It was drizzling in the Yan Capital. This was not a good day, but when the first ray of light appeared in the sky, countless scholars dressed in luxurious and embroidered robes appeared on the streets.
They opened their oil paper umbrellas.
There were all kinds of images printed on it. There were mountains and rivers in ink, rivers and streams, and there were even flowers of various colors like red, white, green, and so on.
They were like moving scrolls of paintings.
Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu walked side by side in the crowd. Yan Xiu wore an embroidered robe while Fang Zhengzhi wore a blue robe.
The two of them held an oil paper umbrella and walked slowly in the rain.
The Imperial Examinations had always been held in the Imperial Academy. As the largest academy in the Great Xia Dynasty, the Imperial Academy's architecture exuded a sense of history.
It was said that the history of the Imperial Academy was even older than the palace of the Great Xia Dynasty.
It was the old site of the previous dynasty. After the Great Xia Dynasty was founded, the original site was renovated. However, the basic architecture was preserved.
When Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Academy, they realized that the entrance was already surrounded by scholars dressed in luxurious robes.
Of course, there were also a few girls in green skirts and pink robes watching from the side. There were even some elegantly dressed women participating in the Imperial Examinations.
Compared to the River of Trust Province Examinations, the arrival of Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu did not attract much attention.
After all, in the vast Yan Capital, there were too many outstanding people. For example, Xing Qingsui of the Stabilization Constabulary, or Su Donglin of the Rank One Su Family.
It was said that even the reclusive Nangong Family was participating.
Fang Zhengzhi believed the authenticity of this news. This was because Yan Xiu had told him.
At that time, Fang Zhengzhi had asked Yan Xiu about the strength of these people. Yan Xiu's response was to vaguely say, "Very strong!"
Fang Zhengzhi did not ask further.
Because to be called very strong by Yan Xiu. That meant that these people were really strong.
"What do you think will happen if I become the Double Roll Champion?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the crowd surrounding the Imperial Academy and asked Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
The expression on his face seemed to be a little surprised, but … However, the surprise on his face disappeared in a flash. Then, he quickly regained his indifference.
"It's very difficult!" Yan Xiu said.
It could be considered an answer, but it wasn't a clear answer.
Fang Zhengzhi knew that even though he was in the Heavenly Reflection State. However, the Imperial Examination was different from the Prefectural Examination. After passing the Imperial Examination, one could enter the court and become an official.
This also represented the height of this threshold.
Many talented youths who had passed the provincial examinations were stuck at the gates of the imperial examinations. Then, they had to revise day after day, year after year, diligently train.
This also led to a phenomenon.
This was the phenomenon of overstocking. For example, in the first generation of the Imperial Examination, there were only 50 candidates. Then, the 51 candidates from that generation onwards would be overstocked until the second generation of the Imperial Examination.
However, there were new entrants for the second generation of the Imperial Examinations. After going through a competition that was even more brutal than the first round, there were people who managed to make it to the third round of the Imperial Examinations.
The cycle continued.
The Great Xia Dynasty had a history of close to a thousand years. Every two years, the Imperial Examinations had been held. Up till now, it had reached a level of difficulty that was harder than ascending to the heavens.
Every time, the Imperial Examinations had a limit on the number of people that could be admitted. This made the Imperial Examinations look like a massacre.
Heavenly Reflection State?
Perhaps, there were only two Heavenly Reflection State cultivators below the age of 18 in the Great Xia Dynasty. However. What about Heavenly Reflection State cultivators below the age of 28? There were at least 50 to 60 of them.
If this age was extended to thirty-eight, forty-eight, fifty-eight …
Fang Zhengzhi did not know how many people had reached the Heavenly Reflection State in this Imperial Examinations. However. He glanced over. There were all sorts of middle-aged men in their thirties and forties, as well as old men in their forties and fifties. It was like a hundred flowers blooming.
"Has Chi Guyan participated in the Imperial Examinations before?" Fang Zhengzhi suddenly thought of a question.
"Yes, the previous one." Yan Xiu nodded.
"What rank did she get then?"
"Double Roll Champion!" When Yan Xiu heard Fang Zhengzhi ask about her rank, he had a strange expression on his face.
Fang Zhengzhi was slightly shocked. However, he quickly understood. One year ago, Chi Guyan was already at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Reflection State. Then, two years ago, she was definitely not weak either.
It was not surprising for her to be the Double Roll Champion.
However, if Chi Guyan was the Double Roll Champion, then, if he did not become the Double Roll Champion, it would be quite embarrassing.
Would he be looked down upon?
"Looks like, I have to reluctantly become the Double Roll Champion!" Fang Zhengzhi sighed helplessly.
This voice was not loud.
It was just an ordinary conversation between two people. Especially in the drizzle, no one should have heard it.
However …
This was the Imperial Academy, the place where all the candidates for the Imperial Examinations gathered. The power of the Double Roll Champion at this moment was absolutely terrifying.
