Read Novel Full Chapter 1712: Champion Scholar
Chapter 1712: Chapter 1712: Champion Scholar
The palace examination won’t take place until March of next year. Even the dean is staying and not returning, staying here to celebrate the New Year.
He wants to wait here, to watch his brothers achieve high ranks in the palace exam. He wants to witness the grand scene of achieving the top three positions.
With money in hand, there’s no need to worry about living expenses. New Year in the capital isn’t that refreshing, just more fireworks.
Many visitors were blocked by the dean, with excuses easy to find. The two were deeply focused on studying, waiting to achieve good results in the next year’s palace exam.
This way, no one would dare to disturb. Some who wanted to study together were also refused.
Many people hadn’t seen the two. Even if curious, there was nothing to be done. They refused to meet. They could only be seen during the exams.
Two months later, they participated in the palace exam. In this era, submission to the royal family was deeply entrenched.
The two didn’t have this feeling, but they couldn’t be exceptions. Although they did not have to kneel for officials, kneeling before the Emperor was still required. They hadn’t seen him yet, but this kneeling couldn’t be avoided.
The palace exam was held outside. Under watchful eyes, cheating was impossible.
Those who could come here weren’t nobodies; they could be said to be all talents.
After the palace exam concluded, results weren’t immediately released. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait outside.
The two found this to be the most comfortable examination despite having to kneel.
Returning, they awaited news, and three days later, they entered the place everyone dreamed of, although they were just waiting outside.
The final top three were personally determined by the Emperor, which was the highest honor.
After the morning court ended, the sound of drumming was heard, making everyone feel a surge of excitement. This must be a way to unite hearts.
They truly felt the enthusiastic scene.
Hearing the names of the two, they entered the palace amidst everyone’s envy.
The arrogant young man walking with them also lowered his proud head.
The three knelt down, listening to the names being announced.
Qi Wen was the Champion Scholar, Meng Po the second, and Liu Qiyun the third place.
Liu Qiyun seemed unable to accept the blow, even feeling his dejection while kneeling next to him.
The three of them got up, and the Emperor was about to evaluate them.
"Signs of the country’s prosperity, this year’s Champion Scholar and the second are so young. Good."
What the Emperor said was the greatest affirmation for the two, and those below understood the Emperor’s meaning, which was promising these two youths.
No comment was made for the third place, which was actually quite unfair.
The Emperor, seated above, could see the expressions of everyone below. The two youths had very good temperaments, unperturbed by honor and disgrace, and their looks were very decent.
The other didn’t have good temperament, showing doubt and dissatisfaction; such a person wouldn’t go far.
Ye Zongshen was very surprised when he saw the two names and began to doubt, but didn’t believe they had this ability until today. He found out these were his two sons. They were fine, alive, and won the Champion Scholar and second place.
His excitement was now indescribable.
Qi Wen and Meng Po knelt again to thank the Emperor.
"Get up. You must serve the country in the future."
The two kowtowed again before getting up.
"Your Majesty, they should be brothers, right?" The Prime Minister said with a smile, knowing the Emperor’s temperament well, following the line surely wouldn’t be wrong.
Meng Po cupped his hands, "Yes, Prime Minister, we are twin brothers."
"You don’t look very alike."
"Personalities are also different."
"Are you the older brother?"
"Yes, I am the older brother."
Ye Zongshen couldn’t hold back and stepped forward, cupping his hands to the Emperor, "Reporting to the Emperor, these are my two sons."
The Emperor smiled at Ye Zongshen and then looked at Qi Wen and the two of them.
"Oh?"
"Looking at their records, they entered from below."
Ye Zongshen sighed, "Their mother passed away, and they were too distressed, so I sent them to live in the countryside. Unexpectedly, the person who escorted them back said they were killed by bandits. I was sad for a long time."
Qi Wen and Meng Po just bowed their heads, thinking that Ye Zongshen was really grasping at straws in desperation. Is there really no problem saying this?
"Bandits. Did you report it? Were they caught?"
"By the time I thought of it, that servant had already left the Marquis Mansion."
"Marquis Ye, haven’t you really lost your touch? Your two sons died, and you forgot to ask where it happened? Forgot to report it?"
Duke Lu, who was his adversary, smiled and said.
No one here was foolish, and Duke Lu’s friends certainly wouldn’t miss the chance to attack Ye Zongshen.
"Indeed? Marquis Ye really makes people take notice, Champion Scholars, why didn’t you go home after returning? Must be comfortable in the Marquis Mansion."
These are big figures, so the two small fry certainly couldn’t remain silent.
Qi Wen cupped his hands. "Reporting to the lord, we are already dead in the Marquis Mansion."
"Heh. Really? Let me guess right."
The Emperor listened on the side. Originally, when he learned the two were Ye Zongshen’s sons, he felt a bit regretful. Unexpectedly, it turned out this way.
The Emperor felt a thought stir. "Anything to say today?"
The two were happy that such a resolution was a good thing.
Meng Po cupped his hands and took out two papers from his bosom, which were the driver’s confessions from that time.
The eunuch received them and handed them over to the Emperor.
It was all on top.
The Emperor waved his hand, "Eunuch Bai, just read it aloud."
Seizing this opportunity to reclaim the Ye family’s Death Exemption Token was just the right moment; no need to figure it out, it was so smooth.
Eunuch Bai followed orders and read it directly.
Ye Zongshen’s complexion was very ugly. He deeply hated the woman at home, conspiring all day long, from morning till night, without brains. If only she could really figure something out. Her little cleverness was all superficial, easily seen at a glance.
After reading, everyone looked at Ye Zongshen, leaving him extremely embarrassed.
"I really didn’t know such things happened."
"Heh heh, Marquis Ye, just one sentence claiming ignorance and you can brush everything off."
"Marquis Ye, truly inept in managing your affairs," Duke Lu’s words were severe.
Qi Wen and the two just stood there, knowing this was a good opportunity.
Ye Zongshen was very angry, his reputation was just too damaged. He regretted acknowledging them here; something could be said back home, although it might not be very illustrious, but at least not entirely exposed like this.
The Emperor lightly remarked, "Are all women so vicious? Is a human life so cheap?"
This raised things to a different level, elevating it to murder matters.
Ye Zongshen had no choice but to kneel immediately.
"Your Majesty, calm down. I will definitely investigate this matter upon returning."
The Emperor didn’t respond to him, simply watching the two brothers.
Meng Po, being clever, cupped his hands, "Your Majesty, we two brothers only wish to seek justice for our mother."