An occasion like the Qionglin Banquet is both a show of honor and social interaction. Everyone is planning for their own future. Anyone who wants to feast here must have the wrong brain.
Therefore, Wei Chen just picked up a few pieces at random, and then prepared to stand up and leave the table to propose a toast to the chief officials in the hall.
At this moment, Li Zuochang, the second-place finisher, and Cai Xuan, the top pick, came to Wei Chen together.
The two of them first exchanged a glass of wine with Wei Chen, and then said: "After two days of gathering, we must go to the Imperial College to pay homage to Huang Jia and tell him about the same year. At that time, we will also ask Brother Wei to write a short note of the same year for the purpose of getting closer in the future."
"Wei Chen would like to accept the order."
Wei Chen bowed and replied half-jokingly to the two of them. Li Zuochang and Cai Xuan also laughed a few times, catching the atmosphere and not letting Wei Chen's humor fall to the ground.
Today in the Chongzheng Hall, everyone can see how favored Wei Chen is by the Emperor. Wei Chen has not only passed the Sixth Element and obtained the Holy Scroll, his future can be said to be bright. No smart person will compete with him. If you are an enemy, on the contrary, you should deliberately get close and make friends.
Li Zuochang and Cai Xuan were of the same age as Wei Chen, and they knew how to behave, so they soon had a pleasant conversation with Wei Chen.
After chatting for a few more words, the two of them turned around to say goodbye and continued to discuss with other new scholars about the registration of Xiaolu in the same year.
The so-called short records of the same year are actually similar to the records of Wei Chen's classmates in his previous life, but they are more complicated than the records of classmates.
Not only are the names, birthplaces, family backgrounds, and names of three generations of all new scholars recorded, but even the surnames and birthplaces of their mothers and wives are recorded.
Of course, there are also the edicts issued by the emperor, the names of examiners, examination questions, etc., etc., and so on.
Of course, such a huge project cannot be completed by only three or five people. All new scholars must participate in it.
In fact, the organization's allocation of manpower should have been done by Wei Chen, the number one scholar, but since Li Zuochang and Cai Xuan took the initiative to take over the responsibility, Wei Chen was happy to be free.
Not long after seeing off Li and Cai, Wei Chen also stood up and left the banquet, walking to the seat where the officials attending the banquet were.
Among the officials present, Han Zhangmu, the chief assistant, undoubtedly had the most distinguished status, and the most people gathered around him to toast.
The second most numerous is Zhou Boyi, the Minister of Civil Affairs.
Xinke Jinshi must watch the government for three months in the Six Ministries and Jiuqing Yamen, and depending on their performance, they can be officially awarded officials. The power of distribution to various ministries and the final power of evaluation are all in the hands of the Ministry of Personnel.
Therefore, these new scholars naturally wanted to curry favor with Zhou Boyi in order to gain Zhou Boyi's appreciation and assign themselves a good place.
However, Wei Chen doesn't have to be like this.
Wei Chen was the first scholar in the imperial examination, and Shi Brown was awarded the Sixth Grade Compilation and Compilation Service, and he became a member of the Hanlin Academy from then on.
The reason why the Hanlin Academy is noble is that it is a self-contained institution with little connection with the other six ministries and ministers. It only needs to be responsible to its immediate superiors. This is the reason why the Hanlin Academy is so strong-willed.
Moreover, according to the tradition of attaching great importance to the imperial examination in the officialdom, no matter what their own rank is, when they meet non-Hanlin officials whose official rank is below the third rank, they will not have the slightest respect, but feel that they are superior to them.
As a future member of the Hanlin Academy, Wei Chen does not need to flatter Zhou Boyi, the Minister of Civil Affairs, like other new scholars. He only needs to find his immediate superior, Liu Tingxi, the Hanlin scholar in charge of the Hanlin Academy, and pay homage to the dock. .
Wei Chen scanned the audience and quickly found where Liu Tingxi was. At this moment, Liu Tingxi was sitting in his seat, dealing with the new Jinshi who came to toast with a dull expression.
There were not many people around Liu Tingxi toasting. After all, only Sandingjia could be directly promoted to the Hanlin Academy. Among the remaining new scholars, only a small number could pass the imperial examination and enter the Hanlin Academy.
