"Scared?"
"Can't handle even a bit of it."
Ye Shijie glanced at Shen Mingwen. So, if this old man Shen had any conscience at all, he shouldn't try to steal his student.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingwen's brow furrowed so tightly it could knot.
What should he do?
He couldn't possibly scare Old Man Ye to death, could he?
After wrestling with the dilemma for a long while, Shen Mingwen finally spoke again, "Lord Ye, we are colleagues and share some camaraderie. After you finish reviewing the papers today, you must go see Imperial Physician Mei."
Ye Shijie: ?
"Ask Imperial Physician Mei to prescribe you a formula to protect your heart."
Shen Mingwen's expression was grave, as if he were entrusting a matter of utmost importance.
"Let's... let's review the papers first."
Not quite grasping Shen Mingwen's meaning, Ye Shijie collected his thoughts and returned to the task.
The method of reviewing the Palace Examination papers was rather unique. The officials grading them would mark different symbols on the papers to judge their quality. Finally, the top ten papers would be determined based on the number of the highest-grade symbols each received.
By the time the setting sun cast golden light upon the palace eaves, Ye Shijie finally saw the paper that made his eyes light up.
Ye Shijie's heart instantly settled.
Excellent answers!
Excited, Ye Shijie's breathing grew heavier. He drew a circle on the paper, representing the highest grade.
"Lord Shen, I've finished grading this paper. I'll pass it to you."
Suppressing the surging waves in his heart, Ye Shijie handed the paper to Shen Mingwen.
Seeing Ye Shijie's trembling hands, Shen Mingwen realized something. He took the paper.
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Mingwen also carefully drew a circle on the paper.
The paper was passed along in turn, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted.
...
Meanwhile, at the Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness, here are all the gift lists from the congratulations."
As he spoke, Liuxi wiped the sweat from his forehead. Receiving so many congratulatory gifts for placing first in the Metropolitan Exam... if he were to place first in the Palace Exam... Liuxi hardly dared to imagine.
Song Yu, who was already somewhat restless, immediately put down the book in his hand upon seeing the lists and began reading with keen interest.
"The Xu family actually sent gifts too, and quite substantial ones at that."
Song Shihuan, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. She had thought Xu Yayu wouldn't send any gifts after being rejected.
This eldest daughter of the Xu family was rather interesting.
"If they sent them, we accept them." Song Yu flipped through the lists quickly. "If Xu Jin makes a mess of things in the future, I'll help him once and we'll be even."
After going through all the lists, Song Yu let out a comfortable sigh.
The feeling of receiving gifts was indeed pleasant.
No wonder the old man was so furious when he found out the tribute from the Japanese pirates was short.
"Liuxi, copy these lists and send them to the palace. Let the old man be envious too."
Thump—
Liuxi knelt on the ground.
He couldn't do this job.
He was afraid of dying.
"Liuxi, just say that Father dared not accept these congratulatory gifts privately and requests His Majesty the Emperor to review them."
Song Shihuan's words rescued Liuxi. Grateful, he looked at her, then scrambled to his feet and ran out.
Behind him, Song Yu was still muttering:
"Liuxi's courage is getting smaller and smaller these days."
Not long after, Song Yu began to fret again. "Ah Huan, do you think the old man will name me as the Zhuangyuan?"
Song Shihuan facepalmed. "Father, I'll have someone find you some crickets to play with."
He needed to divert his attention, and quickly! He had asked her this same question no less than five times in a single day!
...
Liuxi returned.
But his expression was like a frost-bitten eggplant.
"What's wrong?"
Shen Qingping happened to be visiting the Qin Prince's Mansion. Seeing Liuxi, he couldn't help but take a closer look. "Did someone steal your money pouch?"
Hearing Shen Qingping's words, both Song Yu and Song Shihuan in the room turned to look at Liuxi.
"The money pouch was indeed stolen."
Song Yu relaxed. It was no big deal; he could just reward Liuxi with two pouches.
But the next moment, Liuxi's voice sounded again:
"It was Your Highness's money pouch that was stolen."
"What?!" Song Yu roared at the top of his lungs. "Which scoundrel stole this prince's money pouch!"
Thump—
Liuxi knelt on the ground again.
He truly was very afraid of dying.
"Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor confiscated the gift lists?" Song Shihuan ventured to ask.
Liuxi nodded.
"This prince is going to the palace to demand an explanation!"
Song Yu stormed out. Only he could fleece the old man; how could the old man fleece him?
This simply wouldn't do.
"Does Your Highness wish to anger His Majesty, so that the vermilion brush might circle another name?"
Shen Qingping spoke leisurely.
"On matters of imperial examinations, the old man is certainly fair and impartial." Song Yu replied without thinking.
"Then please proceed, Your Highness."
After taking a few steps forward, Song Yu retreated back.
But what if?
Compared to his Zhuangyuan title, those things were as light as a fart.
"Fine then, let it be considered as this prince's filial piety to His Majesty."
Song Yu awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose.
Song Shihuan, however, laughed until she bent over. His Majesty the Emperor truly had Father's temperament figured out completely.
...
The next day, at Zichen Hall.
Emperor Yuanyou, having successfully fleeced his own son, was immensely pleased, radiating intense joy from head to toe.
It was at this moment that Shen Mingwen and the others brought the ten papers selected in the final review before Emperor Yuanyou.
The Emperor personally determined the top three in the First Class and the top seven in the Second Class—this was known as the "Small Announcement of Results."
The papers were sealed with yellow paper, and the marks given to each paper were still visible. Emperor Yuanyou adjusted his breathing and immediately looked toward the paper marked with ten circles.
"To think there's a paper that won the approval of all of you. Remarkable."
The ten examiners came from different backgrounds and belonged to different factions. For a paper to receive ten circles was truly rare.
"Your Majesty, this paper is written with fluid strokes, skillfully cites classics, and deserves to be the top candidate."
Shen Mingwen smiled, the wrinkles on his face seeming to multiply.
Emperor Yuanyou opened the seal and smiled as well.
Wasn't this that rascal's paper? On the day of the Palace Exam, he had specifically gotten up and gone down to take a few glances at it.
Emperor Yuanyou's heart beat uncontrollably. He reached out to lift the slip covering the name and native place.
Ji'an Prefecture, Guo Feng.
"This Guo Feng from Ji'an Prefecture, if I recall correctly, has already placed first in both the Provincial and Metropolitan Exams."
Hearing Emperor Yuanyou's words, the other officials present showed astonishment in their eyes. For an examinee's name to be remembered by the Emperor...
And even mentioned with a hint of familiarity...
This person's future prospects were surely boundless.
"Your Majesty is correct," Shen Mingwen replied.
"In that case, let us grant him the Grand Triple Crown."
Emperor Yuanyou slowly picked up the vermilion brush and looked up at Shen Mingwen:
"Minister Shen, grind the ink for me."
Emperor Yuanyou thought that at this moment, Shen Mingwen should understand his feelings best.
Shen Mingwen stepped forward to grind the ink, watching as Emperor Yuanyou dipped the brush tip into the inkstone, saturating it with ink.
And then.
Wrote a few characters on the cover of the paper before him.
First in the First Class.
