In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1209 - 1121: Qin Yi’s Unorthodox Moves

Chapter 1209: Chapter 1121: Qin Yi’s Unorthodox Moves

Su Pan’er stared blankly.

"Well, fine, you have a point."

She thought for a moment, "Actually, I think she’s troubled about something. Ever since her marriage was arranged, she has been sullen every day."

"Women always go through an anxious phase before getting married, but once Qin Shuan’er truly becomes a part of the Zhang Family, she’ll be fine."

"I hope so."

Su Pan’er found it increasingly difficult to understand the thoughts of young girls these days. Could it be that the way young girls think has completely changed from her time?

But she had this vague feeling that Qin Shuan’er’s sadness had something to do with her recently arranged marriage.

This feeling was so strange and intuitive that she began to doubt her own sixth sense.

In the midst of Su Pan’er’s jumbled thoughts, the day of the palace examination quickly arrived.

On the fifteenth day of the third month, the palace examination was held in the Jiying Hall. The examination period was one day, and all Tribute Scholars who had made it onto the Apricot List this year were eligible to participate. The examinees were only allowed to bring their writing tools and, after verifying their identities, enter Jiying Hall for the examination. Inside Jiying Hall, carpets had already been laid out and seats arranged in rows with the names and hometowns of each candidate, where the examinees could take their places.

Su Ke waited outside the palace gate before dawn.

Along with him were over four hundred other Tribute Scholars. Everyone exchanged courteous greetings with a proper smile on their faces, while secretly they observed each other closely.

They were classmates, but also competitors; no one wanted to lose, and everyone was striving for one of the top ten spots.

Xue Qian quietly approached, "How about you? Are you nervous?"

"Not nervous."

Not being nervous was a lie!

"But I am very nervous."

Xue Qian shrugged awkwardly, "You know, I failed during the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination. Now, I’m counting on this palace examination to turn things around. Hopefully, I can still make it and become a Jinshi Scholar. My father said if I only passed the same level as last time, I’ll have to prepare to be separated from the family property and manage on my own."

"That serious?"

Su Ke was also startled. These big families and clans were not to be compared with ordinary households; one did not speak lightly of division within such families.

What’s the most important thing for an official? It’s to be benevolent and filial!

If someone splits the family while the parents are alive, how can they talk of filial piety? Not being reported to His Majesty by a Speech Official and having a memorial against you was already considered lucky.

"It is that serious."

Xue Qian nodded pitifully, then quickly switched to a smile, "Don’t worry, I’ve come prepared this time and certainly won’t make the same mistakes. I just don’t know what rank I’ll achieve! What about you, what do you think?"

"Me? What can I think, except to do my best?"

This was Su Ke’s most genuine thought.

Not asking for the best, but just to give it his all; success or failure, he was prepared for both outcomes.

Fortune favors me if I succeed, and if not, it is my destiny.

Life is never perfect; all one can do is to give their utmost effort.

Amid the buzzing discussions, a commotion finally arose from within the palace gate.

A eunuch came out and, unavoidably, gave a lecture before leading everyone to be searched in turn as they entered the access way toward Jiying Hall.

Owing to the strict searches that had been conducted during the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination, the attendees were not surprised by this security measure and quickly passed the check according to the queue order. Apart from the writing tools, they were not allowed to bring a single piece of paper into the Imperial Palace.

Su Ke, just like everyone else, was dressed in the court robe issued by the Imperial Court to the Tribute Scholars.

This set of clothes, aside from being worn throughout the day, would be worn again to thank the Saint’s Grace. Afterwards, one would either become a Jinshi Scholar, a pillar of the country, directly granted an official post and appointed swiftly; or, barely earning the title of Jinshi Scholar, be placed in the Hanlin Imperial Academy for three years to gain experience before being considered for an official position based on performance. Although in most cases both outcomes led to official posts, there was a great difference in the ranks of the positions.

Entering the Imperial Palace, everyone was excited yet wary of the palace etiquette, not daring to look around casually.

For Su Ke, this wasn’t his first time entering, but never before had he felt such excitement, such fervor!

He sat before the desk bearing his name, silently waiting for the distribution of the examination topics.

Both the Autumn Imperial Civil Service Examination and the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination had seen incidents of cheating, and although the recent scandal from the spring examination was still being tightly concealed, Qin Yi was very much aware of it.

This time, he hadn’t informed anyone in advance about the examination questions, instead chatting amiably with the several accompanying examiners.

As the time for the examination ticked away, the examiners grew increasingly restless until he finally lifted his head and inquired of Lord Gao, the Chief Examiner, with complete composure.

"Lord Gao, it’s getting late. What are your thoughts regarding the topic for this palace examination?"

Lord Gao was as nervous as if sitting on pins and needles.

The Chief Examiner of the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination had just encountered a major scandal, yet His Majesty had not held any officials accountable. The Court was too quiet, as still as the calm before a storm, leaving Lord Gao extremely nervous and fearful.

However, earlier, several Han Lin scholars, unwilling to accept this, had submitted memorials accusing Lord Gao of "idly occupying his post" and, citing "the restoration of discipline" as reason, demanded his imprisonment and interrogation, pleading with His Majesty for severe punishment as a warning to others.

Qin Yi had received the memorials, but casually placed them aside, delaying any definitive action.

Now, with the retest imminent, the positions of Chief Examiner and Review Officer were eyed covetously by numerous people, all eagerly wanting to take their place.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty still posed such a question to him. Could it be that he would remain Chief Examiner for this retest?

Rumors were rampant outside, and he had heard many versions of them. Some whispered he had leaked examination questions, others that he was a thief in his own right, and yet others accused him of buying and selling official posts. Yet to this point, no one had presented any evidence, nor had there been any witnesses to come forward. The matter lingered in a peculiar silence.

How could he dare to answer when His Majesty now asked him about the examination questions?

Yet he could not simply not answer when asked by His Majesty.

After brief contemplation, he stood up, "Your Majesty, your humble subject believes that this phrase from the ’Record of Rites, Etiquette and Music’ is quite ingenious: ’In the face of wealth, do not seek gain without scruples; in the face of difficulties, do not seek to escape without scruples.’ This phrase would make for an excellent retest question."

Wasn’t I being asked to set the questions?

Lord Gao’s thoughts churned inside him, quoting off the top of his head. Firstly, to demonstrate his clear conscience to His Majesty, and secondly, to successfully decline His Majesty’s invitation to set the question, surely others had better ideas.

Yet Qin Yi played his hand unconventionally.

"Good! ’In the face of wealth, do not seek gain without scruples,’ indeed, this is an excellent phrase to base a question on."

He clapped his hands forcefully, finalizing his decision on the spot, then turned to the Supervisor Lord Wang: "Lord Wu, you heard the question proposed by Lord Gao just now, didn’t you? Hurry down and make the necessary arrangements."

Not just Lord Gao and Lord Wu were taken aback, but all the officials present were astounded.

Even though His Majesty had only ascended the throne two years ago, he had been diligent and conscientious in his daily duties, earnestly and carefully maintaining his position, and acting in the most scrupulous manner.