"Nangong Hao?!"
When the poor people heard Nangong Hao's name, their excited expressions changed and they all quietened down.
"Nangong Hao... is he participating in the court examinations?"
"If Nangong Hao participates, it will be difficult. Even though Fang Zhengzhi is powerful, he can't possibly defeat Nangong Hao."
"Aish... however, getting a good ranking is good enough. Why does he have to defeat Nangong Hao?"
"That's true."
Nangong Hao's participation in the court examinations was no secret to the citizens of the capital. However, to those who had rushed over from outside the capital, it was shocking news.
Four years ago, he was already the number one talent in the world. Four years later...
How powerful would he be?
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the discussions around him. He had been through the county examinations and then the imperial examinations. He was an experienced person.
He needed to calm down.
It was just the Law of Dao. It was too easy.
Yan Xiu wore a dark green robe today. He stood next to Fang Zhengzhi's blue robe. They were a good match as they walked side by side.
They passed through the palace gates very quickly.
A few armored guards stopped Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu once they entered the palace. After verifying their identities and doing a routine check, they gestured for Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu to wait at the side.
Fang Zhengzhi did not say much. After all, this was the court examinations. He had to follow the rules.
At this point, there were already a few hundred people waiting at the palace gates. All of them were nervous and chatting amongst themselves.
"Young Master Yan, Young Master Fang!"
Before Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu could walk into the crowd, someone walked out with a smile. He was followed by a few other well-dressed men.
It was Wu Feng.
"Mm." Yan Xiu nodded coldly. He did not say anything else.
Fang Zhengzhi's gaze fell upon the jade green flute in Wu Feng's hands. He had a strange feeling when he saw the cloud patterns on it.
"I wonder how Young Master Fang is preparing for the court examinations?" Wu Feng smiled. He had no intention of getting closer to Yan Xiu. Instead, he walked to Fang Zhengzhi's side.
"Do I need to prepare?" Fang Zhengzhi asked calmly.
"Hehe … that's true. I heard that Young Master Fang scored all six scripts in the Theory Examinations. You have broken the record of the Great Xia Dynasty. "Wu Feng smiled and nodded.
"That is indeed the case. If the Court Examinations were to test the Law of Dao again, we would have to admit defeat to Young Master Fang." One of the youths behind Wu Feng nodded in agreement.
"I believe that in terms of understanding the Law of Dao, only Nangong Hao and Chi Guyan can compare to Young Master Fang. It's just a pity … "The other young master stopped at the end of his sentence.
"What's a pity?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the two people in front of him, confused.
"Young Master Fang, don't tell me you don't know?" When the two young masters heard Fang Zhengzhi's question, they looked at each other and smiled faintly.
Fang Zhengzhi did not ask any further. He knew that since the two of them had brought up this topic, they would tell him even if he did not ask.
Just as Fang Zhengzhi expected, without Fang Zhengzhi asking, the two young masters immediately became restless.
Just as they were about to speak. Wu Feng stopped them in time.
"It is normal that Young Master Fang does not know. However, I thought that since you are with Young Master Yan, you would know more." Wu Feng looked at Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu's expression changed at this moment. Then, as if he suddenly recalled something, he turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you that the Court Examinations do not test the Law of Dao!" Yan Xiu said. An apologetic look appeared on his face.
"Not test the Law of Dao?!" Fang Zhengzhi's expression froze.
Previously, Yan Xiu had been recovering from his injuries. As such, Fang Zhengzhi did not disturb him. After Yan Xiu recovered from his injuries... Fang Zhengzhi placed most of his attention on the results of the Imperial Examinations, as well as eating and playing.
He did not pay much attention to the Court Examinations.
After all, in his heart, after the series of Theory Examinations, the Provincial Examinations, and the Imperial Examinations, he had already subconsciously come to the conclusion. The theory examination of the court examination would definitely be on the Law of Dao.
