On the second day of the Palace Examination, the Grand Secretaries of the Hanlin Academy, the cabinet ministers of the Six Ministries, and other important officials all stayed in the Wenhua Hall to grade exam papers overnight.
Since Dongfang Yukun was among the candidates this time and was the Huiyuan, the top scorer in the metropolitan exam, to avoid suspicion, Secretariat Director Dongfang Yuanbin and Minister of Personnel Dongfang Shaoting did not participate in the grading.
Song Qiming was Ye Liangyu's only student. At Gu Qishan's strong insistence, he was also excluded from the grading panel.
Inside the quiet Wenhua Hall, the burning candles made a crackling sound.
Gu Qishan picked up an exam paper, and a familiar handwriting caught his eye.
After reading the two essays, his calm eyes turned dark. He was almost certain that this paper belonged to Song Qiming.
After pondering for two seconds, Gu Qishan decisively took his brush and drew a sharp symbol indicating a sub-standard grade in the upper right corner.
When the paper fell into the hands of the Minister of Rites, he finished reading it and noticed the sharp symbol in the upper right corner. He silently raised his eyes to look at Gu Qishan.
Their eyes met. After a moment of deliberation, the Minister of Rites also used his brush to draw a sharp symbol below Gu Qishan's.
In the grading process, an examiner's circle represented an excellent grade, a sharp mark meant sub-standard, a dot meant poor, and a line meant failing.
A paper marked with a sharp symbol would basically never make it to the Emperor's desk. The final result would most likely be placement in the second tier.
When the Minister of Works, Ou Shinian, received the paper in turn, his eyes were initially full of appreciation, but he frowned after noticing the two sharp symbols.
He rubbed his fingers against the edge of the paper in thought, and finally picked up his brush to draw a circle.
The Minister of Revenue struggled for a long time but couldn't make up his mind, so he directly pushed the paper to the newly appointed Minister of War.
Lord Wu, I still need to deliberate over this paper. You go first.
The former Provincial Administration Commissioner of Annan and the newly appointed Minister of War, Wu Jianzheng, had just arrived in the capital seven days ago. He was originally not on the grading panel; the Emperor had forcefully squeezed him in.
Wu Jianzheng didn't think much of it, assuming the Minister of Revenue truly hadn't made up his mind, and took the paper to read.
Upon seeing Song Qiming's views and strategies regarding the foreign tribes in the southwest, Wu Jianzheng's thick eyebrows shot up, and he excitedly slapped his thigh.
Exceptionally well written! This person must have a very detailed understanding of southwestern affairs. These strategies can be implemented with just a little refinement.
Noticing the symbols in the upper right corner, he immediately frowned in confusion and said, How can such a good essay only be considered sub-standard? Who marked this? It must be excellent!
After reading so many papers, this is the only one that catches my eye.
Annan bordered the southwest. When it came to understanding the local situation, none of the dozen or so people present could compare to Wu Jianzheng.
The Minister of Revenue sitting next to him kept his mouth shut tight, lowering his head to hold back a laugh.
Wu Jianzheng had just been transferred back from Annan and did not yet understand the political situation in the capital. He certainly couldn't recognize Song Qiming's handwriting and writing style. Now there was a good show to watch.
Gu Qishan, pretending to pass by with his hands behind his back, saw Wu Jianzheng draw a large red circle next to the familiar sharp symbols. His face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
It really was this paper. How could he be so oblivious? Didn't he see that there were already two sub-standard marks?
When Fei Yanzhang saw this paper, he quietly glanced at Gu Qishan, a faint hint of mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth.
When the Minister of Revenue saw that there were five excellent marks and four sub-standard marks on it, he secretly used his sleeve to cover the paper and quickly drew a circle on it.
Two papers, both receiving six excellent marks and four sub-standard marks, were placed in front of everyone. Gu Qishan's expression could no longer be described as merely ugly.
