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With each announcement, a candidate stepped out from the crowd and thanked the Emperor.

When the golden armored guards heard the announcements, they felt reassured.

They didn’t hear it wrongly!

The results were announced from fourth to tenth.

The top three had not been announced!

Even though they did not know what happened, their only job was to spread the news of who made the top three. Nothing else mattered to them.

They did not have to move for the time being.

The calmed down considerably.

However, Wu Feng could not find any calm. Standing next to these candidates having made the top 10 should have been glorious.

Yet, he could not bring himself to smile. He could feel the awkward gazes the other candidates were shooting in his direction.

"First... I was supposed to be first. What happened?" Wu Feng was unwilling to accept the fact that he was fourth. He kept hoping for Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping to correct the ‘mistake’.

However, Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping finished announcing all the names without a hiccup. He rolled up the parchment and place it in Emperor Lin Mubai’s hands.

"Your highness, please announce the results for the top three!"

"Mm." Emperor Lin Mubai nodded. Eunuch Wei immediately took the parchment from Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping and placed it in the Emperor’s hands.

Emperor Lin Mubai took the parchment but did not open it immediately. He scanned the crowd once again, his gaze sharp.

"Where is Fang Zhengzhi?!"

This was what Emperor Lin Mubai was most concerned about.

He could announce the results right now, but what would happen after? Fang Zhengzhi was not around to thank him!

Could Fang Zhengzhi be hiding in the crowd?

Emperor Lin Mubai had to hope that this was the case. He did not dare believe that Fang Zhengzhi would be so audacious as to be absent on such a day.

If he really embarrasses me today, I will have his head!

Emperor Lin Mubai cursed to himself, then began his announcement. "During the course of reading the scripts, I came across many fresh ideas. The future of the Great Xia Dynasty is bright. However, there can only be three names. I made my decisions after much deliberations. Even if you’re not named, do not despair. Study hard and you can still try again next time!"

"Thank you, your highness!"

All of the candidates immediately thanked the Emperor for this advice.

Emperor Lin Mubai nodded once again. Then, he unfurled the parchment and looked over it. After a moment of hesitation, he announced, "The top scorers for the court theory examination... Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!"

His announcement was not immediately greeted by cheers. The entire crowd was silent as they stared at Emperor Lin Mubai.

After some hesitation, the silence was finally broken. However, there were no cheers. Everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

"Did I hear that correctly? Nangong Hao?!"

"I don’t think you heard that wrongly. I heard that too. But how can it be Nangong Hao? He didn’t meet with the Emperor?!"

"Maybe he lied to Wu Feng?"

All of the talents could not react when they heard Nangong Hao’s name. Nangong Hao had said that he didn’t meet with the Emperor.

So why was he the top scorer?

Even though this was something everyone had expected, they could not understand it, especially after recent developments.

Of course...

They were even more shocked to hear a second name after Nangong Hao’s. This was a name all the officials dreaded.

"Fang Zhengzhi?!"

"The top scorers are Nangong Hao AND Fang Zhengzhi?!"

Emperor Lin Mubai’s voice continued to reverberate in their minds

"What is that supposed to mean... Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi?!"

"They are joint firsts?!"

"How can there be two people?!"

"Furthermore, how can the second person be Fang Zhengzhi? Fang Zhengzhi didn’t meet with the Emperor! This does not make any sense!"

No one could understand what was going on. Nangong Hao taking home first place was still acceptable.

Even if he did not meet with the Emperor.

After all, Nangong Hao had been the favorite to top the examinations. However, having Fang Zhengzhi tied for first was unusual.

How could two people who didn’t meet with the Emperor be first?

Tied for first?

This was something that had never happened before! There had been no tie for first in the court examinations in history!

Wu Feng’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

What is going on?

His first position was stolen by Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi? But neither of them met with the Emperor. Why? What was going on?

"Your highness, I..." Wu Feng’s jaw dropped as he stepped forward. Then, he saw the Emperor’s gaze.

It was a gaze that quelled all doubts.

It represented his power.

This caused Wu Feng’s leg to freeze in mid air. He did not dare step forward, neither could he continue speaking.

Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping and the other officials were also in disbelief. They did not know how this could happen.

This was the court examination!

There was never a tie in the court examinations. The court examination was meant to find the top talent.

How can there be two ‘top talents’ in a single examination?

This was illogical. Furthermore, they could not bring themselves to believe that Fang Zhengzhi could be on par with Nangong Hao.

Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping’s lips twitched, but he did not speak.

All of the officials also looked at Emperor Lin Mubai doubtfully. Even those in charge of relaying the announcement were stunned.

They did not know if they should relay the message.

Emperor Lin Mubai knew what everyone was thinking by the looks on their faces. However, he was the Emperor.

Who would dare doubt the decision he made?

