"Ah Huan."
In the Qin Prince's Mansion, Song Yu suddenly stood up from his chair. "I think... I've made it."
Song Yu, unusually dressed in a plain white robe, pressed his right hand against his pounding heart.
Just a moment ago, he felt his blood boiling throughout his body.
"Today, His Imperial Majesty will use the vermilion brush to finalize the top three names in the First Rank."
Song Shihuan also looked up. "Your premonition, Father, is likely accurate."
"Ah Huan has such faith in me?" Song Yu's voice trembled slightly.
Song Shihuan lowered her gaze. "To be honest with you, Father, my heart was also beating fiercely just now."
The Zhuangyuan, the Top Graduate.
Since ancient times, there has never been an emperor who rose from the rank of Zhuangyuan.
Song Shihuan could already imagine how future historians would record this, and how later generations would revere her father.
"At tomorrow's Grand Ceremony for Announcing the Results, everything will be settled."
Song Yu glanced at the cricket cage abandoned to the side. Though only two or three years had passed, it felt like a lifetime had gone by.
He could no longer muster any interest in the things he once cherished.
He only wanted... he only wanted to be a father that Ah Huan could be proud of.
This night.
Was destined to be a sleepless one.
In the Zichen Hall, Emperor Yuanyou tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He finally got up, threw on his robe, and stood before the portrait of Empress Yuan, not speaking, just gazing quietly.
His eyes were filled with an indescribable complexity of emotions.
Do emperors make mistakes?
Yes, at least he had made one.
After issuing the decree to execute the deposed empress, he had ordered Shen Xiao to reinvestigate the events of the past. He had wronged Yu'er.
He dared not revisit the past, only dared to be a thousand, a hundred times better to Yu'er.
He even... dared not ask if he had been a qualified father.
After tonight, his Yu'er would become the Zhuangyuan.
Once Yu'er's true identity was revealed, a storm of bloodshed was likely. It didn't matter. As his father, he would pave the way for Yu'er.
At any cost.
...
March 18th, the Grand Ceremony for Announcing the Results.
Before dawn, all the newly selected Jinshi who had been notified in advance, dressed in uniform Jinshi robes and caps, gathered and stood outside the palace gates.
Song Yu spotted several familiar figures at a glance.
"Brother Guo, we were looking for you."
Zheng Fang said excitedly. Merely standing here meant they already held the Jinshi title; today would determine their exact ranks.
"I'm late."
Song Yu said slowly, his appearance as if he had stepped out of a painting, stunning even Zheng Fang and the others.
"Why do I feel Brother Guo looks exceptionally handsome today?" Ling Ming said with a smile.
Song Yu twitched the corner of his mouth. A freshly applied disguise mask, of course it looked handsome.
The face beneath the mask was even more handsome. Last night, Ah Huan had Liuxi wash his face several times with cleansing beans, nearly scrubbing his skin raw.
"Brother Ling, good eye."
Song Yu gave Ling Ming an appreciative look. With this little interlude, the tension in their hearts lessened somewhat.
Soon, officials from the Ministry of Rites arrived to guide everyone to the area outside the Taihe Hall.
Song Yu still stood at the very front, his throat tight with nervousness, bobbing up and down.
But who was Song Yu? The best actor in the Great Qi.
So, while Song Yu appeared calm and detached on the surface, unaffected by honor or disgrace, thin sweat had already begun to gather in his palms beneath his sleeves.
Upon arriving outside the Taihe Hall, all the civil and military officials were also present in their court robes, arranged according to rank from high to low. Even Prince Qi had come.
Therefore...
The empty leading position stood out conspicuously.
"Why hasn't His Highness the Prince of Qin come today?"
Not only were the officials whispering among themselves, but the new Jinshi also stole several glances at the empty spot.
"Indeed, His Highness couldn't possibly miss such an important occasion. He's probably coming later with His Majesty."
This view was quickly accepted by the officials.
Only Song Yu's expression remained impassive.
Hey, he was standing right here, a full-grown man.
Song Yu even entertained a mischievous thought: if he ran over and stood in the Prince of Qin's spot now, would all these old courtiers faint from shock?
Just as Song Yu's mind wandered, ceremonial music began to play, startling him.
The officials also ceased their low murmurs and stood straight.
For no other reason than Emperor Yuanyou was about to arrive.
Three whip cracks sounded, and Emperor Yuanyou took his seat on the throne inside the Taihe Hall.
Each crack seemed to land on the hearts of the Jinshi. The awe-inspiring majesty of the emperor was unparalleled.
Sharp-eyed officials did not see the Prince of Qin, and each began to speculate. For such an important occasion, the Prince of Qin was absent, yet Prince Qi was present.
What did this mean?
In the center of the Danbi steps outside the Taihe Hall, a yellow-draped table was set. Shen Mingwen, receiving Emperor Yuanyou's signal, walked to the side of the table and stood facing west, proclaiming loudly:
"On the eighteenth day of the third month of the thirty-ninth year of Yuanyou, the palace examination was held for the tribute scholars of the realm. The First Rank is granted 'Jinshi with Honors,' the Second Rank 'Jinshi Graduate,' and the Third Rank 'Associate Jinshi Graduate.'"
After speaking, Shen Mingwen handed the golden list to the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.
The breath of all the new Jinshi grew shallow. The fates of so many would be decided differently today.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial slowly unrolled the golden list, held his breath, and called out loudly:
"First Rank, First Place, Guo Feng."
"First Rank, First Place, Guo Feng."
"First Rank, First Place, Guo Feng."
With two pauses and three calls, the name Guo Feng echoed throughout the Taihe Hall, the reverberations lingering.
Everyone involuntarily looked towards the figure at the very front. Achieving the top rank in all three imperial examinations, in just two years.
A prodigious talent, nothing less.
Song Yu was momentarily stunned, then walked to the left side of the imperial pathway and knelt down, occupying a row by himself.
Next, the Bangyan (Second Place) and Tanhua (Third Place) were announced. Emperor Yuanyou selected a Jinshi from the south for Bangyan, and Zheng Fang for Tanhua.
Ling Ming and Feng Kuizhi both received Second Rank honors.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial continued the announcements, but the officials' attention remained largely fixed on the top three of the First Rank. Some officials even glanced at Ye Shijie.
What incredible luck for Ji'an Prefecture to produce both a Zhuangyuan and a Tanhua.
Ye Shijie straightened his back, his face full of pride.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial's voice grew hoarse. As he neared the end, Song Yu saw a look of utter relief and liberation in his eyes.
Sensing a particularly aggressive gaze, Song Yu followed it and saw Prince Qi, grinding his teeth.
Song Yu politely smiled at Prince Qi.
He nearly made Prince Qi sick with disgust.
Prince Qi thought to himself how disgusting this fellow Guo Feng was, always putting on a superficial show.
After all the ranks were announced, all the new Jinshi were to perform the three kneelings and nine prostrations to Emperor Yuanyou, expressing gratitude for the vast imperial favor.
This kneeling signified the distinction between ruler and subject.
According to custom, Emperor Yuanyou should now rise and leave the Taihe Hall, and the top three of the First Rank would prepare for the parade on horseback through the streets.
But Emperor Yuanyou only stood up.
He spoke to the person kneeling in the first row outside the hall:
"Yu'er, come forward."
