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

Chapter 457 Top Three 7
"This servant obeys the decree!" After hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Xiao Xizi still bowed respectfully to the dragon throne before standing at the edge of the imperial road again.

"Cough cough~!"

Wang Lanjiang, a student of the first graduating class of Longwu, passed the imperial examination in the fourth year of Longwu, in the civil service examination, and was awarded the title of Jinshi. His hometown is Tho Long State, Xining District, Ankang Province.

In the fourth year of the Longwu reign, Liu Yizhi ranked second in the second class of the imperial examination in the civil service examination. He was granted the title of Jinshi and his place of origin was Dongzhi Prefecture, Neidu County, Mian Ding Province. He was a student of the first class of Longwu.

"In the fourth year of the Longwu reign, in the imperial examination, the third-ranked candidate in the second class of the civil service examination, was granted the title of Jinshi and his place of origin was announced." Xiao Xizi stood at the end of the imperial road, and under the fervent gazes of the students below, calmly read out the list of the second-ranked candidates of the Imperial Academy in the imperial examination.

This time, all the students of the second rank, upon hearing the Grand Steward at the end of the Imperial Road read out their names, stepped forward and respectfully knelt on the ground below the Imperial Road.

After the list of thirty second-class scholars was read aloud, the thirty scholars knelt neatly on the steps below the imperial road. Then, the entire group of thirty scholars kowtowed to Emperor Longwu at the top of the imperial road to express their gratitude.

"Your Majesty, we thank you for your grace!" Thirty scholars from the Imperial Academy knelt down to express their gratitude, their voices booming, creating a truly magnificent scene.

"Rise, gentlemen!" Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand to dismiss the thirty second-class scholars.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The group of second-class scholars slowly rose after expressing their gratitude, then silently returned to their ranks. At this moment, they only regretted not having tried harder back then! Now, they were unable to receive a personal audience with the Emperor, nor the Emperor's supreme favor!

As for the suggestion that the second-ranked candidates and others also enter the imperial path to meet the emperor, Zhu Zhanhe could only say: Let's skip this! Otherwise, what will happen to the more than one hundred third-ranked candidates?!
It wouldn't be appropriate to meet with the top-ranking and second-ranking scholars but leave out the third-ranking ones! The current arrangement is better: only the top-ranking scholars will be met, while the second-ranking scholars' names will be read aloud in the imperial court! As for the third-ranking scholars, Zhu Zhanhe doesn't even plan to read their scores and rankings here! He'll just post big-character posters to settle the matter!
In this way, the scholars who are ranked first, second, and third can have a three-tiered transition buffer, which will make them feel a little more balanced!
The list of the top three students will no longer be circulated here!

After the court session ended, officials from the Ministry of Rites would personally post the list and deliver it to each young man! After the list of the second-class scholars was read out, Xiao Xizi closed the memorial in his hand and said loudly to everyone.

In a short time, the gap became very clear!

The scholars who ranked second, though unable to ascend the imperial road and meet the emperor, at least had their names announced in the grand court, thus their fame resounded throughout the court! But for the scholars who ranked third, all that remained was a simple message: the list would be posted after the court session, and everyone could see it for themselves!

Compared to the top-tier and second-tier universities, the situation of the third-tier universities is somewhat shabby! Although some students in the third-tier universities are dissatisfied, they can only blame themselves for not working hard enough!
However, Emperor Longwu, sitting upright on the dragon throne, didn't care what others thought; this was exactly the effect he wanted!

Zhu Zhanhe wanted to foster a positive competitive spirit between the Imperial Academy and the Military Academy, so that each generation of students from both institutions would be stronger than the last!

"The results of the imperial examination for the top three scholars in the humanities have been announced."

Next, let's talk about the results of the palace examination for the martial arts students. Looking at the eager but still orderly ranks of the martial arts students below the imperial road, Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied.

"Xiao Xizi, let's begin!" Zhu Zhanhe then waved his hand, signaling Xiao Xizi to begin announcing the results of the imperial examination for the students of the Martial Arts Academy.

"This servant obeys the decree!" This time, Xiao Xizi opened the memorial in her hand again and stepped to the edge of the imperial road.

