The first time in history

Outside the palace, all the officials were waiting outside the door. Qian Mingduo watched Feng Yixuan busy in and out, and saw an opportunity. He walked up to Feng Yixuan and patted him gently on the back.

"I saw you a long time ago, but I couldn't find you in a blink of an eye." Feng Yixuan said with a smile: "Brother, you don't even treat me as a brother!"

"What do you mean?" Qian Mingduo smiled. "Brother Feng, are you blaming me?"

"When you won the first place in the imperial examination and were paraded through the streets to show off your power, I called out to you in the crowd." Feng Yixuan said with an unnatural expression, "But you and Brother Bian pretended not to hear me and ignored me. It really disappointed me!"

"I really didn't hear you calling me." Qian Mingduo really didn't hear Feng Yixuan calling him, otherwise he would have said hello. "As for me not treating you as a brother, that's too embarrassing for me."

"Brother Lu, wait a moment. I need to go in and do some work." Feng Yixuan looked around and said, "I'll come and talk to you when I'm free."

Zhao Yong looked at Feng Yixuan's back and walked to Qian Mingduo. "How come Lord Lu is so familiar with this tutor?"

"Is Yixuan a tutor now?" Qian Mingduo was very puzzled. According to the rules of the Song Dynasty, only the second-class Jinshi or above were qualified to be the emperor's tutor. Although the third-class Jinshi were also Jinshi, the difference in status could be seen from the name of the first-class Jinshi.

The second place is called the Imperial Scholar, and the third place is called the Imperial Scholar. However, Feng Yixuan was one of the last few in the third place, but he was able to become the emperor's tutor. Qian Mingduo couldn't understand the mystery behind this.

"Your Excellency, I went to Beijing from Lin'an Prefecture with Feng Shidu to take the imperial examination. So we are very familiar with each other." Qian Mingduo asked, "Of course, how did you know that Yixuan was a Shidu?"

"This... I naturally know." Zhao Yong smiled while twisting his beard. "Since you know Feng Shidu, you should spend more time with him. There must be someone inside the court."

"Your Excellency is right." Qian Mingduo did not want to pursue a career in government, so he did not win over various people or build his own network. But a few days ago, he had decided to prepare for the possibility of not being able to travel back in time, and see if he could make a difference in the Southern Song Dynasty.

At 4:00 pm, officials who had been waiting outside the palace entered the palace one after another. Emperor Gaozong held a grand banquet for his officials in the Chuigong Hall.

This palace is not as large as the palace complex in Shangqiu, but it has already taken shape. Before the Chuigong Hall is the Daqing Hall, and after the Chuigong Hall is the residence of the emperor and his concubines. The main buildings include the Funing Hall and the Qinzheng Hall.

Further back is the Royal Garden which is under construction.

The Chuigong Hall could not accommodate all the officials, so the eunuchs read the decree in front of the hall. Officials of the fourth rank and above could enter the hall, while the rest had to sit outside the hall.

There were two people at a table, both were officials of the same level. Qian Mingduo had never seen the person sitting opposite him before, and he should be in his forties or fifties. Qian Mingduo bowed to him, and after the man returned the greeting, the two of them sat cross-legged.

"Sir, are you Mr. Lu Tongpan, who won three first prizes in a row?" the man asked with a smile.

"No, no, my name is Lu Zhengyi." Qian Mingduo said politely.

"I am Tian Huijie, the prefect of Jiankang."

"Sir Tian, ​​I'm honored to meet you." Qian Mingduo knew that the prefect of Jiankang was of the fifth rank, while he was of the junior fifth rank.

At this time, the eunuch announced the emperor's order to give a banquet in front of the palace. One by one, exquisite dishes whose names could not be pronounced were brought to the low table by the graceful palace maids, but no one moved. After the eunuch announced the order again, everyone started to pick up dishes.