Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

After having a free meal at the Yu residence, Zhou Ning seized an opportunity to take out a silver hairpin from his bosom and dangle it behind his back.

Yu Yanran, who was following behind, was startled and looked around guiltily. Seeing that no one was around, she quickly took the item.

Watching Zhou Ning board the carriage, Yu Yanran felt a pang of loss and helped Grand Tutor Yu walk back.

"Unhappy? Didn't you receive anything?" Grand Tutor Yu asked.

"Huh? No...no." Yu Yanran felt guilty.

Grand Tutor Yu laughed and said, "Grandfather has excellent eyesight; how could he not see that the swelling on that boy's chest has disappeared?"

"Grandfather! I didn't!" Yu Yanran said coquettishly.

Grand Tutor Yu said smugly, "Your grandmother always said he was like me, and that's only about 80% true. He comes from a poor family, has little talent, is handsome, and has good character—those are all true. But he has some lecherous habits, acting like that in broad daylight. I'm afraid he's not a faithful man. He's really only 3...7 or 80% inferior to me!"

The old Grand Tutor's implication was: This kid looks lecherous and acts frivolously. It's unlikely he'll be like me, who doesn't take concubines and is devoted to one person for life. He's far inferior to me!

Yu Yanran understood and agreed, "There is no man in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty who can be as good as my grandfather. I have no wishful thinking about it."

"You, you should observe him a little longer..."

Zhou Mansion!

As soon as I entered, I saw Sheng Changbai sitting in his own courtyard.

Zhou Ning stepped forward and bowed: "Brother Changbai! Please forgive me for not greeting you sooner."

"I just arrived recently, look." Sheng Changbai returned the greeting and took out his gold flower invitation card.

This is the official notification of the palace examination, written on yellow flowered paper, about five inches long and half the width. It contains the candidate's name and ranking in the metropolitan examination, with the candidate's signature below. It is protected by a large letter, on which the candidate's name is also written.

The name Sheng Changbai is extremely eye-catching!

"Congratulations, elder brother, on passing the imperial examination and becoming a disciple of the emperor!" Zhou Ning said, cupping his hands in greeting.

The emperor once issued an edict: all candidates who passed the provincial examination and entered the palace examination would be granted the title of Jinshi (进士).

More than twenty years ago, a student who failed the imperial examination defected to the enemy in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

After failing the imperial examinations multiple times, the talented Zhang Yuan angrily joined the Western Xia and rose to the position of prime minister of the Western Xia.

Under his planning, battles such as Haoshuichuan and Dingchuanzhai resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of elite troops for the Great Zhou Dynasty, and severe damage to the border.

The emperor learned from the experience and, in order to reduce the possibility of unsuccessful candidates flowing to enemy countries, directly abolished the palace examination elimination system.

Sheng Changbai laughed and said, "We're both happy. I just asked your servant, and yours has been delivered too."

"Do I have a pear head too?" Zhou Ning asked hurriedly.

Pear Head nodded and said, "Yes, it was delivered shortly after Young Master left this morning. I left it in Young Master's study."

Zhou Ning was very happy, because according to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he could now become an official.

I'll go find Sister Wei to share the good news... But let's keep it from her for now, and give her a surprise when the rankings for the imperial examinations are released.

I promised her I would compete for the top scholar title!

Sheng Changbai asked, "The palace examination is scheduled for the end of this month, that is, in ten days, at the Jiying Hall! Pengqi, are you ready?"

Zhou Ning could hear the excitement in Sheng Changbai's voice, and he couldn't help but tremble as well, not out of fear, but out of excitement!

Meeting the Emperor...

The master of this country...

Of course, this was the first time it would happen like this.

Once I attend court frequently and see the emperor often, I believe I will only see him as my boss!

"Brother, I'm all ready. I just don't know if His Majesty is ready to meet his top scholar?" Zhou Ning said with a smile.

Looking at the spirited young man before him, Sheng Changbai recalled their first meeting.

At that time, my family had just moved from Yangzhou to Bianjing because my father, Sheng Hong, had been promoted to a fifth-rank official in the capital.

But Zhou Ning, who was only seven years old at the time, called out his own name halfway through the journey.

