In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1237 - 1149: Issue Imperial Edict

Chapter 1237: Chapter 1149: Issue Imperial Edict

Unlike the order of names chanted during the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination, this time the announcement was done in reverse order. It started with the third class, then second class, and finally the first rank.

Because this spring examination had admitted four hundred sixty-three people, with the third class being the most numerous at three hundred forty-eight, it was actually in accordance with the usual practice, where the majority of the Tribute Scholars who passed the spring examination would be listed in the third class.

These new scholars were all nervous, yet their looks were excited as they quietly awaited the results of the palace examination.

Those whose names appeared in the third class had actually anticipated it. There was naturally some disappointment, but even more, there was relief. Because earlier reports had come back indicating that His Majesty had directly removed more than ten slots from this selection of Tribute Scholars, which had everyone terrified! Now that the results were out, everyone was relieved to not have broken any rules and to not have been removed.

Becoming a Jinshi Scholar was still becoming a Jinshi Scholar, sufficiently honorable for them to "Illuminate Ancestors" and bring glory to their family, blessing future generations.

The attire for the Jinshi Scholars was the same as before, described as "Ding Wei Ping, with wide spread corners extending over an inch, about five inches long, tied with a hanging belt, made of dark gauze. Adorned with a jade leaf velvet flower hairpin, with a bronze plaque above, bearing the words ’grace, honor, banquet.’"

Those who made it to the third class were endowed, and officials from the Ministry of Rites, along with the bulletin announcing happy news, would directly deliver it to the place where the candidate stayed.

Following that, the Ministry of Rites would also use the various postal relay stations to send the bulletins back to the scholar’s place of household registration, reaching their hometowns for public to sing praises about.

Due to the large number of people in the third class, the Tribute Scholars, page boys, and family servants crowded in front of Bangpeng Street, eagerly reading the results, crying and laughing, showing all sorts of human emotions.

Meanwhile, Su Ke and others sitting on the second floor above Bangpeng Street remained calmly seated, listening to the page boy reporting back the news.

Little Shitou was running and panting, shouting as he ran!

"Young master, good news! Good news, young master, you didn’t make it, you really didn’t make it! Congratulations young master, congrats young master, haha..."

His loud shout caused everyone waiting for good news to turn their heads, all their gazes collectively landing on Su Ke.

Laughing so heartily even though he didn’t make it?

Truly, like master, like servant.

Su Ke held his forehead!

He felt a headache coming on. Where did this guy jump out from?

Could he be someone who crawled out of a cave dwelling?

I don’t know him, get him away quickly.

"Pfft!—Cough, cough, cough..."

Xue Qian, sitting beside him, couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into laughter, "Your servant is too talented! Today, this gentleman is pleased, consider this a reward for him!" he said, waving his hand towards his own attendants.

Su Ke rolled his eyes furiously, this detestable Little Shitou, ruining his years of cultivation in one moment.

Gnashing his teeth, he scolded Little Shitou, "So you seem happy that this gentleman didn’t make it?"

Little Shitou then realized he had misspoken and quickly tried to rectify: "No... young master, your servant... young master, it’s just that your name wasn’t in the third class, so I came back happily to report to you. It’s not that you didn’t make it, your servant meant... no, that you did make it. Wrong, your servant means to say... ah! Now your servant can’t express himself clearly."

Little Shitou looked dejected.

"If you can’t speak, then shut up. No one will think you are mute."

Su Ke kept a stern face expressionless, while Xue Qian beside him was laughing so hard that tears and snot were coming out, continuously slapping the table, unable to stop laughing.

At another table, Feng Jiu turned her head to glance at Su Ke, said nothing, and turned back, calmly sitting in her original spot, sipping tea.

Fortunately, not long after, the second class results started to be announced on Bangpeng Street, which allowed Little Shitou a way out.

"Young master, your servant will go check the results again, you... wait for your servant."

Having said that, Little Shitou hurriedly ran off.

However, the second class announcement was distinctly different from the third class.

On Bangpeng Street, when announcing the happy news, they called out the names and places of household registration of the second class Tribute Scholars particularly clearly!

"Meizhou Master Liu, ranked 103rd in the second class of the palace examination!"

...

"Zhazhou Master Zhao, ranked 78th in the second class of the palace examination!"

...

"Jiangsu Yangzhou Master Sun, ranked 31st in the second class of the palace examination!"

...

The reporting continued loudly, and upstairs the silence was such that one could hear a pin drop, as everyone was already captivated by the prolonged happy news coming from outside.

Today, Su Ke finally understood why Xue Qian insisted on dragging him here to wait for the announcement.

This place is right opposite to where the results on Bangpeng Street are announced, where the bulletin announcing happy news directly reaches everyone’s ears through various barriers. It’s no wonder that while the place is small, it’s packed with prospective Jinshi Scholars waiting for the announcement.

The reason they are still called prospective Jinshi Scholars now is that the title of Jinshi Scholar will be personally bestowed by His Majesty in tomorrow’s morning court session, which is what is meant by "the Son of Heaven’s student". Even though the happy news is continually announcing names, they can only loudly call out someone’s master name.

The second class happy news started from the 103rd rank, reporting forward, and as the names progressed, the speed of announcing the names and places of household registration slowed down considerably. The second floor was overwhelmed with cheers of joy, making it impossible for others waiting for their rank to hear the activities outside. By the time the announcement reached the 27th rank, the atmosphere on the second floor completely ignited!

It turned out that one of the Tribute Scholars waiting here unexpectedly placed 27th!

"Ha ha ha... 27th rank! This young master never imagined achieving such a result, I’m so elated..."

With his burst of laughter, countless people rushed forward to congratulate him and ask for Red envelopes.

And he, not refusing anyone, while letting his subordinates scatter silver coins, hurriedly rushed to the inn where he was temporarily staying amidst a hustling crowd, making the second floor erupt completely.

The roaring noise was so loud that, no matter how intently Su Ke listened, he couldn’t hear the outside report of names, causing him a bit of annoyance as he frowned.

Xue Qian was in a similar situation, seeing this, he discreetly shook his head at him, "Don’t worry, we should soon hear back from those we sent out."

Whether it was Xue Qian or Su Ke, or Feng Jiu sitting at another table, all had already sent attendants to inquire about the rankings. Since the second class list hadn’t finished yet, they presumed it would soon.

As the announcement continued, fewer and fewer Tribute Scholars were left anxiously waiting for their rank to appear, but everyone’s mood grew increasingly heavy.

You should know, among those remaining Tribute Scholars yet to be called, apart from those selected for Jinshi, there were just a dozen others who had been excluded!

Why these dozen had their honors rescinded has not yet been disclosed by the Imperial Court. Such a mystery made everyone itch with curiosity, hatefully itching, yet they frustratingly could not scratch to get to the precise point, which was extremely vexing.

Both Su Ke and Xue Qian looked extremely solemn, and Feng Jiu on the other side wasn’t faring any better, her face taut, ears perked up, straining to catch any news from the surroundings.