Chapter 322: Release of the Court Examination Results (1)
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
However, there were pleasantries to be said before the announcent. This was no problem for Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping. He was a seasoned veteran in the courts.
Even though this was the first ti he was announcing the results...
He had heard it umpteen tis.
Firstly, he had to praise Emperor Lin Mubai on his achievents throughout the years and emphasize the value the Emperor put on the court examinations.
Left Pri Minister had the gift of the gap and he knew all of Emperor Lin Mubai’s exploits like the back of his hand.
He managed to recite all the achievents since Emperor Lin Mubai’s inauguration.
All of the other officials and candidates listened to the speech quietly.
After almost 15 minutes, Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping stopped. After all, this was the court examination results release. The announcent was the main show today.
When he finished, he turned to look at Emperor Lin Mubai.
Emperor Lin Mubai nodded, his intentions clear. Good enough, please proceed.
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping imdiately understood the Emperor’s intentions. He began to unfurl the parchnts, revealing the nas.
The court examination results were announced differently from the imperial examination.
The imperial examination announced the second honor roll first, then the first honor roll, before revealing the nas of the top three. For the court examinations, the results were announced from top to bottom.
Furthermore, there were only 10 nas.
For the 11th to 30th ranked candidates, they would have to check out the full list placed at the entrance of the palace.
Left Pri MInister Yu Yiping looked at the parchnt, the rock in his heart disappearing in that instant. His smile widened.
Because...
Fang Zhengzhi’s na was not on it.
At the very top of the parchnt were two words, Wu Feng!
Fang Zhengzhi was not on the list!
"For this edition of the court examinations..." Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping stopped in his tracks, his smile frozen.
He saw the word behind Wu Feng’s na.
Fourth!
How could this happen?
Wu Feng’s na was right at the top, yet he was fourth. The Emperor’s comnts were written clearly at the side as well.
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping could not figure out what was going on.
Normally, the results were announced from top to bottom. Could it be that the top three were behind?
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping looked at the last row on the parchnt.
Even so...
There was no ntion of the top three candidates. The last na on the parchnt was ranked tenth.
What was the problem?
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping’s gaze froze. He could not find the top three candidates. This was sothing he did not expect.
But, could he ask about it now?
Of course not, so he could only look through the entire parchnt.
Then, he realized that the parchnt only contained the nas of those ranked fourth to tenth. There was no ntion of the top three.
There were only seven nas on it.
"Seven nas..." Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping found the problem. There was still so blank space above Wu Feng’s na.
This space was for the top three candidates.
But why was it not written down?
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping did not dare to ask, but he looked back at Emperor Lin Mubai with a confused expression.
Emperor Lin Mubai knew what Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping was thinking.
He was very exasperated as well.
The ti for the announcent of results had co too soon. He had no ti to write down their nas and his comnts.
Timing was crucial here.
It represented fate and luck.
If he missed the timing, it would not be a good on for the empire. Furthermore, he was just about to engage the Southern Mountain Range.
As such, he decided to leave it blank rather than writing so words haphazardly.
This did not affect the announcent of the results.
Initially, he had planned to announce the top three candidates himself before handing the parchnt to the Minister of Rites to announce the rest.
However, Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping had stepped out.
Emperor Lin Mubai was stunned by his actions. However, if he did not pass the parchnt over to him, it would be extrely embarrassing for Yu Yiping.
After so consideration, he decided to spare a thought for his Left Pri Minister.
Then, Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping began to talk about him. As a result, he could only wait by the side. He had hoped that Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping would look at the parchnt after the speech.
Then...
If Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping was smart, he would return the parchnt to the Emperor. That would have been a smooth transition.
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping did glance at it.
But, he imdiately began to announce the results...
This resulted in this embarrassing impasse. He could not continue announcing, but it was too late for Emperor Lin Mubai to stop him.
"Announce what you see!" Emperor Lin Mubai knew that if he didn’t speak, Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping would stand there awkwardly.
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping was shocked when he heard this.
It was a simple instruction, however, the implications caused Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping to take a step back.
Announce what you see...
Really?
Anyone who would do that was an idiot.
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping did not know why the top three were missing from the parchnt, but he knew the rules of the announcent.
He racked his brains for a way to salvage the situation. Finally, his eyes glittered.
"Many people might not know the emphasis and special aning this court examination holds. I shall only say one thing. The Emperor had spent the past three days in the Imperial Decree Hall, personally marking all the scripts. He did not leave at any ti!" Yu Yiping emphasized the last sentence.
All of the officials knew that Emperor Lin Mubai had marked the scripts personally.
However, the candidates did not.
All of them beca visibly excited. Even though the rules dictated that the Emperor must mark each script himself, they knew that he was busy with court affairs.
