Chapter 654: Glory of Achieving the Jinshi Status

Fifteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, fifth month, twenty-fifth day, Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

In the darkness, the morning light gradually appeared. The display shelf near the east window cut the light shooting into the window lattice into fragmented light and shadows, slowly moving on the black jujube wood floor.

Hearing Zhi Shao on the side couch woke up from her deep sleep, lifted the thin rose-red silk quilt, bringing a wisp of breeze, and the intoxicating fragrance of a girl permeated the room.

She stretched her waist, her thin silk underwear tight, revealing beautiful, slender, and graceful curves.

Hearing Zhi Shao got off the sleeping couch and walked quietly to Jia Cong's bed. She could hear the long breathing in the bed curtain, which made her feel stable in her heart.

She smiled slightly, pulled the bed curtain tight, and walked to the sandalwood Ruyi hanging cloud clothes rack. There, Jia Cong's robes and her own skirts were neatly hung.

She took a powder-white satin long skirt embroidered with plum branches and put it on, then put on a snow-blue thin silk jacket with a cross-collar, and fastened the buttons under her ribs.

Because she was afraid of waking Jia Cong, she didn't light the candle. Facing the morning light shooting in under the east window, she combed her black hair carefully in the diamond-shaped bronze mirror and twisted it into a dark bun.

She inserted a transparent jade hairpin into the beautiful and neat bun. The laziness of waking up in the morning was completely covered, and she was already a beautiful and elegant girl.

She seemed to think of something, walked to the display shelf, carefully took down a black sandalwood box, and took out a yellow satin imperial decree from it.

She unfolded it gently, facing the weak light under the east window, and read curiously in a low voice: "The talent of the nation has been gathered, leaving no pearl in the world. With high academic achievements, you have lived up to the wise teachings of the sages..."

The wonderful and crisp voice floated slowly in the dim room, exceptionally pleasant and light, with a kind of beautiful and elegant beauty of the years.

Just as she was reading halfway, she felt her slender waist being gently hugged, and her back was leaning against a warm and solid chest.

Hearing Zhi Shao bit her lip slightly, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she stood there without moving.

Only Jia Cong's voice sounded in her ear: "Capturing the top spot, your reputation is highly anticipated by the scholarly community. Not only are you revered within the seas, but you are also relied upon by the state..."

"Hearing Zhi Shao, you got up early in the morning, why did you read the imperial decree? What's so fun about this? Could it be that you also want to enter the Spring Examination and capture the top spot?"

Hearing Zhi Shao giggled and said: "If I want to capture the top spot, I have to be a man first, and then I can't be Cong Sanye's maid."

"Cong Sanye achieved the Jinshi status this time, which is a rare honor in the world."

"I'm just curious, what the imperial decree granted to the first-rank Jinshi looks like. I didn't see it when Cong Sanye received the decree that day, so naturally I want to see this rarity."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "The imperial decrees are all about the same, and it's not just me who received the imperial decree. The other two first-rank Jinshi will also receive it."

Hearing Zhi Shao said: "Cong Sanye often told me that we lived in the warehouse of the East Route Courtyard before, and Cong Sanye studied very hard at that time. Although I can't remember it, Cong Sanye has today's glory, and the hard work of the past is worth it."

Jia Cong couldn't help but tighten his hands around Hearing Zhi Shao's waist, feeling the warm and soft body in his arms, the sweet fragrance hitting his nose, and a burst of intoxication in his heart.

He smiled and said: "When I was in the East Route Courtyard, life was difficult. Fortunately, I had you with me. Now you are still here, and life is much better than before. What else am I dissatisfied with?"

Hearing Zhi Shao felt a burst of movement in her heart. The hands around her waist, the morning light under the east window gradually brightened, and the two leaned together, seemingly thinking of many things...

Jia Cong felt the warm fragrance in his arms and couldn't help himself. He kissed the corners of Hearing Zhi Shao's mouth, and Hearing Zhi Shao closed her eyes and let him.

She felt her slender waist being tightened, her heart beating like a deer, sweet and intoxicated, but she was rubbed by the hair on Jia Cong's temples, and her face felt itchy, and she couldn't help laughing out loud.

