232: Jury

“You may rise.” The Empress’s cold and majestic voice reached everyone’s ears.

The students raised their heads, seeing the slender figure of the Emperor standing on the high platform, their eyes filled with deep excitement and surprise.

“Is this our Great Zhou’s Emperor? She’s truly beautiful…” This was the first thought for many.

They had no disrespectful thoughts; their eyes were filled with reverence, the reverence of a subject for their monarch.

Of course, there were a few exceptions.

“Tsk tsk, the tyrant’s title as the Great Zhou’s number one beauty is truly well-deserved.

Especially those legs, they’re truly ‘legs for years of play’!”

Su Xiaobai stared intently at those fair, long legs, swallowing his saliva.

Just then, the Empress clasped her hands together over her lower abdomen and slowly began, “I thank all the students from all corners of the world, who have traveled thousands of miles to the capital to participate in this quadrennial imperial examination.

Seeing so many diligent students in my Great Zhou, I am deeply gratified.”

The students below, upon hearing the Empress’s encouragement, immediately felt their blood boil and their spirits soar, as if all the hardships of their journey had vanished into thin air.

The Empress continued, “This imperial examination will be conducted in a completely open and transparent manner, to prevent any cheating.

The historian group will serve as judges, and I, along with Duke Mo, Chief Sun, and Ming Prince, will also observe from the side, and the common people below will also be witnesses.”

“The historian group?” Su Xiaobai was slightly startled and looked at the judges’ seats below Moye Chen and the other two.

A group of officials in white robes sat with their eyes closed, each holding their heads high, looking down their noses at people, extremely arrogant.

Although they looked particularly annoying, this group was famously upright and would not give Face to anyone.

The more incompetent the Emperor, the more they liked her, because this way they could leave a significant mark on the historical record.

If they were therefore resented by the incompetent Emperor and punished, that would be even better!

Not only could they intensify their criticism of the tyrant, but they could also write in historical records about a righteous and noble historian who, undeterred by imperial power, sought only the truth and bravely faced death.

To be revered by future generations.

For them, this was a more fatal temptation than true gold and silver.

With them as the judging panel, to some extent, there would be no phenomenon of fraud.

“Alright everyone, the examination time is approaching. Please enter your respective examination rooms.”

The Empress’s voice spread in layers, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.

“Yes!”

Everyone below responded in unison.

Then they each walked into their own examination cubicles.

The examination cubicles were semi-enclosed structures, making it impossible to see the people around, but allowing a view of the Empress and the judging panel on the high platform.

The Materials of the cubicles were also made from special templates, capable of blocking Divine Sense probes to prevent others from peeking.

Of course, no one dared to cheat right under the Empress’s nose.

On the high platform, the Empress gave Eunuch Zhao a meaningful look.

Eunuch Zhao, understanding the hint, stepped forward, took a deep breath, and loudly announced, “Time to begin! All examinees, listen to the question. The first question: Patriotism!

The literary style is not restricted; all students may unleash their creativity.”

“The examination time is two hours; early submission is permitted.”

“The examination begins!”

Dong… Dong… Dong…

The bell rang.

The students began to dip their brushes in ink and write furiously.

Behind the Empress, a magnificent Dragon throne condensed, and she gracefully lifted her hips and settled onto it.

She crossed her legs in a charming yet elegant manner, fully displaying her perfectly flawless long legs.

She rested her chin on one hand, her bored gaze directed towards a certain examination cubicle below.

There, Su Xiaobai pretended to be deep in thought.

After all, the nail that sticks out gets hammered. As a cheater, he definitely had to prioritize being low-key and couldn’t submit his paper early, as that would attract too much attention.

At times, he would pick up his brush and draw small turtles, and at other times, bored, he would play tic-tac-toe, crumpling up the paper and throwing it into the trash can if he wasn’t satisfied.

The Empress’s mouth twitched. Couldn't this guy use his own brain first?

On the other side.

Li Fengqun, who looked honest and simple, was frowning in deep thought. After a long period of contemplation, he wrote “On Patriotism” on the paper.

Then he began a lengthy discourse.

Next to Su Xiaobai.

Sun Lang, the son of Chief Sun, was scratching his scalp anxiously. He was a student with a strong bias, all his talent was used in military strategy, and other aspects could only be described as above average.

Normally, that would be enough.

But today, with Tang Yin and Li Fengqun, those two scoundrels, simply faking it would definitely not work!

“Ah~! My old man is useless, he didn’t get any insider information from Your Majesty at all. I haven’t read anything on patriotism this year! Damn it!”

He cursed inwardly, anxious.

On the other side, Chief Sun shook his head after hearing the question, knowing that the position of top scholar this year would not be for his son.

Of course, there was another person below, whose demeanor was relaxed and whose Face was filled with confidence, completely unlike the frantic state of the others.

Tang Yin smirked, “Brain power, activate fifty percent!”

Inside his brain, the four lobes of his brain began to rapidly churn, like a steam engine starting to work.

Tang Yin’s body trembled violently, as if he had been electrocuted.

Immediately, he entered a mode of high-speed brain operation. At this moment, he recalled all the books he had read, and from them, he found numerous works related to patriotism.

A quarter of an hour later.

He picked up his brush and wrote a few bold characters on the paper:

“The Holy Lord considers the nation, the wise ministers gather in the art arena;

Wind and clouds herald prosperity, ten thousand miles to suppress the Southern Demon!”

After writing these characters, Tang Yin’s Face paled slightly, clearly this highly demanding mental operation had taken a great toll on him.

He looked around, no one had submitted yet. Immediately, he curled his lips slightly, picked up his test paper, and strode forward.

“Your Majesty! This Tang has finished writing. Please, Your Majesty and all the esteemed sirs, appraise it!” He bowed and presented his test paper.

On the high platform, the Empress, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly opened them. Her bright and clear eyes were like sweet dew.

“Present it.”

Eunuch Zhao quickly descended the high platform, took Tang Yin’s test paper, and handed it to the Empress.

The Empress glanced at it, then her brows furrowed sharply, and a deep solemnity appeared in her eyes.

Tang Yin wrote a five-character poem, and the answer she had given to Su Xiaobai was also a poem.

But in comparison, Tang Yin’s poem was slightly superior to her own.

“This is troublesome.”

The Empress’s expression was very grim. She had overestimated her own talent and underestimated Tang Yin’s capability.

“He actually managed to come up with such a masterpiece in such a short time. Can it be said that he truly lives up to his reputation as the foremost of the Four Great Talents?”

“Your Majesty, may we also take a look? We also wish to admire this timeless masterpiece!” The upright officials of the judging panel below eagerly said.

Although they were upright, they also deeply respected scholars. When they encountered good works, they could even do many outrageous things.

Like cursing the Emperor.

So even the Empress did not want to provoke this group of mad dogs.

The Empress expressionlessly tossed the test paper to Eunuch Zhao, “Give it to them.”

“Yes!”

The test paper landed in the hands of the judging panel.

Immediately, the eyes of the upright officials widened sharply.

“The Holy Lord considers the nation, the wise ministers gather in the art arena;

Wind and clouds herald prosperity, ten thousand miles to suppress the Southern Demon!”

“The writing is concise, not cumbersome, not verbose. Not only does it highlight patriotism, but it also promotes the Great Zhou’s prosperous national fortune and its future suppression of the Southern Demon Yao Race!”

“Good poem, what a good poem! Hahahaha!” A judge laughed aloud.

The other judges around him also nodded in agreement, “Our Great Zhou truly lacks such a person proficient in poetry. With Tang Yin’s poem, the top scholar of this imperial examination undoubtedly belongs to him!”