Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 213 The dead friend is not dead

There is no need to wait too much time for the palace examination, the papers must be marked that night, and the results will be released the next morning.

The examination papers were reviewed at the Ministry of Rites, and twenty examiners led by the principal and deputy chief examiners were marking the examination papers at the same time.

The twenty reviewers are divided into ten groups, six of which are the first review, four are the second review, two assistant examiners are the third review, and Ouyang Xiu, the chief examiner, is the final review.

The test papers are reviewed in a streamlined manner. If a test paper is still scored below the upper middle level after the first and second review, then this test paper will be eliminated directly and will not enter the third review.

The two deputy chief examiners will rank the test papers above middle school and enter the final final review.

Then these test papers are combined with the results of the provincial test, scored according to the fifth-class standard, and the final ranking of the first list is ranked.

Finally, the list of Jiabang will be handed over to the Ministry of Rites, who will be responsible for arranging the top [-] scholars and the top three of the children's department, and the emperor will personally interview them.

In the back hall of the Ministry of Rites, twenty examiners are nervously reviewing the test papers.

Zhang Xuan, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, did not go home either. He stood on a small building, looking at the brightly lit back hall with his hands behind his back.

Zhang Xuan's heart was quite complicated, he couldn't understand why Zhang Yaozuo insisted on blocking Fan Ning in the imperial examination?

A little boy and scholar, worthy of the respect of the dignified head of the country?
He said it was to blow Fan Zhongyan's arrogance, but Zhang Xuan didn't think that Fan Ning's defeat had anything to do with blowing Fan Zhongyan, not to mention that they were only cousins.

Moreover, it is too risky to attack Fan Ning. In order to frame Fan Ning for going whoring, Pang Ji wiped out the young Yin of the Kaifeng Prefecture.
Of course, it was not Zhang Yaozuo who was unlucky in the end, but the person who worked for Zhang Yaozuo. When Liu Jin, the governor of Kaifeng, was dismissed, Zhang Yaozuo did not come out to speak for Liu Jin. How could it be chilling to be exiled to Lingnan like this.

This kind of practice of only killing fellow Taoists but not poor ones really made many people dissatisfied with Zhang Yaozuo, including Zhang Xuan, but it didn't hurt Zhang Yaozuo's face. Zhang Yaozuo explained.

At this time, a subordinate rushed over and whispered something in Zhang Xuan's ear. Zhang Xuan's brows were suddenly knit together, and bored eyes appeared in his eyes.

He just didn't want to see Zhang Yaozuo, so he hid in the Ministry of Rites and left the palace. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yaozuo chased after the Ministry of Rites.

It really annoyed Zhang Xuan, but he didn't dare to offend the father-in-law, so he had to hold back his dissatisfaction and came to his official room in the outer hall of the Ministry of Rites.

Zhang Xuan hurried into his official room, only to see Zhang Yaozuo sitting in his seat coldly.

Zhang Yaozuo's official position is not high, and his official rank is only fifth grade, but he is very domineering because his daughter is a noble concubine, even if he is a minister of the court, he would not dare to provoke him.

Zhang Xuan quickly stepped forward to salute, "Why is the father-in-law here?"

Zhang Yaozuo smiled and said: "Zhang Shilang is too busy, he doesn't even go home, so the old man has to come to the door in person!"

"These two days are the most critical time for the palace examination. As the main official of the Ministry of Rites, I am really busy."

"Hmph! Then what about what I'll tell you?"

Zhang Xuan knew that he couldn't get past the ambiguity, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "That... the humble job has done its best."

"Have you tried your best?"

Zhang Yaozuo's eyes became gloomy, and he said coldly, "Does your best effort send a foreigner to try to say a word during the review? That is your best effort?"

"The Ministry of Rites can't interfere with the review of documents. Our only chance is when the review is conducted. The Ministry of Rites has not objected to it for decades. I have broken the precedent of the Ministry of Rites for decades. Isn't this my best effort?"

"You don't want to do this for me. The Ministry of Rites wants to deal with a scholar. There are plenty of ways, but you don't want to do it."

Zhang Xuan became annoyed in his heart, and contradicted unceremoniously: "The head of the state wants to deal with him, and there are ways to deal with him. Why do you have to make things difficult for the lower officials?"

This is also what Zhang Xuan dislikes most about Zhang Yaozuo. Since he hates Fan Ning, he can buy a killer to deal with Fan Ning, but he doesn't want to take the risk himself, but wants to throw the risk to others. Does he really think others are fools?
"Really? I made it difficult for you. Last year you were a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. When you asked me for help for promotion, you didn't think about whether you made it difficult for me."

Zhang Yaozuo's tone was extremely cold, he stood up and said, "Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you, and take back those paintings you gave me later! I won't be accused of taking bribes in the future."

After finishing speaking, Zhang Yaozuo took a step and left. Before reaching the door, Zhang Xuan gave in. The word 'accepting bribes' hit Zhang Xuan's heart heavily, and he had a clue in Zhang Yaozuo's hands.

Zhang Xuan quickly bowed and said: "The official is confused for a while, please rest assured, I will not let the father down!"

