Chapter 626: Matters of Family, Country, and World

Great Zhou Palace City, outside the Huang Ji Hall.

In the queue of successful candidates, Jia Cong's every move had always been the focus of attention; now, the person chatting with him was also a successful candidate who ranked third in the Metropolitan Examination, making it even more eye-catching.

In the back of the Metropolitan Examination queue, a slightly plump successful candidate was often stretching his head to look, just seeing Lin Zhaohe chatting with the top Hui Yuan.

He laughed to the successful candidates beside him, "Look at the two chatting at the front; one is the Hui Yuan and Earl of Lord Weiyuan, Jia Cong, and the other is my classmate, the Yongzhou Jieyuan of Hangzhou Prefecture, Lin Zhaohe.

Having two Jie Yuans in the top three of the Metropolitan Examination is a very rare grand event in the spring examinations of previous years; I predict that the top of the world this year will mostly be a struggle between these two."

The top of the world was the Zhuang Yuan; this was the topic everyone loved to talk about most. As soon as the plump successful candidate opened the topic, the people before and after in the queue all laughed and echoed.

At this moment, Sun Shouzheng was also walking beside the queue of successful candidates; he and several other executive officials of the Palace Examination were accompanying the Ministry of Rites officials to guide the three hundred successful candidates out of the palace.

He happened to see Wu Liang's laughing and chatting state; although it was a scene of others' glory in leading the world, the spirited energy in his words was naturally because he was proud of making the list himself.

Sun Shouzheng saw Wu Liang's shape, and then glanced at the front of the queue, his gaze revealing gloomy coldness and a trace of disdainful disgust.

At this moment, the brilliant sunset glow permeated the ten-thousand-mile blue sky above the Huang Ji Hall; the clouds were like fire and tea, strange and gorgeous, crimson as blood!

Great Zhou Palace City, Feng Zao Palace.

The upturned eaves of the palace chambers, with their new green carved tiles, were bathed in the sunset glow, haloed with a moist, smooth, jade-like luster.

The rich vermilion palace walls were illuminated by the setting sun, plated with a layer of golden halo, appearing exceptionally bright and eye-catching.

A palace female official walked past the vermilion palace wall, her slender and beautiful figure leaving a moving light and shadow.

She was around twenty years old, tall and slender, wearing a red silk collar-opening robe with large sleeves, a plain pleated skirt on her lower body, and an exquisite Qu crown on her head.

When she walked to the front of the Empress's sleeping palace, she asked the palace maid on duty, "Is the Empress free? There are several palace affairs today that need to be reported to the Empress."

The palace maid smiled and bowed to the woman, her expression quite polite and respectful.

She said, "So it is Female Historian Jia. The Empress is free, but Zhao Wang just came to pay a visit and is currently inside talking."

Yuan Chun smiled and said, "Since Zhao Wang has arrived, the Empress must have many things to say, so I won't disturb her. The several palace affairs are all daily matters; it won't be too late to report to the Empress tomorrow."

Yuan Chun turned and returned with a smile, and the palace maid did not forget to bow to her; the etiquette was very detailed and thorough.

Nowadays, which eunuch or palace maid in the palace didn't know that this Female Historian Jia came from a noble family, but had been in the palace for many years and had always been unknown.

However, a few years ago, the Rongguo Jia family produced an astonishingly talented person, who was the world-famous Earl of Lord Weiyuan, Jia Cong.

This young Earl not only had outstanding military achievements and was proficient in the construction of firearms, but was also a great scholar with brilliant poetry and prose, and was highly esteemed by the current Sage Monarch.

Female Historian Jia was the Earl's own cousin; the Empress had heard of the Earl's youthful excellence and had personally summoned her, and had let the siblings meet in the palace many times.

It is said that this young Earl had broad connections, and was familiar with the current Zhao Wang and Ning Wang; such a prominent young noble was naturally the focus of everyone's attention.