At this time, footsteps came from the veranda outside, and shadows appeared on the glass window lattice of the east window. Hearing Zhi Shao smiled and struggled out of Jia Cong's arms, took the fire folder, and lit the candle on the candlestick in the room.

There was a knock on the door, but it only rang a few times before the door was pushed open. Qingwen took a neatly ironed Jinshi ceremonial robe, and Wuer followed, holding a copper basin of hot water for washing.

The ceremonial robe in Qingwen's hand was carried by the Ministry of Rites official who taught Jia Cong the Chuanlu etiquette yesterday from the inventory, allowing Jia Cong to try on and choose a suitable one.

Yesterday, Qingwen and Wuer carefully washed the ceremonial robe and then ironed it neatly, just so that Jia Cong could wear it properly and show more style at the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony.

When the two just walked to the door, the room was still pitch black. Unexpectedly, when the door was pushed open, the red candle light looked bright. They thought Jia Cong and Hearing Zhi Shao had just gotten up.

Unexpectedly, in the bright candlelight, Hearing Zhi Shao was already dressed neatly, while Jia Cong was standing there in his underwear, obviously just getting out of bed.

Qingwen saw Hearing Zhi Shao in the candlelight, her eyes were full of autumn waves, her cheeks were flushed with fat, and she was dazzling and incomparably beautiful.

She felt a little confused in her heart. Why did Hearing Zhi Shao sister suddenly become so beautiful early in the morning? It looks strange...

Wuer was older than Qingwen and more careful than her, but she tasted the lingering ambiguity in the room.

She thought of the daily bed-accompanying duty, and the intimacy between getting up and lying down, and her face couldn't help but blush slightly.

She put down the copper basin and naturally went to the clothes rack to take Jia Cong's long robe and served him to put it on.

Hearing Zhi Shao pursed her lips, went up and pressed Jia Cong on the stool, carefully helping him comb his hair. Qingwen was a little confused, but too lazy to think much, picked up the ironed ceremonial robe and hung it neatly on the clothes rack.

The strange atmosphere in the room just now returned to its normal rhythm. The original sweetness and ambiguity slowly faded away, and it was filled with a gentle and quiet home atmosphere again.

After Jia Cong finished washing and had breakfast with the people around him.

Just past the Mao hour, Yingchun took the maid Xiuju, accompanied by Jia Mu's maid Yuanyang and Wang Xifeng's maid Ping'er, and entered Jia Cong's courtyard early.

Because the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony in the palace is held at the first quarter of the Chen hour, all the Jinshi of this year need to gather at the Meridian Gate of the palace before the Chen hour and wait for the officials of the Ministry of Rites to guide them into the palace.

The Chuanlu Grand Ceremony can be described as an extremely important etiquette for entering the official career for the Jinshi who achieved the status, and it is of extraordinary significance to the Rongguo Jia family, which produced the first-rank Jinshi for the first time in a hundred years.

Yingchun, as the eldest sister, naturally had to come early to manage and look after her brother.

Even Jia Mu, who had always been indifferent to the imperial examinations, knew that Jia Cong's participation in the Chuanlu ceremony today was a matter of great importance. If there was any negligence, it would be a laughingstock for others.

So she got up early and sat in the hall, and asked Yuanyang to send Jia Cong out of the mansion into the palace on her behalf, which can be considered a serious matter.

Yingchun and others just entered the courtyard, and Daiyu also came early with Hearing Zi Juan.

Jia Cong changed into the Jinshi ceremonial robe in the room again, was looked at many times by Yingchun, pulled his sleeves and straightened his collar, and carefully straightened his appearance for his brother until she was satisfied before stopping.

Although Daiyu was close to Jia Cong, she was different from Yingchun and couldn't help him, so she just watched with great interest on the side.

When Jia Cong was dressed neatly, sisters like Seeing Tan Chun, Xiangyun, and Xiuyan were all waiting in the courtyard, and even Baochai came from the West Prefecture to see him off, which can be considered a serious matter.

The sisters sent Jia Cong to the second gate, watching him in a brand-new ceremonial robe, jade tree and slender, standing in style, walking a few steps, turning back and waving at them, and then leaving far away.

