A few days after the re-examination of the candidates, the palace examination was held on the tenth day of April.
Only after participating in the palace examination and determining the final ranking can one be called a Jinshi.
The ranking of the palace examination in this dynasty is divided into three categories, with three people in the first category. The first place is the top scholar, the second place is the second place, and the third place is the third place. They are all awarded the title of Jinshi.
A number of candidates in the second class were awarded the status of Jinshi.
A number of candidates in the top three were granted the same status as Jinshi.
The palace examination is the same as the re-examination and only lasts for one day. There is no such thing as failing the exam. The worst that can happen is bad luck and being placed in the top three, becoming a fellow Jinshi.
Although the reputation of Tong Jinshi is not very good, the official career of Tong Jinshi in all dynasties is not too bad.
The reason why the palace examination did not eliminate anyone was because of Zhang Yuan of the Northern Song Dynasty.
After failing the imperial examination, this man went to Western Xia in a rage and became a spy, helping Li Yuanhao invade the Northern Song Dynasty and killing many Song Dynasty generals. He was an outright villain with talent but no morals.
He also wrote a poem: Xia Song has never been so tall, Han Qi is not surprising enough. The river is full of dragon and tiger chariots, but they are still talking about military strategies.
Later emperors learned from the lesson and no longer eliminated people from the palace examinations. The worst-case scenario was that they were both Jinshi.
The day of the palace examination attracted everyone's attention.
Inside the Prince of Jin's mansion, Fu Cui asked with great interest, "Can we watch the number one scholar parade through the streets?"
"The parade of the top scholar is not that interesting." Xiaochun watched it twice and lost interest in it.
"Xiaochun, I seriously suspect that you are showing off." Fu Cui said.
"Be more confident and get rid of your serious doubts." Xiaochun said with a smile.
Fu Cui screamed, "Xiao Chun, you've learned bad things from Shu Fei!"
Shu Fei came in with a lunch box, and after hearing this, she said, "Fu Cui is really powerful now, she has learned to beat and hit at the same time, she not only criticized Xiao Chun, but also scolded me."
"I am so powerful because I learned it from you. It means that people who keep company with bad people become bad, and people who keep company with famous people become famous." Fu Cui said with a smile.
"Oh, you really can't stand praise. It's like saying that birds of a feather flock together. You are such an ignorant girl." Shufei put the lunch box on the table.
"It's the same idea. You just like to quibble." Fu Cui poured warm water and placed it in front of Jiang Changning, "Princess, please wash your hands."
Jiang Changning put down the puzzle in her hand, Xiulan helped her down from the kang, and squatted down to help her put on her shoes.
"What did you cook again?" Jiang Changning washed his hands, walked to the table and sat down.
"Ophiopogon japonicus fish fillets, Madam Feng said that eating them will not make the princess fat." Shu Fei knew what Jiang Changning cared about.
"What do you mean I won't get fat? I'm already fat." Jiang Changning touched his face, "I'm almost getting a double chin."
Having said that, since it would be good for the child, Jiang Changning still ate the bowl of Ophiopogon japonicus and fish fillets obediently.
"Princess, you look just right like this. You were too thin before." Nanny Feng walked in and said with a smile.
Jiang Changning touched his belly and said, "I have a thin frame. I look skinny, but I actually have quite a bit of flesh."
When she saw the Crown Princess of Prince De, who was also pregnant, and saw that she had gained weight, she was convinced that she had not gained much weight during her pregnancy, and all the food she ate grew on the child.
Let’s not talk about this later for now.
Four hundred and twelve tribute scholars filled the Baohe Hall.
There was only one essay question: I am a monarch by nature, serving the people. The first thing I should do in governing is to nurture and educate the people. There is nothing more important in nurturing the people than managing the fields. I will personally review it.
Zhou Duxin was writing on the inkstone while thinking about how to respond.
Although people in this dynasty will not be punished for their words, being demoted will still be a headache.
He didn't care how big a role he played, but he had to consider the people at home and the princess.
A quarter of an hour later, the ink was ground.
Zhou Duxin picked up his pen and wrote on the draft paper: "I have heard that the way to govern is to have a benevolent government and to have a benevolent heart. I am so terrified when I have a benevolent heart. I respectfully reply."