In the recent Metropolitan Examination, which was the focus of the world's attention, the Earl of Lord Weiyuan had even placed first as the Hui Yuan, his talent once again shaking the world, and his future prospects would only be more extraordinary.

Female Historian Jia, who had once been unknown, had also risen with the tide because of her cousin; the Empress and the Empress Dowager gave her rewards at every festival.

Eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were all clever people, most skilled at changing with the wind to flatter and get close to those in power.

The Empress's close palace maid just now, although she had some foundation in the Feng Zao Palace, still treated Jia Yuanchun with deliberate and thorough etiquette.

However, Yuan Chun had grown up in a noble family since childhood and was not a woman of a small family; after ten years of tempering in the palace, she knew the cold and warmth of her heart.

In the past few years, her situation in the palace had improved; as Jia Cong became more and more brilliant, the palace people she contacted daily became more and more enthusiastic toward her, and she knew the reason well and could face it calmly.

Yuan Chun returned to the small courtyard where she managed palace affairs; just as she stepped into the courtyard gate, she heard the sound of rumbling drums from afar.

She had been in the deep palace for nearly ten years and was very familiar with the various bells and drums in the palace; the usual time-keeping drums in the palace were struck once and then stopped.

But this drum sound didn't stop after one strike, but rumbled, revealing an unusual spirited energy, shaking the four directions and moving people's hearts.

Yuan Chun followed the direction from which the drum sound came; it seemed to be the Huang Ji Hall in the east, and her pair of beautiful eyes couldn't help but light up.

At this time, a palace-dressed girl walked out of the room; she was seventeen or eighteen years old, her appearance beautiful, her posture graceful, swaying like an orchid.

She followed the direction of the drum sound and said happily, "Young Lady, it is just the end of the You hour, and the drum sound comes from the Huang Ji Hall. Usually, it is struck once, but now it has reached the third strike.

Today, Cong Sanye is taking the Palace Examination in the Huang Ji Hall; this is not an ordinary time-keeping drum, but the drum sound for the end of the Palace Examination. I don't know how Cong Sanye did on the exam."

Yuan Chun couldn't help but laugh, "You don't usually pay attention to these things; now how is it that you are so clear about how many times the drum has been struck and what it means? It's truly rare."

Sister Baoqin's pretty face flushed, and she said, "The Palace Examination in the palace is a big deal, and our Cong Sanye is also taking the exam, so I naturally pay attention. I specifically asked the little eunuch on duty to know.

Young Lady, you don't know, this time Cong Sanye became the Hui Yuan, and it has been spread everywhere in the palace. Those palace maids and eunuchs have nothing to do but chat about this.

They all say Cong Sanye's imperial examination is truly powerful; they haven't heard of someone like him for many years, every time he takes the exam, he can get the top spot.

Now he is already the top of two examinations, the first time since the founding of the Great Zhou; they all say he is a proper literary star descended to earth.

And those little palace maids say Cong Sanye entered the palace to see the Emperor, and they saw Cong Sanye from afar; they say Cong Sanye not only has good learning but also looks even better.

Every time they talk about Cong Sanye, their eyes shine and their little faces turn red; I truly don't know if they are ashamed..."

Yuan Chun listened to Sister Baoqin's complaints and couldn't help but burst into laughter, looking at her maid with deep meaning.

Although the two were mistress and servant, they had not only been together since childhood but had also relied on each other for ten years in the palace, feeling like sisters.

They knew each other's feelings, and even if they didn't say them out loud, they knew what the other was thinking and feeling.

Sister Baoqin's pretty face flushed even more, and she said, "Young Lady, Cong Sanye became the Hui Yuan this time, and his reading and learning are so outstanding; I haven't heard of someone like him before.

Cong Sanye is taking the Palace Examination this time; could he also take the Zhuang Yuan? That would be too glorious."

Yuan Chun's expression froze slightly, and she said, "Although Third Brother is talented, he has been too dazzling in these past few years. The name of a Hui Yuan is enough to make the Jia family's reputation greatly increase.

