No matter if you are a human or an immortal, you can still farm for me after traveling through time!

The much-anticipated day of the results announcement finally arrived. Li Sanlang woke up early, washed carefully, and put on the new robe made by Li A Niang.

After doing all this, the drum for opening the market had not yet sounded, so Li Sanlang had to go to the study.

The study was empty, and the quilt on the couch was neatly folded, with no signs of being opened or used.

When they returned from Huaiyuanfang yesterday, Ji Qingyue returned to the painting. After all, there were still many poultry, livestock and crops that needed to be taken care of.

Li Sanlang opened the window and looked out. He looked at the distant sky which was turning pale as a fish belly, and calculated in his mind how long it would take for the market to open.

The time to leave the workshop was getting closer, and Li Sanlang turned around to look at the scroll on the wall, wondering if Brother Ji had woken up.

Just when Li Sanlang was thinking that if Ji Qingyue couldn't get up, he would go and wait for the results to be announced by himself, footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

Ji Qingyue yawned as he walked over: "I knew you must have gotten up very early..."

In order to witness the announcement of the results with his own eyes, he struggled to get out of bed before dawn, climbed to the top of the mountain and jumped out.

The exit of the scroll is at the top of the mountain which is really inconvenient and you don’t know where the next exit will be.

At this moment, rapid and regular drumbeats came from the alley.

The workshop is open!

"Let's go!"

The moment the drums sounded, Chang'an City came alive from its silence and the streets suddenly became lively.

People who get up early to go to work begin to get busy for the day, and street stalls and shops open their doors to welcome customers one after another.

It only took the time to go downstairs and close the door, and then turn around and walk into the street. The stalls on both sides of the street were already prepared, and the hot soup was boiling, emitting white mist.

Ji Qingyue suggested: "Shall we have breakfast first?"

Li Sanlang looked at the sun that had just risen, nodded, and followed Ji Qingyue into a noodle soup restaurant.

The two ordered two bowls of futu, which is noodle soup.

A thin sheet of dough, one finger wide and two inches long, is rolled in boiling water, scooped up with a scoop net, and then immersed in cold water. A large spoonful of delicious and mellow mutton soup is poured on it. Meat lovers can ask the chef to put a spoonful of extremely soft mutton in the soup. Such a bowl of tuantuo is so delicious that it will make your tongue fall off.

After the noodles were served, the two of them buried their heads in eating and no longer had time to talk.

In previous years, in order to let candidates know the results early, the results were announced in the early morning after sunrise. Now it was still early and there was still time to drive the donkey cart to the imperial city.

The emperor's palace is divided into the Imperial City and the Palace City. The Imperial City is in the south and the Palace City is in the north. The Imperial City is home to central government offices such as the Taichang Temple, the Honglu Temple, and the Shangshu Province. The emperor holds court in the Palace City every morning to discuss state affairs with major officials. After the meeting, the officials return to their respective offices in the Imperial City to work, and can only leave the Imperial City and go home when the time is up.

Li Sanlang was going to the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, also known as the famous Imperial Examination Hall. The place where the results were announced was at the east wall of the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

Unfortunately, as an ordinary civilian, Ji Qingyue cannot enter the imperial city.

The two men drove a donkey cart to the imperial city. When they arrived, many people had gathered in front of the Suzaku Gate.

In front of the city gate is a T-shaped intersection, where the north-south Zhuque Street and the east-west Hanguangmen-Chunmingmen Street intersect to form a large square over 150 meters long and over 100 meters wide.

Candidates could enter the imperial city with their examination certificates. Family members of officials could also enter the imperial city after inspection. However, ordinary civilians were not eligible to enter the imperial city and had to stand in the square waiting for the results.

At this time, the Suzaku Gate began to let in thousands of candidates like Li Sanlang, who all poured into the imperial city. After watching Li Sanlang successfully pass the inspection and enter the city gate, Ji Qingyue drove the donkey cart to the side of the road and sat in the cart waiting.

I heard from others that after passing the palace examination, the successful candidates will not only be listed on the list of successful candidates, but will also receive wedding invitations to celebrate. At that time, officials from the Ministry of Rites will write red invitations with gold paint and send them to the successful candidates' hometowns as soon as possible to announce the good news and congratulate them!

Unable to see what was happening in the imperial city, Ji Qingyue, who had no idea of the outcome, became increasingly anxious. His legs, hanging down from the edge of the carriage, were shaking uncontrollably. He seemed to be able to hear cheers coming from the imperial city.

Unfortunately, when he pricked up his ears and listened carefully again, he found that it was just an auditory hallucination caused by his anxiety.

After an unknown amount of time, there was commotion at the city gate again.

Unlike the day the exam ended, many people collapsed immediately after seeing the list of winners posted after the examination and finding that their names were not on it.

I saw many people being carried out by the Jinwu Guards. Those who were responded to were let go, while those who were ignored had to be dealt with by others.

Some people cry and others laugh.

There are almost crazy laughter and also the joy of family fun.

The entire square was thrown into an uncontrollable commotion.

