Hearing Xing Qingsui's words, the crowd quietened down. This was the question on everyone's mind.
Based on Nangong Mu's results, he was at least on the First-Class Roll.
Su Qing smiled, but he did not reply immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Duan Xinjue, who was not far away.
Duan Xinjue saw Su Qing's gaze and did not speak. He merely nodded his head.
"Young Master Xing's question is indeed reasonable. However, Nangong Mu's situation is a little special. I'm not too sure about the specifics, but I can be sure that Nangong Mu is not on the list!" Su Qing smiled as he saw Duan Ling Tian Xinjue nod his head.
"What?!"
"Nangong Mu is not on the roll?"
"How can this be? Based on Nangong Mu's results, he only needs to enter the third round of the combat examinations to pass the imperial examinations. Even if he does not participate in the court examinations, he should still be on the roll!"
"This is against the rules!"
The crowd exploded upon hearing Su Qing's words. After all, the Imperial Examinations had always been based on results. What Su Qing said was not on the Imperial Examinations.
Even though he did not say it explicitly.
His meaning was clear. Nangong Mu was not only not on the First-Class Roll, he was not even on the Second-Class Roll.
This didn't make sense.
"Does the Imperial Academy have the right to do this?" Xing Qingsui's gaze turned cold. Even though he did not interact much with Nangong Mu, they had worked together in the World of the Sage and in the courts. He could not allow something like this to happen.
The moment Xing Qingsui finished speaking, a few of the candidates who had made it onto the first-class roll also chimed in.
"Why is Nangong Mu not on the roll?"
"The Imperial Academy has no right to do this!"
"That's right, that's right!"
All of the candidates chimed in.
Su Qing, on the other hand, looked around awkwardly and sighed in the end.
"Young Master Xing is right. How can the Imperial Academy have the right to do this?" Su Qing's words seemed to be a rhetorical question, but at the same time, a reply.
"You mean..."
"Young Master Xing. This matter is not something that you and I can change. Furthermore, this decision was not made by the Imperial Academy. I believe you understand what I mean? "Su Qing waved his hand lightly at the crowd." Regarding Nangong Mu's matter, I will not be able to change it. There will be an explanation at the start of the court examinations. Everyone will understand then. "
"The court examinations are starting?"
"Why do we have to wait until the court examinations begin to explain?"
"Could it be because …"
The onlookers suddenly thought of a possibility. Very quickly, those who were originally full of doubts also shut their mouths. No one asked any more questions.
"Can you guess the reason?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu.
"I can't be sure. I can only guess a little … "Yan Xiu nodded slightly, then shook his head lightly.
"What reason?"
"If my guess is correct, it should be related to Nangong Hao."
"Nangong Hao?" Fang Zhengzhi was confused.
He didn't know who Nangong Hao was in the past, but after his battle with Nangong Mu, he found out that Nangong Hao was Nangong Mu's biological brother.
However …
No matter how he thought about it, it was impossible for these two things to be connected.
According to the rules of the imperial examinations, unless there was a special reason, the results could not be changed. Could Nangong Mu fail just because of Nangong Hao?
That did not seem likely.
Fang Zhengzhi frowned slightly.
Even if Nangong Hao had the authority to do so, according to Nangong Mu, he had always been on good terms with Nangong Hao. As such, Nangong Hao would not purposely harm him.
Since he would not harm him, why did Nangong Hao have anything to do with this?
"Mm." Yan Xiu did not say much else. He nodded lightly.
"This Nangong Hao … is he powerful?" Fang Zhengzhi suddenly remembered what Nangong Mu had said to him on the stage.
"I am not his match." Yan Xiu's tone was conflicted.
"You are not his match even with the Dao of Asura?" This was the first time Fang Zhengzhi heard Yan Xiu admit that he was not his match. Furthermore, this was after Yan Xiu had mastered the Dao of Asura.
"Yes." Yan Xiu nodded.
