Who exactly placed that small stack of dossiers on the top of the counter remains a mystery to this day.
"Those aren’t important, let’s first check if the dossier is identical to the previous draft papers!" Ye Han broke the silence.
Only then did Lord Gao take out the dossier and examine it closely; aside from so minor andnts on the draft papers, it was indeed identical to the last letter!
Now everyone was troubled!
Everyone recognized Su Ke’s literary grace, but the Apricot List had already been distributed. What then?
"The list has been issued, but this student nad Su Ke does indeed have genuine talent and outstanding literary grace. If we don’t select him, how are we to explain ourselves to the world?"
Lord Gao put forward his own argunt, causing all the officials present to furrow their brows in thought.
On the contrary, the short and portly Deputy Examiner’s eyes lit up! He quickly stood up and bowed with his hands clasped.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant has a suggestion!"
"Speak quickly!"
Qin Yi spoke for the first ti since the incident occurred.
The Deputy Examiner replied confidently, "Your Majesty, I have also seen two additional dossiers. One was beautifully worded, and the other was naturally proud and unyielding. Both had their strengths but were controversial and thus not selected. I propose issuing a special list for these three individuals, nad the ’Beneficent Examination Special List,’ denoting the very best! I await Your Majesty’s decision."
Everyone fell silent, deeply pondering the feasibility of this suggestion.
With the Beneficent Examination Special List, three more people would be added, implying that there were more candidates this year than in previous years, and more were selected. Such an explanation could not only silence the endless discussions among the students but also demonstrate the Emperor’s vast grace and blessings across the land.
Qin Yi also pondered carefully, "Wouldn’t issuing another list be considered frivolous by so ministers?"
"Your Majesty, you could publicly display these three dossiers along with those of the top five candidates selected previously. As long as the articles in these dossiers can convince the public, the list will naturally be credible!"
It was Ye Han who spoke, thodically analyzing the situation at hand: "Moreover, last year during the Autumn Imperial Civil Service Examination, many talents were selected, resulting in over ten thousand candidates participating in this year’s Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination—a record number since the foundation of Great Zhou. Since there are the most candidates this year, selecting three more should be acceptable to the many students!"
With Ye Han taking the lead, the ministers were pleased to have soone else take the fall, and the matter was conclusively resolved.
The Chief Examiner, Lord Gao, quickly drafted the list, His Majesty stamped it with the imperial seal, and then they hurriedly ordered its announcent.
The Official Errand tasked with posting the list had never encountered a situation where a fourth Apricot List was issued and double-checked it several tis before rushing to Bangpeng Street with the yellow scroll and several dossiers.
Dang dang dang...
The clear sound of the gong rang out again.
An Official Errand stood on high ground, constantly striking the gong.
"His Majesty decrees that due to the large number of candidates in this year’s Beneficent Examination and tropolitan Examination, extra Tribute Scholars will be selected and nad on the ’Beneficent Examination Special List’ to showcase the Emperor’s Grace! Additionally, His Majesty orders that the dossiers of the leading candidates be made public for all to peruse. His Majesty eagerly seeks talented individuals and hopes that students across the land will follow their example, creating astonishing works to serve the Imperial Court!"
Dang dang dang dang...
The area in front of Bangpeng Street instantly buzzed with excitent.
A fourth Apricot List! This was an event unprecedented in many years past.
Yet, an extra list also brings additional hope, doesn’t it?
The crowd pushed and shoved, desperately trying to move to the front to clearly see the nas on the list. Naturally, they also saw the several dossiers published by the governnt office.
The dossiers were imdiately passed around among the people, with countless students frantically copying them in Bangpeng Street, for fear that they might be taken away if they were a mont too late.
The dossiers that were posted all showcased exceptional literary flair and overflowing talent.
On top of that, from the Review Officer to the Deputy Examiner, and then to the Chief Examiner, comnts hand-written by each one cited the strengths and outstanding aspects of each dossier.
By comparing one’s own written work, the superior and inferior were imdiately distinguished.
With those dossiers posted along with the list, the extra list didn’t raise any suspicions, but instead led many students to compare their own work with that of the dossiers, leaving them utterly convinced and even more impressed by His Majesty’s boundless grace.
"These matters, so I experienced personally, so were told to by others. Reflecting on this, it seems you, lad, have incredible luck, having a nobleman to support you. Otherwise, I’m afraid your dossier would just be gathering dust on a cabinet top, never to see the light of day again."
Lei Yin spoke with considerable emotion.
After hearing his ntor narrate the cause and effects of the events, Su Ke’s mouth hung wide open!
He never imagined that becoming a Tribute Scholar would be so difficult! Suddenly, rembering the mysteriously placed dossier on top of the cabinet, a chill ran through him.
Were all these coincidences really just coincidence after coincidence?
"Is such a thing even possible? Heaven!"
Xue Qian imdiately jumped up, "Uncle, could it be that soone deliberately targeted Su Brother? Or was soone aiming at Yingtian Academy? Or still worse, at His Majesty?"
"Shut up! Speak less and do more, be careful that disaster doesn’t strike from your mouth."
Lei Yin rebuked him, then turned back to Su Ke, "I tell you this not for idle conversation. It’s mainly to keep you well-inford."
"Su Ke understands. I am grateful for my ntor’s efforts and have no way to repay, except to offer three bows to express my gratitude."
Su Ke spoke with solemn sincerity and then knelt to the ground, giving three deep bows.
Lei Yin sat at the head, waiting for Su Ke to finish his bows, before stepping forward to help him up, offering heartfelt advice with deep concern.
"You must never let this matter reach others’ ears. Once you’re out of this door, forget it. In such an important event as the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination, a portion of the dossiers disappeared strangely and were later found on top of a cabinet. Strictly speaking, this was negligence on the part of the Review Officers. If this were to spread, it could ignite the outrage of countless students. You know the importance of this without having to spell it out."
"Rest assured, ntor, Su Ke understands the implications!"
Su Ke earnestly promised.
Since Fourth Brother-in-law was present at the ti, he would certainly investigate secretly afterward, knowing his nature.
And at Fourth Sister’s end, she’s likely received news by now.
Thinking back to his previous attempts at entering the palace, how Fourth Sister and Fourth Brother-in-law refused him, and now that he’s aware of this matter, realization dawned upon him.
Perhaps they were both trying to lay low, waiting for the palace examination.
Xue Qian also responded repeatedly, showing an appearance of straightforwardness, but inside, his thoughts spun rapidly.
Once he returned, he had to properly inquire his father what exactly was going on.
Reviews
All reviews (0)