After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 97

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for women to participate in the palace examination. Regardless of whether the female students in this subject pass the exam or not, they have been remembered by history and become winners in life. However, people always yearn for higher goals, regardless of whether they are men or women. Since they have come here through hardships, how can they return empty-handed?

Ruolan took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and continued writing. The words that flowed from her pen were like her inner monologue, sincere and profound. She wrote about the difficulties of being a woman, her desire for knowledge, and her vision for the future. Every word seemed to be a mark of her soul, recording every bit of her growth.

The palace examination lasted for four hours and ended at nightfall. Students left the palace one after another, while officials from the Ministry of Rites were busy sealing the venue, covering the names and places of origin on the examination papers with gold-sprinkled paper, and then hurriedly sent them to Wenyuan Pavilion. Inside Wenyuan Pavilion, the examiners who had been waiting for a long time were rubbing their hands, ready to start their work. These examiners were all Jinshi graduates and had held important positions in the Qing court. Their eyes revealed an indescribable majesty and wisdom.

The marking work began, and the entire Wenyuan Pavilion was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere. The examiners were all focused, as if they were having a silent conversation with the words. They either nodded in praise or frowned in thought, and every action revealed their seriousness and responsibility for this job. Minister Pan Xiaoming selected ten excellent works from the test papers of male and female students, and these excellent works were like bright stars, shining brightly among the numerous test papers.

After discussing with the Minister of the Central Secretariat Liu Yong, Pan Xiaoming presented the selected test papers to the imperial desk in the Qianqing Palace. In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Li Qingge was sitting on the dragon throne, her eyes revealing an indescribable majesty and wisdom. She took the test paper and flipped through it page by page, as if she was having a spiritual exchange with the words.

There were more than a hundred students taking the palace examination, and each test paper was several thousand words long. Faced with such a huge amount of reading, the emperor naturally could not review them one by one. Therefore, they could only select representative test papers and present them to the emperor so that the emperor could make the final decision. The imperial examination system of the Great Yan Dynasty was a pioneering practice of taking both male and female examinations, so the number of test papers that Li Qingge had to review was more than double that of the previous emperor. However, she did not feel bored or tired because of this, but instead devoted herself to this work with an unprecedented enthusiasm.

Although Li Qingge was not born in an ancient imperial family and had limited knowledge of this type of ancient articles, she was able to roughly grasp the main idea and essence of the articles with her modern wisdom and vision, as well as her desire and respect for knowledge. She seemed to be able to penetrate the surface of the words and see the emotions and thoughts behind them. Each article seemed to be an independent world for her to roam and explore.

Finally, under Li Qingge's personal decision, the ranking of the palace examination was settled. Du Ruolan's name was prominently on the list, and her talent was recognized and appreciated by the emperor. At that moment, Ruolan's heart was filled with indescribable excitement and joy. She knew that she had experienced too many hardships and difficulties along the way, but it was these experiences that made her cherish everything in front of her even more.

The starting point of all this was the moment when Du Ruolan gradually understood the true meaning of women's self-worth. She proved with her own actions that women can also have their own sky and live an independent and wonderful life.

Choosing a talent like the top scholar was indeed a big challenge for Li Qingge. As the first emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty to break the convention and allow women to participate in the imperial examination, she knew that this step was not only a challenge to the old system, but also a major test of her own vision and wisdom.

Li Qingge, the witty empress, although she ruled the country, never took advantage of her talent. She knew that she was not the best in literary appreciation, especially when faced with a mountain of test papers, many of which were brilliant works. It was not easy to select the real champion from them. So, she pondered and finally came up with a clever trick - judging by combining rhyme with vernacular Chinese.

In ancient times, articles, especially poems and parallel prose, were very particular about rhyme and rhythm. Song Ci was born for singing. Although the tune may have been lost, later generations can still recompose music based on the rhythm of the words and find the charm that transcends time and space. Li Qingge is well aware of this. She believes that articles with good rhyme may not necessarily have top-notch content; but a truly good article must have excellent rhyme, as harmonious and moving as a piece of music.

So she summoned Pan Xiaoming, the loyal and capable Minister of Rites, and ordered him to find someone to translate the twenty papers into vernacular Chinese, and then select some reading experts to read them according to the feeling of the original text. Li Qingge himself sat upright on the dragon chair, his ears erect like a rabbit, listening attentively. His expression seemed to be listening to the sound of nature, and trying to capture the subtle emotions between the lines.

