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

Chapter 456 Top Three 6
Under Li Xiaozhi's delighted gaze, after the chief steward Xiao Xizi stood in front of Li Xiaozhi with a tray, the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu once again stepped forward, came to the tray, and lifted the yellow silk cloth on the tray to reveal a pure white jade tablet placed on it!

"Li Xiaozhi, this is a jade tablet, and I bestow it upon you today."

I hope that when you serve as an official in the future, you will hold this tablet in your hand, offer honest advice and speak frankly, and act with evidence.

"I hope that you will be like this white jade, strict with yourself, and also transform this court into a pure place for the country and its people, just like this white jade!" Emperor Longwu Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but speak to Li Xiaozhi after noticing the hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I, Li Xiaozhi, will never forget Your Majesty's teachings!" Upon hearing the Emperor's words of expectation, Li Xiaozhi immediately knelt on the ground with a thud, his heart churning. So, the Emperor actually had such high expectations of me!
At this moment, Li Xiaozhi's heart was burning with excitement! After all, the Emperor's words to him carried very high expectations!

"Young Master, please accept this jade tablet!" Li Xiaozhi was still filled with excitement, reflecting on the Emperor's expectations of him, when he suddenly heard a gentle voice beside him. Li Xiaozhi's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively and respectfully extended both hands, preparing to receive his white jade tablet!
At the same time, Li Xiaozhi couldn't help but look up and steal a glance, only to find that the person who spoke to him and placed the jade tablet in his hand was none other than the First Prince Zhu Qiyu!
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Clutching the white jade tablet tightly in his hand, Li Xiaozhi was extremely excited! But even with all his excitement, Li Xiaozhi still respectfully thanked the First Prince.

Just like before, the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu simply placed the jade tablet in Li Xiaozhi's hand and then remained silent, stepping back to stand beside the emperor.
His Highness the First Prince is indeed a benevolent and virtuous man! Li Xiaozhi couldn't help but develop an initial favorable impression of the First Prince Zhu Qiyu!

Then, Li Xiaozhi's gaze returned to the jade tablet in his hand. After carefully examining the front of the tablet and finding no writing, Li Xiaozhi subconsciously flipped it over and glanced at the back. In an instant, Li Xiaozhi also immediately noticed the two lines of eight large, neatly engraved characters on the back of the white jade tablet!

"A disciple of the Emperor!"
"Awaiting appointment as Wenzheng!" The moment Li Xiaozhi saw these eight large characters, his eyes turned bloodshot! It was because of excitement that his eyes became bloodshot!

At this moment, Li Xiaozhi understood why the top scholar Zhang Tingfang had suddenly lost control of his emotions and behaved improperly in front of the emperor after seeing the writing on the tablet!

Because at this moment, Li Xiaozhi was so captivated by the white jade tablet in his hand with eight large characters written on it that he forgot himself and lost his composure in front of the emperor!
"Student ~ Li Xiaozhi!"
"Thank you, Master!" After discovering the eight large characters on the back of the jade tablet, Li Xiaozhi stared at them with fascination. After a moment, he came to his senses, picked up the white jade tablet, and respectfully prostrated himself on the ground. He kowtowed to Emperor Longwu, who was sitting on the dragon throne, and performed a solemn teacher's ceremony.

"Not bad, she has a good eye!"

Xiaozhi, get up!

"Today, you too shall stand behind me and serve me!" Looking at the excited Li Xiaozhi, Zhu Zhanhe called him Xiaozhi warmly and once again had Li Xiaozhi stand behind his dragon throne to serve him.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing that he could also stand behind the Emperor, Li Xiaozhi immediately kowtowed in gratitude, and then slowly rose with the help of the First Prince Zhu Qiyu. After bowing to the First Prince Zhu Qiyu, Li Xiaozhi tactfully stood behind the top scholar Zhang Tingfang.
Standing behind Zhang Tingfang, Li Xiaozhi looked at the back of the person in front of him, his face full of fighting spirit and his eyes were brewing!

"Continue!" Emperor Zhu Zhanhe, sitting upright on the dragon throne, turned his head slightly and asked Xiao Xizi to continue announcing the list of the top three.

"This servant obeys the decree!" After receiving the order, Xiao Xizi reappeared at the end of the upper side of the imperial road.

