On this day, Wen Mingyu and the rest of the nine imperial scholars walked together under the direction of the palace official and waited outside the door of Taiji Hall. Then, when they hear their name called out, the candidates would alternately enter the hall to face the emperor.
The ten candidates stood respectfully outside the door, all neatly donning the same green uniform. Their heads were lowered, their eyes restrained, and they dared not glance around.
Wen Mingyu was initially not nervous, but in such a quiet and tense setting, he became unconsciously affected. His heart beat rapidly. Most of the team were familiar faces, three of them his friends: Wei Chen, Chu Shuli, and Shao Yan.
On second thought, they have come this far. Didn’t their teacher from Imperial College also conduct a number of simulated mock questions for them? They just need to respond to them as usual.
Wen Mingyu finally was able to loosen and calm down a little, but in the corner of his eye, he saw the candidate in front of him previously walking out of Taiji Hall with a look of despair and confusion, as though he had not been asked by the emperor just now but had instead entered the Gates of Hell and was met with evil spirits.
Wen Mingyu: “…”
Heart shaking, he started to wimp out again.
He recalled Mu Zhan saying before that the palace examination was different. Was he implying that it would be particularly strict, like the boss level?
He felt a wave of nervousness like the rest of the candidates until he heard his name coming from inside. His heart thumped and he hurriedly entered the hall. Because of his panic, he failed to notice Zhao Dequan’s subtle pause when he read out his name, which was obviously different from what he did to the other candidates.After all, he had just called out the empress by his name.He was really put in a tough spot.
How many people could have imagined that their esteemed and incomparable empress was among this year’s candidates and even made it all the way to theTaiji Hallwith his own strength?
Wen Mingyu hung his head and stepped forward, hesitating whether he should pay respects or not. Although he usually didn’t need to salute when he and Mu Zhan were together, this was the emperor’s audience hall, and his current identity was that of a candidate.
He secretly raised his eyes and stole a glance. On the jade steps, the majestic throne with carvings of dragons gleamed with gold and splendor, truly magnificent. This was the first time he looked up at Mu Zhan from this angle. He genuinely experienced the so-called majestic awe and oppression of someone not to be gazed upon directly. Sure enough, it was a far cry from their everyday interactions.
Here, Mu Zhan was the emperor.
As he was about to salute, a low voice suddenly rang over his head.
“Yu Zhi.”
Wen Mingyu’s scalp tingled in an instant. He stood motionless.
This was the name he had bestowed upon him. Half a year ago, his crowning ceremony was conducted by Mu Zhan. Initially, according to the rules, it should have been held in the ancestral temple, overseen by his father or elders. However, Wen Mingyu had no family here, and the circumstances were special, and Mu Zhan also didn’t want to delegate the responsibility, so he personally crowned him and chose a name.
Mu Zhan actually intended to name him Yu Mu, which he thought was a good name, but Wen Mingyu vehemently objected. When others ask him about his name, he wouldn’t know how to explain it.
Thus it became Yu Zhi, meaning “a precious jade,” symbolizing an unpolished and rough piece of jade that would ultimately shine and be recognized, paving the path for a smooth journey.
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Wen Mingyu: “…”
Was this what you call being different from the usual?
Letting him eat some pastries and resting on the dragon throne?
He was here to be questioned!
Was this what a foolish ruler was like?!
Wen Mingyu’s expression was all over the place. “…Your Majesty, please be serious.”
Mu Zhan laughed and changed his tune, saying, “Then how about some dragon beard candy?”
Zhao Dequan was on standby, holding the snacks.
Wen Mingyu gazed at the creamy-colored, thinly shaped strings of candy and craved a little, but he still moved his eyes away. “…. Won’t eat.”
Mu Zhan supported his chin with one hand and narrowed his eyes. He said, smiling leisurely, “If you are willing to entertain this one a bit, thetop scholaris yours.”
Wen Mingyu palmed his forehead. This besotted emperor was beyond rescue.
Mu Zhan saw his helpless and speechless expression and finally lost control and burst out laughing. “This one is merely joking around. Are you still feeling nervous?”
Wen Mingyu froze, then realized that his series of words had distracted him and that he no longer felt the panic he experienced when he first came in.
He shook his head.
Mu Zhan then began the actual imperial questioning, while Wen Mingyu elaborated his own countermeasures. When asked and pointed out for any loopholes, he made immediate improvements on the spot. Halfway, there was pauses as he frowned in thought, but the whole procedure was regarded as cool and composed, and he responded well to all of Mu Zhan’s scenario questions.
It eventually ended smoothly. Mu Zhan walked down, revealing a satisfied and appreciative smile. His hand stroked his cheek, rubbing his fingertips lightly, and he said in a warm voice, “You answered very well.”
Who wouldn’t want to receive praise, especially if it was from the people closest to them. Wen Mingyu’s heart melted with joy.
Ultimately, Wen Mingyu still rested on the dragon throne, ate some snacks, sipped the tea, and then carefully cleaned his mouth before feigning composure and walking out.
Naturally, the other candidates wanted to ask the person before them questions, but those who had finished their questions came out of Taiji Hall and were briskly invited by the palace official to move to the other side.