Fang Zhengzhi did not ask further. He knew that Yan Xiu would not lie to him. However … If Yan Xiu was not Nangong Hao's match even after using the Dao of Asura …
Then what should he do?
How could he fulfill his promise to Nangong Mu!
…
Xing Qingsui did not continue to ask Su Qing about Nangong Mu. Instead, he slowly retreated.
Su Qing didn't seem to want to talk about this matter in detail. He quickly unfolded the silk cloth in his hand and looked at it before raising his head. Then, he looked at the crowd.
The crowd quietened down once again.
This was because the most crucial moment had arrived. The second and first in the combat examination would determine who would be the true champion of the Imperial Examinations.
"The top of the combat examinations is … Yan Xiu from the Yan Family of Western Liang!" Su Qing waited for the crowd to quiet down before announcing.
"It's Yan Xiu!"
"It really is Yan Xiu!"
"I told you that Yan Xiu would be the top of the combat examinations. Hahaha … we won!"
"In terms of power and status, it is definitely Yan Xiu!"
All of the surrounding candidates began to cheer when they heard Su Qing's words. Then, they turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi with disdain.
He was just a commoner.
Do you want to top the Imperial Combat Examination as well? That was wishful thinking.
"Hahaha … I bet Fang Zhengzhi has nothing else to say? However, to be able to clinch second place in the Imperial and Combat Examinations, I am considered lucky. It is all thanks to Nangong Mu! "
"That's right!"
Voices rang out from the crowd.
Fang Zhengzhi did not say much. He was the only one who knew what had happened the moment he and Yan Xiu fell off the stage.
At that time, Yan Xiu was already unconscious.
Fang Zhengzhi could have used Yan Xiu as a cushion. However, he did not do so. In order to prevent Yan Xiu from being injured, he chose to land with him at the same time.
Furthermore, the moment he landed on the ground, he lifted Yan Xiu's body up slightly.
This way … Even though they landed at the same time, those with poor eyesight would have misjudged that Fang Zhengzhi landed before Yan Xiu.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu also looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
However … Fang Zhengzhi's gaze was filled with congratulations. Yan Xiu's gaze was filled with a tinge of anger. His lips twitched as he prepared to speak.
However, at this moment, a clear voice sounded again.
“”
"…" The crowd, which was originally boiling with excitement, instantly quietened down. Everyone looked incredulously at Su Qing, who was holding up the silk.
Su Qing felt a little awkward.
He wanted to read it all in one breath, but the people below did not even wait for him to finish the last sentence before they completely exploded.
The entire scene spiraled out of control.
According to the rules, he had to pause every time he read out a name. However, Su Qing realized that he should not have paused this time.
Looking at the silent crowd with their eyes wide open, he could only let out another light cough.
"The top of the combat examinations is Yan Xiu from the Yan Family of Western Liang! And Fang Zhengzhi from the Northern Mountain Village of Huai An County! Both of them will top the combat examinations! "Su Qing read it all out in one breath. Furthermore … He added another sentence.
"Top … top of the combat examinations?!"
"Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu are top of the combat examinations?"
"That means that Fang Zhengzhi is the true top of the Imperial Examinations!"
"He is also … top of the double roll!"
The candidates who had been mocking Su Qing finally came to their senses. At this moment, they finally remembered that Su Qing had jumped straight to the top of the leaderboard after announcing the third place.
There was no second place in between!
A tie for the top!
This had only happened a few times in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty.
"Fang Zhengzhi topped the double roll again? From the county examinations to the provincial examinations, then the imperial examinations, he topped all three of them! "
"Oh my god. Three double roll toppers! "
"Congratulations to the two of you!" At this moment, Wu Feng finally opened his mouth to congratulate Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu. He did not seem to be surprised at all.
"Shouldn't we prepare some gifts to congratulate?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Wu Feng.
"Haha … Young Master Fang is right. Here is a small piece of silver. Thank you! " Wu Feng's smile deepened when he heard Fang Zhengzhi's words. He flipped his palm and two silver notes appeared.
