Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

"Childhood sweethearts?"

The old emperor Zhao Zhen glanced at Zhou Ning a few more times and gestured for the eunuch to collect the scrolls.

Zhou Ning bowed respectfully, handed in his paper, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

Half a day later, after all the candidates had handed in their papers, they all left the Jiying Hall together.

The entire exam was conducted using anonymous transcription.

When the candidates handed in their papers, the eunuchs collected them first. After the eunuchs sealed the papers with the candidates' names and hometowns (anonymous names) and assigned them a number, the sealing official then re-transcribed the entire examination paper.

Only after all the papers were stamped with the official seal were they handed over to examiners such as Han Zhang for review.

Everything is done to prevent examiners from showing favoritism based on names or handwriting.

Two days later, Han Zhang and four other examiners drafted the initial rankings.

However, Da Zhou adopted a dual review process, which also required verification and comparison.

The exam papers were sealed again, and the examiners reviewed them a second time to determine the rankings.

Two more days have passed.

The compiler compared the two results and found that the difference in ranking was not significant, so he submitted the final decision to the emperor for personal review.

It should be noted that the old emperor had absolute power to decide the final rankings, and often the rankings could be changed based on the content of the article, the viewpoint, or even a single sentence.

For example, in the palace examination in the second year of Jiayou, Lin happy, who was originally the most popular candidate, offended the old emperor by writing "The Heavenly Observation is not far away, and the people's hearts are known" in his opening, and was directly demoted; in the same year, Zhang Heng was directly appointed as the top scholar by the old emperor because he praised the emperor's wisdom in his opening.

For example, in the palace examination in the second year of the Qingli reign, the examiners originally designated Wang Anshi as the first-place candidate. However, when the old emperor saw the expression "a child among his friends" in Wang Anshi's essay, he thought Wang Anshi was arrogant and directly demoted him from the top scholar to the fourth place, while Yang Zhi, who was originally in fourth place, was promoted to the top scholar.

All the candidates were anxiously waiting in their inns and homes. Although they had already secured their place as Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), a good ranking was equally important.

The old emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty divided the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) into six grades (five classes). The first grade had five candidates, the second grade was the first class, and so on.

There is no fixed number of people in the first rank, but three people are considered the most important.

The first place is the top scholar, the second place is the second-ranked scholar, and the third place is the third-ranked scholar.

Both the first and second class were granted the title of Jinshi (进士).

Those who ranked third or fourth were all granted the title of Jinshi (进士).

Those who passed the fifth level of the imperial examination were only granted the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

This ranking system directly determined the starting point for people's subsequent entry into officialdom.

Compared to other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), the Jinshi degree was recognized throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty as the symbol of the highest level of talent and learning.

Not only will their names be recorded in the Great Zhou Dynasty's official register, bringing honor to the entire family, but they will also have a greater chance of gaining the attention and support of powerful figures and celebrities.

If one can squeeze into the top three of the first-tier universities, they can directly enter the reserve talent pool of the central power core without additional examinations, paving the way for rapid promotion in the future.

For example, the top scholar (状元) would be directly appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy of the sixth rank, while the second and third scholars (榜眼 and 探花) would be appointed as compilers in the Hanlin Academy of the seventh rank.

The old emperor first looked at the rankings set by the examiners: "First place: Li Mu; second place: Zhou Ning; third place: Tang Ren... seventh place: Sheng Changbai..."

"Investigate this Li Mu."

After instructing the eunuchs, the old emperor began reading the articles by the first three authors.

He soon discovered that both Li Mu and Zhou Ning advocated offense over defense and had detailed plans for advancement. In this respect, the two were evenly matched!

However, Li Mugao also analyzed the drawbacks of doing so, such as the prolonged losses and other issues...

Simply put, of the two proposals, the one from the other party is more mature and reliable.

The proposed solution not only outlined the methods and benefits but also clearly pointed out the risks to the boss.

"Good, all good."

The old emperor didn't see any words that displeased him, and he quite approved of the order of the top three. He continued to look at the fourth...

