Second entry to the palace.
The sky was only just beginning to brighten when a group of newly listed successful candidates who had passed the imperial examinations gathered early outside the palace gates. Yu Qing was naturally among them.
The other candidates all looked at Yu Qing one after another, or stepped forward to exchange greetings with him.
At this point, Yu Qing no longer tried to avoid them. He would not cover his face either. He had already become so familiar in front of everyone that there was no need for it.
His current attitude was to neither take the initiative, nor avoid others, and he would not show excessive enthusiasm either.
This lukewarm attitude of his made it difficult for people to get close, so the area around him gradually became quiet.
The most popular person was still the new top scholar, Zhan Muchun. However, Zhan Muchun clearly kept glancing towards Yu Qing from time to time. Xu Fei, who was quite familiar with Zhan Muchun, stayed close by his side and also kept quietly looking towards Yu Qing.
After finally dealing with everyone, Zhan Muchun took the initiative to walk over to Yu Qing, cupped his hands in greeting and said, “Brother Shiheng.”
The expression on his face when facing Yu Qing was very complicated. After learning that he had become the top scholar, even he found it a little hard to believe. During the metropolitan examination he had seen the papers ranked higher and realised that the competition was truly fierce with many experts. Yet after the palace examination, his name suddenly topped the golden list, even surpassing Ah Shiheng who only came third. He felt increasingly surprised.
There were four questions in the metropolitan examination. If only some of them scored full marks, one could still say there was an element of luck. But scoring full marks on all four questions was absolute strength. The fact that he could score better than Ah Shiheng made even him doubt himself a little.
Because of this, yesterday he could not help but personally go again, in his capacity as top scholar, to look at the publicly displayed examination papers. After reading them and judging fairly from his own perspective of appreciation, he did not think that Ah Shiheng had underperformed. In his own view, Ah Shiheng’s fu essay surpassed his own and was still a high-level piece written in one smooth flow. Just from this point alone, the level of attainment was not something he could compare to.
He did not know what the marking standards for the palace examination were, and his own family background could not possibly influence the result of this palace examination.
But he had heard some rumours. If he did not verify them, it would become an unresolved knot in his heart forever.
“Oh, I heard you passed as the top scholar. Congratulations, congratulations.” Yu Qing cupped his hands to offer his congratulations, then turned to Xu Fei beside him and asked, “Brother Xu, how did you do this time?”
Xu Fei gave a dry laugh, shook his head and said, “I cannot compare with you two. My luck was not that good this time. I came last and ended up at the bottom.”
Yu Qing chuckled after hearing this and thought to himself that coming last was only right. After all, it was not possible to get hold of the exam questions in advance.
Zhan Muchun had been observing Yu Qing’s expression the whole time and found that the other party was very calm and natural, without any of the reactions he had imagined. Yet he could not hold it in and could not help asking, “Brother Shiheng, I heard that your father was previously the Director of the Ministry of Works in the court. Is that true?”
Yu Qing paused for a moment. He knew that some things could no longer be hidden after the metropolitan examination. He nodded and said, “That is all in the past now.”
Xu Fei blinked repeatedly. In any case, his uncle’s attitude had suddenly changed. He said that the forces behind Ah Shiheng were not small and told him that when facing Ah Shiheng, he should neither offend him nor get too close.
The current Yu Qing seemed like a mystery in his eyes, with one astonishing thing after another constantly emerging from him.
What he regretted most now was giving away Chong’er. He would never find such a satisfactory servant again.
Zhan Muchun smiled bitterly and said, “So it really is like that. Could the rumours be true, and the top scholar was originally meant for you, Brother Shiheng?”
“How is that possible? Brother Zhan is overthinking it.” Yu Qing patted him on the shoulder and said with genuine feeling, “Official honours are like floating clouds to me. I am merely a passer-by in this pursuit of fame. Picking up the title of ‘Tanhua Lang’ to play with is enough. As for becoming an official, it still needs someone like Brother Zhan to do it. As long as Brother Zhan can be a good official, this ‘top scholar’ title can be taken with a clear conscience.”
