Chapter 623: The Heavenly Gate Welcomes the Palace Examination

The fifteenth year of Jia Zhao, the tenth day of the fifth month, Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Before the sky had even brightened, Ying Lian, who was on night watch, had already woken up, seeing only pitch-black darkness outside the window lattice.

The jujube-wood floor of the main room reflected a moist, faint glimmer amidst the dark, silent stillness.

Ying Lian rose and rubbed her eyes, seeing that the bed curtains on Jia Cong's bed were still tightly drawn, and she could even hear the sound of light snoring.

She rose on tiptoe and tested the floor with her feet; unable to find her soft sleeping shoes in the darkness, and not knowing where she had kicked them the night before, she stepped off the bed barefoot.

Her fair, beautiful feet, slender and flawless, stepped onto the dark jujube-wood floor, light and agile, without a sound, possessing an indescribable beauty.

She walked to the red sandalwood Ruyi cloud-draped clothes rack, where Jia Cong's clothes and her own were hung.

She took her own magenta printed front-opening jacket and a pale pink long skirt, then, borrowing the faint light from the veranda outside, found her soft shoes.

She put on her clothes and skirt lightly, took a hairpin from the dressing table in the outer room, grabbed a comb, and quietly left the room.

She walked to the entrance of the veranda, and by the light of the lantern under the eaves, she combed her hair and coiled it into a bun, facing the surface of the water in the Taiping vat.

The cool morning breeze blew by, gently brushing across the water's surface, kneading her pretty, delicate reflection into a pool of rippling fragments...

She tidied her hair bun, then ran to the side of the water trough, dipped her handkerchief in clear water, and washed her face to wake herself up, as she hadn't slept soundly the night before.

Once she had tidied her appearance, she hummed a little tune and entered the main hall.

Although the sky had not yet brightened, the main hall was already filled with the warm glow of candles, and shadows were moving about.

Zhi Shao and Liu Wuer had risen even earlier than Ying Lian; the two were currently organizing Jia Cong's examination box, counting the brushes, ink, inkstones, paperweights, and other stationery inside.

Seeing Ying Lian enter, Zhi Shao smiled and asked, "The sky hasn't even brightened yet, why are you up? Has the Cong Sanye risen as well?"

Ying Lian yawned slightly and said, "The Young Master is still sleeping. Today the Young Master has a major task to attend to; how could I possibly sleep well?

I didn't even dare to toss and turn during the night, fearing I might disturb the Young Master's sleep. My waist and back are still aching now."

Liu Wuer laughed, "Today is the Cong Sanye's big day, yet he isn't even concerned and is sleeping soundly. You, on the other hand, are even more nervous than he is."

Ying Lian smiled, "I have been the Young Master's page for several years now. Today he is entering the palace for the Palace Examination; after years of bitter study, he is just one kowtow away from worshipping at the Spiritual Mountain.

I am just hoping the Young Master will soon be on the Golden List, so that I, this little page, can have my merit fulfilled."

Zhi Shao laughed, "Rest assured, this time you, this page, will certainly have your merit fulfilled."

As they organized the examination box, they chatted and laughed, and Liu Wuer even placed two portions of warm dry rations into the box.

By the time the courtyard began to brighten slightly and the morning light appeared in the east, casting shadows on the upturned eaves, Qing Wen also entered the main hall.

Ying Lian looked at the light outside and, knowing Jia Cong's daily routine, hurried back to the main room, just in time to see Jia Cong lifting the bed curtains as she entered.

At this moment, footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate; Ling Guan brought two little maids, carrying several food boxes of breakfast, and began to set the table in the main hall.

In the main room, Jia Cong rose, washed, and dressed; the sound of footsteps came from the room, along with the crisp, clear laughter of Ying Lian and Qing Wen.

As the morning light grew brighter, the entire courtyard awakened in the stillness, overflowing with a gentle and peaceful atmosphere of daily life.

Footsteps sounded again at the courtyard gate; Ying Chun, Lin Daiyu, Tan Chun, Xue Baochai, and the other sisters had come early to see Jia Cong off to the Palace Examination.

Shi Xiangyun's crisp and spirited voice sounded particularly pleasant from afar.

