As night fell, the palace examination in the Hall of Preserving Harmony had ended, and the grading of the papers in the Jiyi Hall had just begun.
The guarding officer was Du Jipeng, the commander of Jinyiwei. He personally took the case from the officer who received the case and opened it on the table in public.
This time, the reading officers consisted of six cabinet elders and several high-ranking officials. All members of the cabinet, except Wu Ge elder and Fei Qian, came. In addition, there were Yin Nian, Minister of Punishment, Zhao Liangyu, the minister of Honglu Temple, Ruan Chengjie, the sacrificial wine of the Imperial College, and others. There were ten file-reading officers in total. The table cases were next to each other, forming a circle.
Du Jipeng took out the test papers and distributed them one by one.
Three hundred, three hundred examination papers, each of which is divided into thirty copies.
This time, Xu Gelao and Tan Liang didn't leave the venue with excuses such as old age and frailty, as they did before. Instead, they put two more candlesticks on the table and picked up the papers to read. .
After reading one, the paper reader will pass the paper to the next paper reader, and the reading circle is the end, which is also called turning the table. After reading a copy, the reading officer needs to leave his own opinions on the corner of the scroll. These opinions are generally expressed in the form of 'circle', 'dot', 'vertical', and 'cross'.
In fact, the rules for grading papers in the examinations were learned from the palace examinations. The palace examinations were more complicated and particular because of the large number of examiners.
For example, these paper readers don't look up and see each other, and generally don't scan each other's face too much. If the first paper reader marks the 'dot' symbol on the test paper, the people behind will definitely not draw circles.
Drawing a circle means that you think the test paper is good, you think it is good, and others think it is bad.
Of course, there will be no fights, and only another reading officer will be sent to review the papers again, and it will also need to be reviewed by the chief marking officer. Under normal circumstances, the reading officers would not make such trouble for themselves.
So in other words, it is very important who the paper will fall first. At least for a tribute, whether he can get into the top two or not depends on his luck in the first review.
At this time, the ten paper readers seemed to be reading the paper carefully, but in fact most of them were looking for a paper.
This paper belongs to Xue Tingxiang.
Before they came, some people had read Xue Tingxiang's handwriting, so they could recognize the paper as long as it was in hand, but this paper did not fall into the hands of the person who wanted to find the paper, but into the hands of Zhao Liangyu, the minister of Honglu Temple.
When Zhao Liangyu got the test paper, he read it. Don't look at the content first, but look at whether there are taboos or mistakes. Generally speaking, this is the way to start the examination.
After a quick scan, Zhao Liangyu nodded in satisfaction before looking at the content carefully. After reading it, I am even more satisfied. The article in this volume can be said to be first-class. And on top of extolling the merits and virtues of the present, neither too much ink, too flattering, nor too little, but just right.
No matter from which point of view, this volume is remarkable, and it is not included in the first class, sorry for the world. He drew a circle on the corner and signed his last name after the circle.
Sitting on his right was Feng Chengbao. As soon as the paper started, Feng Chengbao recognized whose paper it was. It's best to draw a big fork naturally as he thought, but he didn't want to make it too obvious, so he hesitantly read the paper again.
After reading it over and over again, the hesitation was even more serious. If he gave a poor evaluation on the examination paper, Yin Nian would be sitting on his right. Yin Nian has always been a scumbag, and he has never dealt with him. If he disagrees and gives a higher evaluation, it will be difficult to settle the matter.
Feng Chengbao looked to the right, and beside Yin Nian was Shen Xue. Although Shen Xue never interacted with Ge Lao on the surface, but the two were related by marriage, he should stand on Wu Ge Lao's side.
Even if Shen Xue didn't give face, Shen Xue was next to Ruan Chengjie. Ruan Chengjie belonged to them, so he could naturally recognize Xue Tingxiang's handwriting. On the right side of Ruan Chengjie is Bao Ming, the attendant of the Hanlin Academy, and Bao Ming is also one of their people.
If he gives a circle, even if he doesn't go to Shen Xue, there are two who won't make circles. The top three, that is, the first-class test paper must be eight 'circles', so as long as the people behind him give an evaluation that is not a circle, Xue Tingxiang will not be able to enter the top ranking.
