Chapter 412: Palace Exam
On the second day following the release of the rankings, the top ten candidates appeared in the throne room, impeccably attired for the occasion.
Seated atop the elevated dragon throne, the Emperor presented a stern countenance, exuding an air of gravity. His presence commanded respect.
Gathered within the room were not only the Third Prince, the Crown Prince, and the five examiners but also a row of long tables populated by civil and military officials.
A dedicated table had been arranged for the ten examinees, who were now expected to provide answers to the questions posed by the Emperor.
Before delving into the questions, the Emperor initiated proceedings by inquiring about the names and origins of the ten candidates. Once satisfied, he presented a thought-provoking query: "In the event a nation faces a circumstance of a depleted treasury, what measures should be employed to expediently replenish it?"
The ten examinees were prompted to respond immediately, fully aware that they were undertaking the most prestigious examination, the Palace Examination. The Emperor then imposed a strict two-hour limit for their responses.
Sitting on either side of the Emperor, the Third Prince and the Crown Prince exhibited an air of feigned filial piety. Their actions concealed their underlying rivalry, as they strived to appear as dutiful sons before their father.
The five examiners remained standing, exhibiting their utmost respect for the Emperor and the proceedings.
As the examinees began to tackle the questions, the Emperor busied himself with perusing their background information. Much like the civil servant examination, scrutiny of family backgrounds was an integral aspect of the process. The backgrounds of these ten candidates had already been meticulously scrutinized by the five principal examiners, so the Emperor’s review was more of a reaffirmation. However, when he came across Su Bin’s information, he studied it with particular attention.
Su Bin’s father was originally the designated heir of the Marquis Mansion, but due to his suspicions that his mother’s death might have been orchestrated by the Old Marquis’s equal wife, the Emperor had been well-informed of this situation.
The Old Marquis had held a strong desire for Su Bin to return to the Marquis Mansion and assume the role of heir, a fact that the Emperor was intimately aware of.