The Face-Slapping Journey of a Sword Cultivator Male God (QT) Chapter 18: The Rightful Heir's Retaliation in the Story of a Reincarnated Concubine's Son - Part 17

Even though there was an urgent military situation in the northwest, many matters came to fruition after the new emperor's ascension. These affairs had been on hold due to the former emperor's grave illness and the ensuing succession struggles. Notably, the top grade imperial exam, which had been delayed for two full months, was now set to proceed.

On the seventeenth day of the sixth month, the top grade imperial exam finally took place. More than a hundred scholars, having waited anxiously for two months, were guided by eunuchs to the main hall of the imperial palace. There, they would undertake the exam before the emperor and several high-ranking ministers.

All the examinees for the top grade imperial exam donned the uniform robes of the tribute scholars. They exuded spirit and dignity, epitomizing the very image of elegant scholars. This cohort of candidates was indeed an extraordinary assembly of talent, offering a refreshing change to a court fatigued from continuous turmoil.

Xuan Yuan occupied the foremost seat on the left in the front row. He exuded an air of calmness and assurance, as though he had already clinched victory in the top grade imperial exam, possessing answers to every question.

Yet, in reality...

0617 was pacing back and forth within Xuan Yuan's Sea of Consciousness, acting as if it had developed anxiety. "What to do, what to do, what to do?! Host, are you confident? If you ranked first in the Imperial Civil Service Examination but then plummet in the top grade imperial exam, what will we do?”

"Silence." Xuan Yuan's handsome face remained undisturbed, his expression indifferent. "If you persist with this noise, I'll suppress you for a hundred years."

0617 went silent, trembling with fear, not daring to utter another word.

In a previous incident, it had angered Xuan Yuan and found itself confined by his divine sense to a 'dark room'. That harrowing experience left a lasting mark on the system. Since then, it hesitated to provoke Xuan Yuan rashly.

Feeling wronged and subdued, 0617 remained silent. Yet, deep within, anxiety continued to churn. After all, when the host tackled the Imperial Civil Service Examination, it hadn't been based on his genuine knowledge. And now, with numerous eyes on this examination, they surely couldn't resort to summoning the soul of 'Lin Yingjie' once more, could they?

At just twelve years old, the young emperor, still bearing a childlike visage, adhered to official protocol, conveying his encouragement and aspirations to the tribute scholars. With that, the top grade imperial exam was underway. For this round, three chief ministers set the topics. The questions delved deep into pressing national issues, especially concentrating on the challenges in the northwest and the decisions surrounding them.

It would be mistaken to believe that the tribute scholars limit themselves to the Four Books and Five Classics, oblivious to military strategies. In the Great Wei Dynasty, prowess in both the literary and martial arts held equal esteem. Each scholar who attained the tribute scholar status was also a military officer, ready to charge into battle. The phrase 'proficient in both literature and warfare' wasn't mere rhetoric; it embodied the standard the Great Wei Dynasty set for its imperial scholars.

The top grade imperial exam served a dual purpose. Firstly, it gauged scholars' views on the northwestern war, specifically whether they leaned towards war or peace. Secondly, it solicited their strategies and advice on confronting the northwestern Xiongnu. Through their responses in this exam, one could ascertain both their academic depth and political leanings. In essence, this approach adeptly tackled two objectives simultaneously.

Xuan Yuan spread out a blank sheet of paper, then prepared his ink and dampened his brush. After a short pause to gather his thoughts, he began to write with swift, seamless strokes. His thoughts seemed to spill onto the page, and in one continuous flow, he finished his 'discourse'. Without stopping even once, he made his firm stance on the northwestern issue clear to anyone watching.

Once Xuan Yuan finished writing, he took a moment to admire his bold and expansive handwriting across the paper. He then carefully read his 'discourse' from start to finish. With a subtle nod, he put down his brush, deciding against any edits. His actions indicated his contentment with the piece and felt no revisions were necessary.

Though there was still plenty of time left for the top grade imperial exam, Xuan Yuan settled back and closed his eyes, intending to meditate. Even in the imposing atmosphere of the imperial palace's main hall, he maintained his calm and serenity.

"Host, what on earth did you write?!" Xuan Yuan hoped to meditate in peace, but 0617 had other plans. Within his Sea of Consciousness, 0617 was on the brink of a meltdown, its voice a mix of desperation and disbelief, echoing the sentiment of nearly losing its sanity.

As it turned out, the discourse that Xuan Yuan swiftly penned, with what seemed to be divinely-inspired strokes, simply read: "System 0617 is a noisy idiot." That single sentence occupied the whole paper!