And this time his mission was to keep Xue Tingxiang from being in the top ranks. As long as he was not in the top three, the papers would not be in the hands of Emperor Jiacheng, and his mission could be considered complete. In this way, you will not be able to show yourself and achieve your goals, so why not do it.
In order to make sure, he handed the paper to Shen Xue after circling, and gave him a special look.
Feng Chengbao didn't see if Shen Xue saw it, because the paper was handed over from the left again, so he hurriedly pretended to read the paper seriously. However, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Xue draw a stroke on the paper after reading the paper. Seeing this, he was calm and devoted himself to reading the paper seriously.
Ruan Chengjie took the paper from Shen Xue, and after a closer look, he recognized Xue Tingxiang's handwriting. Seeing that there were two circles and a dot on it, he also guessed what Feng Gelao meant. Draw a dot on it and give it to Bao Ming below.
At the same time, in the Qianqing Palace, Xue Tingxiang's lost manuscript paper was in the hands of Emperor Jiacheng.
In the Dongnuan Pavilion, the candles were bright, and the faint ambergris spit out from the three-legged incense burner in one corner, making the room feel faint.
Emperor Jiacheng's face was cloudy and uncertain, his eyes flickered with strange lights, and his eyes were fixed on the piece of paper from time to time.
This paper is really not decent, there are many corrections on it, but you can see what is written. It was precisely those words and phrases that were smeared out at first sight, which made Emperor Jiacheng sit alone for nearly half an hour, pacing back and forth from the kang from time to time, and he could see that his heart was surging. Zheng Ancheng wanted to lean forward several times to take a look. Did not dare to go forward.
"Zheng Ancheng."
"The slave is here."
"Go and tell Xu Shoufu again, make sure that Xue Tingxiang's paper is handed to me."
"Yes."
At this time, the Jiyi Hall was quiet, and only the sound of paper flipping and the occasional tea drinking could be heard. A little eunuch came to Xu Shoufu with a tea cup. Xu Shoufu glanced at him and sighed: "You are getting old, you are not as powerful as you young people. Sit down, the old man will come when you go."
Xu Shoufu was the chief examiner and first assistant. All the examiners put down the papers in their hands and bowed their hands to him. After he left, Fang continued to look at the papers.
After a while, Xu Shoufu came back, and at this time Xue Tingxiang's paper had already arrived in Bao Ming's hands. Bao Ming naturally also wanted to draw some points, and after the drawing, the paper flowed to the right.
After just turning around like this, Xue Tingxiang's paper was finished.
After an intense day, before the next night, all the papers for the palace examination were considered finished.
The next step is to mark the paper. First, select the eight or more circles, and then use the number of circles as the primary point for scoring.
This time it was also a coincidence. There are only two people who have more than eight circles. That is to say, only two people are selected from the first circle, and one of the seven circles has to be selected and filled in the top three. Only then can they be sent to the imperial front. Out of the number one, second, third flower rankings.
The stack of exam papers in the seven circles was quickly selected, Feng Chengbao felt a little uneasy in his heart, but he didn't take it seriously. He didn't think Xue Tingxiang had such good luck. Except for Shen Xue, Ruan Chengjie and Bao Ming, as long as there was only one person in the circle, he still missed the top three.
After some comparisons, the top performers in the seven circles were quickly selected, and they were exactly Xue Tingxiang's papers.
In fact, there is another outstanding player. Unfortunately, Xue Tingxiang has three points, and the opponent has two points and one vertical, so he still loses slightly.
Feng Chengbao didn't show it on his face, but he was extremely angry in his heart. How did he know that the people who drew the circles in the later circles had read the first two grading papers, and if they could get two circles in a row, the article must be excellent in nature. reason.
Of course, there are other reasons, which can only be understood.
Feng Chengbao watched helplessly as Xu Shoufu sent the three examination papers to the Qianqing Palace, still thinking about how to explain to Wu Ge. Of course, what I regret the most is why I deliberately draw a circle for fear of causing trouble.
A circle of difference, the situation is turned upside down.
Not to mention this, Emperor Jiacheng got three exam papers.
Seeing one of the exam papers, he laughed. After laughing, he ordered Zheng Ancheng to bring the manuscript paper.
After looking at it, Emperor Jiacheng's expression was between anger and anger, between joy and joy, and after a long while he said in a low voice, "This kid is someone who knows how to hide."
