"Because I'm taking part in the examinations too."
"You're taking part too?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang's scholar outfit and found it strange. A princess of the palace came here to participate in the examinations similar to the carp run in the river. She was not here to become an official neither was she here to gain recognition. There was only one other reason…
She was here for fun.
However, the Imperial Law of Dao examinations were draconian. To obtain to right to enter the Imperial Examinations, one would have to pass the county and provincial examinations first.
Could Ping Yang have passed the county and provincial examinations?
Of course not.
"Can't I?" Ping Yang did not know what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking. Her face a look of indignation.
"Of course you can. However... Your entry pass is a fake, isn't it?" Fang Zhengzhi was able to believe that Ping Yang stole an examination script but he did not believe that she could bribe the whole of Imperial Academy to give her an entry pass.
Furthermore…
What was intriguing was her outfit she wore today. Obviously, she was here to create trouble and fulfil her mischievous impulses.
The original prideful expression of Ping Yang faltered after Fang Zhengzhi brought up the entry pass. However, Ping Yang will be Ping Yang.
Even when she was seen through, she did not panic.
"That's right. I especially found someone to make this. It cost me a hundred silver taels. You see...Isn't it exactly like the real thing? Aren't I smart?" Ping Yang took out the pass from her chest and showed it off to Fang Zhengzhi.
"One hundred taels?! Are you a pig?" Fang Zhengzhi thought about how could she so easily get duped by others. Scamming yourself would be better than letting others take advantage of you.
"Such gall. You dare to scold me? Slap yourself!"
"To hell with the slap. You should count your blessings that I'm not reporting you. Oh right, next time if you need another fake entry pass, you can find me. I give a fair price, no matter young or old. Only ninety-nine silver tales!" Fang Zhengzhi could not care less about Ping Yang after finishing. He walked around and towards the gates of the Imperial Academy.
"Look for you?" Ping Yang was stunned for a moment. However, she was not satisfied with Fang Zhengzhi just walking away like that, "You really don't want? With this baby, you will definitely get into the first-class roll!"
Ping Yang looked very sure of that.
"A pity. I'm aiming for roll champion!" Fang Zhengzhi continued forward without turning his head.
"Based on the current you? Someone who had just entered the Heavenly Reflection State...Yet you want to take the title of roll champion? You should count your blessings if you don't fall out of the roll!" Ping Yang ended with a forceful "Hmph". After that, she turned her eyes turned to Yan Xiu, "Yan Xiu… Do you want?"
"Answering Your Highness, I don't," it seemed like Yan Xiu understood Ping Yang's status clearer than Fang Zhengzhi. Therefore, his tone might be calm but it was not disrespectful.
"Why not?" Ping Yang was honestly curious now. She could understand if Fang Zhengzhi did not want it but why was Yan Xiu the same too? Did he even reach the Heavenly Reflection State?
"Because I'm aiming for the second place," Yan Xiu continued towards the gates after his declaration.
"Second place?!" Ping Yang stared at the backs of Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu. Her glassy orbs hid a trace of doubt, "Did they really not know the intensity of the Imperial Examinations? But...If one took the first place and the other took the second place, then what would I be?"
Not long after Fang Zhengzhi stepped into the Imperial Academy, he saw Ping Yang also followed behind leisurely. He silently sighed to himself.
This world's examination verification process was relatively outdated.
Of course, the reason might be something to do with the sheer amount of candidates. However, the most important reason would be that practically no one would fiddle with the entry pass.
To enter a Law of Dao Examination, one would just need to enter a Hall of Dao and the right to participate in the examinations could be obtained.
The Imperial Examinations were conducted in spacious and brightly lit rooms. Every room had four invigilators and they sat facing the four cardinal directions.
Three sides of each seat were fenced up and every seat was two meters apart from one another. In such a setup, trying to cheat would be a challenge in and of itself.
Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu decided to sit beside each other this time.
However, unfortunately, they were tailed by a Ping Yang.
To ensure they did not seat near her, they purposely found a space with exactly two seats left and sat down.
With that, Ping Yang had a look of annoyance in her eyes.
She swept her eyes across to the seat of Fang Zhengzhi's left. Her eyes lit.
"Stand, this seat is mine!" Ping Yang swaggered over to the seat on the left of Fang Zhengzhi. It was currently occupied by a noble young master wearing traditional Chinese clothing.
He was currently closing his eyes, resting his mind and controlling his breathing. Out of nowhere, he heard this sentence and was slightly peeved.
"Where did this wild brat appear from? Are you sick? Did you not see that this is my…" The noble young master did not finish before his mouth slammed shut.
For he recognised that pair of distinctive glassy eyes from the gentle scholar.
"You dare scold me? Slap yourself!" Ping Yang raised her eyebrows.
The noble young master's face was ashen. Without hesitation, he gave himself two tight slaps and fly up from his seat.
"Prin…"
"Scram!"
"Yes yes yes... I will scram now!" The young master let out a sigh of relief. He ran out in a flash, not daring to stay in the room any longer.
Those that sat near that young master naturally saw everything.
After that, their faces also eventually paled. Immediately, they stood up, getting ready to take the examination in another room.
However, Ping Yang was here to cheat. If everyone in the room was gone, then who would be luring the invigilator's attention away from her?
"All better sit down, not a single movement!"
With one sentence, cold sweat started dripping from people's foreheads. No one dared to move.
Fang Zhengzhi softly sighed. Of course, he understood that in this world, not everyone had to guts to stand up to authority.
"Gong!"
The gong that signalled the start of the exam rang out.
The four invigilators walked in after that. All of them had a garb of jet black official uniform. On the chest area was imprinted with the large character - Imperial.
This indicated that the invigilators for the Imperial Examinations were all Imperial Messengers.
This clearly showed the considerable difference between the Imperial Examinations and the provincial and county examinations.
Once one cleared the Imperial Examinations, it was equivalent to a carp becoming a dragon. The true qualifications for stepping into the Imperial Government of the Great Xia Dynasty. Be it the military sector or the Department of Flood Control.
All who step in could get a position and rank.
Fang Zhengzhi did not have much interest in official ranks therefore, he did not have to suffer from massive stress like most people.
His face was relaxed and laid back.
On the other hand, Yan Xiu on his right had a stern expression. He looked slightly nervous. However, the Ping Yang on his left was the same as him. Her eyes darted left and right, looking unbelievably relaxed.
In no time, the examination scripts were being handed down.
When the invigilator who was giving out the examinations scripts reached Fang Zhengzhi, he stopped for a brief moment then continued past him.
Fang Zhengzhi did not notice that detail. He simply picked up his script.
His teacher said before.
When handed the script, the first step, also the most important step was to write down his examination index number and name!
Since young, Fang Zhengzhi had followed his teacher's teachings. He had enshrined this lesson in his heart.
After he wrote down his index number and name, he started flipping through the script. It had ten-something pages filled with writings densely packed together.
No matter the quantity or quality both alone was enough to fill one with helplessness and despair.
Everyone said it was very hard…
Fang Zhengzhi did not mind them. However, this time he held the ten-something pages of examination scripts in his hand. This was the first time he felt the indomitable difficulty of the Imperial Examinations.
Ten-something pages of script. Such a large quantity, with only four hours. Was it possible to finish?
Disregarding everything else…
Simply finishing the paper would be a challenge for most.
"Alright, you don't have much time...Start the paper!" Fang Zhengzhi did not falter. With a sweep of his eyes, he picked up the pencil and started writing.