Wu Feng did not think that Fang Zhengzhi was weak. Before he knew that Nangong Hao was participating, or before he saw Nangong Hao's Natural Heart Dao...
He had always thought of Fang Zhengzhi as one of his biggest competitors.
Especially on the Theory Examination.
Anyone who could finish six scripts in four hours perfectly was not to be underestimated.
Wu Feng had tried it before, and two scripts was his maximum.
Six scripts...
The only way to describe it was "monster".
However, he had to consider Fang Zhengzhi and himself as mere accompaniments. It wasn't that Fang Zhengzhi was weak, but Nangong Hao was too strong!
Fang Zhengzhi did not notice any of this. He was happily engrossed in his policy paper, writing down the knowledge of the ancestors of his previous world.
He completely ignored everything around him.
Of course, Fang Zhengzhi's "Six Nations" had some differences from the real "Six Nations". He simply used "Six Nations" as his foundation.
After all, the history and dynamic during the era of the "Six Nations" was also slightly different from the Great Xia Dynasty.
However, the concept of never surrendering would not change regardless of era or political climate. Even a small enterprise could use this concept when competing against giants in the market.
So...
What about the major players?
They can use the same concept. Never surrendering represents a will to fight. If the powerful take their pedal off the metal, they too will become weak.
This was simple logic.
However, in order for his "New Six Nations" to be even more applicable to this dynasty, Fang Zhengzhi had to change some of the sentences.
One of the sentences inside the original was...
"This empire rose from the ashes of the six nations, but it could also fall at their hands."
What this meant was that if the ruling country was strong enough to conquer the nations but not strong enough to hold them, they could be overthrown easily.
Fang Zhengzhi used this as the main idea for his paragraph, adding in details of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Anyone who was not a fool...
Would be able to see that he was referring to the current Great Xia Dynasty. Whilst they were powerful now, they needed to exert that power so that the vassal states will remain subservient.
Else, they will go down in flames.
Fang Zhengzhi's policy paper was coming to an end. He did not analyze the current political climate of the Great Xia Dynasty, choosing to analyze a period of history from the viewpoint of an outsider.
The reason was...
He did not know the current political climate.
"Mm... I think that it's not bad!" Fang Zhengzhi stopped writing and began to check his work. He quickly realized a misspelled word.
Then, a grammatical error.
Phew!
Checking one's work was always a good habit. It never hurt to check one more time. This idea was drilled into him by his teachers.
He made the changes and burnished his sentences.
He read it one more time.
Satisfied...
Then, he copied the entire script with his edits onto a fresh script.
He looked around him and saw all the candidates frowning. Some of them were even chewing on their pens, almost like starving wolves.
Why would they eat bamboo if they weren't pandas?
Fang Zhengzhi shook his head in disdain. Then, he turned to look at Yan Xiu. Yan Xiu had already begun writing, and he looked rather confident.
Fang Zhengzhi was not too surprised by this.
Even though Yan Xiu also prepared plans related to the Ministry of Works, as a disciple of the Yan Family, he was in tune with the sensitivities of the empire. As such, this policy paper should not stymie him.
He then turned to look at Wu Feng and saw that Wu Feng had also begun writing. However, he seemed to be a little affected, a stark contrast from his usual cheery self.
"Has Nangong Hao begun writing?" Fang Zhengzhi remembered and turned to look in that direction.
He saw that Nangong Hao was still seated on his chair like a statue, his brush still on the table.
Is he joking?
Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself.
Isn't he supposed to be the top talent? How can he take so long to think about a policy to subdue the vassal states? If he was this weak, it would be such a disappointment.
Fang Zhengzhi did not look around any longer. He calmed himself and stretched his arms. Then, he continued writing.
Within 15 minutes, his "New Six Nations" policy was finished.
"I would like to submit my script!" Fang Zhengzhi had always had the habit of sleeping after finishing his paper previously. After all, the previous exams did not allow him to submit his scripts ahead of time.
However, the court examinations did not have such a rule.
As such...
He decided that he would like to enjoy the thrill of handing in his script before hand. After all, he had always done this in his previous world.
He would treat it as reliving some of his old life.
"Hand... hand in his script?!"
"He's done?"
"How is he so fast? I am barely done with my introduction."
"Introduction? I haven't even thought of what I'm going to write."
All of the candidates were clearly stunned by Fang Zhengzhi's actions. It was less than an hour since the start of the examination. Fang Zhengzhi was handing in his script?
More importantly, all of them knew that Fang Zhengzhi had come to the court examination completely unprepared.
How could he possibly be done?
He was faster than the people who had prepared.
Emperor Lin Mubai, all of the officials, as well as the imperial messengers in the White Jade Square were all stunned.
Handing in one's script ahead of time?
This was something that had not happened in centuries!
Rubbish!
Was there anything more ridiculous than this? This was blatant disrespect towards the court examinations. Regardless whether Fang Zhengzhi was done or not, this attitude was telling the Emperor that his question was too easy!
"Fang Zhengzhi came from a village. Is it possible that he just wrote rubbish because he has no policy in mind?" One of the officials asked doubtfully. After all, finishing a policy paper in such a short time bordered on the impossible.
"If that is the case, him handing in his script in advance will give him a one way ticket out of the courts." Another official shook his head.
"You mean he actually has a decent policy on how to control the vassal states?"
