Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 280 The Day Yan Shifan Announces the Results of the Second Examination
The fifteenth year of the Jiajing reign.

The ninth day of February.

The Ministry of Rites held its provincial examination.

Yan Shifan stepped into the examination hall.

Full of confidence.

If you were to ask how arduous the past six months of studying at the Imperial College were,

Just reply with one sentence—

He can hardly remember what Xiaoqin and Xiaofeng look like anymore!

Anyone who knows them well should give them a thumbs up!
With such diligent study and the help of Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji, Yan Shifan was now fully confident that he would be on the list of successful candidates.

The imperial examination consisted of three sessions.

It concluded successfully.

When Yan Shifan stepped out of the examination room, he could see the fatigue on his face. He quickly met up with his two friends and they began to discuss the questions.

"Stable!"

When Yan Shifan told Hu Zongxian, who was always good at speaking, about his article, and even Zhao Zhenji, who was known for his straightforwardness, approved of it, Yan Shifan laughed heartily, feeling a great weight lifted from his shoulders.

After the three parted ways, he leisurely rode his horse towards the Yan residence.

When I passed by Pitiao Hutong, I couldn't help but stop and look.

When passing through the alley of the outer residence, I couldn't help but stop and linger.

After some hesitation, he finally decided to go home and share the good news first.

"Mother! Mother! Your child is back!"

As the Grand Secretary, Yan Song naturally couldn't show up during the imperial examination, otherwise people would think he was putting pressure on the examiners. Ouyang Shi was unwell these past few days, so she didn't wait outside the examination hall either.

Seeing her son rush in, beaming with energy, Madam Ouyang was delighted: "You did well on the exam?"

"That's quite good!"

Yan Shifan raised his voice and patted his chest: "Mother, don't worry, your son who was a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) will soon become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), bringing glory to our ancestors!"

"Okay! Okay!"

Ouyang was overjoyed.

In fact, the Yan family already has no shortage of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and she doesn't expect Yan Song's power to actually be passed on to her son, otherwise she would be envied to death by others.

So the old mother held her son's hand, patted it gently, and said earnestly, "We don't ask for anything more to enhance the Yan family's reputation. We just hope that you can maintain your dignity and stop your father from worrying. That would be the greatest joy!"

Yan Shifan heard this but interpreted it differently, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Fei Hong and Huo Tao have caused Father trouble again?"

Ouyang's expression changed slightly: "That is a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, how can you address him by his first name!"

"whispering sound!"

Yan Shifan snorted coldly, quite disdainful.

The current cabinet still consists of four members: Yan Song, Li Shi, Fei Hong, and Huo Tao.

Li Shi was a Grand Secretary during Zhang Cong's time, but he never made any significant achievements and was considered a recluse.
Fei Hong was the top scholar in the imperial examination in the 23rd year of the Chenghua reign. He entered the cabinet during the Zhengde reign and became a cabinet elder in the first year of the Jiajing reign. After Yang Tinghe passed away, he served as the chief cabinet minister for three years, from the fourth to the sixth year of the Jiajing reign. He was the most senior official.

If it weren't for the escalating disputes in the court, which prompted the conservatives to bring Fei Hong out of retirement, this nearly seventy-year-old minister would never have shown his face.

As for Huo Tao, he was the last prominent figure in the Grand Rites Consortium. His prestige was far less than that of Zhang Conggui'e and Fang Xianfu, but he still held many important positions and entered the cabinet at the beginning of the year.

Many officials were watching this situation with amusement.

Because Yan Song, the chief minister, seemed to have some minor conflicts with these other senior officials.

Especially when he defied public opinion and actually began to implement the national strategy of taking over the Hetao region, the implementation of the Examination and Assessment Law during this period caused even the once flawless reputation of the literati to begin to deteriorate.

The leader of the "pure stream" movement has suddenly stopped being part of it.

"Ugh!"

It was precisely because of this that Ouyang looked quite worried.

Her husband is still the same person, so how did his reputation suddenly become so bad?
Furthermore, with the former Grand Secretary from ten years ago being brought back into the picture, concerns naturally arose: "What is His Majesty's purpose in bestowing a silver seal upon Grand Secretary Fei, engraved with 'Former Grand Secretary and Founding Minister'?"

"Oh?"

Yan Shifan pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then sneered, "It doesn't matter! This is just His Majesty's usual appeasement tactic. Old ministers and senior officials... Ha! His Majesty has never liked these kinds of old-fashioned ministers. It may seem like an honor, but once this document is issued, this Grand Secretary Fei will hardly have any real power!"

"Really?"

Ouyang was skeptical.

"Of course! Mother, don't worry!"

Yan Shifan was extremely certain: "My father is the real chief minister appointed by His Majesty. Yang Tinghe and Fei Hong are both old ministers from the reign of Emperor Wuzong. Now that His Majesty wants to take over the Hetao region, he has instead invited them out. His Majesty's move is very meaningful!"

Seeing Yan Song's calm and unhurried attitude, Madam Ouyang believed his judgment and said with relief, "Qing'er has grown up and can now share your father's burdens!"

"of course!"

Yan Shifan raised his chin: "Once I pass the imperial examination and enter the Six Ministries, I will be Father's best assistant in the officialdom. Just watch me!"

He felt that even if he passed the provincial examination, the chances of being selected for the Hanlin Academy were not high.

Fortunately, he didn't want to go in either.

I used to admire the Hanlin Academy, but after witnessing Haiyue and Lin Daqin's time there, the mystique gradually faded.

Lin Daqin thrived in his role, participating in the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia and the Ming Dynasty Code, as well as the writing of numerous other classics, thus making full use of his talents.

