Su Wan was so angry with Bai Zhiyi that she didn't even bother to watch Meng Ruliu's last two exams.
She only remembered to check when the results were released.
The arena and arena below the imperial city have been removed, and the notices with yellow paper and black characters are posted on the city wall for everyone to see.
Su Wan finally managed to squeeze to the front of the crowd and looked up.
The civil service exams awarded top three scholars: Zhuangyuan (状元), Bangyan (榜眼), and Tanhua (探花). The military exams were similar, with first, second, and third place rankings. The first place wasn't Meng Ruliu, nor the second; it wasn't until third place that Qu Yong's name appeared. The court was quite considerate, even listing the specific scores.
Qu Yong: Weightlifting 10, Horse Archery 10, Foot Archery 10, Horse Spear 10, Talent and Appearance 3, Speech 4. Total Score: 47.
The second-place winner scored 52 points, while the first-place winner scored an astonishing 58 points – truly a master of both academics and martial arts.
Su Wan wasn't surprised. Meng Ruliu was just a girl; how could she sound like a great general? Even with her voice altered, it still couldn't be as booming as a real warrior's. The lower values in the last two categories were inevitable.
Someone nearby remarked, "After the military examination, if anyone is to be granted an official position, His Majesty must issue a decree personally."
Another said, "The Prime Minister went to Ping'an Prefecture to see the Second Prince again yesterday. It seems that the Second Prince's succession to the throne is almost certain."
Su Wan thought to herself, "The Second Prince knelt on the ground and cried that night. Could it be that after so many days, he has changed his mind and agreed to become emperor? With his health, he might become the shortest-lived emperor in history."
While they were watching, soldiers came and drove the crowd of onlookers to the roadside, clearing the way into the imperial city.
The second prince, Wei Wuji, sat half-dead on the dragon carriage, supported by two eunuchs, with imperial guards below, as they entered the imperial city in a grand procession.
As Su Wan was reading, someone patted her on the shoulder; it was Meng Ruliu.
"I came in third place," Meng Ruliu stretched as the two walked down the street from the Duke's mansion. "If my father knew this in the afterlife, he would be so happy that he would eat two more bowls of rice."
"What is Sister Yi going to do now?" Su Wan asked.
“We’re waiting for the emperor to ascend the throne. How can we appoint officials without an emperor? The prime minister wouldn’t dare to do that,” Meng Ruliu said. “You’ve seen it yourself, the second prince is about to ascend the throne.”
Su Wan was puzzled: "With his condition, he can't even sit still and needs someone to support him. Isn't he afraid of dying?"
Meng Ruliu said, "There has to be an emperor, then I can be appointed as a general."
The two returned to the Duke's mansion, where Su Wan led Meng Ruliu to meet the Duke and his wife. The two elders were overjoyed to learn that the person before them was Qu Yong, the third-place winner in the martial arts examination and the elder brother of Doctor Su.
Bai's mother said to Su Wan, "I was thinking that I couldn't keep calling you by your nickname. So your surname is Qu, and your name is Qu Su?"
Su Wan didn't care anymore. Chu Yi had even called her "Little Jar" before.
The two stayed at the Duke's mansion for three days, and the second prince indeed ascended the throne. However, there was one thing: this ascension was done secretly. There was no announcement to the world, no grand coronation ceremony, and no change of the reign title.
After ascending the throne, the second prince quickly took two actions and issued two imperial edicts.
The first imperial decree: The top three finishers in the military examination shall be respectively granted the titles of Zhenwei General, Xuanwei General, and Mingwei General, and shall be appointed as fourth-rank officials.
The second imperial edict declared Wei Jingzhuo innocent and appointed him General Who Conquers the West, ordering him to lead 80,000 troops to attack Southern Chu.
Su Wan was overjoyed to learn that the Second Prince had issued two decrees. She said to Meng Ruliu, "The Second Prince is truly a good person; he has done a great deed."
Since his exile, Wei Jingzhuo had been unable to return to the capital. With the new emperor's decree, Wei Jingzhuo could now legitimately lead his troops into battle. Most importantly, the Great Jin would not only provide the army but also the provisions.
She decided to have General Mingwei take her to the palace to treat the Second Prince.
Unexpectedly, the next morning, tragic news arrived from the palace. This wise ruler, after a busy day at court dealing with the backlog of memorials, suffered a stroke that evening and became paralyzed, his mouth and eyes swaying, and his speech becoming slurred. The Prime Minister had no choice but to continue acting as regent, as before.
Fortunately, there was an emperor on the throne. Although he was terminally ill, the prime minister could write imperial edicts on his behalf, as long as the prime minister nodded in agreement.
What happened next was even more absurd. General Zhenwei fell off his horse while riding and broke his arm. General Xuanwei was even more outrageous; it's said that the ceiling collapsed while he was eating, causing him a concussion.
Meng Ruliu scoffed and said to her, "These two good-for-nothings dare not go to Xiping Pass to fight the Southern Chu army, so they deliberately made things like this. Since they are injured, the court cannot send them on expeditions, but they still get their salaries. They really know how to scheme."
Su Wan also understood.
No wonder everyone was so enthusiastic during the military examinations, but after obtaining official positions, they all ran into trouble. They didn't have to go to their deaths at Xiping Pass, and they could enjoy their salaries without lifting a finger.
This left only General Mingwei. Meng Ruliu went to inspect the troops at the military camp outside the capital city, and would soon lead the army on an expedition.
Su Wan and she had agreed that when the army marched to Xiping Pass, the Duke of Bai and his wife would go with them.
The Duke and Duchess Bai have mostly recovered and are able to eat again. We can tell them about Bai Zhiyi's current condition now.
She lied to the Duke and Duchess Bai, saying that she was sent by Bai Zhiyi, that Bai Zhiyi was alive and well, and that she was currently at Xiping Pass. She hadn't told them the truth before because she was afraid they wouldn't be able to handle it.
The Duke and Duchess Bai burst into tears on the spot, but fortunately, they had been taking medicine to recuperate and nothing serious happened. They immediately decided to go to Xiping Pass to see their daughter.
Su Wan still remembered what her maternal grandfather, Zhao Xian, said before he died: Bai Zhiyi was the most terrifying person. Her true colors had to be exposed so that Chu Yi would leave her.
On the day the army set off, the Prime Minister personally led officials to see them off, and said to Meng Ruliu:
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