Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 680 - 622: The Scientific Examination Results Are Released!

Chapter 680: Chapter 622: The Scientific Examination Results Are Released!

The day the imperial examination results were posted, countless scholars flocked to the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall, eager to see if their names had earned the honor of being listed.

However, the successful ones were always a minority.

More often than not, the majority were but small carps in the grand event of leaping over the dragon gate, struggling in vain without ever making the leap.

"I passed! I passed! I... Wait, my surname isn’t Zhao! Why the hell isn’t my surname Zhao?!"

"Who would’ve thought that even the grandson of a duke made it! How did I hear this guy has been mad since childhood, and that’s why the duke has kept him indoors all these years, for fear he’d run amok causing trouble?"

"I just saw Cui Wentai from the Cui Family on the list too. But that lad’s handwriting looks like dog scratches, could he really have passed?"

"Humph! How interesting. That talented candidate from the south, Lu Shuren, didn’t make it. Hahaha... How amusing! This examination is really damn amusing!"

At first, many scholars looked at the list with hopeful eyes.

But soon, hope turned to disappointment.

Upon a closer look at the names on the list, behind each one was

the towering shadow of a Noble Family.

Therefore, the wave of disappointment coupled with a surge of indignation quickly caused many scholars present to get agitated, loudly decrying the unfairness of the examination!

Meanwhile, right behind the angry crowd of examinees, Second Master Shen was standing by with a group of men from the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s office, ready for action at any moment.

Shen Bao, who had come to watch the fun, noticed his grandfather among the crowd, so he ran over and asked, "Grandpa, what are you doing here? You... You didn’t secretly take the exam behind my back, did you?"

If Shen Erxian didn’t know this silly son was his own flesh and blood, he might have given him a couple of slaps on the spot.

"Do you think Chief of Staff Shen Wei would come and hit me with a stick if I entered the examination hall?"

"Then Grandpa, what are you doing here?"

Shen Erxian pointed at the noisy group of scholars in front, saying, "Zhang San specifically came to tell me to keep an eye on this place. He said something might happen today. At first, I didn’t believe it, but now it seems quite possible."

Shen Bao uttered an "Oh," then turned and walked toward where the results were posted.

But he was immediately grabbed by Shen Erxian.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

"I took the exam too, I’m going to check my results!"

"Give it up! With our family’s background, we didn’t even give Shen Wei a present! How could your name possibly be on the list? Come back and just stay put!"

Visibly irked, Shen Bao countered, "Look! I’m trying to make some progress, and you’re stopping me?"

"What progress could you possibly make? You’d be better off just sticking with Zhang San, eating and drinking properly. If Zhang San rises to the top later, you can mix in a meal not going hungry, and I can rest easy."

Shen Bao pouted, looking over at the boisterous mob of scholars, unsure if they would cause an uproar today.

Wait a second, why did he feel a bit eager for them to start a commotion?

At this moment, inside the Imperial Palace, all the scholars who had made the list were brought before Emperor Kaihuang for the final palace examination.

However, Emperor Kaihuang’s expression was sour, even worse than when he was ambushed by a powerful adversary from the Spiritual Platform Realm Holding the Origin and Preserving Unity during the battle at Falling Dragon Mountain.

"I asked you how to make the common people wealthy, and you tell me not to aim too high?"

The scholars nodded repeatedly, their faces serious as they said, "It’s better to be content with lesser wealth, for contentment brings happiness. Excessive wealth can be a burden. Really, Emperor Kaihuang, my family has money, you must believe me!"

Emperor Kaihuang facepalmed, having just asked a few questions in the hall.

One was more of a simpleton than the other.

Some were even notoriously known in the Capital as having development issues since childhood.

"Such a man probably couldn’t even write his own name correctly without ten or eight years of practice, and you’re telling me he’s qualified to be shortlisted as an Imperial Scholar, and then come to the palace examination for me to select the top three ranks?"

"Shen Wei! Get up here!"

Shen Wei, the chief examiner standing by, heard Emperor Kaihuang call his name and immediately walked over with a composed demeanor, kneeling on the ground.

"Emperor Kaihuang."

"I ask you, are these the Imperial Scholars you have selected? Are these the talents for governing the country you have chosen for me?"

Shen Wei clasped his hands and nodded, "Indeed."

Seeing Shen Wei’s unabashed tone, Kaihuang was so enraged he almost laughed.

"Well, well! How splendid! Then tell me, how exactly were these people selected? Enlighten me."

Shen Wei immediately clasped his hands, "Emperor, please allow me to report."

As he spoke, Shen Wei stood up and pointed to a student behind him, introducing him to Emperor Kaihuang.

"Although this one doesn’t speak very clearly and doesn’t seem very bright, he is in fact a young master from the Cui Family within the Five Surnames and Seven Families—Cui Wentai. The Cui Family sent me twenty chests of jewels; also, they gave sixteen plots of agricultural lands near the Capital, totaling four hundred acres of prime fields; in addition, there were twelve beautiful women. However, as a man of integrity, naturally, I couldn’t accept these women, so I sold them in Pingkang Fang and turned them into money."

Then, Shen Wei pointed to the student who had just spoken.

"This one is even more remarkable. He is a distant relative of Empress Dugu. Not only is he an Imperial Relative, but he also sent me three precious steeds, each worth a city’s ransom; there were also numerous lost ancient books; famed calligraphy and paintings in no less than four large chests; moreover, there are some shops in Yongyang Fang, thirty-six in total."

As Kaihuang listened to Shen Wei’s introductions one by one, the expression on his face changed from anger to a wry smile.

After all were introduced, Shen Wei once again kneeled.

"To report to Emperor Kaihuang, these students are among all those who gave me gifts, the ones with the most influence, status, and the heaviest gifts, whom I cannot afford to provoke. That’s why I selected them as Imperial Scholars."

"I am well aware that Your Wish is for the Great Sui to have more talent, which is why during my time as chief examiner, I have not neglected my studies, even delving into books on Confucianism. I understand what benevolence and righteousness mean. Benevolence and righteousness mean being good to others, it’s about morality. Taking people’s money and then speaking well of them."

"Hence, I learned from Confucianism. After accepting the wealth from these noble families I couldn’t provoke, I devoted myself to their service! This is Confucian benevolence and righteousness, and it’s the benevolence and righteousness of the state!"

At that moment, several Confucianist ministers in the hall felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed what Shen Wei had just spouted.

Although we Confucians indeed do not always practice what we preach, is this really what we meant by benevolence and righteousness?

Having said his piece, Shen Wei gave Emperor Kaihuang another bow.

And with that bow, click.

A scroll just happened to fall from Shen Wei’s sleeve.

Curious, Kaihuang asked, "Shen Wei, what are you hiding in your sleeve?"

Shen Wei replied with a smile, "Nothing much, just some scrap paper where I recorded the names of some examinees I found somewhat acceptable when I was bored during the grading. Your Highness, there’s no need to look at such useless things, really no need!"

Watching Shen Wei’s sly expression, although unclear who he learned such sarcastic mannerisms from,

Kaihuang fully understood Shen Wei’s purpose in selecting such a worthless group this time.

After all, these members of the noble families, not to say Shen Wei, merely the Minister of Punishment, even if the Pharaoh himself arrived, some would not want to offend them.

Furthermore, Kaihuang recalled the early days of his ascension when the families behind these students were ones he himself dared not offend.

From this perspective, Shen Wei’s helplessness was only natural.

"Cao Demeng, go down and bring that scrap of paper up. Having seen so many young talents today, I must read that worthless paper to calm my mind."

"Yes."