Chapter 294: Number One Scholar

There are more than 300 papers in the palace examination, so Li Yong will not review them one by one.

The entire paper review team has more than a dozen people.

The biggest role of these dozen people is to select more than 200 people who are granted the same status as Jinshi.

The top ten papers are placed on the top, just roughly ranking them, and now they are placed in front of Li Yong, waiting for him to review.

The top one is Gu Mingda's answer sheet.

During the previous palace examination, the only paper Li Yong had read was Gu Mingda's answer sheet. With so many eyes watching that day, no one dared to pluck hair from the tiger's head.

"Your Majesty, several old men all like this answer sheet very much and think that this person can be the top scholar."

Listening to the words of the eunuch, Li Yong took Gu Mingda's paper and read it carefully.

Gu Mingda's policy essay was indeed well written, but Li Yong did not only read this one, but read all the ten answer sheets they selected.

The papers of the palace examination were not covered with names.

Li Yong named Gu Mingda the top scholar, and then picked up Qin Jing's paper.

"If we talk about talent, this paper should be ranked second, but Qin Jing is so beautiful, so let's name him the third scholar." Li Yong said so.

There were 300 people in the palace examination that day. At first glance, Qin Jing and Gu Mingda stood out from the crowd. Everyone loves beauty, and Li Yong is no exception.

The eunuch manager beside him was slightly surprised.

Earlier in Baiyun Temple, seeing the emperor's intention, the eunuch manager thought that Gu Mingda would not be the top scholar, but he didn't expect that after all the twists and turns, it was still Gu Mingda.

The chief eunuch smiled and said, "Jun Tanhua, this is the rule of the previous imperial examinations. It's a coincidence that this time, there is not only Jun Tanhua, but also the elegant and handsome champion. What's more coincidental is that our champion is also a three-time winner!"

Three-time winners refer to the first place in the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination. It can be regarded as a grand scene in the literary world to have one.

Li Yong didn't know about this before, and said with a smile: "In this way, it is really due to him to be the champion."

The chief eunuch smiled and flattered a few words, but couldn't help thinking that Gu Mingda should have caught the emperor's eye. If he met him in the future, he would sell a few copies to him.

The ranking of the palace examination has been arranged, so it's better to announce it in advance.

The harem got the news half a beat later than the previous dynasty.

"What are you talking about three-time winners? Who is three-time winners?" Concubine Li had a dark face and grabbed the palace maid who was combing her hair and asked.

The maid didn't expect that Concubine Li would change her face so easily. The emperor stayed in Concubine Li's palace last night. When she woke up in the morning, Concubine Li was still smiling and was obviously in a very good mood. But when she heard about what happened outside, she suddenly changed her face.

The maid was so scared that she knelt on the ground: "It is said that his name is Gu Mingda, who won the top three places in the imperial examination and is extremely honored. I heard from them that during the palace examination, I saw him from a distance. He is eight feet tall and handsome. If he were not old, I am afraid he would be the third place. I don't know if he is the prince of Xian Guogong..."

Hearing this, Concubine Li wanted to stare a hole in the maid with her beautiful eyes.

"My queen, this girl only heard half of the things of the previous dynasty. Why are you angry about it?" The big maid next to her whispered to persuade.

Concubine Li glanced at her, and then said: "Tell the six palaces that they don't have to come to pay respects today. Where is Aunt Zhang? Where is she? Hurry up and let her come to see me!"

The head maid didn't understand, but she still bowed and retreated.

Concubine Li glanced at the combing maid kneeling on the ground: "Go down, slap her face thirty times."

The combing maid didn't even know what she did wrong, she just told one or two interesting stories while combing her hair as usual.

Thirty slaps on the face were not a heavy punishment, the real heavy punishment was that she lost her job.

It was Concubine Li's habit that she would not let the palace maids she punished serve her close again.

The combing maid wanted to beg for mercy and admit her mistake, but someone had already covered her mouth and dragged her out.

Amma Zhang came very quickly.

Concubine Li waved away her attendants, grabbed Nanny Zhang's hand, and asked, "Go and ask Gu Mingda, is he the man from Guang'an County, Guanglin Prefecture? You have found out everything about the Gu family!"

She didn't wait for Nanny Zhang to reply, and said, "No, it must be him! It's impossible for such a coincidence!"

It was rare for Nanny Zhang to see her so flustered. When Concubine Li was tossed around by the Empress Dowager in the early years, she was never so flustered.

"Don't worry, madam, it's not him, it must not be that person. I will take the sign and leave the palace, and let my son go to find out carefully..." Nanny Zhang tried to calm her master's emotions.

Concubine Li calmed down a little at this time and said, "You are right, it can't be him."

After Nanny Zhang left, Concubine Li sat in the empty palace, looking at the gorgeous and exquisite furnishings around her, her face gradually became sinister.

The Gu family had just sent off the official who came to announce the good news.

When Gu Mingda won the imperial examination, the Gu family was already very happy. Now that he has won the title of the top scholar, it is equivalent to Gu Mingda finally getting a final result after studying for so many years.

"Top scholar! The top scholar only appears once every three years!" Old Mrs. Gu boasted to the old ladies in the neighborhood happily.

The old ladies didn't know much about the imperial examination, but there was an old lady who didn't know much and couldn't help but said, "Is it once every three years? Why do I remember watching the top scholar parade last year?"

When Mrs. Gu heard this, she didn't feel slapped in the face. Instead, she looked like she was teaching someone, saying, "Normally, it happens once every three years. This year is the birthday of the Empress Dowager in the palace, so the Emperor specially showed mercy and held the imperial examination again. This is called the Enke. Do you understand?"

The old lady didn't have time to reply.

The other old ladies were already flattering her, "Madam Gu, you know more! You are worthy of being the mother of the top scholar!"

"No wonder you can raise a son who is the top scholar. It turns out that he got his smartness from you!"

Mrs. Gu raised her head high and said proudly, "I have three sons, and my second son is the smartest. He is also the most like me!"

"Madam Gu, what official position will the top scholar be? What rank?" someone asked.

How could Old Lady Gu know so much? She didn't want to show her weakness, so she said, "Whatever position the Emperor wants him to hold, he will hold! All is up to the Emperor's orders!"

Someone else said, "That's right. Your son's backer is the Princess. She will definitely help him become a high-ranking official! Was your son able to become the top scholar this time because of the Princess's support? I heard that this ranking was determined long ago. Whoever has a powerful backer will become the top scholar."

Old Lady Gu had no idea that this person was setting a trap. She originally wanted to brag about her family's relationship with the Princess's Mansion and make other old ladies envious of her.

Just as Old Lady Gu was about to agree, Niuniu said with an unhappy face, "My father became the top scholar based on his real ability!"