By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

Chapter 81 Pei Rujing Sends Congratulatory Gifts

As soon as Wen Zongji returned to the mansion, he was summoned to the main courtyard.

Mrs. Jiang said with satisfaction, "Your years of hard study have not been in vain; now you have finally achieved your goal."

Wen Zongji sat at the lower end of the table: "Mother, there's still the palace examination to be held."

"The palace examination has always only determined the rankings, not eliminated anyone. Your becoming a Jinshi is already a certainty."

"Third brother, Mother is right."

Wen Zongren walked in with a smile: "Congratulations to my third brother."

Wen Zongji stood up: "Thank you, Brother."

Wen Zongji said, "Third brother, after the palace examination, don't think about anything else. First, try your best to pass the examination for probationary officials. We come from the Marquis of Zhongyong's family. Ordinary Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) need to wait for a vacancy in the Ministry of Personnel to get an official position, but we don't need to. We can even become Jinshi who observe the administration of government. It's easy for us to get one."

"But for us, the most important thing is to get into the Hanlin Academy. Although it will take several years, it is necessary. Third brother, do not ruin your future for short-term gains."

The Hanlin Academy was the cradle of future prime ministers.

Even if one ultimately fails to enter the cabinet, having experience in the Hanlin Academy will be beneficial to one's future.

Wen Zongji said, "I understand."

In later generations, the Hanlin Academy was equivalent to a Party School. To advance further, one had to have studied at a Party School.

Madam Jiang laughed and said, "Zongji isn't stupid, so why would you need to rush back to the manor to give him instructions?"

Today is not a day off, so Wen Zongren's quick return clearly indicates that he is also keeping an eye on the examination hall.

Wen Zongren said, "Now that only my son and Zongji have passed the imperial examinations, we naturally need to pay more attention to them."

"Zongji, I'm only mentioning the matter of becoming a probationary official; you should focus on preparing for the palace examination first."

He laughed and said, "If I can get into the top three in the first class, not only will I not need to take the examination for probationary scholars, but I will also save three years. Even I will be surpassed by you."

Wen Zongji smiled and said, "I will definitely try my best."

……

Yunguangyuan

Pei Rujing has returned.

As soon as Wen Zongji walked in, Pei Rujing rushed up to him, saying, "My husband is so wonderful."

Wen Zongji pulled her down to sit: "Now I don't have to throw up the ginseng soup I drank, right?"

Pei Rujing was stunned for a moment before remembering the harsh words she had said earlier, and said, "I had forgotten about it, but you still remember. You're too petty."

Wen Zongji readily admitted, "I am not only petty, but also hold grudges. The county princess should be careful."

Pei Rujing wasn't afraid at all: "I hold grudges too, you're the one who should be careful."

Wen Zongji couldn't help but laugh: "Then we're a couple who hold grudges!"

"What is this?" Pei Rujing said with a look of disgust. "It doesn't sound good at all."

Is this the knowledge of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)?

It's not that great.

"How about we give the county princess a nice name?"

Pei Rujing thought for a while but couldn't come up with a satisfactory name, but she wouldn't admit it, and said arrogantly, "We're husband and wife, why do we need to give each other names!"

Wen Zongji didn't expose her, and smiled, "The county princess is right."

After a while, Qinghe reported: "Princess, son-in-law, lunch is ready."

The two got up and went to a side room to have their meal.

Upon entering, Wen Zongji saw a table full of dishes, more abundant than the first meal they had when they got married.

Granny Feng explained, "To celebrate the son-in-law's success in the imperial examinations, the county princess instructed the kitchen to prepare a more lavish lunch."

Wen Zongji grasped Pei Rujing's hand: "You're too kind, Princess."

Pei Rujing boasted, "I even prepared a congratulatory gift for you."

The county magistrate is never one to do good deeds anonymously.

On the contrary, if she does ten points, she has to let others know twelve points.

Dongxiu immediately presented a congratulatory gift—a superior inkstone.

