Chapter 311: Deciding who comes first in an art (1/2)

Chapter 311: Deciding who comes first in an art

Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations

No one could understand what Nangong Hao was thinking. Was he going to hand in a blank script? Was this question too easy? Did he find the court examinations too easy?

But that did not seem very possible.

If Nangong Hao did not care about the court examinations, he did not have to come all the way to the capital and announce his participation.

Almost all of the officials knew that the Nangong Family valued their reputation. Handing in a blank script would not be tolerated.

As such...

What was Nangong Hao thinking?

Just as all the officials were thinking about it, Nangong Hao picked up his script and flipped it over.

”What... what’s going on?”

All of the officials were stunned when they saw it.

In the moment Nangong Hao flipped over his script, they could all see that his script was not blank. It was filled with words.

This meant that Nangong Hao was not handing in a blank script.

It’s not blank?

How is that possible?!

All of the officials were stumped. No one was willing to believe what they were seeing. Before Fang Zhengzhi had asked to hand in his script, Nangong Hao’s script was still blank.

Could it be...

How is that possible?

”Oh my god, how did he do that?”

”That is impossible!”

”Unbelievable.”

All of the officials were consumed by terror.

If Nangong Hao was not handing in a blank script, there was only one possibility.

Just now...

In the moment that everyone was engrossed with Fang Zhengzhi, Nangong Hao had completed his script at supernatural speeds.

However, when they tried to recall what happened...

The entire episode, from Fang Zhengzhi’s announcement to his exchange with Su Qing, lasted no more than 10 minutes.

This meant that Nangong Hao had completed his paper in that time.

That was too fast!

All of the officials were stumped by that speed.

What stunned them even more was that Nangong Hao had finished his paper during a time which was least conducive for writing a paper.

Any interruption would easily break one’s train of thought and momentum.

Yet, during the most chaotic part of the entire court examination, Nangong Hao managed to finish his paper.

Furthermore, he had completed it in such a short time.

This meant that Nangong Hao had already reached a state of nirvana where he could not be disturbed by anything around him.

”Natural Heart Dao... is this Natural Heart Dao?!” Wu Feng looked at Nangong Hao with fear.

This was the first time he feared someone to this extent.

The fear stemmed from the depths of his heart.

Su Qing finally recovered from his shock. He looked at Nangong Hao, then back at Emperor Lin Mubai. Emperor Lin Mubai’s expression changed slightly.

”Seal the scripts.” Emperor Lin Mubai replied.

”Yes, your highness.” Su Qing replied.

All of the officials went silent when they heard this.

If Fang Zhengzhi was the only one to hand in his script, then they could charge him for disrespecting the Emperor. But now, even Nangong Hao was handing in his script.

What else could they say?

Were they going to charge Nangong Hao as well?

Su Qing had already walked over to Nangong Hao. He looked at the script on the table and prepared to seal it.

Just at that moment, a hand stopped Su Qing.

This was Nangong Hao’s hand.

”Young Master Nangong, do you not plan on handing it in?” Su Qing was confused.

”No, but I think that Official Su has got something wrong?” Nangong Hao’s gaze towards Su Qing was plain and calm.

”What is it?” Su Qing was getting slightly suspicious.

”Official Su participated in the imperial examinations four years ago. You made it into the courts and advanced to the post of imperial messenger. Can’t you see who submitted their script first?” Nangong Hao pointed towards Fang Zhengzhi.

Su Qing was stunned.

All of the officials next to Emperor Lin Mubai were also taken aback.

”Can’t you see who submitted their script first?”

They knew what Nangong Hao was getting at, and they knew that Nangong Hao was referring to Fang Zhengzhi.

However, they could not figure out why Nangong Hao would say something like that. This was a small matter. It was just the order of submission.

If the imperial messenger in charge of sealing the scripts went in a different order, most people will not raise any objection.

Was Nangong Hao a petty person?

Clearly not.

That meant that Nangong Hao was doing this on purpose.

Another thought was raised in the officials’ minds. If Nangong Hao was saying this on purpose, then did he hand in his script right after Fang Zhengzhi on purpose too?

No one could understand it.

However, Su Qing reacted quickly.

He was second to Nangong Hao during the imperial examinations and a rank four official in the courts. However, he was nothing in the face of Nangong Hao.

At least, he was nothing right now.

There would always be a difference between rank one and two. It was an unassailable gap.

Su Qing knew this very well. Even though he was the invigilator for the examination, he still bowed to Nangong Hao apologetically.

Then, he turned to bow to Fang Zhengzhi.

”Official Fang, please accept my apologies. I have made a mistake!” Su Qing walked over to Fang Zhengzhi and prepared to seal his script.

A hand quickly stopped Su Qing in his tracks.