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

Chapter 455 Top Three 5
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Seeing the young Crown Prince bending down to help him up, Zhang Tingfang stood up, held the exquisite ivory tablet, and respectfully bowed to Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu to express his gratitude.

Zhu Qiyu did not speak, but simply smiled and nodded in response to Zhang Tingfang.

"Tingfang, today you will serve me on the left side of my dragon throne." He saw that his process of bribing the top-scoring liberal arts student was complete, and had been very successful.

Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe found a suitable position for the top scholar Zhang Tingfang with a smile, and allowed Zhang Tingfang to stand at the very top of all the officials with him, the emperor, at this moment, looking down on the many officials of the Dragon Kingdom!
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Zhang Tingfang knew that from this day forward, from this very moment, his identity would undergo a complete transformation!
So Zhang Tingfang, holding an ivory tablet, stood respectfully to the left and back of the majestic dragon throne, as if on a pilgrimage, waiting to see what was about to happen.

Then, Emperor Longwu, Zhu Zhanhe, once again sat upright on the wide dragon throne.

"Continue!" After settling into his seat, Zhu Zhanhe glanced at Xiao Xizi, who was standing beside him, and spoke softly to him. Although Zhu Zhanhe's voice was somewhat low, it still carried throughout the entire square outside the Fengtian Hall!
"This servant obeys the decree!" Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Xiao Xizi immediately bowed and accepted the order. She then stood at the edge of the imperial road again, took out the memorial from her bosom, and slowly unfolded it.

At this moment, the eyes of countless scholars beneath the imperial path shone brightly once more. Even those who knew perfectly well that they themselves had no chance of ascending that majestic dragon path, were not diminished by their excitement, which even caused some to tremble!

"Ahem~!" Before speaking, Xiao Xizi coughed twice to attract everyone's attention. But in reality, Xiao Xizi didn't need to do that at all to get attention through coughing.

At this moment, everyone below the imperial road had their eyes completely fixed on Xiao Xizi, and their gazes followed his every slight movement.

At this moment, no one questioned why the Emperor would send a chief eunuch to announce the results of the palace examination to everyone!

"Li Xiaozhi, a student of the first class of the Imperial Examination in the fourth year of Longwu, ranked second in the civil service examination and was granted the title of Jinshi. His place of origin is Hanting, Longdu, and he is a student of the Imperial Academy in the first year of Longwu!" Amid the expectant expressions of the crowd, Xiao Xizi's clear voice once again echoed in the ears of the students.

The next moment, a student who was about thirty years old appeared from the line of students at the Imperial Academy. He stepped past one student after another, ignoring the countless eager eyes around him, and quickly walked out of the line. He ran to the center of the Imperial Road with small steps, which was the place where Zhang Tingfang had just knelt, and knelt down respectfully as well.

"Your subject, Li Xiaozhi, a student of the Imperial Academy and a graduate of the Longwu class, kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace!" Perhaps influenced by Zhang Tingfang's earlier example, this student of the Imperial Academy named Li Xiaozhi was not as nervous and flustered as Zhang Tingfang had been.

Li Xiaozhi knelt respectfully and obediently at the end of the imperial road, waiting for his moment of glory to come!
"The Emperor has decreed!"

Legend has it that Li Xiaozhi, the second-place scholar in the first class of imperial examinations, was granted the title of Jinshi. He was from Hanting, Longdu, and was a student of the Imperial Academy and Longwu.

"Ascend the Imperial Road to meet the Emperor!" Just as everyone expected, the Grand Steward at the top of the Imperial Road once again issued the order for the Emperor to summon the second-ranked scholar.

"Your subject, Li Xiaozhi, kowtows to express his gratitude to Your Majesty!" Upon hearing these words from the Grand Eunuch at the top of the Imperial Way, Li Xiaozhi, who was kneeling below the Imperial Way, was even more excited and kowtowed heavily towards the direction above the Imperial Way, loudly expressing his gratitude.

