Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 378 Passing the Imperial Examination (Part 2)

In fact, Sheng Changquan had already hurriedly sent Xu Changqing out yesterday.

For no other reason than to seize the opportunity and find out the results before others.

You must know, today is the big day for posting the results, and many people are waiting on the streets for the yamen runners to post the notices.

If you don't manage to squeeze in at the beginning, then you'll have to wait in line.

No matter which prestigious family or nobleman you come from, at this crucial moment, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he would still have to arrange things properly...

Uh!
Of course, if it were really government officials coming, then there probably wouldn't be a need to queue.

In short, at this point, you have to be one step ahead and make the first move.

Despite Sheng Changquan's composed and unassuming demeanor, he was actually quite panicked inside.

Whether it's acceptable or not doesn't necessarily depend solely on writing style; the examiner's personal factors also play a significant role.

It can only be said that those with poor writing skills will definitely not pass, but even if you write well, you are not guaranteed to pass.

Although Sheng Changquan had already obtained some inside information from his second brother and even the Shen family before the exam, and knew some of the writing habits of the chief examiner Zhai Jingnian, how could he be sure about such a thing?
There were too many variables involved, so he was very uneasy and far from being as calm as he appeared.

However, in order to maintain his persona, Sheng Changquan naturally had to give 200% of his acting skills to deceive the world, and even himself, in order to soothe his anxiety.

Getting back to the point, just as everyone was getting impatient and restless, the crowd in the distance suddenly erupted in excitement.

"The results are released!"

From the crowd, someone shouted, "Quick!"

"The results are released!"

Instantly, almost everyone's attention was drawn to it; even the beggars on the street in the distance craned their necks to watch closely.

They acted as if they were involved, displaying a strong sense of ownership.

"when!"

With the sound of a gong, a group of yamen runners slowly walked in, holding up brightly lit notices.

"Shh!"

All the people who squeezed to the front had their eyes light up, and then the crowd slowly retreated with their steps until a small path was left.

For a moment, the scene was unexpectedly harmonious and tacit.

The constables weren't surprised by this, since they saw this kind of thing every few years and were obviously used to it.

The lead red-clad constable didn't even raise an eyelid, directly picking up a golden notice board—a color symbolizing imperial majesty—and loudly announcing, "Post the notice!"

"boom!"

There was a brief commotion in the crowd, but then it suddenly fell silent.

The people watching the list fell silent, their eyes fixed on the thin sheets of paper in front of them.

Ten years of hard study culminate in this single sheet of paper.

After the red-clad yamen runners announced their greetings, the other yamen runners did not reply but simply bowed in agreement. Then, as was already arranged, they were divided into groups of several and posted the lists they had on the walls of the examination hall.

Because it was the provincial examination in the capital, the results were posted outside the examination hall, just like the results of the metropolitan examination. Interestingly, the order in which the officials posted the results was from back to front.

This shows that even literati have some perverse tastes at heart.

"I...I passed the exam!"

As soon as the first list was posted, someone in the dense crowd immediately raised their arms and shouted.

Similarly, this person also attracted envious glances from those around him.

"What about me? What about mine?"

"Huh? Where's mine? Sir, please hurry!"

"..." As soon as someone made the list, the crowd seemed to be injected with some kind of catalyst, and suddenly it became noisy.

Although some people won, most were disappointed.

Some people stared intently at the list with bloodshot eyes, scanning it back and forth, trying to find the name they had missed earlier. Others, however, left the examination hall with a look of resignation mixed with a hint of understanding, after one last search of the list, filled with despair and disappointment.

Those who dared to participate in the Bianjing provincial examination were mostly ordinary students whose ancestral home was in the capital. They lacked sufficient talent and had no way to travel elsewhere to take the exam, so all they faced was utter despair.

People's joys and sorrows are not shared, and this was also true for Xu Changqing in the crowd at this moment.

Even though the autumn air was crisp and the breeze was cool, Xu Changqing was still sweating profusely as he looked at the last list in front of him.

There was nothing they could do; those yamen runners just happened to put the most prestigious list at the very end!
Relying on his tall stature and strong physique, Xu Changqing firmly stood at the front of everyone, intently watching the top name on the list.

The text reads: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that on the 20th day of the ninth month of the 23rd year of Emperor Renzong's reign, 156 candidates, including Sheng Changquan, were selected for the imperial examination in Bianjing."

Then, the six bright characters "First Place: Sheng Changquan" shone brightly!

"bingo!"

Xu Changqing's eyes lit up!
At that moment, his mind was completely empty.

"No! I have to go back and report to the young master right away!"

Xu Changqing glanced at the list of successful candidates again, then hurriedly squeezed his way out of the crowd, completely ignoring the second and third place winners.

However, from a distance, Xu Changqing's figure didn't seem to be heading towards the tavern on Donghua Street; it seemed...

Judging from the direction he's heading, it seems to be... the Sheng residence?
"The top scholar is out! He's out!" someone shouted from the crowd.

These people thought that although they didn't pass this time, if they met the top scholar, they might be able to benefit from the literary aura of the God of Literature and pass the exam again next time.

"Who? Who is it? Is it my husband?"

With so many people, some naturally couldn't squeeze in. At that moment, a servant asked a question loudly.

"Is your young master surnamed Sheng?" the person in front replied.

"..."

Those with a sharp mind immediately shut up, but others still foolishly said, "My husband's surname is Ma, how could it be something like Sheng..."

"Shut up!"

Before he could finish speaking, several voices of rebuke came from above.

"What about the young master of the Yuan family and the young master Li of the Shen family? They..."

"...Could it be...that I didn't...pass the provincial examination?"

Suddenly, a voice, as mournful as a cuckoo's cry, rang out from the crowd.

"Oops!"

Everyone was shocked!
"My belongings!!"

……

Donghua Street.

"Boom!"

"..."

As soon as the list of winners was announced, many people began to flock to the various taverns.

Aside from some of their own people who had been sent out, most of them were those who brought good news.

The so-called messengers were "bounty hunters" who would deliver the news of a student's success to the successful candidate in order to earn some reward money.

(End of this chapter)