Outside the south gate of the Western Garden, the lights in the inner chamber were bright, as if it were daytime!
I started marking the papers at 4 or 5 in the morning, and except for a short break for lunch, I spent the rest of the time marking the papers. Finally, at nearly 11:00 p.m., I finished marking all the papers according to the five-level symbols.
The examination is not yet complete. After the examination is completed, a comprehensive review is required. The Chief Examination Official will be the general reviewer and lead all the examiners to conduct a comprehensive review. At this time, everyone can speak about the examination paper. After the speech, the Chief Examination Official will determine the ranking of the examination papers.
Yan Song was the chief minister in charge of reviewing the papers. This review was led by him. Basically, the rankings of all the test papers were determined according to the number of five-level symbols reviewed by everyone, with one exception.
When Yan Song, the chief minister, comprehensively reviewed the test paper containing the words "Officials should be able to connect the feelings of the upper and lower levels, which is what the country values. Respect the monarch's power, select officials, assess their duties, supervise their performance, reward and punish fairly...", he looked carefully at the five symbols marked by everyone, there were six "○" and two "△". Yan Song paused for a moment while holding the test paper in his hand, and put it on the table.
"The handwriting on this test paper is brilliant and the writing is elegant. The score needs to be discussed. What do you think?" After placing the test paper on the table, Elder Yan Song looked at the examiners and asked.
"Lord Yan is right. This is an excellent test paper. The proposals on administrative reform are incisive and thorough. It deserves to be ranked first or second." As soon as Yan Song finished speaking, an official who read the paper began to praise the paper.
"Um... ... ."
Then several examiners nodded in agreement with what the first examiner said.
When Yan Song raised objections to the grading of this test paper, the Left Vice Minister of Rites was a little confused at first. He didn't understand why Lord Yan suddenly praised this test paper. He had already told Lord Yan the contents of Zhu Ping'an's test paper when he was invigilating. This test paper was definitely a popular choice for the top scorer and it must not be submitted to the emperor for his review. Only in this way could it be guaranteed that Ouyang would win the top scorer. But why did Lord Yan still praise this test paper? Did Lord Yan not want his nephew Ouyang Zishi to become the top scorer
The Left Vice Minister of Rites fell into deep thought.
"This paper has excellent calligraphy and writing. It is like the jade from the East Mountain and the zither from the West Mountain, beautiful and pleasant. However, the white jade has a slight flaw and the beams are mixed. This paper is a penetrating and profound study of official administration. It looks very beautiful, but in practice, it is a formality and deviates from reality. Our dynasty adheres to the laws of our ancestors and has a free system for governing and managing officials. How can we change the rules with just a few words?"
"However, the intention is always very good. As Lord Yan said, this article is of outstanding style and literary talent. What I just thought was a bit nitpicking. I would like to change my review to a higher level as a token of encouragement."
While the Left Vice Minister was deep in thought, the cabinet ministers beside him spoke up.
What? He wants to change the examination paper review from second grade to first grade? Doesn't that mean there are six "○" and one "△" now? This means we will be in the second place
Why is this happening
Could it be that I did not explain the contents of Zhu Ping'an's test paper clearly at the banquet at Yan's house last night
The Left Assistant Minister began to fall into deep self-repentance.
"Well, in that case. Let's review it again." After everyone finished speaking, Lord Yan Song slammed the board.
Review
Sir Yan, what are you doing!!!
Just when the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was deeply puzzled, he suddenly saw Lord Yan Song make a gesture as if unintentionally, clasped his hands together and placed them on the test paper, took the test paper in his hands, read it again, and then Lord Yan marked it again and gave it an "○".
At this time, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites finally understood the good intentions of Lord Yan. Lord Yan gestured to him to give him a "△" again when reviewing. It must be said that Lord Yan is far-sighted. This Zhu Ping'an is a champion in the exam. It is normal that he cannot get into the first class or the top three. There are only a few people who have won the top three prizes in history. There has only been one person in the entire Ming Dynasty so far. It is not so easy to win the top three prizes in a row! But if the champion can't even get into the second class, it's too unreasonable! Even the emperor would be suspicious when he sees it! Give yourself a "△" and the others all give "○", so that this test paper can be guaranteed to enter the second class.
After reviewing, the test paper finally had seven “○”s and one “△”.
After more than half an hour of statistics, the rankings of this palace examination were basically announced. Of course, this was only the statistics of the ministers who read the papers. The final ranking would be determined after the emperor reviewed and approved it.
With the impartiality, strictness and dedication of the ministers in reviewing and counting the papers, the first to tenth place papers of this palace examination were selected and prepared to be presented to the emperor to personally determine the ranking.
