jdhmnovel Chapter 365 The Second Round of the Imperial Examination: Multitasking
Chapter 365 The Second Round of the Imperial Examination: Multitasking
Chapter 365 The Second Round of the Imperial Examination: Multitasking
"Alright, alright, you know you're wrong, so just listen to your elders. Would we ever harm you?"
"When did I stop listening? I'm being wronged!"
The elderly couple exchanged a glance, knowing that it was best to listen to them.
"Just be obedient. We've got an invitation for you for the flower viewing party in a few days. Head over early, make sure you look presentable, and don't act all carefree."
A flower viewing party? What kind of flower viewing party?
"What are you standing there for? Take it. Didn't you tell me to go to the palace to talk to the Empress Dowager? The eldest prince and the others are not young, but they are not as old as you."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager decided against bestowing marriages upon each person, fearing that if the matches were not suitable, it would be a case of good intentions gone wrong.
Then the Empress Dowager said that she would hold a flower appreciation party and invite the families of officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital to the palace to participate in the flower appreciation banquet.
If someone catches your eye and you find someone you like, wouldn't it be even better if the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree to grant you marriage?
Qin Mucheng accepted the invitation somewhat numbly; the large, gold-embossed characters almost blinded him.
Sigh~ Brother Huangfu, I've practically sacrificed myself to help you; that jar of ten-year-old Zhuyeqing liquor won't be enough anymore~
"Is it really necessary to go?" Qin Mucheng still wanted to struggle a bit.
"Of course! This is an invitation from the Empress Dowager, something others would beg for. Are you going to defy the imperial decree? Or do you want the Empress Dowager to dislike our Prince Deqing's Mansion?"
Qin Mucheng was somewhat helpless. It was harder than the sun rising in the west for the Empress Dowager to dislike their Deqing Prince's Mansion.
My aunt is the Empress Dowager's cousin. She was doted on since childhood, and their relationship remains very good even in their old age.
Nowadays, there are no particularly outstanding children among the sons of the Prince of Deqing's family, but they have always been favored by the emperor, all because of their relationship with their aunt and the Empress Dowager.
Even if that's the truth, you can't argue with your elders; your uncle and aunt have worried so much about you.
"I understand, Uncle and Aunt. I will go when the time comes."
"Good, good, good. I knew our Cheng was the best boy. Tomorrow, I'll have the embroiderers in the manor prepare a few more decent outfits for you."
"Your attire is inadequate; it doesn't reflect the wealth of our Prince Deqing's mansion at all. What young lady would want to suffer with her husband? You need to demonstrate both talent and financial resources!"
Thinking of how his cousins had been dressed up like peacocks by his aunt, Qin Mucheng couldn't help but shudder.
"I have enough clothes, Aunt, please don't go to such lengths. Our manor's expenses are already quite high, so please don't waste money on me."
"What are you saying, child? It's just a few clothes. The Prince's Mansion can afford it. Besides, it doesn't use any of the Prince's Mansion's public funds."
The Empress Dowager has bestowed upon you many fine fabrics, all quite suitable for you. It's just a matter of giving the embroiderers a small reward; how much could it cost?
Qin Mucheng was convinced; everyone knew that his aunt never left the palace empty-handed.
I suspect that my aunt also had her own agenda for this flower viewing party, and it certainly wasn't based on the version she taught her or what the Empress Dowager said!
That's too cunning! How can they let them have so much freedom to improvise?!
One jar of Zhuyeqing (a type of Chinese liquor) is not enough, far from enough!
Huangfu Zhongwen sneezed, realizing that his good brother might be thinking of him.
He quietly brought out all the fine wines he had been hiding in the cellar.
Bamboo Leaf Green Tea, Autumn Pear Wine, Daughter's Red Wine... I share everything without holding back.
After all, Brother Qin suffered a great injustice this time, and I should at least make it up to him.
This is the invitation... The date of the flower viewing banquet is after the provincial examination and before the palace examination.
In other words, the Fourth Prince will be released after the third round of the imperial examination. Should we inform Jiang Xianzhi to go into hiding?
If the princes return after the Empress Dowager has arranged their marriages, it shouldn't delay the palace examination.
After returning to his room, Qin Mucheng sighed as he looked at the gleaming gold invitation.
This is such a rip-off! When I get to the flower viewing party, I'll find a secluded corner to hide in and slip away as soon as it's over.
Other families who received invitations were much happier, wishing they could send all their eligible sons and daughters.
However, the invitation stated that each family could only send a maximum of two people.
If you want an elder to accompany you, you can only bring one unmarried young master or lady.
If you go alone without your elders, then the two of you can go together.
Most of the families of fifth-rank officials in the capital chose to have their children go instead of their elders, so that they would have more opportunities.
Hehe, it's called a flower appreciation banquet, but who doesn't know it's a selection of princesses for the princes? Besides, even if they don't get selected, aren't there plenty of other noble families out there?
So it was as if it had been agreed upon beforehand: those who had legitimate sons and daughters would send their legitimate sons and daughters, and only when there were no eligible legitimate children would the favored illegitimate children be sent.
These limited spots caused uproar in the private quarters of many officials, with rivalries between wives and concubines, and between legitimate and illegitimate children, intensifying over a small invitation to a flower-viewing banquet.
The source of all this, Jiang Xiaoqi, had no idea about the commotion happening in the backyards of the officials outside the examination hall.
Even now, every second counts in the examination hall; everyone tries to finish writing before sunset, and avoids using candles if possible.
There are three candles for each session, and six have already been given out for the second session. Jiang Xiaoqi is saving them all; if they aren't taken back after the third session, she'll take them home.
Even if you're rich, you shouldn't waste things, right?
Yesterday's policy essay went smoothly, and today's case wasn't bizarre either. I was able to finish copying the judgment before dark.
The third round was about poetry, which he wasn't very good at. At such a crucial time, if he couldn't produce anything good, he wouldn't mind occasionally plagiarizing.
After all, this is a major event that affects one's entire life. If one fails the exam this time, one will have to wait three years, and who knows what changes might occur in the court during those three years.
My grandfather is getting on in years. Although he is now highly regarded in the Ministry of Revenue, he is also being treated like a beast of burden.
The Jiang family still doesn't have a strong backing. Even my great-uncle doesn't easily ask the Liu family for help. So what can my family rely on?
It's better to rely on yourself than on others. Having connections is one thing, but being strong yourself is the foundation for success in the world.
I need to leave the political arena sooner rather than later, so that the Chiang family can better establish themselves in the officialdom.
And my great-uncle, with a little more effort, becoming a high-ranking official isn't out of the question!
My grandfather's three-year observation period in government has ended. He will either be a seventh-rank official or a sixth-rank official. In another three to five years, he will be able to reach the fifth-rank official.
There were also several members of the Jiang family who served as county magistrates in other places. Apart from his father, Jiang Wenqing, who was not suitable for holding a high-ranking official position, the others were all pragmatic.
Among them was Jiang Lin's grandfather, who was only fifty-two years old, even younger than the landlord Jiang.
He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). He served as a county magistrate in various places, only leaving his jurisdiction when he returned to the capital to report on his duties.
He served as county magistrate for more than ten years, but he never even managed to become a sub-prefect, a sixth-rank official.
If this continues, he'll probably be stuck in the position of a seventh-rank county magistrate.
No, no, if it doesn't rise, then the Subordinate Scroll King System is bound for nothing?
My mind was filled with all sorts of random thoughts, but my pen never stopped moving.
Fortunately, it's written on scratch paper now, and hasn't been officially copied onto the exam paper yet.
Otherwise, trying to do two things at once is a major taboo in the exam room.