Just as Jia Cong's carriage left the Count's Mansion, the corner gates of the East and West Prefectures opened one after another.

Yesterday, Wang Xifeng asked Ping'er to come to the East Prefecture to discuss the reception of guests in the two prefectures with Yingchun, and made many preparations in a tight drum to avoid being in a hurry in the next few days.

On both sides of Ningrong Street, before dawn, many carriages and horses had already been parked, each carrying fresh vegetables, rice, fish, sheep, wine, and other things.

Under the guidance of the stewards and servants of the two prefectures, these carriages and horses drove into the corner gates of the two prefectures respectively.

And today, because of the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony in the palace, the morning court was suspended for one day, which is a rare opportunity for rest for civil and military officials above the fifth rank in the capital.

This also indicates that because of the joy of Jia Cong's success in the examinations, those old relatives and friends of the Jia family will likely come to congratulate him early after the middle of the Chen hour.

After Jia Cong left the mansion and entered the palace, Wuer went to the West Prefecture early to help Wang Xifeng and Ping'er manage the reception of guests, and Baochai also followed to help.

In the East Prefecture, in addition to Yingchun sitting in charge, Seeing Tan Chun and Daiyu also helped manage from the side.

The distribution of servants in the East and West Prefectures, the collection of materials, the arrangement of utensils, the reception of guests, and other matters were all arranged in an orderly manner.

Even the fine details such as the washing of food, the lamp oil and fire wax, and the flow of the road were all considered in place.

When the sky was bright, many carriages and sedan chairs drove into the two ends of Ningrong Street, each parking in the East and West Prefectures.

With the rising sun, the East and West Prefectures of the Jia family once again became the focus of attention in the Divine Capital...

Great Zhou Palace, Chengtian Gate.

When Jia Cong's carriage arrived, many Jinshi of this year had already gathered and waited.

Jia Cong, as the Huiyuan of the Spring Examination and the Bangyan of the Palace Examination, was a person who attracted much attention among the Jinshi of the same year.

As soon as he got off the carriage, many Jinshi of the same year stepped forward to greet him, and the atmosphere was warm and smooth.

This time he had the qualifications to capture the top spot in the world. Although he was not named the top Zhuangyuan, avoiding the spotlight also left more room for his future official career...

As the only noble of the current dynasty among the three hundred Jinshi of the same year, and a Grade 5 regular official, he was originally too dazzling.

After all, Jia Cong's many halos are really hard to ignore. Disciple of the literary saint, double success in the examinations, famous for his words, master of calligraphy, young famous general, enfeoffed for breaking the rebellion, repeatedly breaking major cases...

Any one of these is something ordinary people can't reach in their lifetime.

If such a person as Jia Cong captured the top spot in the world, perhaps his talent and articles would be hard to criticize.

But based on the root cause of scholars belittling each other, the scholars of the world don't know how much controversy they would create, such as official protection, noble and commoner differences, public tools for private use, obscurity, and other rumors, which would definitely become rampant.

Now that he has retreated to the Bangyan of the first rank, yielding the name and looking away, he has instead gained more support and goodwill among the Jinshi of this year.

Because he is no longer so dazzling and hard to approach, he is more easily regarded as a "same kind" by most Jinshi, not to mention that he is such an outstanding person. Why not be friends with him?

This is human nature...

The Zhuangyuan Zhang Wenxu and Tanhua Chen Qirui of this year also stepped forward to greet Jia Cong.

As the top Zhuangyuan, Zhang Wenxu should have been in high spirits and satisfied, but while he was overjoyed, he also had an indescribable depression in his heart...

!

This year's Spring Examination was truly extraordinary. Not only did a major cheating case occur, but many people with outstanding talents also appeared.

Huiyuan Jia Cong goes without saying, he was already a legendary figure famous in the world. Besides him, Zou Hui of Xuzhou and Lin Zhaohe of Hangzhou Prefecture were both popular choices for Zhuangyuan with great reputations.

Zou Hui ranked second on the Hui list, and Lin Zhaohe was third on the Hui list. Although Zhang Wenxu had a great reputation in Qingzhou, compared to these people, he became somewhat ordinary.

