No one knew what Nangong Hao was thinking. Was he going to hand in a blank script? Was it because he felt that the policy was too easy? Or was it because the court examinations were too easy?
But that was not possible.
If Nangong Hao did not want to participate in the court examinations, there was no need for him to come all the way to the capital and announce that he would be participating in the court examinations.
Almost all the courtiers knew one thing. The Nangong Family valued their reputation very much. They would never allow something like handing in a blank paper to ruin their reputation.
As such...
What was Nangong Hao thinking?
Just as the officials were trying to figure it out, Nangong Hao picked up the answer scroll on the table, flipped it over, and placed it on the table.
"What... what is going on?"
All of the officials were stunned by Nangong Hao's actions.
This was because the moment Nangong Hao picked up the answer sheet, they could clearly see that the answer sheet was not blank. Instead, it was filled with extremely smooth handwriting.
This meant that Nangong Hao was not handing in a blank script.
Not a blank script?
How is that possible?
All of the officials were stunned. No one wanted to believe what they were seeing. Before Fang Zhengzhi announced that he was handing in his script, they all remembered that Nangong Hao's script was blank.
Could it be...
How was that possible?
"Oh my god, how did he do it?"
"This is unbelievable!"
"This is unbelievable."
All of the officials were shocked.
If Nangong Hao was not handing in a blank script, then there was only one possibility.
Just now...
When everyone's attention was focused on Fang Zhengzhi, Nangong Hao had completed his script at an unimaginable speed.
However, when they thought back to what had just happened...
From the moment Fang Zhengzhi stood up to hand in his script, to the doubts of the officials, to the conversation between Fang Zhengzhi and Su Qing, all of this had happened in less than half an incense's time.
This meant that Nangong Hao had made use of this time. He had completed his script.
Too fast!
All of the officials were stunned by Nangong Hao's speed.
However, what was even more shocking was that Nangong Hao had used the most inappropriate period of time to write his answers.
As we all know, writing is about writing in one go, about calmness and calmness.
However … That was the most noisy part of the court examinations. There were discussions among the officials, as well as conversations between Fang Zhengzhi and Su Qing.
But Nangong Hao still wrote it.
Moreover, it took such a short amount of time.
This could only mean … In the process of writing, Nangong Hao entered a state of true tranquility, a state of mind that was completely undisturbed by the outside world.
"Natural Dao Heart … This is the Natural Dao Heart?!" Wu Feng looked towards the white-robed Nangong Hao, who was standing not too far away. An indescribable fear rose in his heart.
For the first time, he was afraid of someone.
And it was fear that came from the bottom of his heart.
Su Qing also reacted at this moment. He looked at Nangong Hao, then at Emperor Lin Mubai, who was sitting on the Dragon Throne with a slightly changed expression.
"Seal the scroll." Emperor Lin Mubai finally spoke.
"Roger." Su Qing replied immediately.
All of the other officials fell silent when they heard this.
This was because, if Fang Zhengzhi handed in his script alone, they could accuse Fang Zhengzhi of disrespecting the authority of the Emperor. However, he handed in his script together with Nangong Hao.
What else could they deduct?
Could they deduct Nangong Hao as well?
At this time, Su Qing had already arrived in front of Nangong Hao. He looked at the answer sheet on the desk, took out the sealed paper in his hand, and prepared to seal the paper.
However, at this moment, a hand stopped Su Qing's movement.
This hand belonged to Nangong Hao.
"Young Master Nangong, are you not going to hand in your script?" Su Qing was slightly confused.
"No, I just think that Lord Su is mistaken about something." Nangong Hao looked at Su Qing, his eyes calm and his tone calm. Neither servile nor overbearing.
"What is it?" Su Qing was even more confused.
"Ever since Official Su participated in the imperial examinations four years ago, he entered the imperial court. From an imperial scribe, he became the imperial messenger of the Imperial Academy. Can't you see who handed in their script first? "Nangong Hao pointed at Fang Zhengzhi as he finished his sentence.
Su Qing was stunned.