As the reading began, each article seemed to be given life, flowing in the air and turning into vivid pictures. Li Qingge closed her eyes and listened, sometimes frowning, sometimes smiling. Her heart seemed to resonate with the words and she felt the author's joy, anger, sorrow and happiness.

After listening, she picked out a few articles that she particularly liked, and then carefully reviewed them with the vernacular translation. Her eyes were as sharp as an eagle, not missing any details, and her mind was as agile as lightning, quickly constructing the framework and context of the article in her mind. In the end, she determined the candidates for the top and second place - Jiang Shiheng and Lin Ruowei as the male and female top place, and Zhong Yuan and Xu Lin as the male and female second place.

As for the selection of the third place, an interview will be arranged separately. The position of the third place is special and eye-catching. It requires not only talent but also good looks. In the eyes of the public, the first place may be the pinnacle of the imperial examination, but the position of the third place is the dream of countless students. The first place and the second place are mainly based on talent, but the third place is different. It requires a perfect combination of talent and elegance. Both are indispensable.

Just like Li Xunhuan in history, he was both talented and beautiful, and became a model of a Tanhua. And Lin Daiyu's father in "Do You Know?" was also a Tanhua, so Lin Daiyu inherited that talent and beauty. From ancient times to the present, people have always valued appearance, and good-looking people can indeed take advantage of many things. If you have both talent and beauty, you are simply a winner in life, not only will you have a bright future, but even marriage will be a hot commodity.

Just like the old lady Sheng in "Do You Know?", she is the daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi, of noble status, but because she was attracted by the handsome appearance of the third place winner, she married him with a generous dowry despite her family's opposition. The imperial examination system has been passed down for thousands of years, and the prospects of the third place winner are often better than those of the first place winner and the second place winner. Even if the emperor himself does not choose people based on appearance, the third place winner married a beautiful wife and had the support of his wife's family, and his official career was smooth. There are even examples in history where the emperor originally selected the first place winner, but when he saw that the person was too good-looking, he directly changed the award to the third place winner.

The three words "Tanhua Lang" have almost become synonymous with both talent and beauty. Whenever it is mentioned, people are yearning for it. But then again, nothing is absolute in the world. There are also those geniuses who have won the first place in the imperial examination, and their aura of the first place can directly overshadow the third place. The imperial examination system is a little different in each dynasty, some are simple and some are complicated. But no matter how it changes, it carries the dreams and hopes of countless people.

In this complex imperial examination system, from the county examination, prefectural examination, academy examination to the provincial examination, metropolitan examination, and palace examination, each level had to select the best talents. The first place in the county, prefectural, and academy examinations was called the "case leader", which was the beginning of his talent; the first place in the provincial examination was called the "first place", which was a little famous; the first place in the metropolitan examination was called the "first place", which was a reputation that rose rapidly; and the first place in the palace examination was what we often call the "top scholar", which was a glory that brought honor to the family and went down in history.

Li Qingge sat on the dragon throne, looking at Jiang Shiheng, Lin Ruowei and others kneeling below, with indescribable relief and pride in her heart. She knew that this step she took not only selected real talents for the Great Yan Dynasty, but also opened a door to the dreams of women all over the world. And all of this stems from her respect for knowledge, her thirst for talents and her courageous innovation of the system.

These six examinations are like six difficult hurdles in life. The county examination, prefectural examination, academy examination, provincial examination, metropolitan examination and palace examination are closely linked to each other and together constitute the "six top marks" that scholars dream of. The glory of "six top marks" is like a meteor in the sky, rare and dazzling. The imperial examination system has gone through thousands of years of ups and downs, and only two people can win this crown, which shows how difficult it is.

The curtain of the palace examination had just fallen. Inside and outside the palace, those well-read students were like ants on a hot pot, anxiously waiting for the moment of being named on the list. In their hearts, in addition to their infinite longing for the top scholar, there was also a place occupied by the honor of being the third scholar. Especially when the news came that Her Majesty the Queen would select ten outstanding candidates from both male and female subjects for interviews, for a time, the selected students seemed to be surrounded by clouds of happiness, and their joy was beyond words. They knew that this interview was actually the final test for the third scholar. Although winning the top scholar can bring honor to the family, the title of the third scholar is like the green smoke rising from the ancestral grave, heralding a more glorious future. Once you wear the crown of the third scholar, both your official career and your marriage will be even more powerful. As long as you don't make unforgivable mistakes, your life will be firmly on the road to success.

