...
Just as the announcement of the Court Theory Examination spread throughout the capital, a few black robed figures flashed past the entrance of the Intellectual Loft.
His figure flashed past as if there was no one there, and he headed straight for the top floor of the Intellectual Loft.
In a classically decorated room on the top floor of the Intellectual Loft, a lady in a black robe sat behind a desk. She held a book in her hand.
Compared to last night, there was nothing on the desk now. It was completely empty.
"Master!" Before long, a voice rang out from the door. Then, a servant in a black dress pushed the door open.
"How is it?" The lady in the black robe asked calmly.
"Master, Young Master Fang and Nangong Hao are tied for first place in the theory examination!" The servant bowed and replied.
"Tied for first place in the theory examination?" The lady in the black robe was slightly shocked.
"Yes, the Imperial Board has been announced. The news has spread throughout the capital. The four sects have already received the news." The servant replied confidently.
The lady in the black robe nodded and looked out the window. Her eyes glimmered. "Who would have thought that this shameless fella would be tied for first place with Nangong Hao! Tied... for him, even the rules of the court examination have been changed? "
"Master, what do we do now?"
"Let's stick to the plan."
"But … Master, the Intellectual Loft was built by the old master over the past ten years. Furthermore, it is the intelligence center of the entire Flame Capital City. Are we really going to …" The servant's expression changed as she hesitated.
"Are you questioning my decision?" The lady in the black robe frowned as she looked at the servant.
"I do not dare!" The servant fell to her knees, not daring to speak another word.
"Everyone has to leave the capital within 15 minutes."
"Yes!"
...
In the capital, the autumn wind blew past the entrance of the Imperial Decree Hall. Everything was silent.
Emperor Lin Mubai's gaze swept across the candidates once again. A trace of anger appeared on his face, and the aura on his body rose once again.
"Where is Fang Zhengzhi?!"
"Your Majesty, I've received news that Lord Fang spent the night in the brothel last night and spent the night with one of the top girls in the Intellectual Loft. I'm afraid now … "At this moment, a minister finally stood up.
"What is it?" Emperor Lin Mubai's gaze turned cold.
"I'm afraid he hasn't woken up yet."
"Nonsense!"
"I don't think that Fang Zhengzhi hasn't woken up yet. Furthermore, I think that Fang Zhengzhi might not be in the Intellectual Loft anymore!" At this moment, a cold voice rang out.
Immediately after. A figure walked out from the crowd of scholars.
He was dressed in a luxurious black robe and held a fan in his hand.
"Yan Xiu?!"
The candidates quickly realized that the person who stood out was Yan Xiu.
When the Emperor was infuriated, the entire Imperial Decree Hall was filled with an oppressive aura. No one dared to provoke the Emperor at such a time. However, Yan Xiu still stood out.
Because he was Yan Xiu.
"Young Master Yan, we all know that you are friends with Fang Zhengzhi. However …. However, this does not mean that you can lie to the Emperor and cover up for him! " The official was slightly shocked to see Yan Xiu stand out. However, he was not too surprised.
All of the other officials looked at Yan Xiu and shook their heads.
"I believe that Fang Zhengzhi is not someone who would be late." Yan Xiu was not shaken by the expressions of the officials. His expression was one of certainty.
"Haha … Young Master Yan, if you said anything else, we might not be able to refute you. However, you said that Fang Zhengzhi would not be late. Do you think we would believe you? "
"That's right, Young Master Yan, we all know that you mean well. However, Fang Zhengzhi is late. This is not the first time this has happened. "
"Young Master Yan, have you forgotten the day Fang Zhengzhi came to the court with his sword?"
All of the officials chuckled when they heard Yan Xiu's words. Fang Zhengzhi would not be late? After coming out of the World of the Sage, he received the Emperor's invitation. However, he said that he was eating buns outside and made all of the officials wait for an hour.
Until now, none of the ministers dared to forget this matter.
"Young Master Yan is Fang Zhengzhi's friend. Since you say that Fang Zhengzhi is not at the Intellectual Loft, do you have any proof?" Do you have any proof? "The Minister of Rites stood out at this moment.
Fang Zhengzhi had thoroughly offended him after what had happened on the day of the hunting competition.