Wei Chen stepped forward slowly and bowed to Liu Tingxi: "I've seen the commander before."
Liu Tingxi saw Wei Chen, nodded slightly, and then said with a solemn expression: "When you enter the Hanlin Academy in the future, you need to live a good life to temper your character, study knowledge with concentration, and not be frivolous and impetuous. You should know that the most important thing in the Hanlin Academy is the number one scholar. .”
"There is no shortage of number one scholar in the Hanlin Academy, but I am the only number one scholar who has reached the rank of six yuan from ancient times to the present."
Wei Chen secretly added in his heart. However, he also understood that Liu Tingxi did not want him to be proud and complacent, so he spoke out to encourage him.
Naturally, Wei Chen would not be unappreciative of the other party's kindness. He bowed and said, "I will remember the instructions of the Headmaster."
"Children can be taught."
Liu Tingxi was very satisfied with Wei Chen's humble attitude. He smiled and nodded, and then said softly: "Let's go with our college to toast to Bachelor Han."
Wei Chenying claimed that it was, but he didn't know that this was another promotion from Liu Tingxi to him.
Liu Tingxi knew very well that when the imperial examination was finalized, Han Zhang did not want Wei Chen to be the number one scholar. He just didn't want to see the auspicious birth of Liu Yuan, which would give Zhao Zhen the confidence to go his own way. It was not against Wei Chen. What's your opinion?
Moreover, Liu Tingxi could vaguely feel that Han Zhang still admired Wei Chen in his heart. This can be seen from Han Zhang's performance in Chongzheng Hall today.
That's why Liu Tingxi asked Wei Chen to go with him to toast Han Zhang, in order to ease the relationship between Wei Chen and Han Zhang, which would also be helpful for Wei Chen's future career in officialdom.
Liu Tingxi did not express these considerations to Wei Chen. Wei Chen just followed his boss's instructions and followed him to toast Han Zhang.
Han Zhang was talking to an official from the Ministry of Rites at this time. When he saw Wei Chen, he did not pay attention immediately. Instead, he continued to talk to the official next to him and then turned to look over.
As the chief lieutenant under the Great Zhou people and above ten thousand people, this skinny little old man naturally had an aura of calmness and authority in his eyes, which made Wei Chen feel awe-inspiring.
After Wei Chen saw the ceremony, Han Zhang said calmly: "Talents also need to be virtuous. Ministers should have character and integrity, and should not flatter others. I don't agree with the argument of your imperial examination, but your majesty appreciates you very much." , that’s why I selected you as the number one pick.”
After hearing what Han Zhang said, Wei Chen couldn't help but feel nervous. It seemed that the chief minister was not very satisfied with himself. He might have to keep his tail between his legs in the future.
After Wei Chen toasted a glass of wine, he left depressedly, but Liu Tingxi on the side laughed and said: "Don't worry about the number one scholar, the temperament of the great scholar Han is just like this, cold on the outside and hot on the inside, don't look at the serious way he teaches you now, say Maybe he wishes he could recruit you as his grandson-in-law!"
Liu Tingxi was much more familiar with Han Zhang than Wei Chen. In Liu Tingxi's heart, Han Zhang had never been a direct minister.
"You, you, you, a dignified Hanlin scholar, still speak so openly in front of juniors, it is really unbecoming!"
After being teased by Liu Tingxi, Han Zhang was not angry at all. He just pointed at Liu Tingxi and laughed and cursed.
Wei Chen was watching from the side, not daring to speak at all. The banter between the two elders was not something that a little ant like him could participate in right now.
Han Zhang chatted and laughed with Liu Tingxi for a while, then turned to Wei Chen and said: "Master Zhuangyuan, it is up to you to write the note of gratitude to His Majesty this time. Write it well and don't let down His Majesty's praise."
"Don't live up to the promotion of Grand Scholar Han." Liu Tingxi added with a smile.
"yes."
Although Wei Chen felt a little confused, he quickly nodded in agreement.
Han Zhang ordered people to get pen and ink, and Wei Chen wrote a note of gratitude on the spot and circulated it to four people. Everyone was amazed by it.