Li Qingge, the empress of the Great Yan Dynasty, chose the Tihe Hall in the southwest corner of the palace as the venue for the interview. This palace was once a sacred place for the emperor to select concubines, but now it seems empty and quiet due to the empress's accession to the throne and the promotion of monogamy. Li Qingge thought to herself: Although the purpose of the selection and the interview are different, they are both to select the best. Why not take this opportunity to revitalize the Tihe Hall? So, she made the final decision, and the Tihe Hall became the stage for this interview.

After the students learned about the interview location, they were even more certain that this interview was actually the selection of the Tanhua Lang. Tanhua, as the third place in the palace examination, although not as high as the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan, the requirement of both talent and beauty made countless students yearn for it. Since the Tanhua was to be selected, the selection of the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan must have been settled in the heart of the empress.

Among the twenty students selected for the interview, Du Ruolan was undoubtedly the most eye-catching one. She was talented and could write poems and songs at will. She was also outstanding in appearance, just like the peach blossoms blooming in spring, so beautiful that it was tempting to shed tears. Among the ten people on the female list, she was the youngest, but she was so beautiful that people could not look away. Whether it was the male or female list, the students were involuntarily attracted by her demeanor. Looking at her a few more times seemed to be infected by her talent and beauty.

In the male list, Pope's appearance is undoubtedly a beautiful sight. He is 25 years old, which is not considered young by ancient standards, but he is the youngest and most handsome among the students interviewed. He has a straight figure like a pine tree, tall and strong, and a handsome face like jade, fresh and refined. Standing among a group of old scholars in their thirties and forties, he is like a crane standing out among chickens, and is particularly eye-catching.

Empress Li Qingge sat on the high dragon throne, her eyes inadvertently swept over Pope and Du Ruolan, and she couldn't help but admire them secretly. She asked Pan Xiaoming beside her softly: "What's the name of that young man?" Pan Xiaoming replied respectfully: "His name is Pope, and his courtesy name is Mingzhang." Li Qingge nodded and said: "Songbai Changqing, what a good name! Go tell him that three days after the interview, there will be a grand ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and I will announce the results in public."

"Yes, sir!" Pan Xiaoming responded and left quickly. The twenty students breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the news that the interview was over, and their tense nerves finally relaxed. They stood up and left one after another, some cheering, while others remained silent, with mixed feelings in their hearts.

After Empress Li Qingge returned to the Qianqing Palace, she still couldn't forget the elegance of Pope and Du Ruolan. She ordered: "Bring Pope and Du Ruolan's test papers to me. I want to take a closer look." Upon hearing this, the attendants immediately presented the two's test papers. Li Qingge took the test paper and read it carefully. Every time she read a sentence, she seemed to see the two people writing furiously in the examination room. Her talent and hard work made her admire them.

As the night deepened, the lights in the Qianqing Palace were bright. Empress Li Qingge sat at the desk, holding Pope and Du Ruolan's test papers tightly in her hands, but she was thinking about something more profound. She knew that this interview was not only a selection of the third place winner, but also an important test for the future talents of the Great Yan Dynasty. She hoped that through this interview, she could select truly talented and ambitious students to contribute to the prosperity of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The next morning, the sun shone over the palace. In the Tihe Hall, an interview was quietly going on. Empress Li Qingge sat on the dragon throne, scanning each student with sharp eyes. She already had her own criteria in mind. Pope and Du Ruolan, as the best candidates in this interview, became her focus.

During the interview, Pope and Du Ruolan both showed their talents and demeanor. They were either citing classics or talking about current affairs, and they all seemed to be at ease and calm. Empress Li Qingge saw it and was delighted. She knew that these two people were definitely the talents she wanted.

After the interview, Empress Li Qingge returned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, still thinking about Pope and Du Ruolan's performance. She decided that no matter what, she would keep these two people by her side and contribute to the future of the Great Yan Dynasty. So, she ordered her servants to prepare for the relevant matters of the Grand Ceremony of the Announcement of the Candidates. She wanted to personally announce the results of this interview in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, so that everyone could witness the glory of this moment.

