My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 298 - 175: Imperial Examination Ends, Ministry of Rites Faces a Difficult Problem!

First Examination Hall.

During the Horse Riding test, a sudden loud exclamation erupted from the side of a lane.

The unexpected sound even startled the candidates in other lanes, causing some to lose grip on their reins, resulting in carriages either crashing into narrow gates or veering off the pathways.

One candidate, who was focused on archery, was so startled that his arrow missed the target and almost struck an examiner nearby.

Although they all successfully appealed and received the opportunity to retake the test, they couldn't help but look towards where the noise came from, wanting to know what exactly had happened.

At this moment, along a certain lane.

Both candidates and examiners wore expressions of absolute shock.

"Ming and Luan" flowed smoothly without any bumps, with the music rhythmical and orderly; "Chasing Water Curves" saw the vehicle maintain its central position on the lane despite high-speed passage; "Passing the King's Table" did not graze any narrow gates; "Dancing Crossroads" was navigated swiftly and accurately; "Chasing Left" saw the arrows hit right at the heart of the target.

It was a spectacular performance.

It shocked not only the observing candidates but also the examiners who unanimously gave outstanding evaluations.

Normally in the Imperial Examination, candidates' scores were to be kept confidential.

However, in Horse Riding, unlike Book Department, Mathematics, or Ritual Department, it was impossible to keep complete secrecy in such a public setting.

The candidate's performance was so impressive that all the examiners were awed, and the exceptional score could not be hidden.

Zhou Yu had already completed his Horse Riding test and was drawn by the commotion; upon learning that someone had achieved an exceptional score in Horse Riding, he was shocked, and his mouth fell open when he saw who jumped down from the carriage.

Brother Li?

It was actually Brother Li!

Half a year ago, he couldn't even do Horse Riding, and in such a short time, he had mastered it to perfection?

Truly worthy of being Brother Li!

Zhou Yu was only shocked for a moment before accepting the reality; after all, he was the son of a Sixth-Ranking Scholar, perhaps he was just concealing his skill to make a striking impression during the examination...

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Li Nuo walked over from the lane and seeing Zhou Yu standing there, asked, "How did your test go?"

Zhou Yu laughed, "A+, not as good as Brother Li…, but it's good that Brother Li is here, otherwise the Horse Riding top scholar would have been taken by that dark-skinned lad."

Although Zhou Yu himself did not become the Horse Riding top scholar, he was quite happy that Brother Li had won.

Initially feeling somewhat guilty for competing against Zhou Yu in Horse Riding at the behest of Li Anning, Li Nuo quickly let go of that guilt upon learning that even without him, Zhou Yu wouldn't have been first in Horse Riding.

Li Nuo was actually quite surprised to see Zhou Yu here; he had always thought that he and Song Yu were evenly matched, but now it seemed the gap between them was not small.

He patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder and smiled, "There's one last subject to go, strive to make the list!"

Zhou Yu bowed and said, "Thank you, Brother Li."

A hint of doubt crossed his mind.

For some reason, being in Brother Li's presence gave him a feeling akin to facing his father…

At the same time, a doubt arose in the heart of Zhou Ting, the Minister of Transportation.

His driving technique, why did it resemble his so closely?

That was the Zhou Family's unique Horse Riding Skill; could it be that Zhou Yu had taught him?

He had trained his son for over a decade, yet he couldn't compare to someone else's half-year effort—truly worthy of being Lord Li's son...

...

After the selection of the first four subjects, over seventy percent of candidates had been eliminated.

The Six Arts were not something ordinary families could afford to learn, especially the poor scholars who, even if they passed the Music Department, would be stopped outside Horse Riding.

The Imperial Examination had proceeded through five subjects, with only the last one remaining the next day.

After the Shooting test, this session of the Imperial Examinations would be concluded.

Currently, the test papers from the Book Department, Mathematics, and Ritual Department had already been sent to a secured location for preservation.

These papers would be preserved for several years, during which time the court might randomly inspect some of them.

If any issues were found with the papers, such as a low-quality paper receiving high marks, everyone from the candidate to the examiner would be held accountable.

The top scholars for the first three subjects would only be announced after the end of the examinations.

As for the Music Department top scholar, it would definitely be one of the two who achieved perfection.

Li Nuo, the son of the Minister of Justice, and Gong Zheng, a descendant of the Jin State's famous Music Family whose ancestors were said to have entered the Dao through music.

Many in Chang'an were eagerly anticipating the final showdown between the two.

Following the end of today's Horse Riding, this subject's top scholar had emerged.

Of all the Examination Halls, the only one who achieved perfection in Horse Riding was still the son of the Minister of Justice.

A month ago, his first-place finish in all Six Arts during the spring examination had caused some stir, but the difficulty of the spring exams was not comparable to the Imperial Examination, so no one thought he could repeat the same feat.

But at least to this point in the Sixth-Ranking Scholar, he had already secured one top scholar title, and the other was a toss-up.

Given his performance in these two subjects, making the gold list was inevitable for him.

Ministry of Personnel.

Within three days after the end of the Imperial Examination, the list of Advanced Scholars would be announced.

With the timeline extremely tight, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites would begin collating the scores of the completed subjects even before the end of the examination.

All exam centers had already sent over the scores of the earlier subjects.

The clerks of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites were busy compiling and ranking them.

The Assistant Ministers of both Rites and Personnel were seated in the Ministry of Personnel.

They only awaited today's completion of the Shooting test to add the last subject's scores and finalize the list of Advanced Scholars.

Although the final list of Advanced Scholars was not yet determined, the top scholars of each department had already emerged and were only waiting to be announced.

Every step of the Imperial Examination had strict regulations: proctors only handled proctoring, examiners dealt strictly with evaluation, recorders took notes, and different personnel handled the posting and compilation of results.

