The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2064 - 2039: The Ranking List

Libationer Kong and Wei Zhi looked satisfied. Bai Cheng’s poetic essays and Confucian classics were indeed answered fairly well, but his policy questions...

If ranked seriously, even entering the top fifty would be a stretch for him. If it weren’t for his reputation outside, his previous travel notes being done well, and being the consort of the legitimate princess, he wouldn’t have been included in the list at all.

Half of the reason for this arrangement is to give face to the emperor, and the other half is because of the passing list. But since the emperor himself changed it, there’s no face problem at all.

Wei Zhi felt that this time the imperial examination was somewhat fair, so he stroked his beard and wasn’t very concerned about the order of places.

Though Libationer Kong felt a bit dissatisfied internally, because Bai Cheng was still his student, even though he belonged to the Chongwen Pavilion, not counting towards the Imperial Academy’s dignity.

However... he still felt a bit unhappy inside.

But let it go, two from the Imperial Academy were eliminated, the emperor’s son-in-law also missed, it’s barely balanced.

So the matter was settled, Libationer Kong took the papers and list and left, planning to rearrange the names back home.

However, the top three positions, the emperor decided. He didn’t touch the top three but switched the second to the first place.

Libationer Kong had no opinion, so the top three were settled.

The next morning, the Ministry of Rites released the results.

The candidates ran to check the list.

Manbao had classes at the Imperial Medical Institute today, so she left the palace early in the morning. She asked the attendant to take a detour, intentionally passing by the Ministry of Rites.

The imperial city is typically solemn, full of officials at work, but today it was exceptionally lively.

The list wasn’t posted by the Imperial Academy side, but on the bulletin wall outside the Ministry of Rites.

Bai Shan and the others, waiting for the exam results, had been at home these days. Today, they entered the imperial city early to check the list, and from afar, they vigorously waved at Manbao’s carriage.

Manbao jumped off the carriage, rushed over to join them, stood on tiptoe to glance forward, and asked, "Is it posted?"

"Not yet," said Bai Shan, "wait a bit."

The words had just fallen when the Ministry of Rites gate opened, and the Minister of Rites and Libationer Kong emerged together.

Libationer Kong took out a yellow silk scroll from his sleeve, unfolded it, expressed gratitude for the imperial grace, and announced that thirty-two candidates were selected in this examination and began to read the list from the thirty-second place forward.

"Thirty-second place, Tongzhou, Cao Ziming..."

In the crowd, Cao Ziming stared blankly for a moment before screaming with delight, "It’s me, it’s me, I passed, I passed——"

Libationer Kong smiled slightly, not affronted by his yelling and continued reading down the list...

Bai Erlang anticipated this moment, as they reached the twentieth place, he confidently told Bai Shan and Manbao, "I didn’t pass."

He glanced at his older brother uncertainly and said, "Big brother, you might not have passed either."

Bai Zhi: ...

He said irritably, "I know without you telling me."

He looked at Bai Shan, "Now we just see if Shan has passed."

Bai Shan shook his head, "Up to twenty already, my policy essay was written poorly, likely didn’t pass."

"But you’re eighteenth on the passing list, unlike Erlang and me, past thirty, and you have a great reputation and did well on your travel journal," Bai Zhi hesitated before lowering his voice, "These days I’ve asked fellow candidates, they all say this year’s exam questions were tough, many barely started before giving up, so you might not have missed out completely."

Truth be told, Erlang and I wrote quite a bit too, actually, I arrived with a bit of hope.

Yet hearing it’s already at the twelfth place and neither of us are mentioned, must mean we’re out.

The thought quickly passes, a shock, huh, already up to twelve?

Bai Shan also settled on not hearing his name, when suddenly Libationer Kong announced, "Ninth place, Longzhou, Bai Shan."

Bai Shan froze, instantly overwhelmed with joy, turned to tightly grasp Manbao’s hand, his eyes shining, "I actually passed!"

Manbao also nodded excitedly, "Yes, yes, you passed!"

Nearby candidates hearing the commotion immediately turned, raised their hands to congratulate him, noticing how young Bai Shan was, and suddenly felt envious.

Those who weren’t students at any Imperial Academy institutions hadn’t seen Bai Shan before, couldn’t help but repeat his origin and name, instantly recognizing, "Perhaps the young lord of Longzhou Bai Shan, son of the Yizhou prefect Bai Qizhi, who sought justice for his father, fearless against power?"

Bai Shan hurriedly made some humble remarks, those originally feeling he was too young had no objections anymore.

Bai Shan’s name had spread across Jiangnan these past years, known not only for his filial piety but also his virtues and talents.

Everyone knew he was now the crown prince’s study companion, highly valued by the emperor.

Above, Libationer Kong announced each name, someone would claim, and the people around would swarm to congratulate them.

Even older candidates couldn’t resist this vanity, passionately acknowledging the blessings from everyone.

Soon enough, the top achievers, second and third place, were announced. All three were not young, sporting beards, and with Manbao’s keen eyes, it seemed all were past thirty, the youngest being the second place holder with acne.

Libationer Kong finished reading the imperial roll, then with the Minister of Rites, pasted two large red papers on the bulletin wall for them to see. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Bai Shan and the others squeezed in again to see their names, seeing Bai Shan’s name emblazoned on the red paper, only then felt satisfied enough to push out, excitedly wanting to go celebrate.

Bai Shan had already said, "Yin Huo didn’t want to go inside, so he’s waiting outside the imperial city for us. Later, I’ll treat you to a meal at Primus Pavilion."

Manbao nodded enthusiastically, "Great, great."

The two held hands, running outward, Eunuch Rong Si barely avoided the crowd to reach them, seeing them sprinted away, hurriedly drove the carriage to catch up, yelling, "Lord Zhou Junior, Lord Zhou Junior, you still need to attend class..."

Manbao and the others didn’t hear him, dashed forward.

Daji holding the horse heard, he and the guards silently led the horses to chase Bai Shan and the others.

There were too many checking the list, not just the candidates, but also their families and servants, even random onlookers, and tea house and tavern staff mixed in to get the first news.

Hence, it’s impossible to ride, they can only lead the horse, pulling the carriage to chase.

Arriving at the city gate, they saw them already climbing onto Yin Huo’s carriage, eagerly heading to the tavern to feast.

Eunuch Rong Si, sweating heavily, climbed into the carriage, worried they might leave and hurriedly shouted, urging the front to make way, then drove forward to chase and stop the Yin Family’s carriage, calling out with a mix of laughter and tears, "Lord Zhou Junior, you still need to attend the Imperial Medical Institute classes."