(Easter egg at the end of the chapter, meet the students!)
"Congratulations to Your Highness!"
After Zhao Yanxun finished his speech and went through two agenda items, the entire graduation ceremony came to an end.
Zhao Yanxun left the venue. All the students present saluted and saw him off, and all the officials also followed suit.
After these big shots left, the students at the scene slowly stood up and began to communicate in groups of twos and threes.
The new students took this opportunity to exchange experiences with their seniors and become familiar with each other.
Among the awarded students, Hu Min and others who stayed in the "central" unit in Yuanyang had the largest number of people gathered around them.
Of course, the exception was Yu Chengyao, who had not been enthroned. He was surrounded by several friends who had been enthroned.
"Chengyao, what's going on? Why weren't you appointed?"
This sentence asked the thoughts of everyone present.
People like Yu Chengyao and Huang Yuanqing are recognized by students as outstanding students, and they should have the best positions.
The most anxious people now are the few among the top six who still don’t know the inside story.
What is the purpose of studying hard in Hanchuang? It's not just to hold power and express their ambitions. But now that they don't even have official positions, isn't it a waste of time in the political school?
Yu Chengyao chuckled and said: "This... I don't know either!"
Of course he won't tell the inside story that he knows, as that will only cause unnecessary trouble.
Huang Yuanqing naturally couldn't tell either, so some people were anxious, but more people were waiting to see the joke.
But this state did not last long. A ceremony officer returned and read loudly: "The top six students who have graduated this time... are summoned by His Highness!"
Upon hearing this, the scene fell into dead silence.
There were three to six people, although their faces barely remained calm, but in their hearts they were shouting "Your Highness is Holy Might".
Happiness comes too suddenly, and their achievements are rewarded, and the rewards are unexpectedly high.
No one would think that Zhao Yanxun summoned him just for a simple chat.
During this interview, the first six people will inevitably be awarded higher official positions, at least better than those of the seventh-placed Hu Min.
People's hearts were like water. People who had gathered around Hu Min and others just now came to congratulate Huang Yuanqing and others.
"Congratulations to all senior brothers..."
"We can still take your senior brothers as role models..."
"Chengyao, I'm telling you that you are no longer a fish in the pond. Today, when His Highness summons you, you will soar into the sky!"
"Brother Chengyao, to borrow an old saying...if you want wealth and honor, don't forget each other!"
Although he is ranked second on the list, Yu Chengyao is the most popular.
"Okay, if you have anything to say, we'll talk to you when we get back. Now the six of you... follow me to the palace!"
At the urging of the etiquette officer, Yu Chengyao and others stopped talking nonsense and followed the etiquette officer out of the school.
Everyone watched them leave, and the graduating students were undoubtedly envious. Today, they and Huang Yuanqing will take two different paths.
…………
Under the guidance of the etiquette officer, Huang Yuanqing and the others left the school and walked towards the palace.
The distance was not very far, and they only walked for a few minutes before arriving at the main gate of the palace.
Turning around, the ceremonial officer said to several students: "You are all talented people. Your Highness has given permission... to enter the palace through the middle gate!"
Strictly speaking, only Zhao Yanxun has the qualification to enter the palace from the middle gate.
This shows that Zhao Yanxun attaches great importance to them.
After all, in the imperial examination, only the number one scholar could enter the palace from the main entrance of the imperial city.
"When you enter the palace, someone will usher you in. Go ahead!"
At this moment, after experiencing the initial joy, Huang Yuanqing and others became more or less nervous.
So much so that the ceremony officer reminded them twice before they walked towards the palace.
Walking up the steps, there are well-equipped and solemn guards on both sides, as well as the tall lintel in front, which puts pressure on the students.
With their hearts beating rapidly, they walked into the palace gate, where a eunuch was waiting.
"Everyone, please come with me!"
It was the first time for the six of them to enter the palace. Although they were nervous and apprehensive, they could not help but quietly take a look at the surrounding environment.
Just listen to the eunuch walking in front say: "In front is Yong'an Gate, after entering the gate is Yong'an Hall, and walking further in is Jinshen Hall!"
Soon, they were taken outside Jinshen Hall, and several of them stood in two rows in front of Lord Dan.
"You guys wait here, we'll go report to the prince!"
After saying this, the eunuch walked up the steps and finally disappeared from everyone's eyes.
Everyone looked up, and in front of them was a tall palace. Standing here would only make people feel insignificant.
After about a few minutes, the eunuch just walked out of the hall, stood on a high place and shouted to the students below: "Prince Xuan'er is waiting to see you!"
Yu Chengyao and Huang Yuanqing stood in front. After looking at each other, they took steps to walk up the steps.
The situation in the main hall gradually appeared in front of them.
Except for the eunuch who was standing there, there were not many people inside.
Zhao Yanxun was sitting on the throne, and below him were the two chief historians and Ji Shanzheng and Liu Qingshan.
Stepping across the threshold, everyone entered the hall.
On the way, the etiquette officer had told them the etiquette.
So after standing in the hall, the six students immediately paid homage.
"Kowtow to Your Highness!"
Zhao Yanxun then said: "No courtesy!"
Today, he called the top few people over for an interview.
Regardless of whether he was running the army or managing officials, Zhao Yanxun always adhered to the principle of setting an example so that others could be full of hope for the future.
The lower the birthrate of a person, the more suitable he is to be a model in Zhao Yanxun's opinion, because they have the best motivational effect.
For example, people like Yang Qing and Qin Hao, who were initially praised by Zhao Yanxun as role models in the army, have now risen to high positions and become targets for soldiers in the army to pursue.
Based on the above ideas, Zhao Yanxun paid attention to Huang Yuanqing.
Even if Huang Yuanqing ranks third or fourth, because his background is too "appropriate", he will become the person with the highest official rank.
Of course, conferring officials should be done with great caution.
Therefore, even if Huang Yuanqing takes the first place, if his subsequent performance is indeed too poor, Zhao Yanxun will not force him to take the position.
"You are all outstanding students. As the saying goes, those who are capable work harder, so I have no choice but to let you bear more burdens!"
Although everyone has not yet entered the officialdom, they can still understand what "bear more burdens" means.
"I came here to ask you a few questions today!"
At this moment, talking to Zhao Yanxun at close range, Yu Chengyao and the others were extremely nervous, with their heads lowered like ostriches.
The scene was quiet. Logically speaking, Huang Yuanqing should answer the call at this time, but he didn't know the rules at all.
Just when the scene was awkward, Yu Chengyao was heard saying: "Your Highness, please inquire!"
Seeing this, Liu Qingshan was disappointed. Although Huang Yuanqing was good at learning, compared with the children of these old powerful men, he was indeed much worse at dealing with people.
But Liu Qingshan knew that there was nothing he could do about it, because he also came from a poor family, and he was the same as Huang Yuanqing at the beginning.
While everyone in the palace was having their own thoughts, they heard Zhao Yanxun ask from the imperial steps: "Why do you want to be officials?"