Chapter 652: Glory and Prosperity in the First Rank

Love Shenjing, the East Wall of the Ministry of Rites' Southern Courtyard.

When the secondary list of the Palace Examination was posted, it stirred up a wave of clamor among the hundreds of tribute students gathered to view it.

However, the intensity of this commotion was vastly different from the time the Metropolitan Examination list was posted, when the candidates had displayed extreme states of joy and sorrow—some ecstatic, some beating their chests and stamping their feet, others weeping bitterly.

More than half of the tribute students found their names on this secondary list. Except for a few who felt dejected for falling into the third rank, most were joyful, chatting and laughing, congratulating one another; the atmosphere was quite lively.

For the majority of scholars, having their names inscribed on the Golden List was already the pinnacle of their academic career, a matter of bringing honor to their ancestors. As for aspiring to capture the top spot and lead the trend of the era, that was, after all, reserved for a very select few.

Once the noise stirred by the secondary list subsided slightly, the primary list of the Palace Examination was, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, posted high on the east wall by a runner who had climbed a tall ladder.

Compared to the calm, congratulatory, and harmonious mood of the tribute students just moments ago, the appearance of the primary list ignited a scorching wave of excitement almost instantly.

Palace Examinations traditionally do not result in failure. Those who did not see their names on the secondary list hoped to find themselves on the primary list in the second rank, or even the glory of the first rank. Many who had not yet seen their names were impatient to find them on the primary list.

Yet, almost everyone who had seen their names on the secondary list, including many who were on the primary list, turned their gazes in unison toward the names of the first rank on the far left of the primary list.

The three individuals in the first rank of the Palace Examination were the models of the imperial examination system, the collective hope of the scholars across the realm.

Being ranked in the first rank was something scholars dreamed of their entire lives; naturally, it attracted the attention of all the tribute students.

Once the crowd clearly saw the names of the three in the first rank, a great wave of commotion broke out among them, and almost everyone began to discuss it animatedly.

"This year's Spring Examination has been full of twists and turns. The chief examiner neglected his duty and sold the topics, and cheating was rampant. I thought the integrity of the examinations had been compromised, but I didn't expect the imperial court to show such resolve—placing commoners and nobles on the same list, reshaping the clarity of the system..."

"Who is Zhang Wenxu from Qingzhou?"

"Zhang Wenxu is a famous talent in Qingzhou. He was the Jieyuan of the Qingzhou Grace Examination in the thirteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, and he ranked fourth on the Metropolitan Examination list this year. He was already a hot favorite to capture the top spot."

"It is a matter of timing and fate. If not for the major cheating scandal in the Spring Examination, with the third-ranked Lin Zhaohe implicated, the second-ranked Zou Hui failing the Palace Examination, and the Huiyuan Jia Cong having a special status that easily invites controversy, how could we have today's outcome..."

"The key to this matter is not only that Zhang Wenxu is a man of great academic standing, but also that he comes from a humble background, unlike some who possess noble titles and high status. The imperial court is using this person to clear away the haze of the cheating scandal and demonstrate the fairness of the imperial examinations."

"Brother Wang is right. This year's Spring Examination cannot withstand any more turmoil or controversy. Only in this way can the matter be put to rest and harmony be maintained..."

"It is a pity for Count Lord Weiyuan, Jia Cong. He was only one step away from achieving the 'Three Firsts.' If not unprecedented, I fear it will be hard to surpass in the future. He would surely have shone in the annals of history..."

"Jia Cong's glory is already extreme; ordinary people could never hope to catch up to him. The title of Zhuangyuan is a heaven-sent honor for others, but for him, it is merely icing on the cake, perhaps even excessive."

"Brother Zhao is quite right. In that case, it is merely that Jia Cong had the qualifications of a Zhuangyuan, and the court, considering the big picture, chose to yield the name to avoid the spotlight. Zhang Wenxu is truly blessed with heaven-sent fortune, a stroke of immense luck, haha..."

For many of the tribute students present, the names in the first rank were both expected and unexpected. Many set aside the excitement of having made the list, their hearts ignited with a burning fire of gossip, pointing out the state of affairs, spitting as they spoke, and finding great joy in it.

Among the crowd, some feigned wisdom, some sighed with regret, and some teased and mocked.