Ji Qingyue stood in the crowd, looking forward to the huge doorway embedded in the ten-meter-high city wall, constantly searching for the figure of his child.

Suddenly, a familiar figure rushed over and hugged him tightly!

"Brother Ji! I passed! I made the list!!"

Although Ji Qingyue was prepared to accept both outcomes, he was still stunned when he heard the long-awaited good news.

A moment later, Ji Qingyue returned to reality and felt a surge of warmth in his chest, and he couldn't stop being ecstatic.

Afterwards, Ji Qingyue pulled Li Sanlang into the car and left the chaotic square.

On the way, Li Sanlang talked about the situation of the examination: "There are eighty-eight people who have passed the exam this time. The palace examination will be held in two days."

In fact, there will be no major obstacles on this road to the imperial examination. There is no elimination in the palace examination, it is only for ranking.

There are only three people in the first class, namely the highly anticipated top scholar, second scholar and third scholar. The emperor will grant them official positions in public. The second and third class Jinshi will be granted official positions according to their palace examination grades. Those who are capable can serve in important central institutions, while those who are incompetent will serve as lower-level officials in the central government or be sent to local areas to serve as minor local officials.

This is the trend before the reform. In the future, there will be another examination by the Ministry of Personnel. Those who rank second or third must pass the assessment set by the Ministry of Personnel before they can be appointed as officials.

But... according to the current situation of redundant officials in Dali, the appointment should be delayed for some time. Unless there are connections behind the scenes, the new scholars will have to stay in Chang'an and wait for the arrangements of the Ministry of Personnel.

Ji Qingyue thought: This must be the reason why Li Sanlang in the painting stayed in Chang'an and could not return...

"Brother Ji, I thought it wouldn't work this time, so I thought of another way to retire..." Li Sanlang sat in the carriage, and there was a sense of unreality in his words.

Ji Qingyue, who was driving the car, smiled and comforted him: "If you fail, it's no big deal. You can just take the test again in three years."

Unexpectedly, Li Sanlang shook his head and rejected this idea: "The Ministry of Rites has not yet officially reformed, and there are other examinations for retirement this year."

Ji Qingyue was not clear about this: "What other ways are there to become an official?"

"In addition to the five regular subjects currently being tested, there are five special subjects: the subject of outstanding calligraphy and judgment, the subject of erudition and eloquence, the subject of virtuous and upright character, the subject of far-sighted military strategy and worthy of being a general, and the subject of both talent and knowledge and understanding of both theory and practice."

After Li Sanlang's explanation, Ji Qingyue realized that in addition to the scientific examinations that are well known to the world, there are also these five special recruitment examinations.

The time for holding the system science course is not as regular as that for regular courses. It is often held only when needed.

The Shupan Bacui exam tests one's understanding and application of legal provisions; the Boxue Hongci, as the name suggests, tests one's literary expression; the Xianliang Fangzheng exam selects those with noble moral character and the courage to give advice; the remaining two exams are assessments in military and comprehensive directions.

Therefore, these special recruitments are very watery and there are many ways to operate them.

"If you don't pass this time, which subject do you want to choose?"

"It's probably the Book and Judge Department."

It was already afternoon when the two returned to the store. Ji Qingyue asked Li Sanlang to go to the street to buy lunch. After parking the donkey cart, he watered the peonies in the store and the melon seeds in the backyard.

Just as the two were eating quietly, there was a knock on the door of the shop downstairs. The sound was slow and light, and very polite. It should not be a request for them to open the door to sell flowers.

Li Sanlang put down the bowl and went downstairs. Ji Qingyue quietly opened the window facing the street and looked down.

At this moment, there was a sedan chair parked outside the shop. It was not luxurious, but the person who could sit in the sedan chair was obviously of extraordinary status.

Ji Qingyue took a look and closed the window, while Li Sanlang, who came downstairs, quickly opened the door.

The person who came was one of the people who came to the store yesterday. Li Sanlang clearly remembered that this person was the manager who came to buy seeds on the orders of Princess Yong'an.

He came in a carriage yesterday and in a sedan chair today.

There was not only the steward outside the door, but also four servants standing behind him, each holding a pile of brocade boxes in their hands.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Sanlang invited the manager into the shop. Unfortunately, the entire shop was filled with only a wall of peonies in bud, and there was no place to entertain guests.

Li Sanlang had no choice but to get straight to the point: "Butler, are you here to buy flowers...?"

Before he could finish his words, the steward waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Groom, you misunderstood! I didn't come here to buy flowers, but if you are willing to discuss selling flowers to me with the shopkeeper, that would be great."

The shopkeeper waved back, and four servants immediately entered the shop carrying stacks of brocade boxes. "I'm here on behalf of the Grand Princess to congratulate the groom on his success in the imperial examinations! These are gifts from the Grand Princess to the groom. Please accept them."

The purchasing manager under Princess Yong'an naturally did not need to be so respectful to a new scholar like him. The show of goodwill had an obvious purpose.

Although the steward's words were meant to be inquiring, he actually had no room for refusal.

Li Sanlang politely asked the servant to put the brocade box on a step stool on the side, while he politely exchanged greetings with the steward.

