Emperor Yuan Ming picked up the first test paper without any emotion in his eyes. He quickly put it down. Until he got the fifth test paper, he was surprised. Soon, Emperor Yuan Ming selected three out of the ten test papers.
Li Defu took the three test papers and announced solemnly: "Verify the names of the students and summon them to the palace immediately."
Two hours later, the three students selected by Emperor Yuan Ming to take the test were already standing outside the hall.
"Xuan Baiting, Ling Zhisong, and Shang Yanqing, enter the hall." As Eunuch Li finished speaking, the three of them walked into the hall together.
Emperor Yuan Ming saw that although their clothes were a little messy, they were still young men with high spirits. He nodded with satisfaction.
The three of them walked to the front of the hall without looking around and knelt down to salute.
"No need to formality~" Emperor Yuan Ming said, and the three of them stood up.
Emperor Yuanming's eyes were as sharp as torches as he swept over the three people. He did not say anything, but stared at the three people. The ministers in the hall could not help but steal glances at Emperor Yuanming.
Emperor Yuan Ming said in a deep voice: "What happened to you three on the way?"
At this moment, the three of them confirmed their guesses, and they looked up at Emperor Yuan Ming in the hall with sudden realization.
Emperor Yuan Ming continued, "Knowledge is an important part of the imperial examination, and it is indeed the stepping stone for you to enter the officialdom. The fact that the three of you can walk into this hall proves that you have enough knowledge."
After examining the three people, Emperor Yuan Ming continued, "Eunuch Li, please let everyone in."
A moment later, three imperial guards walked in from outside the hall. Seeing this, the officials in the hall were somewhat confused about how things were going.
After the three imperial guards saluted, Emperor Yuan Ming said: "Tell us what happened on the way here."
"Yes, I accompanied Ling Xuezi into the palace. On the way here, I met a man with messy hair and tattered clothes who asked for help. Ling Xuezi gave him one tael of silver."
"I accompanied Bai Xuezi into the palace. We also met a man asking for help. Bai Xuezi gave half of his money to that man."
"I accompanied the Shang student into the palace. It was also a man who asked for help, but Shang reported to the officials and sent him to the government office."
After these words were spoken, Bai Ting and Ling Zhisong looked at Shang Yanqing in surprise.
Then Emperor Yuan Ming asked, "Shang Yanqing, tell me why you sent that man to the government."
Shang Yanqing stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, although the clothes of Guan the student are tattered and messy, his hands are clean and tidy, and there are calluses on the base of his hands from holding swords frequently, which shows that he is a martial artist."
Emperor Yuan Ming: "Is that why you sent him to the government?"
"No, there are still many suspicious points about him. He said that his whole family died of plague and he fled to the capital. Regardless of whether what he said is true or not, it is no longer something I can handle. So I immediately reported it to the government and isolated him. After confirming whether the situation is true, the government officials will handle it."
"Then you dare to enter the palace, aren't you afraid of being infected?"
Shang Yanqing: "I am afraid, but I have found some suspicious points. First of all, I have not heard of any epidemic anywhere. Secondly, the Imperial Guards completely ignored the situation. They were not panicked at all. So I have reason to suspect that this is not accidental. And what happened later can prove that this is true."
"Okay." Emperor Yuan Ming looked at Bai Ting and Ling Zhisong on the side. "Do you two have anything to say?"
"I didn't. I didn't observe carefully. I just wanted to avoid delaying my visit to the palace."
Emperor Yuan Ming nodded and said, "Okay, then tell me how you handled the situation where two families of people were fighting over a cow."
Emperor Yuan Ming looked at the three people and said, "That's Bai, let you speak first."
Bai Ting stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, it was because of this case that I discovered that when I asked the people, the Imperial Guards were not anxious. I realized that this was a test, so I launched an investigation into the case..."
Bai Tinghua Luo Ling Zhisong also told his way of dealing with the matter, and then it was Shang Yanqing's turn. The three of them had similar methods of dealing with the matter. After collecting evidence and investigating, they decided to give the cow to the owner.
Emperor Yuan Ming nodded slightly, with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. "My dear ministers, it seems that I have made up my mind about the candidate for the top scholar." His voice echoed in the magnificent hall, steady and powerful.
The hall was filled with solemnity, and the officials were silent. In fact, before the three men entered the hall, they had already read the transcripts of the three men's palace examination essays. Without knowing who wrote them, Shang Yanqing's essay had already won their unanimous praise, and the sound of praise was endless.
However, when the truth came out and they knew who wrote the article, the hall fell into silence. In addition, after Emperor Yuanming's inspection of these talents on the street, the officials knew that the top scholar position must belong to him. But the Shang family was powerful and prominent, and they already had the honor of Duke and Marquis. If there was another top scholar in the civil service, how would they deal with it in the future?
Emperor Yuan Ming's eyes were as sharp as torches as he swept across the silent officials. A sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Is it so difficult for you to acknowledge the excellence of others?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his words, revealing his dissatisfaction with the narrow-mindedness of these officials.
Some people were unable to raise their heads immediately. After a moment, an official stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, in terms of knowledge and ability to judge right from wrong, the top scholar this time must be Shang Yanqing."
After this person finished speaking, everyone came forward and said the same thing. Lu Mubai, who was standing aside, clenched his fists so hard that they made a crackling sound.
Lu Mubai originally planned to use these officials. No matter how outstanding Shang Yanqing was, he would never be able to become the number one scholar. However, he did not expect that Emperor Yuan Ming would do this. He first did not tell the author of the article and let everyone circulate it.
He then tested the officials in the street again, and finally mocked them, forcing them to admit Shang Yanqing's talent. His good nephew did not sit on the throne in vain, and his methods of controlling people's hearts were perfect.
Emperor Yuan Ming nodded. "Okay, in that case, Shang Yanqing is the top scholar, Bai Ting is the second, and Ling Zhisong is the third."
When Bai Ting heard this announcement, he was stunned for a moment. Shang Yanqing's knowledge was enough for him to become the top scholar. He was convinced. Although he was not very bad, he had just appeared in front of the palace that day. He thought that even if he passed the palace examination, he would at most be the third place.
Ling Zhisong on the side frowned. He thought that no matter how bad he was, he would at least be the runner-up. He didn't expect that he was only the third.
Everyone in the hall had their own ideas, but Emperor Yuan Ming did not care about them. He directly asked Li Defu and the Minister of Rites to prepare the imperial edict together.
An hour later, the sunny streets of the capital were already crowded with people, colorful flags were flying, and gongs and drums were beating.
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