Chapter 65: Qionglin Banquet

The final level of examination in the Jin Feng Dynasty was called the palace examination, which was traditionally held on the second day after the release of the results of the metropolitan examination.

The Empress would personally ask questions in front of the palace, and the tribute students would answer.

However, because Empress Ming Xing had done something outrageous, the court was in turmoil. During the palace examination, the Empress did not speak a word throughout.

The four cabinet ministers personally asked questions, and the candidates answered one by one.

The final results were left for the Zhennan Wang and the Long Diqing to discuss and decide.

After the palace examination ended, the tribute students withdrew.

In Taihe Hall, the two nearly lost their gentlemanly manners over the issue of the top scholar position.

Zhennan Wang believed that traditionally, the third place had always been someone with both talent and looks. The third place in the first class this year was a middle-aged scholar from Longzhou, about forty years old, who was not suitable for the third place position. She proposed to lower Liu Cangyun, the first place in the first class, to the third place.

However, Long Diqing firmly opposed this, believing that compared to Liu Cangyun’s policy essay, the second place in the first class was far inferior. If they were to follow convention and make her the third place, how could the imperial examination be fair?

The two argued endlessly until the four cabinet ministers stepped in and proposed a compromise.

The third place and the second place policy essays were not significantly different in quality. The top scholar position would remain unchanged, but the positions of the second and third places in the first class would be swapped. Although the second place Jia Ziyun’s appearance couldn’t compare to the top scholar Liu Cangyun, she was still a graceful young lady, worthy of the third place title.

After hearing this proposal, they finally decided on the top three of this year’s examination.

――

On the second day after the palace examination ended, the results were announced, with the top three being granted the jinshi degree.

The name of Liu Changning, the first from a humble family, was from this moment recorded in the annals of the Jin Feng Dynasty.

On this day, the top scholar, the second place, and the third place rode high-headed steeds, parading through the streets. Nearly half of the young men of Jinling city, with veiled faces, gathered on both sides of the main streets of Jinling, craning their necks to look.

The crowds on both sides of the street were surging, even more than in previous years.

The private rooms in the taverns on both sides were fully booked early. The dignitaries and nobles of the capital had taken up positions in the private rooms, opening the windows wide, hoping to catch a son-in-law from among the successful candidates.

The top three sat on their tall horses, coming out of the palace gates and riding forth. The sound of firecrackers and the beating of gongs and drums were deafening.

People on the street stretched their necks to look inside, craning their heads in anticipation.

After the gongs and drums had been beating for quite a while, the procession arrived.

The top scholar appeared before their eyes, surrounded by people.

The young woman sat upright on her tall horse, wearing a gold-flowered black gauze cap and a bright red official robe, with a wide black and gold jade belt around her waist. The wide official clothes couldn’t hide her slender and handsome figure.

On either side of her were the second and third place scholars, all with smiles in their eyes. Only she maintained a solemn face, with indifferent eyes, thin lips, and a straight gaze.

At first glance, she seemed to be an extremely cold person, but the young men watching in the crowd were captivated at first sight. They no longer cared whether she was cold or not, and threw their purses at her, shy and timid.

However, she deflected them one by one, causing disappointment in the eyes of those young men who had secretly given her their hearts.

On the second floor of the taverns, the hosts from official families, with anxious expressions, ordered their servants to wait by the imperial list, hoping to catch a desirable son-in-law for their own families.

They waited eagerly, but their calculations came to nothing.

After the top three finished their street parade and the list was unveiled, they did not linger. They hurriedly followed the guards into the imperial palace to attend the Qionglin Banquet.

The Qionglin Banquet was held in Qionglin Garden, located north of the Forbidden City, facing the Golden Brightness Pool across from the Imperial Garden.

In front of Qionglin Garden was a long ivory road, with ancient pine and cypress trees on both sides.

Past the arched gate, one’s eyes were met with drooping green willows, jeweled ponds, connected walkways, and a profusion of flowers.

A banquet was set in the garden.

The Empress sat at the head, with tables and chairs set up on both sides, laden with rare delicacies and fine wines.

The powerful officials were already seated at the banquet in order of rank.

Liu Changning and the other two top scholars came forward and knelt, showing no sign of nervousness. They performed the kowtow ritual steadily and with dignity, their behavior proper and elegant.

The surrounding officials looked at her tall and jade-like figure with satisfaction in their eyes.

They couldn’t wait to step forward and immediately speak to her about the matter of becoming in-laws.

As soon as the three entered their seats, the noble officials could no longer sit still.

The Marquis of Ruyang glanced at the several officials to his left and right who were itching to move.

He was quick to act, cupping his hands and stepping forward to request: “At today’s Qionglin Banquet, this minister observes that Top Scholar Liu is talented and extraordinary in bearing. I am quite fond of her privately. It just so happens that my eldest son is eighteen years old, with a good demeanor and still unmarried. He would be most suitable for Top Scholar Liu…”

The Marquis of Ruyang had barely spoken half his piece when the officials seated in the secondary seats all interrupted this old fox’s plea.

They scrambled to say:

“Marquis Ruyang, your words are mistaken. This official also has a son of marriageable age, how could it be your family’s turn first…”

“Top Scholar Liu is talented and beautiful, this official is also very fond of her. My youngest son is accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting… pairing him with Top Scholar Liu would surely be a match made in heaven.”

…

The group of officials argued noisily.

Pei Yuanshao was quite angry. Everyone was fighting over his person, but he… could only suppress the impulse in his heart and watch this group of people make a scene.

In a bad mood, the upturned smile on his lips was reduced by three degrees. He glanced at that person out of the corner of his eye.