Ye Xu was here. His ranking didn’t need him to formally face the emperor, and he just stuffed some silver to see his friends. Because it was an inconspicuous spot and Zhao Dequan had also given tacit approval, no one naturally stopped him.
“How did it go? Did you do well in the exam? What’s the attitude of the emperor?” Ye Xu asked worriedly.
Wen Mingyu almost burped, his mouth filled with crispy flavor, and he hastily covered his mouth. Ye Xu, however, thought that he was so under pressure and so nervous that he was going to vomit. His face changed as he hurriedly said, “Are you okay? Let’s go see a physician!”
Wen Mingyu shook his head and said he was fine.
When Ye Xu saw that his complexion was rosy and didn’t look like something was wrong, only then did he reluctantly put his worries down. However, Wei Chen and the others’ moods were very unsettled. When they raised their gazes to face the Emperor and saw his face at a glance, they felt an unfathomable familiarity. As they remembered where they had seen him, the three people were all dumbfounded.
The man next to Wen Mingyu at the Lantern Festival! They were actually conversing so casually with His Majesty!
After coming out of Taiji Hall, they surrounded Wen Mingyu. Wen Mingyu guessed that he couldn’t keep it a secret anymore and was ready to come clean. Only Ye Xu was still confused and asked, “What’re you all talking about?”
Wei Chen was considered the calmer one among the three and said, “Remember the previous bet?”
Ye Xu: “…Ha?”
Wei Chen said, “Ye Zu is the empress. A gentleman’s promise is worth a thousand is worth a thousand gold—you owe me a thousand pieces of gold, or else you will just have to keep your promise of eating wheat in a handstand altogether.”
Ye Xu: “…? ! ! !”
His face remained blank for a long time before finally managing to find a little bit of rationality. “You mean that person—beside Yu Zhi at the festival…is the emperor, and Wen Yuzhi—the empress!?”
At first, Chu Shuli and the others were dumbfounded, but their feelings were subdued by Ye Xu’s goofy appearance, and they couldn’t help but laugh.
Ye Xu sent Wen Mingyu a beseeching glance. The other person hesitated, his expression somewhat unnatural, but he still nodded.
Ye Xu collapsed in a beat. “You guys really aren’t messing with me? I didn’t say anything offending to His Majesty before, right? I… didn’t make you angry, right?”
Wei Chen nodded. “That’s way too much.”
Shao Yan: “Yeah”
Chu Shuli: “Just wait for the consequences.”
Ye Xu felt like he was stabbed repeatedly in the heart. He was practically spurting blood, and he was beyond saving.
Wen Mingyu was still apprehensive about what would happen if this was exposed, but he didn’t expect the atmosphere to be so relaxed and quirky, making people laugh uncontrollably. “So…” he said. “Can we still be friends?”
Wei Chen was puzzled. “Why not?”
He looked entirely unface, having already vaguely seen the clues. After resolving one confusion, he threw it aside to continue on his studying. He didn’t care about other people’s status at all. He judged friends solely based on their intelligence.
Chu Shuli, Shao Yan, and Ye Xu felt the same. Perhaps when they first learnt about it, they would be a little aggrieved because they had been lied to by their friend for so long. But as soon as Wei Chen spoke, it dawned on them that friendship wasn’t based on status. If they had been aware of Wen Mingyu’s identity from the very beginning, they wouldn’t have befriended Wen Mingyu, let alone formed those bonds or shared the past three years together at the Imperial College, creating so many memories.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t resist asking, “Do you think the empress shouldn’t have participated in the imperial examination?”
This thought had actually been lingering in his mind. He knew he shouldn’t care about others’ opinions, yet he couldn’t help but wonder how people would react once they found out.
Chu Shuli was the first to refute him. “You were the one who defended me against those who criticized me before; why are you now thinking that way? Women nowadays can take imperial examinations; it’s all about the ability. Why can’t you, the empress, participate? Being the empress is not a crime. Just because the emperor has taken a liking to someone doesn’t mean he should be trapped in the harem, unable to pursue his ambitions. That will be too narrow-minded and a shame.”
Shao Yan nodded, saying, “We have known each other for years and are fully aware of your abilities. The purpose of studying is to serve the court, the nation, and the welfare of the people. As long as we can improve the state of the country, what does status matter?“
Ye Xu also added, “If others knew, there would undoubtedly be some unpleasant things said, but you can let your achievements speak for themselves. Anyways, there will always be a way to address it.”
Wen Mingyu looked at them and couldn’t help but smile.
He felt incredibly lucky to be able to study at Imperial College and made such good friends.
The author has something to say: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I must mention one thing; that during the palace examination, other people were trembling and stuttering in fear of the tyrant, but the jade cub was invited to sit on the dragon throne, enjoying some snacks and tea. It really hit my sweet spot! I thought of it at the beginning and liked it, and now that I’ve finally written it, I’m so satisfied. o(*￣︶￣*) o
Of course, Mu Zhan didn’t show any favoritism, and the cub earned his place through his own abilities. ~
In addition, it’s coming!
PS: The passages marked with * are explanations about the Palace Examination, from wikipedia.
ChiFu: O dear it’s finally here! What we’re all waiting for !!! Happy Halloween everyone!