0617 was on the edge of a meltdown, "Host! Even if I get on your nerves, you shouldn't use such words on an occasion of this magnitude T_T. This is it! Host, I fear we're going to fail this time. Our mission is finished~~o(>_<)o~~"

Xuan Yuan didn't bat an eyelid, though his eyebrows twitched just a fraction. "Silence," he commanded. Resuming his meditation, he exuded an aura of being in complete command of the situation.

A civil official in a resplendent purple robe, with a detailed peacock embroidery gracing the chest, remarked, "Mr. Li, this young scholar must be your grandson, isn't he? A truly remarkable and outstanding presence." As he spoke, he lightly stroked his beard, admiration evident in his eyes. Holding the esteemed title of Minister of Revenue, this third-grade official had always maintained a cordial relationship with Old Master Li.

Normally, during the top grade imperial exam, it was customary for both the emperor and his ministers to circulate, assessing the tribute scholars and their written answers. However, with the present emperor's youth, he opted to remain seated on the Dragon Throne. Given this, the ministers deemed it unsuitable to walk about inspecting the scholars' discourses. Instead, they positioned themselves along both sides of the vast hall, conversing in subdued whispers.

Maintaining a serene expression, Mr. Li stroked his beard, answering with a hint of feigned nonchalance, "He is but a young child. Such grand accolades might be a bit much. He possesses just enough learning to prevent our family name from being tarnished."

"Mr. Li always so humble... Referring to the top rank in the imperial civil service examination as 'just enough learning', what does that imply for the other scholars?" The Minister of Revenue remarked with a chuckle. He recognized Mr. Li's subtle pride and ostentation. Shaking his head in playful exasperation, he mused internally, Old Master Li truly has the playful spirit of a young boy.

Once the top grade imperial exam drew to a close, the discourses penned by the tribute scholars were diligently collated and handed over to the chief examiners for evaluation. Only the cream of the crop – the top ten discourses – would earn the privilege of being presented to the emperor. Subsequently, the emperor, in collaboration with the ministers, would deliberate to finalize the rankings for the elite three scholars, followed by the remainder of the top ten.

Upon reading one particular discourse, a voice commented, "This discourse..."

Another queried, "How do you perceive it?"

The response was clear, "It should be ranked first."

A consensus emerged, "It merits the top position."

The chief examiners meticulously arranged and evaluated each discourse from the scholars. Occasionally, they'd engage in hushed conversations or seek the opinions of their colleagues. The task of ranking the discourses was undertaken with great gravitas. Interestingly, this year's preliminary round of the imperial examinations had seen the presence of two emperors. Given that this was the inaugural exam under the aegis of the new emperor, the importance of flawless execution was paramount. There was no margin for error.

Upon encountering a specific discourse, the chief examiners' demeanor shifted noticeably. They leaned in, exchanging whispers and entering into a spirited dialogue. It didn't take long for them to converge on a unanimous decision about its placement.

As the top ten discourses, handpicked by the chief examiners, were laid out before Emperor Wen Yuan, the young 12-year-old ruler theatrically leafed through the pages. Despite his tender age, a somber expression took hold. Speaking with an unexpected gravitas, he declared, "For this top grade imperial exam, we shall heed the views of the respected officials in attendance."

Essentially, Emperor Wen Yuan chose not to influence the rankings of the top three scholars or the broader top ten. This demonstrated prudence on his part. As a freshly crowned emperor, and particularly so young, it was apt for him to rely on the wisdom of his seasoned ministers instead of impulsively diving into areas outside his expertise.

"Host... I have a feeling we're doomed." As Xuan Yuan, accompanied by his fellow scholars, made his way out of the imperial hall under the guidance of palace attendants, 0617 voiced its gloomy sentiments within Xuan Yuan's Sea of Consciousness, its spirits decidedly low.

Unperturbed by the System's lament, Xuan Yuan strode determinedly towards the palace gate. His footsteps exuded confidence, starkly contrasting the exhausted, unsteady gaits of the other scholars who had just left the imperial hall.

0617 continued in its distressed tone, "Host, I saw everything! Your essay was a jumbled mess of nonsense. It was absolute gibberish! You're definitely going to fail T_T."

"Silence," Xuan Yuan retorted, a hint of annoyance showing as his eyebrow twitched upward. He decisively halted 0617's relentless complaints. "Just wait and see."

0617: Wait and see what? Your inevitable humiliation?

Yet, System 0617's foreboding proved misguided. Barely a day later, the outcomes of the top grade imperial exam were unveiled. As per the emperor's decree, Lin Xuanzhu received the highest distinction in the imperial examinations, positioning him as the most celebrated scholar in the annals of the dynasty. To add to his accolades, he was appointed to the illustrious Imperial Hanlin Academy as an editor, propelling him to the esteemed status of a sixth-rank official.

0617: What the f...? Just by scribbling insults about me, he becomes the number one imperial scholar?!

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