Zhan Muchun and Xu Fei did not quite understand what he meant. What did he mean by floating clouds? What did he mean by passer-by? Was not the whole point of ten years of hard study exactly this?
Just at that moment, a voice of praise suddenly came from the side, “What a fine saying, ‘As long as one can be a good official, the top scholar title can be taken with a clear conscience’. Well said!”
The three of them turned to look and saw a person walking over from the side. He was actually wearing a purple robe. Looking at the scattered flowers embroidered on the official robe, he was clearly a high-ranking third-grade official.
The three of them quickly cupped their hands in greeting, and the other nearby candidates also hurriedly followed suit.
The person who came was none other than the Censor-in-Chief, Pei Qingcheng. He stared at Yu Qing and looked him up and down before asking, “Are you Ah Shiheng?”
Yu Qing could not help but raise his eyes to meet his gaze and said, “This student is indeed he.”
“Not bad, not bad.” Pei Qingcheng praised him, also patted him on the shoulder, then smiled and walked past. The two officials following him, wearing deep crimson robes, also looked at Yu Qing carefully.
Yu Qing and the others looked at each other, not knowing whether he was praising Yu Qing as a person or praising what he had said.
In any case, seeing that the three officials were heading straight for the palace gates, it was obvious they were also going to attend the morning court. By now they had already seen quite a few court officials arriving, some even entering the palace directly by carriage.
Xu Fei looked around, then walked over to a young eunuch who was accompanying everyone here and asked, “Gonggong, may I ask who that third-grade high official who just passed by is?”
The young eunuch gave a sound of surprise and said, “That is Lord Pei, the Censor-in-Chief. Even we people in the palace are afraid when we see him. In future when you meet him, you must be careful.”
Xu Fei thanked him, returned and relayed the information to Yu Qing and Zhan Muchun. Zhan Muchun clicked his tongue in surprise and said, “So he is the head of the remonstrating officials.”
Yu Qing looked puzzled and asked, “Looking at the official robe, is it not only third grade? Is he very powerful?”
Zhan Muchun and Xu Fei were left speechless for a moment, somewhat unsure how this fellow had even managed to enter the first class.
In the end it was Xu Fei, who was used to his unreliability, who explained in a low voice, “He is the head of the Censorate. What do you think?”
At this time, another young eunuch came out from inside the palace. This time he was here to urge the new successful candidates to line up.
Yu Qing had originally thought that this time he would finally not have to stand at the very front. Who would have known that this time they did not highlight anyone individually at all. The three from the first class stood together at the very front. Zhan Muchun stood in the middle, the second-place Bangyan and his own Tanhua position stood on the left and right respectively. In the end he still ended up standing at the front.
After lining up, the group stood there obediently waiting.
They waited for a long time until the sun had risen, when an old eunuch finally came out from inside the palace gates. Yu Qing recognised at a glance that it was the same one who had touched his hand last time.
Only this time the old eunuch acted as if he did not recognise him, his gaze sweeping past his face without stopping.
It was the same as last time. He was here to lead the group. Only the etiquette from last time was gone. The old eunuch called out to the group and had them follow the arranged order and walk with him.
When the line entered the palace and reached outside the court hall, the more than one hundred Tong Jinshi were left outside below the jade steps. The court hall could not accommodate so many people. The sixty people from the first and second classes entered the hall as representatives.
The moment the sixty people stepped into the grand court hall in three columns, most of them felt excited.
Some people also understood clearly that this might be the only time in their lives they would enter the court hall.
On the left and right sides of the court hall, officials stood in rows. Yu Qing could feel many officials’ gazes fixed on him, appraising him, including the Censor-in-Chief he had seen earlier.
He glanced upwards and saw an old man wearing a dragon robe sitting high above, also staring at him. The old man had a ruddy complexion, with white beard and hair. Amid his awe-inspiring presence without anger, there was a cold indifference of one who stood high above.
