Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 758: Ascending to Heaven (Part 3)
The palace exam consisted of 120 examination papers. These candidates were all eligible Advanced Scholars, and there was no need to anonymize and transcribe them; the Emperor would personally read them and decide the rankings.
Of course, the notion of the Emperor personally reading the papers was just a gimmick. Jiang Shaohua sat calmly at the top seat, watching Minister Dong and two other Ministry of Rites officials busily working with their heads down, which counted as "personally" reading the papers.
Chief Historian Chen and Wang Jin were also summoned to join the reading process.
After approximately two hours, all the examination papers were reviewed. Minister Dong and the others deliberated, arranged the graded papers in a certain order, and finally presented them to the imperial desk.
Next, the Emperor would personally browse through them and select the top three candidates for the highest honors.
Jiang Shaohua looked through the top ten examination papers, selected the three most satisfactory ones, and named the top scholar, the runner-up, and the third place.
The female examination papers were treated similarly, with three selected.
Minister Dong glanced at the name at the top of the list.
Lu Zhen!
As expected, it was her.
Minister Dong understood in his heart. It was heard that this Lu Zhen hailed from a common family in Ye County and was among the first batch of female students at Ye County Academy. Even her full name was bestowed by the Emperor himself back then. This was indeed a true disciple of the Emperor!
Second was Wang Shu.
The third name was Li Fangfei.
Real talent and knowledge were of course present, but the Emperor’s deliberate favor towards the Wang Family and Li Family was also an important reason. On that day when the Emperor smoothly ascended the throne, the firm support of Wang Jin and Empress Dowager Li played a significant role.
Names like Lu Qingqing and Cui Yun’er and Fan Xiangning appeared one after another. Seeing these familiar surnames, Minister Dong immediately knew their backgrounds.
In truth, among these twenty female scholars, only Lu Zhen originated from the countryside, while the rest were carefully cultivated by illustrious families.
This was also inevitable. Ordinary people found it challenging enough to support their sons in education; how could they possibly afford to educate daughters who were destined for marriage? Lu Zhen was fortunate in that the Ye County magistrate, seeking political achievement and to please the Commandery Princess, established a women’s academy. She happened to be smart, clever, diligent, enterprising, and caught the eye of the Commandery Princess. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Riding this wave of fortune, wasn’t she soaring straight to the heavens?
"Minister Dong," Jiang Shaohua said with a smile, "Since this is a kindness examination, we won’t have the scholars wait long. Post the results tomorrow morning and hold a banquet in the palace the day after, granting all new scholars a moment of glory."
Minister Dong hurriedly responded, smiling and bowing, "The Emperor’s grace is boundless, a blessing for new scholars. I accept the decree."
...
The next morning, the results for the new scholars were posted outside the Ministry of Rites.
Anyone who participated in the palace exam was already among the Scholars, so the difference was merely in rank. Hence, those who came to see the results today were much calmer than during the release of the examination results.
Except for one, who cried in public with tears of joy, drawing the good-humored laughter of the other new scholars.
This tearfully joyful scholar was the unfortunate soul who stained his examination paper during the palace exam yesterday. The Emperor had granted him a fresh blank paper, and he managed to complete it. Ultimately, his ranking was decent, falling within the second tier.
Regardless of what others thought, he was determined to become the most loyal disciple of the Empress.
The female scholars’ list was especially clear and eye-catching.
The Lu Family Master and Cui Family Master were both in the Capital City, present to view the list together today. Seeing their daughters’ names on the list with excellent rankings, though not in the top three, they were positioned fourth and fifth, bringing satisfaction to their hearts.
They were legitimate relatives of the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Now that the Nanyang County Princess was the True Dragon Emperor, they had truly become royal kin, naturally sharing the spotlight.
As for the top three, they were indeed difficult to surpass.
Lu Zhen was the predetermined confidant of the Emperor, Wang Shu had Prime Minister Wang and the extensive influence of Da Liang’s foremost family behind her, and Li Fangfei had Empress Dowager Li and the Li Family.
No matter how one puts it, they were far superior to the Zheng Family.
The family had produced rebels, with consecutive deaths, depleting much of the family wealth, staying quietly behind closed doors, and missing out on the court’s kindness examination.
"Teacher, Mountain Master, I am the top name among female scholars." Lu Zhen was so excited she almost jumped up.
Li Ying struggled to suppress her laughter, maintaining a composed appearance, "First in the top tier makes you the top scholar. You are this kindness examination’s female top scholar."
Cui Wenxiu, less restrained than Li Ying, hugged Lu Zhen, laughing heartily, "Lu Zhen, you are truly outstanding. Our Ye County Women’s Academy will also become renowned because of you."
Lu Zhen promptly responded, "Our Ye County Women’s Academy already made a name in Da Liang. This female examination selection, our teacher and Mountain Master both got through. Our trio of teachers and students succeeded. Soon people might flock to our academy."
Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu smiled brightly.
The tall and beautiful Li Fangfei approached with a cheerful demeanor, amiably greeting Lu Zhen.
Soon, Wang Shu, Lu Qingqing, and others also arrived.
While men entered officialdom with peers from their cohort or year, these were the first batch of female scholars—a natural alliance. Supporting and watching over each other was just right.
During her six years at Ye County Academy, Lu Zhen had been an influential figure akin to the eldest sibling, and, being unafraid of challenges, she faced the group of girls from noble backgrounds without the slightest hesitation, gracefully chatting with them.
The few girls who initially felt some discontent towards Lu Zhen now had renewed respect in their hearts.
The following day the Emperor held a palace banquet, inviting all 120 new scholars to the palace.
The court officials also attended. Ten to a table, there were over forty tables in total. At such a time, what one eats or drinks becomes insignificant. What mattered was that this marked the first official step into Da Liang’s governmental realm for the new scholars.
Among the sea of court ministers and new scholars, the two tables of female scholars were naturally the most striking and noticeable group.
Under countless gazes, the Emperor called forward the top three female scholars, asking each their names and ages.
Lu Zhen, having been repeatedly instructed not to speak out of line at such grand occasions, answered respectfully, "Replying to the Emperor, my name is Lu Zhen, I am fourteen years old, and I come from Ye County."
A fourteen-year-old girl, at the blossom of her youth, forced to put on the guise of maturity.
Jiang Shaohua smiled gently, "No need to be so reserved. I have established the female examination to select capable talent for Da Liang. Among you twenty, I intend for all to be of significant use. Get used to meeting me often in the future."
Lu Zhen’s eyes sparkled brightly as she nodded in acknowledgment.
The court’s high officials quickly exchanged a glance, each inwardly sensing trouble.
Most presumed that the Emperor intended to appoint some female officials to serve in the palace, with the female scholars being merely a pretext. Now, the Emperor publicly declaring "significant use," what did it mean? Was he planning to deploy these ladies into the Six Ministries?
Indeed, what is feared tends to happen.
The Emperor continued with a smile, "Among the twenty female scholars, I will keep three in the palace. The others will be distributed to the Six Ministries for learning and observation."
...