Of course, there were also those who were directly affected, wearing awkward, bitter smiles, accepting congratulations from those around them while listening to the snide remarks.

It was clearly he who had captured the top spot, who was most sought after, most eye-catching, and most worthy of a sigh of regret—yet that person was someone else. He had become an undeserving foil...

After the primary list of the Palace Examination was posted, Jia Cong had long since stepped out of his carriage and could not help but walk toward the crowd viewing the list.

He clearly saw the first column on the left of the primary list, which clearly read: By the decree of the Emperor, on the tenth day of the fifth month of the fifteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, the examination of the tribute students of the realm, Jia Cong and three hundred and five others...

First Rank, granted the status of Jinshi, First Place: Zhang Wenxu, from Lin Zi, Qingzhou; Second Place: Jia Cong, from Shenjing, Yongzhou; Third Place: Chen Qirui, from Yishan, Yuezhou.

When Jia Cong saw the names on the list, he felt a slight sense of relief in his heart. The morning breeze brushed against his face, cool and refreshing. His moon-white silver-bamboo patterned long robe fluttered slightly, and his heart was filled with peace, stability, and satisfaction.

Since entering the Spring Examination, whether it was achieving the Huiyuan or now being ranked as the Bangyan, it had already far exceeded his original expectations.

Standing where he was, compared to those around him, he possessed a clearer and calmer perspective. He had never been so arrogant as to feel that with his own strength, he could suppress all the talents of the realm.

Even if he truly could, there was no need to make a show of it, letting the whole world know and creating hidden troubles, just to satisfy a pathetic sense of self-importance. He was not Jia Baoyu...

Everyone who reaches their current position, regardless of success or failure, is the result of many intersecting factors. It depends not only on individual talent but also on timing, and even more on the overall situation.

Being able to reach this level, to establish himself and find his place, and to be practical and useful, was already more than enough. Just as the tribute students were discussing: excess is as bad as deficiency.

At this moment, many tribute students viewing the list noticed that Jia Cong had also come to see it. They had all met briefly during the Palace Examination, and many took the initiative to step forward and congratulate him.

Their words were warm, their eyes filled with admiration, and the camaraderie of the same-year graduates was evident.

Even Zhang Wenxu, who had the honor of being the Zhuangyuan, and Chen Qirui, the Tanhua, each stepped forward to congratulate Jia Cong.

Although he did not have the title of the top scholar in the realm, it seemed that the radiance of Jia Cong's official rank and reputation shone even brighter, causing the tribute students to feel an inexplicable affinity and centripetal force toward him.

If he had been the one to win the Zhuangyuan title just now, would all of this still have happened? I fear it is not certain...

At this moment, two people in the crowd walked up to Jia Cong. One had a sallow complexion and looked slightly ill, while the other was supporting him from the side. Behind them followed two servants carrying a sedan chair.

When Jia Cong saw this person, it was none other than Lin Zhaohe. His expression shifted slightly, and he said, "Brother Lin, why have you come? Has your health recovered?"

Although Lin Zhaohe was not in good health, his expression remained composed. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Count Lord Weiyuan. It is merely a flesh wound. With some time to recuperate, I will be fully recovered."

"I am ashamed. Thanks to the imperial court clearing my name, I was fortunate enough to be on the Golden List. This is a major event in one's life, so naturally, I had to come to see the list."

"The Count's righteousness and outstanding reputation are admired by all our peers. Zhaohe is well aware of this and has come specifically to congratulate the Count on the honor of being the Bangyan."

The tribute students around them felt a sense of melancholy when they saw Lin Zhaohe. Among the Provincial Graduate Wu of this year, Lin Zhaohe's reputation was originally no less than that of Jia Cong, Zhang Wenxu, or Zou Hui.

Unfortunately, Lin Zhaohe was ill-fated; because of the misfortune of his close friend Wu Liang, he was implicated in the major cheating scandal of the Metropolitan Examination.

Just now, many people saw Lin Zhaohe's name at the bottom of the second rank. Given Lin Zhaohe's talent and reputation, even if he could not enter the first rank, entering the top of the second rank or even the first place would have been a matter of course.

That such a bleak outcome occurred must be because the imperial court, considering that his reputation had been damaged, and to avoid further controversy in this imperial examination, had casually pushed him to the bottom of the second rank.