Pei Rujing's fingers traced the inkstone, her tone haughty: "My uncle and mother always say I'm a lucky star. With the inkstone I gave you, you'll definitely be the top scholar in the imperial examination."

Wen Zongji: "...If I remember correctly, the county princess previously said it didn't matter whether she passed the provincial examination or not, and now she's already fantasizing about becoming the top scholar?"

Isn't that a bit too big a leap?

Pei Rujing: "Hmph, anyway, I gave my elder brother an inkstone before the imperial examination, and he became the top scholar. If you don't believe me, you don't have to."

"Yes, I'll definitely use it!"

Wen Zongji immediately accepted the gift.

He was a materialist, but at this moment he believed in the county magistrate's good fortune.

The treatment of the top-ranking scholars was completely incomparable to that of other scholars who passed the imperial examinations.

Pei Shizhao and Wen Zongji were born in the same year, so why was one still waiting for the examination to be completed in the Hanlin Academy, while the other had already entered the Ministry of Personnel as a senior official?

It was because Pei Shizhao became the top scholar in the imperial examination, while Wen Zongren only achieved a second-class degree, that he had to enter the Hanlin Academy through the junior scholar system, spending three years trying to catch up with Pei Shizhao's starting point.

The starting point for the top-ranking scholar is too high; no scholar would be without the ambition to become the top scholar.

Wen Zongji certainly had one too!

……

In the evening, Wen Chuanhong returned home after his shift and specifically asked Wen Zongji and Wen Zongjing to come to his study to see him.

Wen Chuanhong looked at Wen Zongji: "Prepare well for the palace examination in a few days. Don't be nervous. Just use what you've learned."

Wen Zongji nodded: "Your son understands."

"If you pass the palace examination and pass the second class, then go and participate in the examination for probationary officials and strive to become a probationary official. There is no need to rush into an official career."

Wen Chuanhong clearly shared the same thought as Wen Zongren, and did not want Wen Zongji to choose to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) for short-term gains.

Although those who passed the imperial examinations during the Guanzheng era could gain experience in government offices and be appointed to official positions earlier than those who passed the Shujishi era, their career ceiling was not high.

Even if Wen Zongji was an illegitimate son, he was still an illegitimate son of the Marquis of Zhongyong's family, so Wen Chuanhong naturally hoped that his potential would be as high as possible.

Wen Zongji said, "My elder brother has already instructed his son, and his son knows what to do."

To be honest, when he first transmigrated, Wen Zongji really had the idea of ​​becoming a successful candidate in the imperial examinations.

At the time, he thought that it would be great if he could pass the imperial examination and become a successful candidate in the provincial examination; he had no other choice.

But now that I'm gradually integrating into this era, I know that becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) is the worst possible strategy.

Otherwise, so many people wouldn't choose to become a junior scholar and endure three years of hardship, gambling on an uncertain future.

Hanlin Academy!

A sacred place in the hearts of all scholars!

No one wanted to stay in the Hanlin Academy forever because the upper limit was not high, but everyone wanted to enter the Hanlin Academy because of an unspoken rule—only Hanlin scholars could enter the cabinet.

Wen Chuanhong was not a talkative person. After giving a few instructions, he turned his attention to Wen Zongjing.

Wen Zongjing, who had been cowering like a quail, trembled and whispered, "Father, it's my fault for being so useless."

Wen Chuanhong gave him a deep look and said, "Think more about why you failed the exam this time, and keep trying in three years."

As Wen Zongji had expected, Wen Chuanhong would not let Wen Zongjing give up.

The difference between becoming a Juren and a Jinshi is only one step. How could one give up without trying a few more times?

Wen Zongjing moved his lips, wanting to say that he would not take the exam, but his respect for Wen Chuanhong prevented him from saying it. He could only say, "Your son has remembered it."

"Zongji, give your notes from when you were preparing for the exam to your second brother and have him make a copy... Learn from how Zongji passed the exam."

The last sentence was naturally addressed to Wen Zongjing.

"Yes, Father."

The two agreed together.