Fang Zhengzhi…
The Chief Examiner?
This was unbelievable no matter how you looked at it.
The Imperial Examination was of utmost importance in the capital. The person who passed the Imperial Examination would be able to become an official in court. The Chief Examiner was the person who wielded the highest authority in this highly regarded examination.
He could destroy a candidate’s future with just a sentence or conversely, he could pave the way for another candidate if he wanted to. It was not an understatement to say that the Chief Examiner was the most important figure in this examination.
“This is not possible, this is an illusion!”
“How can Fang Zhengzhi be the Chief Examiner this time. He is not even 18 years old!”
“How can this be? This must be the first time since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty that the Chief Examiner for the Imperial Examination is younger than 18 years old!”
All of the candidates stared at Fang Zhengzhi, who was standing in the middle of all the invigilators. After all. This was absurd.
‘Master Fang, can we begin?” Just as the candidates were having doubts, an invigilator walked towards Fang Zhengzhi and asked in a respectful manner.
“Yes, you may begin,” Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head and handed the golden scroll in his hand over.
“Yes!” The invigilator took over the golden scroll with both hands before slowly retreating back two steps. He then coughed softly before he opened the scroll, “By orders of His Majesty, Fang Zhengzhi has been bestowed the title of Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy. He is a Rank 2 Official and currently enjoys the royal endowment. He will also be the Chief Examiner for this Law od Dao Imperial Examination!”
“Royal Rank 2 Official!”
“Oh my dear lord, he is really the Chief Examiner for this Imperial Examination!”
“A Chief Examiner younger than 18 years old. This must be the first since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty. Furthermore, he has already been bestowed the title of a Rank 2 official and has the royal endowment! This is akin to the treatment received by the Six Council Officials!”
As the candidates listened to the content of the royal message, they were all dumbfounded. This result was not something they had expected.
This was because…
Just a few days ago…
When Fang Zhengzhi entered Flame Capital City together with Chi Hou and Yan Xiu from the Divine Constabulary, he was still a criminal. However, he was now already the Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Rites Official, and enjoying the royal endowment.
How preposterous was that?
No one would believe it. However, the truth was right in front of their eyes.
At that moment, all the candidates stared at Fang Zhengzhi, the youngest Chief Examiner of the Imperial Examinations in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty, the person who was in control of their fates.
Thoughts then flashed through their mind.
Capital Examinations Double Roll Champion, Prefectural Examinations Double Roll Champion, Imperial Examination Double Roll Champion and Court Examination Double Roll Champion. This was the greatest achievement ever in the history of the Law od Dao Examination. Till date, no one had ever surpassed that amazing feat.
Furthermore, he was also the main architect of the Southern Region Battle scheme and the guy who once fought with half- saint demon Can Yang. Just one of this achievement would be enough to impress anyone.
However…
When all of these accolades were concentrated on a single individual, he then had the power and capabilities to become the youngest Chief Examiner for the Imperial Examinations.
The candidates exchanged glances and thought of the same thing. It was that Fang Zhengzhi had somehow become a mentor they must be grateful to if they passed this exam.
This was because their rankings in this examination would be personally handled by Fang Zhengzhi. In that case, wouldn’t he be the mentor that all the successful candidates had to be grateful to?
Just thinking about calling a person younger than them their mentor…
The candidates felt dejected and worthless.
“It is about time. Let’s begin the examinations.” Fang Zhengzhi stared at the crowd of silent candidates and waved his hands, seemingly uninterested.
In fact, he had no interest in being the Chief Examiner whatsoever.
However…
This was the Emperor Lin Mubai’s request.
He had already accepted the gift of the hundred square miles mansion. Furthermore, the Majesty had personally sent the royal message down to Ping Yang Residence. He had no choice but to accept it.
“Yes!” The invigilator nodded and immediately rang the second bell, signaling the candidates to enter the examination grounds.
Gong!
The sound of the giant cymbal reverberated through the academy.
At that same time, all the candidates recollected their thoughts. When their gaze once again fell back onto Fang Zhengzhi who was in the middle of all the invigilators, no one else had any doubt in their hearts.
