Her stomach ached from nervousness. She had originally thought that if Murong Liu could say a few words to Lian Yu and Lian Yu would let go of the matter with Lian Xin, she might be able to claim third place based on her abilities. After all, during the metropolitan examinations, she had only tested her skills lightly and still held back.

Father said, let people know where your bottom line is so they won’t dare bully you easily, but never let people know what your trump cards are, so they won’t easily harm you.

Li Zhaoting and Si Lanfeng were too powerful—she had no confidence in defeating them.

But for third place, she felt certain.

However, now she wasn’t anyone’s protégé among the important ministers.

Yes, she seemed to have encountered quite a few people, but would these people help her?

No.

Who would want someone like her who wore all her emotions on her face?

Still, having come this far, she could only fight with all her might first.

She could be afraid, but she couldn’t give up.

“Huaisu, go for it! You’re the best!”

She clenched her fist and whispered encouragement to herself.

Then she was immediately despised—the entire hall looked at her like she was a monster.

She stuck out her tongue, then saw Si Lanfeng’s mocking expression and Li Zhaoting’s slight frown… She smiled at both of them, and to avoid being despised by others, they immediately pretended not to know her and turned their heads away. Their gazes met, neither speaking nor smiling.

Behind her, a small voice muttered, “I can’t believe I’m ranked behind you…”

She was startled, turned around, then delighted, “Little Zhou, you’re also here for the palace examinations? I didn’t notice you just now, sorry.”

The tenth-ranked Zhu Xiaozhou gave her a sideways look, “Nonsense, if I’m not here in the Golden Throne Hall for examinations, am I here to buy vegetables? No need to apologize—I didn’t want to be recognized by you at all.”

This guy >_<

Little Zhou was a candidate Suzhen had met at the “Chance Encounter Inn” in Shijian Commerce. He usually didn’t talk much but had a sharp tongue. But Suzhen was quite happy, feeling like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Yan Da gave them a warning look, “Candidates must maintain examination silence, or their qualification will be revoked. Now, the examination officially begins!”

Many eyes looked over, but Suzhen didn’t look back. Ignoring everything else, she began writing with the slightly improved mood she had just adjusted, until the end.

She sat in her seat, looking at the ink traces on the paper, her eyes curving slightly with a shallow smile, but then fell into the greatest unease.

Except for her, everyone had already left their seats and walked before the civil and military officials, seeking their benefactors.

“Zhang Qian, currently has one Third Place token, one Second Place token.”

“Yao Yizhi, currently has two Third Place tokens, one Second Place token.”

“Si Lanfeng, currently has three Second Place tokens, two Top Scholar tokens.”

“Zhu Xiaozhou, currently has one Third Place token, two Second Place tokens.”

“Li Zhaoting, currently has seven Top Scholar tokens.”

“Si Lanfeng, currently has three Second Place tokens, three Top Scholar tokens.”

…

The moment Li Zhaoting’s name was read, Suzhen seemed suddenly awakened by shock, jumping up abruptly. The moment she most feared had finally arrived.

What to do?

“Li Huaisu, why haven’t you submitted your paper yet? Don’t you know that the later you are, the smaller your chance of getting tokens!”

From far below the dragon throne, Yan Da’s voice came sternly.

This shout also drew everyone’s attention again, all looking toward the center of the hall.

At the candidate desks, only she remained.

Many people laughed aloud, with various meanings.

Suzhen held her paper, her palms soaking wet, her stomach cramping with nervous pain. In heaven and earth, it seemed only she remained.

What to do?

Father, what to do?

Murong Liu, what to do?

Suddenly she thought of that person with indifferent eyes and brows, holding a folding fan to tap her head.

Murong Liu, didn’t you say you would help me? Are you truly abandoning me?

Water, boat, oar.

Boat.

At this time, amid all the bustle and excitement around her, only the person below the dragon throne was as quiet as she was.

Lian Yu, are you truly such a humble person, going to win over powerful ministers? No, you false gentleman, you’re not. You ruthless man.

She couldn’t help but look again at this enemy, seeing that he was indeed as quiet as she was, his hands tightly gripping the dragon throne. That posture seemed never to have changed, just like that, watching everything in the hall through the pearl curtain, including her.

Suddenly, like being struck by that folding fan on her head with pain, those words were knocked into her bit by bit.

She cried out softly, clutching her paper and rushing toward Lian Yu’s direction.

Below Yan Da, people were startled by this sudden change, their continuing motions slowing to a stop.

“Li Huaisu, in the Golden Throne Hall, how dare you be so presumptuous!” Yan Da scolded angrily.

But Quan Feitong looked at her and spoke to mediate, “Prime Minister Yan, don’t be angry. This candidate was just anxious for a moment.”

