si-mexico Chapter 945 Good News Spreads Across the Land
Chapter 945 Good News Spreads Across the Land
"The filth of the past is not worth boasting about,
There is no limit to debauchery now.
The spring breeze is full of joy and the horses are galloping.
"See all the flowers of the capital in one day."
As the recitation ended, the scene fell silent for a moment, then erupted in low gasps of amazement from the students and scholars.
Although everyone knew that His Majesty was skilled in poetry and prose, with masterpieces such as "Qinyuanchun: Snow" already circulating in the world, everyone was still amazed when this poem was recited.
The poem, titled "After Passing the Imperial Examination," though written in a straightforward style, vividly depicts the hardships of studying hard for years, the ecstasy of passing the exam with flying colors, and the exhilaration of high spirits.
Especially the last two lines: "Riding a swift horse in the spring breeze, one can see all the flowers of the capital in a single day!"
How exhilarating and spirited it was!
In his previous life, this poem was a household name among the poems for the imperial examinations. Its artistic conception perfectly matched the current situation, and its level of skill was naturally extremely high.
More importantly, this was personally inscribed by the emperor and specially made for Zhang Qian.
This honor is enough to make any scholar envious.
The scholars looked at the scarlet figure at the front of the procession with complex expressions, a mixture of envy and inevitable jealousy.
Zhang Qian, who was at the very center of the audience, was struck dumb the moment he heard the poem.
"His past misdeeds are nothing to boast about..." Isn't this a true reflection of his impoverished and destitute early life, during which he was looked down upon by others?
"Today, my thoughts are boundless and unrestrained..." Isn't this also the joyful state of mind he is in at this moment, like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, with a heart and mind at ease?
His Majesty not only gave him a promising future, but also understood his heart, his past suffering, and his current aspirations!
The emperor's patronage was like a surging tide, instantly shattering the composure he had been trying to maintain.
Tears, which he could no longer hold back, welled up in his eyes and streamed freely down his dark cheeks.
He didn't wipe away the tears, but let them blur his vision. Amidst the deafening cheers, he bowed deeply towards the direction of the imperial city.
Then, he bowed to the people present, his resolve growing stronger.
Zhang Qian was not a person who forgot his roots; he knew exactly why His Majesty had bestowed this favor upon him.
As Li Che commented on his policy question: Serve the people!
Li Che's actions today have only two purposes.
One message was to tell the people to go to school, breaking the knowledge monopoly of aristocratic families, for wealth and honor were hidden in books.
One message was to tell the officials and students: Do you want my favor? Then treat the people well!
After the parade, the group regrouped and headed to the Confucius Temple to pay homage to Confucius, where they were required to complete the ceremony of "paying homage to Huang Jia and reminiscing about their fellow students".
Those who were admitted in the same year were called "Jinshi" (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).
The official in charge of rites would write down the "Record of Fellow Graduates," which would record the names, rankings, and hometowns of this group of people and enshrine it in the Temple of Confucius for the sage to examine.
After the ceremony, these scholars were closely linked together, and the phrase "same year" carried weight.
From then on, they belonged to the same interest group and naturally could no longer rely on any aristocratic family, otherwise they would be attacked by the Jinshi group and the emperor.
After the ceremony, there was a celebratory banquet where the scholars congratulated each other and composed poems.
Li Che also personally attended the event, drank a few glasses of wine, and offered a few words of encouragement.
The ceremony was only fully concluded after the banquet ended.
The first imperial examination in Daqing concluded in the capital, but its influence across the country was only just beginning.
And it spread out from the capital to every corner of the Daqing territory.
. . . . . .
The next morning, before it was fully light.
Dozens of cavalry teams carrying good news were already ready to set off at various city gates in the capital.
They will carry the good news of passing the imperial examination to the hometowns of each successful candidate, bringing this honor to every family.
Of course, the first to enjoy this honor were the families of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from the capital.
As dawn broke, a burst of cheerful gong and drum sounds shattered the tranquility of a secluded alley in the south of the city.
A procession carrying good news slowly approached and stopped in front of a small courtyard with a slightly mottled lintel, attracting onlookers from the alley.
This family, surnamed Wang, once had a distinguished lineage, but their fortunes have long since declined.