By this time, Jia Cong had finished washing and dressing; just as he entered the main hall, he saw that Ying Chun and the other sisters were already there.

Ying Chun smiled, "Today is the Third Brother's big day, so we had to come to see you off. After entering the palace today, Third Brother will surely pluck the laurel from the Toad Palace; years of bitter study will finally bear fruit."

Jia Cong knew that for young ladies of the boudoir to rise, it wasn't as convenient as it was for him, as dressing and grooming took quite some time; fearing that the sisters had risen before dawn, warmth welled up in his heart.

He smiled, "Second Sister has cared for and protected me for many years, and with the sisters' companionship and concern, otherwise I truly wouldn't know what my situation would be..."

As soon as the Mao hour arrived, Jia Cong set off to leave the mansion. Ping Er had also come over from the West Mansion to see him off, and accompanying her was unexpectedly Jia Mu's head maid, Yuan Yang.

In the past, whenever Jia Cong took the imperial examinations, Jia Mu hadn't paid much attention; perhaps it was the grand scene of guests congratulating the two mansions after Jia Cong became the Hui Yuan that made the Old Matriarch unable to ignore him any longer.

Knowing that Jia Cong was entering the palace for the Palace Examination today, she had unexpectedly and unprecedentedly let Yuan Yang see him off on her behalf.

Once Jia Cong passed through the inner courtyard's hanging flower gate, he asked Ying Chun and the other sisters to stop.

After leaving the inner courtyard, he saw that Jia Zheng had also come over early and spoke some words of encouragement to him; the uncle and nephew walked all the way to the east corner gate.

The steward had long since prepared the carriage and attendants; Jia Cong took Jiang Liu, boarded the carriage, and headed straight for the palace city of the Love Shenjing.

The eastern sky grew brighter, and the golden-red, brilliant morning glow illuminated the massive capital city.

From every direction in the Love Shenjing, over three hundred successful candidates from the Metropolitan Examination, just like Jia Cong, were either walking or riding in carriages, converging toward the magnificent palace city of the Great Zhou.

Throughout the capital, there were still over a thousand failed candidates lingering in the Love Shenjing; for them, today was also a far from peaceful day.

Anyone who had achieved the status of a Ju Ren in the imperial examinations was someone of at least modest wealth.

Many of them planned to travel and study for several years to broaden their knowledge and solidify their learning, or they planned to reside in the Love Shenjing to study, waiting for the Metropolitan Examination three years later.

There were also many who wanted to wait for the Palace Examination to end, to see with their own eyes those figures who would be on the Golden List, using it to encourage themselves and stir up their ambitions, hoping to make a comeback the following year.

Of course, there were also many who had failed and were in low spirits, but due to other reasons, they still had not left the capital to return home.

West of the Love Shenjing, Xiu Chun Fang.

This was the most prosperous district in the west of the city, where exquisite and elegant courtyards and pavilions could be seen everywhere; the villas of many high-ranking officials in the imperial court were located in this district.

In a guest room of a villa in the district, Zhou Yan had been unable to sleep the night before; even with the pretty Feng Ming accompanying him in bed, after their wild passion, he still found it hard to rest.

Rising early today, he had someone go out to buy wine and food, and he drank alone to drown his sorrows; Feng Ming could only serve him carefully by his side.

This was because today was the day the successful candidates would enter the palace for the Palace Examination. Zhou Yan thought back to the scene when he first entered the examination hall, discovering the sudden change of the chief examiner, a situation that felt like a bolt from the blue.

It was precisely because he had miscalculated before the examination and had gone in the wrong direction in his studies that he had suffered a crushing defeat in this Metropolitan Examination.

If he hadn't been obsessed with Huang Hongcang's mock questions and hadn't spent so much energy trying to fathom them before the exam, but had instead reviewed the classics step-by-step, perhaps he would have had a chance to make the list.

Seeing Lin Zhaohe and Wu Liang, who had entered the capital together and stayed at the same inn, both place high on the list, while he alone was left behind, he truly felt he had lost all face.

Lin Zhaohe was the Jie Yuan of Hangzhou Prefecture; even looking at the whole world, he was likely one of the few proud sons of the examination path. Zhou Yan had self-knowledge and naturally didn't dare to compare himself to him.

