I feel so good after dressing up as a peasant girl - Chapter 379: Results of the Palace Examination
I feel so good after dressing up as a peasant girl
Chapter 379: Results of the Palace ExaminationOf course, those who came to congratulate did not forget to congratulate Gu Wenxuan on her promotion to the title of county lord.
Because of the assassin incident, people in the capital were in a panic. Even Gu Wenxuan and Bai Jingzhou, who had received rewards, did not dare to be too prominent at that time. Naturally, they did not accept any gifts or hold any banquets for Gu Wenxuan who was named a county lord.
Now that the matter of the assassin has been settled, it is natural to congratulate Gu Wenxuan on her achievement of the status of county lord.
Gu Wenxuan accepted the congratulations from the officials and their wives with a smile. She was very happy to become a county lady of a distinguished status by virtue of her contribution in saving the emperor.
With the status of a second-rank county lady, the annual salary and rewards given to her by the emperor were secondary. The improvement of her personal status was the most important thing.
Let me put it this way, if she did not have the status of a second-rank county lady, then when she went out for social events in the future, she would have to bow to all the wives of officials and royal women who were higher in rank than her.
After obtaining the status of a county lady of the second rank, except for paying respects to the royal women and wives of the first and second rank, Gu Wenxuan could also receive respect from the other women.
It feels so good to achieve a class leap overnight.
After entertaining people who came to congratulate them for about two hours, Gu Wenxuan and her friends were finally able to calm down and enjoy a sumptuous lunch that the cook had already prepared.
Considering that Bai Jingzhou and his colleagues would have to take part in the palace examination in about half a month, after this day, Gu Wenxuan and his colleagues closed the door again and started the closed-door mode.
Bai Jingzhou and his companions ate and drank well, and focused on reviewing the part of their exam preparation materials related to important court affairs. Then, on March 15th, they went out early to take part in the palace examination.
Although Gu Wenxuan was a county lady, she could not participate in matters concerning the imperial examination, which concerned the foundation of the country. She sent Bai Jingzhou and others into the palace, and then obediently found a teahouse outside the palace gate and waited.
The palace examination only had one question temporarily selected by the emperor. A fast candidate could finish the paper in about an hour, while a slow candidate would take about two hours.
Therefore, as soon as noon arrived, candidates had already walked out of the palace one after another.
Bai Jingzhou and his companions walked at a moderate pace. It was not until noon that Gu Wenxuan, who was returning to the palace gate from the teahouse, saw Bai Jingzhou and his companions leaving the palace from afar.
"Have you been waiting for a long time?" Bai Jingzhou was the first to notice Gu Wenxuan standing outside the palace gate, smiling and waving at them. He strode to Gu Wenxuan's side and said, "Are you hungry? Let's find a restaurant nearby to eat?"
Others who were left behind: ...
Gu Wenxuan smiled and shook her head slightly at Bai Jingzhou, "Let's go home and eat. I've asked the cook to prepare lunch."
Although she stayed in the teahouse, she sent the servants around her back to pass on messages.
Considering that Bai Jingzhou and the others would have to go to the palace to listen to their respective palace examination rankings, Gu Wenxuan decided to make a good start and finish, and let them all eat at home before the parade and the Qionglin Banquet.
Since Mu Jingzhi also came out with Bai Jingzhou and the others, Bai Jingzhou simply took Mu Jingzhi to his home.
Now that Mu Jingzhi was no longer under the tremendous pressure of the imperial examination, he felt quite relaxed and happy as if the dust had settled. He sent one of his attendants home to pass on a message, and then without looking back he followed Bai Jingzhou to his house for a free meal.
The scholars gathered together to chat, and Gu Wenxuan ordered the servants to bring them a sumptuous lunch.
Fang Youfu and his brothers, who accompanied her throughout the entire process and protected Bai Jingzhou and others, also got a table with the same dishes and more staple foods.
Gu Wenxuan still brought her daughter Xiaoxiao to eat at the third courtyard where she and Bai Jingzhou lived. Her appetite was bigger than Fang Youfu's, so she had quite a few dishes too.
The group of people had a delicious lunch. The servants took the dishes away and washed them, and then they took a nap. Bai Jingzhou and other students who gathered together to discuss the palace examination brought them snacks, candied fruits, dried fruits, fresh fruits and hot tea.
While eating and drinking, everyone repeated their own articles from memory and asked others present to help appreciate them.
Of course, their views on each other's articles could not represent the opinions of the emperor and his courtiers. At most, they could only help each other confirm whether there were any taboos.
So after a brief discussion, everyone went back to recuperate.
In a blink of an eye, the day of the palace examination call-out arrived. Bai Jingzhou and others once again entered the palace early to hear their own examination rankings.
As expected, the three people in the first class and the second class were not among them. Bai Jingzhou, who was most appreciated by the emperor, ranked the highest, sixth in the overall list and third in the second class. However, Bai Jingzhou privately thought that this was probably because the emperor had a certain preference for him.
Following him were Su Yunzhan, ranked tenth in the second class, Mu Jingzhi, ranked twelfth in the second class, Jiang Yuheng, ranked seventeenth in the second class, Gu Wenhai, ranked twenty-first in the second class, Bai Jingshan, ranked twenty-ninth in the second class, Tao Chang, ranked thirty-third in the second class, Li Fan, ranked forty-fifth in the second class, and Bai Yaoheng, who originally thought he would definitely be a Jinshi in the third class but ended up being ranked last in the second class and happily got a Jinshi place.
A huge surprise suddenly came, and if Bai Yaoheng had not still had a bit of rationality, he would have jumped up excitedly and cheered for this unexpected joy.
After the roll call in the Golden Hall ended, it was time for the classic segment of the Jinshi scholars to parade through the streets on horseback. Gu Wenxuan, who had already booked a private room facing the street in the restaurant, took Xiaoxiao, Fang Youfu and others to the private room early, waiting to watch the fun with the people of the capital.
The restaurant usually opens late, and only on special occasions like today will it open its doors early to let in guests who have reserved private rooms and seats in advance.
Naturally, at special times like today, not only must seats in the restaurant be booked in advance, but the charges for private rooms, tea, wine, meals, etc. are also much more than usual.
Gu Wenxuan had anticipated this. She first spent some money to reserve a private room in advance, and then spent another sum of money this morning to buy tea and snacks, so that everyone could eat and drink with the various snacks they bought from outside while waiting for the scholars.
Gu Wenxuan also prepared a few brand new handkerchiefs, sachets and other things. When a scholar they were familiar with passed by, the maids she brought with her could use these to show their support to them.
As for Gu Wenxuan herself, she had already prepared a sachet filled with dried flowers, and planned to throw it to Bai Jingzhou personally later.
Yes, the sachets she prepared were filled with dried flowers instead of spices, so as not to hurt people.