Chapter 14: Getting the Flower is Not Easy

  No one expected that the Emperor of Wanchang would come up with such a move. To know, the imperial examination of the Great Wei is held every five years, which means that in five years, less than thirty "jinshi" (advanced scholars) can be produced, including three "jinshi" and a batch of "tong jinshi" (associate advanced scholars). The top three "jinshi" are only produced every five years: the champion, the runner-up, and the third place. Cloud Dai was indeed talented, but he was too eager to prove himself, participating in the imperial examination at the age of 17, although he passed the provincial examination easily, but had no chance of getting the top three in the imperial examination, only getting the second-place "jinshi". However, even so, he was still hailed as a rare young genius in the literary world.

  The Emperor Wan Chang has just opened his golden mouth, and the third place winner of this year's imperial examination, Tan Hualang, has been directly appointed. This is no joke, it's a shocking event that will shake the entire scholarly world!

  Others have spent many years studying hard, just to get a Xiucai degree and be able to "not kneel in front of officials", then they struggle through the imperial examination, one in a hundred become Juren, and another one in a hundred can barely manage to become Tongjinshi, to become Jinshi not only requires talent but also luck, and being among the top three... that's simply like a dream come true.

  However, Yun Cong is now just a few couplets, and he actually wants to squeeze out the top scholar of the Imperial Examination!

  Zhang Yanyu couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart as he looked at the shocked faces of the crowd, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling for him. He knew the hardships and bitterness of being a scholar from a humble background. A humble family was not comparable to a noble one; if you were a young master from a noble family, you could inherit everything - like Yun Ting, for example. If his father, Yun Lan, were to pass away, according to the traditions of the Great Wei, Yun Ting would not only be able to directly inherit the title but also take over the position! Yun Lan was the "Junior Protector of the Crown Prince, Acting Minister of War, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of Hebei and Shanxi". The rank of Junior Protector of the Crown Prince was the highest, at first grade. The Minister of War was a second-grade official with an additional title, which Yun Ting could not directly inherit. However, "Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of Hebei and Shanxi" was Yun Lan's actual position, which was what Yun Ting could directly inherit!

  Even if they are the youngest son of a noble family, their situation is still vastly different from that of scholars from humble backgrounds - they can be "recommended" into officialdom by their own elders or acquaintances who are officials. Even if they don't have any achievements to speak of and can't even get recommended, it's okay, they can still "buy" an official title! That is, buy an official rank with money, and wait for the imperial court to appoint them when there is a vacancy. Moreover, only sons and disciples of noble families in Great Wei can "buy" official titles!

  The path of imperial examination for scholars from humble backgrounds is a truly narrow and steep single-plank bridge, and originally very few could cross it. Now with just one word from the emperor, the top scholar of this year's exam was sent away, one can imagine how strongly the scholars from humble backgrounds would react to this!

  Zhang Yanyu thought a lot in his heart, but actually, he was thinking quickly. Before anyone could react, especially Yun Zheng himself was stunned and hadn't even thanked the emperor yet, Zhang Yanyu hastily knelt down before Emperor Wanchang and advised: "Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider!" He took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Indeed, I also think that Yun Zheng is very talented, especially his quick wit is extremely rare. Moreover, he is still young and has great potential for progress in his studies. If given time, he can become a famous minister of the generation. Having such a young talent is a blessing for our Great Wei and Your Majesty. However, I must offer my remonstrance: I think it's absolutely impossible to grant him the special imperial edict to be the top scholar of this year's examination!"

  The Emperor Wan Chang's smile gradually froze, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yan Yu, without saying a word.

  With a mind as swift as lightning, he felt that he should express his gratitude in words. After careful consideration, he finally made up his mind and bowed his hands, saying: "Your Majesty, I am young and ignorant..."

  "Silence!" Emperor Wan Chang coldly interrupted Yun Zheng's words.

  Yun Cong himself was choked with rage, but the Emperor had spoken, so he didn't dare say more and could only sulkily retreat. He thought to himself, I'm just being polite, why are you getting worked up? Could it be that I would actually dislike being a Flower Candidate? Having this title won't suffocate me after all! How annoying!

