It was still dark, so Chao Qing and his two friends couldn't sleep. Today was the day when the results were announced. It was estimated that many scholars were awake all night, and Su Ce was one of them. He tossed and turned all night long and stayed awake all night.
Su Ce, like Chao Qing, did not do well in the poetry test and thought his strategies were pretty good. He was also on the verge of being admitted or failing, which made him particularly anxious. He said before that he didn't care whether he could be admitted or not, and finally
But he is the one who cares most.
Zhong Huan, on the other hand, was very calm. He really didn't care. He could eat and sleep, and slept until dawn. If Su Ce hadn't made too much noise when he got up, which affected him, he would have slept until dawn.
"When will the results be released?" Zhong Huan asked sleepily.
"I heard it seems to be Sishi."
"Then what time is it now?" Zhong Huan glanced at the dark sky outside the window.
"It's just arrived!"
Zhong Huan fell down on the bed, "I'm really impressed by you two, there are still two hours left! I don't care, I want to sleep for a while."
Chao Qing was also a little embarrassed and said to Su Ce: "It's a little early, Xiao Su, why don't you take a nap for a while? You haven't slept all night."
"I can't sleep! If I fail the exam, how can I go back and explain to my family?"
"I am lucky to gain it, but I am destined to lose it. Please be more open-minded!"
The two lay down again and fell asleep unconsciously.
It was already bright when the three of them woke up, and it was almost midnight. All the scholars in the inn were gone, and only the three of them were left.
They complained to each other and didn't even bother to eat breakfast. They simply freshened up and ran away. Not long after they ran out of the inn, they encountered an empty ox cart. The three of them got on the cart and arrived at the Imperial College in a short time.
The Plaza of the Imperial College was already crowded with people. Eighteen thousand candidates came from all directions and gathered in front of a huge notice board. The three of them were running out of breath. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the results had not been posted yet.
"What's posted over there?"
Chao Qing pointed to the opposite wall. Several officials seemed to be posting announcements, and the surroundings were also crowded with scholars.
A person next to him said: "The admission list of Taixue has come out. There are 400 people in total. You can go and take a look."
Chao Qing glanced at his two companions and asked for their opinions.
"Don't go!"
Su Ce said firmly: "If you don't pass the imperial examination, I will go to Lin'an next year and never study at Imperial College."
Zhong Huan said with a smile: "Actually, studying at Taixue is not bad. After three years of studying, I heard that there are ten places for people with the same background as Jinshi, which is equivalent to passing the imperial examination."
"It's better not to go. I'm already twenty-three years old. Old man, you're already twenty-five! You'll be old if you study for another three years. Chao Qing can go to study."
"Coming! Coming!" Suddenly someone shouted, and the scholars suddenly became commotion.
More than a dozen officials walked out of the gate, holding several long rolls of red lists in their hands, as well as officials carrying paste buckets and ladders. In front of them were more than 20 soldiers leading the way.
"Everyone give way and don't delay the announcement of results!"
The scholars retreated one after another, and more than 18,000 people gathered in the square. All of them were black heads. Everyone stretched their necks, with faces full of eagerness to have their names on the list.
Several officials began to post the list, and seven more officials walked to the crowd, stood on high flower beds, and began to read the list loudly to the surrounding scholars. This was very necessary, otherwise there would be nearly 20,000 people.
If you come up to see the list, there will be a serious stampede.
"First place, Jingzhao Prefecture Wei Ji!"
There was joy on the left, and a young scholar was lifted up by the crowd. He was Wei Ji, who was ranked first. The official who read the list waved his hands and said with a smile: "I know everyone is excited, but it's best to keep quiet, otherwise it will affect other people listening to the list."
.”
Wei Ji squeezed out with a face full of joy. Everyone around him became quiet. The official continued to read the list, "The second place is Wang Tuo of Jianzhou!"
One scholar suddenly covered his face in excitement. He was actually the second place, but there were no cheers and everyone remained quiet.
"Third place, Chengdu Chao Qing!"
Chao Qing was stunned for a moment, his mind went blank. Su Ce and Zhong Huan simultaneously patted his shoulders heavily from behind and squeezed their shoulders to express their congratulations.