As such, he did not ask any further.
"Hahaha... So Young Master Fang really doesn't know? In that case, you should take advantage of the half an hour before the exam starts to prepare yourself. "When the two young masters behind Wu Feng heard this, they also began to laugh.
The other candidates who were standing at the side also heard the laughter coming from this side.
"Fang Zhengzhi doesn't know that the Court Examinations do not test the Law of Dao?"
"This is going to be a good show. We have been preparing for this court examination for two whole years. Yet, he came empty-handed? Hahaha... "
"I have never seen anyone enter the Court Examinations without preparation."
"Let's see how he does it!"
All of the candidates looked at Fang Zhengzhi as if they had just discovered the most shocking thing in the world. They all looked at Fang Zhengzhi with amusement, as if they were looking at a joke.
"Since Young Master Fang really doesn't know, then I will not disturb you any further. I will take my leave. Young Master Fang, you should prepare yourself." Wu Feng looked at Fang Zhengzhi, then at Yan Xiu before leaving.
Fang Zhengzhi did not say anything else.
Yan Xiu's expression of guilt deepened. "This matter, I..."
"Why do you think Wu Feng said that?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu. He knew that Yan Xiu would not hide it from him.
It was obvious that Wu Feng was trying to provoke Yan Xiu by directing the spearhead towards him.
Furthermore, it was a subtle attempt to sow discord.
"I understand." Yan Xiu nodded. He did not explain further. Instead, he said softly, "The questions for the Court Examinations have always been set by the Emperor. As such, they have never tested the Law of Dao."
"Then what are they testing?" Fang Zhengzhi had a rough idea. Even though the Law of Dao was filled with wisdom, the questions for the Court Examinations were all set by the Emperor.
As such, it could not be like the Imperial Examinations, where the questions were set by the Emperor.
Furthermore...
Most importantly... It was impossible for His Majesty to come up with a large number of questions. At most, he would only come up with one or two questions for the examination.
This made it easy to understand.
If one or two questions were chosen from the Law of Dao... It was extremely likely that close to a hundred out of a few hundred test papers would have the exact same answer.
How would they be judged?
"Policy!" Yan Xiu replied.
"I see." Fang Zhengzhi had already guessed the answer.
He had never expected that he would be back to square one. In his previous world, the Emperor had abolished the use of stereotyping. The Policy Examinations.
They hoped to raise political issues during the Court Examinations.
Then, the scholars would answer and provide advice to the Imperial Court. This was how the word "policy" came to be. Simply put, a policy paper was an essay that was submitted to the Imperial Court.
As such...
Here was the problem.
Just as these candidates had said, a good essay not only had to use the classics, but it also had to include current events and the difficulties of the Imperial Court.
Only by understanding the difficulties of the Imperial Court... Only then would they be able to provide a suitable essay.
Moreover, an article, from publication, to polishing, to completion, would need to be polished ten times, or even hundreds of times to continuously polish it.
This was the only way to stand out amongst the other candidates.
This was why everyone looked at Fang Zhengzhi in such a manner.
They had prepared for two years and were constantly concerned about the situation in the Imperial Court. They knew everything that had happened over the past two years. Furthermore, they had considered their essays over and over again.
It was estimated that he had written at least five current affairs papers.
On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi was completely unprepared. He entered the court examinations empty-handed with only a brush in his hand.
If he could pass the Theory Examinations in one fell swoop...
That would really be a story that would never be heard of again.
"What do I do?" Fang Zhengzhi frowned and cursed in his heart. How unlucky. He did not know anything when he arrived.
Even if he did know beforehand...
To know everything that had happened in the court over the past two years in just three to four days, and to understand the problems that the court had encountered was like trying to climb a ladder to the heavens.
It was impossible.
"I have a few essays..." Yan Xiu looked at Fang Zhengzhi and said. He wanted to say something but stopped himself.
"That's right, copy Yan Xiu's essays!"
