On both sides of the vermilion gate stood yamen runners holding weapons. After Song Qiming handed over the gilded visiting card, a young guide in green clothes came forward on his own initiative.
He bowed respectfully to Song Qiming and the others and said, "The Flower - Wearing Banquet is held in the Bamboo Pavilion. This way, please, three scholars."
After walking through the long corridor, the view suddenly opened up.
A small path paved with bluestones led straight to the lush shade in the distance. After passing through the round arch, a three - story red building stood by the lake.
The overlapping green tiles and the high - upturned eaves were like eagles about to spread their wings and fly, constantly climbing upwards until reaching the pinnacle of the imperial examinations to overlook all sentient beings.
In this prefectural examination, only fifty scholars were admitted in Longxi Province. After passing through the courtyard gate of the Bamboo Pavilion, there were people bustling around, and most of the students who had passed the examination had already arrived.
Song Qiming keenly noticed that many eyes were fixed on him.
Looking around, from the pavilion, under the eaves, and at the stone tables, the blatant gazes seemed to strip him from head to toe.
"This Song Qiming, I don't know where he came from. I've never even heard of him before," a man in brocade clothes under the eaves stared at Song Qiming disdainfully.
The man wearing a green jade hairpin beside him sneered, "I heard that he is from a peasant family, climbing out of a mountain village in Xining City."
Many people had studied hard for years in the cold window, but in the end, an unknown person who suddenly emerged snatched the top spot. Many of those who ranked high were not very convinced.
Song Gaoli, following beside Song Qiming, frowned. The gazes of these people were as uncomfortable as needles pricking.
As soon as noon arrived, everyone lined up according to their rankings in the prefectural examination. Others received marigolds, while only the top ten had the provincial education commissioner personally insert silver flower branches on their chests.
In the Hall of Upholding Virtue, the provincial education commissioner and the magistrate of Anyang sat side by side at two desks, and everyone took their seats according to their rankings.
Song Qiming, sitting at the front, instantly became the target of public attention. Countless inquisitive looks were shot at him.
The man in brocade clothes was sitting on Song Qiming's right. He was the second - ranked candidate in this prefectural examination.
Yan Baoyi raised his wine cup and signaled to Song Qiming, "I've heard that your family is not wealthy, Master Song. I'm sure it must have taken a lot of effort to get this brocade robe. I wonder how much it costs?"
Everyone's eyes fell on Song Qiming. This robe obviously wasn't cheap. They had thought that this top - ranked scholar had a good family background. Unexpectedly, he was just trying to save face and putting on a show.
Meng Hechuan, sitting in the upper seat, slightly curled his lips. If he was not mistaken, this brocade was a reward from the emperor.
Song Qiming generously raised his wine cup to return the salute. "A gift from the emperor cannot be measured by money. Even ten thousand gold is not enough."
Yan Baoyi frowned, and a sudden look of vigilance rose in his eyes. "This robe of yours, Master Song, is a gift from the emperor?"
Song Qiming pretended to take a sip from the wine cup, but in fact, his lips didn't touch a drop of wine.
He casually shifted his gaze, completely ignoring Yan Baoyi's question.
The provincial education commissioner sitting in the upper seat looked at Meng Hechuan in confusion. How could a gift from the emperor be given to a newly - admitted scholar?
Meng Hechuan smiled and twirled his beard. "Lord Yuan, Song Qiming is the younger brother of the Song family daughter, the one who made the waterwheel and was rewarded by the emperor's order."
A look of surprise flashed across the provincial education commissioner's face. He turned back and carefully examined Song Qiming, trying to find the shadow of the Song family daughter in him.
"No wonder he could pass the examination and rank first at such a young age. Truly, like sister, like brother," he said.
Hearing the words, Song Qiming stood up and bowed with his hands clasped. "Thank you for your praise, Lord Provincial Education Commissioner. Compared with my sister, I'm far inferior."
