Chapter 65 Palace Exam

Chapter 65: The Palace Examination

The examination, grading, and announcement of results passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Wen Tongpu had passed, just as he'd hoped, which should have brought him joy. However, Lu Jiming's unexplained disappearance dampened his excitement a great deal.

Since they'd gone their separate ways that day, Wen Tongpu had never seen him again.

Wen Tongpu could tell Lu Jiming was well-connected, but he did not doubt Lu Jiming's words and still believed that, like himself, Lu Jiming was a fellow candidate.

On the day the results were announced, Wen Tongpu scoured the list again and again but could not find the name "Hu Guanguan." He felt unaccountably dejected, wondering if the fire had prevented "Brother Hu" from taking the exam.

He felt guilty about it but had no idea where to find the person whose smile would crinkle his eyes.

As for Chi Mengsheng, he was completely unaffected by the cheating scandal and had also qualified for the palace examination.

"What are you looking at? Want another beating?" Chi Mengsheng noticed Wen Tongpu staring at him and made as if to hit him.

Wen Tongpu pursed his lips, glaring coldly at Chi Mengsheng. "How come they all got arrested, and you're the only one who's fine?"

"Of course it's because I wasn't involved. Why should they arrest me?" Chi Mengsheng sneered.

"What did you promise them to keep them from exposing you?" Wen Tongpu asked.

He felt a wave of anger for no clear reason—anger at his classmates for sacrificing their futures for profit, and anger at Chi Mengsheng for wielding his influence and family standing to undermine the fairness of the imperial examination.

Chi Mengsheng shot Wen Tongpu a sidelong glance, warning him, "If you know what's good for you, don't say things you shouldn't say, and don't ask questions you shouldn't ask." He was just a small fry himself, hardly capable of that.

The essays written by those classmates wouldn't be delivered to him alone; several other candidates were waiting... His uncle had given him a list; those people were the true beneficiaries lurking in the shadows.

But he alone was lucky enough to pass. As for the others on the list, without help, they were just utter mediocrities, and none of them made the list.

At least for the next three years, whether it was his uncle or the people behind his uncle, they would have to rely on him alone. Thinking of this, Chi Mengsheng chuckled at the thought of his bright future.

"What about that guy surnamed Hu who was always with you?" Chi Mengsheng asked. "Did he die in the fire?"

Chi Mengsheng's indifferent attitude only fueled Wen Tongpu's anger. He roared at him, "Get lost!"

The palace examination proceeded as scheduled. Wen Tongpu followed the other successful candidates into the palace in a procession, entering the Huiwen Hall to face the emperor.

In a large crowd, Wen Tongpu's timid nature was on full display. He hid among the others, following along meekly, hardly daring to breathe or even take a close look at the plants and trees in the palace.

Officials had drilled them on the rules and etiquette the previous day. After the emperor entered the hall, everyone knelt and kowtowed, crying out "Long live the Emperor," and were not allowed to look up directly at the imperial countenance.

The emperor set a question, to be answered within a day, and then departed. It was said that in the early years of the dynasty, there were far fewer successful candidates than today, and the palace examination only involved an audience with the Emperor, with the top three ranks determined within a day.

Nowadays, with hundreds of successful candidates, another round of examination was necessary.

Wen Tongpu was initially nervous, but once he started writing, he suddenly forgot everything, remembering only that he needed to write a good essay. He thought, since Brother Hu was from a remarkable family, if he himself could advance far enough, might he have another chance to see him?

After the palace examination, a new list would be posted to determine the top three ranks, and the top twenty *jinshi* would undergo a separate palace examination to select the top rank and the second rank.

What surprised Wen Tongpu was that Chi Mengsheng was also among them. This time, there were twenty-one people in the top twenty. He had a gut feeling that Chi Mengsheng was the extra one.

"Traditionally, there are only twenty. Why are there twenty-one this year?" someone asked.

Wen Tongpu thought this person looked familiar and suddenly remembered that at the pre-results banquet, someone had called him Lord Lu. Although he had only spoken one sentence, this person had feminine features and a very striking appearance, which Wen Tongpu remembered clearly.

He had thought the other was traveling incognito to observe, but how could this person also be a candidate? Could it really be as Brother Hu said, that the two of them were just putting on an act for them?