It's such a waste that Haiyue, with her abilities, spent several years in the impoverished Hanlin Academy.

Even if he doesn't have to be sent out of the capital, he can still take up a real position in one of the Six Ministries and wield real power. Why waste his years there?
Putting everything else aside, the members of the Yixin Society should be properly arranged and all of them should be given important positions!

As the second-in-command of the Yixin Society, Yan Shifan felt that he had an inescapable responsibility!
Who knows, even if I take the exam a year later, I might still be able to surpass others after entering officialdom!
"What if I suddenly perform exceptionally well in the imperial examination and get into the Hanlin Academy?" "I can't just refuse to go, that would offend too many people..."

"Ugh! Headache!"

During the two weeks of waiting for the results of the imperial examination, Yan Shifan pondered this crucial question.

Just as he was pondering whether he should hide his talents in the palace examination and not stand out too much, the day the results were announced arrived.

Yan Shifan really wanted to ask in advance what rank he had achieved, so he could just glance at the screen wall in front of the examination hall to confirm it.

But he knew his father would definitely avoid suspicion, and even if the examination hall was willing to reveal the list, he would actively block such news.

Otherwise, those political enemies would be watching the chief minister's every move, just waiting for a scandal to emerge that the chief minister had allowed his son to cheat in the imperial examinations!

and so.

I still have to check the rankings.

Early in the morning, the streets of the examination hall were once again packed with people, making it impossible to move.

Hu Zongxian stared intently, his hands clenched into fists, his chest heaving with tension.

Zhao Zhenji was also flustered; in February, the capital was freezing cold, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

Facing his classmates, Yan Shifan smiled slightly, showing no sign of panic, as if he were an experienced person: "With your talents, you can start by looking at the first list later, and you will surely be among the top!"

Hu Zongxian's grades were originally not good, but since joining the Yixin Society to help students and receiving instruction from senior scholars in the elementary school, he has made rapid progress.

Zhao Zhenji already possessed outstanding knowledge and skills; if he were to take another step forward, he would be even more deserving of the title of top scholar in the imperial examinations.

Therefore, both of them were talented individuals who competed for the top spot on the list.

Hu Zongxian turned his gaze over, and Zhao Zhenji asked directly, "Brother Donglou, which list do you wish to aim for?"

"Ah!"

Yan Shifan waved his hand: "My knowledge of classical studies is far inferior to yours. I only hope to be on the list, not to be ranked."

Hu Zongxian laughed and said, "Even the most profound knowledge of classical texts is just theoretical; the way to be an official lies in being well-versed in practical matters. We who bury ourselves in old books are no match for Brother Donglou's insight into worldly affairs and his ability to govern the country and benefit the people!"

Zhao Zhenji also sincerely said, "Donglou is too magnanimous."

"Haha! You flatter me! You flatter me! Look, the list is out!"

Yan Shifan pointed forward.

This time, Zhao Wenhua didn't have a spot to take. When the officials of the examination hall came out to post the yellow notice, they were almost pushed out.

Fortunately, soon they heard someone announce the leader's name from ahead—

"Huiyuan, Zhao Zhenji, was from Neijiang, Sichuan."

"It's me! It's me!"

Zhao Zhenji was overjoyed and wanted to raise his arms and shout.

"congratulations!"

Hu Zongxian was genuinely happy for his friend, and he squeezed forward to quickly determine his ranking.

"Twelfth place, Hu Zongxian, a native of Huizhou Prefecture, Southern Zhili."

Hu Zongxian was so excited he almost jumped for joy.

His mastery of the Four Books and Five Classics was inferior to that of Zhao Zhenji, but he was five years younger than Zhao Zhenji. Being able to rank among the top in the metropolitan examination at the age of just over twenty was undoubtedly a promising future for him.

The experience at the Imperial College and the environment of the Yixin Society were both indispensable factors in achieving this result.

At this moment, Hu Zongxian kept this in mind.

So, unlike Zhao Zhenji's constant excitement, he calmed down and continued to search for Yan Shifan's ranking.

"It's always like this!"

Yan Shifan stood with his hands behind his back, looking somewhat sentimental.

In a daze, he seemed to have returned to the past.

At that time, the names of Haiyue, Lin Daqin, Hai Rui, and Su Zhigao were announced one after another, all of whom were at the top of the list.

But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find my place.

There wasn't even a last place.

That feeling was incredibly painful.

Fortunately, this time is different.

Yan Shifan was not blindly confident.

Just as he quickly recognized the high level of Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji's abilities, his discerning eye was certainly not lacking, and he also had a good grasp of the quality of his own writing.

Therefore, he believed that with his hard work over this period of time, coupled with his already outstanding knowledge and perspective, he would definitely succeed.

"Now it all depends on where we rank..."

As the lists were posted one by one, the scholars were so excited that Yan Shifan was jostled and staggered, barely managing to steady himself and reach the front.

At this moment, Hu Zongxian had finished reading, his expression changed slightly, and he moved to Yan Shifan's right side.

After his initial excitement subsided, Zhao Zhenji squeezed in to help check the list. As he looked through each list, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Why isn't it here...?"

Yan Shifan's eyes were fixed on the yellow notice board like hooks, searching inch by inch.

After confirming everything repeatedly, Zhao Zhenji quietly moved to the other side, his hands slightly raised from his sleeves, worried that his magnanimous classmate might pull away in disappointment.

"No! No!"

However, Yan Shifan was not distraught. Instead, a hoarse, cold laugh rolled down his throat, and his brows furrowed into a menacing expression: "There's something wrong with the grading of this imperial examination!"

(End of this chapter)