Yan Baoyi clenched his fists, and his dark face looked extremely ugly.
It was one thing for Song Qiming to outshine him, but the magistrate and the provincial education commissioner were so close and complimentary to him.
What a gift from the emperor?
What about the Song family daughter?
Was a woman more important than them, these scholars?
She wasn't even here, yet she still helped her younger brother steal the limelight. It was simply immoral and improper.
A man sitting behind Song Qiming poked him in the back with his hand.
Song Qiming looked back.
Zhao Jinmin whispered, "Is your sister the Song family daughter, the one who made the waterwheel and wiped out the spies from the Shuobei Kingdom?"
Song Qiming nodded slightly.
Two blazing lights shot out from Zhao Jinmin's eyes. He grabbed Song Qiming's arm and shook it excitedly. "I'm Zhao Jinmin. Four generations of my ancestors have been craftsmen.
"The hydraulic tube - wheel invented by your sister is really ingenious. My father and my grandfather admire your sister very much. I wonder if your sister is in the prefectural city?"
His wrist was being held so tightly that it ached. Song Qiming used all his strength to pull it out.
"I'm going back home with my sister tomorrow. It's inconvenient to receive you, Young Master Zhao. Please forgive me."
Zhao Jinmin didn't give up and continued to ask, "Anyang Academy will start in late August. I wonder when you'll come back, Brother Song?"
Song Qiming had never seen such an emotionally - expressive person. "The specific time hasn't been determined yet. I've been away from home for a long time, so I'll probably stay at home for a few more days this time."
Zhao Jinmin bowed his head and sighed, then cheered up and said, "It doesn't matter. Once we enter the academy, we'll be classmates. There will be plenty of time to meet in the future."
Hearing this, Song Qiming frowned instantly. Seeing that he was about a few years older than himself, he couldn't help but feel secretly vigilant.
If it was just admiration, that would be fine. But if he dared to have other improper thoughts, it was absolutely not allowed.
This man was not worthy of his sister.
Yan Baoyi snorted and glanced at the two of them contemptuously.
Four generations of craftsmen in the family? He even had the nerve to say it.
Sure enough, low - class people were likely to mingle with low - class people and couldn't be on the stage.
After the Flower - Wearing Banquet ended, Yan Baoyi immediately sent someone to find out about the details of the Song family daughter.
After some investigation, he found out where Song Qiming got this gift from the emperor.
"It's just a waterwheel for irrigating farmland. I thought it was something rare," he said.
"A woman running around and getting involved in fights all day long, showing off in public. As expected, she's from a peasant family and has no manners. If such a thing happened in our Yan family, she would have had her hair shaved off and become a nun long ago."
The young servant waiting beside him flattered skillfully, "Young Master, you don't need to be angry about such a small thing. Master Ding has already agreed to take you as his disciple. In the future, Song Qiming will definitely not be your match."
Just entering Anyang Academy to study was not enough. The resources in the academy were often given priority to the disciples of the masters. If one could worship a famous master as a teacher, the road to the imperial examinations would often be twice as effective with half the effort.
And the masters in the academy had very high requirements for selecting disciples. Besides talent and learning, family background and connections were also among the most important factors they considered.
Song Qiming was already at a disadvantage just because of his family background. Not to mention that his parents were dead, and there were several dependents in his family.
Even though the Song family daughter had made contributions by making the waterwheel, she was still just a commoner. After the event passed, who would care?
A woman getting involved in fights was even less likely to enter the circle of the rich and powerful. They would only secretly mock the Song family daughter for being fierce and not abiding by female virtues, and being unmarriageable.
The next day after the Flower - Wearing Banquet, the Song family daughter and the others got ready to set off. Three families traveled together in two carriages.
While the Song family daughter and the others were still on the road, the good - news - reporting team from Xining County Yamen had already arrived at Songjia Village one step ahead.
