Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 62: Palace Examination Results
Seven days later, in the early morning, the first light of day appeared, followed by the sound of several melodious bells.

Many new scholars were led by officials from the Honglu Temple into the square of Huangji Gate.

The three people walking in the front were the top scorer Zhu Guozuo, the second scorer Li Tingji, and the third scorer Liu Yingqiu.

Behind the three men, several second-class Jinshi candidates were also in high spirits, with their heads held high.

Although the top two candidates are not as dazzling as the first ones, they are also qualified to be selected as Shujishi.

Shujishi was appointed as Hanlin, who would first study the classics of various dynasties in the Hanlin Academy. After the assessment period was completed, he could serve as the emperor's advisor.

Because there was an unwritten rule among the cabinet ministers of the Ming Dynasty - only Hanlin scholars were allowed to enter the cabinet.

Therefore, Shujishi had another nickname.

Storage Prime Minister!

Zhang Yunxiu was walking in the crowd, and in front of him was Shen Yongmao.

Shen Yongmao ranked 21st in the second class, which is 24th in the country, an extremely impressive result.

Zhang Yunxiu was at the bottom of the second class, ranking 65th.

Although the two are the sons of the elder, the glory today obviously does not belong to them, so they just go with the flow and finish the show in a muddle.

As the salutes and drums sounded, all the students stopped and bowed respectfully towards the Huangji Palace.

Emperor Wanli walked out to greet the crowd, bowing and speaking words of encouragement in a very eloquent voice.

Afterwards, the three top-ranking candidates stepped forward, and the emperor personally awarded them rewards and encouraged them one by one. The three shouted "Long live the emperor" and expressed their gratitude to the emperor, and the officials of the Honglu Temple ordered people to record it.

If it were in the past, people might have been anxious and uneasy with such red tape.

But at this solemn and sacred moment today, although the students' hearts were itching like cats' claws, their appearance remained as calm as a lake.

By the time the ceremony was over, the sun had already set.

The red light from the sky poured down, making these scholars look like celestial beings.

The emperor waved his hand and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Seeing the emperor leave, Zhang Yunxiu let out a long sigh and complained to Shen Yongmao beside him: "Alas, it's finally over."

"Brother Zhang, you are quite free and easy. It only happens once in a lifetime to pass the imperial examination. Others would be radiant with joy, but you look like you are in jail." Shen Yongmao smiled and said jokingly.

"I am also in high spirits, but the red tape is too tiring." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and shook his head, then strode out of the palace gate.

Shen Yongmao caught up with him and asked with a smile, "Brother Zhang, do you have any plans tonight?"

Are you going to drag your buddies to a brothel again?

Zhang Yunxiu looked at Shen Yongmao strangely and declined, "I have some things to do at home, so I can't stay for long."

"What about the day after tomorrow?"

“There will be one the day after tomorrow!”

"The day after tomorrow?"

"It seems. It seems that there is."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled awkwardly, but Shen Yongmao frowned and said, "Then Brother Zhang, when are you free, please make an appointment. We are of the same age and will serve in the same court in the future. We should support each other in the future."

As the saying goes, reach out and don't hit the smiling person.

Shen Yongmao was also the son of a cabinet minister, so Zhang Yunxiu didn't want to offend him too much. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "To be honest with you, Brother Shen, I've been very busy lately. By the end of the year, I'll get drunk with you for three days!"

"Okay, it's a deal then!" Shen Yongmao agreed.

Then the two followed the flow of people and walked out of the palace. The next day, the emperor held a banquet for the new Jinshi, which also announced the end of the palace examination.

The imperial examination in the eleventh year of Wanli was finally settled.

It was May, the early summer in Beijing, and the city was not yet hot, but it was as hot as a raging fire because of the imperial examination and the princess's selection of a husband.

Every small household in Beijing is eyeing this piece of fat meat.

Although marrying a princess would no longer allow him to take part in the imperial examinations.

But for them, being able to obtain the status of a royal relative is much better than the illusory imperial examination.

Zhang Jing, who was in charge of the selection, received so much money that his door was almost broken down by people.

At this time, in a small hall of Zhang Jing's mansion, Zhang Jing was seen wearing a bean green silk shirt, with his eyes slightly closed, lying on a chair with a leisurely look on his face.

A pair of sparse, white eyebrows moved up and down with his breathing.

He has been in a very good mood recently. First of all, old Feng Bao was sick, so he got this selection task.

Secondly, many people in the inner palace saw that Feng Bao was old and tried to please him.

Even though it was only a little bit, it was enough to comfort him for a long time.

"Hmph, old thing, I wonder how long you can stay in that position!" Thinking of this, Zhang Jing raised his eyebrows and cursed viciously.

Before he could continue his fantasy, there was a burst of hurried footsteps at the door. Zhang Jing slowly opened his eyes and saw a middle-aged man walking in.

It was Zhang Jing’s butler, Wang Ning.

Seeing Zhang Jing, Wang Ning bowed first, then took out a palm-sized account book from his bosom, pointed at it and said, "Master, this is the list of the people who participated in the audition. Anyone who has spent money has been marked on it."

Zhang Jing took it, scanned it, closed the account book, and said with a smile: "Well done, wait until those who have used silver and money have passed the first round, let them continue to use silver and money in the second round. Whoever gives the most will be the prince consort!"

"Master is wise." Wang Ning smiled sinisterly and gave Zhang Jing a thumbs up.

Zhang Jing waved his hands and said slowly, "What's so wise about this? Feng Baocai has selected several princesses before, and he didn't use this method that time. In the past, we could only watch helplessly."

"I only ask this eunuch to give us a couple of sips of the broth."

"It's different now. We've become meat eaters. We won't even give him soup!"

At the end of his speech, Zhang Jing's eyes flashed a cold light, and his voice was full of viciousness and cruelty.

"Master Jian is in the emperor's heart. That old man Feng Bao will be finished sooner or later!" Wang Ning nodded, half seriously and half flatteringly, "Once that old man is gone, you will be the seal of the Imperial Household Department and the Prime Minister of our Ming Dynasty!"

When he heard the word "internal minister", a blush appeared on Zhang Jing's pale face.

There were tens of thousands of eunuchs in the two capitals of the north and the south, but only one prime minister.

Which eunuch who was stabbed and entered the palace would not want to ascend to the position second only to the emperor and above everyone else?
Zhang Jing felt a warm feeling in his heart, and suddenly thought of another person.

Zhang Cheng, the eunuch in charge of writing in the Imperial Household Department.

This person has a deep foundation in the palace and is more senior than himself.

He tried several times to pull this guy over, but this guy turned a blind eye and sat on the mountain watching the fight between tigers, ready to watch him and Feng Bao fight to the death.

He was afraid that he would defeat Feng Bao, but this guy came out to check the ready-made one first.

After being depressed for a moment, he thought about his relationship with Zhang Siwei.

Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao were both in their twilight years. As long as Zhang Siwei became the prime minister, the two of them, one inside and one outside, why would they be afraid of Zhang Cheng?
Thinking of this, Zhang Jing felt relieved and called Wang Ning, "Go, call Xiuniang for us. We are going to pamper her tonight."

"Okay." Wang Ning gave a lewd smile and left with Nuo.

(End of this chapter)