A Top Scholar From A Humble Background.

Summary

The palace examination results declared Shen Xi as the top scholar, despite his young age of thirteen and prior allegations of involvement in a scandal. Officials debated his ranking, with some advocating for his demotion to avoid setting a poor example for education. Bai Ang argued that promoting Shen Xi could undermine academic integrity, while others, like Wang Ao, defended his exceptional talents. The emperor, Zhu Youzhang, faced pressure to reconsider the ranking but ultimately decided to uphold Shen Xi's position after receiving support from key ministers, emphasizing the importance of fairness and the potential impact on public perception of the imperial examination system.

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