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S T E L L A R C L O U D

[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]

O R A N G E S T A R

[J Jean] [K.Rom] [Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Leticia P.] [Maria P.] [Nicole]

G O L D S T A R

[Cindy] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Reece P.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Amanda] [Book W.] [Britnae M] [Caroline] [Christigale M.] [DetectiveGeek421] [Hlau V.]

[Ine O.] [Kiiayame] [kuroneko_chan] [Liznel M.] [Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Oushna]

[Ray] [Scorpion Princess] [Sweetlove] [Victoria]

Xiao Liulang passing the metropolitan exam and becoming a Huiyuan made the atmosphere in the whole family very jubilant.

Old Chief wasn’t talking about it, but the smile in his eyes couldn’t be hidden at all.

Although he thought that with his disciple’s strength, there was really no suspense in him becoming a Huiyuan, it didn’t hinder his happiness.

He cooked several more dishes for dinner, and the family had a big meal.

The elderly woman gave Xiao Liulang a big red packet. It was what she won today by playing leaf cards, and she also gave one to Gu Jiao. Her grandnephew worked hard in the exam, and JiaoJiao worked even harder to take care of this smelly boy.

Xiao Liulang accepted the red packet, turned around and handed it to Gu Jiao.

"Cough. For household expenses." He said solemnly.

"Oh." Gu Jiao accepted it.

Indeed, the money she earned from Brisk Wind Tower wasn’t as sweet as the money given by her husband!

"Are there any more exams to follow?" Gu Jiao asked.

"There are." Xiao Liulang explained, "There will be a secondary examination for the Gongshi at the end of the third month, and the palace exam held in the fourth month."

This so-called secondary examination was actually more like a roll-call verification, which was of little significance and had no effect on the results. It was said that it was to compare handwriting and prevent someone from cheating in the metropolitan exam.

The palace exam was the next real highlight.

The palace exam was presided over by the Emperor himself and supervised by the cabinet ministers. All the examinees sat under their noses as they took the exam, which was such an imaginable pressure.

In the former dynasty, the entire palace exam took only one day.

But in this dynasty, in order to better select talents, the written exam and verification exam were separated into different days.

But not all examinees had the opportunity to proceed onto the verification exam.

Basically, only the best in the initial written exam could be summoned by the Emperor, who would personally give them questions.

Of course, if the Emperor was willing, he could also give questions to the examinees at random during the initial written exam, which would test the mental quality and improvisation of the examinees.

Some examinees were very knowledgeable, but they would get extremely nervous during the palace exam and couldn’t bring their knowledge into full play. Therefore, the current ranking of Gongshi wasn’t a guarantee that they would get the same results in the palace exam.

Xiao Liulang also encouraged Feng Lin and Lin Chengye to put their complete focus on the exam and not let themselves be distracted by anything.

"Is there a chance you’ll fail the palace exam?" Gu Jiao asked.

"That is unlikely." Xiao Liulang patiently explained.

Technically, no one failed the palace exam. The examinees would simply get ranked. In other words, as long as one successfully became a Gongshi, they had the opportunity to become a Jinshi.

However, there were also different levels of Jinshi.

The top three of the palace exam were called first-class Jinshi. They were bestowed the title Zhuangyuan, Bangyan and Tanhua respectively.

Then there was the second class Jinshi bestowed the title Jinshi Chusen, and third-class Jinshi bestowed the title Tong Jinshi Chusen.

The first and second-class Jinshi belong to the principal Jinshi list while the third-class Jinshi, although they were equivalent to a Jinshi, the fact was that they failed to get into the principal list. Bestowing them the title Tong Jinshi Chusen was a kind of comfort to them.

These Jinshi who failed to get into the principal list were unlikely to have a successful development in the capital; they could only become a county magistrate in some regions.

The first-class Jinshi could officially enter the Hanlin Academy directly, while the second and third-class Jinshi had to take another entrance examination. Those who passed the entrance exam were called Hanlin bachelors. After three more years of study, the Hanlin bachelors would also be eligible to officially enter the Hanlin Academy.

The Hanlin Academy was the talent reserve of the State of Zhao. There was a saying, a non-Jinshi couldn’t enter the Hanlin, and a non-Hanlin couldn’t enter the cabinet. The Hanlin Academy was the final place where all scholars dreamt of going.

