"I have read all the papers from this Spring Imperial Examination, and I am very pleased. One person's essay felt especially familiar to me. It reminded me of an essay I read in my youth."
The emperor said with a beaming smile, "Chen Yongwang, step forward."
Surprised and delighted, Chen Yongwang immediately jogged forward. The emperor's heart clenched as he screamed inwardly, Don't come any closer!
Two eunuchs hurriedly stopped him.
Chen Yongwang blinked, frightened and uneasy, then knelt and called out loudly, "Your subject, Chen Yongwang, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Jiang Shuyue: [Wow, that voice is loud enough to split your eardrums!]
Huahua: [Look, look! The blisters are about to spread past his collar!]
Jiang Shuyue: [Yes, yes, stay back. We can't get infected!]
She leaned back, remembering to pull the people on either side of her away too.
The emperor did not know what had come over him.
He had clearly taken precautions, yet as soon as Chen Yongwang approached, he still could not sit easy.
It was like knowing a lump of shit was coming toward him; his disgust kicked in instinctively.
The emperor forced himself to sit straight and said, "Although you did not place first, I believe you have a mature mind and a promising future. Thus, I would like to test you in person. Why not share your views on the situation between our Great Zhou and the Southern Barbarians?"
A single stone stirred up towering waves.
Not only Chen Yongwang, but even Jiang An and the Second Prince's expressions changed.
Only the Fourth Prince remained relatively calm, merely furrowing his brow.
Chen Yongwang was dumbstruck. His essay had been substituted by Jiang An; he had no genuine talent or learning. Now, with his nerves stretched taut, his tongue suddenly began to