In the capital, only this last ancestral home remains to maintain appearances, and the whole family struggles to make ends meet.
Inside the courtyard, the whole family, who had already been alerted by the sound of gongs and drums, hurriedly came out to greet them.
Old Master Wang, who was in charge of the household, had been suffering from a long-term illness. At this moment, he was being supported by his two sons, one on each side, as he shakily moved to the doorway.
The old man had a sallow complexion and weak breath, but his cloudy eyes were full of light.
Outside the door, several messengers dressed in bright red auspicious robes stood with beaming faces.
The leader stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked with a smile, "May I ask, sir, is this the Prince's Mansion in Lotus Lane in the west of the city?"
Old Master Wang nodded weakly, his lips trembling, his words somewhat indistinct: "Yes, yes...it is indeed my humble abode."
Upon hearing the old man's confirmation, the messenger's smile grew even brighter as he unfurled a roll of bright yellow silk.
He cleared his throat and sang in a loud voice loud enough for the neighbors to hear:
"Good news! Your esteemed family's scholar, Wang Jin, has achieved the highest rank of 72nd in the third class of the imperial examination in the first year of the Tianxing era, and has been granted the title of 'Jinshi'!"
boom--
Old Master Wang felt a rush of heat to his head, his ears were ringing, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably.
If his two sons hadn't been supporting him so tightly, he would have almost collapsed to the ground.
"Okay...okay...okay!"
After a long while, the old man finally found his voice.
His withered hands gripped his son's arm tightly as he repeatedly exclaimed, "Quick! Quick! Look at the reward! A generous reward awaits!"
Although our family has fallen on hard times, we must give our all at this moment and not skimp on this reward!
This is about saving face, the last bit of backbone from the poor!
The youngest son quickly took out several silver ingots that had been prepared beforehand and stuffed them into the messenger's hand.
The messenger accepted the heavy reward money, his face beaming with joy. The gong and drum band behind him played even more energetically, and the cheerful suona music soared into the sky.
As Old Master Wang listened to the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, he seemed to vaguely see the bustling activity and constant flow of visitors to the Wang family's residence in the past.
When he inherited the family business, the family had already fallen into decline. Before his death, his father held his hand tightly and repeatedly told him: "The family business may be ruined, but the family must not be broken up!"
"Even if it means engaging in the lowly business of commerce, we must ensure the continuation of the Wang family line and never let it end!"
For decades, he has diligently followed his father's instructions and persevered through hardship.
They no longer dared to hope that their family could return to the imperial court; they only hoped to preserve the Wang family name in this corner of the capital.
He never imagined that his usually quiet and studious grandson, Wang Jin, would be so successful.
What was even more unexpected was that His Majesty was so wise that he had not forgotten them, these impoverished people from humble backgrounds.
Red, auspicious debris, fluttering everywhere like festive snowflakes, landed on the old man's gray hair.
He grinned, his wrinkles smoothing out with a smile.
As she laughed, tears finally broke free and streamed down her deep wrinkles.
“Good…good…ancestors above…my Wang family…my Wang family…” he murmured, his voice growing softer and softer.
Suddenly, he waved his hand and said to his children and grandchildren, "I am tired. You must take good care of our distinguished guest and not be impolite... I will go in and rest for a while."
His children and grandchildren quickly responded and carefully helped him back into the courtyard step by step.
The old man walked into the courtyard, away from the noise outside, and the breath he had been holding in suddenly dissipated.
But then he suddenly went limp and collapsed into his eldest son's arms.
"Father!!!"
"grandfather!!!"
I heard my family members exclaim in surprise.
As he slowly surveyed the children and grandchildren who had gathered around him, an unusual flush appeared on the old man's face.
His eyes were clear as he scanned each person's face.
Finally, looking towards the second wife's direction, he said weakly:
"The second son's wife... is a good one... Jin'er... is so promising..."
"From now on, you must all behave well...behave properly...and not...not cause trouble for Jin'er...and hold him back..."
Having said this, he had relieved himself of his last worldly concern, his head bowed slightly, and his eyes gently closed.
With a serene smile on his lips, free of regret, he passed away peacefully, smiling in the afterlife.