The whole family travels through the book, the plot is broken but the characters are not

In the imperial palace cabinet, eight examiners consisting of cabinet ministers, Hanlin Academy scholars, and ministers from various ministries and academies were busy reviewing the palace examination papers.

Each examiner took out the test papers that he or she thought could be included in the top ten list, and finally they jointly judged them.

The marking went smoothly and the top ten were determined, but the first and second places made them very embarrassed. They found it difficult to tell which was better, whether it was the policy questions or the answer sheets or the fonts.

Cai Yun, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, handed two test papers to Yang Ziliang.

Yang Ziliang is the chief judge of this year's Spring Examination. When others find it difficult to make a decision, they have to leave it to Yang Ziliang to make the judgment.

Yang Ziliang looked at the two test papers in his hand and couldn't help laughing. It was indeed them. They were worthy of being the top scorers he had selected.

Yang Ziliang also felt that it was difficult to tell who was better between the two, but Han Qingyun was younger and could serve the court for many more years.

If Yang Ziliang were to choose, Han Qingyun would naturally be the top scorer and Liu Minghe would be the second.

But he has no say in the ranking of the top ten.

Yang Ziliang thought of Emperor Zhaowen and the smile on his face froze.

The emperor always said that he wanted to be the second emperor, but he only learned the appearance of the late emperor, not the essence.

Emperor Zhaowen had already issued a clear order that when ranking the top ten, those with obscured names would be removed.

He originally wanted to refuse according to the ancestral system, but Emperor Zhaowen said that there was a precedent for removing the obscure name.

Yang Ziliang was so angry that he gritted his teeth. There was indeed a precedent.

Emperor Xiaoxian doted on Prince Mingyi back then.

Prince Mingyi stuffed many of his own people into the imperial examinations, all of whom were sons of high-ranking officials and nobles. In order not to go against the ancestral system, these sons of famous families actually ordered people to murder outstanding commoner students.

As a result, for so many years, outstanding children from the common people did not dare to stand out.

In those years, the top ten in the Spring Examination were monopolized by descendants of aristocrats. Later, in the first Spring Examination after Emperor Yongle ascended the throne, the top ten were all children from poor families.

But if more children from poor families had not been admitted back then, the country would have been in turmoil among the people. How can we compare the present with that time?

He wanted to continue arguing, but his subordinates stopped him.

Anything without precedent can ultimately convince Emperor Zhaowen.

But once a precedent appears, no matter how special the situation is, there is no way to make Emperor Zhaowen change his mind.

Yang Ziliang reluctantly looked through the top ten lists, and seeing that they were all brilliant test papers, he felt much more at ease.

He took the ten test papers and eight examiners to report to Emperor Zhaowen.

Yang Ziliang first apologized to Emperor Zhaowen, saying that it was difficult to tell who was better between the two and asked the emperor to make the decision.

Emperor Zhaowen signaled the eunuch Shi Mo to remove the name cover from the test paper.

Yang Ziliang closed his eyes and said nothing.

Emperor Zhaowen first looked at the names on the ten test papers. Seeing that Ruan Xinzhao was not on the list, he was about to ask the examiner, but when he saw Yang Ziliang's solemn expression, he sighed and did not mention Ruan Xinzhao again.

He first took out Guan Xueqin's test paper. Guan Xueqin ranked seventh in the provincial examination, and sixth in the palace examination.

Yang Ziliang looked at Emperor Zhaowen speechlessly and continued without saying anything.

Emperor Zhaowen picked up the other test papers and took a look at them. He casually asked about the candidates' situations and was somewhat disappointed to see that they were all from families of minor officials or commoners.

Finally, he picked up the two test papers that Yang Ziliang said were difficult to tell apart. They were indeed both good, but he felt that the top ten seemed to be about the same.

In comparison, he preferred the one with the elegant handwriting, but when he looked at the name, Han Qingyun? He had no impression of it.

"What is the origin of this Han Qingyun?"

Yang Ziliang was delighted and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the second place winner of this year's examination has opened a restaurant at home."

"A merchant family? Is the family wealthy?"

Yang Ziliang felt depressed again after hearing this.

"It's not really a business, but the restaurant is owned by his wife. She owns two restaurants in Los Angeles and a garment workshop. I heard they're both doing pretty good business."

