In the middle of the night, Wang Yuan yawned while getting dressed.
As the number one scholar, he will lead the new scholars to the palace today to express gratitude to the emperor.
The imperial robe of the Number One Scholar is made of red silk, with a round collar, white silk singlet, brocade ribbon covering the knees, a silver belt, and a jade pendant hanging on the waist. The official hat is a black gauze hat worn by officials of the sixth or seventh rank, and a locust wood wat board.
Hitting someone must be very painful.
Zhou Chong took Ah Hei out of the stable and asked Wang Yuan to ride on him, while he walked beside him.
"Second brother, I asked someone about what the No. 1 scholar will do in the Hanlin Academy, and he will have to be an official in the capital for many years," Zhou Chong said, holding a lantern. "We should also buy a house. We can't be the No. 1 scholar."
Lang has been living in an inn, and if he talks about it, it will make people laugh. Even if he doesn't buy a house, he should rent one, so Mr. Jin rented a courtyard in the city."
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Then you can find a suitable place in Yaxing. It doesn't have to be too grand. It just needs to be close to Nancheng. It will also be convenient for going to court every day."
"Okay," Zhou Chong responded, and then asked, "Should we buy some women to make fires and bathe, and some maids to serve tea and pour water?"
Wang Yuan thought for a while and said, "The maid and the mother-in-law will each buy one."
Zhou Chong advised: "Too few. This is not in line with the second brother's status as the number one scholar."
"Don't talk nonsense, just do as you are told." Wang Yuan ordered.
Not long after, the two of them arrived outside the imperial city. Wang Yuan checked the cards and entered the city, while Zhou Chong led his horse back.
Between the Chengtian Gate and the Meridian Gate, there were some houses built for officials to rest while waiting to go to court. If it was too late to do business the day before, or if there was an urgent matter at any time, the emperor would arrange for the ministers to stay here at night.
Many civil and military officials have come. Since it is not a regular court meeting, those who come are all ministers of fourth or fifth rank or above, or officials from key departments.
Seeing Wang Yuan's court uniform, he knew that he was the champion. Some officials ignored him, some came over to congratulate him, and most of them clasped their fists in greeting from a distance.
On the contrary, the new scholars were very enthusiastic about each other. Three or five people gathered together to tell each other some strange news about their hometowns and to get closer to each other.
Chang Lun and Wang Yuan chatted very enthusiastically, talking about martial arts, archery, swordsmanship, and riding skills. They wanted to take out weapons and show off their weapons on the spot. This kind of conversation left other Jinshis completely speechless.
Those who didn't know better thought the two were Wu Jinshi.
Suddenly, Wang Yangming also came, and Wang Yuan immediately went over to greet him: "It's been a long time since we've seen each other, sir, how are you doing?"
"You are very good," Wang Yangming praised, "I saw you that day when you were sent to me. You have grown much taller than before."
Wang Yuan said: "I was lucky enough to get a Jinshi. Thanks to my teacher's guidance, it's not as good as a visit to thank me."
Wang Yangming asked in a low voice: "What did you think of that article on planning for the examination?"
Wang Yuan said: "When I got the title, I remembered the rebellion in Gyeonggi and couldn't help but write it. No one should take the Jinshi article seriously, right?"
Wang Yangming nodded and said: "It is true that no one takes it seriously. There are two other people who wrote similar articles like you, and they are both ranked among the third list. If you are not selected as the top pick, no one will pay attention to it at all, and the important ministers of the cabinet will not follow.
General knowledge of a new academician."
Wang Yuan asked with a smile: "In other words, someone knows me now?"
Wang Yangming warned: "The most taboo thing for ministers is those who are lucky enough to be promoted. You'd better leave the capital as soon as possible. Otherwise, the faster you get promoted, the more hostile you will be, and sooner or later you will become the target of public criticism."
"Disciple understands, thank you sir for your teaching." Wang Yuan finally figured out why Yang Yiqing advised him to find an opportunity to release him yesterday.
