On the second day after the palace test, the first and third of the new science and technology scholars will enter the palace again, and the emperor will personally receive them and confer official positions.

In the Wuying Palace, Ning Fuhai held the holy decree in his hand and read it aloud to Gu Yunji and the three of them who were kneeling at the bottom: "Your Majesty's decree: Cheng Yan, the first place in the palace examination, will be revised from the Liupin Hanlin; Awarded the second place in the first class Fang Zigui, the third place in the first class Gu Yunji, and the seventh grade Hanlin editing. Chin this. ”

The champion is awarded for revision, and the list eye and Tanhua are also considered old regulations, and they are not treated differently according to personal preferences. Gu Yunji and the three of them naturally didn't have any dissatisfied thoughts, so they knelt down together: "The ministers are grateful, long live my emperor, long live, long live." ”

"Excuse me, three Aiqing, get up." Emperor Jingfeng seemed to be in a very good mood today, and personally walked down the steps to help the three of them up.

Looking at the three new Jinshi in front of him, Emperor Jingfeng's eyes were full of satisfaction, and he smiled at Ning Fuhai: "Look, this year's first-class Jinshi is young, they are all around twenty years old, and they are tall and handsome. Sure enough, there are talented people in the country, and just from the perspective of the imperial examination, you can know that the future of the imperial court must be vigorous. ”

Ning Fuhai answered with a smile: "Your Majesty is at the right age, and the new science and technology scholars are also young, and they can just make my Great Xia Dynasty prosperous under the leadership of Your Majesty, and become stronger and more prosperous day by day." ”

Emperor Jingfeng listened to it in his heart and laughed heartily: "Hahahahahaha...... It is said that the future will depend on these young people. ”

As he spoke, Emperor Jingfeng's gaze swept over the three of them one by one, and finally fell on Gu Yunji.

"Gu Yunji ......" Emperor Jingfeng looked him up and down, reading his name in his mouth, "I remember that when I was in Luxi Academy three years ago, I said that I hoped to see you in the palace examination, and now you have not only done it, but also passed the Tanhua exam in one fell swoop, which really made me unexpected." ”

Gu Yunji said respectfully: "Your Majesty's holy decree, the minister does not dare to disobey it." ”

Emperor Jingfeng smiled and casually revealed the topic: "A few years ago, there was a Gu Mingxuan in your family, and he was admitted to the Jinshi at a young age, which is already extraordinary, and now it is even more incredible. Not only you, but also your brother, seems to be among the top two...... Right? ”

Gu Yunji said: "Yes, Gu Yunxiao, the eldest brother of the minister, is ranked fourteenth in the second class. ”

"Yes, Gu Yunxiao, I remembered." Emperor Jingfeng patted his head and teased, "In this year's department, you are the third in the first class, and your brother is the fourteenth in the first class." This time, the Gu family is a double jinshi, Gu Shangshu is afraid that he will be so happy that he can't sleep at night! ”

Gu Yunji is neither humble nor arrogant: "There are two more people in the family who can serve His Majesty, and Uncle Cousin is naturally happy." ”

After smiling lightly, Emperor Jingfeng did not make an evaluation, and turned to Fang Zigui again, "Your father Fang Shu won the top prize when he was a weak champion, and now you are not far behind, and you are in the list in one fell swoop, and you are really a tiger father without a dog." ”

Fang Zigui bowed slightly: "Your Majesty has won the award." ”

After looking at Fang Zigui a few more times, Emperor Jingfeng suddenly remembered something, and asked suspiciously: "I just reacted, when I went to Luxi Academy that year, did I already see the three of you?" ”

Ning Fuhai responded: "Yes, Your Majesty." At that time, you asked Xu Shanchang what good seedlings he had with acceptable qualifications, and Xu Shanchang brought a few to you, including three adults. ”

"Oh? Such a coincidence? Emperor Jingfeng raised his eyebrows, his expression playful, "It seems that Xu Chengyu has a good eye, and the three people he picked at random are actually the top in this imperial examination." It's better, and with this relationship, it's easier for me to talk to you. ”

After taking turns to ask Tanhua and Bangyan, Emperor Jingfeng's attention finally came to the champion.

Under the scorching gaze of Emperor Jingfeng, Cheng Yan lowered his eyes, his expression was calm and natural, and he reflected a calm and unhurried demeanor from head to toe.

Emperor Jingfeng nodded secretly, the more he looked at this champion whom he had personally promoted, the more satisfied he became, and said with a smile: "Eighteen-year-old champion, if I remember correctly, Cheng Yan should be the youngest champion in recent decades, right?" ”

Ning Fuhai said: "The last champion as young as Master Cheng was in the Jingzong Dynasty, and he was also eighteen years old, and it has been almost seventy years since then. ”

Emperor Jingfeng couldn't help but sigh: "Tut-tut, seventy years, how rare." In fact, among this batch of new science and technology scholars, I admire Cheng Yan the most, do you know why? ”

As soon as he finished asking, Emperor Jingfeng asked himself and answered: "Because he is the most difficult one among you." If you talk about talent and learning, the three of you have their own strengths, but it is actually difficult to distinguish between the superior and the inferior. But if you talk about the hardships of this test, none of you can compare to him. ”

"The so-called 'Chao is Tian Shelang, and the twilight is Tianzi Hall', Cheng Yan is the best embodiment of this sentence. He does not have such a prominent family background as you, nor does he have such a wealthy family background, but he has never despised himself, and he has stood on the same height as you with his own efforts. ”

Cheng Yan listened without saying a word, lowered his eyes to hide thousands of emotions, although his face was as usual, the fingers in his sleeves tightened a little.

Emperor Jingfeng was unaware, and his tone gradually became excited: "Because of this, I want to point him as the champion, so that all the scholars in the world can see it, and the court is so eclectic." Anyone who is talented, regardless of their background, can be hired! ”

Everyone said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise. ”

Cheng Yan slowed down for a moment: "...... Your Majesty is wise, Weichen, thank Your Majesty for your love. ”

Saying this, Cheng Yan suddenly felt that his chest was so blocked that he couldn't go up or down, making it difficult for him to breathe smoothly.

It turned out that Emperor Jingfeng named him the champion not because of his talent, not because of his appearance, not because of his character, but only because his background was poorer than everyone else, so he was specially promoted to the champion.

Ironically, because of his humble background, he has been ridiculed and insulted since he was a child. Now that he has gone through a lot of hardships to stand here, I want to tell him that it is his shameful birth that makes him stand out from the crowd, isn't this the biggest joke in the world?

Yesterday, Cheng Yan also swore to Fang Zigui that he relied on his own strength to win the top prize, and he deserved this position. And Emperor Jingfeng's words just now, like two slaps, fell loudly on his face, fanning his pride into nothing.

He can accept his failures, he can accept that he is inferior to others, but what he can never accept is charity and pity.

He Cheng Yan is not as good as other people's family background, but he never thinks that he is worse than anyone else, and he doesn't need anyone to lower his standards or deliberately promote him because of his background.

An unfair and unequal game is tantamount to an insult to him, and if he had a choice, he would rather not.

Walking out of the Wuying Palace, Cheng Yan looked at the sky in the distance, and the ink in his eyes was terrifyingly deep.

One day, he wants to show everyone that he can get everything he wants without anyone's help and charity.

(End of chapter)