According to official norms, those at the bottom of the second rank are destined to miss out on the qualifications for the Hanlin Academy, and their future official career is already very limited.

If Lin Zhaohe had not encountered such a twist of fate, he would likely have entered the first rank. Coupled with Jia Cong's special status, I fear even the Zhuangyuan would have been Lin Zhaohe. How would there have been any room for Zhang Wenxu of Qingzhou?

Among the tribute students, some sighed at Lin Zhaohe's misfortune, and naturally, others would complain even more about Zhang Wenxu's heaven-sent luck. Pitying those who have nothing and hating those who have everything—it is just human nature...

Although the few tribute students present knew exactly what Lin Zhaohe was saying to Jia Cong, the words were a bit abrupt and somewhat confusing, but they heard them and forgot them, not taking them too much to heart.

However, Jia Cong clearly heard the gratitude hidden in Lin Zhaohe's tone. Because there were many people around, some things were not easy to say explicitly.

That he dragged his injured and sick body and insisted on getting off the sedan chair, letting people support him to walk over and congratulate him, showed the sincerity of his gratitude clearly.

It was likely because of the request he had made to Yang Hongbin that day, or perhaps because he happened to be in the palace and spoke fair and exculpatory words for him, which played a crucial role in his clearing his name.

It was not surprising that Lin Zhaohe was able to walk out of the Dali Temple unscathed, having learned this information from Wei Guanyao or Yang Hongbin.

At this moment, a servant from the Eastern Prefecture ran over quickly and said, "Count, an imperial envoy has arrived at the mansion to convey a decree. The eldest young lady sent me to deliver a message, asking the Count to return to the mansion to receive the decree."

Jia Cong thought carefully and guessed the content of the decree from the palace.

He said to the tribute students who had come to the mansion, "Fellow graduates, today is an honor for all of us to be on the list. According to the imperial court's custom for the Spring Examination, the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony will be held."

"When you return to your residences, you will likely receive official notification. We shall meet again, fellow graduates."

The tribute students present were overjoyed when they heard this. They were all outstanding scholars and naturally knew about the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony. After the Palace Examination list is finalized, the imperial court holds the Chuanlu ceremony in the Huangji Hall to call the names of those in the three ranks. The three in the first rank are granted official positions on the spot and enter the Hanlin Academy, an honor beyond compare.

However, those in the second and third ranks do not have such dazzling glory as the first rank. They must undergo the court examination and the Hanlin Academy's inspection and verification before they can obtain the qualifications to enter the Hanlin Academy.

Although obtaining Hanlin qualifications through the court examination is possible, in a certain sense, the court examination is only a process and a formality, because the court examination also requires prerequisites.

Only those ranked at the top of the second rank have a chance to enter the Hanlin Academy after passing the court examination. The Great Zhou official system stipulates that for positions above the third rank in the Six Ministries and various offices in the capital, and for candidates for the Cabinet and noble officials, only those from the Hanlin Academy are selected.

The entire Hanlin Academy has a fixed quota of officials. Not every Jinshi of the three ranks enters; it follows the principle of "better to have a vacancy than to fill it with the unqualified," highlighting the nobility of the status.

Therefore, those ranked lower in the ranks, even if they go to participate in the court examination, have almost zero chance of entering the Hanlin Academy.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao pushed Lin Zhaohe, whose reputation had been tarnished, to the bottom of the second rank. According to the norms of the Great Zhou official system, this was equivalent to deciding his Hanlin qualifications to avoid controversy.

After Jia Cong said goodbye to the fellow graduates present, he boarded his carriage and hurried back to the mansion. The carriage wheels rolled, kicking up dust, revealing an air of solemnity and composure. Many tribute students present could not help but stop and watch him leave.

At this moment, many people thought of a question: Jia Cong was already a Grade 5 official, but even for the top Zhuangyuan, the imperial court would only grant the position of a Grade 6 Hanlin Xiuzhuan.

Regardless of whether Jia Cong was the Zhuangyuan or not, he was destined to be a dazzling and extraordinary figure at the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony...

!

Count's Mansion, Main Hall of the Outer Courtyard.