At this moment, everyone present could hear Li Xiaozhi's voice trembling with excitement!

However, things don't always go as smoothly as you wish.

As soon as Xiao Xizi issued the order to summon Emperor Longwu from the top of the imperial road, a young eunuch, holding a red flower that was slightly lighter in color than the previous one, respectfully approached Li Xiaozhi not far below the imperial road.

"My lord, please hold the imperial flower steady!" A young eunuch respectfully approached Li Xiaozhi and presented him with a pale red flower. "Thank you, Eunuch!" Seeing that only one eunuch had come to him instead of two, Li Xiaozhi, kneeling on the ground, felt a sudden unease and a sense of foreboding. He knew that his ascent to the imperial road would be quite different from that of the top scholar!

However, as the second-place finisher in the imperial examination, Li Xiaozhi, though inwardly doubtful, still eagerly accepted the so-called "passing the exam" flower presented by the eunuch with both hands.

"Please follow my steps, sir, and watch your step on the steps." After Li Xiaozhi raised his hand to present the flower for the imperial examination, the little eunuch whispered a reminder again.

Then, the young eunuch slowly released the red cloth strip in his hand, and like a guide, silently led Li Xiaozhi to the steps on the left side of the imperial road, and directly stepped up the steps.

Seeing that the young eunuch had actually led him to the left side of the imperial road, Li Xiaozhi felt a little disappointed, but this was quickly followed by a surge of excitement.

After all, the left has always been considered superior!
It makes sense that the top scholar takes the central dragon path, while the second-place scholar takes the left-hand imperial path! That means the third-place scholar can only take the right-hand imperial path!

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Li Xiaozhi, holding the flower symbolizing success in the imperial examination, ascended the steps of the imperial road, passing by one high-ranking minister after another, and finally arriving before Emperor Longwu at the end of the road.

"Your subject is Li Xiaozhi, a student of the first class of Longwu at the Imperial Academy."

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Upon arriving before Emperor Longwu, Li Xiaozhi realized that the legendary Emperor Longwu was indeed so majestic and imposing! Immediately, without hesitation, Li Xiaozhi presented the flower of success in the imperial examination and respectfully knelt at Emperor Longwu's feet.

"Great, you're full of energy!"

Li Xiaozhi, I have read your article. It is written with great conviction and is very ornate!

"Get up!" Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied with Li Xiaozhi, who remained calm and composed throughout. He raised his hand and told Li Xiaozhi to get up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hearing the Emperor tell him to rise, Li Xiaozhi felt a slight pang of disappointment. After all, the Emperor had personally helped the top scholar to his feet just moments before! But when it came to him, the second-place scholar, the Emperor hadn't offered any assistance!

But then Li Xiaozhi noticed that the eldest prince, who had been standing by the emperor's side, actually got up and helped him up!
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Li Xiaozhi felt much better after being helped up by the Crown Prince. At the same time, Li Xiaozhi secretly vowed to himself that he must work hard and surpass the top scholar Zhang Tingfang in terms of achievements, so that even the Emperor would look at him with new respect!

In response to Li Xiaozhi's thanks, the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu remained silent, merely offering a slight smile before quietly stepping aside once more.

The gentle demeanor of the eldest prince before him greatly improved Li Xiaozhi's impression of him!

At the same time, after Li Xiaozhi was helped to his feet, a young eunuch holding a red cloth quickly stepped forward and helped to firmly tie the "Jidi Flower" to Li Xiaozhi's chest.

"Bring it here!" After the flower of success in the imperial examination was tied on Li Xiaozhi's chest, Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand slightly, and Xiao Xizi came over again with a tray covered with yellow silk cloth.

Seeing this, Li Xiaozhi felt a surge of excitement; this joy instantly dispelled the pent-up frustration in his heart. At that moment, Li Xiaozhi knew in his heart that this must be the jade tablet the Emperor was about to bestow upon him!
(End of this chapter)