After reading through the several thousand words, Zhou Duxin felt that it was well written and began to copy it carefully.
The palace examination papers could be handed in early, but Zhou Duxin did not rush to hand in the paper after copying it.
At this time, some people had handed in their papers and left, but the emperor was still sitting on the throne in the front, and the ministers had all left.
The emperor personally presided over the palace examination, which represented his emphasis on imperial examinations and talents.
Those who have participated in the palace examination can be called disciples of the emperor.
Zhou Duxin counted silently, and when more than twenty people had handed in their papers, he packed up his pens, ink, paper, and inkstone, put everything neatly into the examination basket, and raised his hand to signal the eunuch in front of him that he wanted to hand in his paper.
The eunuch came over, covered his test paper and said, "Please follow me."
Zhou Duxin picked up the examination basket, bowed his body, and, under the guidance of the eunuch, left the Baohe Hall. He did not dare to stay for long, nor did he talk much with other candidates. He walked quickly towards the palace gate.
When they got outside the palace, the Zhou family servant spotted him and hurried over to greet him, "Third Master, thank you for your hard work. The carriage is over there."
When he got home, Zhou Chengxin urged him, "Hurry up and recite the policy paper so that I can see it."
Zhou Duxin obediently wrote out the policy paper from memory and handed it to him.
"Well, your handwriting has improved. There should be no problem on the paper. Now let's look at the content." Zhou Chengxin read carefully.
After reading it, Zhou Chengxin smiled, "Not bad, not bad, especially these few sentences, the benevolence and sincerity that nourish the people can last forever."
"As long as I don't fall below the top three, it's fine." Zhou Duxin said with a smile.
"You have no ambition. Why don't you think about getting into the first class? Being the number one scholar, riding a horse and parading through the streets, how glorious it would be." Zhou Shouxin said.
Zhou Duxin said calmly: "Dreaming is faster."
"It probably won't make it to the top three. The second place will be relatively high, but forget about the first place." Zhou Chengxin made a realistic analysis.
"No one cared about my hard study for ten years, but I became famous overnight and known all over the world." Zhou Shouxin said, shaking his head.
But we have to wait a few days to find out the ranking.
Inside the imperial palace, in a palace, the examiners were marking the papers.
There were too many candidates admitted this time, so the emperor appointed ten examiners.
After reading the papers, the examiners will mark them.
The circle represents the first level, the hook represents the second level, the dot represents the third level, the horizontal line represents the fourth level, and the cross represents the fifth level.
In addition, they would write comments and stamp their own official seal.
The paper with the most circles was considered the best paper. Ten copies were selected and presented to the emperor, who personally decided the first, second and third places, namely the well-known top three.
On the evening of the 15th, more than 400 papers were finally marked. All the examiners looked tired and their eyes were red.
The ten selected papers were presented to the emperor.
The next morning, Zhou Duxin and other tribute scholars entered the palace early. According to their ranking in the spring examination, they stood in two rows outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, wearing the Jinshi uniforms issued by the court.
Inside the palace, the Emperor was discussing matters with court officials of the fourth rank and above. The most important issue today was the final ranking of the new Jinshi candidates.
Ranking can have a great impact on one's official career. The three people who pass the Jinshi examination and the first person among the Jinshi graduates can directly enter the Hanlin Academy and be promoted to an official position immediately.
The top scholar is usually awarded the sixth-rank editor, the second and third place winners are usually awarded the seventh-rank editor, and the first place winner of the second class is usually awarded the seventh-rank reviewer.
The remaining Jinshi and Tong Jinshi graduates had to take the imperial examination and could enter the Hanlin Academy only after passing it.
If one fails the imperial examination, he can only be sent to be a local official at the level of county magistrate or an official in one of the six ministries or other grassroots officials.
One cannot enter the cabinet unless he is a Hanlin, and if he cannot enter the Hanlin Academy, it means that he has no chance of becoming a first-rank official.
Of course, if one is extremely pleased with the Holy Spirit, exceptions may be made, but these are extremely rare.
Note: The questions and answers are selected from the policy questions of the imperial examination in the 11th year of Chenghua.
This article is fictional. Please forgive me for any discrepancies between the description of the imperial examination and historical facts, and do not conduct research.
(End of this chapter)