Four yamen runners in red gowns and blue belts were followed by eight pipers and drummers. Beating gongs and drums, they carried a plaque inscribed with "First in the County Exams" and headed towards Song Village.
In the early morning, villagers who had just finished their farm work and were about to go home for a rest heard the sound of gongs and drums from afar.
Song Shuisheng, who lived next door to Song Jinzhao's family, scratched his head in confusion. "I haven't heard that any family in the village is having a wedding today. Where did this wedding procession come from?"
Song Shuisheng's wife squinted and tried to see more clearly. "It doesn't seem like a wedding. There's no bridal sedan chair. Besides, which family would marry off a daughter or take in a bride with yamen runners from the government leading the way?"
The two looked at each other and rushed over to find out what was going on.
Song Mancang, who was a nervous type, staggered back from the fields. When he saw the plaque that read "First in the County Exams", he almost fell flat on his back.
Villagers who hadn't gone out to work came out one by one, curious to see what was happening.
Seeing the good - news team heading towards the back of the village, Song Mancang had a bold guess in mind.
When they stopped in front of Song Jinzhao's closed gate, Song Mancang slapped Song Shuisheng hard on the side. "Hurry to the fields and call back Old Man Song's family. Tell them that their Qiming has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. Tell them to come back right away."
Aunt Song, who had come to watch the commotion and was still holding a baby in her arms, was instantly stunned on the spot.
When Old Man Song rushed back, his feet were covered in mud. When Old Lady Song tried to unlock the door with the key, her hands were shaking and she missed the keyhole several times.
The gongs and drums were struck three times heavily. The yamen runners presented the golden flowers and red silk to Old Man Song with both hands, and then began to read the congratulatory message written by the education inspector himself.
Oldest Song and Second Song were in a daze at this moment. Was it so imposing to announce the good news of passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar?
Did Song Qiming really pass the exam so easily?
After the good - news announcement, the four yamen runners kept saying congratulations to Old Man Song and his family.
This made Old Man Song at a loss, and he kept nodding and thanking them.
Song Mancang, standing beside them, rolled his eyes at the sky helplessly. He took out all the silver in his pocket and handed it to Old Man Song.
Old Man Song paused for a moment. Seeing Song Mancang's eyes constantly glancing at the yamen runners, he finally understood and quickly stuffed the silver into the yamen runners' hands.
"The weather is hot. Please accept this as tea money, sirs."
The yamen runners tightly grasped the silver and replied with a respectful smile, "It's been many years since there was a first - place finisher in Xining City. We're more than willing to make this trip for such a joyous occasion."
Old Man Song grabbed the yamen runner's hand. "Sir, do you know when my grandson and granddaughter will be back?"
The yamen runner replied, "I'm not sure about that. The good news of the first - place finisher in the prefectural examination was sent here at an urgent speed of four hundred li a day. If they're coming back, it should be within these few days."
Watching the good - news team leave straight away, Song Mancang's excitement had turned into deep disappointment.
He knew the possibility of passing was low, but he still felt disappointed when he knew the result.
Old Man Song tightly held the official notice, and he didn't even notice that his fingernails were digging into his palm. His cheeks were flushed, and his heart seemed to be jumping out.
One day before Song Jinzhao and the others came back, two yamen runners on horseback, traveling light, came to Song Mancang's house.
The people in the house looked at the dismounting yamen runners in confusion.
"Good news: Your grandson, Song Gaoli, has passed the prefectural examination in Longxi Province in the 50th place in the 25th year of Yongyuan and become a scholar."
The yard was extremely quiet. Song Gaoli's mother's knees went weak. Song Mancang was stunned for a long time before he hurriedly took the notice and told Song Gaoli's grandmother to go back to the room and get the reward money.
"Sir, since my grandson has passed the exam, why didn't you come to announce the good news a few days ago with the other one?"
Could there have been a change in the results on the way?