"Fang Zhengzhi, if I were you, I would get Yan Xiu to say it immediately."
"Mm... we would also like to hear Young Master Yan's essays. I wonder if Young Master Yan could teach us a thing or two?"
When the surrounding candidates heard Yan Xiu's words, they all crowded around him. They were like stray dogs waiting to be fed.
Yan Xiu's expression turned cold and a cold look flashed across his eyes.
Fang Zhengzhi chuckled.
He knew what these candidates were thinking. If he did not prepare a policy essay, they would be laughing in their sleep. How could they give Fang Zhengzhi the chance to copy Yan Xiu's essays?
"Don't worry, I know what I am doing. I will definitely pass the court examinations!" Fang Zhengzhi rejected Yan Xiu's offer.
His heart was bleeding.
Yan Xiu's essay!
I want to copy it.
Fang Zhengzhi did not care if he cheated. If he could cheat under the nose of the Emperor, that would be a testament to his ability.
But now...
He had no way of cheating.
Everyone knew that he didn't have a policy paper prepared. He didn't even have the chance to exchange it for a policy paper.
Was he really going to die?
"He will definitely pass the theory examination? Did I hear wrongly? "
"Hahaha... Brother Li, you did not hear wrongly. Young Master Fang is the double roll champion of the imperial examinations. If he can't even pass the theory examination, doesn't that mean his double roll champion status is fake?"
"That's right, I was being rude. I apologize to Young Master Fang!"
"In my opinion, Young Master Fang is talented. Even if he wrote a policy essay on the spot, we would not be able to do it. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, that's right! Hahaha... "
All of the candidates burst out laughing when they heard Fang Zhengzhi say that he would definitely pass the theory examination. They looked at Fang Zhengzhi mockingly.
"F * ck!" Fang Zhengzhi pointed his middle finger at all of the candidates. Then, he turned to look at Yan Xiu. He wanted him to tell him what had happened in the courts recently.
Yan Xiu understood. He thought for a moment and looked around. Then, he said one word.
"Work!"
"Work? I understand. "Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
Although he did not pay much attention to the affairs of the imperial court in the past two years, he knew that there were not many wars in the Great Xia Dynasty in the past two years.
Even though the demons had been up to something, they had been around for thousands of years. It was not something that a policy essay could solve.
As such, the policy essay had nothing to do with war.
The six ministries represented the policies of the country.
Without war, it would not be the Ministry of War. The Ministry of Manpower was in charge of all the officials and would not appear in the policy essay. The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of money and rations. Since there was no war, money and rations would not be a problem.
All that was left were punishment, rations, and work.
Now was not a time of chaos. The Ministry of Law could be abandoned.
Finally, work and rations. Anyone who knew anything would be able to guess that it was the Ministry of Works.
The Ministry of Works was in charge of construction. In recent years, the Great Xia Dynasty had experienced droughts. This was something that both the Northern Mountain Village and Southern Mountain Village knew about.
After a few years, the Northern Mountain Village was the only one that was slightly wealthier. Villages like the Southern Mountain Village and East and West River Village were all suffering.
Even though Yan Xiu only said the word "work", it was enough to point out the problem for Fang Zhengzhi.
All of the other candidates were stunned when they heard Yan Xiu. They wanted to say something, but they could not find anything to say.
After all, the word "work" was not much.
"So what if we know it has to do with work?"
"That's right. He will not pass the theory examination if he knows the question!"
"The court examinations are not that simple. There are almost 200 candidates, and only the top 10 will be chosen. I do not believe that he can write an earth-shattering policy essay in such a short period of time!"
All of the candidates left after they finished speaking. They did not linger around Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu. However, they glanced at Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu from time to time, afraid that Yan Xiu would tell Fang Zhengzhi the policy essay in private.
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the rest of the candidates and began to think about where to start his thesis on the War of Nations.
He continued to think...
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