Three days later, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was bustling with people. Empress Li Qingge sat on the dragon throne, looking majestically at the crowd below. She took a deep breath and then slowly said, "The results of this interview have been announced. I have decided that Pope will be the third place in the male list and Du Ruolan will be the third place in the female list!" As soon as the words fell, warm applause and cheers rang out in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Pope and Du Ruolan also smiled in surprise. They knew that at this moment, they had finally realized their dreams.

Empress Li Qingge also showed a satisfied smile. She knew that through this interview, she not only selected two talented candidates, but also sowed the seeds of hope for the future of the Great Yan Dynasty. She believed that in the near future, these two people would become the pillars of the Great Yan Dynasty and contribute their own strength to the prosperity of the Great Yan Dynasty.

"Okay!"

As Pan Xiaoming responded, he quickly and accurately pulled out the answer sheets of Du Ruolan and Pope from the pile of test papers and presented them with both hands, revealing an unquestionable respect and caution in his actions. The sunlight shone through the window lattice, sprinkling on his face, reflecting some traces of time, but also making him more calm and sophisticated.

At this time, in the Jiutao incense burner, the incense was slowly burning, and the smoke rising up was like a filament winding around, and like a veil drifting, covering the whole space in a hazy and mysterious atmosphere. The aroma was long-lasting, neither too strong nor too elegant, just right to stimulate people's senses, making people calm and peaceful, as if it could wash away all dust and distracting thoughts.

Emperor Li Qingge sat on the dragon throne, wearing a golden dragon robe, and his sleeves swayed gently with his movements, like a leaping golden dragon, majestic yet gentle. In this lingering fragrance, she spent a full half hour, word by word, carefully reading the answers of Du Ruolan and Pope. Her eyes were sometimes solemn, sometimes flickering, as if she could see through the words and see the efforts and talents behind the two students.

After reading, she gently put down the test paper, turned to look at Pan Xiaoming, and said in a gentle but unquestionable tone: "The answers of these two people are brilliant and full of spirit. They are indeed hard to tell apart. But compared with the top scorer, where do you think they are inferior?"

Pan Xiaoming bowed slightly after hearing this, and after thinking for a moment, he replied: "Your Majesty, I think that although these two students have good personalities, they are still a little immature and lack experience. After all, they are young and have not experienced much of the world. They have good wishes for everything in the world, but have never deeply experienced the complexity and changeability of the world and the cruelty and ruthlessness of reality."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qingge nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in her eyes: "Indeed. The number one scholar I selected has a profound disaster relief strategy and a sharp pen, which goes straight to the core of the problem, which is amazing. He bluntly said that although natural disasters are severe, man-made disasters are often more serious. If we cannot effectively curb people's greed during disaster relief and ensure that the materials are truly delivered to those in need, the disaster will only get worse and the tragedy will be more serious." At this point, she couldn't help but sigh, with some worry and helplessness in her eyes: "In comparison, the measures proposed by Du Ruolan and Pope in disaster relief strategies are also good strategies, but they are still a bit immature and fail to touch the root of the problem."

Pan Xiaoming thought about it in his heart after hearing this, and then responded respectfully: "Your Majesty is right. However, I think that although these two students have not reached the level of the top scholar in terms of their insights, their disaster relief answers are also excellent. The reason why they are not as good as the top scholar is not because of their lack of literary talent, but because of their lack of years of accumulation and experience. It would be unfair to easily deny their talent and potential just because they are young."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qingge nodded in agreement, with a hint of relief and expectation in his eyes: "You are right. Age is not an obstacle, but may be the capital for their future growth. They are still young, and there is still a long way to go in the future, and many opportunities for experience are waiting for them. The future of the country will ultimately depend on these young people. In this case, Pope will be the male third place winner and Du Ruolan will be the female third place winner."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Pan Xiaoming responded respectfully, secretly happy for the two students. He knew the purpose of Emperor Qingge's special review of the two test papers, and he also understood that the two students were the best in the palace examination in terms of both talent and appearance. Now that they have received this honor, it is undoubtedly a recognition of their talent and hard work.

After the interview, the students who took the palace examination were eagerly waiting for the final confirmation of the third place winner and the arrival of the ceremony of announcing the results. The entire palace seemed to be immersed in a tense and exciting atmosphere, and everyone was looking forward to the arrival of that moment.