"Ahem~! In the fourth year of the Longwu reign, Fang Xingjian, the top scholar in the martial arts category of the imperial examination, was granted the title of Jinshi. He is from the Han court, Longdu, and is a student of the Longwu Academy!" Xiao Xizi, who had come to the edge of the imperial road, did not disappoint the expectant eyes of the crowd. He opened the memorial in his hand and began to read out the information of the top scholar in the imperial examination of the martial arts academy.

As soon as Xiao Xizi finished speaking, a scholar in a red training uniform in the first row of the Martial Arts Hall took a step forward with a "thud"! The crisp sound of his footsteps landing was so inspiring in the empty square outside the Fengtian Hall!
"Clap! Clap! Clap!" After a series of rhythmic footsteps, a student from the Martial Arts Academy strode confidently to the Imperial Path. However, at this moment, this student was facing sideways towards the Dragon Emperor at the top of the Imperial Path.

"Snap!" After another crisp sound of footsteps hitting the ground, everyone saw that this student from the Martial Arts Academy actually moved his feet lightly and even without moving his upper body, directly facing the Dragon Emperor on the imperial road.

"Your subject is Fang Xingjian, a student of the first class of Longwu Academy!"

"I kowtow in gratitude to Your Majesty for your divine grace!" Facing the majestic Emperor Longwu at the top of the Imperial Road, Fang Xingjian's knees buckled, collapsing to the ground like a collapsing mountain, kneeling before the Imperial Road.

"The Emperor has decreed!"

Legend has it that Fang Xingjian, a top scholar in the imperial examination, was granted the title of Jinshi. He was from Hanting, Longdu, and was a student of the Longwu Military Academy.

"Ascend the Imperial Road to meet the Emperor!" Xiao Xizi shouted loudly, urging Fang Xingjian, the top scholar in the martial arts examination, to meet the Emperor.

"Your subject, Fang Xingjian, thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace!" Fang Xingjian, who was kneeling on the ground, did not get up at all, but kowtowed again and said.

Just as Fang Xingjian knelt down and kowtowed, two familiar eunuchs reappeared before him. The scholars in the procession below the imperial road looked closely and realized that these were the same two eunuchs who had guided Zhang Tingfang, the top scholar in the civil service examination, earlier!
At this moment, the two eunuchs were holding red cloth in their hands, just like before, and in the center of the red cloth was a bright red "Scholar's Flower"!

Two eunuchs stood steadily on either side of Fang Xingjian, pulling the beautiful scholar's flower from each other and presenting it to him.

"Scholar, please help the Scholar Flower!" The little eunuch on the left whispered a reminder to Fang Xingjian.

"Alright~!" Immediately, Fang Xingjian raised his hands without hesitation and placed both hands on the beautiful scholar flower in front of him.

Then, the two eunuchs slowly moved to either side, gradually untying the red cloth wrapped around their arms as they went. They stopped only when they stood on the steps on either side of the imperial path.

"Please, top scholar, ascend the Imperial Road!" Perhaps worried that Fang Xingjian might not hear clearly, the eunuch on the left raised his voice slightly. Then, without caring whether Fang Xingjian, the top scholar, had heard them, the two eunuchs straightened the red cloth in their hands and began to ascend the steps to the top of the Imperial Road!

Fang Xingjian stood tall and moved with agility. Even as he strode along the rugged Dragon Path, stepping on the brightly scaled dragons, he steadily made his way to the top of the Imperial Path.

But in reality, if someone were to observe closely, they would notice that at this moment, beads of sweat had begun to seep from Fang Xingjian's forehead! It wasn't due to physical exhaustion, but rather simply mental tension!
Finally, Fang Xingjian walked the Dragon Path that had put him under immense pressure and appeared before the Dragon Emperor!

"Your subject, Fang Xingjian of the Martial Arts Academy, pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Upon ascending the Dragon Path, facing the majestic Emperor Longwu seated on the dragon throne before him, Fang Xingjian knelt down without hesitation, bowing his head to the ground and speaking respectfully.

(End of this chapter)