Dragon Follows the Decree, an Omen Arises

Qiu Yan?

Qiu Yan!

Two simple words, and the whole room was astonished!

Most of them had heard of Qiu Yan's name and had even discussed it during the exam, but it was all for the sake of their own faction. They weren't considering Qiu Yan as a person, but rather the significance he represented.

Qiu Yan is more like a symbol.

Of course, this is before reading the name.

"Could this Qiu Yan be the same Qiu Yan?" Some examiners lost their composure and blurted out their thoughts.

But everyone else looked shocked as well.

In just a few breaths, they first heard that Wen Zhizhen ranked third, then the unfamiliar Ye Yun appeared, and the most eye-catching exam paper was actually written by Qiu Yan!

A series of changes left the examiners and their subordinate officials in a state of confusion.

They were all officials of the imperial court, and many of them were Jinshi graduates who had been selected for the imperial examinations. They were also known as talented scholars in their hometowns, so naturally they would not treat Qiu Yan differently because of his reputation as a talented scholar.

But things are different now.

The fact that Literary Staining of Examination Papers ranked Wang Fu's pressure, carries a completely different significance.

This further fueled everyone's curiosity. The old-fashioned officials, who knew Qiu Yan's background, were naturally astonished that the policy essay was written by him. Similarly, the New Party officials were also surprised that the policy essay was written by Ma Yang's "disciple".

For a moment, the room fell silent.

The only one who remained relatively calm was Zheng Quan. He already knew the candidates' identities, so he wasn't too shocked, but he was still affected by the thoughts of the others, and his expression became solemn.

In contrast, Li Kuo's expression was one of utter astonishment.

Just a moment ago, he was still thinking about how to complete the mission, but in the blink of an eye, the mission's objective appeared before him in an unimaginable form.

But soon, a surge of joy welled up in his heart. "Qiu Yan actually got first place! Not to mention the other candidates, even I wouldn't believe it. If someone accuses me of cheating, there's no need for any deliberate effort; it will cause a huge uproar!"

But then, a little worry crept in.

"However, the top scorer this time is the one who Literary Staining of Examination Papers, which means that Qiu Yan's talent far surpasses that of Tongji University. I estimate that we can't hide this for long. Moreover, if we are exposed, we may leave a bad name in history!"

While Li Kuo was struggling with his thoughts, the examiners finally came to their senses. Their expressions were somewhat strange, as if they wanted to object but had many concerns and could not say anything.

Among them, Luo Zhongjie and Hu Yong were the most obvious. They had known about the existence of the exam papers for a long time and had many guesses about the identities of the candidates. Now that the truth was out, they each had mixed feelings.

They each brought their own powerful allies with them.

From the perspective of the Old Party, Qiu Yan's exam paper leaned towards the New Law and had to be opposed. From the perspective of the New Party, Qiu Yan was a disciple of the leader of the Old Party, and it would be strange or potentially troublesome to accept his views.

It should be understood that this struggle between the old and the new, aside from the purely political ambitions of some individuals, is to a large extent a contest between two interest groups, where stance is more important than proposition.

Even Wang Fu felt conflicted at this moment.

The complex emotions, initially confined to the hearts of the group, quickly radiated outwards through their expressions and actions, causing a sudden shift in the atmosphere of the room, and slowly building up.

Sensing the atmosphere in the room, Zou Kang was about to speak again, but before he could utter a sound, a voice suddenly came from outside—

"By imperial decree..."

The voice was somewhat shrill, like a sharp sword, breaking the eerie atmosphere in the room. Then, an old man with a white face and no beard, accompanied by several people, walked in.

Upon seeing the old man, everyone in the room rose to pay their respects, including Wang Fu. However, they were not bowing to the old man, but rather to the emperor behind him.

An imperial edict refers to a command or order issued orally by the emperor.

The policies of the Great Rui Dynasty stipulated that no policy could be implemented without the approval of the two ministries. Even the emperor could not easily issue edicts or decrees, but oral pronouncements could bypass the Two Offices and were very effective, often determining a person's fate.

The old man didn't say much. He went up to the crowd, straightened his clothes, and solemnly said, "You have all worked hard for many days, and I have been very concerned. I heard that a talented person Metropolitan Examination Literary Staining of Examination Papers. This is Great Rui blessing. I know this and I admire him. I was just worried that the results would not be released until now. Now that the results are about to be posted, I have come to inquire about his name."

Although the old man spoke these words in a slightly high-pitched voice, they had a profound and resonant quality, as if two people were speaking at the same time.

At the same time, on a level unseen by ordinary people, gurgling Dragon Qi gathered and followed the words, surging like a torrent into the many exam papers, eventually merging into Qiu Yan's.

Shock!

Within Qiu Yan's exam paper, every word changed, every sentence flowed smoothly, and the many spirits it carried vibrated. On the exam paper, there was a will suppressing the spirit, which was none other than the Examination Hall Will.

The Examination Hall Will, fighting on home ground, initially held an absolute advantage. However, at this moment, the Dragon Qi merged into the examination papers, causing a ripple effect that amplified the power of the papers. The suppressed, fragmented spirits within them surged forth, gaining the momentum to break free...

Outside, everyone who heard the old man's words felt a chill run down their spines, realizing that the situation was dire. They knew that the emperor had his own channels of communication and had long expected that the palace would know the news in advance, but they had not anticipated that Li Kun would attach such importance to this matter. He had even sent someone over to inquire about the emperor's name the moment the Examination Hall opened, without any restraint whatsoever.

