After Zifang Xin moved away, Ning Boqiu still lived there. On the third day of the list opening, he naturally knew about it, but as a 33-year-old man, he had already set his sights on this future and also knew that if he didn't make it this time, he might not have another chance in this life. How could he not be shocked in his heart?

  On the day of the announcement, Ning Boqiu's heart was already burning with anxiety. At this time, even the shadows of Lian Fangxin and Lan Ji were nowhere to be seen, and he couldn't help but wonder whether he had passed or not.

  After hesitating for a moment, he instructed the shopkeeper: "Stew a chicken for me and bring another jug of wine!"

  The shopkeeper also knew that the list was released today, and he hastily responded with a sound, killed one of his hens, and stewed it for him. An hour later, the chicken was stewed to perfection, along with wine, and was brought up together. Ning Boqiu hastily sat down, and after taking a sip, he stared blankly, thinking: "I wonder if I'll have this good fortune in the future, eating this chicken every day!"

  After thinking for a while, she wiped the corner of her eyes, stretched out her chopsticks, pulled out a piece of chicken and ate it slowly.

  As soon as the salute was fired at the Imperial Palace, the whole city could hear it faintly. Ning Boqiu's hand shook and his chopsticks almost fell to the ground.

  Several times he thought of getting up, but sat for a while, suddenly gritted his teeth and sat down, eating meat and drinking wine in big mouthfuls, thinking: "Anyway, the list has already been posted, whether I pass or not has already been decided, it's just a matter of whether I'm lucky in this life!"

  Heart and mouth asked each other, unknowingly tears fell down, and even more fiercely devoured.

  Half a time had passed, and he was already somewhat drunk, but his heart was clearer than ever. A sense of despair rose up, and with a bitter smile, he glanced at the remaining meat soup before getting up to sleep.

  Just then, a burst of gong sounds came from outside the door and stopped.

  Ning Boqiu suddenly stood up, and because of his quick movement, he actually flipped the table halfway over. He didn't care and strode out to wait in the courtyard. Sure enough, a group of people rushed in: "Which one is Mr. Ning? Congratulations on passing the imperial examination."

  Ning Boqiu suddenly shook and almost fainted, but this person also had some skills, and quickly forced himself to calm down, saying: "I am Ning Boqiu."

  "So you are Old Man Ning, quickly accept this red paper report, you won."

  At this time, Ning Boqiu stepped forward, took the red paper report, his hands shaking, his eyes blurred, and for a moment he couldn't see the words clearly. After a while, he saw that it was written: "Congratulations to Master Ning Boqiu of your esteemed mansion, who has been ranked 50th in the third list of successful candidates in the imperial examination of Kangning Province, with consecutive announcements on the Imperial Gazette."

  Ning Boqiu read it once, then read it again, and only smiled after that, saying: "Alas. I've finally been had."

  In a daze, I didn't know what to say, seeing the people who came to congratulate us asking for lucky money, I took out half of the remaining ten taels of silver from my room and handed it out.

  He had just sent it off when he saw the shop owner, who usually looked down on him, come forward with his apprentices to pay their respects: "Congratulations to our new master."

  "Get up, it was at the store before. Thanks for taking care of me." Ning Boqiu said, coming to his senses a bit.

  It had only been a short while. There were people coming from outside again, Ning Boqiu looked over and it was those usurers who came to collect debts the day before yesterday, led by Yan Lao Wu, who looked like a villain but now had a flattering smile on his face, he went forward and bowed: "Congratulations to the new master, I hope the master won't hold grudges against past events."

  He then presented a letter with fifty taels of silver.

  Ning Bo's autumn hummed a cold laugh, but also endured it. He said lightly: "Forget it, seeing your sincerity, forget it! Get up and talk!"

  At this time, without his orders, the partners naturally rushed to clean up his room, posted red paper reports in the middle, and immediately moved a banquet, with dishes and other things being sent up one after another.

  After a while of busyness, Ning Boqiu finally returned to his room. He looked around and sat down again, holding the wine to drink. At this time, his mood was completely different.

  As the ecstasy came over him, Ning Boqiu gradually truly woke up.

  Third-class scholar with a ranking of 50, no matter what, has already become a scholar-official, from now on is an official, can bow hands to the county magistrate, and make a deep bow to the prefectural governor, no need to kneel down anymore.

  He also had a plan in his heart, at the age of thirty-three, among the candidates for the imperial examination, he was not considered old, but nor very young. To rush to the capital to take the exam and compete with the best scholars from all over the country for one hundred and twenty places as a scholar-official, was indeed as difficult as ascending to heaven. No matter whether it was background, age or talent, it was basically an impossible task. "In that case, there's only direct appointment?" Ning Boqiu thought.

  Although the Xiucai can be supplemented as a small official from the ninth rank, they also need to queue for qualifications. The Juren is an official position, and according to the regulations, one list of Juren can directly supplement from the eighth rank, while two lists and three lists are all born in the ninth rank.

