jdhmnovel Chapter 392 Qionglin Banquet
Chapter 392 Qionglin Banquet
Chapter 392 Qionglin Banquet
Although the Qionglin Banquet is a banquet, eating is not the main purpose.
This is more like a group of veteran employees accompanying the big boss to welcome the company's new interns.
The main purpose was to bring everyone closer and break the ice in the workplace.
However, most of the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) present were to be appointed as officials outside the capital, since the Hanlin Academy only accepted the top three candidates in the first rank.
The Six Ministries only accepted Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who had passed the Shujishi examination. The Shujishi had to observe the government for three years before their fate was decided.
Most of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and Tongjinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who failed to become Shujishi (junior scholars) ended up serving as officials in other places.
A better chance is to become a county magistrate. If there aren't many vacancies, one has to start as a low-ranking official (eighth or ninth rank) and slowly wait for a vacancy to be filled.
This shows how rare it was for Jiang Wenqing and Dong Jin to become county magistrates. Jiang Wenqing's luck is beyond what is considered normal.
Most of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations were able to become local officials as quickly as Dong Jin, which was something many people envied.
So what if it's a bit remote? You'll start at least at the seventh rank.
When it comes to becoming an official, the starting point is very important, and of course, one's circumstances afterward are also very important.
The top scholar from the previous year is now a sixth-rank official, and the third-ranked scholar from the previous year is also a sixth-rank official.
When they served as compilers or editors in the Hanlin Academy, they were of the sixth and seventh rank, respectively.
This is what it means to have a high starting point, and later they all became court attendants; this is what it means to have a good life.
Jiang Xiaoqi, Liu Peng, and Xiao Ming could directly enter the Hanlin Academy, and would be of the sixth or seventh rank respectively.
The top scholar (状元) would become a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, just like the second and third-rank scholars (榜眼 and 探花).
At the Qionglin Banquet, these three inevitably attracted more attention from the officials of the Hanlin Academy.
Jiang Xiaoqi and his two companions sat upright, not wanting to leave a bad impression on their future superiors and colleagues.
The Hanlin Academy is never short of top scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua), since it only holds one cohort every three years. The Hanlin Academy gathers all the top scholars since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Outside, top scholars are rare, but in the Hanlin Academy, they are common. The old Hanlin scholars were once newly appointed scholars. Who wasn't a top scholar?
However, this is the first time that a top scholar of this age has been selected, so the older generation couldn't help but take a second look.
Officials such as Hanlin Academy scholars and lecturers couldn't help but focus their attention on Jiang Xiaoqi. Liu Peng also sensed the differential treatment and felt indignant, but he couldn't show it.
Xiao Ming, on the other hand, didn't feel anything. In fact, he was hoping those adults would pay less attention to him; the pressure was too much, and even the food and drinks didn't taste good.
Besides, he was quite happy that his good friend was getting attention.
Jiang Xiaoqi, of course, also felt this gaze, and couldn't pretend nothing was wrong, so he could only raise his glass in a distant toast.
Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, Xiao Ming took out a bronze mirror from his pocket and looked at himself. Good, his makeup was not smudged.
The bamboo tube had long been taken out of his bosom, leaving only the powder box and bronze mirror, which were no longer bulky.
Jiang Xiaoqi told the other party that the bamboo tube contained sour plum juice and that drinking it would be fine.
However, Xiao Ming couldn't bear to part with it, so he had his attendant take it out and waited to drink it when he got home.
The two seats were next to each other, but not very close to the emperor, princes, and officials, as there was an empty space in between, the purpose of which was unknown.
No one heard their occasional whispers. Well, not no one did, but the second-place scholar and the third-place scholar could hear them.
However, the two didn't say anything they couldn't talk about; it was just about eating and drinking.
"Brother Xiao, this wine isn't too strong, you can have a little."
"Let me try it~ It really is~ It's sweet and sour, what kind of wine is this?"
"Haha, I don't know, maybe it's a royal special? It's probably not available outside, so let's drink as much as we can while we can, because we won't be able to drink it again later."
Liu Peng rolled his eyes so hard they almost circled his head, silently cursing the two ignorant country bumpkins.