Except for special cases in the last three departments, the candidates' information was kept confidential during the examination period.

Once the candidates' information was leaked, relevant personnel would be held accountable.

Even the chief examiners of this Imperial Examination, two individuals, did not yet know who the top scholars were.

Within a certain government office of the Ministry of Personnel.

The Assistant Minister of Rites and the Left Assistant Minister of Personnel were leisurely sipping tea.

The Assistant Minister of Affairs sipped his tea and reflected, "It is only during the Imperial Examination that we can have such leisure. The Shooting Department ended today, and our comfortable days are at an end…"

The Assistant Minister of Rites agreed with his point, saying, "Yes, once the Imperial Examination ends, the Ministry of Rites must start preparing for Princess Anning's marriage…"

As Assistant Ministers, both were usually busy with official duties.

During the exam period, all court affairs were set aside for the examination, and they found themselves relatively free.

Speaking of Princess Anning's marriage, the Assistant Minister of Rites recalled something and said, "Right, please arrange this session's Ritual Department top scholar to join our Ministry of Rites, Lord Chen."

The Assistant Minister of Personnel thought for a moment and asked, "Isn't it Taichang Si's turn to take the Ritual Department top scholar this session?"

Both Taichang Si and the Ministry of Rites needed top talents in rituals.

In previous years, the top performers in the Ritual Department of the examination were usually assigned to these two government offices, with the last top scholar of the Ritual Department having gone to the Ministry of Rites, so it was Taichang Si's turn this time.

The Assistant Minister of Rites waved his hand dismissively, saying, "The Music Department top scholar can go to Taichang Si, but the Ritual Department top scholar is reserved for the Ministry of Rites. I have seen his examination paper; this person is born to join the Ministry of Rites. His knowledge of rituals is as good as that of the Minister of Rites. We are preparing for Princess Anning's marriage, and I plan to have him involved, to see his capability…"

The Assistant Minister of Personnel chuckled and asked, "What if the Princess chooses him as the Prince Consort?"

The Assistant Minister of Rites also laughed and joked, "Then he can prepare his own wedding…"

That possibility was too small; the ideal choice for Prince Consort would be the overall top scholar or the Book Department top scholar. Other top scholars could not compare to them.

If the Ministry of Rites chose the Prince Consort, the first two would be given priority.

However, this time, by the Imperium's command, Princess Anning was allowed to choose her Prince Consort herself. If the top scholar of the Imperial Examination and the Book Department top scholar were not handsome, and if the Princess particularly cared about the looks of the Prince Consort, the other top scholars could also be potential candidates.

While they were speaking, a Ministry of Personnel official approached and said, "Lords, the results of the first five departments have been compiled."

In his hand, he held a tray.

On the tray, there were five envelopes.

In addition to announcing the list of Advanced Scholars, single department top hundred would also be published. High performers in single departments, even if they did not become Advanced Scholars, could still secure a good position in an academy or elsewhere.

Except for the Music Department, which still had undecided factors, Book, mathematics, rituals, and horse riding were already settled.

The Assistant Minister of Rites picked up the envelope marked with "Rituals," tore it open eagerly, and quickly scanned through, deeply curious about this excellent Ritual Department top scholar.

The next moment, his face stiffened.

"Hiss…"

On the other side, the Minister of Personnel, who had just opened the mathematics envelope, also sharply inhaled.

They exchanged glances and silently swapped their envelopes.

"Hiss!"

"Hiss!"

Both gasped in shock simultaneously.

Ritual Department top scholar Li Nuo, Mathematics Department top scholar Li Nuo, plus the already determined Horse Riding Department top scholar of the previous day. Li Nuo had now taken three departments and was also a strong contender for the Music Department top scholar.

There was no need to check the Horse Riding envelope.

Both looked simultaneously at the envelope marked "Book."

The Assistant Minister of Rites realized something serious, hesitated several times before finally signaling to the Assistant Minister of Personnel, saying, "Lord Chen, please open it…"

The Assistant Minister of Personnel took the envelope, slowly opened it, and pulled out a sheet of paper filled with names.

The Assistant Minister of Rites looked at him and asked, "How is it?"

The Assistant Minister of Personnel removed his gaze from the paper and reflected, "Truly worthy of being Lord Li's son…"

Before he could finish, the Assistant Minister of Rites already knew the result.

This session's top scholar was beyond dispute. The only uncertainty was whether he could, like his father, monopolize the top scholar positions in all six departments.

The government office fell into a prolonged silence.

Soon after, an official walked in and said, "Lords, the Shooting Department has ended, and the examination halls have started sending in the candidates' scores. Apparently, an exceptional candidate emerged in the First Examination Hall…"

The two exchanged a glance, and the Assistant Minister of Rites moved his lips briefly before asking, "Isn't this exceptional shooter called Li Nuo?"

The official was startled and exclaimed, "Lord, you already know?"

The Assistant Minister of Rites didn't reply and slowly covered his face with his hands.

He had no grievances with Li Nuo; Li Nuo winning several top scholar titles was none of his concern.

But Princess Anning's Prince Consort was the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites.

His Majesty allowed the Princess to choose a Prince Consort from among the seven top scholars.

If any of the top scholars was unsuitable, they could simply choose another.

But who could have expected all seven top scholars to be one person, and a married man at that?

If the final Music Department top scholar was also him, would the Princess still marry?

To marry, no princess of the Imperial Family had ever married a married man before.

Not to marry, then, was the Emperor's public decree, akin to an imperial edict; how could it be retracted?

This was an ending he had never imagined.

His mind was a mess, and he vigorously scratched his head.

Even though he had been an Assistant Minister of Rites for many years, dealing with countless unexpected situations, he did not know how to handle this one…