Jia Cong's status was prominent and noble, Lin Zhaohe was trapped in the cheating case, and Zou Hui was rumored to be a genius of the Book of Documents and Eight-Legged Essays, but he seemed to be indifferent to the world and not sensitive enough to current political affairs, failing in the Palace Examination policy discussion...

If it weren't for these various reasons, Zhang Wenxu would not have been able to reach the position of Zhuangyuan. This should have been a stroke of luck for him, and he should have been satisfied and overjoyed.

It's just that anyone who can pass the Jinshi examination is not a confused person. Everyone has seen and heard the turmoil of the cheating case and can more or less infer the foundation of it.

What's more, next to Zhang Wenxu, there was Jia Cong, a dazzling figure whose talent and reputation were clearly better than his.

Whether it was when viewing the list or the scene in front of the Chengtian Gate just now, Jia Cong's reputation and support among the same year seemed to be above his Zhang Wenxu.

This Zhuangyuan and Bangyan, who is whose foil, Zhang Wenxu felt quite helpless...

Compared to the Zhuangyuan Zhang Wenxu, the Tanhua Chen Qirui's mood was much more relaxed and free.

There are only three people in the first rank. Although the Tanhua is at the bottom, by comparison, he is the person who has the least to do with the overall situation, but he is also a proper first-rank Jinshi, with endless benefits and practicality.

Therefore, Chen Qirui stepped forward to chat with Jia Cong, which was very smooth and generous. His admiration and praise for Jia Cong came from his heart, and he did not spare his praise.

This is also the meaning of what should be. Chen Qirui, who ranked third, expressed his admiration for the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan who ranked ahead, which seemed very logical, completely unlike Zhang Wenxu's twisting.

Jia Cong chatted with Chen Qirui quite congenially. He saw that this new Tanhua Lang had a dignified appearance and a burly figure, but his skin was slightly dark and his waist was slightly round and fat.

Although the style of Tanhua Lang is handsome, it is about the same, not much, but it looks pleasing, with a blessed face, and looks pleasing to the eye.

Throughout history, the world has had some city-level fantasies about Tanhua Lang, interpreting the Tanhua of the first rank as more glorious than the Zhuangyuan.

It is fabricated that those who hit the Tanhua must not only have outstanding talent but also handsome appearance.

Since the establishment of the imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty, there have indeed been such allusions to selecting Tanhua, but in the imperial examination to select talents, it is often difficult to fully realize it.

Among the scholars of the world, it is rare to see people who are both talented and handsome.

Whether such a person can become a Provincial Graduate Wu, enter the Spring Examination, and be in the middle of five or five is another matter.

Even if he finally enters the Spring Examination, the Metropolitan Examination is to copy the name and read the papers, and arrange the ranking, not to select people by appearance. Can such an outstanding student rank in the top eighteen of the Metropolitan Examination?

The opportunity to finally enter the first rank is even smaller, almost equal to none.

Therefore, the selection of Tanhua in the Great Zhou Dynasty is still based on talent, only trying to take into account the appearance and demeanor, but after all, it is not a beauty pageant. This kind of consideration is just that the appearance is upright and not too ugly.

Therefore, a Tanhua like Chen Qirui is just in the middle, which is reasonable.

Those who flatter that Tanhua are all as handsome as Pan An are just shallow people in the city, wishing to pull fantasies, and being lewd and buying waves...

As time passed, the sky was bright, and more and more new Jinshi gathered outside the Chengtian Gate.

Because the time to enter the palace had not yet arrived, it was a good opportunity for these new Jinshi to contact the same year and talk and get familiar with each other.

Three hundred Jinshi were already a large group of people, each forming small circles, chatting and talking to each other.

Most of them were narrated by fellow villagers, some were discussed by fellow teachers, or gathered by fellow academies.

Another kind had more schemes, taking managing interpersonal relationships as the priority, and laying a foreshadowing for the future official career.

The most obvious manifestation was that with the three first-rank Jinshi as the core, many new Jinshi gathered around, chatting and climbing.

And among the three first-rank Jinshi, Jia Cong was vaguely the core...

The reason is nothing more than that Zhuangyuan Zhang Wenxu and Tanhua Chen Qirui, although they have the honor of the list, have no official status and reputation.

