Casting a Net to Capture the Day Patrol God

"Imperial edict?"

The moment those two words reached them, the slightly out-of-control situation changed dramatically.

The menacing Confucian scholars were startled, their minds clearing considerably, and they all turned to look in the direction of the sound.

What came into view was a fast horse galloping towards them, and the rider on it was none other than Li Qi, the Imperial Censor of Jiannan Circuit!

Seeing that the crowd had calmed down, Li Qi pulled on the reins, and the horse beneath him slowed down and trotted over. When it reached the space between the crowd and Qiu Yan, he dismounted and looked around.

Then, Li Qi dusted off his clothes, turned to look at Qiu Yan, and said, "The Emperor has issued an edict to Qiu Yan."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan showed no sign of surprise. He stepped forward, raised his arms, and bowed deeply, saying, "This student is Qiu Yan."

An imperial edict is a statement made by the emperor regarding a particular matter or person. It is generally judgmental in nature, and once the emperor's words are spoken, it is considered a final judgment.

Seeing the imperial edict was equivalent to seeing the emperor, and required a grand ceremony. However, Qiu Yan was originally Xiucai, and now he had become the top scholar in the provincial examination, thus becoming a scholar with official rank. The Great Rui believed that the emperor and scholar-officials should govern the country together. Although there was a distinction between high and low, there was no distinction between master and servant, so there was no need to kneel.

Li Qi nodded, walked up to Qiu Yan, and said solemnly, "His Majesty said, 'I have heard that there is a scholar in Shu Region who can pacify the southwest with a single strategy; he is a wise and capable man for the country.'"

Qiu Yan respectfully expressed his gratitude, his every move calm and composed. The expression on his face, when seen by Zhang Zhen and the others, immediately drew their admiration.

When they recalled Qiu Yan's words, they immediately felt that Qiu Yan was shrouded in a mysterious aura, as if he had foreseen this all along.

Qiu Yan was well aware of the effectiveness of his military strategy. Now that the southwest was pacified, the credit for this pacification fell on the shoulders of the military governor and the censor. As beneficiaries, they naturally wanted to protect the strategy and, consequently Qiu Yan, and would not allow others to attack him. Protecting Qiu Yan was protecting their own achievements.

Moreover, this first place in the Provincial Examination was not obtained through fraud, but through genuine merit.

A single military strategy quelled the chaos of war, saved several counties, severely damaged the Marshfolk, and laid the foundation for their eventual complete subjugation. It also potentially inflicted a great loss on the Barbarians. In the end, it even allowed several officials to share in the spoils and gain merit in the war.

Compared to such an "exam paper," how can any other flowery essay, no matter how eloquently Ascending Life, surpass it?

Even the emperor was aware of this military strategy and had given his comments. If this article wasn't ranked first, what other article would be qualified to be above it?

This outcome cannot be changed by a few unsuccessful candidates gathering in a mob.

Therefore, Qiu Yan's composure in the face of the boiling crowd was not due to his confidence in his cultivation, but rather because he anticipated that someone would find this even more unbearable than him. The arrival of the imperial edict was not a matter of good luck for Qiu Yan, but rather an inevitable occurrence due to the influence of the larger situation. Even without the imperial edict, there would have been other forms of intervention. Even if it wasn't the censor, other officials would have stepped forward to stop it.

Upon hearing Li Qi's words, many of the candidates who had failed the exam were immediately stunned.

"Is His Majesty's edict praising Qiu Yan?"

"What's going on? How did the Emperor know Qiu Yan's name?"

"Wasn't it said that Qiu Yan was able to get the top score in the provincial examination because of the governorship? How did even the Emperor get involved?"

They whispered among themselves, but no one dared to speak out loud.

Across from him, after Qiu Yan expressed his gratitude, Li Qi turned around and loudly rebuked the crowd. "You are making a scene in front of the Examination Hall. Not only is it an insult to literature and a betrayal of the teachings of the Sages, but it has also disrupted the law. Do you not know the laws of our dynasty?"

These words, coming from the mouth of an imperial censor, carried immense weight. Censors wielded absolute power, capable of impeaching even regional governors; how much more so could these Xiucai?

In that instant, the Human Thoughts and spirit of the entire crowd plummeted, while Li Qi's figure seemed to grow much taller, emanating a subtle aura that made people afraid to look directly at him.

This scene, however, evoked a different kind of feeling in Qiu Yan.

"The combined Human Thoughts of all the Xiucai was incredibly powerful, yet it couldn't match the aura of Censor Li Qi alone. His aura not only possessed Official Qi and was protected by Dragon Qi, but also benefited from several other forms of Fortune, all twisted together into a single, pure, and concentrated force, far surpassing the Human Thoughts of the other candidates. Just by standing there, his aura dominated an area, and when he spoke, the Fortune immediately began, overwhelming everyone opposite him! This is yet another great characteristic of Human Path!"

Just as Qiu Yan was having second thoughts, Li Qi said again, "Aren't you going to disperse? Or are you still hoping for the best?"

He didn't explain much, only reprimanded them. Facing hundreds of people alone, he showed no fear whatsoever, remaining calm and composed. On the contrary, many of the failed candidates were terrified.

"Even the Emperor praised Qiu Yan, calling him a wise and capable man of the nation. How can we question him? And what's the use of questioning him anyway?"

Upon realizing this, their courage vanished, and they lost their previous bravado. The crowd began to disperse, and the surrounding soldiers were about to go and arrest the leader, but Li Qi stopped them. "It's inevitable that your spirits will fluctuate after failing Imperial Examinations imperial examination. Fortunately, no trouble has been caused, but this is not to be repeated."

