0p0 Chapter 344 The Imperial Examination
Chapter 344 The Imperial Examination
Chapter 344 The Imperial Examination
As soon as he finished speaking, the newcomer replied with a smile, "Brother Lu is Lu Yi! You also passed the imperial examination with flying colors this time. He thought that since we would all become officials in the future, we could be considered colleagues, so he wanted to invite all of you who passed the examination to a gathering. After all, we will all be Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) in the future, so it would be good for us to look out for each other, wouldn't it?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan's thoughts drifted into the distance, and Lu Yi's somewhat unfamiliar figure gradually surfaced in his mind. Thinking back carefully, his interactions with Lu Yi were incredibly few; he could count the number of times they had met on one hand.
Moreover, the palace examination is tomorrow. For Chen Xuan, this is undoubtedly a major turning point in his life. Although he has successfully passed the provincial examination, he knows that the palace examination will truly determine his future. After all, the provincial examination only provides an entry ticket, while the palace examination will ultimately determine his ranking and rank.
The distinction between the top three ranks—first, second, and third—seems simple, but the difference between them is immense. Those in the top three can directly enter core institutions like the Hanlin Academy, with a bright future ahead; those in the second three also have the opportunity to hold relatively important official positions; as for the third-ranked, they often have to start from the bottom and climb the ladder step by step with great difficulty. Therefore, tomorrow's palace examination is crucial for Chen Xuan; a slight misstep could cost him his promising future.
Moreover, if he could perform exceptionally well in the palace examination and win the king's favor and appreciation, his future career would undoubtedly be smooth sailing, and he might even rise to great heights. Thinking of this, Chen Xuan took a deep breath, his eyes hardening. He silently told himself that no matter what, he must go all out, seize this rare opportunity, and bravely move towards his goal.
Chen Xuan's goal was very clear: he didn't want anything to go wrong at this crucial moment. So, he clasped his hands in a gesture of apology and said, "I'm really sorry, I have some things to take care of and I'm afraid I can't keep the appointment. Thank you for your kindness, Brother Lu. Please convey my thanks to this brother."
Upon hearing this, the person who had come to make the invitation slowly shifted his gaze to Deng Zhou, a questioning look in his eyes. Deng Zhou shook his head slightly, indicating his refusal. Seeing this, the person didn't even glance at Wang Feng and Jiang Yuan again before turning around and leaving.
Seeing this person's arrogant and rude attitude, Wang Feng was immediately enraged. He spat on the ground and kept cursing, "What a piece of trash! He's just looking down on people!"
Jiang Yuan, who was standing to the side, quickly reached out and grabbed Wang Feng's sleeve, gently advising, "Forget it, don't get angry with this kind of person, lest you ruin your mood." However, Wang Feng was already red with anger, his chest heaving violently. He broke free from Jiang Yuan's hand and strode away angrily.
After everyone had left, Chen Xuan strolled over to Deng Zhou's side, a sincere smile on his face, and said, "I haven't yet congratulated Brother Deng on passing the imperial examination. It's truly a cause for celebration!"
Upon hearing this, Deng Zhou's lips curled into a slight smile, and he slowly said, "Congratulations." These two simple words surprised Chen Xuan immensely. Deng Zhou had always maintained a cold and aloof demeanor towards everyone, never initiating a conversation with him. This unexpected turn of events truly made Chen Xuan feel flattered.
Meanwhile, Su Jin returned home with light steps, his face beaming with undisguised joy. As soon as he entered, he couldn't wait to share the good news of his high school admission with his family. This good news spread like wildfire throughout the Su family, filling the house with laughter and excitement, everyone's heart brimming with joy.
The villagers quickly learned of Su Jin's high school entrance exam results, and the news spread like wildfire. The village was bustling with activity as villagers flocked to the Su family home to offer their warmest congratulations. Facing the endless stream of visitors, Su Jin, guided by her father, smiled and bowed to each and every one of them. This busy scene continued until the sun began to set and night fell, finally allowing Su Jin a moment to relax and sit down with her family for a proper chat.
Father Su said to Su Jin with a solemn expression, "My child, now that you have passed the imperial examination, you will become an official in the future. But you must never forget the kindness of Princess Jiayang. If it weren't for her, you probably wouldn't even have had the opportunity to take the imperial examination. So if you ever hear anyone speaking ill of Princess Jiayang in court, you must stand up for her no matter what. Do you understand?"
Su Jin was both amused and exasperated by his father's words. Looking at his father, he said helplessly, "Father, you're overthinking it. Even if I become an official, I'll only be a minor one. How could I possibly have any authority over someone as noble as Princess Jiayang?"
However, her father didn't see it that way. He gently patted Su Jin's back and said earnestly, "The most important thing in life is to know how to be grateful. Without Princess Jiayang's help, how could you have achieved what you have today? Besides, although you started as a minor official, as long as you are willing to work hard and do practical things for the people, you will be promoted one day! Furthermore, even if your official position is not high, if someone really bullies Princess Jiayang, you can still speak up for her, right?"
Su Jin solemnly assured his father, "Father, please rest assured! I know what I'm doing and will work diligently and conscientiously to become an honest and upright official who benefits the people. This is to repay Princess Jiayang for her kindness in recognizing my talent!" After saying this, he looked firmly into the distance, as if he could already see his future career unfolding before him.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Su smiled with satisfaction and nodded repeatedly, praising, "Good, good, good! You are indeed my son. It is excellent that you have such ambition! I believe you will achieve great things." As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Su family was filled with laughter and joy, and the family was happy and warm together.
In this joyful and peaceful atmosphere, time quietly slipped away. Before he knew it, night had fallen, and Su Jin, filled with anticipation, drifted into a sweet dream. That night, he slept exceptionally well, even his dreams were beautiful.
The next morning, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze blew. The imperial examination was held as scheduled, and students from all over the country gathered in the magnificent hall. At this moment, everyone looked solemn and slightly nervous, some with their heads down in thought, others whispering, and an invisible pressure could be felt between them.