After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Li Youzhi's face flushed red as he raised his cup and said, "This cup of wine is a toast to the Seventh Young Master, and I hope that the Seventh Young Master will..."

Hongfeng raised an eyebrow, inwardly sneering, but outwardly interrupting with a smile:

"Brother Li, you are too kind. I thought what you said earlier was just a joke."

"In the past, Brother Li did not know me, and I did not know Brother Li. It was inevitable that we had some differences, which is only human nature. Brother Li should not take it to heart..."

"The imperial examination is a grand ceremony for selecting talent. If Brother Li truly decides to no longer participate in the examination, wouldn't your dynasty be deprived of a great talent?"

Upon hearing this, both inside and outside the gate, everyone's expressions changed, and they immediately began to look at this Tartar with new respect.

With a single sentence, the Tartar not only settled the score but also elevated Li Youzhi's status.

This does indeed reflect some of the Han Chinese principles of "persuading people with reason" and "forgiving others when possible"!

For a moment, everyone present couldn't help but admire this Manchu man.

Li Youzhi felt greatly relieved, and his eyes showed respect. He raised his wine cup and said, "I apologize for my inconvenience." He then drank the strong liquor in one gulp.

The spicy liquor flowed down my throat.

The pent-up frustration he had felt over the past two months was finally swept away, giving him a sense of understanding that "to err is human, to forgive divine" truly meant...

Two months ago, when Li Youzhi learned that this Tartar was going to participate in the Southern Dynasty's imperial examinations and even dared to propose marriage to the reigning Empress, he was filled with grief and indignation, and cursed, "A Tartar can participate in our dynasty's imperial examinations? It's utterly ridiculous!"

As for proposing marriage to the Empress, he simply couldn't bring himself to say it.

Some students from Mingli Academy joined him in cursing, while others murmured things like "peace under heaven" and "south of the Huai River." Li Youzhi looked at these people and angrily made that vow.

At the time, he thought he was being very eloquent, and several great scholars in the academy even praised him, saying that he was "as proud as a winter plum blossom." But he never expected that... as the Tartar's reputation for talent spread throughout the capital, his bold words gradually became a joke of Mingli Academy and several surrounding academies.

Especially after this Tartar seized the title of "County Chief" in Jiangning County, the sarcastic tone of his boastful words became even stronger.

For a time, he felt that his classmates at Mingli Academy wanted to ridicule him as soon as they saw him, but they were also enduring it bitterly. During those days, he felt resentful every single day.

Later, the opponent achieved the highest honors in all three categories, becoming even more famous in the capital and enjoying unparalleled popularity.

A few days ago, even during the provincial examination, Li Youzhi felt bitter, thinking that if this person really passed all four levels of the imperial examination, he would probably have to throw down his pen and throw it into the river, pack his bags and return to his hometown.

Otherwise, how could they possibly establish themselves in the capital?

Today, as the results of the provincial examination were about to be announced, he and some people from Mingli Academy were waiting here when they heard that the Tartars had also arrived, and his face immediately turned awkward.

Thinking that if the opponent hit four consecutive points later, I would be utterly ashamed.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, some students at the next table stood up, some serving tea and some serving wine, saying they wanted to find that Tartar.

He was startled, and upon asking, he learned that these people were in a similar situation to himself. They had also made wild claims, saying that the Tartars would surely achieve this or that, but in the end, the Tartars passed the imperial examinations in three rounds.

Moreover, after the Tartars finished their exams, the magistrate of Jiangning County and the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture were both demoted.

Previously, they thought the Empress was dissatisfied with the Tartars winning the top prize in the two examinations and thus demoted the two ministers... Later, some rumors circulated among the scholars, and they realized that the Empress's actions had another reason... After learning the reason, those classmates who had vehemently criticized the Tartars all felt ashamed...

Now that the Tartar was at the Crane Cry Tower, everyone thought that a gentleman should admit his mistakes and correct them, and so they decided to come together to offer the Tartar a toast, clear things up, and let the matter rest.

A thought struck him, and he followed them.

After he revealed his identity, everyone was surprised to hear that he was Li Youzhi from Mingli Academy.

Li Youzhi was originally the most likely candidate to pass the imperial examination in this year's examination at Mingli Academy, and he was already quite well-known for his talent in the capital.

With everyone's support, Li Youzhi took the lead and came to apologize.

Seeing that the Tartar didn't seem to care at all, he felt greatly relieved and said sincerely with his eyes:

"I, Li, thank you for your generosity, Seventh Young Master."

Hongfeng smiled nonchalantly.

As Li Youzhi withdrew, several more students entered, holding wine cups and identifying themselves, saying, "We previously insulted the Seventh Young Master; indeed, we were quite rude. We were unaware that the Northern Lands also possess the Great Way of the Sages..."

As Hongfeng listened to one person after another come in to apologize and make friends with him, he couldn't help but feel smug, and the smile on his face became a little stiff...

