The four examiners left the Fengtian Hall with mixed feelings, while the two eunuchs in charge of ceremonies were busy preparing for this grand event that only happens once every three years:
First, he personally supervised the secretaries in the Imperial Edict Office to fill in the imperial list and write the announcement of the successful candidates according to the order agreed upon by the examiners. When the announcement was completed, he hurriedly asked the secretaries to send the announcement to the Honglu Temple. At the same time, it was reported that the Minister of the Imperial Treasures had stamped the completed imperial list - tomorrow the announcement would be made and it would be hung outside the city wall to show off the successful candidates.
The Honglu Temple also notified the successful candidates according to the notice and sent people to lead them to the Imperial College to receive the new Jinshi hats and clothes in preparation for the ceremony tomorrow.
March 18th was the day for the announcement. Early in the morning, the Imperial Guards set up ceremonial guards in the court, the Jiaofang Bureau presented the Yonghe music, and all officials lined up on both sides in court robes. The Honglu Temple Minister set up a desk in the hall. The scholars of the Hanlin Academy took out the imperial edict and handed it to the Prime Minister and Minister of Rites Wan An, who then placed it on the desk.
Three hundred and fifty candidates changed into the dark blue caps and robes with green edges in the palace, and led by the top scholar Ryan Cui, they followed the officials of the Honglu Temple to stand in the hall, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
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