The steward did not mention anything about buying flowers, but kept expressing his appreciation and praise for Li Sanlang. He also mentioned that the new scholars who had passed the palace examination would go to the Guangming Pagoda of Fu'an Temple to nominate themselves. At that time, many dignitaries would also go to Fu'an Temple in person to witness the style of the new scholars, and it was said that the delicious food of "catching a son-in-law under the list" would be indispensable.

Li Sanlang couldn't help but change his expression slightly, then shook his head slightly: "The manager is joking."

The gift-giving process did not last long. The steward once again congratulated Li Sanlang on passing the exam, and then left with his servant.

After the shop door closed again, Ji Qingyue went downstairs and clapped his hands at Li Sanlang: "Catching a son-in-law from the list? I've never seen that before!"

Li Sanlang shook his head helplessly at his brother's joke: "Being chosen as a son-in-law by the list is not a good thing for me."

The two of them did not pursue the joke any further, but carried the brocade box upstairs.

These brocade boxes were of different weights, and the total weight was quite significant. Both of them were curious about what Princess Yong'an had sent.

A complete set of four treasures of the study made of jade: a brocade robe, black boots, a gauze hat, a belt, a jade pendant, a sachet...

Ji Qingyue couldn't help but sigh that those who can be in charge are indeed smart people.

Of course, these gifts could not have been sent by Princess Yong'an herself. She probably just ordered the servants to deliver the gifts, and the content of the gifts was still decided by the steward.

This also indirectly reminds the two of them that Princess Yong'an knows Li Sanlang's identity very well.

None of these gifts involved gold or silver, as they were worried about upsetting Li Sanlang and causing unnecessary trouble.

In the afternoon, several servants belonging to different masters came to the door to give gifts. Some of them were people who had bought seeds in the store, and some were officials who extended olive branches in advance.

Judging from the name cards handed over, among the officials who presented gifts there was actually a very famous Hanlin scholar - Luo Shizhong.

Li Sanlang looked at the business card, feeling confused.

He could understand that other less famous minor officials gave him gifts as a way to maintain relationships. After all, the gifts were not expensive, just some tea and local specialties. It was equivalent to nodding and saying hello to him, and they would no longer be strangers when they met in official circles in the future.

But why did Lord Luo Shizhong, the emperor's close minister, give him a gift?

"Perhaps this gentleman is sending gifts in bulk?"

"Massive message?"

Ji Qingyue explained, "It means everyone gets one. This gentleman may have originally wanted to give it to only certain people, but in order to avoid suspicion, he had to give it to everyone?"

Li Sanlang didn't understand either. In order to verify whether it was as Ji Qingyue said, he quickly went outside to find a few classmates to ask.

Ji Qingyue checked the gift sent by Lord Luo and confirmed that the red paper contained only a few medium-quality tea cakes and a few books.

Could it be these books?

But Li Sanlang didn't think there was anything unusual about these books. These books were just ordinary books that broadened one's horizons and did not contain any other profound meanings worth pondering.

Ji Qingyue wrote down everything he had seen, heard and done recently in Chang'an on a piece of letter paper, and informed Li Sanlang of the good news that he had passed the exam. He then sent someone to deliver the envelope to the post station and send it to Ganzhou urgently.

After doing all this, Ji Qingyue touched his cheek. The annoying and troublesome beard in his hand was too difficult to take care of. He had to be very careful even when eating and drinking soup, so he made a decision immediately.

When Li Sanlang came back and saw his familiar brother Ji, he felt a surge of emotion in his heart.

Although the bearded man is nice, in their minds Ji Qingyue is an immortal. He is not only gentle in temper, but also humble in dealing with others, which is somewhat inconsistent with the bearded man's image.

He had grown a beard in the beginning to confirm his identity as a Hu and to avoid attracting the attention of his enemies. He was forced to do so. Now that he has acquired the identity of a Hu, he usually wears a hat to block the wind and sand. Hiding in Chang'an, which has a population of one million, he should not be so unlucky as to be "searched from the void" as soon as he goes out.

"So, did that Lord Luo only give you the gift?"

Li Sanlang's face was full of indescribable expression, and he nodded silently.

After going out for an afternoon, he found several friends of the same age in Pingkangfang. Without choosing his words carefully, those who were partying showed off the gifts they had received to him.

"Although I can't prove that Lord Luo only gave me gifts, it's definitely not a 'mass delivery' as Brother Ji said."

Ji Qingyue made a puzzled gesture of "up, middle, down" and asked, "What rank is the Lord Luo you are talking about?"

"Lord Luo serves as a Hanlin scholar. Although he does not hold as much power as Lord Lu, he is still a minister who meets with His Majesty every day to discuss important court affairs with Him."

That is the emperor's advisor.

In this case, it is indeed not an ordinary official position.

Now Ji Qingyue was also confused. What did it mean for a veteran in the workplace to give a gift to a rookie who was still in the field?

A gesture of goodwill or a demonstration?

The two are unknown.

After Li Sanlang decided to take the palace examination, he took the invitation to visit Lord Luo.