At dawn, all the officials gathered in front of the Meridian Gate and roughly lined up. Drums were played upstairs, and the civil and military officials entered through the two side doors respectively. Then Wang Yuan led the new scholars to pass through the Meridian Gate.
There are three main entrances, the top pick, the second pick, and the third overall pick, but you can only get there once in this life.
Other Jinshi can only enter through two side doors in odd and even numbers according to their ranking in the palace examination.
Yang Shen followed Wang Yuan step by step, feeling very unhappy. If it weren't for the emperor's mischief, he should be the one who came out on top. He was the one who was escorted by the Shuntian Prefecture Yin under an umbrella, and he was the one who wore the silver medal and the silver flower at the Qionglin banquet. Now, he is
He had to follow Wang Yuan, and he would have to stand behind Wang Yuan when he met the emperor later.
There is only one difference between the No. 1 pick and the No. 2 pick, but the treatment they receive is vastly different.
Dress differently!
The No. 1 scholar has special court uniforms, while the No. 2 scholar can only wear ordinary Jinshi robes like everyone else.
According to the procedure, he came to the Fengtian Hall, where Zhu Houzhao ascended to the hall and pronounced the ceremony. After a lot of complicated ceremonies, the emperor moved to the Huagai Hall in a carriage and held the ceremony of ascending to the hall again amidst the sound of Shao music.
The whip was blown three times, and the rituals and music were played.
Liu Kai, the minister of Honglu Temple, came to Wang Yuan and said with a smile: "Follow me, all the scholars."
Wang Yuan then led the Jinshi into the class, bowed four times to show his gratitude, and then bowed four more times.
From the imperial examination to now, Wang Yuan has kowtowed countless times, and all of them were to the emperor. Wang Yuan has become numb from kowtowing.
By the way, I have to kowtow to Confucius tomorrow. Only after worshiping Confucius can I take off my Jinshi uniform and put on the real court uniform, and get rid of my civilian body.
Zhu Houzhao sat on the throne, smiled and waved: "Master Zhuangyuan, come closer."
Wang Yuan stepped forward with a wat tablet in hand. He had seen the emperor three times in the palace. The first time was for the imperial examination, which was too far away to see clearly; the second time was for the imperial examination, which was also too far away to see clearly.
; Today is the third time, we are already very close, why do we look more and more familiar the more we look at each other?
Seems like I've seen it somewhere.
"Do you ever remember me?" Zhu Houzhao asked.
Of course Wang Yuan didn't remember, and replied: "On the day of the imperial examination, I saw the beauty of the sky twice. Your Majesty's heroic appearance is unforgettable!"
Zhu Houzhao looked nothing like a saint. He tilted his body and asked with a smile: "Is there anything else?"
Wang Yuan replied: "I forgive you for being stupid."
"Outside the city, door panel." Zhu Houzhao gave a keyword reminder.
Wang Yuan recalled it instantly and firmly refused to admit it: "Before the imperial examination, I had never met your Majesty."
"You have a bad memory."
Zhu Houzhao sighed with emotion and suddenly walked down the imperial steps and came to the side of hundreds of Jinshi. As he walked, he suddenly pointed at a Jinshi and said: "I saw you in the south of the city and asked you if you were proficient in the art of war. You actually walked away immediately.
!”
"I am terrified!"
The Jinshi was so frightened that he knelt down to plead guilty. At the same time, he felt extremely regretful. If he had known better, he would have flattered the emperor more.
Wang Yuan thought to himself: This emperor has a really good memory.
"Get up, I won't punish you." Zhu Houzhao said.
The Jinshi quickly thanked him, got up with weak legs, and stood there trembling all over.
Zhu Houzhao came to Wang Yuan again: "You really don't remember?"
Wang Yuan lowered his head slightly and blinked secretly behind his back: "Your Majesty, I really don't remember."
When Zhu Houzhao received the signal, he burst out laughing. He patted Wang Yuan's shoulder affectionately and said, "It doesn't matter if you don't remember, but I know Wang Erlang, the flying general in white. How did you develop your archery and riding skills?"
