Chapter 237: Time to Raise the Price! (2 / 2)
[Pfft, who would’ve guessed? Minister Li, such a grown man, eats wontons but only eats the filling?]
The Minister’s face flushed red. “Ahem, let’s get back on topic. To be brief, the reason I had you board the carriage is because of that examinee’s situation. His Majesty wants us to negotiate with him and see if he’s willing to voluntarily change his ancestral records at the yamen before the imperial examination begins.”
Xu Yanmiao replied diplomatically, “That might be a bit difficult.”
But in his heart, he wasn’t so restrained: [Going to someone’s house to say, ‘Can you change your ancestry?’ Are you asking to be kicked out? The old emperor sure knows how to make life hard for people.]
“Hmph! What’s so difficult about that? Xu, my boy, you simply lack experience. Let me tell you, there’s hardly anything in this world that can’t be done!”
The Minister of War’s eyes lit up with determination. “Come on! Let’s finish this quickly so we can set aside time to finalize the exam questions. I’ve already drafted two questions on the Four Books, and three on the Five Classics. Now, aside from one more question each on the Four Books and Five Classics, there’s still an essay topic, five judgments… what else was there?”
Xu Yanmiao added with a numb expression, “An edict, decree, and memorial each need one question, and five essay topics are required. Among them, I’m the only one who can draft the essay topic, and you’re the only one allowed to create the memorial question. For the essay topics, I’ll draft three, and you’ll write five.”
The rest would be a collaborative effort between the two.
The Minister of War clicked his tongue. “I’ve been so busy lately that my mind’s gone blank. I can’t remember anything.” He then glanced at Xu Yanmiao. “Do you remember that examinee’s name?”