Chapter 278 General's Style

After the results of the general examination are released, there is the palace election. There is a very short interval between the two. Only after passing the palace examination can one become a Jinshi and get the real qualification for official selection.

The palace examination is different from the general examination. The palace examination almost never dismisses the candidates. It just re-ranks the candidates through this examination so that everyone can stand out in front of the emperor and give them the title of "disciple of the emperor".

Therefore, compared to the general examination, everyone was in a more relaxed state during this palace examination.

Gu Mingda was holding the examination basket and was led by the middle-aged palace attendant who was guiding him to the front of the queue.

"Huiyuan Lang, it's like this every year, Huiyuan is the leader." The white-faced and beardless palace attendant explained with a smile.

Gu Mingda cupped his hands to express his gratitude.

The middle-aged palace attendant was purified when he was young and has been working as a guide for the palace examinations for many years. Just because he is an eunuch, few of the candidates he meets are willing to look at him.

He was also prepared to be scorned by these promising scholars, but he was struck by Gu Mingda's gentle and calm eyes and polite attitude.

The middle-aged palace servant thought for a moment and then led the way back to try the second place. At this time, his eyes were almost raised to the sky. He casually waved his sleeves and said "I know", and then tried his best to avoid it. Open a middle-aged palace attendant.

The middle-aged palace attendant had long been numb when he saw this scene, but at this moment he couldn't help but glanced at Gu Mingda, thinking that Gu Mingda was one of the few.

After the team was lined up, these freshly prepared tributes filed into the palace, and under the guidance of the guide, they successfully arrived at the Tai Chi Hall.

There are already many people waiting in Baohe Hall.

Four of the seven pavilion elders came, and all officials from the Ministry of Rites were present.

"The Gongsheng students in Jinke seem to have many outstanding talents, but it's a pity that Mr. Chen Ge can no longer see them." Mr. Li Ge sighed in a low voice to Mr. Liu Ge next to him.

Mr. Liu Ge said: "There is no way, Mr. Chen Ge's grandson is also among them. He has to avoid suspicion."

When Mr. Li Ge heard this, he couldn't help but show envy on his face: "The Duke of Xianguo is very lucky. The twenty-year-old Gongshi will soon become a Jinshi of the new science. He is also the heir apparent of the Duke. He will have a title in the future. I’m afraid someone in the capital will be robbed this year, and I don’t know whose family will get this golden son-in-law.”

After hearing this, Mr. Liu Ge just smiled and said nothing.

Li Ge Lao immediately looked at him with wide eyes and said, "Could it be that... you are married to Brother Liu?"

Mr. Liu Ge shook his head gently and said, "I have never cared about my children's marriage. If they get married to my family, shouldn't I also avoid suspicion?"

Mr. Li Ge asked: "Whose family is that?"

Mr. Liu Ge whispered: "Song."

Song Ge has always been the second assistant in the cabinet. In terms of seniority, he will be the next chief assistant.

Only then did Mr. Li Ge understand why Mr. Song Ge didn't come today to avoid suspicion.

He couldn't help but feel sour in his heart at this moment. He originally thought that his granddaughter's marriage was going well, but now he was really comparing things with others. How could Jing'anbo's eldest son compare to Xianguo's eldest son?

He also knew in his heart that these noble families would not marry civil servants like them if their families had not declined. But now that Qin Jing has passed the imperial examination, the Xianguo Palace is about to become prosperous again.

Mr. Li Ge thought about his granddaughter who was currently at home and wanted to break off the engagement, and his head suddenly became big.

At this time, Mr. Liu Ge had already started chatting with Mr. Zhan Ge who was standing beside him, and said, "My wife really liked the play that was put on in Mr. Zhan's theater. I ate Fuwang Braised Meat on my dining table for many days. ”

After listening to this, Mr. Zhan still had a smile on his face and said: "This braised meat tastes really good, and I like to eat it too. No wonder people in Xiwenzi covet it."