Zheng Ancheng was still wondering why His Majesty made these remarks when he saw Emperor Jiacheng holding a red pen and writing on the first fold of the exam paper: First Class, First Place.
And let Zheng Ancheng hold the seal and leave a mark on it.
Zheng Ancheng took a look at the situation, and happened to see Xue Tingxiang's name, and he immediately had some idea of how this new champion was to please His Majesty.
You must know that there have been many major events in the DPRK and China recently, and His Majesty Long Xin has been displeased for several days. It is rare for him to be like this.
It was another morning when dawn was approaching, and three hundred new tributes gathered in front of the palace gate.
At this time, the sky was slightly bright, and the pale white morning mist was lingering, but it could not hide the eagerness to try on the faces of the new tributes.
In fact, they are the only ones who can show this. All the people who have been Beijing officials all the year round complain that it is too early to go to court. When Mao Shi went to court, Yin Shi was about to get up, and those who lived far away from the Forbidden City even got up in the middle of the night and groped to come to court.
The east is gradually dyed with a touch of red, and the sky finally fades to gray, proclaiming that today will be a cloudless good weather.
With the solemn sound of the bell, the five doors on the Meridian Gate opened simultaneously.
The common people only know that the Meridian Gate at the main entrance of the Forbidden City has only three door openings. In fact, it is not the case. Outside the three door openings, there are also left and right tuck doors, but the left and right tuck doors are rarely opened, so there is a saying that there are three doors and five doors.
Because Emperor Jiacheng held a grand ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony today, the natural door was opened at this time, which also represented the importance and wooing of the people in the imperial power to the talents of the world.
A ceremonial official sang, and a hundred civil and military officials brought tribute.
Just like on the day of the palace test, Xue Tingxiang took the lead and led the other 299 tributes, trailing behind Baiguan and stepping into the deep doorway.
They went through the door on the left.
According to the regulations, officials go through the door on the left, and princes of the clan go through the door on the right. Only the emperor can enter and exit the main gate. When the emperor is married, the queen can enter once. Of course, there is an exception, that is, after the Golden Palace is passed, the new champion, second place, and third flower can go once.
This is an unparalleled glory, even if he ranks among the nine ministers, one person is below ten thousand people, if he is not a serious imperial examination background, but also gets a top rank in the imperial examination, he can only sigh with admiration.
The doorway is dark and deep, and there are people in the front and back, so when you go out, there is a particularly bright feeling.
In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the halogen book hair drives lined up in a row are awe-inspiring, the Taile Department is located in the middle of the Heshao Le and both sides of the hall, and the Jin Jiawei who makes people dizzy, etc., all show that The majesty of imperial power.
Under the mobilization of the officials of Honglu Temple, these new tribute pilgrims kneel when they kneel, and rise when they ask. In the meantime, the civil and military officials entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony in order.
I don't know how long it has passed, Xu Shoufu walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony holding the imperial list and placed it on the yellow table in front of Dan in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The music started, Xu Shoufu withdrew, and an official of Honglu Temple announced: "Fengtian transport, the emperor's system said: On the second day of the sixth month of the year of Yiyou, the world's tributes will be tested. Born, the third one will give you the same background as a jinshi."
After a pause, it seemed that he wanted everyone to digest these words, and the official continued to preach: "The first and first place in the Palace Examination of Yiyou Year, Xue Tingxiang."
"The first place in the first class of the palace exam in the year of Yiyou, Xue Tingxiang—"
"... 1st A, 1st place, Xue Tingxiang—"
"The first place in the first class of the palace exam in the year of Yiyou, Xue Tingxiang—"
Three hundred tributes knelt on the square under the Pill Majesty of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. This Pill Majesty is about tens of meters long, and the officials of Honglu Temple stood on the platform above the Pill Majesty. By a personal relay.
At this moment, the relay went from top to bottom, without any pause, and merged into a huge sound stream that resounded throughout the sky.
According to the system, the first three are to be called three times.
The above is still going on. Xue Tingxiang is not surprised, but he has a deafening feeling and his mind is a little swollen. There were admiring eyes behind him, and it seemed that all eyes on the field were focused on him.
