Chapter 323: Release of the Court Examination Results (2) (1/2)
Chapter 323: Release of the Court Examination Results (2)
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
With each announcement, a candidate stepped out from the crowd and thanked the Emperor.
When the golden armored guards heard the announcements, they felt reassured.
They didn’t hear it wrongly!
The results were announced from fourth to tenth.
The top three had not been announced!
Even though they did not know what happened, their only job was to spread the news of who made the top three. Nothing else mattered to them.
They did not have to move for the time being.
The calmed down considerably.
However, Wu Feng could not find any calm. Standing next to these candidates having made the top 10 should have been glorious.
Yet, he could not bring himself to smile. He could feel the awkward gazes the other candidates were shooting in his direction.
”First... I was supposed to be first. What happened?” Wu Feng was unwilling to accept the fact that he was fourth. He kept hoping for Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping to correct the ‘mistake’.
However, Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping finished announcing all the names without a hiccup. He rolled up the parchment and place it in Emperor Lin Mubai’s hands.
”Your highness, please announce the results for the top three!”
”Mm.” Emperor Lin Mubai nodded. Eunuch Wei immediately took the parchment from Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping and placed it in the Emperor’s hands.
Emperor Lin Mubai took the parchment but did not open it immediately. He scanned the crowd once again, his gaze sharp.
”Where is Fang Zhengzhi?!”
This was what Emperor Lin Mubai was most concerned about.
He could announce the results right now, but what would happen after? Fang Zhengzhi was not around to thank him!
Could Fang Zhengzhi be hiding in the crowd?
Emperor Lin Mubai had to hope that this was the case. He did not dare believe that Fang Zhengzhi would be so audacious as to be absent on such a day.
If he really embarrasses me today, I will have his head!
Emperor Lin Mubai cursed to himself, then began his announcement. ”During the course of reading the scripts, I came across many fresh ideas. The future of the Great Xia Dynasty is bright. However, there can only be three names. I made my decisions after much deliberations. Even if you’re not named, do not despair. Study hard and you can still try again next time!”
”Thank you, your highness!”
All of the candidates immediately thanked the Emperor for this advice.
Emperor Lin Mubai nodded once again. Then, he unfurled the parchment and looked over it. After a moment of hesitation, he announced, ”The top scorers for the court theory examination... Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!”
His announcement was not immediately greeted by cheers. The entire crowd was silent as they stared at Emperor Lin Mubai.
After some hesitation, the silence was finally broken. However, there were no cheers. Everyone looked at each other in disbelief.
”Did I hear that correctly? Nangong Hao?!”
”I don’t think you heard that wrongly. I heard that too. But how can it be Nangong Hao? He didn’t meet with the Emperor?!”
”Maybe he lied to Wu Feng?”
All of the talents could not react when they heard Nangong Hao’s name. Nangong Hao had said that he didn’t meet with the Emperor.
So why was he the top scorer?
Even though this was something everyone had expected, they could not understand it, especially after recent developments.
Of course...
They were even more shocked to hear a second name after Nangong Hao’s. This was a name all the officials dreaded.
”Fang Zhengzhi?!”
”The top scorers are Nangong Hao AND Fang Zhengzhi?!”
Emperor Lin Mubai’s voice continued to reverberate in their minds
”What is that supposed to mean... Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi?!”
”They are joint firsts?!”
”How can there be two people?!”
”Furthermore, how can the second person be Fang Zhengzhi? Fang Zhengzhi didn’t meet with the Emperor! This does not make any sense!”
No one could understand what was going on. Nangong Hao taking home first place was still acceptable.
Even if he did not meet with the Emperor.
After all, Nangong Hao had been the favorite to top the examinations. However, having Fang Zhengzhi tied for first was unusual.
How could two people who didn’t meet with the Emperor be first?
Tied for first?
This was something that had never happened before! There had been no tie for first in the court examinations in history!
Wu Feng’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
What is going on?
His first position was stolen by Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi? But neither of them met with the Emperor. Why? What was going on?
”Your highness, I...” Wu Feng’s jaw dropped as he stepped forward. Then, he saw the Emperor’s gaze.
It was a gaze that quelled all doubts.
It represented his power.
This caused Wu Feng’s leg to freeze in mid air. He did not dare step forward, neither could he continue speaking.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping and the other officials were also in disbelief. They did not know how this could happen.
This was the court examination!
There was never a tie in the court examinations. The court examination was meant to find the top talent.
How can there be two ‘top talents’ in a single examination?
This was illogical. Furthermore, they could not bring themselves to believe that Fang Zhengzhi could be on par with Nangong Hao.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping’s lips twitched, but he did not speak.
All of the officials also looked at Emperor Lin Mubai doubtfully. Even those in charge of relaying the announcement were stunned.
They did not know if they should relay the message.
Emperor Lin Mubai knew what everyone was thinking by the looks on their faces. However, he was the Emperor.
Who would dare doubt the decision he made?
In actual fact, before King Liqin had given his opinion, he was leaning towards a particular decision. However, after hearing what King Liqin had to say, he changed his mind.
Fairness!
This was the most important value he stood by when marking all the scripts. He thought he had achieved it, but he hadn’t.