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

He strode out of the Crane Cry Tower.

Outside the Jiangnan Examination Hall, figures thronged.

Upon seeing him arrive, some of the candidates stepped forward to bow, introduced themselves, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Brother Ning."

Ning Nan smiled and returned the greetings to each of the candidates.

Some candidates avoided him altogether, as if they wanted to get rid of him at all costs.

Some of these people may have felt that he was arrogant and unapproachable.

Most of them, however, were still the scholars who wanted to "learn from him" that night.

However, some people actually signed the "life-or-death agreement," while others rolled up their sleeves and then secretly withdrew when they saw that the situation was not good.

Ning Nan walked a short distance ahead and met an acquaintance—

Li Youzhi of Mingli Academy.

The other person smiled awkwardly at him, and Ning Nan nodded and smiled back.

Li Youzhi, as the runner-up in the provincial examination, was originally considered to have a promising future.

Unfortunately, he was the first to take the lead that day, saying he wanted to "meet the top scholar," and he even righteously signed the life-or-death waiver first.

Ning Nan then granted his request, recording these events in detail in the Nancheng Daily, with Li Youzhi's name listed first. The article was published for three consecutive days, spreading throughout the city.

From then on, no one ever asked him for advice on his studies again.

However, to his surprise, people these days are not to be trifled with.

Li Youzhi was young and not thick-skinned. After this incident, he felt he had lost all face and planned to pack his bags and return to his hometown, and then come back to participate in the imperial examination in a few years.

Mingli Academy, however, refused to comply.

Li Youzhi is the only person from the academy to pass the imperial examination in recent years. How could he possibly watch such a promising talent have his reputation ruined?

The academy's dean, his teacher, and some renowned scholars quickly persuaded him to stop and offered a remedy.

On the one hand, the academy's dean personally visited Li Youzhi to apologize and presented him with generous gifts, which was quite similar to the idea of ​​him carrying thorns to beg for forgiveness.

On the other hand, Mingli Academy held a literary banquet at Heming Tower, inviting scholars from all walks of life and academies, specifically to sing Ning Baixuan's poems.

Li Youzhi, who was also present, said that he was young and impetuous and felt very ashamed. Everyone comforted him, and for a time, he managed to salvage his reputation.

It has also gained a reputation for being able to admit one's mistakes and correct them, which is a great virtue.

This surprised Ning Nan. He thought the teachers would stand up for their students, but instead they were giving gifts. This made him look at the scholars in a new light.

Most of the other candidates were from out of town, travel-worn and unfamiliar with him, so their reaction to him was naturally lukewarm.

A faint golden light shimmered on the Qinhuai River.

"Slap! Slap! -- Slap!"

At that moment, the sound of whips cracking came from the east side of Gongyuan Street.

About ten horses escorted a lavishly decorated bright yellow carriage as it galloped over!

The sounds of wheels, whips, and horses' hooves rolled in from the east.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

"Get out of the way, everyone!"

"Get out of my way!"

More than a dozen men dressed in black jackets and melon-shaped hats menacingly urged their horses on with whips, frightening the scholars into making way.

Several of the scholars were so frightened that they dropped their pots and pans, which clattered loudly on the ground, causing the group of men in black jackets to burst into laughter.

"stop!"

"Rein in your horse! Rein in your horse immediately!"

"Do not harm the candidates in this year's imperial examination!"

The constables and imperial guards who were maintaining order quickly stepped forward, swords at their sides, and loudly ordered the group to rein in their horses!

"snort!"

The leader, wearing a black mandarin jacket, snorted.

He raised a thick, strong arm.

More than ten horses and carriages slowly came to a stop, the horses neighing and pawing the ground.

The group in black vests had sharp eyes.

They dismounted in unison.

These people drew sidelong glances from the seven or eight hundred candidates in the hall.

A rustling sound rang out.

"Who is it? Someone from the Northern Dynasties?"

