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Yu Yiping put down the cup of tea in his hand. Even though he did not look at Su Qing, he was clearly impressed with him.

Su Qing bowed to the Crown Prince once again.

"Your highness, the court examinations are one of the most important events in the empire. By holding the examinations there, we show that we trust and value the Southern Mountain Range. Furthermore, we can use this opportunity to find out their attitude towards the Great Xia Dynasty. Even if they are opposed to it, they will not rebel openly. This will serve our first purpose." After bowing, Su Qing elaborated without delay.

The Crown Prince nodded as Su Qing explained.

"The court examination is also the best time for us to showcase our power. Countless talents and elites will be there. This will serve the purpose of deterrence and intimidation. After seeing our power, they will think twice before trying anything! This serves our second purpose, quelling the unrest in the vassal states!" Su Qing added.

"Well said! The plan will achieve the above two aims. How will we achieve the final two though?" The Crown Prince could barely contain his excitement.

"The second and third benefits are linked. The candidates alone are insufficient to stun and awe the Southern Mountain Range. As such, we have to combine it with the annual military exercise. This will ensure that we have a strong military presence there. When that happens, there is no way they can object!"

"That is indeed the case. If we had just held the military exercise there, they would not object, but it would be a blatant intimidation technique. However, the rules of the court examinations dictate that the candidates can bring the soldiers over the border. This is a much more friendly approach!" The Crown Prince nodded his approval.

"I am impressed by your highness’ foresight. Furthermore, as part of the rules of the examination, you can oversee the examination on behalf of the emperor. The emperor needs to govern the country from the capital. As such, he cannot go to the Southern Mountain Range personally. Then, you can become the chief examiner for the court examinations as well. On the contrary, King Duan will only be a supporting cast member. You will also be able to helm the military exercise as a result..."

"Good, very good! Tell me about the last one!"

"The last one is for someone else to do the killing for you. King Duan has a rocky relationship with Fang Zhengzhi. I am sure that with some help from you, King Duan would not relinquish such a golden opportunity." Su Qing knelt.

"Official Su, please rise! You are right! Holding the combat examinations at the Southern Mountain Range is a stroke of genius! We will also have a military presence. When I am invigilating, all I have to do is have a moment of ’lapse’. I am sure sixth brother would not give up such an opportunity, hahaha... okay then, any other opinions?" The Crown Prince asked contentedly.

"Official Su has great foresight. I do not have any other opinions!" Yu Yiping stood up from his chair and bowed to the crown prince.

All of the other officials looked at each other and nodded. They were not stupid. Su Qing’s plan was good and had the approval of both the Crown Prince and Yu Yiping. They were not going to express any differing opinions.

"Good, then let’s get to work!"

...

Deep in the night.

Inside a secret chamber in King Duan’s residence.

A youth wearing the armor of the guards stood in the middle. King Duan sat in front of him on a raised platform.

Next to King Duan were Mr Hua in the robes of an academic and Elder Wen in black and white.

"Your highness, I have acted in accordance to your instructions and presented the plan to the Crown Prince. From his expression, he seems to agree!" The youth raised his head slightly.

This was the rank four official Su Qing.

"Good, well done!" King Duan smiled when he heard what Su QIng said.

"Your highness, Su Qing has done a great service by presenting the Crown Prince with such a plan!" Mr Hua stood up and helped Su Qing to his seat.

"Thank you Mr Hua. However, it is not over yet. It is still a little too early to ask for a reward. I have brought over the reward the Crown Prince sent me. Your highness, please take it!" Su Qing bowed to Mr Hua, then to King Duan.

"Hahaha... Official Su has risked much this time. You have also managed to fool the Left Prime Minister. You can keep the reward from the Crown Prince. Also, I have a pearl of the east, and it is something our vassal state gave me. It is now yours!" King Duan flicked his hand and the starry pearl was thrown out.

"Thank you your highness!" Su Qing kowtowed.

"Your highness, everything is now in place. We just await the commencement of the court examinations. I will now rush to the Southern Mountain Range to prepare!" Elder Wen stepped out.

"Good, thank you. Only you can control the Southern Mountain Range. The success of our plan hinges on you!? King Duan stood up and bowed to Elder Wen.

"Your highness, you’re too kind! I will take my leave first!"

"Elder Wen, it is getting dark, let me see you out!" Mr Hua walked to Elder Wen’s side.

"Okay!" Elder Wen nodded to Mr Hua.

...

The Chung Yeung Festival, also known as the Double Nine Festival, was one of the four biggest festivals in the dynasty. There were always a myriad of activities on this day.

This year’s Chung Yeung Festival was particularly meaningful.

The sun was high.

The aura of autumn was dense at the Eastern Gate. Golden chrysanthemums were placed around the square. In the middle was a grand, festive stage draped in red silk.

Rows of guards in golden armor stood around the square. Their expressions were solemn. The public stretched their necks and jumped to get a better look of the square.

On the stage.

Emperor Lin Mubai led the ceremony.

As one of the biggest festivals, the Chung Yeung Festival had a myriad of traditions and ceremonies. After almost two hours, they were just about done with all of them.

After emperor Lin Mubai poured a glass of wine on the ground, the ceremony was officially over.

