Three days after the end of the combat examination.
The street in front of the examination hall was packed with people. From the end of the street to the end, it was filled with people.
Today was the day of the announcement of the written examination results. Because the results of the combat examination were only for reference and did not affect the results of the imperial examinations, the ranking of the written examination was the final ranking of the imperial examinations.
The array outside the examination hall would disperse after the announcement of the results at noon.
In order to ensure the fairness of the marking, no one could enter or leave the examination hall in the past three days. The officials of the imperial court, even the Empress, did not know the results of the imperial examinations.
There was still fifteen minutes before the announcement of the results. The crowd gathered outside the array and discussed animatedly.
"I wonder who will be the top scorer of the written examination this time?"
"If he can become the top scorer of the written examination, his future will be limitless …"
"Is there a need to guess? The top scorer will definitely be one of the three. Who else can beat them?"
…
Although the results of the written examination had not been announced, the crowd already had their guesses about who the top scorer would be.
The Zhou brothers and the Southern Prince were the most outstanding students in their respective academies. Their literary talents were outstanding, and their cultivations could be considered as the top prodigies of the Great Zhou. As potential candidates for the future Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, the education they received and the resources they enjoyed were far superior to those of the top notch families in the Great Zhou.
If there were no surprises, the top scorer of the written examination would definitely be one of the three.
Zhou Zheng, Zhou Feng, and the Southern Prince were also in the crowd.
Originally, they did not need to come personally. Even if they stayed in their manors, they would know the results the moment the examination hall's array was activated. However, the results this time were extremely important to them. If they could obtain the position of the theory examination's top scorer in front of everyone, it would greatly benefit their future.
The people of the world naturally hoped that a more talented Emperor would appear in the Great Zhou. This would be an invisible bargaining chip in the process of competing for the Crown Prince. It would also be a good story after they ascended the throne.
The three of them looked calmly at the entrance of the examination hall. However, deep in their hearts, they were not as calm as they appeared.
The students outside the examination hall were all as nervous as them.
Buzz …
Noon had just arrived when the sound of a bell came from within the examination hall.
After the sound of the bell, the doors of the examination hall that had been closed for three days slowly opened.
Countless officials walked out from within.
The Minister of Rites walked up to the array and formed a hand seal. The array dissipated.
He looked at the many examinees in front of him and said, "It's time. Put up the notice."
The Minister of Rites' voice was loud and clear, spreading in all directions. Not long after he finished speaking, hundreds of golden rays were fired into the sky.
These golden lights shot up into the sky and exploded, forming huge golden characters that floated in the void, emitting a faint glow.
Those were the names of the examinees who had passed the imperial examination.
At the very front of the 100 names was the words' Ascension Rankings'.
The Azure Cloud Rankings had the meaning of 'one step into the clouds'. It implied that those on the rankings would have a meteoric rise in their career.
At this moment, the entire Divine Capital saw the strange phenomenon in the sky.
The words were condensed in the air using a great supernatural power. Everyone could see the Azure Cloud Leaderboard clearly from all directions of the Divine Capital. In their eyes, the Azure Cloud Leaderboard was always right in front of them.
Since the Ascension Rankings had been released, countless examinees immediately shot their gazes over.
On the Azure Cloud Rankings, the font of the first name at the top was larger and brighter than all the other names.
That was the honor of being the top scholar of the written examination.
The two words' Li Mu 'were clearly reflected in everyone's eyes.
After a short moment of silence, countless exclamations erupted from all corners of the Divine Capital.
Outside the examination hall, many examinees were in disbelief.
"Why is it him again!"
"How is this possible?"
"He's the top scholar of both the written examination and the combat examination?"
…
In the combat examination three days ago, many examinees had seen the scene of Li Mu fighting with the examiner.
Scholars pursued elegance, while cultivators were more proficient in supernatural powers and spells. They would also try their best to avoid close combat. After the combat examination, everyone's impression of him was that he was a boorish man, a refined beast …
However, three days later, Li Mu showed another side of him in front of them.
Everyone had taken the written examination and knew how difficult the questions were. It was impossible to get first place in the written examination without real talent.
In the past, they only knew that Li Mu was brave and fearless. Now, they knew that he was well-versed in both the pen and the sword.
At the same time, every corner of the Divine Capital was filled with the surprised cries of the people.
"It's Constable Li!"
"Constable Li is the top scholar of the imperial examination!"
"He's the top scholar of both the martial and literary examinations. What can Constable Li not do …"
"I can't call him Constable Li anymore. I have to call him the top scholar!"
"Sigh, I regret it. Constable Li is still unmarried. This time, many people will want to marry their daughters to him. I'm afraid there's no hope for the two beautiful girls in my family …"
…
In the Divine Capital, Li Mu was the protector of the people. Countless people were sincerely happy for him.
In front of the examination hall, the Zhou brothers and Prince Nan's Crown Prince looked at the two shining golden words in the sky. They felt that they were abnormally dazzling.
