Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 223 Deer Ming Banquet

……

"Don't talk about others." Ye Mengshu interrupted and said with a smile: "Aren't you also going to get engaged? Have you set the date?"

Jia Rong laughed and said, "I am engaged! It is a serious matter. He is taking a concubine because he is obviously greedy for beauty and not doing his job properly."

“Slacking off!”

"No way." Song Yu retorted: "I was reading again last night!"

Jia Rong: "Hey, I don't believe it!"

Xie Jiwen also laughed and said, "I don't believe it either. He just took in a concubine, so why are they so inseparable? Did you go to read a book? Are you kidding me?"

Song Yu blushed.

At this time, a lively old man in his sixties came over and said with a bow, "Greetings to all the fellow Qingshe students, and greetings to Jia Jieyuan."

Several people hurriedly returned the greeting: "Hello, Brother Shi."

People of the same year are equals, regardless of age, so even though Shi Pengxiang is already in his sixties, he can only be friends with Jia Rong.

Shi Pengxiang obviously didn't care about this, and said with a smile: "Jia Jieyuan, I'll need you to lead us in singing the Deer Singing Poem at the Deer Singing Banquet later. As for the Kuixing Dance, I'm too old to do it... Can you help me?"

It is a custom that the top scorer sings the poem of Deer Singing and the top scorer leads the Kuixing Dance.

Jia Rong was very embarrassed for a moment.

Good at reading, who can dance?
Xie Jiwen saw Jia Rong's difficulty, stepped forward and said with a smile: "It seems that Brother Jie Yuan is not good at those things either, why don't I do it for you?"

"Thank you very much."

Jia Rong cupped his hands.

Shi Pengxiang stroked his beard and smiled, "Thank you, brother, for taking on this important task. I feel relieved. Otherwise, I would be in a real dilemma."

Xie Jiwen smiled and said, "Brother Shi, you are too modest. You are still strong despite your age. You look more energetic than us."

This is true. Although Shi Pengxiang is older, he has a rosy complexion and seems to be well versed in health preservation.

On the other hand, most of the scholars who passed the imperial examination had studied hard for ten years and looked frail. After experiencing such a great joyous event, they got drunk and sang and danced all night long, and they would sweat profusely if they walked a few steps.

As expected of a weak scholar, he was blown away by the wind.

Jia Rong had learned martial arts from Xiao Xiao for a year, and had some muscles in his arms and legs, which made him quite unique among the literati.

……

Soon, President Ma Qianyu, as well as the deputy chief examiner of this provincial examination, the official from the Five Classics Room, the examiners, the censors, and others arrived together.

Everyone stood up in a hurry and saluted one by one.

The others stood at the back for the time being, while Ma Qianyu stood in front and nodded to everyone, smiling, "Congratulations to all of you for being on the Dragon and Tiger List and winning the first place. You must not slack off after today, and strive to be on the Spring Grand Prize List next year, and even win the Yellow Prize!"

Everyone bowed again and said, "It is all thanks to the support of the president and all the gentlemen. We will not let the president down..."

After all the flattery, it was almost the end of the Si hour.

Ma Qianyu randomly picked a very simple test question for the re-examination.

“When Confucius climbed the Eastern Hill, he looked down on Lu; when he climbed Mount Tai, he looked down on the world.”

You only have half an hour to answer.

Although the time is short, for a scholar who has passed the imperial examination step by step, such a simple question should be easy to answer, unless he cheated in the exam.

In just an incense stick of time, someone finished answering the questions and handed in the re-examination paper. The examiner just glanced at it, compared it with the provincial examination paper, nodded slightly, and considered it passed.

Jia Rong did not treat the informal exam carelessly, but still put in all his effort and finished the exam carefully.

So it was already late when he handed in the paper.

But thanks to his serious writing, President Ma Hanlin was waiting for him to hand in his paper. "Jia Shunzhi, let me see your re-examination paper." Ma Hanlin said solemnly. Jia Rong's seven pieces of writing really amazed him, so he wanted to take a good look at them this time.

Jia Rong handed in his essay and all the examiners took a look.

"To understand the greatness of the holy way, one must first plan it and then question and speak of it.