By comparison, Jia Cong's official title is precious, famous in the world, and it is said that he is also a favorite minister of the Emperor, so naturally he is more sought after.

Jia Cong's classmates Cai Xiaoyu and Liu Xiaoping also arrived outside the Chengtian Gate, seeing from a distance a group of Jinshi surrounding Jia Cong and chatting.

They were all close friends with Jia Cong and had time to chat over wine, so they just stood outside the circle and watched the fun.

This time, Cai Xiaoyu and Liu Xiaoping were both ranked in the middle and front of the second rank. As long as they had some luck, they might have the qualifications to enter the Hanlin Academy, so their mood was very relaxed and free.

Liu Xiaoping looked at the crowd around Jia Cong and said: "Yuzhang was almost able to achieve the 'Three Firsts' and leave a name in history. It's really a pity."

Cai Xiaoyu's slightly fat face carried a trace of cynicism.

He smiled and said: "My father said that reputation must be had, but excess is not good, it can become a target, and it is also a burden. Sometimes, in the official career, it is difficult to generate the spirit of wind and thunder, and it is difficult to do practical things."

"Yuzhang is different from ordinary people. When did he lack reputation? Look at him, he only became a Bangyan, and he is already so attracting bees and butterflies."

"If he really became a Zhuangyuan, and then saw us, wouldn't he be arrogant? Not good, not good, Bangyan is enough, everyone can still drink and talk well, without those damn concerns."

Liu Xiaoping smiled slightly when he heard this, thinking of Cai Xiaoyu's father, Cai Xiang. As a Cabinet University Scholar, although he reached the pinnacle of officials, he had always been known as a fierce scholar.

Cai Xiang was somewhat of an outlier among court officials, not promoting the virtue of Confucius and Mencius, only talking about practical use. Although he was a very capable person, he had always been merciless to political enemies...

It was not surprising that he would say such things to his son. If he weren't Cai Xiaoyu's close friend, I'm afraid Cai Fatty would still have concerns, and he wouldn't be able to hear this.

He smiled and said: "The Tanhua Chen Qirui is dignified, generous, and has a good popularity, which is worthy of the name of Tanhua."

"The Zhuangyuan Zhang Wenxu is also a person with a great reputation, but he seems to be not very popular with the same year..."

Cai Xiaoyu smiled gloatingly and said softly: "To say that Zhang Wenxu has some fame, my family's ancestral home is in Qingzhou. Relatives in the family came to the capital to walk around and said that Zhang Wenxu had a great reputation in Qingzhou."

"He is also blessed with heaven-sent fortune, the ancestral grave is smoking, and he was able to hit the Zhuangyuan. It's just that his luck is a little bit short, and he actually met a monster like Yuzhang."

"You and I brothers are not clear, for so many years, Yuzhang is best at grabbing all the limelight, ruining other people's interest, haha, look at these same years, they are still rushing up."

"Hey, Zhongwen, when did you go blind? With Chen Qirui's appearance, he is still dignified and worthy of the name of Tanhua. He is not as handsome as me."

Liu Xiaoping looked at Cai Xiaoyu with some disgust.

He shook his head and said: "The appearance of a man, straight nose and wide mouth, burly and beautiful, masculine and proud, strong and dignified, is the top choice."

"Chen Qirui has such an outstanding style, and he is talented. Although his skin is a little dark, it does not hurt the elegance, so naturally he is worthy of the name of Tanhua."

He also advised Cai Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, it's not that I'm talking about you. Since you made the list in the Metropolitan Examination, you have been slack and gluttonous, and you have blackmailed Yuzhang for how many Spring Flower Building banquets."

"Look at your appearance now, you are fat and round, and you are almost catching up with Tanhua Lang. If you don't know how to restrain yourself, it will hinder the appearance of the Jinshi."

The two were teasing and damaging each other there, and the rumbling drums sounded inside the Chengtian Gate. The Ministry of Rites officials came to teach etiquette, and all the Jinshi of this year began to organize teams and straighten their clothes.

In the dazzling and bright morning light, the two huge palace gates slowly opened wide, and three hundred Jinshi, under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites officials, lined up and entered the Chengtian Gate... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 655 =====