The heat was building as the sun shone overhead.

However, none of the officials left. There was another important event today - the opening ceremony of the imperial examinations and the preliminary court examinations.

They had chosen this date for a particular reason. Firstly, they were honoring the contributions of the ancestors and this could inspire the candidates to contribute to the empire. Furthermore, the imperial combat examinations were stopped due to unforeseen circumstances before. It was not to convenient to simply hold a retest.

As a result, they named the retest the preliminary court examination. They also set it on this day so that it could be a Chung Yeung Festival activity.

This would also allow the candidates to showcase their talents to the ancestors as a form of respect.

The gong rang out.

The preliminary court examinations were underway.

As a result of the accident previously, there were only about a dozen survivors. This was not going to be too difficult.

The rules were simple. They would draw lots to set up the bracket.

Their names began to appear on the board. Fang Zhengzhi, Yan Xiu, Xing Qingsui, Nangong Mu were all on it.

However...

There was no Qing Yang.

Ping Yang sat to the right of the emperor, dressed in a reddish golden robe. She pouted in discontent.

All of the officials were not shocked by this.

Everyone knew that Qing Yang was Ping yang.

However, more importantly, Ping Yang had gone behind the emperor’s back and ran out of the capital. Not scolding her was already pampering her.

How could he possibly let Ping Yang continue to make trouble at the court examinations?

The bracket was based on the last known result in the World of the Sage. Most of the candidates had only entered the third round.

Nangong Mu, Xing Qingsui, and Fang Zhengzhi were the only ones who had entered the fourth round.

As such, these three names were taken out of the draw and placed into the second round to ensure fairness.

All of the candidates waited in anticipation.

However...

The officials were shocked to see that Fang Zhengzhi was not there.

Ten days ago, news that Fang Zhengzhi had defeated Yu Wengu in Dong Lin City spread like wildfire. That journey should ordinarily only take seven days.

However, Fang Zhengzhi did not appear. Furthermore, there was no news that he had even made it to the city.

He was late?!

This was something that all the officials refused to believe. This was the preliminary court examinations. The court examinations were one of the most important events, and something that the talents valued immensely.

When was anyone ever late?

"This is an insult to everyone!"

"This is not just an insult! I think that Fang Zhengzhi is so wildly confident he has no regard for the court examinations!"

"The people in the court examinations are quite powerful. I guess Fang Zhengzhi decided to give up? Forget about it. If he doesn’t appear by the time he needs to compete, his opponent will be given a walkover!"

"Even though he will still pass the preliminary court examinations even if he doesn’t turn up, he will not make the top three."

"I guess the top three will be a contest between Xing Qingsui, Nangong Mu, and Yan Xiu."

"Yan Xiu just entered the Heavenly Reflection State recently. Even though he managed to rank second in the Theory Examinations, he would need quite a bit of luck to rank high in the combat examinations."

"I’m afraid his luck isn’t good!"

Discussions began to break out below.

Yan Xiu’s luck was really not very good. Even though he did not have to face Xing Qingsui or Nangong Mu, he had to fight one of the most powerful remaining candidates.

He was a forty year old man who had broken through to the Heavenly Reflection State many years ago.

"The third round, Yan Xiu vs Chen Yuanfang!"

After two rounds of competition, a voice reverberated throughout the square.

All eyes turned on Yan Xiu, whose eyes were closed. Today, he wore a white robe and white leather shoes.

Over the past few months, he did not look much different.

However, he was clearly more tired. Furthermore, his face was considerably slimmer than before.

"I heard that Yan Xiu had stayed home the past few months. I wonder what he has been up to?"

"Who cares. It is almost impossible for him to go from the nascent stage to the intermediate stage in that short period of time. Furthermore, his opponent has been in the intermediate stage for five years."

"Even though it will be difficult, I think that Yan Xiu has a chance at winning. After all, he has the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan, one of the five treasures of the Yan Family."

"This will be exciting. I heard that Yan Xiu was powerful, now I get to see it for myself!"

Yan Xiu ignored all the chatter around him. He stood up from his chair and squinted as he walked towards the stage.

He arrive in the blink of an eye.

His opponent was decked out in armor from head to toe. He held a flaming red axe in his hand.

An aura of head radiated from that man’s body as subtle wafts of red smoke twirled above his head.

The weapon gave away what kind of fighting technique he used.

People who used axes generally relied on strength.

Chen Yuanfang was the representation of strength.

"Begin!"

The invigilator’s voice rang out and Chen Yuanfang sprang into action. He swung his axe, an aura of intimidation and power radiating from it.

He was almost 40 years old.

Even though he did not make much headway in the courts, he was famed in the army. He was reputed to be even more terrifying than a charging wild beast.

His long career in the military gave him much invaluable experience.

He knew that Yan Xiu had the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan. As such, he had to strike even before Yan Xiu could activate the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan.

"You’re from the Yan Family? Yan Xiu, you are a talent! It is a pity you are too young! I have seen your Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan before. However, you have never seen my Flaming Buffalo!" Chen Yuanfang’s eyes widened as he stared at Yan Xiu. His axe was lowered as flames burnt brightly around his body. He looked just like a raging buffalo.