The so-called Chuanlu Ceremony is a grand ceremony to announce the rankings of Jinshi in the ancient imperial examination system. In ancient times, "lu" means to pass on a message, and Chuanlu means to announce the names. Therefore, the ceremony to announce the rankings of Jinshi is called "Chuanlu Ceremony". This day is a crucial day for all students participating in the palace examination.

The day finally came, and the students all came to the Hall of Supreme Harmony early to wait. As the first of the three major halls in the outer court, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most magnificent and highest-regulated building in the Great Yan Palace, and is commonly known as the "Golden Palace". It towers into the clouds and is majestic, as if it is the most solemn existence between heaven and earth.

The students wore newly made official uniforms. The men wore pink clothes, which made them look heroic and energetic. The women wore blue long skirts, which made them look gentle, charming, dignified and elegant. It is worth mentioning that the official uniforms worn by the men in this palace examination were specially chosen in pink. Whether in the East or the West, pink was once the exclusive color for men. First, because pink dye is precious, second only to purple and blue, only noble people are qualified to wear it; second, because in traditional aesthetics, warm colors are regarded as masculine, which fits the strong temperament of men; while cool colors are feminine and more suitable for women. Therefore, pink, as one of the warm colors, naturally became one of the favorite colors of men. Blue symbolizes the vast sky and the tranquil universe. Women wearing blue clothes are more gentle, quiet, dignified and elegant.

As the ceremony of announcing the success of the imperial examinations approached, the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony was immersed in a solemn and warm atmosphere. The students were standing or sitting, talking in low voices, or praying silently, and everyone's face was full of anticipation and nervousness. They knew that the arrival of this moment would mean that their lives would open a new page. No matter what the result was, they would go all out to win glory for themselves, their families, and their country.

Finally, with the sound of a melodious bell, the ceremony of announcing the success of the imperial examination officially began. The eunuchs held yellow scrolls in their hands and loudly called out the names of the successful candidates. Every time a name was announced, there was a round of warm applause and cheers in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The students were either happy or sad, excited or calm, but no matter what, they all felt the solemnity and sacredness of the imperial examination system at this moment.

When the eunuch sang the names of Pope and Du Ruolan, they stood up almost at the same time, their eyes sparkling with excitement and joy. They knew that the arrival of this moment meant that their efforts and talents were recognized and affirmed. They smiled at each other, as if to say, "We did it!"

The ceremony ended successfully with warm applause and cheers. The students bowed to the emperor and thanked her for her appreciation and promotion. Emperor Qingge looked at them with a smile, her eyes full of satisfaction and expectation. She knew that these young people would be the future and hope of the country. She believed that with their efforts, the country would surely become more prosperous.

In the past, pink was the elegant representation of gentlemanly demeanor, carrying a gentle and powerful temperament. Blue, on the other hand, is like a lady, quietly flowing with gentleness and tranquility. However, time flies, things change, and nowadays people always like to joke that men wearing pink are truly brave and fearless. This is not groundless. There has been such a fashion trend in the long river of history.

Since the 7th year of the Republic of China, the voice of women's rights has been growing, and girls have begun to boldly try boys' colors to show their determination to pursue equality. Over time, the aesthetic balance has quietly tilted, blue has gradually become a symbol of men, while pink has unexpectedly become the exclusive territory of girls. Although there is no explicit regulation on this change, it has become a social convention.

Li Qingge, the girl who traveled through time and space, was shocked by the subversion of traditional color concepts when she first arrived in this world. She looked at the pink all over the street, from rose pink to Barbie pink, a dazzling array of colors. When she saw the male students wearing pink clothes, she was so surprised that her jaw almost dropped. She felt that such a combination was too abrupt and difficult to accept.

She couldn't help but feel a wave of ripples in her heart. She thought that if a child wore pink, it might add a bit of cuteness; but if those weathered men who were preparing to take the imperial examination, with gray hair and wrinkles on their faces, wore pink, the picture was simply too awkward to look at.

Li Qingge frowned, but the people around her didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it. Instead, they thought this was how a real man should dress. Times are changing, and so are aesthetics. Although Li Qingge was helpless, she could only go with the flow. As time went by, she actually got used to this subversive color combination.