Their gazes met for a moment from above and below. Yu Qing immediately felt guilty and quickly lowered his head obediently as he continued forward.
When they reached the designated position, the old eunuch signalled for them to stop, then announced, “New successful candidates, why do you not quickly pay your respects to His Majesty?”
So the group together cupped their hands and bowed, saying, “We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”
His Majesty the Emperor raised his hand and indicated, “Rise.”
His voice was clear and cold.
The group of candidates who stood up straight only dared to glance at him once before they did not dare look directly again.
“From the moment you step into this grand hall, it is only a beginning, a new beginning. I hope that in the future you can all become like the numerous officials arrayed on the left and right of the hall, become my trusted ministers and pillars, and become useful officials for the state of Jin!”
After saying this, His Majesty the Emperor waved his hand to indicate.
The old eunuch who was leading the way was startled for a moment. He had not expected His Majesty to say only these two sentences, which was very different from previous sessions. It seemed that His Majesty was unwilling to say much more to this batch of candidates today. He immediately shouted, “All candidates, why do you not quickly express your gratitude for the grace?”
So the group of candidates said together again, “We thank Your Majesty for your great grace.”
The old eunuch standing beside the Emperor gestured with his hand. Three eunuchs immediately came out from the side hall, each carrying a tray. On the trays were three sets of official robes. The one in the middle was deep green, while the two on the sides were light green.
The old eunuch standing high announced, “New top scholar Zhan Muchun, by His Majesty’s heavenly grace, is granted the rank of subordinate eighth grade and fills the vacancy of Registrar of the Capital County!”
Zhan Muchun immediately stepped forward, bowed and paid his respects, “We thank Your Majesty for your great grace!”
The eunuch carrying the tray in the middle immediately walked over and presented the items. Zhan Muchun received them with both hands and retreated.
The old eunuch standing high announced, “New second-place Bangyan Yin Jizhen and new third-place Tanhua Ah Shiheng, by His Majesty’s heavenly grace, are granted the rank of proper ninth grade and fill the vacancies of Proofreader in the Censorate!”
Ah Shiheng and the other immediately stepped forward, paid their respects in the same way and expressed thanks, “We thank Your Majesty for your great grace!”
Two eunuchs came over to present the trays. The two received them and retreated.
The old eunuch standing high announced, “The fifty-seven new second-class Jinshi, by His Majesty’s heavenly grace, are granted the rank of subordinate ninth grade and are handed over to the Six Ministries for assignment of posts!”
The fifty-seven people behind the three immediately said together, “We thank Your Majesty for your great grace!”
They did not have the ceremony of being granted official robes in the grand hall. The three from the first class performed the formality on their behalf. Even the specific official positions were not yet decided and still had to wait for the Six Ministries to allocate them specifically.
The old eunuch standing high suddenly announced loudly, “The one hundred and fifty-seven new third-class Tong Jinshi, by His Majesty’s heavenly grace, are granted the rank of subordinate ninth grade and are handed over to the Six Ministries to await appointment!”
A wave of voices quickly came from outside the hall, “We thank Your Majesty for your great grace!”
Those in the know all understood that although these Tong Jinshi and the Jinshi had all been granted subordinate ninth-grade ranks and although they were all handed over to the Six Ministries, the difference between ‘assignment of posts’ and ‘await appointment’ was huge. ‘Assignment of posts’ meant they would definitely be placed, while ‘await appointment’ meant no one knew how long they would have to wait, probably until the year of the monkey. They would likely have to rely on their own abilities.
Afterwards, the old eunuch standing high looked at His Majesty the Emperor’s attitude, then immediately announced in a loud voice, “Court is dismissed!”
The court officials on both sides immediately said together, “We respectfully send off Your Majesty!”
The group of newcomers standing in the middle all bowed.
The Emperor thus withdrew and left. Before departing, he swept his eyes over Yu Qing once more.
After that, the court officials withdrew. Only after all the officials had left did the old eunuch who was leading the way call for the group of newcomers to withdraw as well.