The Grand Ceremony of Announcing the Results was the ritual where the Gongshi, after the Palace Exams, were summoned and announced according to their rankings.
On this day, the Emperor, all civil and military officials, and court officers of all ranks would gather in the Taihe Dian Hall of Supreme Harmony to receive the new Jinshi.
The Music Department of the Ministry of Rites and the Emperor's own Imperial Guard would set up Zhonghe Shaoyue ceremonial music, Danbi Dayue music played on the terrace, and the Lu Bu Fa Jia the Emperor's ceremonial procession in front of the Taihe Dian.
When the Herald loudly announced the introduction of the Jinshi, the Music Department would begin playing grand, majestic music that lingered in the air, welcoming the new Jinshi into the hall to kneel and give thanks. The Zhuangyuan would even be accompanied by the Emperor's own procession. The ceremony was incredibly grand.
Inside the palace, preparations were elaborate. Outside, the day before, officials from the Ministry of Rites had already cleared a path through the central streets of the capital. This was for the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua to parade on horseback from the Donghua Gate after their names were announced, allowing all the capital's citizens to witness the glory of the new Jinshi.
When Xu Huaiqian arrived at the palace gate, Chen Liejiu had also gone out early with Wang Wanwan and Chen Xiaomei, carrying various scented sachets, waiting by the street where the Jinshi would parade. They aimed to be among the first to see his little husband, dressed in Tanhua robes, riding a white horse, his name announced as he emerged from the Donghua Gate.
While Chen Liejiu waited, others were also waiting: Sheng Yunjin and elders from various branches of the Sheng family, Madame Song and her daughter, Song Weilan's friends, and numerous young men from noble and aristocratic families.
However, they weren't as relaxed and carefree as Chen Liejiu. They were either nervous or excited, guessing what rank their favored candidates would achieve.
The main branch of the Sheng family prayed silently: "May Sheng Yuxuan surpass Duan Youyan!"
The fifth branch of the Sheng family also prayed silently: "May Duan Youyan surpass Sheng Yuxuan!"
The two branches competed covertly. Only Sheng Yunjin, stroking his belly, sat in a pre-booked tavern room upstairs, holding a scented sachet, looking down at the Imperial Street with eager anticipation. Regardless of Duan Youyan's rank or whether he surpassed Sheng Yuxuan, he would be happy.
Next were the Song family's female relatives. They speculated about Meng Fangxun's rank: "He was third in the Metropolitan Exams. Could Master Meng achieve the position of 'Chuanlu' in the Second Class?" Note: 'Erjia Chuanlu' refers to the top-ranked candidate in the Second Class.
Since Meng Fangxun was guaranteed to be a Jinshi, they no longer spoke discouragingly and guessed optimistically.
Madame Song and Song Weilan knew the danger of high hopes leading to great disappointment. Mother and daughter said cheerfully, "Whether he gets 'Chuanlu' or not, being in the Second Class is already excellent."
That was true, but before leaving home, both had estimated that Meng Fangxun was certainly within the top three of the Second Class. Of course, the top spot Erjia Chuanlu wasn't impossible either, given his third-place Metropolitan Exam result. With luck, he might even make the First Class, but that was too difficult, so they didn't dare hope for it.
Seeing their attitude, their friends understood and quickly chimed in: "Master Meng is so learned! We believe he will definitely achieve the top rank in the Second Class!"
Whether Meng Fangxun achieved it or not, they offered their auspicious words first!
As for the young men from noble and aristocratic families, they sat in even more exclusive tavern rooms, waiting to see Xu Huaiqian. "I want to see what this candidate looks like, the one who made a man give up his own advantages!"
Despite Xu Huaiqian ranking second in the Metropolitan Exams, proving his exceptional ability, these noble young men still felt a sting of resentment.
They had pondered at home but couldn't understand what kind of person could make a capable man so devoted.
One must know that men in the Jin Dynasty could divorce at any time. In the past, men had low status and few choices. But if a man had status, what kind of man couldn't he find in the world? Why give up a bright future for a rural scholar?
Strong curiosity drove them to want to see Xu Huaiqian long ago. But as noble young men, they couldn't just visit someone's home to see another woman's husband. They could only take this chance during the Jinshi parade to get a glimpse.
If he truly had dragon's grace and phoenix's bearing, a uniquely gifted demeanor, then so be it! They would accept it!
But if he was ordinary, blending into the crowd, they truly couldn't understand what Chen Liejiu saw in him.