Despite Zhang Xuan's reluctance, Zhang Yaozuo pinched his neck!He had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

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Before dawn, Ouyang Xiu slowly put down his pen. He rubbed his reddened eyes, and smiled at the deputy examiners Shen Kuan and Ma Jing: "I think this list is okay, please confirm it again!"

After the third review, they screened out 120 test papers that were scored above the upper middle school level, then tore off the papers and combined their provincial test results with the palace test results for the final grade evaluation.

As long as you get the third rank or above, you can enter the first list. Ouyang Xiu finally controlled the number of people on the list to 110.

Then hand over this list to the Ministry of Rites, who will notify the top [-] and the top three of the boys to prepare for an interview today.

The Ministry of Rites is not allowed to change the order of grades without authorization. If there is any change, the consent of the chief examiner must be obtained, and there must be sufficient reasons.

This process is actually the same as the provincial examination. The Ministry of Rites still has the right to review the qualifications. They must ensure that there is no negative news about the scholars who have won the first prize.

Once the review fails, the Ministry of Rites must promptly feed back the news to the inspector Xiangguo and the chief examiner, and provide conclusive evidence, and then the chief examiner will reposition and sort and provide a new list.

Over the past few decades, there has never been a case of failing the palace examination.

As for the ranking of the second list, it is directly ranked according to the order of the results of the provincial test, from high to low.

Shen Kuan nodded, "I also agree with this list!"

"Where's the horse chief examination?" Ouyang Xiu asked Ma Jing again.

Ma Jing said with a smile: "The lower officials also support it!"

"Okay! Since all three of us agree, this list is considered to be passed, so let's hand it over to the Ministry of Rites as soon as possible!"

Ouyang Xiu picked up a pen and signed, Shen Kuan and Ma Jing also signed, and after affixing their seals, several copies of the list were put into a sealed cylinder and sealed.

Ma Jing got up to make tea, only Ouyang Xiu and Shen Kuan were left in the room.

Ouyang Xiu handed the sealed cylinder to Shen Kuan and said with a smile: "We are finally done, and I will leave the matter of dealing with the Ministry of Rites to Brother Shen!"

Shen Kuan seemed a little worried, he pondered for a while and said, "Examiner Ouyang, do you still remember the objection to the examination by the Ministry of Rites?"

Ouyang Xiu pondered for a while and said, "I asked Bao Zheng to pay attention to Fan Ning afterward, but so far, nothing unusual has happened, and as you can see, Fan Ning still got excellent grades in the exam."

"If the list is not announced, the officials still feel that it is not safe."

Ouyang Xiu understood Shen Kuan's meaning, "You mean, the Ministry of Rites will produce another moth in the future? Probably not! The Ministry of Rites dared to change our list, it's too daring!"

"The lower officer thinks we should be more cautious."

Ouyang Xiu nodded silently. At this time, there was a sound of announcing the watch outside, and it was already five watch.

He smiled, and said to Shen Kuan: "Let's hand over the list to the Ministry of Rites according to the normal procedure, and then just keep it in mind."

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The Chongwen Library is the place where the secret books of the palace are managed. It is a large royal library, but it is not inside the palace, but outside the Xuande Gate, next to the Taichang Temple, about two miles away from the Xuande Gate, the gate of the palace.

Due to the large number of houses in the Chongwen Hall, nearly [-] scholars lived here temporarily.

At five o'clock, the scholars got up one after another. Today is the most brilliant day of their lives. After the interview in the morning, the ranking will be announced directly, and everyone will get their own seat.

No matter how bad they were, they were from the same Jinshi background. At noon, they would ride horses and praise the streets, and after a scenic walk in the capital, they would return to the imperial city, and then meet the emperor and receive the emperor's blessing.

In the end, they went to Jinmingchi together for the Qionglin Banquet, which made their life brilliance culminate.

"Fan Ning, can we go home tomorrow?" Su Liang asked excitedly.

"Are you in a hurry to go home?" Fanning asked vaguely, gargling salt water.

"The main reason is that Yuanyuan is going back, and I want to go back with her."

"Then you go back first! I have to wait for a few days. Second Uncle's shop will open in two days. I can't leave for a while."

"Then I'll go first, by the way, you help me claim the prize, I may not wait until the draw."

"No problem, if you win the lottery, I'll take your money and buy me a drink directly."

"It's up to you, as long as you're willing!" Su Liang glared at him angrily.

At this time, an official from the Ministry of Rituals walked into the compound, clapped his hands and shouted: "Everyone, hurry up and have breakfast, and leave after breakfast, time is running out."

Everyone was busy for a while, and they didn't need to bring anything today, just put on white court clothes, a square gauze hat, and be neat and tidy.

Their task this morning was to wait patiently.

At Maoshizheng, 590 six scholars marched into Xuandemen and went directly to the square of Daqing Palace.

Six hundred chairs had already been set up in the square, and six hundred scholars sat down one after another.

At this moment, Pei Qun, a member of the etiquette department, said loudly: "Everyone, please be quiet, I will announce the list of interviews!"

There was a sudden silence in the square.

(End of this chapter)