However, since entering the capital, he had associated with these two for a long time and knew that although Wu Liang also had talent, compared to him, they were in the same rank, and there was no significant difference in their excellence.

Moreover, Wu Liang, like him, had learned before the exam that Huang Hongcang had been chosen as the chief examiner; they had both attached great importance to the mock questions Huang Hongcang had pointed out and had both been obsessed with fathoming and practicing those mock questions.

Yet, when the two entered the examination hall, Wu Liang, facing the sudden change of the chief examiner, was able to respond calmly, his performance completely unfazed, and instead, he placed on the second list of the Metropolitan Examination.

Regarding this matter, Zhou Yan, who had always thought highly of himself, naturally wouldn't admit that his talent was inferior to Wu Liang's, which was why he lacked the ability to adapt under such a drastic change.

He only felt that his luck was bad and that it was no one else's fault; Wu Liang was simply blessed with great luck, and only by chance was he able to place on the second list.

Ever since returning from seeing the Metropolitan Examination list, he had been like someone under a curse; his feelings of injustice and resentment grew day by day. Even though he knew such distracting thoughts were of no help, he simply couldn't control them.

For the past ten days or so, his mind had been in an abyss of entanglement, as if possessed, unable to extricate himself.

Even with a beautiful maid like Feng Ming, who catered to his every whim and indulged in passion in bed, it seemed unable to bring him any relief; he was listless all day, unable to eat or sleep, and had lost a circle of weight.

Just as Zhou Yan was drinking wildly, the wine fumes rising, and he wanted to pull Feng Ming to tease her, footsteps suddenly sounded at the door. Zhou Yan hurriedly pulled his hand out from Feng Ming's lapel...

A young gentleman in gorgeous clothes walked into the room with a leisurely and refined gait, as if he hadn't seen that scene of passion at all.

His expression was indifferent, a trace of a smile at the corners of his mouth, as he said, "Brother, you have a good mood, drinking to cheer yourself up early in the morning; this is quite carefree."

Zhou Yan saw clearly who it was, sat up straight, pulled at his collar, and said with a bitter smile, "Younger brother, you mock me. Your elder brother is just a failed candidate, nothing more than drinking to drown my sorrows."

The young gentleman glanced at Feng Ming, his words slightly mocking, as he smiled and said, "Could it be that Feng Ming isn't serving you well, making you unable to find joy?"

Zhou Yan's expression was somewhat awkward as he said, "Younger brother, you mock me again. Everything is very good, very good... Originally, after failing the exam, I wanted to set off for home immediately to continue studying the classics and try again next year, but thanks to the generous retention of you and Seventh Uncle, I have bothered you for many days.

Your elder brother plans to set off for home in a few days. Tomorrow, I ask you to take me to bid farewell to Seventh Uncle. For these days, I have been cared for by Seventh Uncle and you; I am deeply grateful."

The young gentleman didn't pick up on Zhou Yan's words, but instead said, "Does Brother know that today is the day of the Palace Examination? After today, those who make the list will pluck the laurel from the Toad Palace and rise straight to the blue clouds.

Brother is also a person of great talent; failing this time, are you truly reconciled?"

Zhou Yan heard these words, and his heart was stirred with pent-up frustration as he said, "Your elder brother naturally knows that today is the day of the Palace Examination. Thinking of my years of bitter study, not daring to slack off for a single day, yet still failing at the final step.

This is Heaven not blessing me; what can I do? I can only blame myself for being less skilled than others. After returning home, I will study bitterly for a few more years; there will always be a day when I get what I wish for!"

The young gentleman smiled slightly, his expression containing hidden disdain, as he said, "The path of the imperial examinations has always been treacherous. Your younger brother has also encountered villains and suffered setbacks and failures.

The examination hall does not judge superiority solely by talent, nor does it depend on the success or failure of luck; what is more important is the level of one's methods."

Zhou Yan heard this, and his heart jumped involuntarily; he asked somewhat puzzled, "Younger brother, what do you mean by this? In the imperial examinations, one relies only on talent; why do you speak of the level of methods?"