"The Tartars..."

"That Prince!"

"Hey! He still dares to take the provincial examination? Isn't he afraid of failing? He's bragging so much, he'll probably be second to last in the provincial examination, right?"

"Whom do you look down on?"

"That person achieved the 'minor triple crown'... Passing the provincial examination is already quite an accomplishment! Did you pass it on your first try?"

"South of the Huai River..."

"The Queen hasn't agreed to it; the alliance isn't even finalized yet..."

"This prince stumbled in the provincial examination... his chances in the metropolitan examination are uncertain... but his true talent and learning are still there..."

"Hehe! If this Tartar could win a top scholar title... or even a fourth-place title, that wouldn't be bad..."

"Brother Xu, how can you boost the morale of others while diminishing your own? I bet he won't be the top scholar!"

……

Immediately, the crowd began to discuss the matter.

Ning Nan narrowed his eyes and stared at the carriage for a moment, lost in thought.

This Tartar previously boasted that he would achieve the highest rank in all six imperial examinations, but it's clear that achieving the highest rank in the provincial examination is out of the question. Based on his provincial examination results, it's not entirely impossible for him to pass the imperial examination, but the hope is certainly slim.

After all, the imperial examination attracted candidates from all provinces of the Great Liang, including those who had failed in previous examinations.

According to Qian Huang, the top scholar in the previous provincial examination in Southern Zhili did not participate in the metropolitan examination last year, but came this year.

The imperial examination was full of strong contenders, and Ning Nan thought that the other party probably wouldn't participate.

After all, the other party had at least passed the provincial examination, but the metropolitan examination was another matter. Given that Tartar's level, he would most likely fail... Even he himself wasn't that confident about the metropolitan examination.

Ning Nan sighed inwardly.

The difficulty of the imperial examinations was no exaggeration. Among his classmates who had studied together in the private school, only Tang Lianbin and Zhao Jing passed the examinations, in addition to him.

Even Zuo Yong failed the exam. Tang and Zhao's rankings were also not high, so it was hard to say whether they would pass the provincial exam.

Qing Zude, who passed the provincial examination at Bailu Academy, decided not to participate in this year's metropolitan examination to avoid wasting his time, planning to participate in the next one when he was more confident.

At this time.

A cold north wind swept through the street, stinging everyone's eyes, and the students involuntarily shrank their necks.

The lavishly decorated bright yellow carriage stood silently in the wind, and then the curtain on the carriage was suddenly lifted.

A man wearing a thick red striped mandarin jacket and a melon-shaped hat came out from inside and got off the carriage.

The weather has been cold lately.

This person is wearing a melon-shaped hat and is dressed quite warmly.

A fox fur coat was wrapped around its neck, covering its mouth and nose.

Perhaps because he had failed the provincial examination and ranked second to last, only surpassing Qing Zude, this Tartar was somewhat disheartened.

He walked with a slight hunch and his head was down.

The dozen or so menacing-looking men in black vests surrounded him, preventing anyone else from getting close.

Students in the surrounding area quickly moved aside.

At this moment, names were being called out at the entrance of the examination hall.

Five loud voices lined up and read out the "place of origin," "name," and "birth date" in turn, thus preventing the problem of duplicate names.

The loud voice is very loud.

You can hear it even if you're standing far away.

The candidates were all self-respecting scholars, so they wouldn't crowd together like they had in the previous three examinations.

At this time, the entrance to the examination hall was packed with people, like sesame seeds sprinkled on a sugar cake.

However, the sesame seeds were still quite far apart, and people were several body lengths apart.

A circle of about ten people in black mandarin jackets surrounded the fox fur coat and walked toward the Dragon Gate of the Imperial Examination Hall.

The crowd turned aside and made way. Those with more tempers would only snort, but no one dared to stop the other person from passing, lest any complications arise and delay the scientific expedition.

Ning Nan stared at the prince's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.