79: juvenile

The result of the Palace Examination was not beyond everyone's expectations.

Chen Wenyuan was predicted to be the top scholar, and so he was.

It was just that the process was a little different.

After everyone paid their respects to the Empress behind the beaded curtain, they could now leave.

For these tribute scholars, tonight was destined to be a night of indulgence.

It was rumored that many brothels and entertainment venues were offering them free services tonight.

Qin Chuan, however, was not in such a good mood.

He was eager to go home quickly, and then—log in remotely as Wang Xuan!

The Palace Examination here was over, but over there, a Martial Saint had not yet begun to fight.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished.

As he was about to leave, an inner palace attendant found him.

“Top Scholar, His Majesty wishes to see you, please follow me.”

Qin Chuan had no choice but to follow her to that familiar place—in front of the Ming Hall.

From a distance, Qin Chuan saw a group of people.

Besides Wang Zhongshu, there was also a group of people with a fierce demeanor.

They seemed to be—the Great Zhou's generals and dukes?

“Quick, Chen Wenyuan is here!”

“What Chen Wenyuan, it should be Top Scholar Chen.”

“Indeed extraordinary, I see this young man has the bearing of a general!”

These people's gazes were burning, which made Qin Chuan uncomfortable.

This feeling was like being in a gym with a string of burly men glaring behind you, and the soap in your hand slips at that moment...

Ahem, this analogy might not be entirely appropriate.

But the actual situation was indeed like this—Qin Chuan's chrysanthemum tightened!

At this moment, it was Wang Zhongshu, as his teacher, who did not let his disciple bear this pressure alone.

He stepped forward, blocking these wolf-like military officials.

Looking around disdainfully, he scoffed, “A bunch of commoners, how dare you rashly judge others' futures?—My disciple Chen Chuan has the bearing of a Saint!”

“Hiss!”

Everyone else was fine, but Qin Chuan himself was startled.

Teacher! You shouldn't say such things.

At this moment, Wang Zhongshu had already walked in front of him, blocking the group of wolf-like military generals behind Qin Chuan.

“His Majesty is waiting for you inside, you… just make your own choice.”

Choice?

What choice?

Qin Chuan was puzzled, but now was clearly not the time for detailed questions.

He could only slowly move forward along the path these people had cleared.

He would deal with it as it came!

Upon entering the Ming Hall, he saw the Empress engrossed in reading at her desk.

In front of her was a stack of examination papers.

Qin Chuan didn't need to look; just by the feeling of their connection, he knew these were the first three chapters of Sun Tzus Art of War that he had written.

The Empress seemed to not have noticed Qin Chuan's arrival; she remained silent.

Although Qin Chuan was concerned about the upcoming challenge, he did not want to interrupt rashly.

Fortunately, this process did not last long.

The Empress's eyes slightly narrowed, and her phoenix eyes lifted slightly: “Chen Wenyuan, you truly always give Us surprises!”

Qin Chuan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Your Majesty overpraises.”

The Empress: “This is not overpraise, this military treatise...”

Speaking of this, she paused slightly, then waved her hand and sighed:

“Forget it, do as you wish.”

With that, she gently raised her slender hand, and the answer sheet recording the first three chapters of Sun Tzus Art of War floated towards Qin Chuan.

“This is your item... you deal with it yourself.”

Qin Chuan took these three chapters, but he didn't feel much surprise.

—The effect of these three manuscripts was not much different from that military talisman, and even slightly inferior.

Holding them in his hand, they were not of much use.

Looking at the Empress's expression, Qin Chuan tentatively asked:

“These manuscripts, your humble subject finds them of little use... I wonder if Your Majesty has...”

“Whoosh!”

Before he could finish his sentence, the manuscript, which hadn't even warmed in his hand, flew back to the Empress with lightning speed.

Qin Chuan could even clearly see a fleeting look of joy on the Empress's face.

“Cough.”

The Empress seemed to realize that she had acted a bit too eagerly, and after a light cough, she said:

“...Since you say it's of little use, We will store it in the Jixian Hall for military officers with aspirations to study. It is absolutely not because We want to read it.”

Since the Empress had said so much, what more could Qin Chuan say?

He could only reply: “Ah, yes, yes, yes, I understand.”

With this matter concluded, Qin Chuan waited for the Empress's next words.

—If it was for this original manuscript, the Empress wouldn't have needed to specifically call him out.

There must be something important she hadn't said yet.

Indeed, the next moment he heard her say:

“The imperial examination has ended, and you have achieved the top scholar position. What are your thoughts on the arrangements that follow?”

Arrangements that follow?

Qin Chuan instantly understood that this was about assigning positions.

Several thoughts flashed through his mind, but he still asked:

“May I know what positions are available?”

The Empress was also straightforward.

“The position of top scholar can be a Hanlin compiler, or become a local official, or even—go to the military?”

In her opening remarks, the Empress gave Qin Chuan three choices.

Hanlin, county magistrate, military officer.

For him, all were good places to go.

Especially the latter two; since ancient times, it was rare for someone to be appointed to a real position immediately after the imperial examination.

However, Qin Chuan was not in a hurry to answer.

The Empress was also not in a hurry, watching him and waiting.

After a moment, Qin Chuan finally said: “Your humble subject still chooses to enter the Hanlin Academy.”

—Although being sent out to a local post seemed good, not only would he be unfamiliar with the place, but there was also a difference between a capital official and a local official.

Besides that, the more important reason was, what if he chose to go AFK?

“A wise choice!” the Empress praised.

Then she said: “You may leave.”

“Your humble subject takes his leave.”

Qin Chuan left the Ming Hall, and upon opening the door, he saw that the large group of people from earlier had already left.

Only Wang Zhongshu was looking at him with a smile.

“Teacher...”

Wang Zhongshu: “Let's go. There's no need to tell your teacher your choice. When we get back, I'll prepare for two days and hold the master-disciple ceremony.”

—His disciple was now the top scholar, more than qualified to become his disciple.

Moreover, as Qin Chuan became more excellent, Wang Zhongshu worried that if he didn't hold the ceremony soon, someone else might snatch him away!

Just like that, the master and disciple left the imperial palace.

One person was concerned about the master-disciple ceremony.

The other... was thinking about switching accounts tonight.

Ten li outside the city, at the foot of Zijin Mountain.

Martial artists from all over the Jianghu gathered here like carps crossing a river.

There were no villages or other places to stay at the foot of the mountain, but that still couldn't deter the enthusiasm of these people.

Those who were more particular even found branches and wooden boards to build simple shelters.

Most people either leaned against trees and cliffs or simply sat on the ground.

Everyone was waiting for the arrival of the two protagonists tonight.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed—

“Wang Xuan is here!”

As the words fell, figures appeared on the mountain path ahead.

The young man in a green robe, thin and slender, as the setting sun slowly returned!