  The Emperor Wan Chang coldly spat out two words at Zhang Yan Yu: "Reason!"

  "Because Yun Cong is the eldest son of the Cloud Kingdom." Zhang Yanyu said, knocking his head on the ground.

  "Nonsense!" Emperor Wan Chang burst out in anger: "What kind of reason is this? Just because he's Yun Leng's son, he can't be a scholar? The Yun family can only produce martial generals and not scholars?! What about Yun Tai then? He's a living example!"

  "Your Majesty, please calm down. I didn't mean it that way." Zhang Yanyu had been through the officialdom for a long time and had served in the court for decades as an old minister and favored minister of Emperor Wanchang, so he wouldn't be intimidated by this and wasn't flustered at all, but instead replied calmly.

  "Not what you mean?" Emperor Wan Chang's tone remained cold: "What does that mean? You won't say it out, do you want me to guess your thoughts?"

  Zhang Yanyu knocked his head again and said: "I am afraid, my intention is that the Cloud State Duke is one of the eight hereditary dukes of the dynasty who do not replace each other. In terms of his title, he is respected and honored in the world; at the same time, the Cloud family is the first military family of the dynasty, from the founding of the country by Yun Guogong Yunfeng to the present day's Yun Guogong Yunlan. The Cloud family has been loyal ministers and good generals for seven generations, guarding the border for nearly two hundred years. If we talk about meritorious service, it is unprecedented in history!"

  "Do you also know about Yun's loyal officials and their achievements?" Emperor Wan Chang glared at Zhang Yan Yu.

  "I naturally know - who in the world does not know this? Zhang Yan-yu said: "But if Your Majesty, the problem lies here. The Yun family has been stationed on the border for generations and has made great contributions to the country. Therefore, the emperors of previous dynasties have all treated the Yun family and its clansmen with kindness, and their treatment has never been reduced. So, the later generations of the Yun family, the path to promotion is quite easy, and Yun Ting, as the only son of the Yun Guo Gong, will naturally inherit his father's legacy without needing to say more. However, what about the sons of ordinary families? I, your old minister, dare to offer a word of advice: please sympathize with the millions of scholars from humble backgrounds! As someone who came from a humble background myself, I can understand the difficulties these scholars face in seeking knowledge and seeking office. If it is because of a few well-written couplets, one of the top three honors will be bestowed upon him, but I fear that this will chill the hearts of scholars everywhere."

  The Emperor Wan Chang was not a foolish ruler, and after listening to Zhang Yan Yu's words, his anger gradually subsided. After a while, he suddenly turned his head to Yun Zheng and said: "Yun Zheng, did you hear that? A few couplets are not enough - but I have already spoken my words, and there is no reason to take them back! Now, I will give you another topic. It is winter now, so use the scenery in this small garden as the theme. You must compose a poem immediately. If the poem is well-written, I will reward you with the title of Exploring Flower Official. But if it's not good, then it would be losing my face! Hmph, just wait for me to find a place for you to study alone for three years!"

  Yun Cong was taken aback, looked at the emperor's expression, and knew he was serious. In his heart, he cursed his bad luck, what kind of ridiculous thing is this? If you want to give me a title, just give it to me, if not, then forget it, why bother with an exam? Fine, even if I take the exam, if I don't do well, you'll put me under house arrest for three years? Mother... one person studying hard for three years? Damn you, aren't you afraid of suffocating me to death?!

  The thirteenth princess saw Yun Zhēn's face looking unwell, thinking he was having a hard time, and hurriedly said to her father the emperor: "Your Majesty, Cao Zijian is 'the world's talent shared among one stone, Cao Zijian occupies eight dou', and it's just seven steps to make a poem. Yun San Gongzi is only fifteen years old, isn't it a bit too difficult for him to compose a poem on the spot?"

  "Oh?" Emperor Wanchang was a bit strange, strict with his sons but doted on his daughters, especially the 13th princess who was extremely precious to him. Originally, he just wanted to let Yun Zhong pass, and what he said was mainly to scare Zhang Yanyu. Now, hearing the 13th princess's words, he went along with her: "Alright then...just half a stick of incense time is fine, not a moment longer! Hmph, getting the top scholar title isn't that easy!"

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