"But I didn't perform well in my poem title! How could I be in third place?"
No one told him why? A huge feeling of joy came over him. It was ecstasy from the bottom of his heart. He had passed the exam and was still in third place. He seemed to be unable to hear or see everything around him.
He didn't know when he walked out of the crowd. Chao Qing walked to an open space outside and squatted down, covering his face. He felt like crying.
At this time, he was patted heavily on the shoulder again. Chao Qing raised his head and saw Zhong Huan and Su Ce. Both of them were filled with joy and their mouths were grinning from ear to ear.
"How are you doing?" Chao Qing stood up and asked.
Su Ce was wiping tears and was too excited to speak.
Zhong Huan clenched his fists hard and gritted his teeth and said, "We both passed the exam. I ranked 37th and Su Ce ranked 51st."
"Very good!"
Chao Qing was so excited that he shouted: "Let's go to the restaurant to celebrate!"
"Wait a minute, I want to look at the list again!"
Su Ce couldn't believe his ears. He must see to believe and squeezed into the crowd. After a while, he said with excitement on his face: "I'm treating you to a guest today at noon. Let's go to Tiantianju and get drunk before we stop!"
Noon has not yet arrived, and the Tianranju Restaurant on Dongjie Street is full of scholars, most of whom are beaming with joy. They come here to celebrate their passing the examination. Of course, not all of them have passed the imperial examination, and there are also scholars who have passed the imperial examination.
The three of them still sat in their old seats by the window on the second floor. They sat there for an hour, their excitement gradually calmed down, and they drank tea and talked about future arrangements.
"I think I have to report to the Imperial College in the afternoon, bringing my exam coupon and two certificates issued by the county."
Before each candidate comes, he must ask the county school official to issue a certificate of identity, name, place of origin, address and family background, as well as a letter of recommendation from the county school. The imperial examination is not just something you want to take. First of all,
The county believes that you are qualified to take the exam if you have studied correctly.
Of course, because the recommendation will not be held accountable, the county will not embarrass the scholar. As long as it is not too bad, he will basically get a recommendation letter.
Zhong Huan nodded and said: "I just asked an official specifically. In the afternoon, I will confirm my identity and then give an admission letter. Tomorrow morning, there will be various formal ceremonies. I heard that there seems to be a horse riding parade."
"Ah! We are really Jinshi." Su Ce's eyes widened.
Chao Qing despised him and said: "We are Jinshi in Sichuan and Shaanxi. Regardless of whether the court recognizes it or not, at least we can be officials in Sichuan and Shaanxi. If the Western Army captures Hedong Road, we might be transferred to Hedong Road as county magistrates."
!”
Zhong Huan smiled and said: "How can it be so fast to become a county magistrate? You have to serve at least two terms and eight years before you are qualified to be a county magistrate. This is the rule for ordinary officials, such as me and Xiao Su, but it is not necessarily the case for Chao Qing. You
The future is bright.”
Chao Qing smiled so hard that he couldn't close his mouth, but he said with a hypocritical face: "I would rather keep my feet on the ground and do it step by step."
Su Ce pointed at him and said with a smile: "Look at how hypocritical and insincere this guy is!"
At this time, someone at the table next to him banged the table and cursed: "How could that bastard Lin Jianqing pass the exam? He visited brothels all day long and came in last in the exam. He actually passed fifty-four in the exam. It's the most ridiculous thing in the world!"
Another person snorted, "Didn't he brag that he was Chen Qing's brother-in-law? Don't be dissatisfied. Now it seems that it is probably true. He got the test questions in advance, so he could pass the exam."
"Maybe it's a substitute test!"
"Maybe he didn't take the exam at all and just stuffed his name in. Hey! You don't know how dark the officialdom is."
The three of them could hear clearly, and Su Ce asked in a low voice: "Do you think there is really something wrong with that Lin Jianqing?"
Chao Qing thought for a while and said: "If what they said is true, I think the possibility of taking the exam for a substitute is relatively high. I found that there are loopholes, and it is difficult to find the substitute test."
"This man is none of our business!"
Zhong Huan interrupted the conversation between Su Ce and Chao Qing, "You two, don't worry about this matter. It's not that simple. Don't get into trouble."
