The first time in history

Qian Mingduo smiled, "Boss, this is the palace examination! It is the highest level of examination in the Southern Song Dynasty. The best people in the country all compete in the Jiying Palace." He shook his head, "Although I got the first place, I don't know whether I can pass the imperial examination!"

"If you win the first place in the imperial examination, that would mean you win three prizes in a row!" The shopkeeper looked at Qian Mingduo with deep admiration.

Qian Mingduo hurriedly returned the gift, "Thank you for your auspicious words, boss. Whether it will come true or not, that depends on God's will."

A customer in the restaurant put down his wine glass and said slowly, "Whether you win the title or not is really up to fate, but at least you will be a fellow Jinshi. You can get a job as an official!"

"That's right." The shopkeeper echoed, "Even if you don't make it into the top three, the second place is still a Jinshi degree, and the third place is at least a Tong Jinshi degree. It's already very rare."

Qian Mingduo smiled, bowed to everyone, and then returned to the villa.

Just then, Li Shishi and her friends were getting ready for lunch.

"You're the first one to hand in your paper again?" Li Shishi stepped forward and held Qian Mingduo's hand. "You never change despite repeated admonitions!"

“Ha, ha, ha…” Qian Mingduo smiled, “I just missed you, so I handed in the paper early.”

"Just thinking of me." Li Shishi asked Qian Mingduo to sit down at the table. "How do you think you did on the test paper?"

Qian Mingduo nodded, "I have already made up my mind. Whether it will be successful or not depends on God's will. But..."

"But what?" Li Shishi filled his glass with wine.

"After Zhao Gou read my answer sheet, he seemed to think it was pretty good." Qian Mingduo said softly, "I saw him nodding as he looked at my answer sheet. I wonder if he thought my answer was okay."

Li Shishi sighed softly, "You have seen the emperor? You shouldn't address him like that. How can you call him by his name?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Qian Mingduo clinked his glasses with Li Shishi, "We should call him the Son of Heaven."

Li Shishi put down her wine glass and asked calmly, "When will the results be announced?" "So we can prepare?"

"What are you preparing for?" Qian Mingduo asked puzzledly.

"You stay in the capital to be an official, and we are preparing to return to Lin'an Prefecture." There was a hint of sadness in Li Shishi's eyes.

Qian Mingduo sat down next to Li Shishi and held her in his arms. "I know what you're thinking. I didn't take the imperial examination for fame or fortune. Let's put it this way. After the results are announced, no matter what the scores are, we'll go back to Lin'an."

Qian Mingduo kissed Li Shishi on the cheek. "It's just the middle of winter now. How can we go back? At least when the flowers bloom next spring, we can travel back with fun. Wouldn't that be better?"

"That's what I said," Li Shishi stroked Qian Mingduo's collar, "How could someone win the first place in the imperial examination and not express gratitude, parade in the streets to boast about his position, or just go back like that?"

"How do you know I will be the top scorer?" Qian Mingduo laughed. "It's possible that I will fail!"

"That would be the best!" Li Shishi looked up at Qian Mingduo, "If it doesn't work, we can spend the New Year in the capital and then go back to Lin'an."

Xiao Cui brought another dish, "Miss, when I went to the kitchen to serve the dishes just now, I heard a few people talking about it. They said that even if the young master passed the top three, he could still become an official."

"Those who get the top three can become officials." Li Shishi glanced at Qian Mingduo with pride: "Does your son think he can get the top three? He wants to get the top three prizes in a row!"

Qian Mingduo was just trying to save Li Shishi. "Third place students can become officials, but my third place is the same as no place at all. We have to get second place at least!"