At this time, a famous official from Honglu Temple came up and whispered to him: "Zhuangyuan Lang, don't be in a daze, come out and thank him."
Xue Tingxiang hurriedly walked to the middle of the royal road, lifted the hem of his robe, first knelt three times and nine times, and then thanked him.
The entire Golden Palace Biography has been going on for a long time, and it has just ended.
Officials of the Ministry of Rites greeted the Golden List, which was hung outside the Meridian Gate and handed over to the cabinet three days later. The top three here were led by the officials of Honglu Temple to change their clothes, only to wait for the next horse-crossing parade.
The original dark blue jinshi uniform was replaced by a vermilion court uniform, the leather belt around the waist was replaced by a silver belt, and even the black gauze hat had two flowers in its hairpin. This is Xue Tingxiang's second hairpin, the last time it was a village test, but it was one flower at that time, and this time it was one flower on the left and right.
When he came out of it, he saw Xinke's second and third spots. A man in his thirties, with a white face and a slight beard, tall and burly, is the second place Lu Shenming. The other man was dark and thin, and he looked like he was in his forties. It was Tang Hua Meng Haochang.
The two of them are the same as him, they are all dressed in red, and there are flowers on their black gauze hats, but they are on the left and the right.
Xue Tingxiang felt more comfortable, and specially called the servant to take a mirror to take a picture of himself, focusing on the position of the hairpin on his head.
Well, he was born gentle and fair, better than young, even if the hairpin is suave, elegant and handsome. As for the other two, I can't go into details.
Xue Tingxiang didn't say anything, but the little eunuchs serving on the side were already holding back their laughter, all because the flowers on the second and third hairpins were really inappropriate.
Especially the Tanhua Meng Haochang, who is black by nature and has a big red flower in his hairpin, how strange it is. However, these are not things they can talk about, they just think so in their hearts, but this young champion, if he gets a tanhua, he can complement each other, and he doesn't know how disappointed the women who are waiting in the capital to watch the tanhua will be born this year.
Not to mention, the three of them left the palace through the main entrance of Meridian Gate under the guidance of officials from the Ministry of Rites. During the period, he went to Shuntianfu to have a banquet in red and crossed the horse, so he did not make a detailed list.
After the banquet, Fang is the beginning of the cross-horse tour of the Golden Street.
Zhengyangmen Street was crowded with men, women and children watching the excitement, and the second floor of the teahouses and restaurants on both sides of the street was even more crowded.
Following a burst of gongs and drums to clear the way, three high-headed horses came with the newly-appointed champions, second-place winners, and Tanhua. Afterwards, bunting, card battles, and soldiers responsible for maintaining order followed.
I saw that the champion was in front of a horse, followed by the second and third. They are all dressed in red robes, with golden flowers on their heads and red on their bodies.
"Zhuang Yuanlang is here..."
"Where's Tanhua Lang..."
A scream opened the prelude to the horse-crossing tour on the Golden Street. The three men, men and women, young and old all looked at the horse with their eyes shining brightly. In fact, there were many young and beautiful women.
What I dare not do in the past, I dare not say, today there are no taboos. Some women even carry flower baskets full of flowers in their hands. When they see people passing in front of them, they grab the flowers and throw them there.
The main target is still the champion. The second place on the list is an old man. Tanhua is a black and thin man. Only the champion is young and handsome, and he has not married yet. That red dress, which was then lined by a tall horse, was immediately like a god descended from the earth, and it was indescribably beautiful.
"The handsome champion..."
Where has Xue Tingxiang experienced this kind of battle, especially since they were all women, all kinds of flowers, handkerchiefs and sachets came from the sky, and he hid on the horse in embarrassment.
Zhuang Yuanlang's embarrassed state caused a burst of laughter. The second place and the third flower on both sides are full of admiration, and they only hate why their parents didn't give them a good skin.
On the second floor of a restaurant, Zhao'er also brought Hong'er to watch the fun.
Hong'er was lying on the railing and shouted there, but after several calls, none of them could reach Xue Tingxiang's ears.
"Mom, why is Dad ignoring me?"
"So many people, your father can't hear you."
"Why can't you hear me? Then I'll scream louder." Saying that, Hong'er lay on the railing and shouted over there, "Daddy! Daddy! I'm a puppy, look at me, I it's here."