It was one thing to be the top scholar of martial arts, but even the title of top scholar of literature had been snatched by Li Mu. This made the three of them lose all face.
They had received the best education since they were young and enjoyed the best resources. In terms of writing and martial arts, they did not lose to any of their peers or even their elders. However, they had lost to a junior who they did not even know a few months ago.
This was a reality that the three of them found hard to accept.
However, at this point, they had to accept it even if they did not want to. Fortunately, Li Mu's name was known throughout the Divine Capital. He was also the Empress' favorite subject. If he was mediocre, wouldn't it mean that the Empress did not have a good eye for talent?
Li Mu's reputation had already spread far and wide. It was still acceptable to lose to him. However, if they lost to some unknown person, it would be truly humiliating.
There was no need to ask for the top scholar of literature. They just wanted to see who got the second place.
The three of them looked to the left. To the left of the top scholar was the name of the second place.
In the next moment, extreme shock appeared on the faces of the three people at the same time.
It really was Li Si!
The three of them were dumbfounded when they saw the second shining name on the Azure Sky Roll.
It was fine if it was Li Mu, but where did this Li Si come from?
Like the Zhou brothers and Prince Nan's Crown Prince, the other candidates in front of the examination hall and the people of the Divine Capital were also puzzled.
Compared to the top scholar of the theory examination, the name of the second place was too unfamiliar and too ordinary.
Li Si was a name that people would believe even if they said that he was a dog on the streets of the Divine Capital. However, as the second place in the theory examination, they felt that it was lacking in style.
More importantly, no one had ever heard of his name before, whether it was the people present or the people of the Divine Capital.
After Li Si, there was no suspense in the rankings.
Third place in the theory examination, Zhou Clan's Zhou Zheng.
Fourth place in the theory examination, Prince Nan's Crown Prince Xiao Yu.
Fifth place in the theory examination, Zhou Clan's Zhou Feng.
To others, this was a good result that could bring glory to their ancestors. However, to these three people, it was no different from a humiliation. The three of them quickly left. The remaining people were either happy or sad.
"My name is up there!"
"I'm ranked seventy-third!"
"Sigh, I didn't …"
"Neither did I. Looks like I'll have to take the exam next time."
"Who is that Li Si? Is he here? Can he show himself?"
…
At the very back of the crowd, a figure slowly walked away. He came to a mansion in the Northern Court and knocked on the door.
The one who opened the door was Li Mu. Li Si stood at the door and said, "Congratulations, top scholar of both the civil and martial examinations."
Li Mu invited him in and said, "You're not bad either."
Li Si being able to get second place in the theory examination was something that Li Mu had not expected.
The Ministry of Rites had already given out the books that the candidates had taken. Although Li Mu had highlighted some important points for Li Si, it was not everything. More than ninety percent of the reason why Li Si was able to pass the imperial examination and get second place in the theory examination was due to his own hard work.
Li Mu knew Li Si very well. Normally, Li Si looked sloppy and carefree, going in and out of the brothel every few days without any self-control.
However, as long as he was determined to do something, even Li Mu would be ashamed of his perseverance and determination.
From sleeping in the brothel every night to not even looking at the brothel when he passed by, it was only a matter of a thought from him.
When he decided to take the imperial examination, he locked himself in the inn and did not leave the inn for two months. If he asked himself honestly, Li Mu would not be able to do it.
Although his cultivation was not high, he always gave Li Mu an unfathomable feeling.
Li Mu walked into the courtyard and looked around. He saw an unfamiliar figure and asked, "Is there a guest in the house?"
The Empress was in the middle of planting flowers in the garden. Li Mu coughed lightly and said, "That is Miss Zhou, a friend of mine."
Li Si looked in the direction of the garden and his eyes showed understanding. He then said, "I just want to congratulate you. If there is nothing else, I will go back first. The results of the imperial examination are out and I have to send a message to my father-in-law."
Li Mu sent him out. When they reached the door, Li Si asked, "She is a friend of that friend of yours, right?"
Li Mu nodded.
Li Si looked at him meaningfully and said, "That friend of yours is very lucky."
Li Mu was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"
Li Si looked ahead and said, "I can see that she is very arrogant. This kind of arrogance comes from her bones. If she is not a noble lady, she will not have this kind of temperament."
Li Mu nodded. In the past, the Empress was a noble lady. Now, she was the biggest noble lady. She had the right to be arrogant in front of anyone.
Li Si continued, "She is very arrogant and very lonely. This kind of loneliness even surpasses arrogance."
Li Mu also wanted to learn this from Li Si. He had interacted with the Empress for a long time, and only then did he slowly understand her loneliness. Li Si had only taken a single look at her, and was able to see these things. This was something that no Mystical Power could achieve.
Li Si looked at Li Mu one last time and said, "She is so lonely. She should not have any family or friends by her side. This kind of woman yearns for the nourishment of love. If you treat her well, she will repay you ten times, or even more. This kind of woman is the easiest to woo …"
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