Jia Cong hurried back to the mansion from the Ministry of Rites' Southern Courtyard and saw a palace eunuch sitting on the side in the hall, drinking tea and waiting quietly. It was Yuan Jing, a Grade 6 eunuch on duty at the Qianyang Palace.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I went to the Ministry of Rites to see the list today, making Eunuch Yuan wait for a long time. Please forgive my lack of courtesy."

Yuan Jing smiled and said, "The Count is too polite. When I left the palace, I had already heard the good news, so I came specifically to proclaim the decree to the Count."

Jia Cong hurriedly asked the steward to set up an incense table. Yuan Jing unfolded the imperial decree and read:

"A talent of the nation, reaching a state where no pearl is left undiscovered in the world; with literary brilliance ascending high, he does not fail the wise teachings of the sages; occupying the top spot alone, his vast reputation is eagerly anticipated by the literati; not only is he devoutly respected within the seas, but he is also deeply relied upon by the state."

"I am moved by the prosperity of the examination, and the monarch and subjects congratulate each other. I hereby proclaim the first rank of the imperial list: Jia Cong of Shenjing, Yongzhou. On the twenty-fifth day of the fifth month, at the Chen hour, enter the Huangji Hall to receive the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony, have your name called, and be granted an official position to highlight the glory."

After Yuan Jing finished reading the imperial decree, he smiled and said, "In just a few short years, the Count's brilliance has been continuous and overwhelming, truly opening my eyes and leaving me in utmost admiration."

Jia Cong exchanged pleasantries and said, "Eunuch Yuan is too kind. Thank you for the trouble of coming to the mansion to proclaim the decree. Please stay for a while so that I may fulfill my duties of courtesy."

Yuan Jing smiled and said, "Thank you for the Count's hospitality, but I have other imperial decrees to proclaim, so I dare not delay."

Jia Cong asked, "As far as I know, there are more than three hundred tribute students in the Palace Examination, all of whom need to participate in the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony. Your proclamation..."

Yuan Jing smiled and said, "The Count is a new Jinshi and does not know the reason, which is also normal. Although there are more than three hundred tribute students, only the three in the first rank have the honor of being summoned by the Emperor."

"For the tribute students in the second and third ranks, there are officials from the Ministry of Rites who will deliver notifications based on their registered addresses."

After Jia Cong sent Yuan Jing away, he hurried back to the inner courtyard. Before he even reached the gate of his courtyard, he saw Yingchun, Daiyu, and other sisters had already come out to meet him, smiling and full of joy.

Just now, when Jia Cong went to the main hall of the outer courtyard to receive the decree, Zhen Ying Lian and Qingwen had already sent the good news back to the inner courtyard.

The sisters all congratulated Jia Cong. Shi Xiangyun, while happy, seemed to have some regrets and said, "Third Brother has already achieved the Jieyuan and Huiyuan. If he could win the Zhuangyuan again, wouldn't it be even more beautiful?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "You are so greedy. This is asking Third Brother to take all the benefits in the world. Third Brother is only fifteen years old. Achieving the 'Three Firsts' would be too shocking to the world."

"As the saying goes, the moon has its waxing and waning, and things have their prosperity and decline. Excess is as bad as deficiency, and it would not be beautiful. Third Brother being as he is now is the best."

Yingchun smiled and said, "Lin Meimei's words are exactly what I think. Third Brother has double noble titles, is a regular official of the imperial court, and has achieved double success in the examinations. His glory already surpasses his peers."

"Achieving the Jinshi status and having a smooth official career is already enough. Those empty titles, whether one has them or not, do not matter."

Xiangyun smiled and said, "Second Sister, as long as you talk about your own brother, everything is the best. Except for Third Brother, you don't take anything else to heart. Whether it matters or not, it doesn't matter."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they heard this. Thinking about it carefully, what Xiangyun said was not wrong at all...

The sisters surrounded Jia Cong, chatting and laughing, and went to his courtyard together. Yingchun asked the maid Xiuju to report the good news to the Rongqing Hall and also asked people to send a message to the outer courtyard to set off fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate.

Rongguo Mansion, East Route Courtyard, Main Hall of the Outer Courtyard.

The Jia family's second branch and the Xia family of Osmanthus were to be engaged today. Both families had set an auspicious time. At the first quarter of the Chen hour, Lady Wang arranged for an official matchmaker to send Baoyu's male birth data to the Xia family, indicating a proposal.