Speaking of the imperial examination, it is a major event in a scholar's life, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Once you become famous, you can jump from a country boy to a celebrity around the emperor. The imperial examination is like the New Year, and students are looking forward to the arrival of this day. The newly established special examination in the Great Yan Dynasty is naturally the top priority for Li Qingge.

She specially ordered someone to make a red brocade dragon robe for her, embroidered with light golden peonies, the gorgeousness was simply breathtaking. When she put it on, Li Qingge not only did not have the slightest smell of rouge and powder, but instead exuded a domineering aura that dominated the world, which made people look at her sideways.

In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the royal music was deafening, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites, wearing the same court robes, cleared their throats and prepared to start the ceremony. The civil and military officials were also dressed in handsome official uniforms, and walked into the hall in an orderly manner and stood in their positions.

When the etiquette officer said "the auspicious time has arrived", Li Qingge walked into the hall with firm steps. She sat firmly on the Nine Dragon Throne, and her majestic aura made people dare not look directly at her. All officials and students saluted in unison, shouting: "Your Majesty the Queen!"

"No need to be polite!" Li Qingge waved her hand, her eyes sharp as an eagle, her voice steady and powerful. She said, "Let's get started!"

As soon as he finished speaking, firecrackers rang out, and the ceremony officially began. Liu Yong, the head of the imperial court, held the imperial edict and began to read it. His voice was like a huge bell, resounding throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Just like what they say in the opera, the best is yet to come. First, the list of the second and third place candidates was announced. As there were so many people, only the numbers were reported, and the list was posted at the palace gate for everyone to check.

It was the most exciting first class, the glorious moment for the top three. Whether one could bring honor to the family depended on this one move. The official who announced the results of the imperial examinations shouted, "The new top scorers are Jiang Shiheng for the male and Lin Ruowei for the female!" His voice was long and every word was clearly audible, echoing in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as if it would penetrate the sky.

The rules of the announcement of the list of successful candidates are to sing it three times, and the lingering sound will last for three days. Inside and outside the palace, there were officials announcing the list at the same time, pushing the ceremony to a climax. Li Qingge sat on the Nine Dragon Throne, looking at the students kneeling below, and she couldn't help but feel an inexplicable emotion in her heart. She knew that these students, after years of hard study, finally ushered in their glorious moment at this moment. And she, as a witness of this era, also felt extremely honored and proud.

Jiang Shiheng and Lin Ruowei, as the new champions, became the focus of everyone's attention. They came forward in gorgeous official uniforms and saluted Li Qingge to express their gratitude. Li Qingge looked at them with a heart full of satisfaction and expectation. She knew that these young talents would be the pillars of the country in the future, and they would contribute their own strength to the development of the country.

After the ceremony, Li Qingge hosted a banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to entertain officials and students. At the banquet, she personally toasted Jiang Shiheng and Lin Ruowei to congratulate them on their achievements. Jiang Shiheng and Lin Ruowei were also very grateful and expressed their willingness to do their best to serve the country.

Li Qingge watched this scene, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She knew that this era had become more exciting and full of vitality because of the existence of these talented men and women. And she would continue to write her own legendary story in this era.

Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered, the golden splendor reflected a solemn and dignified scene. The official who announced the results was dressed in gorgeous court robes, holding an ivory tablet, and his voice was as loud as a bell. As soon as he finished speaking, a loud announcement rang out from the hall door, like a spring thunder exploding in everyone's ears: "This year's new top scholar has been announced! The man is Jiang Shiheng, and the woman is Lin Ruowei!" This was shouted three times in front of the hall. Every time it was shouted, it was like a drumbeat in everyone's heart, shaking everyone's mind. In the end, the two top scholars were set in stone and undisputed.

Jiang Shiheng, dressed in a green shirt, had a handsome face and a scholarly air between his brows, but he could not hide his excitement. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost embedded in his palms, but he tried to remain calm. Lin Ruowei, dressed in a light and elegant silk skirt, with her hair tied up high, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, tried her best to remain calm, but the gleam in her eyes revealed her inner surging. The two slowly walked out of the queue, their steps were slow but firm, as if every step was on the clouds, and they stood in the center of the hall, accepting the gazes from all directions.