Wei Chenghui’s gaze shifted, waving over two imperial guards, intending to drag Suzhen away lest she disturb His Majesty.

Murong Qi and Murong Jiu exchanged glances. Murong Jiu hesitated slightly, then finally reached out to stop them, “Wait, don’t act yet.”

In this gap, Suzhen had already knelt before the steps of Lian Yu’s dragon throne platform.

She raised her examination paper with both hands, saying, “Please, Your Majesty, review this.”

“Outrageous!”

Gao Chaoyi sneered coldly, shouting loudly, “Li Huaisu, what audacity! In the Golden Throne Hall, you dare violate His Majesty’s decree. His Majesty just clearly ordered us to review papers and select talent. Aren’t you treating His Majesty’s words as wind past your ears, and moreover not putting us officials in your eyes!”

Suzhen suddenly turned back, slowly narrowing her eyes, pointing at him, “You’re talking nonsense!”

“You!” Gao Chaoyi was choked by her, actually stuck for a moment. After a while, he angrily said, “Say that again!”

Suzhen smiled coldly, looking toward the officials ahead. Everyone was shocked and suspicious for a moment, but heard her declare loudly, “Distinguished officials, may I ask what procedures the county, metropolitan, and palace examinations follow? For the sake of fairness under heaven and to show respect for the court’s pillar ministers, in the great imperial examinations, the Son of Heaven does not casually bestow the title of top scholar according to his personal preferences. County examinations are presided over by local governors, metropolitan examinations by relevant department ministers in the capital, but this is the palace examination! His Majesty respects you all and humbly yields again, letting you select and promote talent. But have you shown His Majesty equal respect in return? Have you not repeatedly returned this authority to His Majesty?”

“Water can carry a boat and also overturn it—this is the great trend, unstoppable. The people are water, the ruler is the boat—the monarch should follow heaven’s will and the people’s hearts. Yet boats are born with oars; without boats there are no oars, and when boats are destroyed, oars perish. You are the oars that push the boat forward; without a ruler, there would be no need for your existence. The ruler listens to the people and governs with policy; you listen to the ruler and execute policy—this is the Way of Heaven. How is this not putting the cart before the horse?”

“Li Huaisu’s examination paper can only be reviewed by our Emperor. If you believe Huaisu is wrong, you may drag Huaisu from this hall, beat or kill me—Huaisu will have no complaints!”

“We ministers are guilty, Your Majesty, forgive us! For the three top positions of the palace examination, please Your Majesty personally select!”

As soon as her words ended, while their clear resonance still echoed in the four walls of the great hall, all civil and military officials had already knelt before the steps.

At the pinnacle of the Golden Throne Hall, Lian Yu, who had remained silent throughout, now slowly rose, his amber eyes slightly narrowing, sighing long before saying, “Let all ministers rise first. I do not intend to read books or papers. Since ancient times, in martial arts there is no second place, in literature there is no first place. You think this person’s essay is good, I think that person’s writing is wonderful.”

“All the scholars who could reach this hall naturally have exceptional talent, ability, and strategy. To finally select talent based on one paper essay—isn’t this too superficial, mere armchair theorizing? No matter how magnificent, what use is it?”

“The talent of a top scholar, literary fame first under heaven, must ultimately enter government service to serve nation and people. A heart devoted to the people—distinguished ministers, isn’t this more meaningful than this final piece of scholarly writing? Therefore, if you truly want me to personally select, today I will break ancestral rules and judge not by literary talent and elegance, but by character and intention.”

“Who once defied my imperial sister’s law to save children who shouldn’t have died; who once at the Great Wei trade exhibition gave silver and rice to the poor and pitiful at the bottom—that person shall be my top scholar!”

“Your Majesty is wise, long live Your Majesty!”

“Your subject Huo Chang’an pledges support!”

“Your subjects Lian Jie and Lian Qin pledge support!”

“Your subject Yan Da…”

…

Following Huo Chang’an stepping forward, lifting his robe hem and resolutely kneeling down, the voices of officials in the hall rose and fell once more.

Officials stepped forward one by one. After Yan Da, Wei Chenghui’s gaze deepened, and he also stepped forward.

Finally came Chao Huang and Quan Feitong.

Quan Feitong’s lips curved in a slight smile, lifting his robe and gently kneeling down.

Was it over? Was it ending like this? Suzhen’s heart pounded wildly, sweat soaking through three layers of clothing, including her chest binding, until a pair of warm hands grasped hers, and a smiling voice came from above her head:

“Top Scholar, from now on, would you be willing to clear the way and escort me?”

She looked up abruptly, but was instantly stunned, all her blood rushing to her throat!