manynovel Chapter 589 Qionglin Banquet
Chapter 589 Qionglin Banquet
The three sisters stepped forward, their hearts filled with emotion.
Liu Ya's eyes were full of gratitude towards Jiang Youzhen and she was happy for him.
"Great! This is a great event. The young man has finally reaped the rewards of his hard work and will be an official in the future." He Shulin said.
"Yes! I heard that it is a sixth-rank official position!" Zhao Wei hugged his wife. This brother-in-law is really a great man!
"There is a Qionglin Banquet tonight. Young man, take a rest. Don't be rude when attending the banquet!" He Shulin was also a scholar, so he naturally knew the procedures, so he urged.
Jiang Youzhen agreed and had half an hour to rest before going to the banquet.
罗府
There is a small courtyard to the west of the third room. Luo Shurou was immediately delighted after hearing the report from the maid.
"Are you saying that Mr. Jiang won the top prize?" she asked again.
The eldest maid Jiu Yue nodded continuously, "I just heard about it, it's true. The purchasers in our house happened to see the number one scholar parading in the streets, so we specifically asked, and they said it was Mr. Jiang. Even the list of successful candidates has come out, and the officials who announced the good news have all gone to the Jiang family."
Luo Shurou couldn't suppress a smile on her face, and she stood up from the armchair excitedly.
"I know that Master Jiang is very talented in writing. He easily matched a couplet that even my grandfather and his friends couldn't match. With such great talent, he must be the top scholar!"
She pinched her handkerchief and her face turned red with shame when she thought of her aunt's words.
But after a moment, he suddenly frowned.
"If it was before Young Master Jiang's palace examination, the timing would be perfect. Now that he has won the first place, my status as a concubine's daughter..."
Luo Shurou's worry was not without reason. Jiang Youzhen was already a sixth-rank official. If he said she was a concubine, wouldn't that be an insult to the top scholar? Wouldn't that mean she was not worthy of him?
Her face turned pale, and she felt that this might not turn out as she expected.
"But Miss, you are the only girl of the right age in our third room. Miss Six is still young, and Madam has no legitimate daughter. Aren't you the most suitable candidate?" Jiu Yue was Luo Shurou's confidant. She knew what she was thinking, so she comforted her.
Luo Shurou said leisurely, "I'm afraid that the family has already made other plans. After all, my father is only a juren, and I'm a concubine's daughter. The other families will definitely come to snatch me."
"What should we do? If you miss Mr. Jiang, you may not be able to find such a good family in the future." Jiu Yue also became worried.
The master and servant's worries were not unfounded. Luo Chengyi returned to the study outside the mansion and called his eldest grandson Luo Jinshu.
"Don't go to the Jiang family for now. I thought the emperor would give the fourth prince some face, but he still chose Jiang Youzhen as the top scholar. The status of the fourth daughter of the third house is not high enough. Taking a concubine's daughter to marry the top scholar is not a marriage, but an enmity."
Originally, Luo Chengyi looked down on Jiang Youzhen's background, but he is now a sixth-rank official, so he has to take him seriously.
"Then forget it?" Luo Jinshu said in surprise.
He originally thought that his grandfather would be stubborn, but he didn't expect that his grandfather would come to his senses overnight. Putting aside the arrogance of the aristocratic family, his grandfather also understood that he was not worthy of her, right?
"I remember that the fourth eldest son's legitimate daughter is almost fourteen this year. Although the fourth eldest son is a concubine's daughter, Shumin is at least the fourth eldest son's legitimate daughter. Let's choose her!"
Luo Chengyi was very decisive. He had to win over Jiang Youzhen anyway, so a legitimate daughter would not be a problem.
Luo Jinshu thought for a moment and nodded.
"My fourth uncle is now a county magistrate, so he is worthy of his status."
My fourth uncle used the privilege of his family to study at the Imperial College, where he passed the palace examination and became a Jinshi.
Because it was common among aristocratic families, but it was not decent to talk about it. Especially for someone with the same Jinshi background, he was sent to be a county magistrate, but his daughter and wife did not go with him.
"Go and let your fourth aunt know, and remember not to spread it outside." Luo Chengyi ordered.
"I heard that Fourth Aunt's family has a nephew. If she doesn't want to..." Luo Jinshu was a little worried.
"Her nephew from her mother's side is still bullying others by relying on the reputation of our Luo Mansion. Her family has a reputation of being a clean family, but it has long been impoverished. There is not even an official in the family. Does she have the right to look down on the number one scholar?"
Speaking of this, Luo Chengyi's face was full of disdain.
"Which one is more important, my daughter or my nephew? If she can't make the decision, I will make the decision."
Luo Chengyi could only sigh deeply at this confused fourth daughter-in-law.
The upbringing of a girl from a poor family is indeed a bit poor. Even her nephew, who is a fat-headed nephew who gets into trouble all day long and has no ambition to make progress, is treated as a treasure.
The Qionglin Banquet was held in the Qionglin Garden of the Imperial Garden. When Jiang Youzhen and his friends arrived, they were still led by a ceremonial officer. To enter the palace, one had to hand in a badge, and these newly-appointed scholars could only enter when attending a banquet.
The Qionglin Banquet was hosted by the emperor himself and therefore was of the highest standard.
When Jiang Youzhen and his group arrived, the place had already been set up, divided into two rows, with fruit plates placed on each long table. The palace maids and eunuchs shuttled between them, and everyone sat down according to their rank, with two people at each table.
The tables at the front were where the academic leaders sat. Jiang Youzhen was led to sit at the back, and opposite her was Tong Huaian.
Next to her was Wen Ruyu, and next to Tong Huaian was Ke Zhenqiu, the second-class examiner.
It can be said that the top four are all young talents, and the second place in the second class is a man in his forties named Shang Yinsheng.
After everyone was seated, the palace maids came forward to serve the dishes and put the bowls and chopsticks on the table, but no one was allowed to eat at this time.
Before coming, the ceremonial officer had already explained the palace rules, and no one dared to misbehave in front of the palace.
The emperor would only come when the banquet started and leave afterwards. After all, he was so busy that he didn't have time to accompany them the whole time, and they didn't have the face to do so.
After everyone sat down and started chatting, Ke Zhenqiu and Jiang Youzhen looked at each other from a distance. Jiang Youzhen smiled at him, but the other party just smiled back at him faintly, which was completely different from his previous enthusiastic attitude.
Jiang Youzhen didn't understand why the other party changed his attitude, but she didn't take it to heart.
With the sound of "yes" one after another, officials related to the palace examination from the Ministry of Rites, Hanlin Academy, Honglu Temple and other places also arrived one after another.
Jiang Youzhen bowed repeatedly and couldn't even sit down.
Minister of Rites Luo Chengyi looked at Jiang Youzhen deeply. He stood with his hands behind his back with a kind expression.
"This year, the top three are all young talents. Huai'an is my great nephew, and he has been known as a child prodigy since childhood. The top two are also handsome, and they have been singing all the way, surpassing their peers. They are truly outstanding people!"
You old man, are you trying to attract hatred for me in front of so many peers? Jiang Youzhen snorted in his heart.
"Lord Luo, thank you for your praise. It is all thanks to you, my fellow brothers!" Jiang Youzhen said modestly.
Wen Ruyu also said with fear and trepidation, "Thank you, thank you." In such an occasion, who would dare to stir up hatred like this?
Luo Chengyi was even more satisfied when he saw this. "Great! Although they are both young, they are very humble. The court is lucky to have such a talented person!"