By the first quarter of the Si hour, the Xia family invited an official matchmaker to send Xia Jingui's female birth data as a return, completing the engagement ceremony for both families.

After the Jia family received the female birth data, Lady Wang sent another invitation to banquet Lady Xia, and the two families celebrated the joy of the marriage together.

The atmosphere in the main hall was festive. Lady Xia was a widow, but now that the two families were in-laws and it was the day of the engagement, there was no need to avoid it.

Jia Zheng and Lady Wang were both in new clothes, accompanying Lady Xia in the hall, while Baoyu and Seeing Tan Chun were sitting on the side.

Seeing Tan Chun was wearing a pale blue round-collared robe embroidered with plum blossoms, her waist slender like a willow, elegant and beautiful. Her hair was like ink, her cheeks fragrant, and she wore an exquisite red treasure phoenix hairpin on her head, shimmering with light.

Although she was only sitting on the side and hardly spoke, her expression, temperament, and literary grace were moving, adding a brilliant beauty to the hall.

Baoyu, sitting on Seeing Tan Chun's left, was the protagonist of the day, dressed in luxurious red, which was also eye-catching.

He was supposed to be in high spirits today, but his eyes were lowered, his thoughts were elsewhere, and he seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Jia Zheng exchanged a few pleasantries with Lady Xia to fulfill the meaning of the two families' in-law relationship, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the pair of children in the hall.

Seeing Tan Chun was radiant, her beauty eye-catching, but Baoyu was wandering in spirit, making him frown. However, since the in-laws were in the hall today, he could not flare up; otherwise, he would definitely have reprimanded him...

At the black-oiled gate of the East Route Courtyard, Shi Shu hurried over in the East Prefecture's carriage. After getting off, she walked quickly into the courtyard, ignoring the maids and servants passing by, and hurried to the inner courtyard, her little face flushed red.

When she reached the door of the main hall, she slowed down and entered the hall obediently. Jia Zheng and Lady Wang didn't pay attention, but when Seeing Tan Chun saw Shi Shu, her beautiful eyes lit up.

When Seeing Tan Chun left the East Prefecture, she had left Shi Shu behind to gather information. Seeing her come in now, she must have received the news of Jia Cong making the list.

Shi Shu saw her young lady's expression and hurriedly walked to Seeing Tan Chun's side, whispering the news of Jia Cong making the first rank.

Even though it was Baoyu's big day and there were elders and distinguished guests in the hall, Seeing Tan Chun still couldn't hide her joy.

At this moment, a woman from the outer courtyard came in and said, "The steward from the East Prefecture came over, saying he had important news, but because there were female guests in the hall, it was inconvenient to enter, so he asked me to deliver the message."

"He said that the East Prefecture received news that Third Master Cong has achieved the Jinshi status and ranked as the Bangyan in the first rank. He came specifically to inform the Master."

As soon as the woman finished speaking, the whole hall was shocked. Seeing Tan Chun was beaming with joy, looking even more beautiful. Jia Zheng was pleasantly surprised, his face full of smiles.

Jia Zheng smiled and said, "I didn't expect double happiness today. Cong Ge'er has ranked in the first rank. Such academic glory has never been seen in the Jia family since the founding of the mansion in Jin Ling, a literary event of over a hundred years."

When Lady Wang heard this, she used all her strength to tighten her face to avoid showing any expression that would let Lady Xia notice and lose face, but her heart felt as disgusted as if she had eaten a pile of flies.

Today is Baoyu's engagement day, originally such a good thing, but that kid from the East Prefecture had to hit some damn Bangyan list today, stealing Baoyu's limelight and good omen. He is truly a demon star of fate!

When Baoyu heard that Jia Cong was making trouble again, his face turned pale. Originally, he was extremely reluctant to be engaged today, which cut off his years of extravagant fantasies.

Jia Cong had to choose today to do this kind of corrupt, pedantic thing. What kind of first rank, what kind of Bangyan, is it worth showing off so proudly? This is going to make me, a pure person, vomit to death.

My sister Seeing Tan Chun is so happy, which shows that Lin Meimei and other sisters must have been deceived by that person even more, and from now on, they will be even more deeply trapped.

Thinking of these things, Baoyu's blood boiled, filled with grief and indignation, and his full heart of crazy crying was about to burst out... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 653 =====