The guests and hosts were all enjoying themselves, and as they talked, someone started the conversation, bringing up another person... This person enjoyed a renowned talent in the capital, and although he had taken the imperial examinations alongside the Seventh Young Master, he had always been overshadowed by him. At the same time, this person was also a noble scion with a prestigious family background... As the discussion progressed and this person was mentioned, even more people gathered around to watch...

Someone gave a bitter laugh and said, "I thought the court would favor the Seventh Prince, but I never imagined that the court would favor someone else..."

Hongfeng smiled with relief:

"It's alright, it's alright. Brother, please don't be upset. The results of the provincial examination are about to be announced, and this person will surely be exposed for who he really is."

Everyone immediately nodded in agreement.

Having successfully turned an enemy into a friend, Li Youzhi snorted and said:

"Don't worry, Seventh Young Master. You suffered injustice in the first three examinations, as did Magistrate Lou and Magistrate Liu... Hmph, if this person fails the provincial examination this time, that's fine. But if this person actually gets lucky and passes..."

"Bang!"

Li Youzhi thumped his chest and said, "Then I, Li, will go all out today and personally go to your door to learn from you!"

"Should we ask him for advice on poetry?" someone suggested.

"Of course, it's the interpretation of the classics!" Li Youzhi drank a bowl of wine, glanced at the man, and said, "If this man truly passes the imperial examination, I, Li, will risk my life to compete with him in the interpretation of the classics today!"

"Excellent! I will go with you then!"

"Let's get justice for Magistrate Lou! Let's see if it's unjust for him to be ranked last!"

"What a good official Magistrate Lou is..."

"Yes! Let's get justice for Prefect Liu!"

"Hehe, I am sixty-three years old this year, and I have the classics memorized by heart. When I took the county examination, I was among the top ten in the entire county! If I had passed the county examination, I would have been a bottom-ranked candidate. But this year, I have failed ten times... Do you think I am convinced or not!"

Li Youzhi also raised his arm and shouted, "I, Li, am unworthy, but I have memorized the classics since childhood and have only just begun to grasp the essence of the sage's way. At that time, I, Li, will see if this descendant of a noble family truly possesses the ability to rank ninth in the provincial examination!"

"Great!" the crowd cheered loudly.

"Hehe, I'll let him choose whatever he wants then—memorizing classics… copying classics, writing essays, archery… anything is fine! If he wants to choose, he can choose the eight-legged essay, policy essays, or debates… he can choose whatever he wants…"

"There's no absolute first in literature, Mr. Zhou, but I think Mo Yi is undoubtedly the best..."

"Yes, yes, yes! Debating the classics is not an option," a student from the Imperial Academy suggested, quickly shaking his head. "At the North-South Poetry Gathering six months ago... no one could out-debate him..."

"Establishing principles, using the eight-legged essay, policy essays... if this person truly passes the imperial examination... we can use any one of these to make him utterly ashamed!"

……

……

The sun is westward.

The evening sunset bathed the bustling Gongyuan Street in a golden hue.

After finishing some business, Ning Nan got off the carriage on the east side of Gongyuan Street. He squeezed and jostled, almost losing his boots in the process, before finally getting into Heming Tower.

Upon stepping across the threshold, one is greeted by this scene:

The Heming Tower, which should have been packed, looked rather empty at first glance, with almost half of the seats on the first floor completely empty.

He heard a sound coming from above. He glanced over and saw that these people seemed to be crowded outside a private room on the second floor, making a fuss about something, shouting like thunder.

These people were shouting things like "the great way of the sages," "ignorant and incompetent," "punish them, punish them," "Mohist doctrines," "memorizing scriptures will immediately reveal their true colors," and "he is eloquent and clever...don't argue with him," creating a chaotic mess...

Master Ning frowned, tightened his thickened moon-colored robe, glanced up again, but didn't pay much attention.

The shopkeeper came forward, bowing low, and led the way, glancing nervously at him every now and then.

The shopkeeper's face turned pale, and he said, "Young Master Ning, this way please." But his tone was extremely unnatural.

Ning Nan didn't take it seriously, assuming that the shopkeeper was just tired from being busy and that's why his expression was a little unusual.

He had squeezed in for ages, and now all he wanted was to get to the "Cloud Crane Room" as soon as possible and have a cup of tea to calm down.

After going up to the second floor, the original route would have passed through the crowded private room, but the innkeeper led him around in a roundabout way, avoiding the crowded area, and finally arrived at the door of "Yunhe Room".

"Click-clack!"

When he pushed open the door and entered "Yunhe Room".

Across from Heming Tower, the Jiangnan Examination Hall was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder. "Dong dong qiang, dong dong qiang..." A series of gongs and drums sounded... Immediately afterwards, a sound wave that far exceeded the volume inside the tower reverberated outside...

The Imperial Examination Hall...

The results are finally out...