Chapter 458: As If Seeing the Blue Sky

The palace argued all night, and the arguing continued the next day — they simply could not settle the top three of the palace examination.

Yang Pu believed that Xue Shao's paper was flawless, and since he was also the provincial champion and the metropolitan champion, he should be made the palace champion.

Achieving the Triple Crown was something worth praising for both the Emperor and the ministers.

But among the examiners, he alone thought so; the rest all believed Xue Shao had used the examination to file a grievance, undermining the examination system, and that his results should be revoked — he should even be severely punished as a warning to others.

"If he is not severely punished, then in the future anyone with a grievance will come disrupt the examinations — how is the state to select scholars then? Your Majesty, without rules nothing can be done properly. If one has a grievance, one goes to the Court of Judicial Review, to the Ministry of Justice, to the Censorate; failing those, one can still beat the Dengwen Drum. One simply cannot come and make a great disturbance at the examinations!"

Yang Pu: "If his writing had been off-topic and he had used a separate sheet to write a complaint, that would be filing a grievance. But his opening and essay were aimed at answering the examination topic — the examples he cited were merely controversial."

"Grand Secretary Yang, he is Xue Xuan's nephew and student, and he deliberately handed in his paper early to draw attention. The Xue Xuan case was long ago settled. That he specifically used it as his example — if that is not filing a grievance, what is?"

"Then, is there truly no injustice in the Xue Xuan case?"

At these words, everyone fell silent; many stole glances at the Emperor, and at Wang Zhen standing beside the Emperor.

The Emperor, who had been silent all along, lifted his eyelids and asked them in return, "Yes — is there injustice in the Xue Xuan case?"

Wang Zhen knelt down, and among the examiners two more knelt — one was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the other the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief.

The Emperor gave a light snort and was about to speak when an examiner reminded him, "Your Majesty, the results are to be posted tomorrow. Settling the rankings is what matters most."

He said, "Since Xue Shao is controversial, let us set him aside for now and first decide the top three. If Your Majesty and the examiners deem him worthy, place him at the tail of the Third Tier; if not, then disqualifying him is not too late. This way it will not affect the other candidates."

Yang Pu anxiously objected: "That cannot be — it would be unfair to Xue Shao."

"Grand Secretary Yang, this examination admits one hundred and fifty scholars. If we delay the rankings any longer, that is unfair to one hundred and fifty people. Unfair to one person, or unfair to one hundred and fifty — you choose."

"You—!" Yang Pu anxiously looked toward the Emperor.

The Emperor lowered his eyes in thought, gave a slight nod, and told them to set Xue Shao aside and decide the rankings.

With the controversial Xue Shao removed, the remaining rankings were easy to settle.

Before nightfall the rankings were decided, but Xue Shao's stay or removal remained undecided.

The Emperor said not a word, silently walked out of the great hall, taking no one with him, and climbed alone to the Star-Gazing Terrace in the palace, looking down from on high over the entire imperial palace, the whole of Jingcheng.

His gaze drifted of its own accord toward the Imperial Prison, toward the distance, as if wanting to pierce through the dark night and see farther, wider places.

The next day, the palace examination results were posted, and all candidates entered the palace in good order to hear the announcement.

Unlike other examination lists, the palace examination list was read aloud — the Emperor called out each name one by one, then it was passed by the palace gate officials down the steps, and finally the guards called out the names in unison, as if proclaiming to Heaven and Earth, the ceremonial feeling at its peak.

For this reason, all who passed, regardless of rank, were proud and full of ambition.

At least, for now.

Xue Shao still stood in the middle of the front row.

The Emperor unfolded the golden list, glanced at it, then looked up and said, "Second Tier Transmitter — Xue Shao!"

Xue Shao looked up in surprise, paused for a beat, then, having realized, immediately stepped forward and raised his hand respectfully.

The Emperor handed the golden list to Cao Jixiang.

Cao Jixiang held the golden list and passed it to Xue Shao, pressing down on Xue Shao's hand to make him lower it.

