jinke Mingshu Science and Technology Scholarship. Li Qinzai clearly wrote their names and rankings on the paper. His expression was very solemn when he picked up the pen, as if he was holding the future of many people in his hands.
After finishing writing carefully, Li Qinzai put down the pen and breathed a long sigh of relief, and his heart was instantly relieved of a huge burden.
it is finally over.
This time, Li Qinzai can pat his chest and say that this scientific examination has been the most fair since the scientific examination began.
Anyone who questions the results, Li Qinzai has a clear conscience.
When the marking was completed and the names of all the test papers were opened, Li Qinzai also clearly saw the names of Cui Ling and Cui Rui, the two brothers of the Cui family.
Unsurprisingly, they did not make the list and fell short of the list.
I'm afraid there will be a lot of quibbling with the father-in-law next. When Li Qinzai first proposed the name-blinding system and cross-grading, he was trying to put an end to personal relationships. Even if the father-in-law felt uncomfortable, he could let him go.
After the list of Jinshi was sent to Taiji Palace, Li Qinzai also got the list of Jinshi from the marking official of Ming Jingke.
Interestingly, Li Qinzai saw a slightly familiar name on the list.
Wei Zhenzai had an argument with a certain dandy from the Imperial Academy on Zhuque Street, and he deeply doubted the fairness of the imperial court's selection of scholars.
Now that the dust has settled, Wei Zhenzai is ranked 48th on the list of Jinshi in Ming Dynasty.
After a few glances, Li Qinzai no longer cared.
This scientific examination finally gave the children of poor families an explanation. The atmosphere of politics in the Tang Dynasty will change from now on. From now on, more children of poor families will flood into the court and slowly gain the say to govern the world.
It's a good thing, it should come to light.
…………
The finalization of the scientific examination is a major national event.
The list of Jinshi and the test papers were sent to the Tai Chi Palace. Li Zhi paid special attention to them, so he stepped back and read the test papers in person to randomly check the responses of the new Jinshi.
Li Zhi spent the whole day reading it without sleep or food. Li Qinzai emphasized the fairness of scientific examinations countless times in front of him. Only fairness can have authority and win the hearts of scholars all over the world.
Li Zhi kept Li Qinzai's words in mind. Regarding this scientific examination, Li Zhi's attitude was rare and serious, and he would never let go of any mistakes.
Li Zhi was busy with state affairs, but Empress Wu in the harem had some leisure time.
With the emergence of Li Qinzai, history has undergone some deviations.
It turned out that Li Zhi was ill and had to entrust state affairs to Empress Wu, thus fueling Empress Wu's ambition to take power.
However, after Li Qinzai appeared, Li Zhi followed the folk remedies he provided and his health improved a lot. The emperor was fine. Of course, state affairs could not be entrusted to outsiders, not even his own mother-in-law.
So Empress Wu has been somewhat free in the past two years. It's not that she doesn't want to make progress, but her husband doesn't give her a chance.
It would be taboo to forcefully interfere in political affairs. The dog man has already deposed his wife once, why can't he do it a second time?
Empress Wu was a very smart woman, she knew when to advance and when to retreat.
Li Zhi didn't call or ask, so she remained silent. A smart and capable woman pretended to be well-behaved and knew how to capture a man's heart better than a brothel girl.
At this time, Empress Wu was sitting idle in Wangyun Pavilion in the harem, her pretty face was filled with frost, and she was listening to the report from her personal maid.
Naturally, the personal maids are people whom Empress Wu trusts, but trust is only relative. People like Empress Wu who have experienced cruel fighting in the harem will never trust anyone too much, including her husband.
The palace maid stood in front of Empress Wu. It was clear that Empress Wu didn't say a word, but she still felt a chill lingering around her, and a cold wind blew at her back.
"My two clan brothers, Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun, came to Beijing to report on their duties?" Empress Wu asked with a frown.
The palace maid said tremblingly: "Yes, the two of them have been in Chang'an City for three days."
Empress Wu's expression became even colder: "I have been in Beijing for three days and have not yet come to the palace to see you. What are their intentions?"
"My servant doesn't know. I only heard that after they arrived in Chang'an, they drank and feasted with prostitutes all day long. They were drunk and dreaming. Not only did they not go to the official department to report on their work, they also did not visit their colleagues and old friends."
Empress Wu gritted her teeth: "Two unworthy things, I lift them up, but they can't hold them up to the wall!"
Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun were cousins of Empress Wu. They were said to be cousins, but they had a lot of hatred back then.
Brothers Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang only bullied Empress Wu's mother and sisters. As cousins, Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun also bullied them.
In short, when Empress Wu and her daughter were in dire straits, the entire Wu family, whether direct or collateral, did not give them a good life.
Later, Empress Wu was appointed as the queen. Empress Wu resolutely refused Li Zhi's move towards Enyin's family relatives. However, there were rules in the court and her relatives wanted Enyin to be granted the title of official. So Empress Wu had to hold her nose and grant the title of official to her four brothers.
After being granted an official title, Empress Wu had never looked down upon her four brothers. She had always been indifferent. When Li Qinzai beat Wu Yuanshuang so badly, Empress Wu did not come out to avenge her brothers. She was still more or less still inside. There are some personal grudges.
Empress Wu couldn't help but feel angry when she heard that Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun's two cousins even ignored the basic courtesy etiquette when they came to Beijing.
You became officials thanks to me, but this is how you treat me?
After taking a deep breath for a while, Wu Cai gradually calmed down and said coldly: "That's it, let them fend for themselves! If there are mistakes in the officialdom in the future, don't come to me to ask for help!"
After finishing speaking, the palace maid stood there for a long time and refused to leave.
Empress Wu asked curiously: "Is there anything else?"
The palace maid said in awe: "Yes, before I could tell you, the two of them went to the Korean lady's house for a banquet last night. During the dinner, they were drunk and talked some nonsense, but they made the old lady so angry that she cried for most of the night."
