We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?

Xiao Mo felt that he could investigate after leaving Bai Shi.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Zhang Qianzhi took a sip of tea.

Xiao Mo then asked some more questions about officialdom.

Upon hearing Xiao Mo inquire about officialdom, Zhang Qianzhi immediately became interested and began to explain in detail to Xiao Mo, as if he wanted to impart all his knowledge to him, as if he truly regarded Xiao Mo as his student.

In fact, when Zhang Qianzhi recommended Xiao Mo as the top scholar in the provincial examination, the two were already considered to be teacher and student.

In truth, Zhang Qianzhi didn't know why he liked this young man so much, but he just felt that this young man, if he were to become an official in the court in the future, would not disappoint him.

"Lord Zhang, I have another request." Just as Xiao Mo was about to leave, he said after thinking for a moment.

Lord Zhang said generously, "Please speak freely."

Xiao Mo bowed and said, "This student wishes to request a map of the rivers and landscapes of the State of Qi."

"A map of rivers and mountains?" Lord Zhang was taken aback. Although he didn't know what the other party wanted the map of rivers and mountains for, he still took out a few scrolls from his bookshelf. "These maps depict the great rivers and mountains of my Great Qi. You can take them directly."

"Thank you, Lord Zhang."

Xiao Mo bowed deeply.

Lord Zhang gave Xiao Mo a few final words of advice, and then had his daughter escort Xiao Mo out of the mansion.

Just as the two stepped out the door, a piece of ice-cold material, as cool as a goose feather, drifted down in front of Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo looked up and saw snow falling heavily from the sky, landing on the eaves, bricks, treetops, and everyone else.

"It's snowing!" Miss Zhang, standing next to Xiao Mo, said with great joy.

"yes."

Xiao Mo pulled his sleeves tighter.

"It's snowing."

Chapter 53 The top scholar probably won't be coming these next few days.

The snowfall in the capital of Qi was very heavy.

A day later, the entire capital was covered in a blanket of white snow.

Walking on the streets of the capital, one could see the white mist with every breath of the people.

Aside from seeing Lord Zhang off from the capital, Xiao Mo spent all his time reading at the inn.

Before we knew it, the weather was gradually warming up, and it was already early March.

On this day, the roadside stalls and vendors on Xuanwu Street, which leads from the capital to the Imperial Examination Hall, had already been cleared away.

Today is the day of the provincial examination.

After being searched, Xiao Mo entered the examination hall and arrived at his examination room.

The exam is divided into three sessions, one per day.

The first session of the first day was poetry and prose.

The exam consisted of one poem and one prose piece, and this was the most important exam in the Great Qi Dynasty, directly determining whether a candidate would be admitted as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Poetry questions are generally set with more freedom.

However, the topics of "fu" (a type of classical Chinese prose-poem) mostly come from Confucian classics, historical records, or imperial edicts.

This exam tests literary talent, poetic meter, and parallelism.

The title of the "Poetry" section is "Bright Moon".

Xiao Mo wrote a poem titled "Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Bright?", slightly modifying the first stanza to fit the theme.

The title of the "fu" is the rise and fall of the nation.

Xiao Mo imitated "The Epang Palace" and wrote "Ode to the Spring Li Palace". Fortunately, this world has many dynasties and a rich history, so it is very easy to find a story to replace "The Epang Palace".

Putting everything else aside, my priority in this first exam is to secure my qualification as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Second session: Discussion.

The test requires writing an essay.

Similar to the argumentative essay Xiao Mo wrote for his college entrance exam in his previous life, it discusses a historical event, a governing philosophy, or a philosophical proposition.

The examination assesses the candidate's insights, logical thinking, and writing skills.

Third round: Strategy.

The test consists of five policy questions, which is a practical test of administrative ability, covering specific issues related to politics, economy, military affairs, law, and people's livelihood.

After the three-day exam, Xiao Mo felt as if he had been transported to another world as he left the exam hall.

Xiao Mo was quite confident about whether he could pass the exam.

As long as you pass the provincial examination, the palace examination will be fine.

In the Great Qi Dynasty, there were differences in starting qualifications among those who were "Jinshi Jidi", "Jinshi Chushen", and "Tong Jinshi Chushen".

But most importantly, one must rely on the experience and hard work one gains in the officialdom.

Ten days later, at dawn.

As the bells rang on Xuanwu Street, not far from the palace gate, Minister of Rites Fang, under the protection of soldiers, personally hung up the Spring Festival list.

One by one, the successful candidates crowded under the list, eagerly awaiting their results.

"I'm hit!"

"I won too!"

"Young master! What have you been poisoned by?!"

"I'm ranked fiftieth! Hahaha!"

"Quick! Arrest him!"

"I didn't win. I didn't win."

"Hahaha, I'm twenty-second! Hahaha!"

"Arrest these twenty-two people immediately and take them back to the manor!"

The results of the imperial examinations had barely been released when people were already vying for marriage proposals right there at the foot of the list.

