When He Shen returned to the inn, Cao Rui was still asleep.
In the next few days, He Shen and Cao Rui went around the capital.
A few days passed by in such a leisurely manner…
On this day, the Ministry of Rites examination papers were being marked in the classroom.
As one of the twenty examiners for the imperial examinations, Shen Kang, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, was currently examining the examination papers.
"The standard of the candidates for this year's general exams is much higher than the previous years!”
Shen Kang sighed as he sat in front of the four-cornered table and approved the exam papers.
Among the examination papers that he had reviewed previously, he had already found several high-quality examination papers. He had already marked the word "pass" on the surface of the examination papers and waited for the first principal, second mate, and three CEOs to look over them.
Once they agreed, these examinees would basically become tribute scholars who were about to enter the official career.
"Sigh! What is this?"
Suddenly, Shen Kang stopped and focused on the exam paper in his hand. He really did not know how to explain the exam paper in his hand. The answers to the questions were too strange. The answers to these questions were something that he had never thought of before.
But at the same time, it was very groundbreaking. Many things were supported by history, allowing him to follow the examinee's train of thought and agree with the examinee's answers.
After looking at the exam paper, Shen Kang thought about it carefully. Just as the examinee said, it really was the case.
After reading the shocking eight-legged essay and historical theory, he was even more surprised when he saw the three ancient poems.
This was because each of these three ancient poems was of high quality and could be famous poems that would last through the ages.
After reading this exam paper, Shen Kang felt that overall, this exam paper was of the highest quality and could be ranked first among the more than 20 exam papers that he had reviewed.
He had been the chief examiner of the imperial examination for so many years and had reviewed tens of thousands of examination papers. This examination paper was enough to rank in the top ten.
Shen Kang's gaze moved to the side of the exam paper, where the examinee's name was written. He saw that the examinee's name was He Shen.
"Isn't this the great genius from Fujian? I didn't expect it to be his exam paper!"
Shen Kang instantly recognized who He Shen was. He Shen's reputation as the number one scholar in Fujian had already spread throughout the capital, and even some of the court officials had heard of him.
"If it's Heshen's exam paper, then it makes sense. This exam paper is very good, I can't make a decision, but I'll submit it to the president and let him review it personally.”
Shen Kang thought.
He immediately picked up the paper and walked over to the second-rank official, Li Hanhai, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, who was in charge of the imperial court's general exams.
Li Hanhai was a tall and thin old man with a protruding forehead and a flower feather on his head. He was wearing the official uniform of a second-grade civil official of the Qing Dynasty. He had a tuft of grayish-white goatee on his chin. Li Hanhai was sitting there marking the papers. As the examiner of this exam, he had obtained the first pass.
"Mr. President, I can't make a decision on this paper. I want to ask Mr. President to review it.”
Arriving in front of Li Hanhai, Shen Kang bowed to him.
"Put it here."
Li Hanhai put down the work at hand and raised his head with a serious expression.
"Yes, Mr. CEO."
Shen Kang placed the exam papers on Li Hanhai's table where he was temporarily approving the exam papers.
Then, he cupped his hands and said,"Then I'll take my leave."”
Li Hanhai nodded and did not reply.
When Shen Kang returned to his seat, Li Hanhai opened the exam paper that Shen Kang had placed on his desk and glanced at it.
However, he did not look at the contents of the examination paper. Instead, he looked at the examinee's signature on the examination paper. When he saw that the examinee's signature on the examination paper was "He Shen", Li Hanhai's slightly interested expression disappeared.
"Hey! He Shen…"
Li Hanhai immediately sneered. Then, he did not even look at it. He threw the examination paper to the side and did not care about it anymore.
Another two days passed.
Today, Shen Kang remembered that two days ago, he had recommended an excellent exam paper to the CEO. However, the strange thing was that the CEO Li Hanhai had not replied to him. He had almost forgotten about this matter.
Shen Kang, who suddenly remembered this matter, quickly went to look for Li Hanhai.
However, Li Hanhai's attitude made Shen Kang feel that something was wrong.
"Oh, the exam paper you recommended to me? I've seen it. I feel that the exam paper is really too poor in terms of the direction of the questions and the standard of the questions. This standard can't even pass the academy examination. I don't know how this examinee passed the provincial examination to become a high school scholar. You don't have to worry about this matter. I've already classified this paper as "failing the roll".”
Li Hanhai said expressionlessly.
"But, Mr. President, I think the answers to this paper are excellent! Especially those three ancient poems, each of them famous. Each of them had the potential to be famous for thousands of years. In the past, it was already extraordinary for such a famous poem to appear in every general examination. This time, there were three of them. What was even more amazing was that these three famous poems were written by the same person.”
Shen Kang was not convinced and argued.
"Shen Kang, you have to recognize your position. In this year's general exams, you are the president and I am the president? My position as CEO was appointed by His Majesty. If you have any objections, go and look for His Majesty.”
Seeing that Shen Kang, a mere scholar of the Imperial Academy, dared to refute him, Li Hanhai's expression turned cold as he spoke with a cold expression.
Of course, Shen Kang knew that he could not report to the current Emperor. He was just a small scholar in the Imperial Academy, but he already had a Vice President. If he went past the Vice President to report to the Emperor, no matter what, a crime of "exceeding his position" would be inevitable.
"But…"
Shen Kang was still unwilling to accept it. He was unwilling to let such a talented candidate be left out just like that.
"No buts."
Before Shen Kang could finish, Li Hanhai interrupted him.
"Then I will take the exam papers."
There was no other way, Shen Kang could not go against Li Hanhai who was four levels higher than him.
"The exam papers are over there."
Li Hanhai glanced at the exam paper that had not been touched for two days at the corner of the table.
Seeing Shen Kang take the exam papers away, Li Hanhai was not moved at all. Since the Emperor had personally appointed him as the president of the general exams and was responsible for all matters in the general exams, even if Shen Kang took the exam papers to the six ministers, as long as he did not nod, it would be useless.
Shen Kang, who was really unwilling, took the exam papers and went to look for them again. As the two vice presidents this time, they were Liu Zhengcheng, the third-grade Supreme Court official, and Xu Yuan, the third-grade Taichang Temple official.
However, the attitude of these two officials was very ambiguous. They only said that the exam papers were good, but did not say whether they passed or not.
Finally, Shen Kang understood.
Although the two vice presidents were also optimistic about He Shen's exam paper, they were not willing to offend their superior, Li Hanhai, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites.
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