"Sheng Changbai! I have no family left. Do you dare lend me your books? If you do, I'll repay you with a top scholar brother!"

It was that spirit and energy that inspired me.

"What is there to be afraid of?"

He agreed, perhaps just to see if Zhou Ning would back down.

From that time on, Zhou Ning borrowed books again and again, reading them extremely quickly, and his knowledge grew higher and higher.

Two years later, he took the imperial examination to become a scholar, and he also took it, passing without any major mishaps.

At the same time, I became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations)!

Three years later, he took the imperial examination to become a scholar, and the other man also took the exam, even ranking higher than him.

At the same time, he became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination)!

Now that both of them have become Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), it seems he is about to fulfill his boastful words to him!

"Brother Changbai? What are you spacing out for!" Zhou Ning shook Sheng Changbai.

Sheng Changbai snapped out of his reverie and said with emotion, "I just suddenly remembered something you said to me when we were little. It seems you're about to do it."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and asked, "But I also have an elder brother who is a top scholar? I will work hard!"

Sheng Changbai laughed and said, "No matter what, I'll always consider you my brother."

"Now that your brother has passed the imperial examination, the family should be arranging a marriage for you. It's a pity I don't have an older sister, otherwise I would definitely let her marry you. But even if my family had the means, Lord Sheng and his wife wouldn't be interested," Zhou Ning said with a smile.

Sheng Changbai replied, "You don't have an older sister, but I have a younger sister. Do you have someone you like? I'll go talk to Mother and Father about it."

Zhou Ning rubbed his hands together and whispered, "There's something I'm afraid I'll say that might ruin our brotherhood. Brother, you mustn't be angry with me."

Sheng Changbai asked curiously, "What?"

"Besides Fourth Sister, I want to marry Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister too! Hahaha!" Zhou Ning said before running off, then turned back and called out, "Pear Head! Prepare the teacher appreciation gift; I'm going to the Sheng family tomorrow!"

Sheng Changbai didn't react for a moment, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that Zhou Ning actually had his eyes on his two younger sisters and even wanted to marry them both!

"This is outrageous!"

Seeing Zhou Ning run away, abandoning his own home.

Sheng Changbai could only say to Li Tou beside him, "When you get back, tell him he doesn't need to come tomorrow. The Sheng family won't open the door for him! Also, tell him to prepare well for the palace examination!" After saying that, he smiled and left.

Pear Head nodded in agreement. Even if he was slow-witted, he knew that this was a great benefactor of the family and could not be offended.

Zhou Ning didn't return until evening. After listening to Sheng Changbai's words, he locked himself in his study and told no one to disturb him!

Ten days later!

The imperial examination begins!

Three hundred and seven successful candidates in the imperial examinations had gathered outside the Jiying Hall early in the morning! (Those who had not yet been announced were still considered successful candidates.)

The candidates entered the examination hall in order of their names on their name cards and took their seats in their designated places. The imperial court provided all the necessary supplies, including writing brushes, ink, paper, examination papers, draft paper, and meals.

The old emperor Zhao Zhen appeared and tested everyone with a series of questions on military and political affairs!

The answer sheet must be at least several thousand words long!

Zhou Ning knew that what the Great Zhou Dynasty could not tolerate most was the independence of the Western Xia, so destroying Xia had always been the Zhou Dynasty's biggest foreign military operation.

Grind the ink and begin writing!

"The Great Zhou should first stabilize the Khitan in the north and prioritize addressing the threat from the relatively weaker Western Xia. After recovering the Hehuang region and controlling the flanks of Western Xia, the northern border troubles can be gradually resolved."

"To conquer Western Xia, we must first recover the Hehuang region; once the Hehuang region is recovered, Western Xia will be vulnerable to attack from both sides. We must sever the connection between Western Xia and Tibet, and then encircle Western Xia from the flanks..."

Completed with 1000 words!

I'm raising this sign to indicate!

Submit your paper!

"How old are you, young scholar below?"

The old emperor Zhao Zhen noticed Zhou Ning, who submitted his paper the fastest. Seeing that he was still young, he couldn't help but ask him a question.

"This young man is still a child!"

......