557 Times Have Changed (1/2)
Fang Zhengzhi…
The Chief Examiner?
This was unbelievable no matter how you looked at it.
The Imperial Examination was of utmost importance in the capital. The person who passed the Imperial Examination would be able to become an official in court. The Chief Examiner was the person who wielded the highest authority in this highly regarded examination.
He could destroy a candidate's future with just a sentence or conversely, he could pave the way for another candidate if he wanted to. It was not an understatement to say that the Chief Examiner was the most important figure in this examination.
”This is not possible, this is an illusion!”
”How can Fang Zhengzhi be the Chief Examiner this time. He is not even 18 years old!”
”How can this be? This must be the first time since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty that the Chief Examiner for the Imperial Examination is younger than 18 years old!”
All of the candidates stared at Fang Zhengzhi, who was standing in the middle of all the invigilators. After all. This was absurd.
'Master Fang, can we begin?” Just as the candidates were having doubts, an invigilator walked towards Fang Zhengzhi and asked in a respectful manner.
”Yes, you may begin,” Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head and handed the golden scroll in his hand over.
”Yes!” The invigilator took over the golden scroll with both hands before slowly retreating back two steps. He then coughed softly before he opened the scroll, ”By orders of His Majesty, Fang Zhengzhi has been bestowed the title of Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy. He is a Rank 2 Official and currently enjoys the royal endowment. He will also be the Chief Examiner for this Law od Dao Imperial Examination!”
”Royal Rank 2 Official!”
”Oh my dear lord, he is really the Chief Examiner for this Imperial Examination!”
”A Chief Examiner younger than 18 years old. This must be the first since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty. Furthermore, he has already been bestowed the title of a Rank 2 official and has the royal endowment! This is akin to the treatment received by the Six Council Officials!”
As the candidates listened to the content of the royal message, they were all dumbfounded. This result was not something they had expected.
This was because…
Just a few days ago…
When Fang Zhengzhi entered Flame Capital City together with Chi Hou and Yan Xiu from the Divine Constabulary, he was still a criminal. However, he was now already the Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Rites Official, and enjoying the royal endowment.
How preposterous was that?
No one would believe it. However, the truth was right in front of their eyes.
At that moment, all the candidates stared at Fang Zhengzhi, the youngest Chief Examiner of the Imperial Examinations in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty, the person who was in control of their fates.
Thoughts then flashed through their mind.
Capital Examinations Double Roll Champion, Prefectural Examinations Double Roll Champion, Imperial Examination Double Roll Champion and Court Examination Double Roll Champion. This was the greatest achievement ever in the history of the Law od Dao Examination. Till date, no one had ever surpassed that amazing feat.
Furthermore, he was also the main architect of the Southern Region Battle scheme and the guy who once fought with half- saint demon Can Yang. Just one of this achievement would be enough to impress anyone.
However…
When all of these accolades were concentrated on a single individual, he then had the power and capabilities to become the youngest Chief Examiner for the Imperial Examinations.
The candidates exchanged glances and thought of the same thing. It was that Fang Zhengzhi had somehow become a mentor they must be grateful to if they passed this exam.
This was because their rankings in this examination would be personally handled by Fang Zhengzhi. In that case, wouldn't he be the mentor that all the successful candidates had to be grateful to?
Just thinking about calling a person younger than them their mentor…
The candidates felt dejected and worthless.
”It is about time. Let's begin the examinations.” Fang Zhengzhi stared at the crowd of silent candidates and waved his hands, seemingly uninterested.
In fact, he had no interest in being the Chief Examiner whatsoever.
However…
This was the Emperor Lin Mubai's request.
He had already accepted the gift of the hundred square miles mansion. Furthermore, the Majesty had personally sent the royal message down to Ping Yang Residence. He had no choice but to accept it.
”Yes!” The invigilator nodded and immediately rang the second bell, signaling the candidates to enter the examination grounds.
Gong!
The sound of the giant cymbal reverberated through the academy.
At that same time, all the candidates recollected their thoughts. When their gaze once again fell back onto Fang Zhengzhi who was in the middle of all the invigilators, no one else had any doubt in their hearts.
That was because, despite their will, it was not something that they could change.
Furthermore, casting aside Fang Zhengzhi's background and character, he definitely had the capabilities and rights to be the Chief Examiner.
The reason was simple. He was the first person in history to have ever completed all six Imperial Examinations in one sitting and attained a perfect score in all of them.
This reason alone would suffice.
If such a person could not become the Chief Examiner, then who could?
Once the gong chimed, the Imperial Academy's door opened as the guards and the invigilators separated themselves into two neat lines.
Fang Zhengzhi then stood in the center of the entrance. The proper decorum of the Law of Dao Examinations dictated that all candidates taking the examination would have to give a scholar salute to the Chief Examiner before entering the examination grounds.
The candidates queued up orderly and respectfully greeted Fang Zhengzhi and allowed themselves to be checked by the guards. Fang Zhengzhi was also unexpectedly serious, putting on a stern expression and keeping his back upright.
”Hm…”
”Very good!”
”Good job! Work hard!”
”Get a good grade!”
Under the warm encouragement of Fang Zhengzhi, all the candidates entered the examination grounds with slightly more confidence.
Nangong Mu seemed to have accepted this as well. After getting checked by the guards, he walked towards Fang Zhengzhi and bowed respectfully just like the other students.
Following which, he then waited patiently for Fang Zhengzhi's words of encouragement.
He waited…
Then a voice rang beside his ears.
”Do you wish to be the champion? Just draw three circles on your exam paper!”
Nangong Mu felt his legs go wobbly and almost fell to the ground. He then stared calmly at Fang Zhengzhi, who was currently smiling cheerily at him.
What did this mean? The Chief Examiner was helping a specific candidate pass the examination? Three circles to be the champion? As he stared at Fang Zhengzhi's face, Nangong Mu was fell speechless.
Alas…
This guy was truly shameless.