In previous examinations, it was an open secret that officials would vet the scripts before submitting the best to the Emperor.
Yu Yiping knew this as well, so he emphasized what happened during this examination without ntioning the previous ones.
It was a deliberate omission.
Then, he looked at all of the excited candidates, steeling himself before he turned and knelt towards Emperor Lin Mubai.
"Your highness, I know the rules of the court examination. However, your highness has always cared for the people, so I’ll make a request on behalf of the people today. I hope that you will change the rules slightly for this announcent!"
"Oh? What are you proposing?" Emperor Lin Mubai looked on doubtfully.
"I would like to propose that I will announce the rankings from fourth to tenth. Then, your highness can personally announce the top three candidates to show how much you value talent!" He had wanted the Emperor to announce the top three candidates first, but he had already begun the announcent.
Furthermore, the Emperor had already placed the parchnt in his hands and ordered him to announce what he saw.
If he returned the parchnt to the Emperor first before taking it back after...
The mistake would be too obvious.
Of course, Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping also had selfish concerns. If he handed the parchnt back now, his long speech would have been for nothing.
He would be utterly embarrassed.
All of the candidates and officials looked at each other in confusion when they heard this.
However, they all ca to a consensus that this was Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping’s attempt at bootlicking.
"We hope that your highness will announce the top three candidates personally!" All of the officials replied almost imdiately. Who would pass on such a great opportunity to bootlick?
Emperor Lin Mubai looked at all the officials and Yu Yiping, who was kneeling in front of him. He was extrely contented.
Even though Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping would announce the results first, the situation would be resolved without any awkwardness.
"Approved!" Emperor Lin Mubai nodded.
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping and the others began to thank him. The candidates were overjoyed to hear that the Emperor was going to personally announce the nas of the top three candidates
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping heaved a sigh of relief.
He began announcing the nas without hesitation.
"Ranked fourth for the examinations... Wu Feng!" Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping’s voice was confident and he said the na with conviction.
Even so...
All of the candidates were stunned when Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping announced this result? Fourth? How is that possible?!
Shouldn’t he be first?
Nangong Hao didn’t et with the Emperor. Neither did Fang Zhengzhi not Yan Xiu. Who could possibly defeat Wu Feng? That was impossible.
Wu Feng stood rooted to the ground.
He felt as if he had just been struck by lightning.
He was extrely excited when he heard that the Emperor was going to announce the nas of the top three candidates personally. He was going to be the recipient of this great honor.
Everything happened so quickly.
He didn’t even manage to react in ti. The honor of his na being called out was not what he wanted.
Fourth?
Why was he fourth?!
Who were the top three?
Wu Feng desperately wanted to know.
Another thought flashed in his mind. Did Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping make the wrong announcent? He was first! The Left Pri Minister must have made a mistake!
That must be it!
Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping must have read the nas off from top to bottom. His na was first on the list... it... it must be a mistake!
"Wu Feng, co forward and show your thanks!" A voice rang out.
Wu Feng really didn’t want to move. This was not the result he wanted. He really wanted to ask what was happening. However, seeing as the Emperor himself was there, he could not bring himself to ask the question.
"Wu Feng!"
"I, Wu Feng, thank your highness!" Wu Feng shuffled forward and fell to his knees.
Even so, he kept screaming in his heart.
This is a mistake, it must be a mistake!
As Wu Feng fell to his knees, voices began to ring out around him.
"Ranked fourth, Wu Feng!"
"Ranked fourth, Wu Feng!"
"Ranked fourth..."
The voices ford a chain from the Imperial Decree Hall all the way to the main entrance.
When all of the talents at the gates heard Wu Feng’s na, they all got excited. The first na was Wu Feng.
Wu Feng had topped the court examination!
Fang Zhengzhi did not make the list!
Just as they were about to celebrate, they realized sothing was amiss. Fourth?
So of the golden armored soldiers on well grood stallions also took a double take. They were about to gallop off in their respective directions with the news.
Fourth position first?
Historically, only the top three candidates were given the honor of having their nas spread to the surrounding cities. Since the announcent was for fourth, they didn’t have to go.
"Eunuch Li, did you get that right? Why is the first announcent for the fourth position?"
"The people in front said fourth, so I followed!" The man in a robe replied exasperatingly.
The golden armored guard’s lip twitched but he did not ask any other questions.
Wait.
All he could do was wait. He had to wait for the other nas to be announced.
Wu Feng was also waiting. He was waiting for Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping to redy the mistake. To his disappointnt, Left Pri Minister Yu Yiping did not.
He continued the announcent.
"Ranked fifth..."
"Ranked sixth..."
"Ranked seventh..."
"..."
"Ranked tenth..."
These announcents reverberated throughout the palace, eventually making their way out to the palace gates.
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