The imperial examination career in the Ming Dynasty not only had requirements for fame, but also had high requirements for ranking.

For example, the final imperial examination results can be divided into first-class, second-class, and third-class grades. Although they are both Jinshi, their future prospects are very different.

A Jinshi of the first grade can enter the Hanlin Academy and be awarded the position of Hanlin editor, editor, etc. The Hanlin Academy has always been called the place of "preserver prime minister", and this group of people will be strong contenders for future Ming cabinet members!

Those who are young and have excellent academic performance among the second-class and third-class students also have the opportunity to enter the Hanlin Academy and serve as Shujishi. This step is called "selection". However, compared with the first-class students, the chances of promotion are much lower, and the hope of entering the cabinet is even slimmer.

As for the mediocre people among the top two and top three, they are basically sent as officials abroad. Let alone enter the Ming Dynasty cabinet, there is a high probability that they will not even be able to get into the central government in their lifetime.

If the first-level, second-level, and third-level academic qualifications are regarded as the difference between first-level, second-level, and third-level education in modern times, then the academic qualifications of a shadow prisoner are almost equivalent to a junior college degree.

There was a general consensus in the Ming and Qing Dynasties that "yinjian" and "donation prison" were directly identified as "miscellaneous people". Even if they could pass the Jinshi examination, their status would be relatively low.

The reason is very simple. Anyone who has some ability will not choose to go to the shadow prison. Even if the results are excellent and the "first academic degree" determines the fate, the examiner will wear colored glasses to exclude the shadow prison, and it will be difficult to be accepted.

If you are selected as the head armor, let alone enter the power center of the Ming Dynasty.

Unless Zhu Yong can reach the level of power that Zhang Juzheng later had, and directly change his destiny and be awarded the title of No. 1 Scholar, the examiner of the civil service group will not act like a descendant of a distinguished relative.

"Then where does your ambition stop?"

Looking into Shen Yichen's eyes, Zhu Yong seemed to see a ball of hot flames. He had not seen this kind of unabashed arrogance and ambition for many years since Fengtian Jingnan.

I didn't expect to see it again in the son who I gave up. It's really ironic.

"Whoever writes history in the past ten thousand years wants to be named a marquis from three thousand miles away!"

Shen Yichen used a poem by later Li Hongzhang to express his ambition.

This poem was written by Li Hongzhang when he was twenty-one years old when he entered the Imperial Academy of the Capital as a top student. Although the Yin Prison and the Gong Prison were both prison students, one relied on his ancestors for his blessing, while the other relied on his strength. They are not the same.

Regardless of his character and political achievements, from a literary point of view, this poem is full of high spirits and heroic ambitions. It means that no one in the world would be better than me, and I am the only one who can write the history books of the long river.

Shen Yichen just wanted to tell Zhu Yong that he did not want his future life to be limited to the "bricks and tiles" that built the high-rise mansion of the Duke of Guo.

To be granted the title of Marquis, to be honored by the Prime Minister, and to leave one's name in history is what a man wants!

"good!"

"Then let me see if you can be like Wei Guogong Xu Da's lineage, with one family and two princes!"

For the first time, Zhu Yong did not look down at Shen Yichen like a superior, but put him in a position where he could talk to him.

And Zhu Yong doesn't care about Shen Yichen's ambition. On the contrary, as the son of Duke Cheng, he must have ambition and ability to survive in the officialdom and keep the family standing.

"I'll do it."

Shen Yichen silently replied this sentence, not to Duke Cheng Zhu Yong, but to himself.

After saying this, the two of them had nothing else to say in common. Shen Yichen handed over his hand and resigned. After receiving the agreement, he turned around and left the Chengguo Duke's Mansion.

On the way home, Shen Yichen recalled everything that happened today. To be honest, Shen Yichen felt like he was in a dream.

It can even be said that I had never dreamed before that one day I would be able to shine in front of the ancient high officials and have such a conversation with the Duke of Ming Dynasty.

Returning to his small courtyard in a daze, Shen Yichen did not tell his mother what happened today at the Chengguo Palace.

Because of the conversation in the past few days, he could vaguely understand a story about when he left Cheng Guogong's mansion. Before he figured it out, he didn't want his mother's currently peaceful life to be broken by him.

After washing his face with well water and washing away the distracting thoughts in his mind, Shen Yichen sat in front of the desk and began to review his homework.

After all, lofty words and ambitions are just like bragging. When you brag, the sound is loud, and you feel very happy. But how to implement it after you brag is a very painful thing, especially when the bragging is still in the country. Blown in front of me.

Fortunately, Shen Yichen, although he does not have many advantages, his ability to concentrate on studying is definitely one of them.

Under the shadow of lamps and candles, accompanied by the sound of rustling books, the night passed quickly.

The next day, Shen Yichen went to Chengguo Duke's Mansion to go to school as usual, but from a distance at the corner gate, he saw Zhao Hongjie looking around. When he saw himself appearing, he hurriedly ran over.

"Yichen, I heard that you severely punished those guys in the inner courtyard at the family banquet yesterday. Is it true?"

Zhao Hongjie's face was full of excitement, just like those little girls in later generations who saw gossip news.

"You are quite well informed."

Shen Yichen did not answer directly, but joked that Zhao Hongjie knew what happened yesterday early this morning, and it was indeed very efficient.

Seeing that Shen Yichen did not deny it, Zhao Hongjie became even more excited, so he quickly continued.

"Then it seems the news is correct!"

"By the way, the song "Linjiang Immortal" was actually written by you. It went viral at some literati gathering last night and called it a shocking work!"

"So fast?"

Even Shen Yichen was surprised now. The family dinner only ended in the afternoon, and the news went viral in the evening?

Even though "Linjiang Immortal" was indeed a shocking work in an era of declining Ming Dynasty poetry, the speed was a bit too fast. It seems that it was not just Zhao Hongjie who liked gossip, but the entire Jiangnan literati That's all true.

"Is this really what you did?"

"That's right. Is there any problem?"

After hearing this, Zhao Hongjie stood there blankly. He heard from others last night that this poem was written by Cheng Guogong's maid who gave birth to a son. To be honest, he still couldn't believe it.

Now that it has been confirmed by Shen Yichen himself, the impact is really fierce. The brothers who used to be at the bottom of the family school suddenly became the great literary giants of the world overnight!

"What’s wrong with you?"

Seeing Zhao Hongjie's sudden numb state, Shen Yichen felt a little baffled.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Shen Yichen said the words, Zhao Hongjie immediately said with great excitement: "You don't know the influence of this poem. It is said that even Lin Zhen, the new lecturer of Zhaowen Academy and the number one scholar, said after hearing it, he was ready to invite you. Participate in this year’s Winter Solstice Poetry Contest!”

Zhaowenyuan? Zhuangyuan Gong? Winter Solstice Poetry Society?

Compared with Zhao Hongjie's excitement, Shen Yichen was almost calm. This does not mean that he has such a big heart and can keep his emotions and anger indifferent.

It's that Shen Yichen has no idea what Zhao Hongjie said. It's almost like playing the piano to an ox.

The only one who is familiar with this is probably Lin Zhen, the number one scholar. Shen Yichen knew that he was the number one scholar in Gengxu subjects in the fifth year of Xuande, and he barely competed with his private school teacher Li Tingxiu, but the latter failed and did not pass the Jinshi examination.

Seeing Shen Yichen's confused expression, Zhao Hongjie felt a sense of urgency that he hated iron for not being able to become steel.
Chapter completed!