In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1205 - 1117: The Missing Dossier!

Chapter 1205: Chapter 1117: The Missing Dossier!

He fumbled hurriedly in his bosom for the draft paper and shoved it into the hands of the Imperial Academy official.

"Come on, take a look, take a look! This is the prose composed by my disciple. With such talent, do I need to fix any quotas internally? As if!"

After that, he smugly hooked his hands behind his back, swaying his head from side to side.

"Ho! It’s rare for you, old geezer, to praise anyone. Let me see what kind of writing it is that made you throw away even your old dignity."

He flicked his sleeves and then picked up the draft paper to examine it carefully.

"Well? Everything I said is true, isn’t it? If such a masterpiece can’t make it into the top five, then there’s no need to keep the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination going."

Lei Yin laughed heartily with pride.

"Indeed, it’s a divine work, novel in conception, elegantly rhymed, and beautifully written. It’s a real pleasure to read, truly a masterpiece not to be found just anywhere. You, old geezer, are really lucky, for such talent to fall into your hands—how unfair the heavens are, truly unfair!"

The Imperial Academy official kept shaking his head, his sighs unceasing.

How come he never encountered such rare talent?

While one lamented and the other took pride, another figure suddenly appeared at the doorway.

"What divine work? Let this prince have a look as well."

With that, he smoothly took the draft from the hands of the Imperial Academy official.

This man was none other than King Ye, who had been wandering leisurely to the examination hall today.

King Ye, as His Majesty’s chief supporter, had saved the emperor’s life on numerous occasions and had extended a helping hand at the emperor’s direst moment. Suffice it to say, without King Ye, there would be no His Majesty today! His Majesty’s favor towards King Ye had reached the extent of offering up the position of Prince Regent with both hands, yet King Ye had politely declined.

Now, these two men were chatting leisurely, and unexpectedly, they were caught by King Ye.

Unfortunately, King Ye’s status was prestigious, and he held the power of life and death without prior consultation. He was not one to indulge in casual talk or laughter; facing him immediately gave a sense of overwhelming pressure.

But precisely because of this, King Ye rarely nitpicked. However, if he did single something out, the official in question would either be demoted and banished or ostensibly promoted but actually demoted and transferred far from the capital—never a good outcome. Now, they were caught by him, and their hearts couldn’t help but flutter with panic.

Unexpectedly, King Ye just casually dropped the comment, "This writing is indeed very good," before turning around and walking away with his hands behind his back.

The two men exchanged a look and saw surprise in each other’s eyes.

Was today the day the sun rose from the west?

While they were still perplexed, the last five dossiers’ rankings came out. In haste to post them, King Ye briskly entered the examination hall.

His Majesty was also there, laughing and joking with Lord Gao, Lord Wang, and others, relieved that the final results had come out. They were jesting about making Lord Gao treat everyone to a drink. But then, King Ye pushed open the door.

"Ye Han, you’ve arrived? Come, we were just saying we should get Lord Gao to treat us to a few drinks tonight. Why don’t you join us?"

King Ye’s face, however, wasn’t smiling at all. Instead, he slowly sauntered over to Lord Gao.

"Lord Gao, I have a draft here. Would you mind taking a look and see if the writing is any good?"

King Ye needed advice on an article?

Not to mention Lord Gao’s surprise, almost everyone present was astonished.

Lord Gao took the draft and glanced over it, his eyes showing increasing shock, until finally, only admiration remained.

"Excellent! What a piece of writing, what a poem, and the script is also beautifully executed! How come, King Ye, is this masterpiece your own work?"

Ye Han did not respond but instead asked him back, "This year at the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination, if someone composed such a prose, how would you react?"

"Such poetic genius is truly rare!"

Lord Gao sighed deeply and hadn’t yet snapped out of the trance from reading the document, "If there were none, then so be it, but if there were, such a masterpiece would certainly top the list!"

"They say a steed is often found, but Bole does not always appear. Lord Gao, a talented individual has been overlooked right in front of you. This piece is composed by none other than Su Ke, a candidate in this year’s examination."

After speaking, Ye Han took the prose from his hand and presented it to His Majesty with both hands.

Qin Yi took it, glanced through it casually, raised an eyebrow but did not speak, and passed the draft to the two Deputy Examiners present. The Deputy Examiners also nodded continuously as they read and passed it around to others, and for a while, everyone was silent.

The quality of this article was clear to everyone present—all literati, who had been in official positions for many years, and in key roles at that. With just one look, they clearly understood the complexities involved.

"However, the Apricot List has been posted already."

An inspection official spoke up, "Besides, this student named Su Ke has a special identity, and if we add his name to the Apricot List now, I’m afraid..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood.

Su Ke’s identity was too sensitive; adding his name to the Apricot List would likely cause those zealous students outside to stir a great upheaval in Shengjing.

"Merit should be recognized without favoritism."

Ye Han remained calm, his cold words devoid of any emotion, "In my humble opinion, this student named Su Ke has talent and ability, and such literary flair. Yet he was undiscovered—a matter of regret that I especially wanted to point out."

This was precisely where everyone felt a quandary.

Su Ke, being the Uncle-in-law, if he had no literary talent, so be it. Everyone could add his name to the Apricot List and even gain favor with His Majesty.

Yet the Uncle-in-law indeed had both talent and ability. To promote him meant possibly causing trouble from the students who didn’t pass; not to promote him meant not passing His Majesty’s test. Truly a dilemma. Everyone’s gaze involuntarily shifted to Qin Yi.

His Majesty remained silent, eyes half-closed, motionless, as if he had fallen asleep.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the Chief Examiner, Lord Gao, immediately rose to his feet: "How can we neglect such talent, just because the list is already posted? Immediately review all of the papers written by this student named Su Ke; I will personally review them!"

With Lord Gao’s command, everyone sprang into action.

But as everyone searched through the pile of dossiers, Su Ke’s third exam paper was nowhere to be found.

Growing desperate, a Review Officer suddenly exclaimed, "Look there, isn’t that a dossier?"

Following the direction of his finger, they saw the edge of a stack of dossiers peeking out from the top of the large cabinet where the papers were placed.

Everyone hurriedly pulled it down and upon opening it, they found, to their frantic relief, the missing dossier!

"Who placed this dossier up there?"

Everyone looked around at each other, silent.

Present were the Chief Examiner, two Deputy Examiners, an inspection official, eight Review Officers, and each Review Officer had three assistants — a total crowd of people.