Chapter 323: Release of the Court Examination Results (2) (2/2)
The rules stated that he must choose a winner!
However, these two scripts were equally immaculate. To choose a winner would not be fair. Since it was not fair, why should he do it?
Rules? He was the rules!
As to why he didn’t meet with Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Hao? The reason was simple. Only three scripts had proposed to ”fight”.
The top three were already decided.
Since he knew who he was going to place in the top three, why bother meeting them.
All he had to do was meet the fourth to tenth ranked candidates and find out more about what they proposed. That would allow him to rank them accordingly.
Emperor Lin Mubai was not lazy. After all, in order to personally look through all 200 scripts, he had neglected the affairs of the state for the past few days.
Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi...
It didn’t matter if he met Fang Zhengzhi or not.
Emperor Lin Mubai knew that his decision would not be questioned. However, he still had to explain his decision. Furthermore, the explanation had to be a good one.
”My decision today may shock all of you, but this is something that is perfectly logical. It is said that there should always be a clear winner. Ever since I took the throne, I have seen countless scripts. I always thought that I would be able to judge one script as being superior. However, between Nangong Hao’s and Fang Zhengzhi’s, I could not pick a superior one!”
”I could not pick a superior one!”
This sentence reverberated throughout the Imperial Decree Hall.
All of the candidates and officials looked at each other.
This was an easily comprehensible statement. However, for this to be said by the Emperor had great ramifications.
For two scripts to be deemed as equal to the Emperor, how impeccable must they be?
This showed off the Emperor’s humility even whilst he praised Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Hao for their impeccable work.
Wu Feng’s face was completely flushed.
He thought of the events back at the Intellectual Loft. At that time, he talked about his policy paper in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
Now...
He felt a stinging pain on his face.
”The Emperor is fair and wise!” One of the officials fell to his knees.
All of the other officials followed suit.
”The Emperor made a wise decision!”
No one dared to doubt the decision of the Emperor. He was the leader of the Great Xia Dynasty.
All the other candidates also fell to their knees.
The people in charge of relaying the information finally recovered.
”In first place, Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!”
”In first place, Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!”
”In first place...”
The news was quickly relayed to the entrance of the palace.
The crowd outside the palace was in uproar. Two people were tied for first? And it was Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi?
Fang Zhengzhi!
He managed to tie with Nangong Hao?!
All of the shabbily dressed villagers whooped and cheered Fang Zhengzhi’s name. A few men dressed in black in the crowd looked at each other and left.
The golden armored guards sprang into action as they sped towards the gates. They kept hollering, ”Ranked first for the court examinations, Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!”
Their voices reverberated throughout the entire capital.
Nangong Hao, who was dressed in a white shirt, stepped out from the crowd. He walked slowly and steadily.
Each and every step was regulated.
However, his mouth twitched in excitement. This was not excitement due to the result. He was excited that he found a worthy opponent.
Tie?
This edition of the court examination would be interesting.
”The commoner thanks the Emperor!” Nangong Hao stood in the middle of the door to the Imperial Decree Hall, bowing to the Emperor as he showed his gratitude.
”Commoner?” Emperor Lin Mubai sighed internally. However, he did not say anything as he looked at Nangong Hao.
Behind Nangong Hao was an empty space.
No one!
”Fang Zhengzhi is absent!” Emperor Lin Mubai’s gaze froze, an invisible aura of power exploding from his body.
All of the officials read Emperor Lin Mubai’s emotions instantly.
He was the Emperor.
He had already given Fang Zhengzhi the highest honor. But where was Fang Zhengzhi? Not only did he not express any gratitude, he was absent!
If Fang Zhengzhi had not made the list...
He would have just forgotten about it and pretended he did not know Fang Zhengzhi was absent.
But Fang Zhengzhi had made it!
He had topped the examination!
He could not ignore this!
”Where is Fang Zhengzhi, the Sword Envoy?” Emperor Lin Mubai’s gaze scanned across all the candidates, his tone calm but dangerous.
It was almost like an arrow sailing slowly through the air.
No one dared to answer.
All of the candidates looked at each other.
All of the officials also looked into the crowd of candidates. They could forgive Fang Zhengzhi for being late, but he was absent!
This showed a complete disregard for the Emperor.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping smirked. He saw that Fang Zhengzhi was absent and planned on punishing him after the announcement.
However...
He did not have to do it anymore.
Fang Zhengzhi had topped the examination!
He did not know if this was a good thing...
Or a disaster.
The Emperor was the highest in the land. Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to recover from this! No matter how magnanimous the Emperor is, he would not forgive such blatant disrespect!