Chapter 787: Imperial Parade
The palace examination results are announced on yellow paper, with two layers, front and back, divided into large and small gold lists.
After the small golden list was presented to the emperor for his review, it was kept for archiving.
The big golden list was stamped with "The Emperor's Seal". After the names were announced, the Minister of Rites would carry the imperial list out of the palace, to the outside of the East Chang'an Gate, and hang it on the palace wall.
This is the legendary "top scorer"
After the emperor left, the Minister of Rites walked out of the left gate of Huangji Gate holding up the big golden list. Then the top scholar led a group of Jinshi and followed behind in two rows to see the list.
When they arrived in front of the Meridian Gate, the top three candidates walked out from the central doorway.
The doorway in the middle of the Meridian Gate was used exclusively by the emperor, and the empress could use this door when he married her. Also, after the palace examination, the top three candidates could leave the palace through this door.
Others such as princes, ministers, princes and princesses did not have such treatment and could only go through the side door.
Sun Shan looked at Du Zhuangyuan, Ge Bangyan, and Li Tanhua walking out calmly step by step from the middle doorway, and instantly burst into envy and jealousy.
Oh, if only he could get out of here.
It's not for the honor, but for the convenience of bragging in the future.
Just imagine, this is a door that only the emperor and the empress are allowed to pass through. If he could walk through it, his net worth would immediately soar a thousand times when he came out.
Wherever he goes, he can say that he has also walked the same path as the emperor. Others will definitely be envious and jealous!
Sun Shan and other supporting scholars were ranked in odd and even numbers according to their ranking in the palace examination.
Those with odd numbers went through the Zuoye Gate on the east side, and those with even numbers went through the Youye Gate on the west side, and followed the top scholar out.
Sun Shan was the last one in line. He looked at the guy next to him and found it was the same familiar guy.
He is the last one, and the guy next to him will try the second to last one.
The two glanced at each other casually, then quickly moved away.
Sun Shan thought that after the parade was over, he would have a chat with the second-to-last classmate. They were so destined to meet and they could become good friends.
Guided by drums, music and imperial staffs, the crowd passed through Chengtian Gate, crossed the "T"-shaped square, and turned to Chang'an Left Gate.
Afterwards, we saw the Minister of Rites personally hanging the "Yellow List" in the temporary "Dragon Shed".
The yellow list with the names and rankings of more than 500 Jinshi will be posted on the palace wall for three days.
Three days later, the yellow list will be sent to the cabinet, which will then transfer it to the Imperial College for safekeeping. The names of the successful candidates will also be engraved on a stele for future generations to check.
Sun Shan followed the large group and saw the imperial edict.
Sure enough, my name was the last one!
Sun Shan has become numb to such results.
Forget it, since I can’t change anything, I’ll just give up.
Sun Shan glanced at his classmate who was second to last in the top three.
Peng Damu!
Oh, such a straightforward name, Sun Shan couldn't help but laugh.
He glanced at Peng Damu's eyes stealthily.
Damn it! False propaganda, not a big deal!
Those eyes were only slightly bigger than Qian Yingyang's, and could be considered small eyes.
Is it that you call for what you lack?
Because his son has small eyes, the father hopes that his son will have big eyes when he grows up?
It's a pity that ideals are full and reality is skinny.
Sun Shan looked at the imperial edict for a while, and then performed the most grand and most anticipated ceremony: praising the official for three days.
After watching the "Successful List of Successful Members" outside the Left Gate of Chang'an, the next thing to come is the "Imperial Parade".
Officials from Shuntian Prefecture were seen preparing umbrellas and ceremonial entourage, and then Shuntian Prefecture officials helped Du Zhuangyuan arrange flowers and wear red silk.
Then Du Zhuangyuan rode on the tall horse given by the emperor.
Then the second and third place winners were also given flowers by the Emperor of Shuntian Prefecture and rode on the tall horses bestowed by the emperor.
As for Sun Shan and other supporting scholars, they were divided into two rows according to their ranking in the palace examination and followed behind.
Comparing Jinshi with other Jinshi really makes Jinshi angry to death.
The three people in the first class have horses to ride, and Jinshi like Sun Shan can walk behind them.
The top three candidates sit high up, see far, and look down on everyone.
Sun Shan and other Jinshi were lined up in an orderly manner like shrimp soldiers and crab generals going to war, following the general.
Sun Shan wanted to sing a song "Sun So-and-so" for himself:
Spring of the first year of the Zhengping era
I'm on the imperial list
I stand beside the top three
I accompany them with a smile
They are better than me in everything, WOWO
I am Sun from Sunjia Village.
I am Sun, a fellow Jinshi
..............
I am the strong Sun
I am the invincible Sun
I am the empty Sun
I am the old Sun
.......
Before Sun Shan could feel sad about the passing of time, the imperial parade began immediately.
The number one scholar rode his horse and was led in front, followed by the second and third place scholars who were also led behind.
Then the first place in the second class will be ranked, followed by the second place.
Sun Shan also walked slowly with the team.
The champion was dressed in red silk, holding the imperial edict in his hand, and riding a horse with a golden saddle and red mane. He was surrounded by people, with flags and drums leading the way, drums beating to the sky, and firecrackers blasting, making a deafening sound.
Du Zhuangyuan walked ahead, and Sun Shan and others followed.
After a while, he walked out of the Daqian Gate and headed towards Tianjie.
Sun Shan followed the crowd and quietly stretched his muscles.
I didn't dare to move in the palace, but it was much easier in the "non-restricted area".
Sun Shan looked at Peng Damu who was sitting next to him and introduced himself with a smile: "Mr. Peng, my name is Sun Shan, and my courtesy name is Pingshan."
Then he bowed and said hello.
Peng Damu turned around and responded with the same smile: "Sun Tongnian, I know you. My name is Peng Damu, and my courtesy name is Shanlai."
Also give Sun Shan a return gift.
Sun Shan laughed secretly again. This Peng Tongnian was really difficult to deal with.
Bright eyes, good at gazing, eyes are bright and active. From Cao Zhi's "Ode to the Goddess of Luo River": "Red lips are bright outside, white teeth are fresh inside. Bright eyes are good at gazing, and the cheeks are full of power."
When a man turns 20, his elders will give him a name, but he usually does not give himself a name.
Sun Shan probably guessed that the person who gave Peng Damu the name was the one who gave him the name.
How I wish Peng Tongnian had a pair of bright and sharp eyes.
Peng Damu just said, "Sun Tongnian, I know you."
Sun Shan said he was accustomed to this.
Although Sun Shan did not want to be unpopular, how could the scholars of the same class not know him?
If you really don't know, I'm afraid you are not a qualified Jinshi. If you don't care about your peers, let alone other things.
Sun Shan and Peng Damu walked side by side to the end. They followed the number one scholar for a while and came to the starting point of the imperial parade route.
The streets were decorated with lights and people were already waiting in the streets and alleys, in the big and small teahouses, for them to pass by.
There were huge crowds of people and loud drums and gongs.
Sun Shan felt his scalp tingling when he saw the crowds and the noisy noise.
Fortunately, there were soldiers guarding on both sides, making it difficult for ordinary people to get close.
Today, Madam He said that she would bring Jiujin and other members of the He family out to watch him parade.
Gui Ge'er, Sun Dingnan and Sun Dali also said that they would follow him to complete the "Imperial Parade".
Sun Shandong looked around, but he couldn't see any familiar people. He didn't know where his relatives and friends would be.
As for Gui Ge'er wanting to tour the whole venue with him, it might be a bit difficult.
There were so many people that we were lucky to find a seat near the front.