  Right ninth rank, not a small position, in a county, the head of the police department (Director of Public Security Bureau), the head of the finance department (Director of Finance Bureau), the head of the household registration department (Director of Household Registration Bureau), the head of the agriculture department (Director of Agriculture Bureau), and the head of the judicial prison (Prison Warden).

  Going up again, it's the county Wei and Zhubao officials of the regular eighth rank. These two officials, one in charge of military affairs and the other in charge of civil administration, although under the jurisdiction of the county magistrate, are mutually restrictive. As for going up again, it is the county Cheng of the seventh rank. This official has no real power and is equivalent to a deputy county magistrate. In normal times, they generally cannot intervene in government affairs.

  Nowadays, a county in Chu has tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people, so the ninth-grade officials are not as lowly as ordinary people imagine. He made up his mind that after asking for leave, he would go to the provincial government to take office.

  Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered Fang Xin, thinking that at just sixteen years old, the elegant and refined young man, as well as Lan Ji's infinitely beautiful body, involuntarily set his heart ablaze, and his eyes darkened: "I wonder if you've been poisoned?"

  At this time, Fang Xin had to be busy and went to visit his teacher Zhao Yangbin first.

  Actually, up to now, everything has unwritten rules. For example, on the day of posting the list, those who can visit Zhao Yangbin are first-list scholars, and on the second day, they are second-list scholars, and on the third day, they are third-list scholars.

  Fang Xin was very proper, asked about the rules, knew that silver could be sent, but not too heavy, generally one hundred taels as the limit. He then sealed and sent up one hundred taels of silver, also presented twenty pieces of silk, and again presented a new volume of his own calligraphy.

  Only ten people were on the list, and Zhao Yangbin received these ten new Xiucai in a temporary government mansion.

  This is a very large courtyard, with a huge front gate and a deep rear gate. The seven-bay hall is majestic and imposing. After reporting my name, I entered the inner hall, where incense was burning in the censer. As soon as I went in, I felt a warm atmosphere.

  Since it was a temporary place, they naturally wouldn't be too serious. After the ten people finished their courtesy and paid respects to Master Zhao Yangbin, Zhao Yangbin smiled faintly and said: "You are all new jinshi, in the future when you receive official appointments from the imperial court, rise!"

  "Thank you, teacher!" The ten of them bowed again before standing up.

  Zhao Yangbin looked at the list and saw that the first place was Qian Ming, who was already thirty-four years old. He was a top scholar and still had hope to pass the imperial examination to become a jinshi (a high-ranking scholar-official). The second place was Chu Ying, who was still young, around twenty-five years old, with great prospects ahead of him.

  The third place was Fang Xin, and when Master Zhao Yangbin looked at him with a concentrated gaze, he saw that this young man had a humble expression but an extraordinary demeanor. He was only sixteen years old, and from the thick gifts he presented, it could be seen that he was not a proud person. Moreover, since there were noble people who appreciated him, it seemed that this young man was the greatest gain of this examination.

  As for Zou Yusi, Su Ling, Ge Rong, Fan Yu, Fan Fangyu, Yuan Junjing and Liu Bo, the seven people had different ages and expressions. After sizing them up, Zhao Yangbin understood everything at once.

  However, the court had rules and regulations at that time. Everyone was calm and composed, each saying a few words of encouragement and chatting for a bit before attending the small banquet. This small banquet was truly a simple affair, just a few noodles to let the new scholars eat their fill before taking their leave.

  This was determined by Taizu to prevent the teacher and student from being too close, so the banquet also called Qingmian. Now, this is just a rule on some occasions.

  Fang Xin ate all the noodles and then got into a sedan chair after going out.

  Yes, according to the rules of Great Chu, if you are not an official, no matter how much wealth you have, you will never be allowed to ride a sedan chair. The only exception is when people reach the age of 70, in order to show respect for the elderly, even ordinary citizens can ride a plain sedan chair.

  Now all the successful candidates can ride in sedan chairs, but at this time, the distinction of wealth is also revealed. Among the ten people, almost everyone rides in a sedan chair, but Zou Yusi, who ranked fourth, has no money for the time being and can only smile awkwardly, so he had to share a sedan chair with Fan Yudi and three others on the same route.

  "Hey!" The four men lifted the sedan chair and walked on the road. Fang Xin was silent for a long time before he let out a soft sigh and smiled: "No wonder these people all want to be officials, just this unintentional distinction between regions can move people's hearts."

  After walking for a while, the sedan chair swayed and stopped. Someone outside said: "Master, we have arrived at the mansion."

  At this time, Lan Jie also came out, she changed into new clothes, with a happy face, although she had already thanked her earlier, but still came forward to congratulate.

  "Come on, you take a sedan chair too. Today, we'll go thank Marquis Lu as well!" Fang Xin said: "I'm sure the marquis and his wife will be very pleased when they see us."

  "Yes, sir!" Lanzhi smiled and came up to the sedan chair. She got in, while the two maidservants, although dressed in new clothes, had to follow behind.

  On the main street, two sedan chairs were heading towards the residence of Marquis Lu.