That was because, despite their will, it was not something that they could change.
Furthermore, casting aside Fang Zhengzhi’s background and character, he definitely had the capabilities and rights to be the Chief Examiner.
The reason was simple. He was the first person in history to have ever completed all six Imperial Examinations in one sitting and attained a perfect score in all of them.
This reason alone would suffice.
If such a person could not become the Chief Examiner, then who could?
Once the gong chimed, the Imperial Academy’s door opened as the guards and the invigilators separated themselves into two neat lines.
Fang Zhengzhi then stood in the center of the entrance. The proper decorum of the Law of Dao Examinations dictated that all candidates taking the examination would have to give a scholar salute to the Chief Examiner before entering the examination grounds.
The candidates queued up orderly and respectfully greeted Fang Zhengzhi and allowed themselves to be checked by the guards. Fang Zhengzhi was also unexpectedly serious, putting on a stern expression and keeping his back upright.
“Hm…”
“Very good!”
“Good job! Work hard!”
“Get a good grade!”
Under the warm encouragement of Fang Zhengzhi, all the candidates entered the examination grounds with slightly more confidence.
Nangong Mu seemed to have accepted this as well. After getting checked by the guards, he walked towards Fang Zhengzhi and bowed respectfully just like the other students.
Following which, he then waited patiently for Fang Zhengzhi’s words of encouragement.
He waited…
Then a voice rang beside his ears.
“Do you wish to be the champion? Just draw three circles on your exam paper!”
Nangong Mu felt his legs go wobbly and almost fell to the ground. He then stared calmly at Fang Zhengzhi, who was currently smiling cheerily at him.
What did this mean? The Chief Examiner was helping a specific candidate pass the examination? Three circles to be the champion? As he stared at Fang Zhengzhi’s face, Nangong Mu was fell speechless.
Alas…
This guy was truly shameless.
How could he have said those words in a setting as serious as the Imperial Examination? Furthermore, he was the Chief Examiner and he said it right in front of all the candidates.
“I want to prove myself using my own strength!” Nangong Mu said as he gritted his teeth.
“Hmm, commendable. Alright then, don’t blame me later on if I don’t recognize your script and decides to fail you,” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head and said regretfully.
Nangong Mu did not reply to that sentence and walked into the examination ground with a darkened face.
As the candidates listened to the conversation between Nangong Mu and Fang Zhengzhi, their faces also darkened. Could they really get the champion if they drew three circles?
No one could answer this question.
However, this information was like the plague. It instantly spread throughout the entire Imperial Academy. As long as one drew three circles on the paper, they would be able to get champion on the Theory Examination.
And the person who said this was none other than the Chief Examiner this time, Fang Zhengzhi, Master Fang!
“Shameless! Why would the Emperor choose this person to become the Chief Examiner? This is… this is just an insult to this highly regarded procedure that has been running through the Great Xia Dynasty for the past decades!” One of the courtiers shouted in rage as he heard this news.
This was especially so after the news of the three circles reached his ears. He felt a wave of rage and shame overwhelming him.
The few other courtiers that sat beside him also shook their heads as they were deep in discussion. They naturally disapproved of this action as well.
“However, while Fang Zhengzhi is really quite shameless, if we simply look at proficiency level in the Law of Dao, he is no doubt the most proficient in the entire Great Xia Dynasty,” The other courtiers said after thinking for a moment.
“Hmm indeed. If we look at the Law of Dao alone, I’m afraid that even Nangong Hao and Chi Guyan might not surpass Fang Zhengzhi!”
“Yes, Fang Zhengzhi’s proficiency in the Law of Dao is at least a hundred times higher than me!”
All the courtiers nodded their heads at this point.
While he was shameless,
Some things were true as well.
Completing six Imperial Examination papers within four hours was a feat that was unprecedented and probably impossible to surpass. To say that he would take the top place in the Great Xia Dynasty was not an overstatement.
“But his proficiency in the Law od Dao does not make him a good Chief Examiner. The character, sternness, and reputation of the Chief Examiner are important as well,” The enraged official was clearly displeased.
