Chapter 123: Sun Mingzong Fails the Imperial Examination
Sun Mingzong saw the look of astonishment on Shen Heng's face, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
"Why are you here?"
After saying this, Sun Mingzong hurriedly added, "Today is the palace examination, no one without permission can stay here."
"Even if Master Shen was expelled from the Ministry of Rites because of his involvement in the cheating case and was unwilling to do so, he cannot come here to disturb us candidates who are about to take the palace examination." Sun Mingzong straightened his back and looked at Chen Heng, with a hint of contempt in his words.
Chen Heng suddenly chuckled, "Didn't Master Sun go to see the list?"
Sun Mingzong was startled. At this moment, a passing candidate saw the two talking and greeted them enthusiastically, "Sun Mingzong, are you here to seek advice from Master Shen as well?"
"Ask for advice? What should I ask him for advice on?" Sun Mingzong pointed at Chen Heng in disbelief and asked.
A passing candidate looked puzzled upon hearing this. "Didn't Mr. Shen take first place in this autumn exam? Many people who took the palace exam today rushed to ask him questions. Aren't you the first place winner?"
First place in the Autumn Examination?
These words struck Sun Mingzong like a bolt from the blue. He stared at Chen Heng with wide eyes and shouted uncontrollably, "He cheated in the imperial examination and was imprisoned. How could he have been the first in the Autumn Examination?"
He shouted so loudly that the imperial guards who were examining him looked over. The passing candidate touched his nose and looked at Sun Mingzong in confusion. "Hasn't it been confirmed that Mr. Shen was wrongly accused? And Mr. Shen's name was the first on the imperial edict posted by the Ministry of Rites?"
After mumbling, the candidate hurried to line up.
What's wrong with Sun Mingzong? It's been so long since the results were announced. Doesn't he even know who the first place in this autumn examination is?
Sun Mingzong stood there, his head a mess, staring at Chen Heng and muttering, "How is this possible? How come you weren't eliminated and still ranked first?!"
How could he accept this? He had always boasted that he was in the top ten of the Autumn Examination and looked down on the Shen family. Now, he was suddenly told that Shen Heng was the first in the Autumn Examination. What was the point of all his smugness these days?!
Is this a joke?!
Chen Heng looked at him calmly, "Your Majesty personally pardoned me from the Dali Temple, and my achievements were determined by the Six Ministries. Are you questioning me, or Your Majesty and the Six Ministries, Mr. Sun?"
Sun Mingzong's face turned pale, and he immediately shut his mouth tightly, not daring to say anything more, but the look he gave Chen Heng was full of doubt and resentment.
After passing the physical examination, dozens of candidates entered the hall one after another. The magnificent and majestic hall made the candidates who were meeting the emperor for the first time hold their breath, and the timid ones began to tremble in their legs.
Sun Mingzong stood diagonally behind Shen Heng. He knew that he shouldn't look up at this moment, but he couldn't help but look at Shen Heng's performance.
He believed that he was calmer than the average examinee, and thought that even if Chen Heng was not frightened by the previous embezzlement case, he should be submissive.
However, at first glance, Shen Heng was tall and graceful, standing out among the other candidates.
In just a few moments, Sun Mingzong saw that many officials present expressed their admiration for Shen Heng, which made Sun Mingzong's already troubled heart even more restless.
Jealousy, resentment, envy and other dark emotions mixed together and filled his entire heart.
"Cough cough." A low cough sounded in Sun Mingzong's ear, and an official glanced at him warningly.
Sun Mingzong quickly lowered his head and dared not look around anymore.
The candidates were led by the eunuchs to stand in front of their seats. The questions for the palace examination were soon announced, and they asked how to stabilize the northern border.
The hall was silent. After a few minutes, someone started writing, and the rustling sound of paper and pen rubbing against each other continued.
The emperor subconsciously set his eyes on Shen Heng, who was standing in the first position on the right. The eunuch beside him understood and came to Shen Heng to check the article he had written.
Noticing that there was another person beside him, Shen Heng paused his pen, then quickly continued writing.
The eunuch read his article, nodded slightly, and returned to the emperor and whispered a few words to him.
Sun Mingzong saw this scene, and his thoughts were suddenly interrupted.
After reading Shen Heng's article, the eunuch nodded and went back to say something to the emperor. Does this mean that he was very satisfied with the article written by Shen Heng?
Could it be that the emperor intends for Chen Heng to be among the top three in this palace examination?
The more Sun Mingzong thought about it, the more confused he became. His elbow accidentally knocked over the inkstone, and the thick ink spilled on the paper he had just written, which made him couldn't help but let out a low cry.
The candidates who were close to him were interrupted by this voice and couldn't help but look at him with frowns.
Feeling the different looks coming from all directions, including disappointment and contempt from court ministers, Sun Mingzong's face suddenly turned red.
Soon a eunuch came forward to change the paper for him. This time, Sun Mingzong didn't dare to look around and focused on writing his article.
But his heart was already in turmoil, and he couldn't calm down to sort out his thoughts. When the incense stick burned out, he could only reluctantly hand in a complete essay to make up the number.
Several examiners, the Minister of Rites and the emperor began to review the papers directly in front of all the candidates.
Looking at the people at the table shaking their heads and nodding their heads in appreciation from time to time, Sun Mingzong broke out in a cold sweat. On the other hand, Chen Heng had remained calm and composed since he handed in the paper, but now he just lowered his head and stared at the desk in front of him in a daze.
Time passed bit by bit, and the Minister of Rites held a bright yellow imperial edict and began to read out the rankings of the palace examination.
All the candidates bowed their heads and stood respectfully.
"The first place winner, Shen Heng, was awarded the title of Jinshi and appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy. The second place winner, Lin Kui..."
Sun Mingzong's head buzzed and he looked dazedly at Chen Heng who came out and knelt down to receive the order.
The number one scholar is actually Chen Heng!
Soon the top three in the first class were announced, and his name was not on the list. Sun Mingzong felt very disappointed, but he still comforted himself in his heart that being in the second class was not bad, and if he worked harder in the future he would be able to gain a foothold in Luojing.
However, after a series of names were announced, Sun Mingzong still did not hear his own name.
It was not until the middle of the third class that Sun Mingzong heard his name.
At that moment, Sun Mingzong almost lost his balance. He was clearly in the top ten of the Autumn Examination! How could he not even reach the second place? Only a fellow Jinshi was in a trance, and he was assigned to a remote place to start from the grassroots!
He had finally managed to get back from the remote countryside, how could he go back to those places!
Sun Mingzong walked out of the palace in a daze and saw Chen Heng surrounded by a group of people congratulating him. He thought that the top three in the first class would be paraded through the streets soon, while he, who was also a Jinshi, could only watch from the side.
His face was as pale as paper, and all his strength seemed to be drained away. He didn't know how he left the palace, let alone how he returned to the small and crowded Sun family.
"My son! How come you came back so soon? Aren't the top three in the first class going to be paraded through the streets? Could it be that the emperor has shown mercy and allowed you to go home and announce the good news?!" Liu Qiuyue was talking to a graceful and elegant woman, with a young girl in her prime sitting next to her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
