Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 15 The Imperial Examination!

With the new year over, it was already the end of the first year of the Jiayou era.

Along the riverbank, groups of students gathered together, chatting and laughing, talking about everything under the sun.

In addition, many relatives and friends were also saying goodbye.

Many of the students are already in their fifties, and their demeanor reveals a touch of world-weariness.

Some are in their forties or thirties, and they are much more confident in their demeanor, walking around frequently, seemingly with a wide network of connections.

Some of the students are in their early twenties. Perhaps due to years of studying, they have less worldly airs and more scholarly elegance.

At a glance, there were two or three hundred students.

These students were all successful candidates in the imperial examinations and had the potential to become officials.

Therefore, it was not uncommon to see officials in their official robes walking around, chatting and talking amicably.

Even the three local officials—the prefect, the assistant prefect, and the sub-prefect—were dressed in their official robes, looking encouraging.

Such a scene is truly rare.

The reason is simple.

With the triennial spring imperial examination approaching, these candidates are all those who will go to the capital to take the exam. Some, favored by heaven and erudite, will pass the exam and obtain the title of Jinshi, thus leaping over the dragon gate and soaring freely into the sky, embarking on an official career and governing a region.

Even more so, if one is lucky enough to pass the "Guan Ge Shi" (a type of examination for scholars in the Hanlin Academy) and become a Shujishi (a junior scholar in the Hanlin Academy), and then pass the "San Guan Shi" (another type of examination for scholars in the Hanlin Academy), one can be considered a Hanlin scholar, which is truly astonishing.

It should be noted that since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only those who passed the imperial examinations could enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those who passed the Hanlin Academy could enter the Grand Secretariat.

In a single spring imperial examination, only about thirty successful candidates were selected as probationary officials.

More than thirty probationary scholars entered the Hanlin Academy for three years of advanced study. After three years, they would take the "final examination" to graduate. Usually, only 30% to 40% of the probationary scholars could pass the examination and be appointed as officials by the Hanlin Academy. They could be called Hanlin graduates.

In other words, the triennial spring imperial examination selects about ten scholars who can be considered to have entered the Hanlin Academy.

Once a member of the Hanlin Academy is appointed to an official position, they will have the opportunity to draft imperial edicts and explain classic texts. They will often see the emperor, which usually means a smooth career and a bright future.

While Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are common, Hanlin (members of the Hanlin Academy) are rare.

It's no wonder that these seasoned officials made connections in advance.

It's better to be a little tired than to slack off.

Jiang Zhao was one of the hundreds of candidates, and the most special one, without exception.

At eighteen, he was already famous throughout the world, and had not yet reached adulthood!
Whether it was a tacit understanding or not, the officers all chose to encourage Jiang Zhao last.

On the riverbank, Jiang Zhao was chatting and laughing with Chen Fu and Zhang Ci.

Five years later, Jiang Zhao is eighteen years old, Chen Fu is twenty-two years old, and Zhang Ci is a thin young man, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

As one gets older, there are many more topics to discuss.

However, the focus was mainly on the imperial examination system.

Chen Fu and Zhang Ci were both geniuses in the imperial examinations, and both passed the examinations and became Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations) at around the age of twenty.

Chen Fu passed the imperial examination last year, while Zhang Ci passed it four years ago and even went to the capital to participate in the spring imperial examination.

However, he was unlucky and did not pass the exam on his first attempt.

This time, all three of them were going to Bianjing to take the exam.

Having company makes talking and laughing more enjoyable.

A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in a red robe approached.

That's Prefect Liu.

Jiang Zhao quickly bowed and said, "Uncle Liu."

The more famous you are, the more humble you must be, and you must never make mistakes in etiquette, lest you give people the impression of being "arrogant and domineering".

It's easy to ruin a reputation, but difficult to build one!
"Haha!" Lord Liu stroked his beard and laughed, took Jiang Zhao's hand, considered for a moment, and said, "The Jiang family of Huaizuo has produced three Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), making them famous throughout Huainan. Back then, your esteemed patriarch passed the imperial examinations twice, starting his family through farming and scholarship, and his influence was awe-inspiring in Jiangnan. Now, seeing your nephew's essay on the imperial examinations, you have surpassed your father. The Jiang family's reputation will surely be further enhanced!"

interesting!
None of these seasoned veterans are simple!

These words praised the Jiang family's reputation, mentioning "passing the imperial examination twice" and "surpassing their predecessors," which was undeniably boastful, yet they also left room for interpretation. If Jiang Zhao had passed the examination on his first attempt, it would naturally have been "surpassing his predecessors," but if he failed the first time, at least there would have been room for improvement, and he could still follow in his ancestors' footsteps.

Even if Jiang Zhao never passes the imperial examinations, he won't offend anyone.

Jiang Zhao nodded, bowed, and said, "I will certainly continue to work hard and strive to live up to all my hard work!"

Just then, Wu Tongzhi also walked over. He was an elderly man with gray hair in his fifties.

At this moment, he smiled broadly, put his hand on Jiang Zhao's shoulder, and encouraged him, "Nephew, I see the style and spirit in your writing. It has the profound wisdom and lofty ambition of a great man, which is truly rare! You are going to Bianjing, a thousand miles away. You will surely pass the imperial examination and add a wonderful story of 'four generations of scholars from the same family' to Yangzhou!"

Are there any experts?

Jiang Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

It's not hard to understand that four members of a family, generation after generation, all passed the imperial examinations.

