Just like the situation at Prince Qi's manor, Xiao Rongyan was extremely displeased when he heard the news.
Seeing Xiao Rongyan slamming the table in anger, Minister of Justice Sui Zhuangling said, "Dongfang Yukun and Cui Zhengyang's literary talents are a cut above the rest. It can be said that there is only one spot left in the First Class. Song Qiming is only fourteen, too young and unsteady. I presume the Emperor will not choose him."
Xiao Rongyan's face darkened. "It better be so. If Song Qiming ranks in the First Class, Ye Liangyu will become unbearably arrogant."
Sui Zhuangling thought to himself: Actually, even if he makes the First Class, it doesn't matter. At most, he'll be a seventh-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, which won't affect the grand scheme of things.
However, seeing how much Xiao Rongyan cared, he kept his thoughts to himself.
On the day of the Honglu Ceremony, the Meridian Gate, located five hundred meters in a straight line from the Hall of Supreme Harmony, was crowded with neatly dressed tribute students.
Bathed in the sunlight, a slightly warm breeze lifted the corners of their robes, yet they could not suppress the turmoil in their hearts.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the civil and military officials stood in formation; not a single person was absent.
As a whip was struck forcefully against the white jade steps outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the sharp cracks echoed three times throughout the imperial palace.
The officials in the hall and the four hundred tribute students outside the Meridian Gate knelt and kowtowed.
Accompanied by the loud chants of "Long live the Emperor, long live, long long live," Xiao Chengjing, clad in a dragon robe, appeared in the Golden Throne Room.
After taking his seat, his intimidating gaze swept over the crowd. The most crucial part of the Honglu Ceremony had arrived.
The current Prime Minister, Gu Qishan, and the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, Fei Yanzhang, slowly stepped out from the crowd. The two stopped on the white jade steps, one on the left and one on the right, and slowly unrolled the Golden Scroll.
Upon seeing the names written on it, Gu Qishan's brows instantly knitted together tightly.
Fei Yanzhang noticed the tension on the other side increase. Turning his head, he saw the veins popping out on the back of Gu Qishan's hands.
He curled his lips into a satisfied smile, took a deep breath, and sang out with a resonant voice toward the front: "First Class, First Place: Dongfang Yukun of Chang'an County, Jingzhao Prefecture."
The voice reached the bottom of the steps, and the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial shouted: "First Class, First Place: Dongfang Yukun of Chang'an County, Jingzhao Prefecture."
The voice reached the Meridian Gate, and the Imperial Guards shouted once more: "First Class, First Place: Dongfang Yukun of Chang'an County, Jingzhao Prefecture."
Standing at the very front of the ranks, Dongfang Yukun stepped forward confidently and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
He appeared exceedingly calm and steady, as if he had long anticipated this result.
Suppressing the surging displeasure in his heart, Gu Qishan shouted loudly, "First Class, Second Place: Cui Zhengyang of Yuhang County, Jiangnan Prefecture."
"First Class, Second Place: Cui Zhengyang of Yuhang County, Jiangnan Prefecture."
"First Class, Second Place: Cui Zhengyang of Yuhang County, Jiangnan Prefecture."
He was equally calm and steady, whereas the other tribute students standing in the front row were restless, holding their breath in slight frustration.
When Fei Yanzhang called out the third place, he had a smile on his face, and even his voice sounded exceptionally pleasant and joyful.
"First Class, Third Place: Song Qiming of Xining County, Anyang Prefecture."
Court of State Ceremonial officials: "First Class, Third Place: Song Qiming of Xining County, Anyang Prefecture."
Imperial Guards at the Meridian Gate: "First Class, Third Place: Song Qiming of Xining County, Anyang Prefecture."
Standing third in the first row, Song Qiming shuddered when he heard the guards call his name.
Trying his best to suppress the joy bursting from his chest, he took a step forward on slightly weak legs and knelt to pay his respects.
Among the four hundred people present, Song Qiming was the youngest. Standing next to Dongfang Yukun and Cui Zhengyang, his short stature made him look rather slight and small.
A fourteen-year-old Tanhua had never appeared in the centuries-long history of the Dongzhao Kingdom.
It was said that if Dongfang Yukun had participated in the metropolitan examination at the age of eleven, he could have also placed in the First Class, but after all, he hadn't participated.
Song Qiming's achievement as a fourteen-year-old First Class Tanhua, however, was firmly grasped in his hands.
After the top ten names of the Second Class were called, Dongfang Yukun, Cui Zhengyang, and Song Qiming were led all the way into the Hall of Supreme Harmony by the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial.
The three stopped before the throne, closest to the Emperor. They knelt on both knees and kowtowed three times before waiting for Xiao Chengjing to speak.
On the elevated throne, Xiao Chengjing's gaze swept over their faces, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.
The Dongfang family did not take sides and only supported him.
The Cui family had been in Jiangnan for so many years and had absolutely nothing to do with Prince Qi or Prince Ying.
As for the remaining one, a true scholar from a humble background, as long as he learned even thirty percent of Ye Liangyu's temperament, he would basically be uninvolved in partisan disputes in the court.
Not to mention that before even entering the court, he had already offended two of his own sons and was targeted to the point where he almost didn't make the top ten. He was truly a bit pitiful.
A voice carrying a hint of oppression reached the ears of the three from above.
"Since you three are the First Class, you ought to be the role models for thousands of scholars in the world. I hope that from now on you will strictly fulfill your duties, become braver in the face of difficulties, and live up to what you have learned and to my expectations."
Dongfang Yukun, Cui Zhengyang, and Song Qiming bowed and kowtowed for the third time.
"We thank Your Majesty for your immense grace. We will dedicate ourselves entirely to your service until our dying days, and we will not disappoint Your Majesty's divine trust."
As the three walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial carried the Golden Scroll out of the imperial palace, and all the new Jinshi lined up and followed.
Only when they saw their own names appearing on the Golden Scroll did the immense sense of glory in their hearts completely surge onto their faces.
Song Gaoli stared at the fifth-to-last name in the Third Class and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Next would be the court examination.
The day of the triennial Honglu Ceremony could be said to be the busiest day for the runners of the Ministry of Rites.
After the roll call ended, dozens of people began running through the streets of the capital to announce the good news, a process that usually lasted an entire day.
The sound of gongs and drums approached from afar, appearing at the corner of the street. Passing commoners stopped to watch the excitement, and the residents living along the street also came out to look around upon hearing the noise.
"Which family's young master has passed the imperial examination and become a Jinshi?" the onlookers asked around.
A literate commoner pointed at the golden characters on the vermilion cloud-headed placard and said excitedly, "It's the Third Place of the First Class! This is the Tanhua."
Four Ministry of Rites runners dressed in dark red ceremonial robes walked down the middle of the street in two rows. Two held the placard high, and two continuously beat copper gongs. Upon seeing them, the commoners quickly retreated to the sides of the street to make way.
The sound grew closer and closer.
At the entrance of the County Princess's manor, the porter who had been waiting for a long time hurriedly ran down the steps to look. Upon seeing the procession announcing the good news, he immediately shouted into the gates.
"They're here, they're here! The officials announcing the good news are here!"
Song Qiming passing the examination and becoming a Jinshi was an absolute certainty. Early in the morning, Qingshuang had already informed the porter that runners would come to announce the good news today, telling him to keep a close watch and report back immediately.