He is already a double-titled person, with outstanding military achievements, famous in the south of the Yangtze River, and is the chief official of the Ministry of Works. If he suddenly gets the Zhuang Yuan this time, it would be as if all the glory of the world has been snatched by him.

The current Sage Monarch is wise and resolute; Sister Baoqin, you have also heard the principle that when the moon is full, it wanes. If it were up to me, it would be fine if Third Brother didn't get this Zhuang Yuan.

He is already the Hui Yuan of the Metropolitan Examination; even if he isn't the Zhuang Yuan of the Palace Examination, it isn't necessarily much less glorious than him. Why bother with such empty names?

For a scholar to reach his level of achievement, his life's reading path is already without regrets."

Yuan Chun was selected into the palace as an official because of her talent and virtue; she had been a woman who had read many books since childhood. Sister Baoqin, who was her personal maid, was also a person who understood literature after being influenced by her.

She heard Yuan Chun talk about the principle that when the moon is full, it wanes; although Yuan Chun's words were subtle and obscure, she understood the meaning at once.

She said, "Young Lady's words are reasonable, but it is truly a pity..."

Yuan Chun laughed, "I know a little about Third Brother's thoughts; I guess he wouldn't care too much about this either. You are more concerned than him, unexpectedly protecting him."

Sister Baoqin was embarrassed by Yuan Chun's words, and suddenly thought of something.

She said, "Young Lady, today I went to inquire about Third Brother's Palace Examination, but I heard something from the little eunuch on duty.

This little eunuch on duty is a fellow villager of the eunuch Chen Bao of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and this Chen Bao is a follower of Xia Shouzhong of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

He heard from his fellow villager that Xia Shouzhong recently had an incident and was demoted by the Sage Monarch to sweep the floor in the Directorate of Palace Directives, and even Chen Bao was implicated. It is said that the matter is also related to Young Lady."

Yuan Chun was shocked and asked, "I don't know that Xia Shouzhong, and we have no palace affairs, so how can his matter be related to me?"

Sister Baoqin said, "Someone outside the palace spent a large sum of silver to ask Eunuch Xia to help with a major event." Yuan Chun's heart moved slightly; although she had no dealings with Xia Shouzhong, she knew this person, as the Directorate of Ceremonial had been busy with the palace selection recently. Her heart sank slightly, and she asked, "Who asked him to help, and can it be related to me?"

Sister Baoqin's expression was somewhat unnatural as she said, "Chen Bao told the little eunuch that someone outside the palace spent ten thousand taels of silver to ask Eunuch Xia to mediate and let Young Lady be selected." Yuan Chun's pretty face turned pale upon hearing this; she had been suffering in the palace for nearly ten years, and the thing she thought about day and night was to return home early.

These past few years, Jia Cong had risen in the Jia family, and she no longer had to suffer in the palace; her long-cherished wish for many years was about to be fulfilled. This year, she often looked forward to the harmonious days of returning home. This gate was actually spent with huge capital to send her on the road of selection; wasn't this making her long-cherished wish for many years turn into a bubble in one morning...

Yuan Chun asked, "Who exactly entrusted Xia Shouzhong to handle this?"

Sister Baoqin said, "Chen Bao told the little eunuch that it was the Xia family of Guihua who entrusted the favor, and it was also their family who took out the silver. It is said that Xia Shouzhong is a relative of the Xia family of Guihua."

Yuan Chun was confused and said, "The Xia family and we are not relatives, so how could they spend so much silver to handle this for me?"

Sister Baoqin said, "I also asked that little eunuch on duty, but Chen Bao only revealed it after drinking, and didn't say anything else, seeming to have some concerns."

!

Yuan Chun's expression was thoughtful as she said, "The Xia family and we are not relatives, so how could they spend so much silver to do this for me? Their family must have been entrusted by someone.

In this world, only the Jia family would hope for me to be selected and favored, but last time I corresponded with Third Brother, he already knew my heart, and he had the same thoughts as me.