After a while!

"Your Majesty, we have investigated. Li Mu has entered officialdom through 'hereditary privilege,' and his father is Li Lin, a scholar of the Guanwen Hall (a third-rank official)," the eunuch reported.

Candidates who already held official positions generally entered officialdom through "enyin" (hereditary benefits obtained by their ancestors who were officials), and were basically from families of officials and powerful figures.

In the old emperor's mind, there was a tacit convention that the top scholar was determined solely by the imperial examination.

When scores are similar, the top scholar title must be awarded to commoner candidates without official positions. The purpose of this was to limit the influence of sons of officials.

"In that case, go and investigate Zhou Ning!" The old emperor gave the order and continued reading the documents.

After a while!

"You mean he's only thirteen? Could he be a child from that day? He's young and a little less so, but he's still deserving of the title." The old emperor stroked his beard, deep in thought.

Same day!

A private room at Fanlou!

Zhou Ning, Gu Tingye, and Sheng Changbai gathered together for drinks.

After the two of them finished the imperial examination, they were bored at home every day and anxiously waiting, so they went out to keep the disappointed Gu Tingye company!

"Drink up! Changbai, are you raising fish?" Gu Tingye kept pouring wine for the two of them.

Zhou Ning laughed upon hearing this, recalling how she once got drunk and blamed Gu Tingye for raising fish when she saw that Gu Tingye hadn't finished drinking. Gu Tingye then picked up the habit!

The three of them clinked glasses and drank, and soon they were all a little tipsy.

"There's something I'm really struggling to understand. I know about your article. How could it have missed the mark? Where did it go wrong?" Sheng Changbai asked slowly and curiously.

Among the students in his family, Zhou Ning and Gu Tingye were the most promising.

The two have been friends since childhood, and their abilities are no less than his.

But Gu Tingye failed the exam and didn't even qualify for the palace examination.

Gu Tingye gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "I suppose it's because I overestimate myself. My writing isn't actually that good."

"Hey, I heard that the Duke of Qi and his wife visited the chief examiner's home after the palace examination to inquire about the reasons for failing the provincial examination. Didn't Lord Gu go?" Sheng Changbai asked.

Zhou Ning, drunk, said smugly, "No, no, no, I know why you failed the exam!"

"Oh? Why?" Gu Tingye and Sheng Changbai both asked.

Zhou Ning stood up unsteadily and laughed, "Didn't you stand up for Yang Wuduan when you were little? Have you forgotten?"

Gu Tingye sobered up instantly, hugged her tightly, and asked anxiously, "How did you know? I didn't say that outside, I said it in the study while practicing calligraphy. I was not even twelve years old then, and only my older brother, who was practicing calligraphy with me, knew about it!"

Zhou Ning was hugged tightly, and the alcohol sobered up considerably... He was alarmed that he had let something slip.

"Speak!" Gu Tingye said excitedly.

"That's because someone deliberately spread it. You know the emperor's temper. If he hears even a whisper of it, he'll definitely cross your name off the list himself. Who knows, you might even have to be like Yang Wuduan, only able to take the exam again at fifty! Don't hug me so tightly, it hurts!" Zhou Ning said in pain.

"Zhong Huai, let go quickly!" Sheng Changbai hurriedly pulled the two apart.

Gu Tingye collapsed to the ground, laughing and crying at the same time, and finally ran out of Fanlou!

Sheng Changbai and Zhou Ning lost interest in drinking any more, so they paid the bill and left!

Two days later, Gu Tingye arrived at the door early in the morning!

"Pengqi, you were right!" Gu Tingye's face turned ugly.

The old Marquis did indeed go and ask, and when he returned he was furious, just as Zhou Ning had said!

Zhou Ning gave an awkward smile, saying that he really didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the other families.

But as friends, and given how well Gu Tingye had taken care of her, Zhou Ning hesitated for a moment.

"Qing'er, prepare tea in the study! Litou, take Shitou and go play somewhere else. Second Brother Gu, let's talk inside!"

......