Seeking Truth with a Sword
Chapter 64 - 59 Fellow Villagers

Chapter 64: Chapter 59 Fellow Villagers

"Watch the exam?"

Chai Cuiqiao blinked. Standing at the pavilion, she could only see the grass field, completely unable to view the scene inside the examination area. Besides, what was so interesting about an exam?

Chai Cuiqiao sized up the other person. Even though the lower half of her face was covered with light gauze, judging by the facial contours and fair skin, she was undoubtedly a beauty.

Could it be that she came to observe the examination site to select a future husband from among the young talents?

Hmm... that seemed quite reasonable. At least at the far end of the corridor, those chattering noble young ladies were discussing just that.

"Look! The first examinee has already left the examination area and started the Equestrian event!"

Someone exclaimed, and the examinees’ families in the corridor immediately crowded to the windows, looking out over the grass field.

"Has someone already finished their exam papers?"

Chai Cuiqiao nervously stood up and also squeezed to a window, using her fingers to pry her eyes open wider as she stared intently.

The first ones to rush out of the examination area were several tall and burly students recommended by the Ministry of War, along with equally robust and muscular Hu Ren and Jing people. Running neck and neck with them were a short-statured Desert People examinee and a young man in a white commoner’s gown, standing tall and looking majestic.

"Look, that’s the fourth son of the Pei family!"

"Wow, Young Master Pei Jing!"

Exclamations of amazement arose on one side of the corridor.

Pei Jing’s father was Pei Su, the Prime Minister of Yu Country and Minister of the Left. His mother was the legitimate daughter of the Taiyuan Wang Family, one of the Five Surnames. Pei Jing was of noble birth, handsome, and brilliant in literature. He began composing poetry at six and essays at seven, quickly becoming famous in Chang’an. He was supposed to have entered the Academic Palace last year but delayed it for a year to observe mourning for his grandfather.

The young ladies of Chang’an in the corridor were all amazed by Pei Jing’s appearance. Indeed, Pei Jing was dignified and graceful. Even as he ran towards the grass field, a tranquil smile always adorned his lips, and his gestures exuded an elegant demeanor, a stark contrast to the aggressively charging students recommended by the Ministry of War.

No one doubted whether Pei Jing could pass the preliminary, secondary, and final exams of the Academic Palace. The only question was whether Pei Jing could surpass all other talents in the three rounds of examinations, achieve a triple success, and create one ofthe few miracles in the history of the Academic Palace.

"My family’s—ahem! My Eldest Son has also come out!"

Chai Cuiqiao’s gaze swept over the many students rushing towards the grass field, locking onto Li Ang, who was dressed in a simple gown shirt. She continued to hold her eyes open with her right hand while excitedly slapping the railing of the corridor with her left.

Is there really a need to run so fast?

Li Ang quickened his pace, gasping for air as he sprinted towards the grass field.

The actions of those who handed in their papers first were like a trumpet call, prompting a large number of examinees to make their decisions, turn in their papers, and run towards the grass field.

It had to be said, the entrance exam rules of the Academic Palace were quite mischievous; one had to finish all mandatory events first before participating in elective subjects. This meant that even if examinees wanted to earn additional points through subjects like Mathematics, Yu Law, or national history, they had to complete Horse Riding and Shooting first. And since the number of horses was limited, those who came later had to queue and wait, perhaps even for the horses that had completed the course to recover their strength.

The entire preliminary exam ends at 16:00, which is four in the afternoon. If one spends too much time on the Horse Riding and Shooting event, they definitely won’t be able to participate in all the elective subjects.

Li Ang was also very aware of why the other examinees were anxious. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the impassive girl with willow-leaf eyebrows beside him and silently broke into a sprint.

"Haha, first come, first served!"

A student recommended by the Ministry of War, his face fleshy, was the first to reach the grass field. He laughed heartily, his gaze sweeping like a blade over the hundreds of spirited horses in the pen. Pointing at a relaxed, white horse grazing on the grass, he said, "Excuse me, Pasture Officer, I choose this one!"

"Okay."

A herder from the Pasture Supervisory Office in the pen, holding the reins, led the already saddled spirited horse out and handed the reins to the student. The student pushed off the ground, his body rising to mount the horse with an agility that belied his weight. He lightly squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs, shifted his center of gravity forward, and galloped ahead.