To date, his great-grandfather Jiang Yuan, grandfather Jiang Zhi, and father Jiang Zhong were all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). If Jiang Zhao also becomes a Jinshi, then it will be a family of scholars with four generations of Jinshi. That's not bad.

but
The temple's plans are profound and far-reaching?!
Isn't this a term used to refer to the Grand Chancellor and the Grand Secretary?

Even Jiang Zhao couldn't help but feel his face slightly flushed. He could only bow and say, "Thank you for your praise, Uncle. I will definitely study hard for the imperial examination and strive to make this a great success."

Wu Tongzhi nodded with a smile, then looked at Chen Fu and Zhang Ci and offered them words of encouragement.

Even though he came specifically for Jiang Zhao, Wu Tongzhi showed no perfunctory attitude towards Chen Fu and Zhang Ci, and his words were clearly carefully considered.

After all, both of them were scholars in their twenties, with remarkable academic talent.

If two people from prominent families in prosperous areas can pass the imperial examination and achieve the title of Jinshi, their future success will at least be that of a local official.

"Nephew." Sheng Hong, dressed in a sixth-rank green round-necked official robe, walked over slowly, followed by a young scholar and a gentle and graceful young woman.

Sheng Hualan and Sheng Changbai.

However, the two stopped far away and did not enter the crowd.

"Uncle." As Sheng Hong approached, Jiang Zhao bowed once more.

Sheng Hong stroked his beard and smiled, then took out a gilded copper paperweight from his pocket.

Jiang Zhao took it and looked at it; the words "Generations of Scholars" were engraved on it.

Sheng Hong then smiled and said, "This was inscribed by my father-in-law himself, hoping to encourage future generations to carry on the scholarly tradition. I present it to you today so that this literary fortune may continue!"

Jiang Zhao smiled and nodded, bowing as he said, "Thank you, Uncle!"

This item wasn't particularly valuable to him, but it had a good meaning, bringing him good luck.

Sheng Hong stroked his beard and nodded, his face full of satisfaction.

"Brother Zichuan." A voice, neither too loud nor too soft, called out from afar at just the right moment.

Sheng Changbai!
Sheng Hualan was also by his side.

"Changbai, Hualan, my little sister." Jiang Zhao slowly walked over.

I stopped when we were about three or four meters apart.

People's opinions are a fearsome thing. Once you're engaged, you have to pay more attention to your behavior in public, otherwise you'll be ruining your own woman.
"Brother Zichuan," Sheng Changbai bowed in return.

"Brother Zhao." Sheng Hualan's ears turned slightly red, but she did not avoid eye contact. She knelt down properly to return the greeting, appearing very dignified and poised.

Its sound is like a gentle breeze in March, crisp yet soft, lightly brushing past the ear.

"Brother Zichuan, I see that your literary talent is outstanding, and you even have the style of Ouyang Xiu, the 'Literary Prefect.' When the day comes to visit the Apricot Garden to admire the flowers, I will bring the osmanthus from the Ping Shan Hall and brew the finest fragrance in the moon palace." Sheng Changbai quoted classics to make auspicious words.

"Xingyuan Tanhua" refers to the banquet held after passing the imperial examination, while "Pingshantang Guishu" is a famous historical site in Yangzhou.

Although Sheng Changbai was only twelve or thirteen years old and lacked experience, he came from a scholarly family and was also very talented. His auspicious words were also very pleasant to hear.

Jiang Zhao smiled and said, "Let's encourage each other."

“Brother Zhao.” Sheng Hualan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced around quietly and patted her younger brother. “Hualan asked Father, and he said that the Imperial Examination Hall is poor and the examination is easy to get distracted.”

As he spoke, Sheng Changbai quickly handed over a bundle, and Sheng Hualan then said, "Hualan specially embroidered a pair of knee pads, a pair of glove pads, and a koi-shaped purse, wishing Brother Zhao success in the imperial examination and a bright future."

Since the engagement was arranged in October, Sheng Hualan had her younger brother deliver a sachet to Jiang Zhao, who reciprocated with a gift. The two became much closer, and Sheng Hualan addressed Jiang Zhao as "Brother Zhao" instead of "Young Master Jiang".

"Thank you for your trouble, Sister Lao Hualan!"

Jiang Zhao smiled gently, appearing every inch the gentleman.

As he spoke, he glanced at the purse embroidered by the beautiful woman.

The inscription reads "Lotus Passes the Imperial Examination," with "lotus" meaning continuous, and the interior is filled with dried osmanthus flowers, symbolizing success in examinations.

"How thoughtful!" Even Jiang Zhao, who had observed politics for five years, was moved by this.

The love of a beautiful woman is hardest to repay!
Sheng Hualan was overjoyed and lowered her head slightly.

In this world, communication between men and women is undoubtedly very subtle, and a simple "thank you" is truly heartwarming.

After the three chatted for a while longer, Jiang Zhao took his leave.

at this time
I'm so happy you came to see me off!

轻！
It was so light that it was almost inaudible.

Sheng Hualan raised her head slightly, her clear eyes filled with joy, only to see Jiang Zhao stride away. The barely audible words seemed to have never been spoken, and were merely an illusion.

However, Sheng Hualan can guarantee that there really is such a statement!

Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people, the scholars from Huaizuo boarded the boat together.

As he looked back, the beautiful woman smiled sweetly.
……

(End of this chapter)