Sometimes, a single event is enough to demonstrate one's attitude.

"Once the Emperor learns of Qiu Yan's name, who can change Metropolitan Laureate position as the top scholar? Who would dare to change it?"

The thought flashed through everyone's minds, but there was nothing they could do but watch helplessly as the situation spiraled out of control.

Then, Wang Fu took a deep breath and said Qiu Yan's name.

The pale-faced old man paused slightly upon hearing this, and asked uncertainly, "Are you referring to Qiu Yan and Qiu Shen Zhi, who came from Yuanning Prefecture and became the top scholar in Jiannan Circuit?"

"It is indeed this person." Wang Fu was slightly taken aback, but nodded in agreement.

The old man's question made everyone present realize something.

"What? Does this old codger know Qiu Yan? Impossible! Has Qiu Yan's name even reached the palace?" No one was more concerned about this than Li Kuo, as it directly affected his future and the plans of those behind him!

At the New Party banquet that day, Tian Youqing had already learned from Wang Fu that the emperor knew Qiu Yan's name, but had not told Li Kuo, leading the latter to believe that Qiu Yan had merely curried favor with Ma Yang.

As he looked on in confusion, the pale-faced old man nodded. "It really is this person. No wonder the officials value him."

His words immediately triggered another wave of thoughts in the room. The fluctuations in the air grew stronger, causing the Examination Hall Will to weaken imperceptibly and show signs of retreat!

However, ordinary people could not perceive these mysterious changes; they were merely pondering the message brought by the white-faced old man.

After conveying the imperial edict and learning the names, the old man prepared to take his leave. Before departing, he smiled and said to Wang Fu, "Wang Gong, His Majesty attaches great importance to this imperial Metropolitan Examination. He was overjoyed to learn that a worthy Literary Staining of Examination Papers, but out of trust in you, Wang Gong, he did not directly inquire about it. Now that the results have been announced, you have not disappointed His Wang Gong, and you have selected Qiu Sheng as the top scholar."

There was another hidden meaning in these words, which Wang Fu naturally understood. The emperor had a scale in his heart, and if the person who Literary Staining of Examination Papers was not named first today, everyone in this room would probably be furious with the emperor.

The others realized what was going on and immediately broke out in a cold sweat, their eyes revealing a look of relief.

The old man looked around, his eyes cold. "However, there are also some people who want to sabotage things behind the scenes and affect the government's recruitment of talented people. This matter will naturally be dealt with by someone." After saying this, he left.

The old man left the Examination Hall and went straight into the Imperial Palace.

In the Imperial Study, Li Kun had been waiting there for a long time. Knowing that the old man had returned, he immediately became restless and went to greet him personally.

"Your Majesty, I've asked for that person's name. In fact, you know him too," the pale-faced old man said directly, without beating around the bush.

"I recognize them?" Li Kun was taken aback. "Among this year's candidates, I've heard of quite a few, but I can only really recognize three or four. Let's not even talk about the two Qiao Clan boys; I know their abilities, they couldn't possibly Literary Staining of Examination Papers. Of the remaining two, the most likely one is Qiu Yan. Could it be that..."

"Your Majesty is wise! It is indeed Qiu Yan!" The white-faced old man smiled broadly. "Back when he took the Provincial Examination, Your Majesty commented that he was a talent of the nation, truly showing your keen insight. Now that he Literary Staining of Examination Papers, it is a reward for Your Majesty's high expectations!"

"Qiu Yan, Qiu Yan," Li Kun murmured, listening to the old man's words with excitement. "It's him! I knew he had come to the Imperial City and had considered meeting him, but I changed my mind and decided to wait until after the Metropolitan Examination. It turned out to be a lucky coincidence! By the way, did he bring his exam paper? I want to see it!"

"This old servant has already given the order. Once the list of candidates for the Examination Hall is released, someone will bring Qiu Yan's examination paper. I heard that one of his Literary Staining of Examination Papers is a policy essay related to the New Law. This shows that he is a person who cares about the affairs of the country and will surely become a pillar of the emperor's court!"

Hearing this, Li Kun was naturally invigorated once again.

At the same time, just as the emperor silently recited Qiu Yan's name, the Dragon Qi of Prosperity Capital changed accordingly, splitting into strands, some of which headed straight for the Examination Hall.

In the courtyard, the atmosphere changed with the arrival of the imperial edict. People like Li Kuo became restless and anxious.

"Qiu Yan's name has reached the Emperor's ears, which means he's about to secure his Metropolitan Laureate. If anyone dares to challenge him now, it would be a direct slap in the face to the Emperor! I must find a way to get the news out and inform the Emperor!"

On the other side, Wang Fu put down his pen, handed over the completed list, and said, "Go, send it to the Ministry of Rites."

Someone across from them took the list, turned around, and left quickly.

However, no sooner had this person left the Examination Hall than a strange thing happened in the room: an examination paper flew into the air and emitted a dazzling light!

With the support of the Dragon Qi, the Examination Hall Will could no longer suppress Qiu Yan's exam paper!

The light was dazzling, and everyone in the room stood there stunned, two words flashing through their minds—

"An unusual phenomenon!"

ps: Thanks to "Legend in the Wind 0" and "My Sister is Xuanxuan" for their rewards!

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