Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 454 Top Three 4
Hahaha~!

Look at our top scholar! He truly is a model for scholars of our Dragon Kingdom, with a heart full of patriotism.

"Get up quickly!" In fact, Zhu Zhanhe had noticed Zhang Tingfang's dazedness and strangeness from the very beginning.

However, Zhu Zhanhe, as the emperor, wouldn't hold a grudge against a subject for such a minor breach of etiquette. In fact, after the two eunuchs had tied the scholar's flower to Zhang Tingfang, Zhu Zhanhe rose from his throne and personally helped Zhang Tingfang up!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Zhang Tingfang stammered the moment Emperor Longwu helped him up! At this moment, Zhang Tingfang's mind was completely blank!
Zhang Tingfang originally thought that he had stepped onto the Dragon Path, a path reserved for the emperor's ascension to the throne, and had twice behaved improperly before the emperor. He was certain he would die a horrible death!

However, Zhang Tingfang never imagined that he would be personally helped up by the majestic and imposing Emperor Longwu! Not even a hint of blame for his breach of etiquette before the Emperor! As a result, Zhang Tingfang was now stammering!
At that moment, perhaps a fleeting thought of loyalty and righteous indignation crossed Zhang Tingfang's mind.

"Minister Zhang is a little nervous, but it's alright!"

"Once you attend court more often, you won't be so reserved anymore." Looking at Zhang Tingfang, who was still somewhat dazed, Emperor Longwu had transformed into an incredibly benevolent ruler!

Furthermore, seeing that Zhang Tingfang was still nervous, Zhu Zhanhe decided not to put pressure on him and continued to speak.

"Bring it here!" Zhu Zhanhe gently beckoned to Xiao Xizi, who then naturally carried over a tray covered with a bright yellow silk cloth.

"Minister Zhang, look this way!" Seeing Xiao Xizi carrying a tray to him, Zhu Zhanhe pulled Zhang Tingfang's hand and moved a few steps toward the edge of the imperial road.

Then, to Zhang Tingfang's astonishment, the First Prince Zhu Qiyu personally lifted the tray from the chief eunuch's hands. Instantly, a pristine white imperial tablet was revealed on the tray!
An ivory scepter! The moment Zhang Tingfang saw this scepter, he knew its origin.

After all, several years ago, the Minister of Rites personally placed this tablet on the plaque of the Imperial Academy in front of many students!
Most recently, it was the Minister of Rites who personally removed the tablet from the plaque of the Imperial College! Zhang Tingfang was one of the witnesses at the time! Therefore, Zhang Tingfang would never mistake it!

For a moment, Zhang Tingfang's breathing became heavy!
Then, with bloodshot eyes, Zhang Tingfang saw the First Prince Zhu Qiyu raise his hand and take the ivory tablet from the tray. He then bowed respectfully and presented the ivory tablet to the Longwu Emperor!

Is the Emperor really going to personally give me this ivory tablet?! Upon seeing this, a startling thought suddenly popped into Zhang Tingfang's mind!

"Zhang Tingfang~!" Amidst the red-eyed gazes of the students on the imperial path and below, the Dragon Emperor took the ivory tablet from the eldest prince and called out to Zhang Tingfang!
"Your subject is here!" Suddenly, Zhang Tingfang became strangely calm. He knelt down on the ground and responded to the Dragon Emperor's voice!
"I once said that these three tablets on the plaque of the Imperial College were bestowed upon the top three scholars."

Today, I personally bestow this ivory tablet upon you.

"I hope that you will serve the country and the people in the future and live up to my expectations." Then, Zhu Zhanhe handed the tablet in his hand to Zhang Tingfang!
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"
"I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty!" Looking at the pristine white ivory tablet presented to him, Zhang Tingfang was filled with immense excitement. He raised his hands high, gripping the ivory tablet tightly, his eyes red with emotion, and loudly swore his allegiance to Emperor Longwu!

"Still calling him Emperor?"

