A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

He picked up his vermilion pen, designated the first exam paper as the top scholar, then recalled the faces corresponding to the second and third exam papers, designated the third scholar as the second-ranked scholar, and the remaining paper as the second-ranked scholar.

"Send the exam papers back. I have already appointed the top three scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua). The number of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) will be determined by the Ministry of Rites."

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed, and the imperial court finally began to release the results.

On the day the results were announced, the area in front of the examination hall was packed with people. The news that Li Bai had participated in the examination had already spread far and wide, and countless people were waiting for Li Bai's results.

Even though they had already decided in their hearts that Li Bai would be the top scholar this time.

"Brother Taibai, the results have been released. Aren't you worried?"

Gao Shi knocked on Li Bai's door and was looking at Li Bai with an anxious expression.

Gao Shi was usually serious, but on the day the results were announced, he was no different from an ordinary person.

Li Bai smiled faintly, "Brother Gao, don't be in a hurry."

"Right now, there are probably huge crowds in front of the tribute list. With our strength, we probably couldn't even squeeze in even if we were squeezed into a meat patty."

When Gao Shi thought about Li Bai's involvement this time, he knew that the number of people posting the results at the Imperial Examination Hall this time would probably be several times, or even ten times, more than before.

"What should we do then?"

Gao Shi asked somewhat anxiously.

"Don't worry, Brother Taibai had someone waiting there yesterday. Soon, the people from your residence will send word."

Wang Wei then walked over with Du Fu and others, and said with a smile.

"That's good."

I lost my composure.

Gao Shi sighed. Although he had participated in the imperial examinations in the past, he was ultimately from a poor family and had no one to support him. Although he passed the imperial examinations and became a Jinshi, he was still not satisfied.

Now that the exam papers are being copied anonymously, and with many doctors from the Imperial Academy and the National Academy supervising the exams, and with the prime minister recently dismissed for cheating in the imperial examinations, naturally no one dares to defy the rules.

This imperial examination will be the fairest in several years, and Gao Shi is extremely looking forward to it.

"That's only human nature!"

Li Bai had already dressed and came out of the room.

"They're here."

A series of hurried footsteps approached, and the servants of the mansion ran in from outside with joyful faces.

"Congratulations, young master, on achieving the highest rank in the imperial examination!"

Upon hearing this voice, Gao Shi and others quickly congratulated Li Bai.

Li Bai looked at the servant boy in the manor and asked, "How are the other brothers?"

Gao Shi and the others all turned their gazes to the servant, and the expectation in their eyes made the servant feel a burning sensation on his body.

"Young Master, all the young masters have passed the imperial examination."

"Young Master Du ranked fifth among the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination), Young Master Yuan ranked eighth, Young Master Gao ranked ninth, and Young Master Cen ranked sixteenth."

The servant announced the scores of the other four people in one breath, and upon hearing this, the faces of the group were filled with smiles.

"Hahaha, here's a reward!"

"The entire prefecture will be rewarded!"

Li Bai laughed heartily and generously rewarded the recipient.

"Thank you, young master. Thank you, young master."

The steward beside Li Bai took out a red envelope and handed it to the servant. The servant accepted it with both hands, thanked him repeatedly, and uttered one auspicious phrase after another.

"Brothers, you can rest assured."

Li Bai smiled and said to Gao Shi and the others.

Gao Shi and the others were also extremely pleased, as their results were already excellent.

"Brother Taibai, thank you very much."

He was slightly different from the others. He came from a poor family and was not from a family that valued scholarship. In his youth, he focused on martial arts and neglected his studies.

If it weren't for Li Bai's help, who sent him many books annotated by doctors from the Imperial Academy and the Yanzhou Academy, and who took him to listen to lectures by many doctors after he arrived in Luoyang, it would have been extremely difficult for him to achieve such results given his background.

"Brother Duff, you're too kind. We're brothers."

Li Bai waved his hand dismissively.

Du Fu and others also expressed their gratitude to Li Bai, saying that without Li Bai's help, they would have had a hard time achieving such results.

"You're too kind."

As soon as Li Bai finished speaking, the sounds of gongs and drums celebrating came from outside.

Two yamen runners rode blue horses, carrying small red cloth flags with the words "Passing the Imperial Examination" written on one side, and copper gongs hanging from their waists, which they sounded intermittently along the way.

"Great news! Great news! Minister Cen of Nanyang has achieved the highest rank in this year's imperial examination, ranking sixteenth on the list of successful candidates! An official from the Ministry of Rites has come to deliver this good news!"

The yamen runner presented the gold-painted invitation and the official notice with both hands, and announced the rankings in public. Cen Shen accepted the notice, his face showing both joy and sorrow.

He was overjoyed to pass the imperial examination with flying colors, ranking among the top twenty.

Sadly, among all his brothers, he had the worst grades, leaving him speechless.

The steward immediately took out several more red envelopes and presented them to the constable.

The constable touched the thickness of the red envelope, and his smile became even more genuine.

A short while later, two more constables arrived on horseback, looking exactly the same as the first two.

"Great news! Great news! Minister Gao of Bohai has achieved the ninth place in this year's imperial examination administered by the Ministry of Rites, making his name appear on the list of successful candidates! An official from the Ministry of Rites has come to deliver this good news!"

As usual, the steward handed over several red envelopes, and the servant left, thanking him profusely.

Then, the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations for Du Fu and Yuan Jie were delivered, leaving only Li Bai's list. Outside the gate, two guides, each holding a small red silk banner that read "Top Scholar," led the way while gongs were sounded.

Behind him were four clerks from the Ministry of Rites, surrounding a white horse. On the horse's back was a vermilion lacquered wooden tray, in the center of which lay a three-foot-long scroll of gold-painted paper. The paper was covered with cloud patterns, and the entire scroll was written in gold powder. It contained the Ministry of Rites' vermilion seal, the chief examiner's signature, and the emperor's imperial comments in small characters—all specially made for the top scholar.

The village head and elders from the neighborhood accompanied them, and the people of the entire street gathered outside the wall to watch.

"Good news! The newly appointed top scholar, Li Bai of Longxi!"

The head constable shouted loudly, his voice carrying through the heavy doors and could be heard clearly several streets away.

The steward led dozens of servants to stand neatly on both sides of the central gate, bowing and waiting. Du Fu, Wang Wei, Gao Shi, Yuan Jie, and Cen Shen also rose together and followed the steward to the foot of the central courtyard steps.

The constables marched into the courtyard, lining up on both sides. The chief officer, carrying the gilded wedding invitation, slowly ascended the main steps, held it above his head with both hands, and read aloud:

"The top spot on the Dragon and Tiger List is held by Imperial Decree, awarded the title of Zhuangyuan (Top Scholar). His memorial presented excellent strategies for pacifying the people and sharply criticized the long-standing abuses of the court and the public. His Majesty personally reviewed it and selected him as the number one scholar. The Ministry of Rites, by imperial decree, sends a gold-embroidered congratulatory letter to the Zhuangyuan!"

The butler hurriedly stepped forward, burned incense, and laid out a sandalwood table to receive the wedding invitations.

At this moment, Li Bai slowly walked out from the inner hall, wearing a plain white robe and a sword at his waist, looking radiant.

The official bowed and solemnly presented the gold-embroidered scholar's certificate with both hands.

Li Bai took it and handed it to the steward to place in the center of the incense table. Under the candlelight, the gold paper shone brightly.