It was drizzling in the early morning. As soon as Zhu Ping'an opened the door, he saw dense and slanting raindrops gently falling down, like water mist evaporating in the air, falling on his face and feeling cool and refreshing.
A cluster of unknown wild flowers that the naughty kids in the yard were fiddling with had quietly blossomed and were now covering the branches. The small red and blue flowers were blooming under the roots of the trees, like a pool of colorful clouds surrounding the roots.
"Son-in-law, have breakfast before you go out."
Baozi, the little maid, came to Zhu Ping'an's courtyard early in the morning, holding an oil-paper umbrella, carrying a food box and holding a paper umbrella between her legs.
The breakfast was delicious as usual. After eating, the maid Baozi forced an extra paper umbrella into Zhu Ping'an's hands before she was willing to leave with the food box.
Zhu Pingan went out with an oil-paper umbrella, but he didn't open it. The rain was so fine that it didn't wet his clothes, so there was no need to hold an umbrella. Zhu Pingan just loosened his clothes and went to the Imperial College leisurely. Today was the day when Zhu Pingan and other new officials held the ceremony of releasing vegetables. The venue of the ceremony was the Imperial College and the Confucius Temple.
The Release of Vegetables Ceremony is the last procedure for the new imperial examination nominees to enter the officialdom.
After the vegetable release ceremony, Zhu Ping'an and his companions could change into the official uniforms prepared by the Ministry of Personnel. From then on, they would officially leave their civilian status, officially enter the officialdom, become officials, and from then on enjoy the state's salary and power.
When Zhu Ping'an was about to reach the Imperial College, he met Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, and the three of them entered the Imperial College together.
At that time, the Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty and the world. It was much more influential than Harvard and West Point in modern times. If someone from countries in the Western Regions, the Korean Peninsula, and Southeast Asia could study in the Imperial Academy, they could directly become a high-ranking official when they returned to China.
The Imperial College is located in the Dongcheng District of the capital. The street in front of the Imperial College is called the Imperial College Street. Next to the Imperial College is the Confucius Temple, and you can go directly to the Confucius Temple from the Imperial College.
This is Zhu Ping'an's first visit to the Imperial College.
There is a dismounting monument not far from the Imperial College. All people, regardless of their official position, have to dismount when they reach here. This is a requirement of respecting teachers. After passing the dismounting monument, you will soon reach the main gate of the Imperial College - Jixian Gate.
There are two tall archways in front of Jixian Gate. They are exquisite and grand, and the main decoration is yellow colored glaze, which was very luxurious in the Ming Dynasty. The words "Yuanqiao Jiaoze" are engraved on the front of the archway, and "Xuehai Jieguan" are engraved on the back. The first word means that there are many teachers lecturing in the Imperial College, and the second word means that there are even more people listening to the lessons in the Imperial College. The words on the archway are the same as those in later generations, which shows that the words on the archway of the Imperial College in the Qing Dynasty were copied from the Ming Dynasty. It is said in history that it was written by Emperor Qianlong himself, but now it seems that the Qing Dynasty revised the history books. Many things from the Ming Dynasty were erased.
The Imperial College is dominated by red tones. As soon as Zhu Ping'an, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen entered the Imperial College, the architectural style of red bricks and red tiles of the Imperial College hit them in the face.
After entering the Imperial College, many classmates came to greet Zhu Pingan and the other two, and Zhu Pingan returned the greetings one by one. When Zhu Pingan and the others were greeting each other, many students studying in the Imperial College were watching from afar with envy.
All the students knew that the newly-appointed Jinshi would come to hold the food-releasing ceremony today, so they took their seats early and watched from afar with envy and jealousy.
Zhu Ping'an and his friends had been here for quite a while before Ouyang Zishi walked in, surrounded by a group of newly promoted Jinshi scholars. It was said that it was easy to be an official if you had someone in the court, and this was best reflected in Ouyang Zishi. Zhu Ping'an and his friends had been here for a long time, but none of the leaders of the Imperial College showed up. Ouyang Zishi had only been in the Imperial College for a few minutes when the Imperial College's Jijiu, Siye, Jiancheng, and several Xuezheng appeared.
The previous Imperial College Priest was Xu Jie. After Xu Jie was promoted to Minister of Rites, the current Imperial College Priest got the job through Yan Song's backdoor. Therefore, the Imperial College Priest was particularly enthusiastic about Yan Song's nephew.
In this ceremony, the top scholar Zhu Ping'an should have been the protagonist. However, Ouyang Zishi became the protagonist.
Although Zhu Ping'an stood in front of everyone every time, the protagonist was Ouyang Zishi, who was taken care of by the chief academic officer of the Imperial College. Ouyang Zishi would show off his superiority in front of Zhu Ping'an from time to time.
On the way to the Confucius Temple, the drizzle in the sky was gradually getting heavier.
Several officials from the Imperial College walked in front to lead the way, and the other newly promoted scholars followed behind. The Imperial College's chief academic officer and the chief secretary walked behind, talking with Ouyang Zishi and others as they walked, and took good care of Ouyang Zishi.
Zhu Ping'an, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen were walking together. They had not yet reached the Confucius Temple. They did not need to line up in order. Once they arrived at the Confucius Temple, they would have to line up and observe etiquette.
"The rain is getting heavy." Ouyang Zishi said as he walked, and then his eyes looked intentionally or unintentionally at the umbrella under the armpit of Zhu Ping'an who was walking in front of him.
The chief academic officer of the Imperial College saw the look in Ouyang Zishi's eyes. Ouyang Zishi was the nephew of Lord Yan, and the chief academic officer of the Imperial College also heard that Lord Yan intended to marry his daughter to Ouyang Zishi. Now, by showing goodwill to Ouyang Zishi, he was also showing goodwill to Lord Yan. Whether his rank could be raised in the future depended on Lord Yan's attitude.
"Ahem, that Ping'an, right?" The chief academician of the Imperial College walked up to Zhu Ping'an and asked.
"Greetings to the chief priest, I am Zhu Ping'an." Zhu Ping'an bowed.
"Well, OK, you don't need your umbrella?" The Imperial College Priest asked again, "Ouyang Zishi is not feeling well and cannot stand the rain."
After hearing what the chief academic officer of the Imperial College said, Zhu Ping'an smiled and then handed the umbrella in his arms to the chief academic officer of the Imperial College with both hands.
Such a small amount of rain can't even wet your clothes, but you can't stand it? Are you feeling unwell? I see that your face is very rosy! Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen beside Zhu Ping'an looked unwilling, and looked at Ouyang Zishi behind them with a strange look, vaguely speaking up for Zhu Ping'an.
"Hehe, how can this be so embarrassing? Wouldn't Zihou be caught in the rain?" Ouyang Zishi took the umbrella handed over by the Imperial College's chief academic officer in a very pretentious manner, and said to Zhu Ping'an who was deliberately refusing.
It seemed as if he would not continue unless Zhu Ping'an nodded.
Then, the chief academician of the Imperial College turned his gaze to Zhu Ping'an, revealing a hint of pressure.
"This little rain doesn't matter to me. I'll give you the umbrella." Zhu Ping'an readily comforted Ouyang Zishi.
Hearing this, the Imperial College's chief academic officer stroked his beard with satisfaction. Ouyang Zishi took the umbrella reluctantly, opened it, and held it above his head, looking around with a look of pride.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen were puzzled as to why Zhu Ping'an gave the umbrella to Ouyang Zishi so readily, but when Zhu Ping'an said something, the two of them laughed.
Because Zhu Ping'an said: "If he doesn't raise his hand, it will be sunny." (To be continued.)