Of course, this was not the main reason he took the risk to step out. The main reason was because he knew that Fang Zhengzhi had an Emperor's token.
That was the token that would allow Fang Zhengzhi to enter the Ministry of Rites.
He did not know why the Emperor wanted Fang Zhengzhi to enter the Ministry of Rites.
However, he knew that if Fang Zhengzhi really entered the Ministry of Rites, only the heavens knew what would happen there.
"I have no proof!" Yan Xiu shook his head.
"Since there is no proof and no proof, while Young Master Yan is a noble, you have yet to enter the Imperial Court as an official. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to step forward without waiting for a decree?" The Minister of Rites nodded and continued asking.
Yan Xiu was silent. He knew that his actions were inappropriate. In fact, it could even be considered as disrupting the Emperor's hearing.
But could he not step out?
No.
As such, he stepped out. He did not care about the consequences.
"No worries!" Emperor Lin Mubai looked at the silent Yan Xiu and gently waved his hand. "Nephew Yan has a close relationship with Fang Zhengzhi. I have long heard of it. I am not surprised that Nephew Yan has stepped out today."
"Your Majesty, you are a blessing to the world!" The Minister of Rites immediately replied respectfully. Then, he turned back to look at Yan Xiu, "Young Master Yan, His Majesty is benevolent and has already forgiven you for your disrespect. Please leave."
Yan Xiu looked at the Ministry of Rites official, then back at Emperor Lin Mubai. He gripped his Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan tightly, his eyes flashing with determination.
"I request the Emperor to find Fang Zhengzhi now. He must have met with an accident. That is why he is not here!"
All of the officials were stunned when they heard this. They did not expect Yan Xiu to do this for Fang Zhengzhi.
"Young Master Yan, even though you are a noble, this is the Imperial Decree Hall. You must remember your status. You are a candidate here to listen to the results! "
"The Emperor will deal with Fang Zhengzhi. Young Master Yan, please mind your own business."
"Young Master Yan, please leave!"
All of the officials tried to dissuade Yan Xiu. They did not want to see a youth with a bright future ahead of him. It would be ruined just like that.
Today, the dragon's countenance was already enraged. Emperor Kuang understood the Yan family's face and had already opened his golden mouth to forgive them once. If they continued to insist, they would only be asking for trouble.
"I also feel that Fang Zhengzhi would not be absent for no reason!" Just at this moment, another voice rang out. A voice rang out once more. This time, it was very close to the civil and military officials.
All of the officials' gazes froze.
All of them turned to look at a figure at the entrance of the Imperial Decree Hall.
He was dressed in white and his expression was calm.
He was Nangong Hao, the champion of this year's written exam. He had no official rank or title, but when he said this at the entrance of the Imperial Decree Hall, all the civil and military officials were silent.
The reason for this silence...
It was because none of the officials knew what Nangong Hao was trying to do.
If Yan Xiu was speaking up for Fang Zhengzhi, that would be understandable. But Nangong Hao, why? Weren't they fighting each other?
"The Royal Guards!" Emperor Lin Mubai frowned. He looked at Yan Xiu, then at Nangong Hao, who was standing calmly beside him.
"Yes!"
"Go to the Intellectual Loft, bring Fang Zhengzhi... back!"
"Roger!"
As soon as the order was given, a few rays of golden light shot out from outside the Imperial Decree Hall. They were five guards in golden armor. They were extremely fast and headed straight for the main gate of the palace.
Yan Xiu watched as the Royal Guards sped away.
He wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut. He bowed to the Emperor and prepared to return to his original position.
"Nephew Yan, you do not have to return. Come to the front." Emperor Lin Mubai's expression seemed to have calmed down a little as he waved towards Yan Xiu.
"Come to the front?"
"What does the Emperor mean?"
"Isn't the results being announced? Could it be... "
All of the officials were confused when they heard Emperor Lin Mubai's words. Then, a possibility flashed across their minds.
Then...
All of the officials looked at the Ministry of Rites official with a strange expression.
They had all guessed who would rank third in the Court Theory Examinations. If Yan Xiu only had a hereditary title, it would not be a big deal.
However, if Yan Xiu was third in the court examination...
His status and position would be completely different.