“Times has changed. It might not be bad that the Emperor is trying new things. It has been long since the court had seen some new blood,” The courtier patted his enraged friend on the shoulders as he said.
“Yes, Fang Zhengzhi was given the title of a Rank 2 Official this time and was even given the royal endowment. This is akin to the treatment received by the Six Council Officials!”
“I believe that Fang Zhengzhi is already not too far away from the Six Council Officials seat.”
“If that is the case, it would be terrifying. A member of the Six Council Officials, the Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy, the mentor of the scholars, privilege of choosing the people he wants and favorable treatment from both the Emperor and Princess Ping Yang. Who… who else could go against him in court?”
“Should we get on his good side beforehand?”
“I feel that…”
“I’m sorry, guys! I have something on at home, I will be going!”
“I also remembered some urgent matters I have to settle, I will be going!”
“I’ll be going!”
“I mean… no one wants to foot the bill?” The enraged courtier widened his eyes and watched as his comrades leave one after another. He then stared at the table filled with delicacies and caressed his money pouch before his face went pale.
Flame Capital City, Royal Palace.
When everyone was concerned with the Imperial Examinations and Fang Zhengzhi, the royal palace seemed incredibly peaceful and calm.
Rows of royal guards clad in shining golden armor roamed the palace in an orderly and stern manner. Their spears reflected the blinding sunlight, casting warm glows all around.
The morning court session had ended even before the sun rose. Once the Imperial Examination began, the courtiers would also not enter the palace to request an audience with the Emperor.
For the palace which was usually filled with people….
It was truly a peaceful and calm day.
“We can finally rest for a day!”
“Yes, usually we would have to pick up courtiers after courtiers in and out of the palace. We cannot even stop to rest for a moment! My throat always feels like it is going to go hoarse any moment. It is finally time to rest!”
“Yes, it is only during the day of the Imperial Examination. After today, checking the scripts and reporting the scripts would be another long day of work.
The eunuchs who were in charge of sending messages in the palace yawned while they engaged in small conversations.
The female servants also got a rare break and they found a place with warm sunlight to rest. They stretched their tired bodies as they enjoyed the fragrance of the flowers coming from the Imperial Garden.
“How comfortable!”
“The concubines are all concerned about the Imperial Examinations. This puts a lot of pressure off our backs. We don’t have to serve them every moment of the day anymore.”
“At least we won’t get beaten up today!”
The servants showed an expression of bliss and relaxation.
While they were serving the concubines, they would often get a beating if the concubine got angry. However, today was different. All the concubines seemed to be wishing for good luck and would refrain from doing such actions.
After all, although they were in the palace.
Most of them were of noble backgrounds and would have one of their family members participating in the examinations. If they could pass the examination and become a member of the courtiers, it would be beneficial to the concubines themselves as well.
The palace today was neither crowded nor sinister. One could not hear the desperate screams of the female servants when they were getting beaten, nor could they hear the shrill voices of the eunuchs as they shouted.
Everything seemed exceptionally peaceful.
And at the entrance of the royal palace, on top of the high castle walls was a figure with an expression starkly different from the eunuchs and the female servants.
The golden armor enhanced her delicate and exquisite figure.
She had that heroic presence and coupled with her refined eyebrows, would send chills down anyone’s spine.
She was the commander of the Royal Guards, Chen Feihua.
She was also Imperial Concubine Hua Fei, the Emperor Lin Mubai’s favorite concubine.
“Reporting to the commander, it is time for your break!” At that moment a royal guard swiftly moved towards Chen Feihua and whispered.
By normal standards, Hua Fei was definitely of a higher rank than the commander of the Royal Guards,
However…
As long as Chen Feihua was wearing the armor of the Commander of the Roya Guards, no one in the palace was allowed to call her Hua Fei. Even the Emperor Lin Mubai had to call her the commander!
Naturally, this rule would not apply to the courtiers.
In Chen Feihua’s words, she was only in charge of the palace. She then should not have authority over what the courtiers outside of the palace and the Emperor’s children should call her.
“Alright, I got it,” Chen Feihua nodded and stared at the patrolling royal guards with an expressionless face.