Along with Su Qing, the officials standing beside Emperor Lin Mubai were also stunned.
"Can't you see who handed in their script first?"
They understood what Nangong Hao meant and knew that Nangong Hao was referring to Fang Zhengzhi.
However, they did not understand why Nangong Hao would say such a thing. This was clearly a small matter. The two of them handed in their scripts one after another.
The imperial messenger in charge of collecting the script first collected the one who handed in his script later, then the one who handed in his script earlier. If he was not a calculative person, he would not have any objections.
In that case, was Nangong Hao the kind of person who would be calculative?
Of course not.
There was only one possibility. Nangong Hao did it on purpose.
With this thought, the officials suddenly had another thought. If Nangong Hao's words were intentional, then was it also intentional for Nangong Hao to hand in his script immediately after Fang Zhengzhi?
No one could figure it out.
However, Su Qing reacted quickly.
He ranked second in the imperial examinations along with Nangong Hao, and was also a rank four official. Now, he was the temporary Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy. However, in front of Nangong Hao, he was nothing.
At the very least, he was nothing now.
There would always be a gap between first and second place, a gap that could not be crossed.
Su Qing knew this very well. Even though he was the acting Chief Imperial Messenger, even though he was the invigilator, he still bowed apologetically to Nangong Hao.
Then, he turned around and bowed to Fang Zhengzhi.
"My apologies, Official Fang, I have delayed you!" After saying that, Su Qing walked in front of Fang Zhengzhi and took out the sealed script.
A hand quickly blocked Su Qing's way.
This hand belonged to Fang Zhengzhi.
What now?
Su Qing's eyes glimmered. However, he forced himself to hold it in.
"Official Fang, are you not going to hand it in?"
"No, I just feel that Official Su's actions are a little thoughtless?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Su Qing calmly. Then, he subconsciously looked at Nangong Hao not far away.
"How is it thoughtless?" Su Qing tried his best to make his tone sound calm.
"Official Su, after participating in the imperial examinations four years ago, you entered the imperial courts. From an imperial scribe to an imperial messenger of the Imperial Academy, don't tell me you can't see who is near and who is far away?"
"What do you mean?" Su Qing's expression finally darkened.
"Official Su had already walked to Nangong Hao's side. However, just because of one sentence from the other party, you changed your mind midway. This is a sign that you are not firm in your stand. Furthermore, you gave up what was near and sought what was far away. By coming to collect my examination papers first, this was an action that greatly delayed the efficiency. Think about it, the Imperial Academy is so complicated, and Official Su does things like this. I am very worried! "When Fang Zhengzhi said the last sentence, his face was full of melancholy.
Life is like a drama, it all depends on acting.
To work for someone like Emperor Lin Mubai, the "Best Actor". He had to show off his acting skills, and he could not be too secretive.
As for why he made things difficult for Su Qing.
He did it on purpose.
The reason?
There were two reasons. Firstly, if he allowed Su Qing to collect his script, it would look like he was basking in Nangong Hao's glory. However, in terms of aura, he would lose to Nangong Hao.
The courtiers standing did not understand what was happening, but Fang Zhengzhi was very clear about it.
When Nangong Mu left the capital, he had looked for Fang Zhengzhi once. He did not say much, but Fang Zhengzhi remembered one thing clearly.
"I am leaving. He will be here soon! "
At the time, Fang Zhengzhi did not really understand. However, when news of Nangong Hao's participation in the court examinations spread like wildfire, he would be an idiot if he still did not understand.
Fang Zhengzhi put down his challenge to Nangong Hao.
Nangong Hao's motive for coming all the way here was obvious. He wanted to regain the dignity of the Nangong Family. This was clear from the moment Fang Zhengzhi stepped forward to hand in his script. Nangong Hao handed in his script immediately.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi did not know how Nangong Hao did it, he had done it. He had completed a policy paper in such a short period of time.
Next. Nangong Hao's attack could be said to be brilliant among brilliant moves.
Normally, the first person to hand in his script would be the most eye-catching.