"Cough cough~"
"In the fourth year of the Longwu reign, in the imperial examination, in the civil service examination, he was the third-ranked scholar, and was granted the title of Jinshi. His place of origin is Tai'an Province, Wanxiang Prefecture, Wen'ai County. He is a student of the Imperial Academy and a graduate of the first class of Longwu. His name is Deng Linxiang!" After Xiao Xizi coughed softly twice, he announced the identity of the third-ranked scholar in the civil service examination.

As soon as Xiao Xizi finished speaking, another young scholar, around twenty years old, handsome and tall, stepped out from the ranks of the Imperial Academy students.

Then, the young scholar knelt down in the center of the steps of the imperial road, behaving in a very proper manner. "Your subject, Deng Linxiang, a student of the Imperial Academy and a graduate of the Longwu class, kowtows to express his gratitude to Your Majesty!" The young Deng Linxiang also respectfully kowtowed to the dragon throne at the end of the imperial road to express his thanks.

"It is said that Deng Linxiang, the top scholar in the first class of the imperial examination, was granted the title of Jinshi. He is from Tai'an Province, Wanxiang Prefecture, Wen'ai County, and is a student of the Imperial Academy and Longwu Class."

"Ascend the Imperial Road to meet the Emperor!" Just like before, after Deng Linxiang finished expressing his gratitude, Xiao Xizi, the chief steward, once again conveyed the message that the third-ranked scholar in the civil service examination should ascend the Imperial Road to meet the Emperor.

"Your subject, Deng Linxiang, kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace!" Having learned from the previous two men's example, Deng Linxiang's movements were even more practiced this time. Then, a young eunuch carrying a light red hibiscus flower came before Deng Linxiang.

With a gentle reminder from the young eunuch, Deng Linxiang respectfully accepted the imperial edict presented by the eunuch with both hands. Following the eunuch's footsteps, he stepped onto the imperial path on the right. After passing by one after another important official of the Dragon Kingdom, Deng Linxiang also stepped onto the high platform at the end of the imperial path and came before Emperor Longwu.

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

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Facing Emperor Longwu on the dragon throne, Deng Linxiang knelt down without hesitation to pay his respects.

"Deng Linxiang, the youngest scholar to participate in the imperial examination in the fourth year of Longwu, is only seventeen years old this year!"
"I never imagined that you were not only young, but also that your writing was so well-organized!" Zhu Zhanhe exclaimed, looking at the young Deng Linxiang before him.

Zhu Zhanhe knew in his heart that this scholar, who was even younger than his own son, would surely become a pillar of the future Chinese nation!
"Your Majesty, I am terrified!" Despite kneeling on the ground, Deng Linxiang displayed a maturity beyond his years in response to the Emperor's praise.

Next, just like Li Xiaozhi and the other two, Zhu Zhanhe simply waved his hand, and Xiao Xizi came up again with a plate.

It was still the eldest prince, Zhu Qiyu, who stepped forward, unveiled the yellow cloth covering the tray, and bestowed the exquisite bamboo tablet upon Deng Linxiang.

Bamboo possesses an indomitable spirit and a character that withstands the test of time.

"Today, I bestow this bamboo tablet upon you, my dear minister. May you, my dear minister, possess the same lofty aspirations as the bamboo, and remain steadfast throughout your time in this court." Zhu Zhanhe looked at Deng Linxiang, who was kneeling on the ground holding the tablet, and softly offered his instructions.

"Your student will certainly live up to your expectations!" Holding a bamboo tablet, Deng Linxiang responded loudly with excitement upon hearing the gentle instructions from the emperor seated on the dragon throne. At this moment, Emperor Zhu Zhanhe of the Longwu Emperor once again bestowed upon Deng Linxiang the status of a disciple of the emperor!
"Lin Xiang, today, you shall also serve by my side." Seeing Deng Lin Xiang kneeling excitedly, Zhu Zhanhe once again allowed Deng Lin Xiang to stand behind him.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" After being helped up by the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu, Deng Linxiang also stood respectfully behind Zhang Tingfang and Li Xiaozhi.

For a moment, all the students below the imperial road, whether from the Imperial Academy or the Military Academy, looked at the three students standing behind the dragon throne with envy in their eyes!
"Continue~!" After Deng Linxiang stood behind him, Zhu Zhanhe once again signaled Xiao Xizi to continue announcing the list of second-class students.

(End of this chapter)