He is now the head of the two mansions, and he must have explained this to the Old Matriarch and the Old Master.

I was brought up by the Old Matriarch since childhood; the Old Matriarch is old, and she would not be too persistent about me seeking imperial favor.

The Old Master esteems and trusts Third Brother the most, and now that he is the head of the family, as long as Third Brother explains this, the Old Master will surely have no objections.

According to common sense, no one in the Jia family would come out to handle this, and ten thousand taels of silver is not a small amount.

If the silver was allocated from the public, Third Brother would never have known, but he never mentioned this in his letters..."

Yuan Chun had some guesses in her heart; she suddenly thought of the letter her mother had sent to the palace a few days ago.

The letter said to let her rest assured, the family was very concerned about her and must be calculating everything for her; the words were vague, as if there were things left unsaid. At that time, Yuan Chun was confused.

Now thinking of her mother's meaningful words in the letter, Yuan Chun was somewhat certain, her pretty face turned paler, and her eyes turned slightly red.

Sister Baoqin saw Yuan Chun's face was gloomy, and there was even hidden pain in her eyes.

She persuaded with some worry, "Young Lady doesn't need to worry; I don't know what mistake Xia Shouzhong made to be demoted to sweep the floor by the Sage Monarch.

Now that he has no power, he can't manage the selection, and he can't hinder Young Lady from returning home; it can be considered that Heaven has eyes. Yesterday I heard that the palace selection has already closed."

Yuan Chun sighed and said, "I know Xia Shouzhong cannot succeed; I have been in the palace for ten years, and if I could succeed, I would have long ago; do I still have to wait until today?

Don't say ten thousand taels of silver, even if it were a hundred thousand or a million taels, it would be of no avail. Third Brother knows this principle, but there are people in the family who cannot see through it."

Sister Baoqin had followed Yuan Chun since childhood and could guess some of her thoughts, and her heart moved slightly as she asked, "Young Lady, have you guessed who entrusted the Xia family to handle this?"

Yuan Chun didn't answer Sister Baoqin's question; she was silent for a long time, then said, "Sister Baoqin, in the past, I thought about returning home every day, and now I still think about returning early.

But I have started to be a little afraid of returning home, not knowing what it will be like after returning..."

Sister Baoqin was intelligent; only the Jia family would entrust the Xia family to handle this, and there were only those few people in the Jia family; thinking about it a little, she could guess who it was.

She saw Yuan Chun's expression was sad and persuaded, "Young Lady doesn't need to think too much; returning home is such a good thing. Even if there are any obstacles, doesn't Young Lady still have Third Brother?

Third Brother is so capable, and his language and temperament are so compatible with Young Lady; if Young Lady has anything in the future, Third Brother will surely speak up. He is now the head of the family, who in the family would not listen..."

Yuan Chun felt a little relieved after hearing Sister Baoqin's words.

She and Jia Cong had met in the palace several times; although they didn't spend much time together, their language and wisdom were very harmonious. With him sitting in the Jia family, what else did she have to worry about in the future?

A smile appeared on her face, and she said, "Sister Baoqin, the Palace Examination reading usually takes only a few days; pay more attention these days, so we can know early what rank Third Brother made."

Sister Baoqin laughed, "Young Lady, rest assured, I will carefully pay attention and inquire."

Great Zhou Palace City, night fell, countless palace halls faded their magnificence and fell into silence, only the Wen Hua Hall was brightly lit.

Three hundred successful candidates finished the Palace Examination and were guided out of the palace by Ministry of Rites officials, but the Palace Examination reading work did not stop for half a moment, and it proceeded in full swing that night...

The six receiving officials of the Palace Examination received a total of three hundred and nineteen Palace Examination answer sheets.

Including the more than three hundred successful candidates of this year, as well as the successful candidates of the previous Metropolitan Examination who delayed the Palace Examination due to mourning, illness, and other reasons.

The receiving officials checked the Palace Examination answer sheets according to the Metropolitan Examination list, determining whether there were any omissions of candidates who entered the hall.

