Chapter 335: Outstanding performance and became the top scorer

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation  Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Xiao Hanzheng had actually thought about it on the way back.

He replied, “There wasn’t an enke like this time.”

Then, he changed the topic. “But in the autumn examinations at the end of the year, the top scorer’s surname was Zhuo. It was most likely her.”

In his previous life, he had not participated in the upcoming imperial examination.

However, when he became an official later on, he had flipped through the examination papers for the past ten years, so he had some impression of the last name of the top scorer in each year.

Shi Qingluo thought for a moment and asked, “She did not become an official in the capital?”

Xiao Hanzheng shook his head. “No, she was most likely transferred out.”

He thought carefully again and suddenly thought of something. “Oh right, later on, the prefect of the northern border was surnamed Zhuo. I wonder if it was her.”

Although he had participated in the military in the northern border, he had quickly gone to the capital, so he had never seen the prefect of the northern border in person.

However, he had heard of Governor Zhuo.

This governor had a good reputation in the northern border.

Shi Qingluo touched her chin. “Was King Jin still around when she was a governor?”

Xiao Hanzheng shook his head. “King Jin had already been executed at that time. Governor Zhuo was promoted later.”

Shi Qingluo said, “I have a feeling that her identity is not that simple.

“Oh right, could she be a spy of the Ge Kingdom or something?

“Or maybe she was left behind by the previous dynasty?”

In the past, when one read novels or television dramas, wouldn’t those who dressed up as a man in ancient times have a tragic background?

Not to mention, it was very possible that she was from the royal family of the previous dynasty.

For a woman to dress up as a man, wasn’t that just to hide her identity?

Then, she would come to participate in the imperial examinations, and she would be able to achieve her goals.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it be better to live as a normal person quietly?

Why did she have to take the risk to come to the imperial examinations?

After hearing what his little wife said, Xiao Hanzheng couldn’t help but have doubts.

He nodded. “It’s not impossible. Although my investigation is negative, it might not be fine.”

Sometimes, the information he sourced might have been set up by someone else.

After all, his manpower in the northern border was limited.

Shi Qingluo thought for a moment and suggested, “Old Xiao, I think you should tell the emperor about this.

“Your manpower is limited. Why don’t you leave it to the emperor to investigate?

“Right now, Daliang is already plagued by internal and external problems. If there’s another spy or someone from the previous dynasty wreaking havoc, wouldn’t that be even more troublesome?”

The previous dynasty’s despotic people were homeless and didn’t have a stable life, which was why the dynasty had been overthrown.

The current emperor of Daliang was working hard to rule, and not only did he have the nation in his heart, he also had the people in his heart.

Hence, Shi Qingluo still hoped to live a stable life in Daliang

She did not want someone from the previous dynasty to come out and overthrow the imperial family of Daliang.

Or perhaps after the civil war, there would be another civil war, and the people would suffer.

Xiao Hanzheng had not thought of directly telling the emperor about this matter and asking the emperor’s people to investigate.

Instead, he was thinking of how to directly send people to increase the intensity of the investigation and see if they could find anything wrong.

It would probably be very slow if they continued to investigate like this.

However, after listening to his little wife’s words, he immediately understood.

“That’s right, we should indeed ask the emperor to investigate this matter.

The emperor had a lot of spies at the northern border. After all, he had to keep an eye on King Jin, who could rebel at any time.

Therefore, if the emperor sent someone to investigate, the results would probably be out very soon.

Shi Qingluo asked, “Then when will you tell the emperor? Do you need Xi Rong to help deliver a message?”

Xiao Hanzheng thought for a moment. “No need, I won’t tell him for now. I’ll go after the court examination.

“Otherwise, those who don’t know will think that I’m afraid of Zhuo Jun’s strength and that’s why I want to pull her down.

“Even if I tell the emperor, it will take time for him to send people to investigate. Zhuo Jun will not be able to change her status as a top scorer.”

He was very familiar with the emperor’s character.

If he did not investigate Zhuo Jun’s identity, he would definitely not act rashly.

Shi Qingluo thought for a moment and agreed. “Mmm, then wait until the imperial herald banquet is over. You can find an opportunity to tell the emperor.”

Two days later, the imperial herald banquet was held in the palace.

Xiao Hanzheng had already entered the palace early in the morning.

The emperor had already finished reading the top ten papers that the examiners had selected.

He had a rough idea of the first-class rankings in his heart.

Soon, all the examinees who were participating in the court examinations were brought to the main hall.

Everyone immediately bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live the emperor!”

The emperor raised his hand. “Rise!”

Other than the emperor, the other officials were also present.

Even Xiao Yuanshi, who had been at home reflecting on himself, was called into the palace.

He sat not far away and saw his eldest son among the hundreds of examinees at a glance.

There was nothing he could do.

Xiao Hanzheng’s appearance and temperament were too outstanding. Even if he was among the crowd, he would be one that others could not help but focus their attention on him.

The emperor first said a few words of encouragement and then asked the head eunuch to read the imperial edict.

On it were the names of the top three in the first-ranked, and the rankings of the second-ranked were determined according to the results that the examiner had read before.

The head eunuch held the imperial edict and began to read. All the examinees present were extremely nervous.

Xiao Hanzheng was not nervous. He was still confident of getting into the top three.

If nothing unexpected happened, he might be the top scorer.

Sure enough, after the eunuch read the imperial edict, Xiao Hanzheng was the top scorer.

The second scorer was a descendant of an aristocratic family in his forties.

The third scorer, known as tan hua, was Zhuo Jun.

When Xi Xinheng and the others heard that Xiao Hanzheng had an outstanding performance and was the top scorer, they could not help but smile.

Xiao Hanzheng was indeed powerful.

Not only was he the top scorer, he was also the first person to be the xiaosanyuan since the beginning of the Daliang dynasty.

Following that, the top scorers in the second-ranked were announced, followed by the names and rankings of those who are jinshi.

Qi Yiyang performed well this time.

He advanced a few places compared to the hui exam and was ranked 13th overall.

This made Old Master Qi and Second Master Qi smile happily all the time.

Xiao Yuanshi’s smile was very stiff, especially when he found that many people were looking at him with sympathy, ridicule, ridicule, and schadenfreude. He could not sit still.

The emperor must have done this on purpose. He had called him here to personally witness his son, the top scorer who aced the exam with flying colors, who he had broken off his kinship with.

At this moment, he felt very uncomfortable in his heart, and he regretted even more.

If he had not broken off his kiniship, the top scorer would have been his son.

Unfortunately, regretting was useless.

Therefore, he wanted to leave as soon as possible and go home. He could not stand it.

Next, the emperor spoke to the top three of the first-ranked alone.

The courtiers present could see that the emperor clearly liked and valued Xiao Hanzheng.

He asked Xiao Hanzheng many questions about the commoners’ livelihood.

The person who was ranked second was extremely jealous, but he did not dare to show it.

Zhuo Jun did not reveal jealousy and envy.

Instead, he seemed to be happy for his friend.

Next, the top three were parading on the streets.

Xiao Hanzheng was riding on a large horse. His face was as handsome as a jade, causing many of the girls watching to blush.

“This year’s top scholar is really handsome!”

“This top scholar is really too good-looking.”

“It’s a pity that I heard that this top scholar already has a wife. Otherwise, even a princess would probably be able to marry him.”

“He already has a wife? That’s such a pity.”

“He already has a wife. She is Mdm Shi, who offered the seeds.”

“So she is his wife. That’s a good match for a top scorer.”