Hence, just as Fang Zhengzhi said the words Double Roll Champion.
Many pairs of eyes shot over at the same time.
Then, very quickly, someone recognized Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu. After all, the news of Fang Zhengzhi reaching the Heavenly Reflection State had spread far and wide.
"Fang Zhengzhi?!"
"The young genius who reached the Heavenly Reflection State at the age of 15?"
"He is indeed a genius, but … this is the Imperial Examinations, not a place where a young genius who just entered the Heavenly Reflection State can show off. Double Roll Champion, haha …"
"A typical case of a newborn calf not fearing a tiger, he is still young!"
One by one, the candidates looked at Fang Zhengzhi and shook their heads. Then, the rain in front of a few candidates suddenly stopped, as if it was completely controlled.
Heavenly Reflection State!
One could easily see Heavenly Reflection State cultivators at the entrance of the Imperial Academy.
"It seems very difficult, but, I must become the Double Roll Champion!" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the candidates controlling the rain, his expression turning serious for the first time.
"You really want to become the Double Roll Champion?" Yan Xiu's expression also turned serious.
"Yes!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"Then, you must first become the Theory Examinations Champion!" Yan Xiu also nodded. He did not think that Fang Zhengzhi could really become the Double Roll Champion, but, he chose to believe in Fang Zhengzhi.
This trust came from the heart, unknown, but very pure.
"Dong!" The gong that signified the entrance rang at this moment.
All of the candidates began to enter. No one cared about the conversation between Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu. In their eyes, this was a display of arrogance.
A person who had just entered the Heavenly Reflection State wanted to become the Double Roll Champion in the Imperial Examinations?
He was just a frog in the well.
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the stares around him. He felt that it was about time for him to enter. Just at this moment, a scholar dressed in a light yellow scholar's robe suddenly blocked in front of him.
The scholar held the oil-paper umbrella and lowered it very low.
His face could not be seen, but, from his figure, he seemed somewhat petite.
Fang Zhengzhi was slightly confused. He had already sounded the gong, why was there still someone blocking his way? Was he not afraid that he would beat him up?
Just as he was thinking, the oil-paper umbrella slowly lifted up.
It revealed a fair and clean face, beautiful beyond compare. The most unique thing was that pair of clear eyes, like a pool of limpid autumn water.
"It's you?!" Fang Zhengzhi did not even need to guess to know that there was only one person with such eyes. That was Princess Ping Yang of the Ping Yang Residence.
"Yes, it's me! Are you happy to see me? "Ping Yang blinked as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi. She did not seem anxious at all.
"Happy my ass! I have to attend my examinations now, I don't have time for you. "Fang Zhengzhi made his stance clear.
"Fang Zhengzhi, you know that I am Princess Ping Yang, yet you dare to treat me this way?!" Ping Yang heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Are you unhappy? Anyway, we agreed that you would not send anyone to assassinate me in the next two years, what do I have to be afraid of? "Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang with disdain.
"Hmph, that was forced by you!" Ping Yang immediately pouted her small mouth.
"But didn't you already swear an oath? You can't go back on your word, what's the point of saying all this now? "Fang Zhengzhi felt that this was not the time to bring up the past.
"Indeed it's useless, then let's talk about something useful? For example... I have the answers to the theory examinations, do you want to take a look? "Ping Yang very carefully moved in front of Fang Zhengzhi, then, took out a letter from her pocket.
"Answers?" Fang Zhengzhi glanced at the letter in Ping Yang's hand, feeling that this scene was somewhat familiar.
Previously at the River of Trust Capital, Li Zhuangshi seemed to have used this method to guide him, but he ended up suffering a huge loss.
But, the person in front of him was Ping Yang.
The current Emperor's most beloved princess. Furthermore, after a few interactions, Fang Zhengzhi did not think that Ping Yang's intelligence was on the same level as Li Zhuangshi's.
Then...
The answers in Ping Yang's hand were very likely to be real.
At this moment, Yan Xiu also noticed the letter in Ping Yang's hand, and a trace of shock appeared in his eyes.
From the moment Ping Yang appeared, he had been standing beside the two of them, and Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang's conversation, did not intentionally hide it from him. Hence, Yan Xiu naturally knew the identity of Ping Yang in front of him.
"I can swear that my answers are definitely real. Last night, I sent someone to sneak into the Imperial Academy, then, stole a paper, and found a few officials to write it out overnight." Ping Yang said with a face full of sincerity.
"Why did you steal the paper? It can't be just to get an answer for me, right? "Fang Zhengzhi no longer doubted the authenticity of the answers in Ping Yang's hands.
With Ping Yang's methods, stealing the Imperial Academy's paper was not something too strange.
But, he did not understand, what was Ping Yang's motive in stealing the paper?
(Begging for monthly votes, the beginning of the month, begging for a guaranteed monthly vote!) (To be continued.)
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