There is no greater truth than the sage’s door. If you visit it, you will know it…”

The article is straightforward and to the point, without any unnecessary details, and the changes and editing are all in accordance with the heart. Although it is simple and plain, with only 286 words in the whole article, it is full of vigor and vitality, showing the author's extraordinary writing skills and his familiarity with Confucian classics that is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

All the examiners read through his essays one by one and praised him wholeheartedly, saying, "Jia Shun's essay has the style of a great writer. He is worthy of being taught by Lord Jia!"

Shi Pengxiang held his beard and nodded slightly.

Although he had a clear conscience when he pointed out the top scholar, he still felt a little uncomfortable when he saw that it was Jia Rong, the grandson of Lord Jia.

Afraid that others would say he was trying to curry favor with the powerful, Jia Rong proved with his writing that this top scholar had a clear conscience.

In just a little more than an incense stick of time, he was able to write such an article. Among the eight-part essay literary circles of Daxia, there are only a handful of people who can write with such literary talent. With Jia Rong's current level, let alone the first place in the provincial examination, he is afraid that he will be the first place in the imperial examination next year.

At this time, all the examiners had finished reading the re-examination essays, and nothing was revealed. The candidates were happy and looked at the eight-part essay written by Jia Rong, comparing it with their own essays, and they were all convinced.

He is indeed a young master from a scholarly family!

At the following Deer Singing Banquet, Jia Rong did not seek the limelight in the Kuixing Dance, but was humble and polite as he followed Xie Jiwen with everyone else. Everyone was of the same level, so they just danced a few times to suit the occasion.

A day passed by unknowingly, and by evening, all the follow-up procedures of the Autumn Examination were almost completed, and the gate of Shuntian Prefecture Examination Hall was closed again.

The next time it opens will be three years later. The imperial examination will not be held in this Imperial College, but in the back of the Imperial College.

Tomorrow, everyone will meet at Xiangya Tower for a drink.

This is the same year banquet.

Usually they were led by the top scholar in the Jieyuan or Wujing class. They would drink and watch music together to get to know each other so that they could help each other and form cliques in the future in officialdom.

As the champion of this provincial examination, Jia Rong himself has an extremely noble status and has undoubtedly become the leader of the provincial examination. Some people even feel that having a good relationship with Jia Rong can gain more benefits than being a teacher.

The enthusiasm and passion of scholars when they were scholars gradually disappeared with the change of status after passing the imperial examination. People now care more about whether they have a bright future, whether their official career is smooth, and how to truly rise to the top.

Juren was just the lowest level of gentry, far from the top.

Who doesn’t want to climb up?
Jia Rong was soon surrounded by many flatterers, who kept calling him "Young Master" as if they were treating themselves as servants.

The integrity of scholars is lost as their knowledge increases.

Jia Rong responded to each one with a smile. He neither acted arrogantly and kept the person at a distance, nor did he behave in an overly intimate manner. He just treated the person as an ordinary friend.

There is a saying that goes, "More friends mean more paths," and you never know who may need you in the future.

After the banquet for classmates, there is also a banquet for classmates.

Fellow students are candidates who have passed the imperial examination in the same room, and their relationship is closer than that of students of the same year. This year, there are only 28 successful candidates in the subject of "Book of Rites". Although the number is not large, it is quite prestigious to have Jia Rong, the top scorer.

"Brother Jia is an expert on the Book of Rites. Please give us more guidance in the future."

"Yes, I hope Brother Jia can give me some advice."

"No, no." Jia Rong smiled modestly, "This time it was just luck. My writing is average. We can all learn from each other and strive to get our names on the list next year."

Everyone laughed.

This was a time when they had just passed the imperial examination and were full of energy and confidence. They all thought they were the chosen one and would definitely pass the imperial examination.

After the banquet for fellow students, there was Qingshe's own elegant gathering. In addition to Jia Rong, Xie Jiwen and Ye Mengshu, four other people from Qingshe passed the exam and were known as the Seven Stars of Qingshe.

The crowd did not write articles this time, but just drank and talked, and tried their best to comfort those candidates who did not pass the imperial examination.

(End of this chapter)