readytorunbook Chapter 145: Champion
Chapter 145: Champion
The storyteller downstairs snapped his folding fan shut. "Last time, officials in Yuezhou were slow to report on the spring grain harvest. The drought was getting worse and the hungry people were pouring into the capital.
Guess which place submitted the petition first? "
Everyone burst into laughter. "As we all know, he is the governor of Yuezhou."
The storyteller smiled and shook his head. "Then do you know who made the first sound that discovered the drought?"
Everyone was surprised when they heard this, and after a while they guessed, and said the names of officials they were familiar with.
Seeing this, the storyteller smiled mysteriously and stopped keeping the secret.
He went on to say, “It is said that a group of scholars went to Beijing to take the imperial examinations. They sang praises of the spring harvest in Xuanwu. However, when they arrived in Yuezhou, they saw the people crying in the fields. When they asked, they learned that there had been a drought for many days and there was no hope for a good harvest.
The students were full of patriotism and were passionate at this age. They immediately went to the Yuezhou County Office to seek justice for the people. The people were in such a difficult situation, but what did the county office do? That’s why they provided disaster relief later.”
Everyone suddenly realized.
Fu Shiyan, who was drinking tea, noticed that Huaying had been staring at him. His heart tightened, "Huaying, why are you looking at me like that?"
The Wu State has always respected scholars, and the imperial court was even more eager for talent, so the imperial examination was changed from once every three years to once a year.
The students taking the exams also understood that they should sing praises to Emperor Wu's great achievements, write about the Wu Kingdom's bumper harvests, and depict this peaceful and prosperous era in order to win the emperor's favor before the exam.
As for whether it was a coincidence that he saw the drought in Yuezhou, reported it to the prefect, and pleaded for the people, or whether someone was fanning the flames behind the scenes, it is unknown.
No wonder Fu Shiyan said that Emperor Wu would not blame him.
Huaying looked at Fu Shiyan opposite her in a daze. She thought that in the future when he becomes an official, he would probably be a good official who cares about the people.
The storyteller in the lobby downstairs closed his fan and said, "If you want to know what will happen next time, please wait for the next chapter. Finally, I hope that the students of Wu State will get what they want in this imperial examination, and I hope that the disaster relief general Fu will return soon. Everyone, I'm leaving now."
After the storyteller finished speaking, he left the stage.
"Our Fu Shiyan is really smart." Huaying said in a low voice, answering the question Fu Shiyan had just asked her.
Fu Shiyan drank tea and looked at Huaying. He knew that she was smart from Taohua Town. Now she could even see a thing or two about the affairs in the court officialdom.
After finishing a piece of cake, Huaying wiped her hands and pushed the four treasures of the study she had bought to Fu Shiyan, "Let's go back early, you take these things back."......
On the sixth day of July, the Wu State Palace Examination was held.
On this day, the weather was still hot and humid, without even a trace of wind. In addition, the examination room was so cramped that everyone looked pale. The candidate who was assigned to the bad-numbered student fainted in the examination room halfway through the exam.
Fu Shiyan wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face was a little pale, but due to years of martial arts training, his physique was still good, so he did not collapse halfway.
After the palace examination, the papers were reviewed on the spot and then presented to the emperor in the court.
The students were waiting outside the hall. Fu Shiyan stood in the second row, lowering his eyes slightly, waiting for the desired result.
Two hours later, Lord Zhang Bo from the Hanlin Academy of the Ministry of Personnel stood in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and announced the results of the palace examination, holding the results.
Starting with the fellow Jinshi, then the second class Jinshi, and finally the top three in the first class. Fu Shiyan listened to the names passing by his ears like the wind.
"The first place in the first class, Fu Shiyan, an examinee from Fu Mansion on Ming'an Street in Chang'an City, is awarded the title of Jinshi." Fu Shiyan heard his name.
"I thank the Lord for His grace."
Emperor Wu carefully looked at the handsome young man in front of him. He had known this boy for a long time. He was the second son of Prime Minister Fu Lang. Originally, he would have given him a good ranking for Prime Minister Fu's sake.
But this child gave him a surprise. He was as talented as his father.
Logically speaking, at his age, he should be the crown prince, but because of an unexpected accident involving the prime minister, he only received this status thanks to the grace of the emperor.
"If you pass the imperial examination, I will reward you with some things. Is there anything you want?" In fact, it was just this question to show how much Wu State valued its students.
No one really asked the emperor for rewards, as it would damage the integrity of scholars.
Fu Shiyan had something in his mind, something that haunted him, but he couldn't say it at the moment.
Fu Shiyan knelt down and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I have nothing else to ask for."........
At Ruifu Teahouse on Chang'an Street, Huaying was sitting on the second floor facing the street, holding a basket of crabapple blossoms. The street and the teahouse were bustling with people. Today's parade of the top scholar was the biggest happy event in the Wu Kingdom.
"My brother told me that this year's top scholar is very handsome."
"I will throw the handkerchief to him later. Will he look at me?" Most of the people upstairs are unmarried girls from official families. They hold flowers, handkerchiefs and sachets in their hands, waiting for the number one scholar to pass by.
Someone shouted, "Here they come, the parade is coming."
Huaying looked in the direction of the voice. The parade was moving very slowly. The runner-up and third place winners looked about the same age as Fu Shiyan. Leading them was the handsome number one scholar Fu Shiyan as people talked about.
They rode on big horses, wearing red flowers, and people on the street smiled and congratulated them, sending them bouquets of flowers to represent their blessings. The runner-up and third place winners thanked them with smiles on their faces, and took the bouquets and sachets handed over by acquaintances...
In stark contrast to the expressionless Fu Shiyan in front of him, he was seen pulling the reins of the horse, and the sachets and bouquets of flowers thrown at him by the girls were ruthlessly dropped to the ground.
Huaying looked at Fu Shiyan's stern expression and couldn't help but smile. She picked up a branch of crabapple flowers that had just bloomed and floated towards Fu Shiyan.
Fu Shiyan subconsciously wanted to hide, only to hear a familiar voice coming from above.
"Whose number one scholar is this? He is so handsome."
Fu Shiyan looked up and saw Huaying smiling brightly, so he reached out and caught the crabapple flower.
The top scholar, who had been parading for a long time, also showed a rare smile on his face. The parade continued to move forward and the crowd gradually dispersed.