Wang Ziyao followed the servants back to the palace.
When Old Master Wang Chong saw that Wang Ziyao had actually returned obediently, he was surprised and said, "I thought you weren't coming back. It turns out that sending a few more people was the right decision."
The servant smiled bitterly and said, "We never beat the young master. It was Master Zhao who persuaded him to come back."
"Oh?" Wang Chong was even more surprised: "You are willing to listen to him?"
Wang Ziyao said dissatisfiedly: "Zhao Lin is right, why shouldn't I listen to him?"
Wang Chong asked, "What did he say?"
Wang Ziyao said, "He said that the Crown Prince and Prince Yu's men were going to fight, and they were all trying to win you over. If I were outside, I would become a flaw in the family and bring trouble to the family. Isn't this looking down on me? How could I be a flaw?"
Wang Chong stroked his beard and smiled, "It seems you've made a good friend."
Wang Ziyao raised his head and said, "Humph, Zhao Lin is certainly not bad. Not only is he good at studying, but he's also good at martial arts. I must find a way to trick him into joining the army so that I can have a helper."
"If you say it's good, then it must be good." Wang Chong was surprised but didn't show it.
Wang Ziyao's martial arts skills are among the best among the second generation in Beijing. If he says it's good, then it must be good.
Wang Ziyao said: "Better than me."
"Oh? Then I have to meet him some other day and thank him for his hospitality to you these days." Wang Chong said.
"Forget about this. He has offended too many people now and has to bide his time. He didn't even take part in the martial arts examination. Now my family is being watched by the Crown Prince and Prince Yu's men. If he comes over, he will definitely be targeted by them." Wang Ziyao refused on behalf of Zhao Lin.
Wang Chong said with great relief, "You are finally willing to use your brain. That's great."
"Tsk, it's not that I don't want to use my brain, it's that there's no point in letting me use my brain." Wang Ziyao said arrogantly.
…
Shengjing Prefecture, Imperial Examination Hall.
Every scientific examination makes many people feel like they are facing a great enemy, especially the marking process, where one could lose their head if they are not careful.
The chief examiner this time was the editor of the Hanlin Academy and the top scorer of the previous session.
Bai family, Bai Shiyuan.
Many of the examiners were carefully marking the papers while secretly glancing at this person who was currently the favorite of His Majesty.
Being able to sit in the position of chief examiner at this age definitely means that he is deeply trusted by the emperor.
If he were not still young and lacked the qualifications, he would probably not be the chief examiner in the provincial examination, but would have gone to the metropolitan examination instead.
Bai Shiyuan ignored the gazes of the people around him and looked carefully at the paper in front of him.
His face was calm, but he was very disdainful in his heart.
The papers that were presented to Bai Shiyuan had all been preliminarily screened by the examiners, but they were still not to his liking.
"Hey, this policy paper..."
One of the examiners suddenly exclaimed in surprise, attracting everyone's attention.
Bai Shiyuan asked calmly, "What's the matter?"
The other examiner quickly said, "Don't blame me, Lord Bai. It's mainly because so many papers were mediocre that I suddenly saw a good one, so I got a little excited."
"Oh? Show it to me."
The examiner quickly handed over the test paper. Bai Shiyuan glanced over it and nodded slightly. "Indeed, it's quite good. It's quite creative. Especially when it comes to managing the disaster victims, there are very few people like you in the court."
Bai Shiyuan handed the test paper to the other examiners, and after reading it, the other examiners nodded in agreement.
Bai Shiyuan's opinion represented the emperor's opinion. He had said so, and the answer was indeed good. Someone immediately said, "In that case, this paper can get first place."
"I think so."
"Indeed, regardless of the stylistic requirements, the quotations from classics, or the ideological and strategic discussions, it is an excellent choice and deserves first place."
All the examiners agreed, and Bai Shiyuan had no objection. The moment he picked up the pen, he suddenly thought that Zhao Lin was also a candidate this time. Judging from the three essays in the previous county examination, this essay was in the same vein as them, and it was very likely Zhao Lin's paper.
Although all test papers have to be covered and copied before being sent to the examiner, someone with a keen eye can still guess some people's papers from clues.
For example, now.
Although he was not 100% sure, Bai Shiyuan was still 80% sure that the paper in front of him was Zhao Lin's.
Although Zhao Lin earned 50,000 taels of silver from Bai Shicheng, Bai Shiyuan didn't care about it.
It was just that Bai Shiyuan was very upset when he heard that Zhao Lin's three poems moved Yun Zhiyi to tears and she regarded him as a close friend. She even spread the word that as long as Zhao Lin went, Yun Zhiyi would welcome him.
However, since he had already said it, it was too late to find fault now. So Bai Shiyuan put down his pen and put the paper aside under the surprised gazes of the other examiners. He said, "I've only graded half of it now. There's still half I haven't seen. What if there's an even better one? Put it aside for now. If not, it's not too late to award it first."
"Master Bai is right. We were too excited to see the prey and acted rashly." Someone immediately complimented him.
Anyway, it’s not a big deal, and Bai Shiyuan is right, there is still half of the test paper to be completed.
…
Time passed day by day, and soon it was the day when the results of the provincial examination were announced.
"Miss, you seem to be worried. You even refused to drink your favorite sugared pear water."
The maid Lan'er said to Fu Liqing.
Fu Liqing was sitting in her boudoir, with some poems and essays in front of her. Upon hearing this, she said, "Today is the day when the results of the provincial examination are announced..."
Lan Er quickly said, "Miss, are you worried that Mr. Zhao won't pass the imperial examination?"
Fu Liqing shook his head and said, "With his talent, he will definitely pass the imperial examination. I'm worried about whether he will pass the imperial examination and whether it will affect his mood."
Lan Er smiled and said, "There are at least one to two thousand scholars taking part in the provincial examinations in Shengjing Prefecture every year, and only a maximum of one hundred and fifty spots are given out each year. Passing the examination is something that countless people dream of. Miss, you're actually worried that Young Master Zhao won't get first place. If outsiders knew, they'd scold you for being too extreme."
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