However, Nangong Hao seemed to be helping Fang Zhengzhi on the surface, but in reality, he was taking all the glory for himself. This was a form of glory, as well as a form of aura.
Nangong Hao had come with a lot of momentum. How could he lose in the first round?
If Fang Zhengzhi wanted to challenge Nangong Hao, he could not afford to lose. As such, he kicked the ball back to Nangong Hao.
He used Su Qing's face.
Why did he use Su Qing's face? That was the second reason. Su Qing was thick-skinned enough. At the very least, Fang Zhengzhi could take it.
Of course, the deeper reason was that Su Qing had already expressed his' will to fight 'to Fang Zhengzhi.
As such, he decided to kill two birds with one stone.
All the civil and military officials looked at each other in astonishment.
It was clear.
Fang Zhengzhi did it on purpose.
However, Fang Zhengzhi's words were impeccable. Furthermore, he had used Nangong Hao's words. There was no way to refute him.
Most importantly, this sentence was too ruthless.
Su Qing's position as the Chief Imperial Messenger was given to him by the Crown Prince. The Ministry of Personnel had no record of it. Fang Zhengzhi was questioning it in front of the Emperor.
Moreover, he had borrowed Nangong Hao's words. For Su Qing, this was definitely a disaster. With this setback, he might not even be able to keep his position as the acting Chief Imperial Messenger, let alone being promoted to Chief Imperial Messenger.
"Vicious!"
"Vicious!"
Initially, the officials had viewed Fang Zhengzhi as an outsider. No matter how talented Fang Zhengzhi was, they had always treated him as a villager from a mountain village.
They did not think that Fang Zhengzhi was anything to be afraid of.
Any random courtier would feel that he could step on them a few times.
However, when they saw Su Qing's dark expression, they couldn't help but inwardly suck in a breath of cold air. Who said that those who hadn't entered the court didn't understand the politics of the court?
The man in front of him was a living example.
Su Qing's face was indeed black. He had never been as black as he was now. Four years ago, he lost to Nangong Hao in the Imperial Examinations.
From then on, he had given up on cultivation and focused on politics.
He knew that Nangong Hao would never be able to enter the courts.
If he didn't fully understand Nangong Hao's words just now, he finally understood after hearing Nangong Hao's reply.
Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi were using him as a pawn!
Furthermore, they were using his career as a pawn.
This was an insult, a blatant insult. It was an insult that Su Qing absolutely could not tolerate.
At this moment, he knew that he had to solve the urgent problem in front of him. Otherwise, his future career would be ruined.
If that was the case, his plan would not succeed.
Of course, he could not refute Fang Zhengzhi's words. If he really did that, his future as an official would be bleak.
Right now, the only thing he could do was to protect himself. This was his last resort. As such, he needed to prove himself. He needed to prove his talent and ability.
He needed to use his actions to change the "slander" that Fang Zhengzhi had inflicted on him.
"Official Wang, please seal Young Master Nangong's script." Su Qing looked at an imperial messenger.
"Yes sir." One of the imperial messengers nodded and walked towards Nangong Hao.
Su Qing nodded. Then, he turned back to look at Fang Zhengzhi. His expression returned to normal, "Young Master Fang, can you hand over the script to me now?"
All of the other officials nodded when they saw this.
Su Qing's ability to think of such a solution in such a situation was a testament to his composure. It was a simple action, but it resolved all of Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi's problems.
Another imperial messenger went to collect Nangong Hao's script.
He did not make a move and collected Fang Zhengzhi's script first.
This way, both Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Hao had nothing to say.
"You are worth teaching, you are worth teaching!" Fang Zhengzhi's lips curled into a smile. He looked at Su Qing and passed the script to Su Qing.
Su Qing's expression darkened. He raised his hand, then lowered it, then raised it again. Finally, he took the script.
"Thank you Official Fang for your guidance!"
All of the officials felt their knees buckle when they heard Fang Zhengzhi's words. They almost fell to the ground.
"You are worth teaching?!"
"This fella is shameless!"
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