The young gentleman still didn't pick up on Zhou Yan's words, but just said to himself, "I know Brother has injustice in his heart; a great man has boulders in his chest. Brother, don't you want to get to the bottom of this?

!

If Brother insists on returning home, neither my father nor I will stop you, but if you leave like this, I fear you will miss a great opportunity..."

At the second quarter of the Mao hour, Jia Cong and hundreds of successful candidates arrived one after another at the Chengtian Gate of the Great Zhou palace city. Guo Youchang, the Minister of Rites, along with several officials from the Ministry of Rites, had long been waiting at the Chengtian Gate.

Standing in the same rank as Guo Youchang were the three chief examiners of this Metropolitan Examination: Wang Shilun, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet; Chen Mo, Minister of Personnel; and Xu Liangxiong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Standing behind them were more than a dozen officials, the eighteen assistant examiners of this Metropolitan Examination; they were all assistant officials for this Palace Examination, and the group of officials was quite imposing.

They all looked at the hundreds of new successful candidates, many of whom had been selected by their respective rooms, and they could be considered to have formed ties with these assistant examiners.

It was only through their selection that these new successful candidates were finally able to make the list in the Metropolitan Examination.

They would be able to go higher and further in today's Palace Examination.

For the chief examiners and assistant examiners present, this was a matter of great benefit.

Therefore, as these officials looked at the spirited new successful candidates, their respective gazes were somewhat complex.

Among them, there were those who were self-satisfied, those who had expectations, some whose hearts were filled with gratification, or whose gazes revealed hesitation and anxiety; there was no lack of such people...

There were three hundred successful candidates on the Metropolitan Examination list this year, but the number of those participating in the Palace Examination today was more than three hundred.

Among them were dozens of successful candidates who had not made the list this year, but had made the list in the previous Metropolitan Examination, and due to reasons such as mourning or illness, had been forced to give up the Palace Examination and instead participate in this year's Palace Examination.

All candidates present were called by name by the Ministry of Rites to respond, their identities were verified, and then they lined up according to their ranking on the list, undergoing inspection and body searches by the Jin Wuwei guarding the Chengtian Gate, and only after it was determined there were no issues could they enter the palace.

Jia Cong, as the Hui Yuan of this year's examination, undoubtedly stood at the head of the queue, with hundreds of successful candidates standing in order behind him.

Today, he wore a brand-new scholar's green robe; his bearing was handsome, his demeanor free and easy, like a jade tree or an orchid, his brilliance dazzling, attracting the gaze of all the officials.

Chen Mo, the Minister of Personnel, looked at the exceptionally handsome Jia Cong, seeing that even though he had become the focus of the entire scene and was being watched by everyone, his expression remained indifferent and calm, without the slightest sign of embarrassment.

He stroked his graying beard, his old eyes flickering, not knowing what he was thinking.

Wang Shilun, standing to the side, noticed Chen Mo's expression and asked, "Minister Chen, seeing the scene before us, what are your thoughts?"

Chen Mo sighed, "When I see them, I think of how I was once spirited, filled with the heart to serve the country, walking into the Chengtian Gate with my head held high; it feels like yesterday.

It's just that time has passed, more than thirty years have gone by, and now I am old and frail."

Wang Shilun smiled slightly and said, "Minister Chen, you must not belittle yourself. An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li; the imperial court, at any time, needs veteran ministers of several reigns like Minister Chen."

Chen Mo looked at Jia Cong, who was standing at the head of the line, and said, "Jia Yuzhang is indeed worthy of his reputation; several times the top of the examination hall, ennobled for military merit in the war, the younger generation is to be feared.

In such an occasion, he is watched by everyone, yet he doesn't even blink an eyelid, acting as if nothing is the matter; such composure and bearing, in no way like a youth of twenty, is also strange."

Wang Shilun laughed, "What is strange about this? In the world, there are fine materials and beautiful qualities, innate wisdom, and early blooming in youth; these are also common occurrences."

Chen Mo laughed, "I had forgotten that Minister Wang was also a youth who made the list, youthful and proud, famous throughout the world, and also extremely similar to Jia Yuzhang..."

The two were whispering here, while over three hundred successful candidates, after being inspected by the Jin Wuwei, had already lined up and passed through the Chengtian Gate.