Xue Shao lifted his head slightly to look at him.

Cao Jixiang gave him a faint smile.

Xue Shao's heart steadied at once. He held the golden list and walked to the right side of the great hall, his gaze sweeping quickly across the hall. Not seeing Wang Zhen, he gathered his thoughts, unfolded the golden list, and began to call the names. The so-called Transmitter's job was precisely this — to read out the names of the Second Tier one by one, then the cabinet ministers would pass them down one by one, out to the courtyard, where the guards would call out the names in unison.

At this moment, the names of the successful candidates rang through Heaven and Earth, as if proclaiming to the world — the ceremonial feeling was complete.

To have this once in a lifetime is enough!

After Xue Shao finished reading the Second Tier names, the Emperor began to appoint the Third Tier Transmitter — that is, the top of the Third Tier — and had him stand at the right side outside the hall to read the Third Tier names.

The final First Tier of three — the Champion, the Second, and the Third Place — were announced by the Emperor himself.

The name-calling ceremony lasted one shichen. As soon as the three names of the First Tier were announced, officials of the Ministry of Rites immediately stepped forward, clustered around them and led them away to change clothes, put on flowers, and at once mount horses to parade through the streets.

The remaining candidates could choose to follow along for the excitement, or stay behind and attend the palace banquet later.

This was the Metropolitan Graduate Banquet held by the Ministry of Rites, held within the imperial city, and generally the Emperor would also attend.

For many candidates, this might be the only chance in their entire lives to come into close contact with the Emperor.

Because some people, while serving as officials, may simply disappear.

! 。Read

Xue Shao stood to one side as many candidates he was acquainted with surged up to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Brother Xue! Congratulations, Brother Xue!"

Xue Shao smiled and cupped his fists. "Same to you, same to you."

"What a pity it wasn't Champion — at least you should have gotten Third Place, right? You were the provincial and metropolitan champion, how could you possibly be only fourth?"

Xue Shao laughed and said, "It just goes to show the imperial court selects scholars fairly — they didn't make me Champion just because of a nice-sounding reputation. It must be that my paper was not as well written as theirs."

"Brother Xue, how did you open your essay?"

"Ah, the rankings are already out — what's the point of comparing answers now? Let's not discuss it. Brother Xue, don't be discouraged. Although you only got Transmitter, a Transmitter can also enter the Hanlin Academy. To enter the Grand Secretariat, one must enter the Hanlin — you've got one foot in the Grand Secretariat already."

Only the top four of the palace examination could enter the Hanlin Academy directly; everyone else, if they wanted to enter the Hanlin Academy, had to take another examination.

However, most of those present decided to give up and directly seek an official post.

There were too many big shots, and the Hanlin Academy had limited slots — better not go and join that crowd.

Xue Shao only smiled awkwardly, and could not help turning his head to look toward the great hall. There, Zhu Qizhen had already risen and left, the hem of his robe flashing past the corner as he turned.

He was also dumbfounded.

He had thought he would either be disqualified or be the very last — he truly had not expected to be the Second Tier Transmitter.

Imperial authority stood supreme; this must have been the Emperor's insistence.

Thinking this through, Xue Shao's mood lifted slightly. This was a good thing — it meant the Emperor had actually read his paper. His heart was biased, but that did not mean it could not lean toward them.

However, Wang Zhen had not shown up all day — where was he?

Wang Zhen was at the Imperial Prison, living right next door to Pan Yun, which made Pan Yun squat by the railing and stare at him nonstop.

He had been brought in early that morning. Pan Yun saw him in a prisoner's uniform being escorted in with great deference, and could not help pressing to the doorway to watch him being locked into the cell next door.

Confirming he wasn't here to interrogate people, but like her, was here to squat in the great prison, Pan Yun threw her head back and laughed heartily.

The entire imperial prison echoed with Pan Yun's bright, ringing laughter. The bigwigs sitting deep within the great prison all couldn't help but turn their heads to look, and someone murmured, "Who is laughing so cheerfully, as if seeing the clear sky…"

(End of chapter)