The yamen runner said matter - of - factly, "The notice of the first - place finisher was sent via the urgent post road at a speed of four hundred li a day. The notice of ordinary scholars was sent through the regular civilian post channel. The speed is half as slow, so it's bound to be a few days late."
"Your grandson is blessed by God. Being the last one to pass is even luckier than being the first - place finisher."
Song Mancang's face stiffened for a moment as he held the notice.
In the letter that Song Dazhuang asked Scholar Zheng to bring back, it was said that Song Gaoli was the last one to pass the prefectural examination. How could he be the last one in the provincial examination again?
The next day, as soon as the carriage turned the corner at the crossroads, Song Qiaoniang, who was waiting at the village entrance, turned around and ran home to spread the news.
"They're back. I saw the carriage of Sister A Zhao's family."
The crowd rushed towards the village entrance like they were going to grab money.
The village had never had such a big event since its establishment: two young men had become scholars at once.
Not to mention two, there had never even been one before.
Song Gaoli lifted the curtain and climbed out of the carriage. Immediately, Song Mancang hugged him tightly and ruffled his hair.
"My dear grandson, you're so promising. You've become a scholar!"
Song Qiming held the curtain and let Song Shixue hold Song Anhao and get off first.
Old Man Song stared at Song Qiming, who was wearing a robe of dark - patterned green brocade. Although he looked exactly the same as before, at first glance, he seemed like a different person.
Song Qiming hooked the corners of his mouth into a smile and calmly said, "Grandpa."
Old Man Song reached out and patted his shoulder. Only when he heard the slapping sound did he feel that all this was real.
All the villagers in Song Village came to watch the commotion. They surrounded Song Qiming and Song Gaoli all the way and escorted them home.
Some even shouted "Scholar Sir" as they walked. The two teenage boys blushed with shyness.
There was fresh green grass in the sheepfold, and the house was spotless, even cleaner than when Song Jinzhao and the others left.
On the table in the main hall, there were the official red notice and the golden flowers and red silk sent by the government.
Old Man Song looked at the four members of the third - branch family with relief. "We've been waiting for you to come back since the official notice arrived. Qiaoniang has been waiting at the village entrance for three days. Finally, we've waited for you."
Running her fingertips across the tabletop, Song Jinzhao pursed her lips and smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Grandpa. This trip was not in vain."
Oldest Song and the others standing beside them stared at Song Qiming enviously. He had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar in just two years. All the good fortune of the ancestral grave had gone to the third - branch family.
After the excitement subsided, Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu walked up to Song Qiming and asked, "Brother Qiming, was the provincial examination difficult? Was it easy to pass?"
After the good news came, the students in the private school had been talking about it every day. Scholar Zheng had never stopped smiling.
Three of his students had passed the provincial examination and become scholars, especially Song Qiming and Song Gaoli.
One had won the first place, and the other, who was thought to have no hope at first, had managed to pass as the last one. When Scholar Zheng heard the news, he slapped his thigh and was so happy that he seemed to be flying to the sky.
Song Qiming shook his head. "It was not easy. The questions were very difficult, and there were so many candidates.
"Only fifty out of more than two thousand candidates could pass. A large number were eliminated in the prefectural examination. It was like thousands of troops trying to cross a single - log bridge. It tested not only knowledge but also mentality and perseverance. Some people even fainted from heatstroke halfway through the exam. It was extremely miserable."
At that time, that person was sitting right across from Song Qiming, and his face was as white as a sheet when he was carried away.
Song Yongnian held his breath and was a little scared.
Song Yaozu asked curiously, "Brother Qiming, now that you've become a scholar, will you stop studying at the private school of our teacher?"
The teacher was also a scholar. It didn't make sense for a scholar to teach another scholar.
Song Qiming nodded. "Yes, I need to find a more knowledgeable teacher."
Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu immediately thought of Scholar Wang. But Sister Jinzhao had a feud with Scholar Wang. Could Song Qiming still go there?