In fact, entering the Hanlin Academy didn’t mean that you could rise to the top. Hanlin Academy also had their exams and rules, which was something to be taken up later.

Gu Jiao thought, now that she had become a Gongshi’s wife, the next step was to be a wife of a Jinshi.

"Who ranks third in the metropolitan exam?" She asked.

Because Xiao Liulang tied with An Junwang for the first place, there was no second place, and the next one was directly the third place.

The Gongshi who ranked third was Xiao Liulang’s classmate from the Imperial Academy’s Shuaixing Hall, who was surnamed Cao. He was thirty years old this year and not a native of the capital. He was quite famous in his hometown when he was young. After failing several times, he was almost discouraged to continue.

This time, he passed the provincial and metropolitan exam in one fell swoop and became a Gongshi.

Gu Jiao remembered that this name wasn’t included in the betting list of Brisk Wind Tower. It seemed that this person was also another surprise. It was just that many people didn’t pay attention to him because of the huge upset that was Xiao Liulang.

At dinner, the whole family had a full meal. Perhaps because of their happiness, everyone ate more than usual, except Little Jing Kong.

As the only child in the family, Little Jing Kong was very vigilant in times of peace.

This time, his bad brother-in-law was tied for first place with others. A tie for first place already made everyone this happy, which just showed how low everyone's expectations of his bad brother-in-law were, as well as how his usual effort in studying still wasn’t good enough.

Little Jing Kong decided to remind his bad brother-in-law not to be too proud, so as not to return to his beginning patterns in a moment of inattentiveness.

Of course, he also decided to give him a little reward.

"You’re giving me a reward?" In the study, Xiao Liulang looked curiously at Little Jing Kong.

Did the sun come out in the west? The little monk actually wanted to reward him?

Little Jing Kong put his little hands behind his back and let out a sigh, his little face wearing a solemn look, "Teacher Jiang said that we should show concern and care for the disadvantaged social groups."

His bad brother-in-law was once in the bottom of the list, the most disadvantaged social group.

Xiao Liulang pointed to the Huiyuan document on the table, "Please, I got the first place."

Little Jing Kong curled his lips and snorted, "It's a tie, nothing more."

Xiao Liulang looked at him vexed and amused, "Then take the exam and become a Huiyuan for me to see."

"Then wait for me to grow up!" Little Jing Kong expressed how full of confidence he was!

Xiao Liulang simply didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "Alright, having said so much, what kind of reward are you giving me?"

Little Jing Kong asked, "What do you want?"

What would Xiao Liulang want from him? He couldn’t always grant him a rent-exemption.

Xiao Liulang thought about it for a moment, and it really made him think of something he coveted, "The gift from JiaoJiao on your birthday."

Little Jing Kong blew his top, "You’re asking too much! You actually want to steal JiaoJiao’s gift!"

Xiao Liulang stood up innocently, "You asked me what I want, and now I said it."

Little Jing Kong frowned. He was a good boy who kept his word. He couldn’t go back on what he already said.

Holding back the pain in his flesh, he asked, "You want the checkers JiaoJiao gave me?"

Xiao Liulang replied, "What would I do with checkers? I want the other one."

Little Jing Kong was born on the same day as Xiao Liulang, and Gu Jiao gave gifts to both of them. Besides checkers, there was another gift that only Little Jing Kong received.

Xiao Liulang was referring to the paper crane.

Little Jing Kong's small fists were clenched tightly, and he looked at Xiao Liulang with some incredulity and some suffering, "What do you, a grown man, want with that? That's something for us children!"

Xiao Liulang: Oh, you remember that you’re a child at this time?

Xiao Liulang said, "That’s the one I want, will you give it to me or not?"

He simply resembled how Marquis Xuanping acted shamelessly to achieve his goal.

Little Jing Kong cast Xiao Liulang a complicated look, his expression as though asking why he had such a confused thinking today.

Little Jing Kong took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His expression was indescribable. After a long while, he held on to his chest and said, "Fine then, since you insist."

After saying that, he bravely took a step forward and, under Xiao Liulang's astonished gaze, planted a kiss on his right cheek!

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