Fang Zhengzhi's eyes lit up as he took a look at it.
Damn …
10,000 silvers for one note?!
Who the hell was this guy? He was willing to spend 20,000 taels at once.
"These silvers are nothing to Young Master Yan. I only hope that Young Master Fang will accept them. "Wu Feng chuckled when he saw Yan Xiu's cold expression. Then, he turned and left.
Yan Xiu did not speak. He frowned slightly.
Fang Zhengzhi was curious when he saw Yan Xiu's expression. From Yan Xiu's expression, he did not seem to like Wu Feng. If that was the case, why did he greet Wu Feng earlier?
"His master has a very good relationship with my grandfather." Yan Xiu finally opened his mouth after Wu Feng had walked far away.
"I see." Fang Zhengzhi finally understood.
He had heard Yan Xiu mention his grandfather before. However, he did not know who Yan Xiu's grandfather was. According to what Yan Xiu had said.
Wu Feng's master was one of the four sages, the Clear Water Sage.
Someone who was on good terms with the Clear Water Sage …
Was he also a sage?
One pavilion, four sages, 13 constabularies. These had always represented the powers of the Great Xia Dynasty. However, Fang Zhengzhi only knew that the Divine Constabulary, Stabilization Constabulary, and the Warring States Constabulary still had the Clear Water Sage.
It looked like he had to find some time to read up on the history of the Great Xia Dynasty.
…
The news of Fang Zhengzhi topping the Imperial Examinations spread like wildfire in the capital. Furthermore, the Imperial Academy also sent out orders to all the capital cities.
At a lake 30 miles away from the capital...
A pleasure boat was quietly moored by the lake. Red maple leaves fluttered in the air and landed on the bow of the boat, embellishing the simple and unadorned pleasure boat with a bright red color.
Inside the pleasure boat, a lady in a white dress was gently playing the guqin in her hands. The melodious sound of the guqin flowed from her fingers, mesmerizing the scholars who were passing by the shore.
"Listening to a song by the riverside is enough for me!"
"It's a pity that I can only listen to the song, but never get the chance to listen to it!"
"Ever since Fang Zhengzhi removed Lady Qingwu's veil at the Hundred Flower Gathering in Huai An County, she has not attended any other gatherings. Damn it!"
"I heard that this Fang Zhengzhi topped the Imperial Examinations again. Sigh … what a pity!"
"Yeah, why did such a person appear amongst us scholars? It's truly lamentable and lamentable …"
"Woosh!"
Just as the group of scholars were discussing amongst themselves, a streak of red light suddenly descended from the sky. It drew a beautiful arc in the air and struck one of the scholars in the chest.
At that moment, the candidate's legs left his body and he crashed into a maple tree beside him.
"Plop!" The candidate fell to his knees.
On his chest, there was a maple leaf dyed red.
"Who! Who dares to sneak an attack on me! "The candidate's face was pale, his tone unfriendly.
"It's said that maple leaves represent sentiments, but why don't I see any sentiments in you guys?" At this moment, a figure slowly walked over from afar.
She was dressed in a black dress. Her curvaceous figure was illuminated by the sun. A faint fragrance wafted from her body. She was playing with a maple leaf in her hand.
"Who are you?" The candidate's expression changed when he saw the figure in front of him. It was a woman. Furthermore, it was an extremely seductive woman.
If this was any other time, he would have enjoyed the view.
However …
No one would be in the mood to enjoy the view after being beaten up.
"Do you want to know?" The woman's lips curled up as she smiled seductively.
"Yes …" The candidate nodded. Then, he felt that something was amiss. He quickly shook his head, "I have no enmity with you, why did you sneak an attack on me?"
"Yes, why did I sneak an attack on you? I should have attacked you directly! "The woman waved her hand and sent the maple leaf flying.
The candidate flew through the air like a kite.
Everyone else who was surrounding the candidate was completely stunned.
A maple leaf!
It was so powerful!
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