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

March 24th, the fifth year of the Jiayou era!

Eight days after the palace examination ended, Zhou Ning held a housewarming banquet!

He sent out invitations to Sheng Changbai, Gu Tingye, Zhuang Xuejiu, Grand Tutor Yu, and others, and entertained them.

In fact, Sheng Hong, Qi Heng, and Sheng Changfeng were also invited.

However, Sheng Hong was too embarrassed to come because he hadn't raised enough money, so he asked Sheng Changbai to deliver the congratulatory gift on his behalf.

Qi Heng, still feeling down after failing the exam, was trying to find a way to see Minglan and sent Buwei with a congratulatory gift.

Sheng Changfeng also declined the invitation because he had made a drinking appointment with the sons of eunuchs.

In front of everyone, Zhou Ning personally hung up the new plaque, and the two characters "Zhou Mansion" shone brightly in the sunlight.

"Pengqi, I'll head back first after the roll call tomorrow. You should get some rest too," Sheng Changbai instructed.

Tomorrow is the day for the palace examination results to be announced, and the rankings of all the successful candidates will be revealed!

Zhou Ning thanked them and personally saw them off. He couldn't sleep that night!

March 25th, Chen hour!

The old emperor sat upright on the dragon throne.

Inside the hall were the two chief ministers and other high-ranking officials.

Outside the hall were members of the royal family, princes and ministers, and candidates who had participated in the palace examination and were waiting for their names to be called.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting it.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the announcement of names during the palace examination was conducted in a relay-style manner, initiated by the emperor or prime minister and passed down from one level to the next, with the names being announced loudly.

Soon, Prime Minister Han Zhang opened the examination papers in the Jiying Hall and announced to everyone: "The top scholar! Zhou Ning!"

The gatekeeper received the name and announced loudly, "The top scholar in the imperial examination! Zhou Ning!"

Upon hearing this, more than ten guards below the steps joined in, shouting in unison, "The top scholar! Zhou Ning!"

Now everyone outside the Hall of Heroes heard it and looked around to see who the top scholar was.

Sheng Hong, one of the officials, was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "I was right! It's just that this son-in-law is a bit too expensive."

Seeing Zhou Ning standing there in a daze, Sheng Changbai gently nudged him and urged, "Quickly thank the emperor, you're the top scholar!"

Zhou Ning immediately stepped out of his position and walked to the center of the hall, where he faced the emperor and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows to express his gratitude for the emperor's personal favor in bestowing upon him the honor of passing the imperial examination.

"He really is a child. Is it really a good idea for him to enter the Hanlin Academy at such a young age? How about he be sent out to serve as a sub-prefect?" the old emperor thought to himself.

He first appointed Zhou Ning as the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops (an eighth-rank official), and sent an eunuch to bestow upon Zhou Ning formal official attire: a green robe, a white bamboo slip, and a yellow shirt!

After accepting the offer, Zhou Ning immediately dressed himself and officially became a court official.

Chancellor Han Zhang continued reading: "The second-place scholar in the first rank! Li Mu!"

The gatekeeper, upon receiving the name, announced loudly, "Second place in the first rank! Li Mu!"

Upon hearing this, more than ten guards below the steps joined in, shouting in unison, "Second place in the imperial examination! Li Mu!"

After expressing his gratitude, Li Mu, at the age of twenty-seven, received a green robe, a white bamboo slip, and a yellow shirt, just like Zhou Ning, and immediately put them on.

After dressing, he did not need to stay in the center of the hall like Zhou Ning, but retreated to the side as instructed.

Chancellor Han Zhang continued reading: "Tanhua, the third-ranked scholar! Tang Ren!"

The gatekeeper received the name and announced loudly, "Tang Ren, the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination!"

Upon hearing this, more than ten guards below the steps joined in, shouting in unison, "Tang Ren, the third-ranked scholar!"

After the twenty-four-year-old Tang Ren finished expressing his gratitude, he received a green robe, a white bamboo slip, and a yellow shirt. He put them on on the spot and stood next to the second-place finisher.

Then, the group of twenty people in the first rank no longer sang individually, but called out their names together. Sheng Changbai ranked seventh!

After expressing their gratitude together, each of the top-ranking scholars was given a set of formal attire for entering officialdom, consisting of a green robe, a white bamboo slip, and a yellow shirt, which they put on on the spot.

The names of the thirty-two students in the second class and the sixty-three students in the third class were called out in unison!

The remaining four and five teams will have to wait until tomorrow's roll call!

According to custom, Zhou Ning was required to compose a poem of gratitude on behalf of all the members of the First Division to thank the emperor.

"Please, top scholar, compose a poem!" the eunuch announced loudly.

