Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

Chapter 97 The Imperial Examination!

Meanwhile, Ma Zhou, upon seeing the list, was in a daze.

Who am I? Where am I? What did I just hear?

He's in the top three?!

No? Is that right? Did the adults grading the papers eat mushrooms?

"Zi...Ziping, this...I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Seeing Ma Zhou's incredulous expression, Zhang Heng couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Heh! Try pinching yourself, does it hurt?!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou instinctively pinched himself.

"Huh? It doesn't hurt! I must be dreaming!"

Hey~

However, at that moment, Zhang Heng, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but shout out.

"Of course it doesn't hurt, you son of a bitch! I told you to pinch yourself, why did you pinch me?!"

Feeling the pain in his arm, even Zhang Heng was so angry that he cursed loudly.

Upon hearing Zhang Heng's words, Ma Zhou scratched his head awkwardly.

"Hehe! Pinching myself will hurt, I'm not stupid!"

Compared to Ma Zhou, people were actually more curious about Zhang Heng's identity, and many aristocratic families began to use their connections to inquire about Zhang Heng's background.

However, you don't know until you investigate, and what you find is shocking.

Zhang Heng lost his father at a young age and lived with his mother since childhood. His mother made a living by washing clothes for noblemen.

Even Zhang Heng himself would work as a storyteller in various restaurants in Lin'an to make a living.

Yet this very person overpowered all the noble sons of powerful families and entered the ranks of the top class with unparalleled talent.

When Zhang Heng's information was exposed, the major families found it hard to accept the outcome.

Are you kidding me?

There were only three people in the top three, and two of them came from poor families.

Such a thing would have been impossible in the past.

But they couldn't really say anything about the outcome.

Zhang Heng and Ma Zhou's exam papers are still posted at the entrance of the examination hall!

People from prestigious families could naturally see the value of these two papers.

Not only were Ma Zhou's papers on par with Cui Yan's, but Zhang Heng's papers were also a whole level above both of them.

Calling someone of this level a prodigy wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The Wang family of Taiyuan.

"Go! Send someone with gifts to pay them a visit. Since they are from humble backgrounds, let's bring them onto the Wang family's warship!"

Wang Gui said with a serious expression.

His idea was simple: Zhang Heng and Ma Zhou were both from poor families and had no background.

Moreover, they had no grudge against these two people. They had also seen those two papers, especially Zhang Heng's, which they knew they couldn't match.

Since that's the case, why not win them over, cultivate a good relationship, and then marry one of their daughters to them? Wouldn't that make them one of our own?

However, he was not the only one who thought this way; almost all the prominent families of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans shared this view.

In the eyes of the aristocratic families, Zhang Heng and Ma Zhou are now just two helpless duckweeds adrift in the water.

Whoever picks it first gets to keep it.

So they all sent people with gifts to visit Ma Zhou and Zhang Heng at their residences.

However, they were destined to come up empty-handed.

The Eastern Palace!

"Your Highness! This is Ma Zhou! Ma Binwang!"

Inside the study, Zhang Heng bowed respectfully to Li Chengqian and began to speak.

At this moment, Ma Zhou stared at him blankly.

"Your Majesty... Your Highness the Crown Prince?!"

Seeing Ma Zhou's bewildered expression, Li Chengqian couldn't help but chuckle.

"So you're Ma Zhou? How about it? Want to follow me from now on? I'll guarantee you a life of luxury!"

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's words, his previously held illusion of the Crown Prince's authority shattered instantly.

Why does His Highness speak like a bandit from the mountains?

While thinking, Ma Zhou did not stop moving.

He immediately bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness. I am willing!"

Upon hearing this answer, Li Chengqian couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Good! With the two of you here, I have even more confidence to replace the old man."

That's right, his current idea is to first build up his own team, and then replace the entire court, from the retired emperor to the three provinces and six ministries, all at once.

When the time comes, he'll have all of his old man's group retire. They're all his dearest uncles and elders. How could he bear to let them work at such an advanced age? They're all in their thirties or forties.

If Li Shimin could hear Li Chengqian's inner thoughts, he would surely burst into a tirade of curses.

You unfilial son! You call someone in their thirties or forties an old man? This is called the prime of life, don't you understand?

Ma Zhou couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly upon hearing Li Chengqian's words.

Surely we can't execute his entire family the moment he joins the Crown Prince's palace?

Listening to what His Highness the Crown Prince just said, I feel like I've boarded a pirate ship.

However, after thinking about it, he changed his mind.

He lost both his parents when he was young and was raised by his uncle, who also passed away a few years ago. He was not familiar with the other nine generations of his family, so let them be executed!

Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince might not necessarily lose. What if he wins? Wouldn't he become the governor of three provinces?

No child cries every day, and no gambler loses every day.

Say nothing!

All in! All in right now!

At this time, Li Shimin was unaware that the top two scholars he had been longing for had already been recruited by Li Chengqian before he even met them.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Taiji Hall.

Li Shimin sat high on the dragon throne, while Li Chengqian and Li Tai sat below him, one on his left and one on his right.

The vast Taiji Hall was filled with tables.

The group of examinees entered the Taiji Hall and immediately bowed to the three people sitting above them.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty, and greet His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prince of Wei!"

Looking at the students below, Li Shimin couldn't help but smile slightly, raising his hand slightly as he spoke:

"Get up, everyone!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Once the students were seated, Li Shimin immediately gave Canyue a look, and the latter instantly understood and arranged for people to start distributing the exam papers.

The palace examination begins.

The candidates began answering the questions.

Time ticked by, and Li Chengqian grew increasingly restless.

He couldn't help but turn to his old man and whisper:

"Father! I need to use the restroom!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing this, Li Chengqian chuckled and slipped away from behind.

A short while later, Li Chengqian returned and sat down with a contented expression.

However, before he could sit comfortably for even a few minutes, Li Chengqian turned to look at his old man again.

"Dad! I need to pee!"

"Go! Go! Go!"

"Okay!"

……