Qing Jialu

After the public examination, the next step is the palace examination.Although there is no risk of failing in the palace examination, one has to prepare well.After all, there is still a big difference between first-class, second-class and third-class.

The first class grants "Jinshi Jiji", the second class grants "Jinshi background", and the third class grants "same Jinshi background".It seems that there are not a few words, but there is a world of difference.First-class and second-class can have a good future, while the third-class can only be a small official, and it will be very difficult to be promoted in the future.

On the sixth day of April, the palace examination began.Du Huan and [-] other tributes, led by officials from the Ministry of Rites, stepped into the Forbidden City, a symbol of imperial power, for the first time.The so-called "Tian Shelang in the morning, Tianzitang in the evening", so this is the place that all scholars dream of entering.When everyone saw the towering and majestic palace, they were both excited and nervous.

As soon as the time came, the drums sounded, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites led the examinees through the palace gates to wait in front of Majesty Dan in the square in front of the Huangji Hall.Book cases and cushions have already been placed in the open square, as well as pens, inks, papers and inkstones.

At this time, all the officials had arrived, Shen Ge was standing in the middle, and he saw Du Huan at a glance.However, this time Du Huan learned his lesson and didn't want to say hello or anything. He stood in the line in an orderly manner, and paid homage to the examiner under the guidance of officials from the Ministry of Rites.

After Shen Jia and all the officials accepted the salutations from the students, they stood outside the hall together, waiting for the holy driver here.

Many students are facing the Holy Spirit for the first time, so they are inevitably nervous.Even Du Huan, who had seen the emperor countless times, was infected by this solemn atmosphere, and his palms were covered with cold sweat.

At the moment of time, the emperor finally came.Everyone knelt down and shouted long live three times, and after hearing His Majesty say "flat body", everyone dared to stand up, and the palace examination officially began.

When Du Huan got up, he slightly raised his head and looked forward.This was the first time he saw Xiao Yi wearing a dragon robe. He saw His Majesty sitting on the dragon chair with a serious expression, as if he and his good friend Brother Xiao were two people.

Just when Du Huan was in a trance, Shen Jia came out and read the exam questions aloud.The questions of the palace examination were drawn up by His Majesty, and the stereotyped essays were not tested, but candidates were asked to answer strategic questions.

His Majesty did not ask a question about the reform this time, but asked a more acute question - banning the sea and opening the sea.

After listening to the questions, the candidates almost cried.It's too difficult for them this year. First, they have to discuss the good and bad of the reform. Now it's even worse, and they have to answer whether the sea ban should be lifted.

This question not only made the candidates in a dilemma, but even the officials present were surprised when they heard it.It has been hundreds of years since Taizu banned the sea, why did His Majesty suddenly raise this issue?

Could it be that His Majesty intends to lift the sea ban?

Only Shen Jia understood His Majesty's deep meaning. Under the influence of that missionary, Xiao Yi saw the development of overseas, and he did not want to sit in the well and isolate himself from the outside world.

Answering the pros and cons of the reform, all the candidates can guess the questions in advance, and close their eyes and talk nonsense.But His Majesty has never raised the issue of sea bans in public, and they can't bet on it even if they want to bet on it, and they can't guess the holy will, so they can only rely on improvisation and adapt to the situation.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yi saw the candidates sitting down, some began to write, some were still meditating, so he got up and left.After the emperor left, the atmosphere in the examination room became a little more relaxed, so Shen Jia came down and walked around, casually looking at the candidates' answer sheets.

However, Shen Jia read several beginnings in a row, and her complexion became more and more bad.It seems that most people are conservative and stand on the side of the Forbidden Sea.

After all, the sea has been banned for many years, and it is still the rule set by the Taizu. Such an answer sheet is quite satisfactory, and there is nothing wrong with it.

And to support Kaihai, it really takes courage.In case His Majesty does not intend to lift the sea ban, they are courting death if they support opening the sea.

Shen Jia's heart became more and more heavy. From the attitude of the candidates, one could guess the attitude of the officials in the court.It seems that opening the sea is equivalent to another reform. Once this topic is brought up for discussion, it will definitely cause a big disturbance.

The palace examination was over when the sun set on the western mountain, and the examinees also left the Huangji Palace one after another and walked out of the palace gate.Three days later, they will come to the Forbidden City here to participate in the ceremony of passing on people.

So far, the study career of Du Huan and others is over.After three days, no matter what the ranking is, there will be an official position, so there is no need to worry about losing the ranking, and you can go back to sleep comfortably.

But now, it's time for the examiners to be busy.The Wenhua Palace was brightly lit, and the three hundred papers had to be sealed and sent to the examiner for marking.

Due to the rush of time, there was no step of transcribing the test papers for the palace examination. Shen Jia had seen Du Huan's handwriting, but this time he recognized Du Huan's test papers at a glance.

Shen Jia read Du Huan's answer sheet first, and was pleasantly surprised to find that he actually agreed with Kai Hai.Unexpectedly, Du Huan was conservative in "removing redundancy", but he was unique in Kaihai.

Shen Jia skimmed through his papers roughly, and sure enough, Du Huan was worthy of being the son of a merchant. He started directly from the benefits of trade, and proposed to set up shipping departments in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong.He also said that lifting the sea ban can bring huge wealth to the country, and it is a way to make money.

Shen Jia looked at it, feeling happy from the bottom of her heart.He remembered the friend who was doing business in Fujian that Du Huan mentioned when he asked Du Huan to buy binoculars.It seems that Du Huan's friend should have told him a lot about "smuggling".

Maybe his friends didn't expect that these "smuggling perceptions" were actually written by Du Huan in the papers of the palace examination. If he can be ranked in the top ten, maybe he will be able to be read by His Majesty in the future.

So Shen Jia rated this volume as the first class, giving Du Huan a chance and Kai Hai a chance.

The test papers of the palace examination must be read within two days, and then the top ten will be selected and presented to His Majesty for review.The examiners had already prepared the ranking of the top ten in their minds. Under normal circumstances, if His Majesty did not intervene, then this ranking would be the final ranking.

Shen Jia stared at the officials under her command, sorted out the top ten papers one by one, and put No.1 on the top.Then, in front of everyone, the chief examiner opened the blurb.

No.1 turned out to be... Du Huan!

Even Shen Jia did not expect this result.He thought it would be good for Du Huan to be in the top ten, but he didn't expect to be recognized by all the examiners and pre-selected as the champion.

When the others saw Du Huan's name, their expressions were also different.They all knew that Du Huan was an innocent student who was dismissed three years ago, and they also knew that Du Huan and Shen Jia were married.

However, when they checked the paper, they didn't even know who wrote the paper.But it was because Du Huan was the only student who clearly explained the benefits of opening the sea one by one, unlike the others, who were either firmly opposed or ambiguous.

The officials also want to test His Majesty's opinion through the test paper.Therefore, the pre-planned No. [-] paper is in favor of Kaihai, and the pre-planned No. [-] paper is in favor of Forbidden Sea.

When the time comes, you only need to see who His Majesty chooses to be the number one scholar, and you will know the holy will.