This is a blend of fruits! It's a special supply for the palace, and a single pot costs a hundred taels of silver. Even if you could buy it outside, could you two afford it?
Pshaw, you country bumpkin!
Jiang Xiaoqi felt that someone was cricketing at her, but she had no evidence.
It's not a good time to look around. Oh well, a little cricket won't kill him, and it won't affect his appetite.
As the most important person in the room, the emperor naturally had to say a few words.
Jiang Xiaoqi and the other scholars listened attentively; it was nothing more than polite talk.
"At today's Qionglin Banquet, the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are full of vigor and high spirits, which greatly pleases me. With such talented individuals as you assisting us, it is truly a blessing for our Great Zhou Dynasty."
Your writings are excellent, but governing a country is not just about empty talk. In the future, officials must work for the benefit of the people and contribute to the prosperity of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Cultivate oneself and establish virtue, be loyal to the emperor and serve the country!"
It's unclear which clever little devil started it, but all the scholars, officials, and even the three princes knelt down and shouted: "Cultivate oneself and establish virtue, be loyal to the emperor and serve the country! Cultivate oneself and establish virtue, be loyal to the emperor and serve the country! Cultivate oneself and establish virtue, be loyal to the emperor and serve the country!"
Jiang Xiaoqi's forehead creased with three black lines. What was that? Did she have to say it three times because it was important?
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
They shouted "Long live the Emperor!" again, then knelt down again halfway up their feet. Jiang Xiaoqi wanted to customize a "kneeling-easy" style.
Sigh~ Just one word: I admire them~ I admire these seasoned veterans of officialdom!
Before even truly stepping into the threshold of officialdom, Jiang Xiaoqi already felt the pressure from his future colleagues.
Okay, very good. After finishing the imperial examinations, you still have to work your way up to the officialdom, right?
Everyone sat down again, but Jiang Xiaoqi had lost her appetite. Most of the dishes were cold, and now the only two hot dishes were cold too.
Because it was cooked with lard, it has now cooled down and solidified into a lump.
Even if you could pick it up with your chopsticks, you still wouldn't be able to eat it!
He eventually put down the chopsticks he had picked up, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a few mini snacks, which he could sneak into his mouth using his sleeve.
Xiao Ming's eyes widened in disbelief. Brother Jiang had something else in his arms!
At this moment, the open space in the field finally came in handy. The musicians, who had appeared at some unknown time, were already seated and began to play beautiful and appropriate music.
However, without a dancer or something to accompany them, perhaps they felt the occasion wasn't quite right?
Court music, with its solemn melodies, celebrates a peaceful and prosperous era and the emperor's boundless grace, and is indeed incompatible with the image of a charming dancer.
Actually, there used to be dancing at the Qionglin Banquet, but it was canceled during the Great Zhou Dynasty.
After the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, many old systems of the previous dynasty were changed. For example, the Qionglin Banquet of the previous dynasty was held in Qionglin Garden, but now the emperor changed it to be held in the palace.
One reason for this was to avoid the inconvenience of the emperor traveling, as the event could be held at his own home, and he could attend whenever he wanted.
There was no need to prepare carriages or arrange guards and attendants; leaving the palace for defense saved a lot of trouble.
The musicians left the stage, and the palace servants brought out trays.
The Grand Eunuch Wang Sheng announced in a clear, resonant voice, "His Majesty bestows flowers upon the top three scholars—the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua—!"
Oh? We've reached the part about wearing flowers in our hair.
Jiang Xiaoqi remembered that the etiquette officer had given her training before, and her second brother-in-law (the previous year's top scholar) and third brother-in-law (the previous year's third-place scholar) had also mentioned it.
Jiang Xiaoqi was the first to stand up and kneel down again, and the emperor adorned her with flowers.
The emperor descended from his high place and took a closer look at his top scholar. Haha, he was indeed extremely handsome, worthy of being the top scholar personally selected by the emperor.
Ah~ so close, just a tiny bit short! My sixth-place finish in the imperial examination, my auspicious omen!
The Minister of Personnel felt a chill run down his spine. Good heavens, His Majesty has remembered that matter again!
Jiang Xiaoqi sensed a sense of resentment. Hmm? Resentment?