April twenty-third, early morning.
The Capital, inside the Imperial City.
Amid rolling waves of ceremonial music, the Imperial Herald carried the Gold List to the Imperial Way and proclaimed the Imperial Decree.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees... In the 35th Year of Chengping, the realm was tested by policy examination... The First Rank is granted the title of Jinshi Presented Scholar, the Second Rank is granted the status of Jinshi by Origin, and the Third Rank is granted the status of Associate Jinshi by Origin..."
From before the hall down to the steps, the palace guards chanted it in unison, the sound carrying all the way beyond Fengtian Gate.
Lin Zhan stood among the scholars, listening to the proclamations pass from voice to voice.
Half a month ago, the Metropolitan Examination results had been posted, and he had made the list in twenty-eighth place. Three days ago, during the Palace Examination, he and the other scholars had taken the exam in Taiji Hall, and today was the day the Palace Examination Gold List was released.
As expected, Lin Zhan's name was not among the First Rank, and Lin Zhan did not feel disappointed either. He knew where his own results stood.
He had ranked twenty-eighth in the Metropolitan Examination, so in the Palace Examination, he should not fall too far from that.
This ranking was somewhat awkward. If he could move up a few places, he would be a Second Rank Jinshi by Origin; if he fell back a few places, he would be a Third Rank Associate Jinshi by Origin.
Lin Zhan naturally hoped to enter the Second Rank, but this was not something he had the final say in. He still had to see the final result.
As name after name came ringing over, Lin