"His Majesty found it difficult to decide for a moment, so he simply selected a few more," the eunuch leading the group explained. "His Majesty values talent; it is your good fortune."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately expressed their gratitude. Only Huan Zixiao raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that the emperor was not an indecisive person; there was something fishy about this.

During the previous palace examination, with its large number of participants, everyone wrote their essays outside the Huiwen Hall. This time, they were allowed inside, and Wen Tongpu finally saw the Emperor up close. Not daring to look too long, he quickly glanced before immediately lowering his head.

The emperor was not too different from what Wen Tongpu had imagined—extremely handsome, even more so than Wen Tongpu had expected... But for some reason, he also looked somewhat familiar.

"My beloved ministers are the future pillars of the court. There is no need to be restrained." Wei Yan rose from the dragon throne, descended the steps, and asked each person their name.

When he heard the name "Chi Mengsheng," Wei Yan merely raised his eyebrows slightly, offered some perfunctory praise, and showed no sign of anything unusual.

"Your humble servant, Wen Tongpu, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"I've seen you before." Wei Yan smiled and patted Wen Tongpu's shoulder. "Our Xuping has troubled you to look after him."

Wen Tongpu suddenly realized something and unconsciously looked up at Wei Yan.

No wonder he looked familiar—this was Brother Hu's husband... The last time he saw him was a month ago, and it was just a brief encounter. After that, there were the metropolitan examination and the palace examination. This person didn't have the distinctive features of the candidate called "Lord Lu," so it was normal not to remember.

Once Wen Tongpu realized, he stared wide-eyed in extreme shock.

Brother Hu's husband was the emperor, so Brother Hu was... the empress? The chief examiner of this Imperial Special Examination?

Many of the questions in Wen Tongpu's heart were suddenly answered in that moment. So that was it.

No wonder Brother Hu's demeanor was different from others, no wonder he paid such close attention to the candidates in the capital, no wonder his literary talent and knowledge were so exceptional... He had even casually joked that Brother Hu might place as the *tanhua*. The current empress was originally a *tanhua* graduate.

But there was no "Brother Hu"; the empress was from the Mingzhou Lu family. Thinking of this, Wen Tongpu couldn't help but glance in Huan Zixiao's direction, understanding who had taken the title of "Lord Lu" for someone else that day.

Wen Tongpu felt a faint disappointment; even the name he knew was fake.

"The empress and I have discussed it. The *zhuangyuan* should be Tang Chengxiu. His essay is excellent, his talent outstanding, and he is spirited, very much to both the empress's and my liking."

After Wei Yan finished speaking, the *zhuangyuan* excitedly knelt to express his gratitude.

"As for the *bangyan*, there's not much to say. Wen Tongpu, do you think you can bear the responsibility?"

Wen Tongpu hadn't yet recovered from the shock of Lu Jiming being the empress when Wei Yan's words left him speechless again. He unconsciously opened his mouth wide, standing frozen in place.

When he came to the capital for the examination, he only hoped to place in the top three ranks and secure an official post, thanking heaven and earth for that. He never expected to achieve a first-rank placement.

"If you don't express gratitude, I'll take it back," Wei Yan joked.

Only then did Wen Tongpu react, immediately kowtowing to express his thanks. He knew that without the empress, the title of *bangyan* would likely not have fallen to someone as timid and cowardly as himself.

Since it had been given to him, he would certainly do his utmost not to disappoint the empress.

"And the *tanhua*..." Wei Yan's gaze swept over the group. He could feel the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

Originally, there were only twenty people in the top two ranks. Today, with Chi Mengsheng added, he naturally couldn't be allowed to benefit for nothing.

"I think, Chi Meng—"

Chi Mengsheng's breath caught, his heart suddenly began to race, and he trembled uncontrollably. *Tanhua*! Good heavens, even his uncle would have to look at him with new respect!

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!" the eunuch announced.

Wei Yan immediately stopped what he was about to say and turned to welcome the empress.

His seemingly guaranteed spot as Tanhua slipped through his fingers, leaving Chi Mengsheng choking on his own frustration. Yet, the other party was the emperor, so Chi Mengsheng ultimately could say nothing.

