The new top scholar was undoubtedly the best candidate. He came from a good family, possessed exceptional literary talent, and was also good-looking.
However, he declared that his family had already arranged his marriage, and the wedding would take place soon after he achieved top honors.
Lin Yan clearly saw a flicker of change in the Emperor's expression, but he quickly masked it and continued to inquire about the third-place scholar. Lin Yan, the second-place scholar, was completely overlooked.
Lin Yan was content with this, but the Emperor's attitude caused those who were particularly observant to treat the three scholars with completely different regards.
After all, the imperial examinations were held every three years, but there was only one consort for the princess.
The Emperor's attitude just now had explained everything. If nothing unexpected happened, it was unlikely they would achieve further prominence.
The top scholar and Lin Yan exchanged glances, seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes. However, Lin Yan noticed no regret or remorse in his gaze.
It seemed he was truly a person of noble character, unconcerned with fame and fortune.
Yet, Lin Yan did not intend to get too close to him. The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water; it was enough to know that the other person was worthy of friendship.
The Emperor left the banquet midway. As soon as he was gone, everyone congratulated the third-place scholar.
Watching the third-place scholar surrounded by everyone, Lin Yan couldn't help but sigh at their practicality.
"Younger brother Lin, a toast," the top scholar said, having sat beside Lin Yan at some point.
"A toast," Lin Yan raised his wine cup and clinked it against his.
"I heard that if it weren't for your young age, the top scholar position would have been yours."
"Brother Cui, where... where did you hear such news? I, I am nowhere near as skilled as you say." Lin Yan responded with great apprehension.
"Younger brother Lin, there's no need for false modesty. My teacher and your teacher are good friends, and I have also read your essays," he said, then recited a few of the better lines from Lin Yan's work.
This action made Lin Yan feel a sense of social awkwardness. Who would have thought their homework would be recited by someone like this one day?
Not only did Scholar Cui recite it, but he also analyzed why her essay was good.
According to Scholar Cui, his teacher always used Lin Yan as an inspiration for him, so he had always wanted to get to know Lin Yan. However, Lin Yan had not attended any literary gatherings before the imperial examinations, so he never had the opportunity to meet her.
Finally, he had met her at the Enrong Banquet. Indeed, seeing her in person was far better than hearing about her, and seeing her was even more impressive than meeting her.
Lin Yan felt that she really couldn't stay by Scholar Cui's side any longer; her smile was almost frozen on her face.
"Brother Cui is too kind, too generous with his praise," Lin Yan said, trying to maintain her persona of being introverted and shy, desperately wishing for someone to rescue her from this awkward situation.
However, everyone else seemed to be gathered around the third-place scholar, and her own cousin was also chatting with someone, completely oblivious to her predicament.
Or perhaps, if he noticed, he would only assume she was having a pleasant conversation with the top scholar.
Lin Yan could only try her best to steer the conversation to other topics, while also asking Scholar Cui how he approached the essay question for the final examination and what he wrote.
After listening to his content, she began to offer uncritical praise. Finally, she felt a little less awkward.
Speaking of which, Lin Yan remembered her plan and asked Scholar Cui if he could use his essay to print a collection of examination questions.
"I know that Brother Cui is not short of money, but this endeavor would help countless scholars learn how to approach problems and would also showcase the elegance of our cohort's scholars."
After all, their cohort had many who were unable to complete the examination due to the sudden heavy snowfall, so many people said they had won unfairly.
If Lin Yan were to publish this collection of questions, including the essays of the top ten scholars from the first and second ranks, along with an analysis of their problem-solving methods and the author's own considerations at the time, it should help vindicate the scholars of this cohort.
Scholar Cui also understood Lin Yan's implied meaning. After a moment's thought, he agreed with her suggestion.
Thus, they began to discuss the matter.
As they discussed, Lin Yan realized that this Scholar Cui was indeed from a prominent family. Lin Yan had only made a suggestion, and he was immediately able to plan out all the subsequent matters.
Furthermore, the Cui family owned its own printing house and had woodcarving artisans. As long as they wrote out the essays, he could quickly find people to carve the printing plates.
"Then I will be responsible for organizing the essays and typesetting. Brother Cui, you must let me do something too." Lin Yan had seen various books from later generations and had some ideas about typesetting and binding.
"It's settled then. However, it might be difficult to obtain the essay from that person over there," Scholar Cui gestured to another area.
Lin Yan knew whom he was referring to. "Let's invite him. If he's not interested, we shouldn't force him."
Upon hearing this, Scholar Cui chuckled, "Indeed, we cannot force anyone."
A book containing the essays of the top scholar, the second-place scholar, and the top ten from the second rank, but omitting the third-place scholar's, would surely lead to speculation from outsiders.
One could only hope that this third-place scholar would not be so blinded by flattery as to truly act in such a way.
After the Enrong Banquet, Lin Yan quickly transcribed her own essay and then asked her cousin to inquire about the essays of the top scholars in the second rank.
Unexpectedly, within a few days, Scholar Cui sent over the essays of the top ten scholars from the second rank, along with his own.
Only the third-place scholar's was missing. Lin Yan roughly understood that he clearly looked down on them, but Lin Yan still wrote a formal note and sent it to the third-place scholar's residence.
He was from an official family; his father held the position of Vice Minister of Personnel, and his grandfather had also served as a Minister. Although his family's reputation was not as grand as the Cui family's, it was still an official household.
However, the note received no reply and was like a stone cast into the sea. Until Lin Yan and the others received their appointments and the examination for Shujishi began, there was no response.
Lin Yan had only intended to inform him. The collection of questions was already compiled and handed over to the Cui family for printing.
The Cui family had a printing house, so obtaining permission from the government to print books was relatively easy. It was estimated that the book would soon appear in bookstores around the capital.
Lin Bo also took the examination for Shujishi, but he did not pass. He then planned to seek an official post outside the capital. Lin Yan still intended to enter the Hanlin Academy.
After the Shujishi examination, the Ministry of Personnel granted them a month's leave to return to their hometowns to pay respects to their ancestors.
Upon receiving this leave, Lin Yan and her friends bid farewell to their friends, packed their belongings, and prepared to leave the capital.
As they were about to leave the city, Scholar Cui brought her a box of books. It was not a large box, capable of holding a few dozen books.
He then informed them that the Cui family's trade caravan was also preparing to travel south, and Lin Yan and her companions could travel with them.
Lin Yan thanked the Cui family's steward and merged her carriage into the Cui family's caravan.
They had not found anyone to travel with before, but the Cui family's caravan was larger, had more people, and was therefore safer. Moreover, the caravan they had previously approached could follow this caravan.