The common people of the capital weren't aware of these various factions' thoughts. They only knew that today the Palace Exam results were announced, and it was a session the Emperor favored. Unlike the new Jinshi three years ago, who weren't even announced by name—a quiet affair where people only realized the exams were over long after the results were posted—this was different.
Many people had gone to the outskirts well in advance to pick flowers and make scented sachets for sale on the crowded Imperial Street where everyone waited to see the new Jinshi.
Many scions of powerful families had taken these exams, especially the renowned Shen Wennian. Many young ladies in the capital admired him. Hearing he was highly likely to be this year's Zhuangyuan, they wondered how many sachets would be thrown at him when he appeared!
Whether selling sachets or running various shops, the owners were happy, thinking their business wouldn't be bad on such a celebratory day.
In short, even before the Grand Ceremony began, the entire capital was buzzing like a lively watermill, spinning noisily on its own.
Meanwhile, Xu Huaiqian and the others didn't wait long outside the palace gates. Because the Grand Ceremony had to announce the ranks of all participating Gongshi within the day, the task was immense. If they didn't start early, they might not finish until evening.
Therefore, almost as soon as Xu Huaiqian and the other Gongshi gathered outside the palace gates, solemn and grand music began to sound from within the Taihe Dian.
Hearing the music emanating from the palace, all the Gongshi knew the announcement ceremony was about to begin.
"Quick, straighten your clothes," Pei Wangshu nudged Xu Huaiqian. "The announcements start with the First Class. You, the Tanhua, will be called soon."
"Alright." Listening to the majestic music from the palace, Xu Huaiqian felt a bit nervous.
Not just him; even Shen Wennian and Meng Fangxun beside him began nervously adjusting their clothes. Whatever their ranks, they wouldn't be too far down the list; the likelihood of being called early was very high.
Today, they would face the Emperor, all civil and military officials, and ranked nobles—essentially, all the powerful figures of the capital and the empire. Making a mistake in front of them would mean humiliation on a grand scale!
As they adjusted their clothes, the ceremony of requesting the list had just concluded inside the palace. A Grand Secretary, holding the imperial scroll inscribed with the Jinshi rankings, emerged from the Taihe Dian amidst the solemn music and presented it to the Minister of Rites.
The Minister of Rites unrolled the scroll before the Taihe Dian. Below the steps, the Herald cracked his whip three times. The Danbi Dayue music played. The Honglu Temple official from the Ministry of Rites, standing beside him, loudly announced the introduction of the Jinshi: "On the eighteenth day of the third month of the Changsheng Seventh Year, the Empire's Gongshi were examined. The First Class is granted the title of Jinshi Jidi. The Second Class is granted the title of Jinshi Chushen. The Third Class is granted the title of Tong Jinshi Chushen."
After speaking, he cleared his throat and began announcing the names: "Third Class, three hundred and twentieth place, Zhao Feichen."
Once he finished, the Heralds standing below the steps began relaying the announcement in sequence: "Third Class, three hundred and twentieth place, Zhao Feichen—"
The sound passed layer by layer from within the palace until it reached outside the palace gates where Xu Huaiqian and the others were. Everyone was stunned.
"Shouldn't it start from the First Class?"
"Why is it starting from the Third Class?"
Xu Huaiqian glanced at Pei Wangshu and saw he was also confused. He then looked towards Shen Wennian, who had also been waiting, and seeing his equally puzzled expression, felt reassured.
Perhaps the exam reforms also changed the way the announcements are made?
Just as Xu Huaiqian relaxed, he didn't notice that Shen Wennian also looked his way. Seeing Xu Huaiqian's calm and unhurried demeanor, Shen Wennian thought, If he isn't anxious, then I won't be either.
After the Palace Exam three days ago, he had gone home and rewritten his answers from memory, confirming there were no omissions or areas for improvement. It was the most perfect current affairs paper he had ever written.
Only then did he finally set his mind at ease.
Even if he didn't get the Zhuangyuan title, he probably wouldn't fall out of the First Class. He could wait peacefully.
"Zhao Feichen! Zhao Feichen! Who is Zhao Feichen? Step forward quickly!"
The candidate named Zhao Feichen never imagined he would be the first. When the Herald called his name, he was momentarily dazed. Only when he heard someone urging him did he snap back to reality, step forward, and say to the Herald, "Me! Me! I'm Zhao Feichen!"