What's yours will come to you. The emperor's word was half-given; surely he wouldn't change his mind at the last moment! Thinking this, Chi Mengsheng let out a sigh of relief, calming himself further.

"Didn't I tell you, Xuping, to rest properly?" Wei Yan went over to support Lu Jiming.

"I am, after all, the chief examiner. How can I remain absent all this time?" Lu Jiming smiled as he walked up to the group. "This year's Imperial Special Examination was held at a different time than usual, delaying everyone's Mid-Autumn reunion. I truly apologize."

The gathered candidates immediately knelt to pay their respects to the empress.

"Once you all enter officialdom, we'll be colleagues. Why stand on ceremony with me?" Lu Jiming said.

At that, everyone rose. Wen Tongpu cautiously lifted his head to glance at Lu Jiming.

After a month apart, Lu Jiming hadn't changed at all—clearly still the familiar Brother Hu from before. Wen Tongpu's gaze fell to Lu Jiming's waist, where the fabric clung tightly to his abdomen. Suddenly, his mind went blank, his previous train of thought lost.

Was Brother Hu pregnant...? Wen Tongpu thought again of how he had failed to stop Chi Mengsheng, leading to the inn fire, and felt even more self-reproach.

He had let a pregnant Brother Hu rush about in a burning building.

Lu Jiming noticed Wen Tongpu's gaze upon him but showed no sign of reproach, instead nodding kindly in his direction.

Among the candidates in the hall, aside from Wen Tongpu, there were others who had also met Lu Jiming. They were all struck with disbelief, some secretly regretting not having befriended him earlier, while others tried to recall if they had ever offended him.

As for Chi Mengsheng, the moment he saw Lu Jiming's face, it felt like a thunderbolt had struck him, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

How could it be Hu Guanguan! Chi Mengsheng recalled all his provocations and indecent proposals toward Lu Jiming and felt as if the sky were collapsing.

The empress was close to Wen Tongpu—did that mean he also knew about the incident where he had asked Wen Tongpu to drug him?

At this thought, Chi Mengsheng's legs went weak, and he stumbled, nearly falling to his knees.

"What's wrong?" Wei Yan noticed Chi Mengsheng's movement and looked at him with a kind expression.

Chi Mengsheng lowered his head, as if to hide his face from Lu Jiming. "Your Majesty, forgive me. This humble official has been standing for too long, and my legs have gone numb."

"By the way, Xuping, what do you think about choosing him as the Tanhua?" Wei Yan asked.

"Anyone Your Majesty has an eye for is naturally a good choice."

In an instant, Chi Mengsheng felt his heart soar high and then plummet heavily. Tanhua... first rank. As long as he didn't make any major mistakes in this lifetime, he was destined to climb the ladder of success.

But then Lu Jiming suddenly changed the subject, saying, "However, for the Tanhua, looks must be up to par. Lift your head and let me see."

Chi Mengsheng trembled all over, looking at Lu Jiming with unease. He comforted himself, thinking that perhaps the empress knew nothing, and their conflict was merely a personal matter. It would be fine.

"Haven't we met before...?" Lu Jiming's face broke into a bright smile. "What is your name?"

Chi Mengsheng inexplicably felt as if Lu Jiming were a ghostly apparition, frightening him so much that he immediately knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "Th-this lowly one is Chi Mengsheng."

"Chi Mengsheng, I know you. Last time, you asked me who your maternal uncle was. I looked into it when I returned—it's Sun Buyi from the Court of Imperial Entertainments, correct?"

"Y-yes, that's correct..." In front of the emperor, Chi Mengsheng dared not deceive the sovereign. Despite his immense fear and reluctance, he could only answer Lu Jiming truthfully.

"Oh, then I understand as well," Wei Yan said. "In that case, Beloved Minister Chi, let's hold off on the Tanhua title for now. Where is Cui Chi?"

Chi Mengsheng had a foreboding that something terrible was about to happen. Already pale as dirt, he watched as a guard in a feiyi uniform stepped forward in response.

"Your servant is here," Cui Chi said.

Wei Yan took Lu Jiming's hand and placed it in his own palm, casually glancing at Lu Jiming as he said, "Drag Chi Mengsheng out and behead him."