Chapter 743: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 743: Shock and Awe (4)
The Grand Secretary, ignoring the murmurs, looked at the ten individuals in front of him—some calm, some joyous, some dejected—and asked expressionlessly, “Do any of you have objections to the results?”
With the scores determined by a group of knowledgeable ministers, mistakes were highly unlikely, and the process was stricter than the autumn exams. Even if there were errors, it would imply questioning the ministers' standards, which was not something anyone would dare to do. Thus, all ten replied in unison, “No objections from the students!”
The Grand Secretary nodded and, at Emperor Huian’s signal, handed out the ten exam papers to the scholars so they could review them.
The scholars were most eager to see Mo Qingze’s policy essay. However, with so many people present, it was difficult for everyone to get a copy. Those fortunate enough to obtain it were deeply impressed by Mo Qingze’s talent, and any lingering envy of his exceptional rating quickly vanished.
The essays rated as excellent were also scrutinized by the crowd, and the comparison with Mo Qingze’s work highlighted their own inadequacies. Many realized that the so-called excellent essays they had previously admired and emulated were actually quite superficial.
As for the three “witnesses” who received poor scores, their papers were examined multiple times. The stark contrast to Mo Qingze’s performance led many to reconsider Mo Qingze’s earlier claim that these three had received undue benefits and falsely accused him. It now seemed that Mo Qingze had been remarkably perceptive.
Not only one or two scholars harbored such thoughts; many had the same suspicion. The looks of skepticism and disdain toward Zhao Gao, Qin Hui, and Wei Zhongxian were evident. The three men appeared pale and dejected, which further confirmed the public's suspicions.
Hearing the praise for her father, Mo Yan felt a deep sense of pride. Her father not only cleared his name but also gained significant acclaim, making it an unparalleled success!
Across the hall, Xiao Ruiyuan looked at his beloved’s radiant smile and felt his own spirits lift. He was already planning to propose once things settled down, eager to bring his beloved home.
The praise for Mo Qingze led some scholars who doubted him to become increasingly dissatisfied. Eventually, one such scholar, incited by others, stormed to the center of the hall and rudely challenged Mo Qingze, “How can a person who resorts to underhanded methods receive an exceptional rating? I’m not convinced. Are you willing to answer my questions?”
The previously pleasant atmosphere was shattered by these words. The crowd looked at the scholar as if he were a fool. Questioning Mo Qingze’s results meant questioning the judgment of the dozen or so ministers who had graded the papers. Moreover, the Emperor himself had verified the results, which implied questioning his competence.
The scholar might not leave the Taihe Hall in one piece! Emperor Huian and the ministers clearly understood the underlying implications of the scholar's challenge. However, since there were others with similar doubts, taking action against this scholar abruptly might worsen the situation. Thus, they chose not to intervene, watching to see how Mo Qingze would handle the provocation.
Unaware of the implications in the scrutinizing gazes, the scholar pressed on when Mo Qingze did not respond, pressing with more insistence, “What’s wrong? Afraid to accept the challenge?”
Such provocative words drew everyone’s attention to Mo Qingze. If he accepted and defeated the challenge, his strength would be beyond doubt, and he would gain widespread fame. If he couldn’t answer even a nameless scholar’s questions, it would cast shadows on his exceptional results and fuel suspicions of foul play.
Mo Yan glared angrily at the Prince of Heng, wishing she could unleash the Five Beasts to attack him. She had noticed that the challenging scholar had glanced at Lin Dalao before speaking and that Lin Dalao had subtly nodded, suggesting that the Prince of Heng might be behind this move.
With nothing she could do at the moment, she mentally noted the Prince of Heng and Lin Dalao as targets for future retribution. Once her father triumphed, she would seek revenge on them.
Mo Qingze, calm and composed, looked at the challenger and asked softly, “If I answer your questions correctly, what will you do?”
The scholar’s expression changed, but he quickly responded with a mocking tone, “Hmph, prove your ability by answering all my questions correctly!”
Mo Qingze, displaying elegance and confidence, said, “In that case, please ask your questions.”
The scholar, taken aback by Mo Qingze’s prompt acceptance, wondered if his exceptional performance was genuine. Yet, he convinced himself that it was merely an act. Despite his doubts, he did not dare to underestimate Mo Qingze and posed a particularly difficult question, leaving other scholars frowning.
To the onlookers, the question seemed challenging, but with Mo Qingze’s exceptional memory and intellect, honed by consuming spirit-infused food and water, he answered swiftly and correctly, without much thought.
“Good!”
Despite having seen Mo Qingze’s skills before, his rapid and accurate response still astonished everyone. In their excitement, they applauded enthusiastically, forgetting they were in the Taihe Hall.
(End of Chapter)
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