"With only three shops, it's nothing compared to the wealthy merchants and wealthy families."

Emperor Zhaowen muttered a little disappointedly and put Han Qingyun's test paper back among the other test papers.

I compared the test papers of Guan Xueqin and Liu Minghe.

Guan Xueqin's father was quite influential in the army. His son was brave in battle and was a brave general that he wanted to promote.

But Liu Minghe is not bad either. Those aristocratic families rely on their long family history and are not very obedient to the royal family.

Liu Minghe is the best among the five great families. Many of his former students are now third or fourth rank officials in the court, and his influence cannot be underestimated.

Emperor Zhaowen was a little embarrassed about who would be the top scorer and who would be the second, so he could only sort the next eight test papers first.

"By the way, there's a candidate in the hall today, probably around 20 years old, handsome and elegant. What's his name?"

"Your Majesty, that young man's name is Han Qingyun. He's the test paper you just looked at and put back."

"Oh?" Emperor Zhaowen became interested, picked up Han Qingyun's test paper again, and nodded with satisfaction.

"The handwriting reflects the person. This handwriting is so free and elegant. Let's choose him as the third place."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Yang Ziliang didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

It's a pity that this young man's talent is only ranked second.

But the emperor chose him as the third place only because there was no one else who could be the third place in the top ten list, not because of his talent.

Yang Ziliang was sure that if Ruan Xinzhao's test paper appeared here today, even if he was not as good-looking as Han Qingyun and his essay was shit, the emperor would still give him the third place, and Han Qingyun would only be in the second place.

After deciding on Han Qingyun, Emperor Zhaowen arranged the other seven test papers in order according to the rankings submitted by the examiners.

But he still couldn't choose between Guan Xueqin and Liu Minghe, so he finally went into the inner room.

Yang Ziliang and the other eight examiners knew that the emperor was going to throw the little note again.

Sure enough, after a while, the emperor decided on the top three: Guan Xueqian, the first place, Liu Minghe, the second place, and Han Qingyun, the third place...

On the second day, outside the south gate of the imperial palace, there was a crowd of people asking about the situation of the top three, and many people had doubts.

"How could Liu Minghe not be the top scorer? What a pity! He was almost the sixth place."

"Didn't Guan Xueqian only come in seventh in the last imperial examination? How did he manage to surpass Liu Minghe and become the top scorer?"

"Tsk, you don't understand this, Guan Xueqian's son is now in Minzhou Prefecture fighting against the Dongling people."

"What does my son's war have to do with me? Hey, is this Han Qingyun the one who came in second in the exam?"

"Yes, yes, that's him. I heard he looks like the guy in the painting, no wonder he's the top scholar."

……

At the Guan family, after Guan Xiong sent away the official who brought the good news, he glanced at Guan Xueqin.

Guan Xueqin was sweating profusely. Isn’t this funny?

He surpassed Liu Minghe and Han Qingyun to become the top scorer. Was the examiner blind?

Guan Xiong was very happy when he saw the official who brought him the good news. His son had done well in the imperial examination and he thought he should be able to get into the second place.

But when the official said "congratulations on winning the top spot in the imperial examination", Guan Xiong was embarrassed.

Not to mention Liu Minghe, who had been a talented scholar for decades, even Han Qingyun, who had visited their home before, was much better than his son.

Xue Qian got the top spot in the imperial examination because of the face of his father and his son in Minzhou Prefecture.

What a shame!

Guan Xiong waved his sleeves and left. Of course, he did not blame his son. Xue Qian was truly innocent in this matter.

However, all the honors of his Guan family were fought for on the battlefield, but this top scholar was like a joke.

Guan Xueqin felt extremely depressed as he watched his father waving his sleeves and leaving. This top scholar position was really not what he wanted.

At the Liu family, the old servant took the good news from the official. The second place winner was really guessed by the master.

Liu Minghe was sitting at his desk writing. He had heard the good news outside a long time ago, but his expression did not change at all, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or sad.

"Master, I've inquired and found out that Young Master Han is the third place in the imperial examination."

The old servant casually threw the good news aside and reported to Liu Minghe.

Liu Minghe's expression changed slightly, and he sighed: "What a pity."