Jing Yunli picked up the two papers and said meaningfully to the crowd, My lords, which of these two should be selected for the top ten?
Wu Jianzheng slammed his right hand heavily on the table and pointed to Song Qiming's paper, saying, Definitely this one. Out of four hundred papers, I haven't seen a better answer to the first policy question than his.
The four sharp sub-standard marks only seemed like an eyesore to Wu Jianzheng.
Gu Qishan said in a deep voice, Although this essay has a clear train of thought, it is too slick and lacks edge. I believe we should choose this other person.
Wu Jianzheng looked at the hand pressing on the other paper. He hadn't expected that one of the four sub-standard grades came from Gu Qishan.
He had just returned to the capital, so it was better not to contradict the reigning Prime Minister.
Catching sight of Wu Jianzheng silently withdrawing his hand, Fei Yanzhang fearlessly met Gu Qishan's cold, piercing gaze.
Since the scores of these two papers are the same, let's present them both to the Emperor for judgment. If the Emperor asks who gave the four sub-standard marks, I hope Prime Minister Gu will be able to repeat those same words then.
Gu Qishan's jaw tightened, and he stared at Fei Yanzhang with a sinister gaze.
The Minister of Rites and the others suddenly raised their heads. They couldn't let the Emperor judge this. Regardless of who was superior or inferior, they would be the ones to suffer the consequences.
The displeasure on Gu Qishan's face suddenly turned into a smile, and he cast a light glance at Wu Jianzheng.
Since Lord Wu appreciates this person so much, let us present this paper. After all, there isn't much difference between the two.
Wu Jianzheng, hearing his name called, was a little at a loss. He felt a chill down his back. His influence shouldn't be this great, right?
Before midnight, the group submitted the selected top ten exam papers to the Emperor's desk.
Gu Qishan bowed his head and said, The best candidates from this Palace Examination have been selected. We invite Your Majesty to make the final decision.
Xiao Chengjing looked through them in order, starting from the first one. When he saw the last paper, his gaze paused slightly.
Is there a problem with my eyesight, or is there a problem with the eyesight of the ten grading officials I selected? How could such an essay be ranked tenth?
He instructed the head eunuch waiting beside him, Zhao Yande, remove the paper seals covering the names.
Yes, Your Majesty. Zhao Yande immediately stepped forward, removed the paper fasteners on the right side of the exam papers, and unfolded the folded sections. The candidates' names and hometowns were written there.
The first place recommended was undoubtedly Dongfang Yukun, and the second place was Cui Zhengyang. But as for this third place...
Xiao Chengjing placed Song Qiming's paper to the side. Comparing the two, he let out a playful chuckle.
Alright, you may all return.
We take our leave. Fei Yanzhang bowed deeply with his hands clasped, then turned and walked out with his head held high.
Gu Qishan took one last unwilling look at the paper on the desk, and finally left the imperial study, holding in his frustration.
He did not return directly to his manor, but instead went to the residence of Prince Qi.
Xiao Rongche, who hadn't gone to sleep yet, asked with an expectant look, How did it go? Who are the top three?
Gu Qishan took a deep breath. Barring any surprises, Dongfang Yukun and Cui Zhengyang will definitely be in the first tier. As for the remaining spot, I cannot be certain. It might very well be Song Qiming.
Xiao Rongche's brow immediately furrowed. Didn't I tell you to kick him out of the top ten?
Gu Qishan replied, Although Ye Liangyu was not on the grading panel, Fei Yanzhang was. There was also the newly appointed Minister of War, Wu Jianzheng, who was loud and completely oblivious to the situation.
Song Qiming performed exceptionally well. Six grading officials gave him an excellent mark. I couldn't suppress his score.
Xiao Rongche's brow twisted into a tight knot. Did Prince Ying's faction have no reaction? Who were the other four?
Gu Qishan wearily closed his eyes and opened them again. The Minister of Works, Ou Shinian. As for the other three, I am not certain, but they are likely three of those who have been wavering.
