Vice Minister Shao was serving as chief examiner for the first time and might not have the most precise grasp of the grading standards, but Grand Scholar Han was no novice. Having selected talents for the imperial court for many years, he was highly experienced, and many capable high-ranking officials were his protégés.

Without even looking up, Grand Scholar Han replied, "Didn’t you also shortlist a considerable number? Let’s filter them first and make the final decisions later."

Shao Jiming clasped his hands in admiration. "As expected of you, Grand Scholar Han."

A few days later—

The diligent Left Vice Minister of Rites was on the verge of a breakdown. He wailed, "How are there so many top-tier candidates? It’s impossible to finish evaluating them—every single one is outstanding!"

Even Grand Scholar Han, who had initially remained composed, now wore a grave expression. After a month of reviewing all the examination papers, they had selected 366 scholars for admission—over 40 more than the previous session.

But that wasn’t the most unusual part.

The real anomaly was their final shortlist of top-tier candidates: a staggering fifteen.

In past imperial examinations, having three to five such candidates was already considered remarkable. This year, however, the number had more than tripled—an utterly abnormal situation.

Grand Scholar Han said solemnly, "Could the exam questions have been leaked?"

Vice Minister Shao shook his head firmly. "Impossible. The examiners are still in confinement, and the papers are guarded by the military. Even if Luo Jingfeng himself came, he couldn’t have stolen them without a trace."

Yet, unease gnawed at him.

The imperial examination was the court’s most critical method of selecting talent. This was his first time overseeing it—he couldn’t afford even the slightest mistake.

Grand Scholar Han declared coldly, "Investigate. Check the anonymization and transcription process. We must get to the bottom of this."

The responsible officials swiftly retrieved the fifteen candidates’ original papers and their transcribed copies for careful comparison.

The two chief examiners grew increasingly troubled as they reviewed them.

Grand Scholar Han finally looked up. "No errors here."

Vice Minister Shao, however, noticed something peculiar. "Judging by the handwriting, most of these fifteen candidates seem to be from Hanlin North Academy, while the rest are likely scholars from other regions. Hiss… Has Hanlin North Academy improved so dramatically this year? Did their teaching methods advance, or was there some external motivation?"

Grand Scholar Han ordered, "Look into these scholars’ backgrounds. I suspect there’s something unusual at play here."

Vice Minister Shao frowned. "Grand Scholar, the anonymization rule exists precisely to ensure fair competition between noble families and commoners. Investigating their backgrounds might compromise impartiality..."

Grand Scholar Han rebuked him, "Would you dare submit this list of fifteen names to His Majesty without knowing anything about them?"

Remembering how Censor Wei had been beaten three times for similar oversights, Vice Minister Shao silently complied. They meticulously verified the fifteen candidates’ identities—all had performed well in the provincial exams.

Based on this, it seemed unlikely that the metropolitan exam results had been falsified.

But then they uncovered an even graver issue…

Vice Minister Shao’s hands trembled as he spoke. "Among these fifteen, six are child prodigies—the oldest is thirteen, the youngest only eleven."

Thank heavens they had checked.

Had they submitted this list blindly, they’d each be facing a hundred strokes of the rod.

"How could child prodigies qualify for the metropolitan exam, let alone make it to our top-tier shortlist?" Grand Scholar Han found it increasingly absurd. He picked up the ranking order of the fifteen candidates.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍top three in the metropolitan exam? All child prodigies.

The two men exchanged glances, sharing the same thought: We’re doomed.

The most impossible task in history had landed in their laps.

Grand Scholar Han said, "When reporting to His Majesty, we can acknowledge that all fifteen possess top-tier talent. But officially, only three can be announced."

History had seen one famously competitive imperial exam where eight finalists eventually became chancellors—yet only three could be officially recognized as top-tier, with no exceptions.

Vice Minister Shao agreed. "Then let’s follow your suggestion and submit these three names."

Grand Scholar Han shook his head. "No, we can’t announce these three. If the public never sees them, it’s manageable. But if three children stand before His Majesty at the palace exam, he’ll think we’re treating the imperial examination as a joke."

After a long silence, Vice Minister Shao couldn’t help protesting, "But their essays truly are the best among all candidates. Shouldn’t we—"

Grand Scholar Han cut him off. "Let His Majesty judge their merit during the palace exam. The metropolitan exam ranking is insignificant—we can’t gamble our careers over this."

Vice Minister Shao reluctantly conceded.

Lowering his voice, he asked, "Then which of the three should we replace?"

Grand Scholar Han replied with detached calm, "Zong Jincheng is General Zong’s only legitimate son. Untouchable."

Vice Minister Shao nodded repeatedly.

In the capital, the two most powerful figures were Luo Jingfeng and Zong Zhao. Even the emperor showed them deference—let alone mid-ranking officials like themselves.

Vice Minister Shao moved to the next name. "Zong Wenxiu is the legitimate son of the second branch of Yangyuan Marquis Manor—General Zong’s nephew. This… also seems unwise to meddle with."

Their gazes simultaneously fell on the remaining name.

Qin Ye.

His father also served in the court, but only as a fourth-rank official—a scholar who had risen from humble origins. While impressive for most, such status meant little in the power-laden capital.

Grand Scholar Han sighed softly. "To achieve first place in the provincial exam at such a young age, and now poised to top the metropolitan exam—his talent is undeniable. But he’s too young to navigate court intrigues, and Lord Qin lacks the influence to shield him. Let’s hold him back—rank him second-tier and send him to the Hanlin Academy for two years of experience before promotion."

Vice Minister Shao’s heart sank. "Demoting him from first place in the top tier to second-tier? Grand Scholar, this… this boy was meant to be the top candidate!"

After a long silence, Grand Scholar Han murmured, "What alternative do we have? Would you dare displace the two from the Zong family? How many heads do you think we have to spare?"

"But—"

"No more objections. Quickly select a candidate over twenty from the remaining fifteen to name as top candidate."

The more Vice Minister Shao heard, the heavier his heart grew. He muttered, "If we’re replacing someone anyway, why not move General Zong’s son to first place? He’s already second."

Promoting someone from below would be unfair to all other candidates.

"First removing an eleven-year-old top candidate, then replacing him with another eleven-year-old—have you lost your mind, or have I?" Grand Scholar Han reminded him sharply. "Let me teach you how to be chief examiner: unless His Majesty, General Zong, or the Duke of State Protection personally intervene, we cannot compromise the examination’s fairness."

Vice Minister Shao: "..."

Fairness? Where was the fairness in demoting Qin Ye to second-tier?

Sullenly, Vice Minister Shao pulled up the fourth candidate. "Pan Hongzhi, twenty-two years old—of age."

Grand Scholar Han glanced at the name. "A commoner background. He won’t carry enough weight to overshadow Zong Jincheng’s status. The Zong family might protest."

Vice Minister Shao: "?!"

I quit! I bloody quit!!

Being an imperial examination supervisor is no job for an honest official!

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