Theoretically speaking, since all the test papers were sealed, no one knew the names and other information on these ten test papers.
However, the first place test paper contained the words "The world belongs to the public, the sage ruler unifies the country, he follows the will of heaven and reflects the people's sentiments..."
Yan Song, the Lord Yan, also praised this test paper highly.
Uh, why use it
Because there is another test paper that Yan Song, the cabinet minister, also praised highly. This test paper contains the following content: "Officials should be able to communicate with the upper and lower levels, which is what the country values. Respect the power of the monarch, select officials, assess their duties, supervise their performance, and reward and punish them impartially..."
Unfortunately, this test paper was ranked eleventh in the final comprehensive evaluation! It was just one place short, what a pity, otherwise it could have been submitted for preview, and maybe there would have been a few points to hope for the top scorer, second place, or third place.
Yan Song, the elder of the Yan court, felt very sorry about this, but there was nothing he could do. This was the result. Yan Song, the elder of the Yan court, was impartial in reviewing the papers, and he could not "follow" his own selfish desires and put it in the top ten, right? Eleventh is eleventh, at least it is still in the top two.
It's already midnight!
It was too late, and they couldn't disturb Emperor Jiajing's rest at this time, so Yan Song gave up the idea of presenting the top ten papers at this time, and decided to go to the Western Garden early the next morning to present the top ten papers of this palace examination to Emperor Jiajing.
Everything is going as planned.
Early the next morning, Yan Song, the Lord Yan, led the other seven ministers who were in charge of reading the examination papers and rushed to the Western Garden with the top ten examination papers.
When Lord Yan Song just entered the West Garden Gate, he happened to meet Huang Jin who was leading two eunuchs out of the palace.
"Mr. Huang, why are you in such a hurry?"
When Yan Song saw Huang Jin and others from afar, he stopped, smiled, and bowed to Huang Jin from a distance to greet them.
"Master Yan, you are here. The emperor read the papers all day yesterday, so he sent me early in the morning to see how your review went." Huang Jin came over with two eunuchs, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yan Song and the others.
"Oh, that's a coincidence. We are here to deliver the test papers to His Majesty." Yan Song smiled when he heard this.
"What a coincidence, what a wonderful coincidence." Huang Jin was overjoyed.
"Then let's go." Yan Song said. Knowing that the emperor was waiting for the test paper, he naturally did not dare to neglect it.
"No hurry, no hurry. May I ask how many test papers Lord Yan has presented to His Majesty for his review this time?" Huang Jin shook his head and asked while looking at the test papers brought by Yan Song and others.
"According to convention, the top ten papers in this palace examination will be reviewed." Yan Song was a little puzzled by Huang Jin's words.
"Not enough, not enough. Add ten more." Huang Jin shook his head.
Ten more
Upon hearing this, the ministers who were reading the papers looked at each other in bewilderment, and then began to discuss in a low voice. According to convention, the emperor would only review the top ten candidates, so why did he only review the top twenty candidates this time
"What's the matter, gentlemen? Do you have any objections to the emperor's decision?" Huang Jin narrowed his eyes slightly and asked softly with a forced smile.
“I dare not, I dare not…” The ministers who were marking the papers shook their heads. What a joke! All under heaven belongs to the emperor, and all the people are his subjects. Who would dare to object to what the emperor wants to do, let alone just marking ten more test papers
Theoretically, all the examination papers should be read by the emperor, and ten copies is just a convention. Not to mention that the emperor wants to read ten more copies, even ten more copies are allowed.
It is a rare opportunity that Your Majesty is working hard to govern the country, so why shouldn't we do the same
However, Yan Song, the Left Vice Minister of Rites and the cabinet ministers just looked a little strange. In everyone's opinion, they might be a little surprised that Emperor Jiajing suddenly worked hard to govern the country.
In fact, Emperor Jiajing was not thinking about working hard to govern the country, it was just that he had a dream last time that Emperor Taizu felt a little guilty.
In the first ten years of his reign, Emperor Jiajing was diligent in governing the country and was attentive to state affairs, and the Ming Dynasty showed rare signs of revival. However, Emperor Jiajing later practiced Taoism and alchemy, and has not attended court for many years. He has devoted himself to Taoism and immortality, and has not been involved in state affairs.
I dreamed of Taizu, especially that Taizu was looking at me without saying anything!
How could Emperor Jiajing not feel guilty? He thought about performing well, paying more attention to state affairs, and paying more attention to the country. The current palace examination happened to be a major event related to the country, so Emperor Jiajing thought about paying more attention. The previous dynasty used to read ten copies, but this time I read twenty copies, paying twice as much attention as you! Perform well, so that next time I dream of Taizu, I can face him. (To be continued.)