Seeing himself in first place, Xiao Mo dared not make a sound, fearing that someone would kidnap him and prevent him from leaving until he got married, so he quickly and quietly left.

However, one can hide for a while but not forever. In the State of Qi, the inns where scholars stayed had to be reported.

How could a top scholar like Xiao Mo possibly hide his identity?

Before long, high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital of Qi rushed into the inn where Xiao Mo was staying.

Fortunately, Zhang Qianzhi had made preparations in advance, having thought of today before leaving Beijing.

Miss Zhang had guards stand watch outside Xiao Mo's room, forbidding anyone else from disturbing him.

Unlike other young ladies from prominent families, Miss Zhang frequently appeared in public and was quite well-known in the capital; many people recognized her.

Upon seeing Miss Zhang arrive, the others naturally dared not act rashly.

"Thank you very much, Miss Zhang." Xiao Mo bowed to Zhang Shuiqing.

“Xiao Huiyuan, there’s no need for thanks.” Zhang Shuiqing smiled. “However, since I brought people with me today, I’m afraid the entire court knows that you are my father’s person.”

Xiao Mo said frankly, "It has been like that for a long time."

From the moment he was nominated as the top scholar in the imperial examination, he became Lord Zhang's man, not to mention that he later visited Mr. Zhang.

However, Xiao Mo was already prepared.

In the imperial court, how could one not take sides?

Now I'm on Lord Zhang's side, which means I'm on Prime Minister Fang's side.

Zhang Shuiqing nodded and smiled, without saying anything more.

Ten days later, the palace examination was held.

The imperial examination in Qi was different; there was no answering section, but instead, scholars took turns meeting the emperor.

The scholars all resided in the outer palace and could only leave after all the scholars had met with the emperor, a period that generally lasted two to three days.

The order in which the emperor is summoned is determined by drawing lots.

Xiao Mo was unlucky and drew the last one.

On the third day, Xiao Mo entered the main hall.

In the main hall sat the King of Qi, the Prime Minister Fang, and the ministers of the other six ministries.

Everyone knows about the relationship between Xiao Mo and Zhang Qianzhi.

Everyone knows about that "Decree of Grace".

But now, who knows the poems "Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Bright?" and "Ode to Spring Li Palace"?

When Xiao Mo entered, almost everyone looked at the prime minister sitting next to the emperor.

Xiao Mo is already considered Zhang Qianzhi's student, which means he is Fang Ling's junior brother.

After Xiao Mo entered, Fang Ling closed his eyes, remained silent, and ignored him.

"Student Xiao Mo greets Your Majesty and all the esteemed officials." Xiao Mo solemnly bowed.

"When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in hand, I ask the blue sky. I wonder what year it is tonight in the celestial palace." The Qi King smiled as he looked at Xiao Mo. "What a talented and handsome young man! My beloved ministers, please do not speak yet. I will test him first!"

For ordinary scholars, the imperial examination lasted at most the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

However, Xiao Mo stayed in the main hall for a full half hour.

After Xiao Mo left, the Qi ruler looked at the people around him and said, "I presume that none of you have any objections to the top scorer in this palace examination?"

Mid-April.

The residence of the magistrate of Qingshan County.

Magistrate Sun was brewing tea and playing with birds in the courtyard.

"Master! Master!"

Just as Lord Sun was adding water to the parrot in the cage, a servant stumbled in, startling the parrot, which flapped its wings several times.

"What's going on? Such recklessness! You scared my bird!" Lord Sun scolded.

"My lord! People from the capital have arrived!"

"People from the capital have come? Did they say what they wanted?" Magistrate Sun was startled, thinking to himself that he hadn't been embezzling much before.

"My lord, someone from the capital has come to commend you! Your county's Xiao Mo has achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations!"

"What!" The magistrate of Qingshan County was overjoyed. "Excellent! Quickly go see the imperial envoy!"

However, when the magistrate of Qingshan County was halfway there, he suddenly thought: "Quickly prepare a big red horse and big red flowers, and get ready for the top scholar's parade!"

"Well, the top scholar didn't come to the county town."

"He didn't come to the county town? Where did the top scholar go?"

"It seems the top scholar has returned to his village."

"."

"Master, I will send someone to fetch the top scholar right away."

"No need." The magistrate of Qingshan County adjusted his sleeves and looked in the direction of Sheshan Mountain. "The top scholar probably won't be coming these next few days."

Chapter 54 Ru Xue, I'm Back

At the entrance of Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo got out of the carriage and walked quickly back into the village.

"Hey, Mo-ge'er, you're back! How did the exam go?" Aunt Zhao, who was washing clothes, greeted Xiao Mo with delight.

"I did alright on the exam," Xiao Mo replied.

"Did Brother Mo pass the imperial examination? I heard that even the lowest-ranking imperial examinee can become a local official." Aunt Niu didn't have much of a concept of imperial examinees; she only knew that if you passed the provincial examination, you could become an official.