Wang Yuan replied: "Since I was a child, my family was poor and I couldn't afford meat, so I followed my father and elder brother to hunt with a homemade clay bow. I learned archery when I was five years old and have been practicing it for eleven years."
"Can you ride a horse if your family is poor?" Zhu Houzhao asked doubtfully.
Wang Yuan could only say: "The head of the Ministry of Personnel's seal verification department, Wang Tao, was demoted to Longchang Post Station in Guizhou for offending Liu Jin. Because the post station was in dilapidated condition, Duke Shou Ren could only live in a cave and cultivate food to support himself.
All the seedlings on the mountain were cultivated by slash-and-burn farming without any knowledge of civilization. Duke Shouren carried out the education and taught the seedlings to speak Chinese and learn Chinese characters. All the seedlings were convinced, and their reputations spread far and wide. Hundreds of students from Xuanwei Division in Guizhou were studying in Ti
Under the initiative of Deputy Envoy Xi, they all went to the mountain to pay homage to Duke Shouren. I was also among them."
"Is there such a thing?" Zhu Houzhao felt quite strange and asked, "Where is Wang Shouren?"
Wang Yangming immediately came out: "I am here."
Zhu Houzhao pointed at Wang Yuan: "Is this your student?"
Wang Yangming replied: "Wang Zhuangyuan was indeed a disciple of the minister. He and hundreds of other students came to the mountains to study. Due to the difficult conditions, they lived in huts, ate rough food, and drank from mountain springs. After a year, there were only a dozen people left, and Wang Zhuangyuan was one of them.
one."
Well, asking and answering each other, complimenting each other, is awe-inspiring.
Wang Yangming must have had an extremely high reputation. He offended eunuchs and was demoted, lived in a cave and promoted education, and spent a year cultivating the number one scholar. No matter what word spread, he was a model civil servant.
Zhu Houzhao asked again: "You haven't said how you learned to ride a horse."
Wang Yuan said nonsensically: "While studying in the mountains, there was a classmate named Li Ying, the third son of General Li of Guizhou Province. I lived in the same hut with Li Sanlang, slept on the same straw bed, and felt like brothers. I'm riding
The art was taught by Li Sanlang."
"Where is your magical horse?" Zhu Houzhao was very well informed and also knew that Wang Yuan had a high-quality water horse.
Wang Yuan replied: "Three years ago, the Miao tribe in Guaixi rebelled, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil. On the way home to visit relatives, I encountered thieves transporting baggage and women. So I worked with Li Sanlang to defeat the enemy, and Li Sanlang contacted him.
When the four flag soldiers arrive, I will go home and contact the young people in the village."
"A war?" Zhu Houzhao was very interested.
Wang Yuan replied: "There are a thousand armored bandits and hundreds of bandits transporting food and supporting the troops. We ambushed in the valley and raided with many torches at night. The bandits were defeated and countless captures were made."
Zhu Houzhao asked: "How old were you three years ago?"
Wang Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Thirteen years old."
No matter whether they were ministers or Jinshi, they had nothing to say after hearing this.
Damn, at the age of thirteen, he dared to attack the rebels at night. There were only four officers and soldiers, the others were all farmers, and he also brought two outside soldiers. And the night attack was successful!
Guizhou is indeed a frontier place, and its folk customs are so fierce.
Wang Yuan also said: "Those who were studying in the mountains, and the only daughter of the Song Xuanwei envoy from Guizhou, who was fifteen years old at the time, also participated in the night attack. After the Song Xuanwei envoy learned about it, he gave me a Shuixi horse as a token of appreciation.
Praise."
Everyone was even more speechless. Not to mention that the girl went to the mountains to study, but she also went to fight the rebels at night?
Zhu Houzhao laughed loudly: "You are all young heroes. That Li Sanlang is a son of a hereditary military family, let him come to the capital to be a royal guard!"