In actual fact, before King Liqin had given his opinion, he was leaning towards a particular decision. However, after hearing what King Liqin had to say, he changed his mind.

Fairness!

This was the most important value he stood by when marking all the scripts. He thought he had achieved it, but he hadn’t.

The rules stated that he must choose a winner!

However, these two scripts were equally immaculate. To choose a winner would not be fair. Since it was not fair, why should he do it?

Rules? He was the rules!

As to why he didn’t meet with Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Hao? The reason was simple. Only three scripts had proposed to "fight".

The top three were already decided.

Since he knew who he was going to place in the top three, why bother meeting them.

All he had to do was meet the fourth to tenth ranked candidates and find out more about what they proposed. That would allow him to rank them accordingly.

Emperor Lin Mubai was not lazy. After all, in order to personally look through all 200 scripts, he had neglected the affairs of the state for the past few days.

Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi...

It didn’t matter if he met Fang Zhengzhi or not.

Emperor Lin Mubai knew that his decision would not be questioned. However, he still had to explain his decision. Furthermore, the explanation had to be a good one.

"My decision today may shock all of you, but this is something that is perfectly logical. It is said that there should always be a clear winner. Ever since I took the throne, I have seen countless scripts. I always thought that I would be able to judge one script as being superior. However, between Nangong Hao’s and Fang Zhengzhi’s, I could not pick a superior one!"

"I could not pick a superior one!"

This sentence reverberated throughout the Imperial Decree Hall.

All of the candidates and officials looked at each other.

This was an easily comprehensible statement. However, for this to be said by the Emperor had great ramifications.

For two scripts to be deemed as equal to the Emperor, how impeccable must they be?

This showed off the Emperor’s humility even whilst he praised Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Hao for their impeccable work.

Wu Feng’s face was completely flushed.

He thought of the events back at the Intellectual Loft. At that time, he talked about his policy paper in front of Fang Zhengzhi.

Now...

He felt a stinging pain on his face.

"The Emperor is fair and wise!" One of the officials fell to his knees.

All of the other officials followed suit.

"The Emperor made a wise decision!"

No one dared to doubt the decision of the Emperor. He was the leader of the Great Xia Dynasty.

All the other candidates also fell to their knees.

The people in charge of relaying the information finally recovered.

"In first place, Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!"

"In first place, Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!"

"In first place..."

The news was quickly relayed to the entrance of the palace.

The crowd outside the palace was in uproar. Two people were tied for first? And it was Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi?

Fang Zhengzhi!

He managed to tie with Nangong Hao?!

All of the shabbily dressed villagers whooped and cheered Fang Zhengzhi’s name. A few men dressed in black in the crowd looked at each other and left.

The golden armored guards sprang into action as they sped towards the gates. They kept hollering, "Ranked first for the court examinations, Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi!"

Their voices reverberated throughout the entire capital.

Nangong Hao, who was dressed in a white shirt, stepped out from the crowd. He walked slowly and steadily.

Each and every step was regulated.

However, his mouth twitched in excitement. This was not excitement due to the result. He was excited that he found a worthy opponent.

Tie?

This edition of the court examination would be interesting.

"The commoner thanks the Emperor!" Nangong Hao stood in the middle of the door to the Imperial Decree Hall, bowing to the Emperor as he showed his gratitude.

"Commoner?" Emperor Lin Mubai sighed internally. However, he did not say anything as he looked at Nangong Hao.

Behind Nangong Hao was an empty space.

No one!

"Fang Zhengzhi is absent!" Emperor Lin Mubai’s gaze froze, an invisible aura of power exploding from his body.

All of the officials read Emperor Lin Mubai’s emotions instantly.

He was the Emperor.

He had already given Fang Zhengzhi the highest honor. But where was Fang Zhengzhi? Not only did he not express any gratitude, he was absent!

If Fang Zhengzhi had not made the list...

He would have just forgotten about it and pretended he did not know Fang Zhengzhi was absent.

But Fang Zhengzhi had made it!

He had topped the examination!

He could not ignore this!

"Where is Fang Zhengzhi, the Sword Envoy?" Emperor Lin Mubai’s gaze scanned across all the candidates, his tone calm but dangerous.

It was almost like an arrow sailing slowly through the air.

No one dared to answer.

All of the candidates looked at each other.

All of the officials also looked into the crowd of candidates. They could forgive Fang Zhengzhi for being late, but he was absent!

This showed a complete disregard for the Emperor.

Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping smirked. He saw that Fang Zhengzhi was absent and planned on punishing him after the announcement.

However...

He did not have to do it anymore.

Fang Zhengzhi had topped the examination!

He did not know if this was a good thing...

Or a disaster.

The Emperor was the highest in the land. Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to recover from this! No matter how magnanimous the Emperor is, he would not forgive such blatant disrespect!