There was still a few hours before Youshi, when Lu Fang, Xue Liangce, Zhao Xiujun and others came out of Yishui Tower.
Because there was also the Qionglin Banquet in Youshi, they had just been chatting, listening to music, and drinking wine at Yishui Tower, and most of them had only tasted it.
After making an appointment to meet at Zhuque Gate, they each returned to their respective places to change.
The Qionglin Banquet was a banquet for the imperial court to entertain new scholars, and the standard was very high. Even the emperor Liang Hanmin would attend it in person, so naturally no one dared not pay attention to image.
After Lu Fang returned to the inn where he stayed, he took a shower first and then changed into fresh clothes.
Seeing that it was still early, I walked slowly towards Zhuque Gate.
Kyoto is indeed prosperous.
At this time, the streets were even more bustling.
In this day and age, there is probably no other city in the world that can match Kyoto.
But to this city, I am just a passerby after all.
He had already made a plan in his mind. When the imperial examination results came out tomorrow, he would ask Liang Hanmin to marry Liang Siqi. Then he would take Liang Siqi and leave Kyoto.
It's not that I'm ready to return home, but I don't know what's going on, but I've been feeling a little uneasy for the past two days.
When I arrived outside the Zhuque Gate, there were only a few scattered people waiting outside.
Perhaps it was Lu Fang's "initiative" of handing in the paper in just a few minutes during the imperial examination, which left a deep impression on these new scholars. Seeing him coming, the few scholars who gathered together and talked in low voices smiled and greeted him.
He nodded.
Lu Fang naturally nodded and smiled in return.
Then join the crowd naturally.
Listen to them talk about the Qionglin Banquet in previous years.
Of course, there was no gossip, it was just about so and so who played against the emperor at the Qionglin Banquet, won the emperor's favor, and then got a good job.
Just like that, when Xue Liangce and others came over, Lu Fang jumped into their group again.
More and more new scholars are gathering here. The Qionglin Banquet is close at this time, so they don’t mind getting familiar with their classmates.
Lu Fang couldn't help but smile to himself as he saw people constantly coming over to greet him.
I guess if these students knew their true identities, they would regret what they did today, right?
It was about two-quarters of an hour before Youshi, and all the new scholars had already arrived.
Another official from the Ministry of Rites came out of the Zhuque Gate, and it was the same Li Yuan.
There was no estrangement between him and the other new scholars. As soon as he arrived, he said with a smile: "Are you all here?"
Then he asked the official who was following him to count the roster.
After confirming that everyone was present, he led everyone back to the palace.
Of course it is no longer Chongzheng Hall this time.
It is located in Qionglin Garden, which is located in the north of the palace, next to the Imperial Garden.
Over the years, Qionglin Garden has been held at this place.
After entering the palace, the new scholars calmed down a bit.
Xue Liangce stood next to Lu Fang and said in a low voice: "On our way here just now, we heard that Kyoto's handicap has added your Huiyuan to the popular list, and the odds are quite low. Brother Fang, you might as well take a guess.
Guess, how low are your odds?"
Lu Fang was slightly startled.
The lower the odds, it means that those who open the odds think they have a higher probability of winning the No. 1 pick.
Then he said: "It's not as low as one-for-one?"
"Hey!"
Xue Liangce chuckled, "The odds of the No. 1 pick are 0.8 to 1, the odds of the No. 2 pick are 1 to 1, and the odds of No. 3 pick are 2 to 1."
"Have you so much confidence in me?"
Lu Fang couldn't help but chuckle.
Xue Liangce said: "This probably means that you submitted your paper too early during the palace examination. Otherwise, with the momentum you have just won the title, the odds may be even lower."
Lu Fang shook his head and looked at Su Mo, Dong Jiayan and others in the crowd.
He never dared to really underestimate these scholars in Dayu.
In terms of true talent and learning, not only compared with Su Mo and others, but also compared with Xue Liangce and others, I guess there is still a lot of gap.
Not to mention, among this group of new scholars, there must be some who are not so impressive in the exams, but in fact their talents are astonishing.
Although he said that he had thought about how to answer Liang Hanmin's heart during the palace examination, he was still not sure about winning the top prize.
But it’s not absolutely necessary.
He wants to be the No. 1 pick, just so he can become famous in Dayu and earn a lot of admiration points.
We walked along the palace walls and corridors in the palace for about twenty minutes, and finally arrived at Qionglin Garden.
It is a yard where the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant during the day.
Li Yuan led the new scholars and walked in through the arch.
The aroma of wine could already be faintly smelled in the main hall inside.
There are also many palace maids and eunuchs waiting outside.
The low-pitched discussions among the Xinke Scholars all stopped quietly at this moment.
Li Yuan turned around with a smile and said: "The Emperor's Holy Chariot has not come here yet, so you don't need to be too cautious. Your Majesty, you like the liveliness of the Qionglin Banquet."
After saying that, he led everyone to continue walking inside.
Go to the main hall inside.
This is a big hall.
Nearly twenty long tables and couches have been placed.
The top one in the middle and the two vertical rows in the middle are separate desks.
At the Qionglin Banquet, in addition to Liang Hanmin, there were also some princes and officials from the Ministry of Personnel.
It's hard to avoid the idea of observing these new scholars at the Qionglin Banquet. After all, to enter an official career, it is not just about being talented and learning.
Take Jiang Jiaping, the last number one scholar, for example. Because he is too rigid, he is still waiting for imperial edicts in the Hanlin Academy, which is not really a prosperous career.
If it weren't for the last time he played chess with Lu Fang in the imperial study and was unexpectedly won by Lu Fang, most people in Kyoto would have forgotten about this former champion.
Li Yuan arranged for the new scholars to sit down.
He said that he wanted the new scholars to not be so rigid, but in fact these people could not relax and sit upright.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived..."
"His Royal Highness the Second Prince has arrived..."
Within a few minutes, there were eunuchs singing loudly outside.
Then Prince Liang Xu and several young princes appeared at the door, including the sixth prince Liang Su.
All the new scholars quickly stood up and saluted.
As soon as he finished the ceremony, Liang Su walked straight to Lu Fang's side amid the slightly surprised looks in the eyes of the princes and Jinshi.
He smiled and said: "Before coming, Princess Yongle said that she had something to say to you. When the Qionglin Banquet is over, she will wait for you at Xuandemen."
Xue Liangce and others next to Lu Fang suddenly looked strangely in their eyes.
With the events of beating Tongtiangu and playing Go, the "deep affection" between Lu Fang and Liang Siqi is no longer a secret in their circle.
Whether it is considered a good talk or not is open to debate, but secretly there must be many people who are envious of Lu Fang's good fortune.
And Liang Su's words were a stab in the hearts of those who originally admired Liang Siqi.
We haven't seen each other for just a few days, but Princess Yongle already misses Lu Fang so much?