Zhou Ning said loudly:

"The Holy Lord has come to the hall to seek out talented and virtuous men; I, a humble and lowly man, am ashamed to extend my invitation."

"Your Excellency personally inquired of me from the throne, and I dare not fail to present my memorial on the throne."

"The memorial to the emperor was of no benefit to Yi, but his name and surname were suddenly revealed to be the first to be mentioned."

"The vastness of heaven and earth cannot repay such kindness; my unwavering loyalty is as steadfast as iron and stone!"

The old emperor was very pleased and announced that the list of successful candidates would be posted and paraded through the streets!

The procession of the top scholar through the streets was a celebratory ceremony established by the Great Zhou Dynasty for the newly appointed top scholar!

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty stipulated that the second and third place winners would be provided with horses and enjoy the same privilege of riding horses through the streets as the top-ranking scholar, their status was lower.

Because Zhou Ning's horse was a gift from the emperor, it was an exclusive imperial honor, and the horse would be decorated with royal saddle and bridle ornaments.

However, the horses for the second and third place winners were provided by the Ministry of Rites and were not directly bestowed by the emperor, so they were of a lower rank.

Wearing an imperial green robe and holding a silk whip, Zhou Ning rode an imperial tall horse. After the royal guards cleared the way, he led all the newly appointed scholars to escort the list of successful candidates out of the palace and to the East Chang'an Gate to complete the public announcement of the list.

"Ning Lang, you actually did it!" Among the people, Wei Xingshou looked at Zhou Ning riding away on horseback and wept.

"Pengqi is the top scholar! I wonder what rank Changbai is!" Gu Tingye was equally delighted as he looked at Zhou Ning, who was leading the pack!

"Heavens! Go back and tell the young lady!" Yu Yanran's maid saw Zhou Ning riding out on horseback with the Imperial Guards clearing the way, and she understood the concept perfectly well.

Minglan was given permission by Old Madam Sheng to go out and check the list for her, and soon she saw Zhou Ning escorting the list.

"He's the top scholar? That's wonderful!" Minglan kept backing away, her heart filled with joy.

"Sixth Sister! How is the old lady's health?" Zhou Ning saw the bright young girl ahead and waved his whip in greeting.

Minglan didn't dare to speak, and retreated into the crowd, letting the group of people post the notice!

She has a mission, and she needs to see Sheng Changbai's ranking!

The list has been posted and the public announcement is complete!

The parade begins!

Zhou Ning rode the imperial steed, holding a silk whip, and walked at the head of the procession.

The second-place scholar Li Mu and the third-place scholar Tang Ren followed, with the other first-class scholars following behind in turn.

The procession, led by a royal band and cleared by imperial guards, paraded along the main street of Bianliang (Kaifeng), receiving congratulations and cheers from the people of the capital.

Congratulations! The top scholar is so young!

Congratulations! You are truly a handsome and talented man!

"Congratulations......"

"Thank you! Thank you! Elderly, please step back a little, be careful not to fall. Children, watch out for the children!" Zhou Ning kept returning the greetings and expressing his concern.

Along the way, high-ranking officials and nobles were selecting newly appointed scholars as sons-in-law, and noble families also sent strong men to escort their chosen scholars home to discuss marriage.

Soon the back row was broken up, and eight or nine out of ten of the newly appointed scholars were selected on the spot. Sheng Changbai had long been surrounded by people and was nowhere to be found. This was the "Catching a Son-in-Law Under the List" in the Great Zhou Dynasty!

After the parade, only the plaque remained, and Zhou Ning returned to his residence with it.

The rectangular plaque was decorated with auspicious patterns such as scrolling grass and cloud designs carved along its borders and adorned with gold leaf. It bore the inscription "Top Scholar" and the fourth character.

Zhou Ning placed the plaque in the ancestral hall, offered incense to his parents of this era, and retired early.

The following day, Zhou Ning and all the other top-ranking scholars entered the palace to participate in the Qionglin Banquet!

The old emperor sent an imperial envoy to bestow upon them an imperial poem and a scroll of Confucian classics. The top-ranking scholars took their seats according to their rankings and received flowers from the emperor to adorn their headbands.

During the banquet, Zhou Ning chatted with the other newly appointed scholars and expanded his network of connections in officialdom until the meeting adjourned!

On the way out of the palace!

"Pengqi, Grandmother said this morning she wants to see you. Do you want to go? If not, I can refuse on your behalf," Sheng Changbai said.

Just as Zhou Ning was about to agree, an official standing by the roadside suddenly bowed.

"Lord Zhou, please wait! His Majesty has sent word that you wish to remain in the palace. Please..."

......