"I don't know. However, I know that we had once treated Fang Zhengzhi as an ignorant fool. However, he has shown us time and again that he is very intelligent. He will not dig himself a grave and jump into it."
"That is true. However, how can he possibly write anything good in such a short time?"
"Aish... I do not know. However, the Emperor himself ordered Fang Zhengzhi to help out in the Ministry of Rites. Even though he didn't give Fang Zhengzhi a post, I think... that there's more to it than meets the eye."
"Do you mean that the Emperor thinks that Fang Zhengzhi is a talented diplomat? But it doesn't seem to be the case. After entering the capital, he has made enemies with many of the influential families."
"I beg to differ. Who is Yan Xiu? He is the heir to the Yan Family. He is usually icy and a man of few words. Yet, how is he with Fang Zhengzhi? And then there's Princess Ping Yang. How many people dare to antagonize her? What about Chi Guyan? Then look at Xing Qingsui of the Stabilization Constabulary, Nangong Mu of the Nangong Family. Which one of them is easy to get along with? Yet, they all have relationships with Fang Zhengzhi!"
"Could it be that Fang Zhengzhi is actually talented in that area?"
"I think that it is too early to say. We will know more after the theory examination."
"I agree." The official nodded lightly and became silent. He did not say anything else, but he looked at Fang Zhengzhi rather strangely.
Su Qing smiled and walked to Fang Zhengzhi.
"Is Official Fang planning to hand in your script early?"
"Can I do it?" Fang Zhengzhi replied with a question.
"Of course you can. However, why don't you check your work and think about it one more time?" Su Qing smirked, raising his voice slightly.
The expressions of all the officials changed. They looked at Fang Zhengzhi and Su Qing, their hearts written on their faces.
After his performance at the Crown Prince's residence, he did not get a promotion, but he was temporarily the Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy.
Many of the officials were not happy about it initially.
However, seeing his wit today made them gasp silently in admiration.
This statement meant more than what it seemed.
Emperor Lin Mubai had made it clear that he wanted all of the candidates to think deeply. Su Qing's advice to Fang Zhengzhi was telling all the other candidates that Fang Zhengzhi's actions were going against the Emperor's wishes.
This was quite the hit to Fang Zhengzhi.
All of the officials turned to look at Emperor Lin Mubai.
Emperor Lin Mubai raised his hand and a servant immediately placed a new pot of tea in front of him.
Emperor Lin Mubai raised his glass and sipped. He did not speak, neither did his expression changed. It was almost as if he did not see anything.
All of the officials were stunned.
Emperor Lin Mubai's attitude towards Fang Zhengzhi was rather cryptic during the racing and hunting competition. No matter what Fang Zhengzhi did, he did not seem to fault Fang Zhengzhi.
Why was this so?
None of the officials spoke again. If Emperor Lin Mubai was not going to speak, then neither could they. They were in no position to question Fang Zhengzhi.
"I have already checked my work thoroughly. I even have a draft here." Fang Zhengzhi placed his draft script in front of Su Qing.
Su Qing glanced at the draft in Fang Zhengzhi's hand. He raised his hand slightly, then realized what was happening.
He took a step backwards.
He was too curious. In fact, everyone there was curious as to what kind of policy Fang Zhengzhi had written.
However, he managed to regain his senses at the most critical moment.
For the court examinations, the scripts would be sealed right after they were collected. The Emperor would view them personally. As a rank four imperial messenger, who was he to view the scripts?
Even the previous Chief Imperial Messenger Han Zhangfeng did not have the right.
"Did he... do it on purpose?" Su Qing began to sweat profusely. When he turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi again, his gaze was different.
Fang Zhengzhi innocently waved his draft in front of Su Qing. He beamed as he did so, almost as if he was an innocent child.
"Do you want to take a look? You can come and see!" Fang Zhengzhi waved his draft as he called out to Su Qing.
"I do not dare take a look at the court examination scripts." Su Qing was shocked by Fang Zhengzhi's actions. He retreated a few more steps, his head lowered.
"You don't dare? Okay then... I thought you were really going to check the scripts on behalf of the Emperor." Fang Zhengzhi smirked innocently.
All of the officials surrounding Emperor Lin Mubai were stunned by this sight.
Those innocent sounding words were actually immensely loaded.
Su Qing had used the Emperor's words to attack Fang Zhengzhi. However, Fang Zhengzhi had used the same method to return the favor. In the end, Fang Zhengzhi had come up on top.
Did he do it on purpose? Or was it a happy coincidence?
None of the officials could put their finger on it.
All of the officials looked at Fang Zhengzhi, their gazes complicated.
Then, another figure stood up from his seat and bowed to the Emperor.
"I would like to hand in my script!"
His voice was not loud, but it was crisp. The tone was flat and calm, almost like a mist wafting through the valley.
It combined with the clouds in the sky softly.
Even so, all of the officials looked at the figure in terror.
Fang Zhengzhi's actions had stunned them all, but this man's actions terrified them.
Fang Zhengzhi handing in his script early may have been unexpected, but it was acceptable.
After all, it was Fang Zhengzhi.
But...
Why would Nangong Hao hand in his script early?
Furthermore, Nangong Hao had been sitting silently at his desk all this while, a blank paper in front of him.
He had not written a single word.
But now...
Nangong Hao had stood up and said the same thing as Fang Zhengzhi.
"I would like to hand in my script!"
What's going on?