Chapter 877: Planning for Champion Scholar (1)
The final round of the palace examination was participated by only thirty people, who also had to write a policy essay within half an hour. The results of this round would directly determine the Champion Scholar and Second Level. Among these thirty, those who did not place in the top two levels would be ranked in the Third Level along with the seventy who did not pass the re-examination the day before.
Their future prospects hinged on their performance today, making the atmosphere in Baohe Hall far tenser than during the re-examination. In addition to the same several Ministers supervising the exam, there was also Emperor Huian seated high on the Dragon Throne, undoubtedly intensifying the solemn atmosphere within the hall.
When Emperor Huian announced the topic for the policy essay, some students with weaker mental fortitude began to tremble the moment they picked up their brushes to write. Of course, the majority remained composed and wrote their answers as if no one else was present.
The performance of the thirty was clearly observed by Emperor Huian, who compared it against the information at hand as well as the policy essays written during the metropolitan and re-examinations. He had already formed a preliminary judgement of their abilities. His gaze lingered for a moment on several students who were earnestly answering the questions, especially on Mo Qingze, where it paused even longer.
In the end, Emperor Huian finally withdrew his gaze, placed the sheets of paper he held to one side, and picked up the vermilion brush to review the towering stack of petitions.
Mo Qingze was fully concentrated on answering his questions, unaware of Emperor Huian’s gaze. In just half an hour, the rough draft of his policy essay was complete, with only revision and transcription remaining.
Outside the palace, Mo Yan sat in the carriage, hiding from the increasingly scorching sunlight. She had no interest in shopping and felt bored alone, so she closed the carriage windows and doors and let Mao Tuan, who was fussing to come out, out from Space.
Once settled in the carriage, Mao Tuan occupied more than half of the space, forcing her, the master, to sit straight against the wall without even being able to stretch her legs.