The First Marquis of Leisure

When he received the exam questions, Bai Xinghe couldn't help but laugh.

The questions for this competition were assisted by Li Chentian, Ji Zi, and Qiu Qingtian, with the Emperor of Yan as the main examiner.

The four of them decided together to add poetry to the existing essays and policy proposals.

Bai Xinghe couldn't help but laugh. This was clearly because Ji Zi and Li Chentian had been dealt too badly by him when they were in Zhao.

The entire exam was scheduled for six shichen, or twelve hours.

Students can drop out of the exam midway, but no one is allowed to leave their designated area; eating, drinking, and relieving oneself all take place in a fixed location.

If anyone violates the rules, they will be disqualified on the spot.

Bai Xinghe glanced at the exam questions briefly before starting to answer them.

This is nothing to him, a PhD student from a top-tier university in his previous life.

After all, knowledge is thousands of years ahead, and while the times are always moving forward, knowledge can keep pace.

Those who favor the past over the present naturally don't understand the reasoning behind this, always believing that the older something is, the better it is, which is not the case.

About three hours later, Bai Xinghe had finished answering all the questions in a very long and detailed manner.

To avoid attracting attention and causing unnecessary trouble, he deliberately did not leave early, but instead lay down on the cutting board to sleep.

Around the fifth hour, it got dark.

Finally, many talented people from various countries left the stage!

"Hey, weren't you supposed to be the top scholar in the imperial examination? What are you doing sleeping here?"

A teasing voice interrupted Bai Xinghe's reverie. He looked up and saw that it was Yuan Benchu.

"What's it to you? Just prepare for the day the results are announced, and kneel before me in public!"

Bai Xinghe responded.

"Hehe." Yuan Benchu ​​said confidently, "Even if I don't become the top scholar, I'll at least be in the top three. As for you, dream on!"

"Remember this bet between us, witnessed by all the candidates in the world. If you go back on your word, even Dr. Li can't save you!"

After saying this, Yuan Benchu ​​turned and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Seeing that many people had already finished answering and left, Bai Xinghe also stood up, stretched, and left as well.

Stepping out of the examination hall prepared by the Ministry of Rites, Bai Xinghe stood at the edge of the crowd.

Yuan Benchu ​​and several other prominent scions of prominent families in Beijing were gathered together, praising each other.

Many students from the Doctoral Academy also participated in this major exam and exchanged ideas with other candidates!

At this moment, Qian Yuan also came out from inside with a mournful face.

Upon seeing Qian Yuan arrive, as Li Chentian's last disciple, he naturally attracted attention.

Many test takers rushed over to ask questions.

"Young Master Qian, how did you do on the quiz this time?"

"Young Master Qian, as Dr. Li's last disciple, are you confident that you will achieve the highest rank in the imperial examination this time?"

"Get out of here!" Qian Yuan said, giving him a cold look.

He was never cut out for this; he just had no other choice.

Moreover, the bonus points for the poems were completely different from the eight poems Bai Xinghe had previously given him.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and choose a poem that was close to the topic to write down, hoping to salvage his reputation.

"Oh, judging from Young Master Qian's expression, it seems you're not confident at all."

"Really? You're Dr. Li's last disciple. Otherwise, wouldn't you be disgracing Dr. Li?"

Yuan Benchu, along with a group of scions of prominent families, launched a mocking attack.

Qian Yuan didn't want to pay attention and was about to look for Bai Xinghe in the crowd.

The last one to appear was the Seventh Prince!

The seventh prince was unable to move easily and had to be carried out by several royal guards.

When the Seventh Prince appeared, many candidates went over to inquire about him.

The seventh prince, however, was clearly confident and beaming with pride.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the day the results are announced will also be my wedding day. Please join me in a three-cup toast!"

"Excellent! The Seventh Prince is exceptionally talented; he will surely achieve the highest rank in the imperial examination this time!"

"We wish the Seventh Prince great success in his examinations and that he may embrace his beloved!"

Many test takers offered their congratulations.

Bai Xinghe, mingling in the crowd, was filled with mixed emotions. Whether for public or private reasons, he would never let the Seventh Prince pass the high school entrance exam.

Then the crowd gradually dispersed, and seeing that there were no more people from the Doctor's Mansion, Bai Xinghe came out and found Qian Yuan!

"Brother, where did you run off to?"

Bai Xinghe smiled and made up an excuse to brush it off.

"Brother Qian, how is it?"

Qian Yuan sighed and said, "Don't even mention it. The day the results are released will be the day my reputation is ruined. I'm afraid Dr. Li will also be in trouble then!"

Bai Xinghe patted him on the shoulder without saying anything more, and the two of them left the examination room together!

......

The next day, the capital was filled with revelry and festivities. The imperial examination had ended, and all the candidates in the country were waiting for the results to be released three days later!

