The palace examination was held the following day.
Gu Qingyan personally presided over the examination. Looking at the candidates with their heads down answering the questions in the main hall, a bright light flashed in Gu Qingyan's eyes. From these people, he would select the pillars of his Great Yu.
When the sandalwood incense had burned down to half its length, Gu Qingyan rose from his chair and began walking around the main hall. When he reached the examinees, beads of sweat were clearly visible on the foreheads of some of them.
Who wouldn't be flustered when the emperor is so close?
Even Guo Siyuan, who had met Gu Qingyan several times, trembled slightly as she answered.
After the palace examination, all the candidates were asked to leave the main hall, and all the examination papers were sealed with their names and their order was shuffled in front of Gu Qingyan.
"Prime Minister Zhuo, I wish to personally review the examination papers for this year's palace examination."
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Yi glanced at the thickness of the exam paper and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty's love for talent is truly admirable."
In other words, Your Majesty is far superior to your father.
Gu Qingyan's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this. "However, I don't have much experience after all. Prime Minister Zhuo should come with me to observe, so as not to miss out on talented individuals."
On the other side, the candidates who walked out of the hall couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
The moment they put down their pens, their fates were already sealed.
"Are you Qin Ke'er?"
A voice rang out, and Qin Ke'er, who was completely relaxed, was suddenly startled. She turned her head and her eyes narrowed. "Are you Guo Siyuan?"
"It seems Miss Qin knows me. I am truly honored."
Qin Ke'er stared straight at Guo Siyuan. She had long heard of Guo Siyuan's great name. This woman, who was very likely to shine in the palace examination, had even been personally summoned by the Empress Dowager.
"What do you want from me? We don't seem to have any connection, do we?" Qin Ke'er twitched the corners of her mouth, and a hint of inquiry appeared in her eyes as she faced her formidable rival.
“You are from a prominent family, and I am from Dayu. It would be strange if we had any connection.”
Guo Siyuan lowered her eyes. "Let's find a place to chat for a while."
"Guess how many people are watching me from the shadows?" Qin Ke'er said with a mocking expression. "Now I can't just leave the palace whenever I want."
“I know, I’ll go there.”
Guo Siyuan pointed to the Imperial Garden, and Qin Ke'er nodded in response. She was curious as to why Guo Siyuan had come to find her.
In the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, the two sat calmly.
"It's almost April, you've been in Da Yu for quite a while now," Guo Siyuan said slowly. "Miss Qin, there's a question I've always wanted to ask you: Is your family truly of noble birth?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't be angry. It's just the two of us here. I'm just saying what I've been keeping in my heart for a long time." Guo Siyuan smiled. "Your aristocratic families seem noble, but in reality, they all do those dirty things behind the scenes. The Qin family is like a pit of fire now. Even if Miss Qin wants to go back, she can't."
"Guo Siyuan, don't think I can't do anything to you!" Qin Ke'er jumped up from her chair, glaring angrily at Guo Siyuan, her nostrils flaring slightly as she exhaled.
"Your second uncle is now in charge of the Qin family. You and Qin Zheng both insist on staying in Dayu. I suppose the Qin family elders can no longer defend you. And your father... Qin Ke'er, don't you think his illness is suspicious?"
"You mean someone poisoned my father?" Qin Ke'er's mind went blank for a moment upon hearing Guo Siyuan's words.
"Miss Qin, think it over carefully. Which of the major families has the ability to poison your father without anyone noticing, and who has benefited the most from it?"
Guo Siyuan looked at Qin Ke'er, who was deep in thought, and slowly stood up as well. "No rush, Miss Qin can go back and think about it carefully. Miss Sun can also think about it together."
Guo Siyuan took a few steps, and Qin Ke'er's voice rang out again.
"Do you have a grudge against the Pei family?"
"Yes, it's an irreconcilable feud."
After saying that, Guo Siyuan strode away, leaving Qin Ke'er with a look of unease in her eyes.
In fact, after Guo Siyuan said those words, she immediately thought of the Pei family. However, she couldn't believe that the Pei family, who were usually cautious and inconspicuous, would have such audacity, so she asked Guo Siyuan about it.
It really is the Pei family.
"Miss Guo, your divisive tactics were truly brilliant." A familiar voice rang out, and Guo Siyuan looked at Wei Ruo, who had emerged from behind the artificial hill.
"Eavesdropping here is not gentlemanly conduct."
"I, Wei Ruo, have never been a gentleman." Wei Ruo wore her signature smile, seemingly kind but actually keeping everyone at arm's length. "Why are you saying all this to Qin Ke'er?"
“I have read all of Minister Kui’s information. Although the Qin family is headed by Second Master Qin, their power behind the scenes only obeys the head of the Qin family. The only ones who can save the head of the Qin family now are Qin Ke’er and Qin Zheng.”
When Guo Siyuan got to this point, she looked directly at Wei Ruo and asked, "Does Prime Minister Wei dare to take a gamble?"
How do we bet?
"Please, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, release Qin Ke'er to return to the Qin family."
"Why Qin Ke'er, and not Qin Zheng?" A hint of interest appeared in Wei Ruo's eyes. The woman in front of him had surprised him time and time again.
"Let the young master of the Qin family go back? That would be too conspicuous. They would all suspect that Da Yu did it on purpose. But Qin Ke'er is different. Qin Ke'er has a legitimate opportunity to go back."
"I will inform the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."
Thank you.
Guo Siyuan bowed to Wei Ruo, and then headed towards the palace gate without hesitation, seemingly not wanting to say another word to Wei Ruo.
"Heh—" Behind him, Wei Ruo couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"My lord, shall we leave the palace now?"
"No, let's go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony."
How interesting. Does Guo Siyuan really believe that Qin Ke'er will pass the imperial examination this time?
......
The results of the palace examination were quickly determined.
Gu Qingyan looked at the roster in front of him, his mind filled with the exam paper behind those names.
"Please, Your Majesty, appoint the top three scholars: the first, second, and third."
As soon as Zhuo Yi's voice rang out, the atmosphere in the hall immediately became tense.
Gu Qingyan picked up the vermilion brush and almost without hesitation circled a name. He circled the first one, and the second and third names were quickly circled as well.
"The embers of the top scholar's career."
"The second-place finisher has arrived unexpectedly."
"Guo Siyuan, the third-ranked scholar."
Upon hearing Guo Siyuan's name, the eyes of the courtiers in the hall trembled violently. The Emperor had actually chosen a woman!
"The top three in the first class will be granted the title of Jinshi (进士). Several in the second class will be granted the title of Jinshi Chushen (进士出身). Several in the third class will be granted the title of Tong Jinshi Chushen (同进士出身)," Yingzhi's high-pitched voice rang out. "The detailed list will be posted tomorrow."
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The news of who won first, second, and third place spread like wildfire throughout the Great Yu region. Inside Lingyun Garden, Guo Siyuan listened to the announcement of the good news and remained in a daze for a long time.
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