Liu Gelao smacked his chin and mouth, as if he was reminiscing, but he was well-informed and said: "I vaguely remember the taste of this braised food. I seem to have eaten it in Guang'an Prefecture more than ten years ago."

Master Zhan also became interested in listening to his talk about ancient times and said, "It's such a good taste, but it's a pity that I can only taste it now."

Mr. Liu Ge said: "It was in a restaurant. It was said that he was the heir of some imperial chef. During that time, that restaurant had a fierce quarrel with the Li family. Later, when the Li family gained power, I went to look for that restaurant, but it was already there. Changed ownership."

Master Zhan frowned slightly when he heard what he said.

The Li family was originally just an ordinary merchant, but now that Concubine Li is favored in the palace, she has ascended to heaven. Not only did her own sister marry into the Duke Xian's palace, but Concubine Li's brother also married a daughter of a wealthy family and became a high official.

It can be said that civil servants and nobles disagree with each other, but when it comes to relatives, they have the same attitude and want to step on her.

It's just that the emperor dotes on Concubine Li, and Concubine Li has no children. Sooner or later, she will become a thing of yesterday. The two pavilion elders did not continue this topic.

Old Liu Ge changed the topic and said: "In addition to Qin Jing, there are a few good talents in this examination. The Huiyuan Lang Gu Mingda wrote the article smoothly, which is quite the demeanor of Mr. Zhan Ge." ”

After hearing this, Mr. Zhan Ge couldn't help laughing, but he didn't mention what he and Gu Mingda had met. Instead, he said: "I actually like the third-place article more. The rhetoric is gorgeous and quite impressive. ”

Liu Gelao didn't think much after hearing this, and said with a smile: "It's a pity that the third place is not as good as his words. I'm afraid he won't be named the best."

Mr. Zhan Ge happened to look over at these words and suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

The third person was really not decent-looking, with pits on his face like a toad. Zhan Gelao immediately lowered his head and didn't even like the article anymore.

Gu Mingda didn't know that the adults above were chatting. He was just led to sit in the front seat.

The emperor hadn't arrived yet. There were constant whispers in the hall, and the overall atmosphere was still very relaxed.

Gu Mingda thought that he had a smooth journey today without any twists and turns, and his heart gradually settled down.

"The emperor has arrived!"

Hearing this voice, the tribute students in the hall couldn't help but make a commotion, and Gu Mingda instinctively wanted to stretch his head to watch the excitement.

But the middle-aged palace servant who had led the way suddenly reminded: "Don't look directly at the emperor's face, just sit down."

Gu Mingda didn't move after hearing this.

When the emperor just came in, some people instinctively wanted to kneel, and some people hurriedly stood up from their chairs. The examination area in the hall was suddenly as noisy as a vegetable market.

The emperor frowned slightly when he saw the noisy look of others, and when his eyes fell on Gu Mingda, his brows relaxed.

After the emperor sat down, the eunuch shouted, "Newly-appointed scholars, pay homage to the emperor!"

Only after hearing this did Gu Mingda stand up and respectfully pay homage to the emperor.

After the ceremony, Gu Mingda did not stand up immediately, but waited for a moment.

The eunuch shouted, "The ceremony is over, stand up!"

Gu Mingda then stood up.

But many of the scholars behind him who were attending the ceremony for the first time had green faces at this time. Many of them had no chance to meet the emperor, and no one reminded them, so naturally the ceremony was a mess.

Until they sat down and the test papers were distributed, they kept thinking about the impropriety in front of the emperor, and they were anxious and restless, and it was inevitable that they were absent-minded when answering the questions.

Gu Mingda, on the other hand, behaved in accordance with etiquette from beginning to end. After receiving the test paper, he only had the test paper in front of him in his mind and answered the questions silently.

The chief minister of the cabinet, Zhang Gelao, had not joined in the idle chatter of his colleagues before. After looking around at all the candidates in the hall, he sighed: "Hui Yuanlang is calm in the face of battle, and he has the demeanor of a great general."