Then, the voice of the official announcing the results rang out again, like the autumn wind sweeping over fallen leaves, clear and powerful: "The new runner-up is Zhong Yuan, a man, and Xu Lin, a woman!" The same words were shouted three times, and the voice echoed in the hall, lingering for a long time before it faded away. Zhong Yuan, with a burly figure and a resolute face, revealed an indomitable spirit in his eyes; Xu Lin, on the other hand, was gentle as water, with a hint of sadness between her eyebrows, but she was also tenacious. The two smiled at each other, conveying silent encouragement and support to each other.

Let's talk about the third place, which is the most beautiful among the talented scholars and beautiful women. Pope has an upright figure, a face like a sculpture, and an extraordinary temperament; Du Ruolan has a beautiful face, a temperament like an orchid, and is fresh and refined. Although everyone knows what they are, they still feel a little disappointed when they hear the official reading out their names. After all, the position of the third place is no less glorious than that of the first place. The first place means a bright future; the third place means a successful career and marriage, just like the old saying goes, "the wedding night and the time to get your name on the list of successful candidates", both are included.

The herald officer once again accurately announced the names of the three people in the first class, and his voice echoed in the hall, sounding particularly solemn. Queen Li Qingge, wearing a luxurious dragon robe and a phoenix crown, sat on the high dragon throne, majestic but kind. She gave an order: "Present the picture!" As soon as the words fell, two guards riding white horses came like arrows from a bow, unfolding a huge scroll in their hands. On the scroll, there was a huge turtle named "Ao". According to the old rules, these talented men and beautiful women in the first class had to step on this picture to pay homage to the emperor.

Under the guidance of the herald officer, Jiang Shiheng and Lin Ruowei stood side by side at the head of the horse. They smiled at each other, their eyes sparkling with excitement and pride. Zhong Yuan and Xu Lin stood on the front foot of the horse, standing straight with solemn expressions. Pope and Du Ruolan stood on the back foot. Although their positions were slightly inferior, they did not look unhappy at all, but instead had a kind of indifference and carefreeness. The six people stood straight and saluted Queen Li Qingge together: "Greetings, Her Majesty!"

Queen Li Qingge smiled slightly, and that smile was like a spring breeze, warming people's hearts. She said softly: "Everyone get up and look up." When the new scholars heard this, although they were in awe of the emperor's majesty, they still couldn't help but secretly raise their heads to see the true face of Queen Mingde.

After seeing this, the six people were stunned. They were so shocked that they couldn't describe it. Everyone said that Her Majesty the Queen was swift and decisive, and she ruled the country with an iron fist. She established the Great Yan Dynasty in a bloody storm, and used severe laws to crack down on landlords and return the land to the people. So everyone thought that the queen should be a tall, mighty, and imposing character. Except for the difference in gender, she is no different from a male emperor. But the Queen in front of them was so beautiful that it made people's heart beat.

Her appearance was just like a fairy from heaven, radiant and dazzling, making people unable to take their eyes away. Her skin was as delicate as cream, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were like autumn waves, her nose was high, her lips were bright red, and every detail was just right, as if she was the most perfect masterpiece of nature. She wore a dragon robe and a phoenix crown, which added a bit of majesty and dignity, but her fairy spirit did not diminish at all, but became even stronger.

Du Ruolan was even more surprised. She couldn't believe her eyes. She looked at Her Majesty the Queen on the throne and suddenly remembered the scene when she was in trouble last year. At that time, she was alone, in danger, and almost desperate. Just then, a woman in gorgeous clothes suddenly appeared and saved her from danger like a god. At that time, she felt that the other person was so beautiful that she was unforgettable. That kind of beauty was not only in appearance, but also in temperament, as if it came from the bones.

Unexpectedly, this lifesaver turned out to be Her Majesty the Queen of Dayan! The surprise and emotion at this moment made Du Ruolan unable to calm down for a long time. She looked at Her Majesty the Queen, and an indescribable admiration and gratitude surged in her heart. She knew that she could stand here and become the new third place, in addition to her own efforts, but also inseparable from the protection and care of Her Majesty the Queen.

Queen Li Qingge looked at the six new scholars in front of her, and her heart was filled with relief and expectation. She knew that these people were the pillars of the country and the hope of the future Great Yan Dynasty. She hoped that they could use their talents and wisdom to contribute to the development of the country. At the same time, she also hoped that they could maintain their original intentions and innocence, and not be confused by the prosperity and temptations of the world.