Therefore, they all frequented the brothels in the capital, which was a favorite pastime of the literati.

"Have you all heard about the bet made in public yesterday between the Zhao man who was with Young Master Qian and Young Master Yuan in the examination hall?"

"I've heard about it too. I heard that this person boasted that he would definitely become the top scholar in the imperial examination. If he succeeds, Young Master Yuan will have to kneel down to him in public; if he fails, he will commit suicide on the spot!"

"Heh, such arrogance from a mere Zhao state, it seems he doesn't even know the talent of the eldest son of the Yuan family."

"That's right. Many people witnessed it at the time. Even if Qian Yuan had the advantage of being Dr. Li's closed-door disciple, he couldn't have kept it afterward."

Many test takers were discussing the bet between Bai Xinghe and Qian Yuan.

Bai Xinghe, however, didn't care at all; the top scholar title was simply in his grasp.

Next, he should consider the attitude of the Zhao court after his identity is revealed!

By the third day, the area in front of the main gate of the capital city was already packed with people.

Today is the day the results are released; tens of thousands of candidates have completed their papers grading in three days.

The examiners, Dr. Li Chentian, along with staff from the Dr. Li's office, the Hanlin Academy, and all officials of the Imperial Academy, worked through the night to review the papers.

Candidates from all over the country, along with ordinary citizens of the capital, all gathered in front of the city gate tower.

The first to arrive were the brothers Yuan Benchu ​​and Yuan Yao.

The moment the two appeared, the whole audience cheered, and many people believed that Yuan Benchu ​​would surely pass the imperial examination this time.

However, some people are optimistic about Qian Yuan. After all, under normal circumstances, there must be a reason why Li Chentian would accept him as his last disciple.

Some people favor the Seventh Prince, using him as a reference point for love.

"Gentlemen, once my cousin becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, each of you will receive a reward of one hundred taels of silver!"

Yuan Yao was extremely arrogant and made a statement on the spot.

This sparked cheers, and everyone gave a reward of one hundred taels of silver, which was no small sum.

Just then, the seventh prince was carried in by his servants.

Upon seeing the Seventh Prince arrive, many people went to pay their respects.

The Seventh Prince, beaming, looked at Yuan Benchu ​​and said, "Young Master Yuan, it seems the champion of this competition will be either you or me!"

"I don't think so," Qian Yuan's voice rang out at that moment; he had also arrived.

However, Bai Xinghe did not go with them, but instead watched the scene in front of the city gate from a nearby teahouse.

"Heh, Qian Yuan, you're not between this young master and the Seventh Prince, could it be that you're the top scholar?" Yuan Benchu ​​laughed.

Yuan Yao went even further, sarcastically saying, "Qian Yuan, others may not know what kind of person you are, but do you think I don't? Don't think you can swindle people just because you're Dr. Li's closed-door disciple."

Qian Yuan sneered, "This young master certainly doesn't have the ability to be the top scholar, but my brother Bai Zhen will definitely win!"

"Hahaha!"

"Is that the Zhao man who made the bet with Young Master Yuan during the examination?"

"Young Master Qian, you shouldn't have brought this up. Why didn't this person show up when the results were announced today? Did he know he was going to lose and run away beforehand?"

The scene immediately erupted in laughter.

"What do you frogs in a well know!" Qian Yuanqi cursed.

Meanwhile, in the Seventh Prince's residence, Zhao Sisi stood alone in the courtyard.

She clenched her fists, her eyes filled with worry, yet also with anticipation.

She had also heard about the bet between Bai Xinghe and Yuan Benchu, and knew even better that the results would be released today!

"Brother Bai, I believe in you! You'll definitely be the top scholar!"

On the other side, the Hanlin Academy

"Dr. Li, Lord Qiu, ah, come quick, come quickly!"

Everyone was preparing to rank the students and announce the results at the city gate later.

At that moment, a scholar from the Hanlin Academy suddenly cried out in terror.

Immediately, Li Chentian, Qiu Qingtian, and other important figures walked over.

"What's all this shouting about?"

The Hanlin Academy scholar, his hands trembling, held up the last exam paper and said, "Dr. Li, Lord Qiu, the answers and essays on this exam paper are truly masterpieces!"

"I have participated in grading papers for many years, and I have never seen such a magnificent article. Its thinking, its style, its insights are expansive and comprehensive, yet refined and meticulous, with a powerful and surging momentum!"

"Especially his poems, they are masterpieces, truly masterpieces!"

Many important figures, including Li Chentian and Qiu Qingtian, were extremely curious.

"Let me see." Qiu Qingtian took the exam paper and started reading it, then suddenly froze.

Li Chentian burst into laughter, saying smugly, "Lord Qiu, this examinee must be Qian Yuan, my recently accepted disciple!"