Two hundred Great Han Generals were temporarily mobilized to escort the more than three hundred successful candidates into the palace.

The queue of successful candidates, led by Jia Cong, followed the footsteps of Guo Youchang, the Minister of Rites, out of the Chengtian Gate, past the Rui Gate, and all the way to the front of the Wu Gate.

The Wu Gate had five door openings in total, and the entry and exit of these five portals all had strict ritual systems.

The central door opening was for the Emperor's exclusive use, or for the Empress to pass through when being married.

Apart from this, only the Zhuang Yuan, Bang Yan, and Tan Hua of the Palace Examination had the glory of exiting the palace through the central gate.

The civil and military officials of the Prince walked through the gate openings on either side of the central one, and the left and right side gates were only opened during the Palace Examination and grand court meetings.

The rules of the five gates were strict; once one walked the wrong way, it would lead to a death sentence.

Hundreds of successful candidates arrived in front of the Wu Gate and stopped.

Under the command of the Ministry of Rites officials, all successful candidates, according to their ranking on the list, walked through the left side gate on the east if their number was odd, and the right side gate on the west if their number was even.

The queue of successful candidates for the Palace Examination, after passing through the Wu Gate, traveled all the way past the Hui Ji Gate, the Wen Hua Hall, the Wu Ying Hall, and the East and West Hua Gates.

All the way to the Feng Tian Gate, the vast queue of successful candidates stopped once again.

This was because the Feng Tian Gate was the portal between the inner and outer palaces, even stricter than the Wu Gate; most officials, apart from the Palace Examination, never stepped inside the Feng Tian Gate in their entire lives.

Hundreds of new successful candidates looked at the tall and towering vermilion gate of the Feng Tian Gate, the gate densely covered with bowl-sized copper nails, flashing with cold golden light.

These more than three hundred successful candidates, even if a few of them already held official positions, all had low official ranks; they, like the other successful candidates, were seeing the Feng Tian Gate for the first time.

They were all proud sons of the examination hall, each with extraordinary knowledge, and all knew the special significance of the Feng Tian Gate in the palace city.

Everyone stood before this imperial portal, a strong sense of oppression spontaneously arising; the queue of hundreds was silent, the atmosphere like a taut bowstring.

In the queue of successful candidates, only Jia Cong, standing at the head, had a normal expression.

Because he had entered the Gan Yang Hall to see the Emperor several times, and each time he had to pass through the Feng Tian Gate; although the imperial portal was majestic, he could still face it calmly...

Until the drum sound of the Chen hour rang out, accompanied by the rising sun, the golden morning sun, like vast imperial grace, draped over every successful candidate.

The sound of drums and music came from behind the Feng Tian Gate, and the Feng Tian Gate slowly opened; it seemed as if a silent breath rushed toward them, powerful and solemn, making every successful candidate feel a sense of awe.

The queue of successful candidates for the Palace Examination entered the Feng Tian Gate and stopped again.

In front of the Dan steps of the square before the Huang Ji Hall, the reading officials led by Wang Shilun, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, as well as the eighteen assistant examiners of the Metropolitan Examination.

The seal-affixing officials, scroll-managing officials, sealing officials, monitoring officials, and other executive officials participating in the Palace Examination, totaling dozens of officials.

They stood in ranks, everyone's expression solemn, adjusting their clothes and hats, accepting the worship of the more than three hundred successful candidates of the Palace Examination.

By the first quarter of the Chen hour, the magnificent and melodious sound of bells and drums rang out, and the palace gate of the Huang Ji Hall slowly opened.

The executive officials of the Palace Examination and the successful candidates of the Palace Examination, under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites officials, entered the Huang Ji Hall in turn.

Emperor Jia Zhao, wearing a green-bottomed bright yellow dragon-pattern crown robe, wearing a twenty-four-tassel Tong Tian crown, stepped into the great hall amidst the calls of the masses.

All the officials of the Palace Examination, and the more than three hundred successful candidates led by Jia Cong, knelt on the ground, performing the ritual of five kowtows and three bows.

The grand ceremony of the fifteenth year of Jia Zhao's Palace Examination thus began... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 624 =====