And they conducted an initial check on the basic conventions such as the neatness of the handwriting and the taboos in the words.

In fact, this initial check was just a formality; candidates who could enter the Palace Examination rarely made such low-level mistakes.

The receiving officials organized the Palace Examination answer sheets, sealed them overnight, and then handed them over to the scroll-managing officials for collection.

Due to the rush of time, the ink scrolls of the Palace Examination did not need to be transcribed into vermilion scrolls.

Because there was no transcription, the reading officials might recognize the candidates' identities when encountering familiar handwriting, which would allow these candidates to vaguely occupy an advantage; such things were not uncommon in the Palace Examination reading.

The scroll-managing officials collected the ink scrolls and entered the East Pavilion of the Wen Hua Hall, closing the gates overnight to guard the ink scrolls, and outside the East Pavilion, there was the Forbidden Army guarding and protecting them overnight.

Until the next morning, when the three chief examiners and eighteen assistant examiners entered the East Pavilion to read the papers, the scroll-managing officials would hand over the transcribed scrolls and open the gates to exit the palace.

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

In the morning, the sky hadn't brightened, and outside the veranda of the main room, it was quiet.

In the courtyard, the left and right side rooms lit up one after another.

Liu Wuer appeared at the door of the room earliest, followed by the figure of Ling Guan; seeing that the main room didn't light up, they smiled at each other and returned to their rooms.

Usually at this time, Jia Cong and Ying Lian had already entered the study, Liu Wuer and Ling Guan mostly went to arrange breakfast, Zhi Shao and Qing Wen organized miscellaneous affairs, and the little maids Si Er and Juan Er swept the courtyard.

But yesterday Jia Cong took the Palace Examination for a day and looked tired when he returned; Liu Wuer and the others estimated that he would sleep for a few more hours, so everyone slowed down their usual movements.

It wasn't until the morning glow cast shadows under the upturned eaves in the courtyard that the door of the main room opened.

Jia Cong walked out of the room, his expression calm, his body refreshed, and he stretched his waist toward the morning glow in the courtyard.

He said to the person behind him, "Zhi Shao, it seems I haven't slept in for a long time."

Zhi Shao smiled and replied, "The sun hasn't even fully risen yet, so the time is still early. Cong Sanye, this doesn't count as sleeping in, just rising a little later than when you were studying in the past.

Now that Cong Sanye has taken the Palace Examination, you will be free from poetry and books from now on; as long as you don't have to go to the office, it is a good thing for Cong Sanye to sleep in like this, making up for some of the hardship in the past."

Jia Cong looked back at Zhi Shao, seeing her eyebrows were green and her eyes were soft, bright, and clear, as gorgeous and moving as this morning glow.

At this moment, doors opened from time to time in the left and right side rooms, with laughter and beautiful shadows; the quiet courtyard in the morning light instantly flowed with vitality and life.

Qing Wen's voice was crisp and beautiful, sounding particularly awake.

"Cong Sanye, you came back from the Palace Examination yesterday, and I saw you were quite tired, so I didn't have time to ask; how did Cong Sanye do on the exam yesterday?"

"When will Cong Sanye make the Golden List? I heard about it in plays before, but I have never seen such a rare thing with my own eyes!"

Jia Cong looked at the morning glow in the sky and laughed, "Looking at the current time, the Wen Hua Hall in the palace has mostly begun reading the papers; in two or three days, you will be able to see this rare thing..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 627 =====

"Cong Sanye, you came back from the palace examination yesterday, and I saw you were quite tired, so I haven't had the chance to ask yet—how did you do yesterday, Cong Sanye?"

"When will you be on the Golden List, Cong Sanye? I've only ever heard of such things in plays; I've never seen such a rare sight with my own eyes!"

Jia Cong looked at the sunset glow on the horizon and smiled: "Judging by the current time, the Wen Hua Hall in the palace has likely already begun grading the papers. In just two or three days, you will be able to see this rare sight..." (End of chapter)