Chapter 592: Early March, the Top Scholar Is Born!

The sun and moon keep turning endlessly, just like on life's journey, people come and go.

As the atmosphere throughout Chang'an City grew increasingly oppressive, early March arrived silently, and the much‑awaited Imperial Examination results will be released today.

Will it be the list of successful candidates, riding the spring breeze in triumph!

Or will it be a name missing from the Sun Mountain, dust and frost weighing on the shoulders.

All will be revealed today.

Before dawn, Zhuque Dajie was already packed with people; not only scholars taking the Imperial Examination, but also countless common folk came to watch the spectacle.

Even Chen Yan brought his whole family over, wanting to see how this year's results turned out.

Not only them, Chen Yan even saw several acquaintances: Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and even Wei Zheng accompanied by his wife.

Because today's Chang Chao was cancelled, everyone came to watch.

"Husband, it's really bustling here."

Under the guard's protection, Li Lizhi looked at the surrounding crowd, her tone a bit excited.

"Brother, give me a hug, please, give me a hug."

Xiao Sizi stood on tiptoe, but because everyone around was too tall, she saw nothing.

Chen Yan, irritated, tapped her head and said, "I haven't settled the business from last time, hug hug hug, what a joke!"

"Didn't you always say you're not a three‑year‑old child anymore? How could you let me hug you?"

Sizi pursed her lips, recalling how she had fainted from anger at Empress Changsun last time, and fell silent.

At that moment, Gao Yang seemed to notice something: "Husband, look over there, Duke Cai seems to be waving at us; why don't we go inside and have a look, it's really crowded out here."

Chen Yan looked up and saw that Du Ruhui and his party had already entered the Ministry of Rites, waving to him from a two‑story building.

"Alright, let's go over!"

Chen Yan didn't hesitate, leading his whole family into the Ministry of Rites.

Guided by the officials of the Ministry of Rites, they found Du Ruhui and his group.

"Tsk tsk, Zi An, I didn't expect you to join the fun today," Fang Xuanling said with a smile:

"I always thought you didn't care much about the Imperial Examination results, that it was enough just to have some humble‑origin scholars in the exam."

Chen Yan stared at him for two breaths, "Lord Fang, you look so pleased; it seems the Examination results satisfy you greatly."

"Besides, isn't it normal for me to join the fun?"

"It's you who seem abnormal for joining the fun; after all, the candidates' performance is ultimately decided by you."

Fang Xuanling gave no answer, leaving Chen Yan's question unanswered.

Just by looking at the expression, one can tell that this Examination result was exactly what Chen Yan predicted; it is indeed quite good.

"Ah!"

Du Ruhui sighed, "When the results are released this time, they will surely astonish everyone!"

"At first we received the test papers sent by the Ministry of Personnel; the names on them were obscured, we didn't know whose they were, but we all agreed that one of the papers was the most outstanding and most astonishing among them."

"Oh?" Chen Yan became interested, sat down with his family, and asked curiously, "May I know who this test paper came from?"

Du Ruhui smiled without replying, "If I tell you now, there'd be no surprise, right? Anyway, the list will be posted soon; just wait a bit and you'll see."

"Tsk, Duke Cai, why are you also copying the Grand Historian and National Teacher's style, all mysterious," Chen Yan shook his head and laughed, looked at the upright‑seated Wei Zheng, leaned over, and nudged him with his elbow.

"Lord Wei, you always speak bluntly; I have three bowls of stir‑fried spinach—why not have you speak up and satisfy my curiosity?"

Upon hearing that, Wei Zheng's lips twitched, but suddenly he felt a deathly stare fall upon him.

From Wei Zheng's wife.

Wei Zheng twitched his mouth, "I... don't like spinach."

"Moreover, this Examination is truly different; you should see for yourself, I won't say more."

Now, not only Chen Yan is curious; Li Lizhi and Gao Yang are also becoming curious.

"It's out, it's out!"

Suddenly a shout rose from below, and the crowd instantly became excited, everyone scrambling forward, tiptoeing and craning their necks to look.

Including the Lai brothers as well.

Now their pressure is immense.

Compared with the many scholars who have spent years immersed in books, they are still too young; even though Chen Yan has painstakingly cultivated them, they only have confidence of passing.

Just being able to pass already satisfies them.

But Chen Yan previously said that not only the Crown Prince, even His Majesty is watching them, which suddenly increased the brothers' pressure.

They hope their scores will be better, so as not to disappoint Chen Yan, nor the Crown Prince, nor His Majesty.

That is the famed list of successful candidates!

Essentially, because the Ministry of Rites posts the list directly on the east wall of its southern courtyard.

Later, since that wall was pale yellow and called the Golden List, the posting place became known as the "Golden List Posting Spot".

When the officials of the Ministry of Rites posted the list, everyone stared wide‑eyed, especially the many scholars, whose eyes bulged as they tried to find their own names.

The first part everyone looks at is inevitably the top of the list.

Because the name at the very top represents the first Jinshi, commonly called the top scholar!

But once everyone saw the name at the top, the surging crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in unprecedented amazement and cheers!

"Big brother!!!"

"Big brother, did you see it?"

"It's Lai Ji! It's Lai Ji! I am Lai Ji!!!"

Lai Ji was stunned at first, then his mind was knocked senseless by the huge surprise, and he even seemed a bit frantic: "Big brother, I succeeded!!!"

"Top scholar!!!"

"I am the top scholar!!!"

"I saw it, I also saw it!" Lai Heng's mood is no less than his brother's, because the name under Lai Ji is him!

Second place in the Jinshi!!!

"Hahaha!" Lai Ji looked up to the sky and let out a long howl, "Did you see? I am first, Jinshi first!"

"Remember this! In the sixth year of Zhenguan, the top scholar's name was Lai Ji!!!"

At this moment, cheers and praises continued endlessly.

Especially after seeing Lai Ji's youthful face clearly, everyone offered applause and cheers for this twenty‑something top scholar.

Spring‑wind youth, the champion of the golden list—

A story like this is enough to make the whole Chang'an's blood boil with excitement.

"......."

"Bang!"

At the same time, on the second floor of the Ministry of Rites, Chen Yan was equally excited, slapping the table with one hand, standing up and shouting at Lai Ji below:

"I'll catch him like a monkey, did you all see that!?"

"Did you all see it!?"

"This is a student taught by the young master!"

"At just over twenty, he overpowered many scholars and seized the top scholar title!"

"I ask you, is he fierce or not!!?"

"......"