During the imperial examination, the examination hall was closed. These days were like an eternity for many candidates. Each candidate had a small cubicle where they ate and slept. It was the time of year when spring was turning cold again. When Qin Ge picked up his pen to answer the questions on the examination paper, he heard a candidate faint from exhaustion and be carried out of the examination hall by patrol personnel. He was out of luck for this year's imperial examination and would have to wait another three years.
Fortunately, Qin Ge had been working on strengthening his body since he entered this body; otherwise, he would probably have ended up like those other guys, walking out of the examination hall sideways.
Even so, when Qin Ge walked out of the examination hall after the imperial examination, he seemed to have lost a lot of weight.
This prompted Lan Ye to cook him a whole soup to nourish his body.
However, the fruits of hard work after several days are joyful.
On the day the results were announced, officials came to the inn with gongs and drums to announce the good news: "Congratulations to Mu Xiange, a student from Qingzhou, for winning first place in the imperial examination! Congratulations to Mu Xiange, a student from Qingzhou..."
Lan Ye took out the reward money and distributed it. The innkeeper generously waived Qin Ge's room fee, saying that it was a blessing for the inn to have the top scorer in the imperial examination. He added that they might even be able to build a reputation as the "Top Scholar Inn"! He just hoped that Qin Ge wouldn't mind.
Qin Ge: "..."
The innkeeper really has a knack for business; he's even come up with the idea of modern marketing and leveraging celebrity influence.
Qin Ge could only force a smile and say, "As for being the top scholar, I can only say that I did my best."
The innkeeper said, "Young Master Mu, I believe in you! I have high hopes for you!"
Qin Ge: "..."
·
Throughout history, the selection of the new top scholar in the palace examination following the provincial examination was entirely based on the emperor's wishes.
The top three are the top scholar, the third-place scholar, and the second-place scholar.
It is said that the third-ranked scholar in each imperial examination was the most handsome among all the candidates.
Qin Ge thought to himself that even if he couldn't become the top scholar, but instead became the third-ranked scholar, it was probably all because of his face.
…
Three days later, the palace examination will be held.
Qin Ge and a group of successful candidates entered the Golden Palace to meet the Emperor.
Inside the Golden Palace, civil and military officials stood in two rows, each dressed in official robes, wearing a peacock feather on their head, holding a jade tablet, and with solemn expressions.
The head of the civil officials was Chancellor Qin Zhong.
That is, the original owner's biological father.
This prime minister probably never imagined that the 'illegitimate daughter' in his own residence would one day walk into the Golden Palace as a scholar, and that the two of them might one day serve as officials in the same court.
Qin Ge kept his eyes straight ahead and did not even glance at Qin Xiang.
The Golden Palace lives up to its name; the dragon throne, the throne of the supreme ruler, is pure gold and sits atop the wide steps, inspiring awe in all who behold it.
The young eunuch announced, "His Majesty has arrived!"
The crowd knelt down, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"
Out of the corner of Qin Ge's eye, a light gold dragon robe, symbolizing nobility, slowly came into view.
Upon hearing the word "Rise," all the officials rose. Qin Ge, like everyone else, had his head bowed and was unaware that the emperor's gaze had briefly lingered on him for a moment.
As everyone looked up, Qin Ge also saw the tyrant sitting on the dragon throne.
Jun Chenbi, dressed in a light gold dragon robe and wearing a nine-bead crown, with strings of black pearls hanging down in front of him, obscuring most of his face, sat on the dragon throne, looking so unattainable.
He seems quite different from the Jun Chenbi in Qin Ge's memory.
It added a touch of cold loneliness to the person who was in the highest position.
Qin frowned, then lowered his gaze and joined the other scholars in beginning the palace examination.
The questions for the palace examination had already been set. The fact that a dozen or so scholars were placed in the Golden Hall, among all the civil and military officials, and under the emperor's very nose, to wield their pens and write their poems also served as a test of their psychological qualities.
One or two scholars answered the questions beautifully, but their mentality was not good. In such an environment, they turned pale, broke out in a cold sweat, and were drenched in sweat.
Qin Ge was someone who had spent every day with the tyrant and shared a bed with him. He had even called the Prime Minister Qin, the head of the civil officials, "father." Therefore, he wrote with a calm and composed demeanor, which made many ministers who were secretly observing him nod in approval.
Suddenly, Qin Ge's body stiffened slightly.
Just as he picked up his pen and began to write with great enthusiasm, the emperor, dressed in a light gold dragon robe, appeared behind him at some unknown time, watching him answer the questions from a very close angle.
It's like the feeling of terror you get when the proctor suddenly stands silently behind you during your college entrance exam.
A faint, familiar scent of ambergris lingered around Qin Ge's nose.
It was on Jun Chenbi's body.
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