Upon hearing this, the candidates' emotions immediately changed, and they all thanked Li Qi. The Human Thoughts, with some converging on Li Qi, which amazed Qiu Yan, a thought flashing through his mind—

With a flick of the wrist, one can create clouds; with a reverse flick, one can create rain.

Thus, before the storm even began, it was quelled by one person and a few words.

Qiu Yan stepped forward to express his gratitude.

Li Qi turned around and smiled, "No need to thank me. I've also read your military strategy. It is indeed a rare and excellent plan. Even without this military disaster in the southwest, it would have been a piece of cake to capture the top scholar."

His words were full of goodwill, and although he didn't appear overly friendly, Qiu Yan could tell from his tone and expression that he was trying to win him over.

Qiu Yan then spoke with him, and suddenly said, "This incident was not an accident. There were signs beforehand that someone had deliberately orchestrated it. The Censor-in-Chief is in charge of evaluating officials, candidates, and students, and has been investigating changes in the Scholar Forest. I wonder if he knows anything about the secrets behind this?"

"Oh?" Li Qi's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Qiu Yan with surprise. "Is that so? I'll have to investigate this when I get back." After saying this, he changed the subject, gave Qiu Yan a few more words of encouragement, and then took his leave.

Watching Li Qi's retreating figure, Qiu Yan narrowed his eyes, a thought flashing through his mind.

He was well aware of the cause of this incident. Although the situation remained under control, the person behind the malicious intent had to be punished.

Seeking revenge is not a sign of narrow-mindedness, but rather a means to deter others. Otherwise, constant concessions only encourage evil. This is the same in interpersonal relationships and in leading an army; a clear distinction between gratitude and resentment is essential for a well-rounded personality.

After Li Qi left, Zhang Zhen and the others gathered around, with the censor standing to the side. They mostly avoided him, as the censor was different from other officials. He had the power to supervise and report, making him the most feared. Not to mention ordinary officials, even those who had passed the Xiucai dared not be careless, for the slightest mistake could cost them their official positions.

After the first few people arrived, a few more people walked over from a short distance away.

"My name is Gao Jing. Congratulations, Qiu Jieyuan." The leader was dressed simply and had an ordinary appearance. His words and actions had a natural flair. He was Gao Jing from Xingyuan Prefecture, who had come in second place in this Provincial Examination.

"Brother Qiu, congratulations." Following behind Gao Jing were Gu Yanzhi and several others, all with beaming faces and rosy cheeks, looking like they were on cloud nine.

These people are all successful candidates in this imperial examination.

Passing the imperial examination and becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations) was equivalent to having an official title; one was considered a prospective official and could be granted an official position. Ordinary people would address a Juren by adding the word "Master" after their title.

Like a sedan chair carried by people, candidates who passed the imperial examination in the same year inevitably formed cliques to help each other in the future officialdom. Qiu Yan, as the top scholar in the provincial examination, was almost certain to pass the imperial examination and had a bright future, so other candidates naturally wanted to befriend him.

However, having just passed the imperial examination, everyone was still immersed in joy and eager to return home. So they exchanged a few words, became somewhat acquainted, and agreed to visit their teacher together in two days before departing separately.

"Let's go back to the inn first."

As soon as Zhou Yi dispersed, Guan Yu and Luo Jiayun suppressed their joy, glanced at the silent Zhang Zhen, and made a suggestion.

Qiu Yan nodded, then said, "You all go back first, I have something to take care of."

The others agreed without asking any further questions.

After the others left, Qiu Yan suddenly looked up, a glint in his eyes, and began to activate the Spirit Eye Art.

The next moment, the scene changed drastically. The surroundings and the sky were filled with dense, illusory figures, like a spider web, covering the area around the Examination Hall, connecting various places, and collecting information from the surroundings.

These illusory figures were as thin as silk, radiating a faint fluctuation of divine power.

Qiu Yan stepped forward, silently passing through a silk thread, sensing the changes in divine power within, and understood in his heart.

"The Day Patrol God? That makes sense. The Underworld Office couldn't possibly ignore something as significant as the release of the Provincial Examination results."

As Qiu Yan strolled through the streets, he could clearly sense that with the end of the Imperial Examinations, the Divine Path power in the city, which had been suppressed by the Literary Qi, was rapidly recovering.

"The Jiannan Circuit Divine Office Division is quite powerful, and it will take a long time to confront them. However, I have already passed the imperial examination, which has relieved me of many worries. I can now use many of my resources to expand my influence. Once I am famous throughout the land, like Ma Yang and Li Qi, and can rally the People's Wishes with a single word, even if Lü Liang is restored to the Third Grade, there will be no need to worry!"

Lost in thought, he took a step and blended into the crowd on the street.

Across-the-Gorge Tavern, private room in the inn.

Fang Ziyan was drinking alone; his page had just informed him of the exam results.

"Fourteenth place..."

As he pondered this ranking, Fang Ziyan's expression gradually darkened, his emotions fluctuating as if he were brewing something.

Suddenly! He stood up abruptly and smashed the wine glass in his hand on the ground.

Snap!

Debris flew everywhere.

"If it weren't for Qiu Yan's influence, which caused the stain on my scroll, with my talent, how could I have been demoted!"

Others would be satisfied with simply passing the imperial examination, but for Fang Ziyan, the ranking was the key.

"Gu Yanzhi, Gao Jing... are all above me, and Qiu Yan is actually the top scholar! Top scholar! Qi Zhengyuan really dared to give it to him! Does he think the Old Party can cover up everything? I don't need to get involved in this matter. I just need to arrange some people to stir up the resentment of those who failed the exam, and then..."

As Fang Ziyan was thinking, a knock suddenly sounded at the door, and the voice of Mr. Li, a diner at the Imperial Censor's residence, came through the door.

"Young Master Fang, I've come to deliver a message..." (To be continued)