All of the other candidates were equally confused when they heard Emperor Lin Mubai's words. The Emperor had asked Yan Xiu to step forward. Could it be that Yan Xiu had gotten third place in the court examinations?
How was that possible?
Yan Xiu did not receive an invitation either!
"Ranked third in the Court Theory Examinations, Yan Xiu!" Emperor Lin Mubai looked at Yan Xiu from afar and smiled warmly.
"It really is Yan Xiu?!"
"Yan Xiu is third in the court theory examination!"
"That is unbelievable! Three people who did not receive an invitation from the Emperor made it to the top three in the court examination? "
All of the candidates were stunned. Before the results were announced, Nangong Hao, Fang Zhengzhi, and Yan Xiu had not received an invitation from the Emperor.
As such, the fact that they made it to the top three in the court examination was a huge surprise.
This was like a glimmer of hope at the darkest hour!
Wu Feng's face paled. Yan Xiu made it to the top three?!
The biggest blow to Wu Feng was not the fact that Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi had taken first place. It was the fact that Yan Xiu made it to third place.
Once upon a time, when he held a book and read aloud, Yan Xiu was just a crying baby in front of him.
Once upon a time, when he chopped down a small tree, Yan Xiu was still sitting on a stone stool with a bowl in his hand, looking at him enviously.
Once upon a time, he was proud of being able to study under one of the four sages. His favorite thing to do was to ask Yan Xiu, "Young Master Yan, what did you learn from studying?"
"Young Master Yan, how is your progress? Did you break through? Do you want me to give you some pointers? "
"Young Master Yan, you cannot be rash. You have to take it one step at a time!"
More than a decade had passed.
That baby, that child, that youth who had been scolded by him to the point of silence, had mercilessly stepped on him in this court examination.
How could this be!
Didn't he not receive the Emperor's invitation?!
No way!
Wu Feng refused to accept this.
However, the reality was that Yan Xiu walked to his side at this moment and bowed, "Your subject Yan Xiu thanks Your Majesty for your kindness!"
"Third place in the court theory examination, Yan Xiu!"
"Third place in the court theory examination, Yan Xiu!"
"Third place in the court theory examination..."
As Yan Xiu thanked the Emperor, his voice reverberated throughout the palace. Soon, it reached the entrance of the palace before being relayed to the four gates of the capital by the golden armored guards.
The entire capital was in an uproar.
"Yan Xiu is third?"
"Yan Xiu is only 16 this year!"
"How impressive!"
Just as the people of Yan Capital were discussing the Court Examinations, the busiest street in Yan Capital, the Eight Li Fireworks Ground, was lit up with a flame!
The flames rose into the sky and merged with the sun in the morning, painting the entire Yan Capital in a bright shade of red.
...
At the entrance of the Imperial Decree Hall, Emperor Lin Mubai looked at Yan Xiu, who was standing in front of him, with satisfaction.
Even though Yan Xiu was a little impulsive, this did not affect his love for Yan Xiu.
However, at this moment, a ray of golden light came from afar. In an instant, it arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Decree Hall and knelt on the ground.
"Your majesty, the Intellectual Loft is on fire and has been reduced to ashes!"
"..."
"What?! The Intellectual Loft is on fire! "
"How could it be on fire?"
"What is going on? The Intellectual Loft has been in business for so many years and has never caught on fire before!"
When the ministers heard the golden-armored guard's words, it was impossible to say that they were not surprised. Most importantly, wasn't this too much of a coincidence?
Emperor Lin Mubai's expression changed as well. He scolded Fang Zhengzhi for his audacity. However, he had no intention of killing Fang Zhengzhi.
Otherwise, his imperial edict wouldn't have used the word "bring", but directly ordered to arrest!
"The Intellectual Loft is on fire, reduced to ashes!" Emperor Lin Mubai frowned. For something like this to happen at a time like this, there was more to it than meets the eye.
All of the other candidates were equally shocked. After all, many of them had been in the Intellectual Loft for the past few days. To think that such a place would catch on fire.
What a pity.
Different from the shock of the others, Yan Xiu's face was obviously a little pale. The fingers that were holding the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in his hand were clenched so tightly that cracking sounds could be heard.
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