Bang! Bang… The sound of firecrackers went off.
When Liu Rushuang and Han Moze stepped outside, Lian Jiuhua was entering from outside with Piao Piao bound to him with red silk.
Piao Piao felt both delighted and nervous and tightly clutched onto her red silk. In the future, she would live together with him.
After they bowed to heaven and earth, Piao Piao was sent to the consummation room.
Lian Jiuhua and Piao Piao got married without any problems.
In the evening, everyone made an uproar to usher them to consummate the marriage. Then, the group of people gradually dispersed.
Han Moze and Liu Rushuang sat on the horse carriage back to the imperial palace.
Han Moze followed Liu Rushuang’s suggestion and held a nationwide competition.
Soon enough, the day of the imperial palace arrived and Han Moze led Liu Rushuang to take their honorable seats. Ten state officials including Han Moxi and Lian Jiuhua sat on either side. Thirty scholars who participated in the imperial examinations stood in the center of the great hall.
All the officials watched Han Moze lead Liu Rushuang to court in dissatisfaction, but they didn’t dare to voice their objection. All they could do was keep their anger to themselves and follow Han Moze.
The scholars did not all wear the same clothes. The youngest of them was about seventeen or eighteen, and the eldest was fifty-something years old.
“Scholars from different lands and outstanding talents, I will choose ten of you to be state officials. For the first round, fifteen will be selected. Is everyone ready?”
“Your Majesty, I am ready.”
“This time, those who are not selected will never be able to participate in future imperial examinations. Those who cannot accept this condition may now leave. Next year, there will also be opportunities to take part in the imperial examinations. However, those who are not assigned a position will never be able to be a state official. Does everyone understand? Stay or leave, I’ll give you fifteen minutes to consider the options,” announced Han Moze emotionlessly.
The people in the great hall were stunned. This exam question was brutal!
Most of the thirty scholars furrowed their brows. This was a serious matter of their potential career!
“Your Majesty, I choose to leave,” said a scholar of twenty-one or twenty-two.
“You may leave,” Han Moze said coolly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
With that, the eight scholars gave up on their imperial examinations one after another.
Han Moze grinned coldly and flatly asked, “Is there anyone else who would like to leave?”
The scholars in the hall mostly looked pale in the face. No one else chose to leave. Who’s to say next year’s examinations might be more difficult…
Han Moze constantly observed the scholars in the center of the hall. “The third scholar in white. What is your name?” He asked flatly.
The scholar in white looked attractive and intelligent. When he heard Han Moze’s question, he slightly raised his head and glanced over. Just for a split second, he was stunned by how good-looking the emperor and empress were.
“Your Majesty, I am the commoner known as Qiu Ying’an,” he answered with an unwavering expression on his face.
“According to what I hear, you have the worst score in the imperial examinations. Despite being the person who most probably won’t be assigned a position, why didn’t you choose to leave?” He replied flatly.
Qiu Ying’an pulled a smile which looked like he had a plan.
“Yes Your Majesty, I’ve already mentally prepared myself to not be assigned a position. If that is true, then I believe that I can still have a great career with my abilities, so I never chose to leave.”
Han Moze nodded silently.
Liu Rushuang’s eyes lit up for a moment. His nature and courage were indeed hard to come by.
Ten state officials sat in the hall with smiles on their faces.
As expected, the emperor’s foresight was certainly extraordinary.
Han Moze turned his head and gently said, “Shuang’er, how about you propose the next question?”
Liu Rushuang barely nodded, then asked in a clear voice, “I want to welcome each scholar to describe their personality.”
The group of officials was stunned once more. This question was simple but not easy to answer, because a scholar’s personality directly affected their future potential position.