Chapter 69: If the child from the Shen family is alive, how old is he now?

Although Shen Shilang couldn't hold her hand, he still raised his other hand to cover her palm, as if he was gently holding her hand in his palm.

"Let's go." Shen Shilang said, and walked out.

Although he couldn't see, Su Jinshi was always by his side, making Shen Shilang feel indescribably at ease.

Originally he didn't think there was anything wrong with being alone, but now with Su Jinshi by his side, things were so different.

Candidates taking the palace examination must wait at the palace gate first.

After his identity was verified one by one, he followed the palace servants to the palace.

In the main hall, Emperor Jiacheng sat high on the throne. The examinees walked in respectfully with their heads lowered, not daring to breathe, and no one dared to look up at the emperor sitting on the throne.

Shen Shilang had never seen Emperor Jiacheng before, so he could only lower his head and look at his toes.

As the candidates paid their respects to Emperor Jiacheng, under the command of Eunuch Shen, the chief eunuch beside Emperor Jiacheng, the candidates took their seats and began to answer questions.

Because Shen Shilang was the champion of this session, Emperor Jiacheng paid special attention to him and summoned Eunuch Shen to ask, "Who is Shen Shilang?"

"Your Majesty, Shen Shilang is the first one sitting on the left in the first row." Eunuch Shen said in a low voice.

Emperor Jiacheng looked over and said, "He is quite a handsome man."

Shen Shilang looks more like the former Madam Shen. When the Shen family encountered trouble, Shen Shilang was only five years old.

Emperor Jiacheng had only heard that Shen Liangyu had a son, but had never seen Shen Shilang.

Moreover, Shen Shilang's appearance when he was young was very different from what it is now, and Emperor Jiacheng really couldn't recognize that Shen Shilang was the orphan of the Shen family.

After they all handed in their papers, everyone retreated outside the hall to wait for the results.

Emperor Jiacheng and several ministers looked at their test papers together.

"Take a look at Shen Shilang's." Emperor Jiacheng handed Shen Liangyu's test paper to Eunuch Shen.

Eunuch Shen took it with both hands, tiptoed to the front of Grand Tutor Liu, and handed the test paper to Grand Tutor Liu.

After reading it, Grand Tutor Liu nodded and said, "What Shen Shilang said is meaningful, but it is still up to Your Majesty to decide what he said."

Emperor Jiacheng smiled and pointed at Grand Tutor Liu, "Don't try to trick me. You don't have to care what I think. Just tell me what you think."

Master Liu smiled and said, "Shen Shilang is young after all, and not very steady, but he is also quite talented. If he is taught more, he may be better."

Emperor Jiacheng laughed at the old fox that was Grand Tutor Liu, who refused to give a direct answer, and said, "I think Shen Shilang is a promising talent. But... why is his last name Shen?"

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.

The current Majesty is becoming more and more obsessed with cultivating immortals and practicing Taoism, and he believes in Taoist Master Qiu's words, in particular.

At the beginning, the entire Shen family was wiped out just because of a word from Taoist Qiu.

As a result, all the court officials had to try their best to please Taoist Qiu and were afraid to offend him in the slightest.

I was afraid that I would accidentally offend Taoist Qiu and end up like the Shen family.

But I didn't expect that Emperor Jiacheng is still so taboo about the surname Shen.

Can he still kill all the people with the surname Shen in the world? At this time, I heard Emperor Jiacheng sitting on the dragon throne again, and he slowly said: "Shen Shilang's talent is beyond doubt. I think what these students say is a little worse than Shen Shilang."

Everyone bowed, but did not dare to express their opinions.

Emperor Jiacheng said: "Shen Shilang has the talent of the top scholar, but he is also very handsome. Since ancient times, those who are good-looking among the top three have been awarded the title of third place..."

Emperor Jiacheng was playing with a delicate and small ruyi in his hand, which was only the size of a palm. "If Shen Shilang were to become the top scholar, the appearance of the third scholar would be much worse than that of the top scholar. It would really be ugly."

"But if Shen Shilang is made the third place, then who will be the first place? I think among these people, no one can compare with Shen Shilang's talent." Emperor Jiacheng said slowly.

"My dear Zhang, please tell me about it." Emperor Jiacheng called out his name casually.

The Minister of Revenue Zhang Gongran, who was called, stepped out of the line and said, "Your Majesty, I think Shen Shilang is extremely talented and far superior to his peers. No matter who is chosen as the top scholar, it would be unreasonable to be above Shen Shilang."

"I think that although the third place is usually won by a beautiful person, there are also cases where the first place winner is both talented and beautiful."

"Shen Shilang is too good-looking, which makes it difficult to deal with him." Emperor Jiacheng said casually while playing with the jade ruyi, "If his appearance overshadows the third place winner, won't this third place winner become a joke?"

The ministers below thought to themselves, when have you ever cared about these things?

Besides, you are an emperor, but instead of considering the affairs of the country and family, you only think about trivial matters like how it would be embarrassing for the third place scholar to be overshadowed by the first place scholar in appearance.

Are you fucking suitable?

"Your Majesty is right." Grand Tutor Liu said hurriedly.

Emperor Jiacheng was troubled again. "But Shen Shilang won the first prize in the imperial examination. Now everyone knows that Shen Shilang is one of the best in talent. I heard that he was also the first prize in the imperial examination?"

Please...collect 6...9...books...!

"Yes." Eunuch Shen responded quickly.

"Giving him the title of No. 1 in the imperial examination and letting him win three prizes in a row would be a good thing." Emperor Jiacheng seemed to be talking to himself.

Imperial Tutor Zhao had read Shen Shilang's article and truly admired him, so he took the initiative to say, "Your Majesty is wise."

Emperor Jiacheng suddenly sneered and said sarcastically, "How can there be so many perfections in the world? Even I have things that I cannot get, let alone others?"

"Then let Shen Shilang live with some regrets." Emperor Jiacheng said, "Give him the third place."

Everyone: “…”

You've already thought about it, what are you talking about just now? They are getting more and more depressed working under Emperor Jiacheng.

The candidates waited outside the hall for a long time, and finally Eunuch Shen came out to call out their names.

When they heard that Shen Shilang only got the third place and the first place was given to someone who was far less knowledgeable than him, everyone was surprised and felt sorry for Shen Shilang.

"If you can get the top prize, Brother Shen will be a rare person who has won three prizes."

"Brother Shen, in fact, Zhong Moli's knowledge is far inferior to yours. We have all read his articles. Although they are good, they are far worse than yours. This is really..."

"I guess it's because Brother Shen is so handsome..."

It's actually my appearance that burdens me.

Shen Shilang smiled and shook his head: "It doesn't matter. As long as I pass the imperial examination, serve as an official in the court, and do my best for the people, I will be satisfied."

"Brother Shen has a broad mind."

"Brother Shen is right. Besides, when you become an official in the imperial court in the future, your ability as an official will still be considered. It has nothing to do with whether you were the top or bottom scholar in the imperial examination."

Amidst the comfort of everyone, Shen Shilang returned home.

Su Jinshi was now unable to transmit his message, so he could only hold his anger in.

In the palace, Emperor Jiacheng left only Grand Tutor Liu in the imperial study.

"Liu Qing." Emperor Jiacheng sat behind the desk, still holding the small Ruyi in his hand. He squeezed it a few times before saying, "You said... if the child of the Shen family was alive, how old would he be now?"

(End of this chapter)