"Speak loudly to everyone what the words written on this tablet are!" Seeing Zhang Tingfang's excited appearance, Zhu Zhanhe smiled and asked Zhang Tingfang to read out the words written on the back of the tablet.

Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Zhang Tingfang was taken aback! Were there words engraved on this tablet? Zhang Tingfang couldn't help but wonder. However, he still carefully examined the tablet in his hand. After carefully looking at the front of the tablet and finding no writing, Zhang Tingfang carefully turned it over. Instantly, Zhang Tingfang saw eight large characters written in two columns on the back of the tablet!
For a moment, Zhang Tingfang was stunned and knelt on the ground again!

The ministers on the imperial path and the students below the imperial path were also very curious about what was written on the tablet that could cause the top scholar, who had already regained his composure, to lose his manners before the emperor again!

"Your Majesty, this tablet is inscribed with:"

Disciple of the Emperor!

"Waiting to be appointed Wenzheng!" After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Tingfang, realizing that he had lost his composure again, spoke in the loudest voice of his life to Emperor Longwu, as well as to the ministers and students below the stage, about the eight large characters written on the ivory tablet in his hand!
The Emperor's disciple! Awaiting the title of Wenzheng!

Upon hearing Zhang Tingfang's reply, countless officials and scholars turned red in the eyes! They wished they were the ones kneeling before the Emperor!

"Tingfang, now, what should you call me?" Zhu Zhanhe asked softly again, turning his gaze to Zhang Tingfang kneeling on the ground.

"Your Majesty~"
Replying to the teacher!

"Student Zhang Tingfang greets his revered teacher!" Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Zhang Tingfang, in his excitement, addressed him as "Your Majesty" again. However, he immediately realized his mistake and corrected himself to address him as "Revered Teacher!"
In an instant, the atmosphere beneath the imperial road became heated! Especially the students standing beneath the imperial road, whether they were students from the Imperial Academy or students from the Military Academy, their breathing became heavy!
The prestige of being a disciple of the emperor is a dream that everyone can only aspire to but never reach! But now, this thing that no one even dared to dream of has actually appeared before our eyes. How can we not be excited!
At this moment, especially those students who did not participate in the palace examination but came to witness this grand scene, they were all as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

"Tingfang, get up." Zhu Zhanhe, sitting upright on the dragon throne, naturally saw the light shining in the eyes of the young students below the imperial road. Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe got up again and helped Zhang Tingfang up.

"This student thanks my esteemed teacher!" Zhang Tingfang stood up excitedly, feeling as if he were floating! Little did Zhang Tingfang know that his words of "esteemed teacher" had caused countless officials and students below the imperial court to turn their eyes up in fury!
"Tingfang, I am bestowing this ivory tablet upon you not only because you achieved first place in the imperial examination, but also because I have high hopes for you!"

The title "Wenzheng" represents the aspiration of countless civil officials. As your teacher, I hope that in the days to come, you will serve the country and its people as a good official!
"Until one day, you will be able to truly receive the title of Wenzheng, just like the sages of the past!" Looking at Zhang Tingfang, who was tightly clutching his ivory tablet, Zhu Zhanhe gently patted his shoulder and said with great expectation. At the same time, Zhu Zhanhe's deep voice once again resounded throughout the entire square!

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!" Countless gasps of astonishment echoed across the square! After all, the Emperor's treatment of Zhang Tingfang with such courtesy and such high expectations was simply the envy of countless people! They wished they could take his place!

"Students will certainly live up to their teachers' teachings!"
"The students will surely sacrifice themselves for our Dragon Kingdom! They will spare no effort!" After hearing the grand promises made by the Dragon Emperor, Zhang Tingfang was as if he had been injected with chicken blood. He knelt down with a thud and solemnly promised.

"Tingfang is being too serious!"

"Only by taking good care of your health can you continue to serve the court." Seeing Zhang Tingfang so excited he was about to fly away, Zhu Zhanhe gave him a single glance, and immediately Zhu Qiyu stepped forward and helped Zhang Tingfang up.

(End of this chapter)