So fast! Li Ang’s peripheral vision caught the dust kicked up by the student speeding on horseback, and he marveled inwardly.

There was nothing to envy; that person had spent far more time on horseback than he had, and his riding skills far exceeded those of ordinary people. Unlike in the Northern regions, students from the various Southern State Mansions lacked extensive experience in horse riding, especially with warhorses. It was already an achievement if they could barely complete the course, and they still had to worry about a fiery-tempered warhorse throwing them off.

I must find a balance in terms of the horse’s speed, temperament, stability, and maneuverability, and choose a warhorse suitable for myself...

Li Ang quickly scanned all the warhorses in the pasture. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he shouted, "Excuse me, Pasture Officer, I choose this one!"

"Excuse me, Pasture Officer, I choose this one!"

"Excuse me, Pasture Officer, I choose this one!"

Three voices sounded almost at the same time. The girl with willow-leaf eyebrows from the next table, Li Ang, and a noble young man in a white commoner’s robe rushed to the pasture fence together, raising their arms to point at a tall, chestnut warhorse.

"This..."

The unexpected situation left the out-of-town Pasture Officer leading the horse dumbfounded. He wasn’t from Chang’an and didn’t recognize Pei Jing, but it was clear from his demeanor that the handsome young man in the white commoner’s robe was a noble. However, this was the Academic Palace’s preliminary exam, which emphasized fairness...

The situation of three people pointing at the same warhorse was somewhat eye-catching, even amidst the noisy and chaotic pasture.

Yang Yu, who had hurriedly filled out his exam paper and rushed over, gasped sharply, forcibly stopping himself from going up to strike a conversation with Li Ang.

"Who is that?" Song Shaoyuan, who had run over with Yang Yu, noticed the expression on Yang Yu’s face and asked instinctively.

"The woman, I don’t recognize," Yang Yu said with a strange expression, clicking his teeth. "The man... is Pei Jing, son of the Minister of the Left."

"This..." Song Shaoyuan stopped in his tracks. Although this was the preliminary exam of the Academic Palace, directly confronting the son of the Minister of the Left... was not necessarily a good thing for someone wanting to reside long-term in Chang’an.

Outside the pasture fence, Pei Jing frowned slightly and said indifferently, "I arrived first."

"I pointed first," the girl with willow-leaf eyebrows retorted calmly, not yielding an inch.

"I called out first," Li Ang shook his head and spoke very quickly. "Why don’t we let the Pasture Officer bring the warhorse over and let it choose? We’re all pressed for time and still have other exams to attend."

Pei Jing’s eyes narrowed slightly. As a favored son of heaven, he didn’t recognize the other two, but this suggestion seemed reasonable. "Fine."

"Okay," the girl with willow-leaf eyebrows also nodded in agreement.

"Then it’s settled." Li Ang nodded, his expression normal, signaling the Pasture Officer to release the reins.

The Pasture Officer, completely unwilling to get involved, saw that the three had reached an agreement and hurriedly led the chestnut warhorse forward, then released its reins.

Pei Jing stood smiling, gently tapping the pasture fence, creating a rhythmic sound—this was a luring technique taught by professional horse masters. The expressionless girl with willow-leaf eyebrows held out her palm, cupping a bunch of fresh pasture grass to attract the horse’s attention.

And Li Ang... he laughingly raised his right hand and, using his thumb, index, and middle fingers, made a... gesture of giving an injection towards the warhorse.

"NEIGH—"

The originally languid chestnut warhorse suddenly neighed, perked up, ignored Pei Jing and the girl with willow-leaf eyebrows, and affectionately trotted over, nuzzling against Li Ang’s chest.

"Hehe, sorry, it’s mine now." Li Ang grinned at the other two and motioned for the Pasture Officer to open the gate. Amidst Pei Jing’s disbelieving gaze, the narrowed eyes of the girl with willow-leaf eyebrows, and the rapt attention of all the surrounding examinees, he cheerily led the warhorse towards the track.

"Ah, seeing a fellow countryman so far from home really brings tears to your eyes..." Li Ang, leading the chestnut warhorse by its reins, leaned close to its ear and muttered, "Who would have thought you’d be chosen to come to Chang’an? How’s your eye now?"