Chapter 585: Chapter 573: Epilogue
After the results of the Imperial Examination were announced, the excitement in Shengjing never ceased.
The three hundred examinees whose names appeared on the list were known as scholars.
On the day of the palace examination, as the sky began to show the first light of dawn, the scholars had already gathered outside the palace gates.
Imperial Guards stood solemnly on both sides of the pathway.
The Cabinet, Hanlin Academy, Chamberlain’s Mansion, Guanglu Temple, and Honglu Temple had all been busy with preparations for this event.
Shen Zhi, in his official robe and formal hat, lowered his gaze and followed the lead eunuch towards the grand hall together with the other scholars.
Ji Teng had been waiting for a long time. This time, the test questions were prepared by the Cabinet before he gave his seal of approval.
"It is indeed rare that you, Xie Xun, would be willing to come over to monitor the examination."
Xie Xun smiled on his own: "Da Qi is full of talents, and it is indeed my duty to select capable individuals for the official family... "
He had barely started speaking when Ji Teng interrupted him.
"Enough, I’m not sending you away, so there’s no need to butter me up with these words."
Hearing this, Yuan Shaqing chuckled on the side.
"Behave," said the Grand Tutor, whose grandfather was close friends with Grand Marshal Yuan, as he teasingly assumed the role of an elder.
"You and the Xie Family’s young lady are engaged; no matter what, you should at least call Xie Xun ’brother.’ There’s no need to offend him."
The young man’s face turned red immediately.
At that moment, Cui Bai entered the hall. Ji Teng’s gaze shifted away and missed seeing Cui Yun, his expression twisting slightly.
"Weizhen said he needed to avoid impropriety," Cui Bai explained.
Ji Teng in his Dragon Robe: ???
This was intolerable, and he stood up abruptly.
"Avoid me?"
Seeing the misunderstanding, Cui Bai hurriedly said: "Not at all."
"It’s about the scholar Shen Zhi."
Upon hearing it was not about him, Ji Teng settled back down. He had impressions of Shen Zhi, whose previous articles were not bad, directly hitting the crucial points and showing quite some insight.
Ji Teng picked up a cup of tea: "I was not aware that he had any involvement with the candidates this time."
He turned his head to ask: "Where is Shen Zhi from?"
"Replying to the official family, he is from Fengzhou."
Ji Teng paused, and the Emperor’s tone softened somewhat.
"So it turns out, he is the close friend whom even at great inconvenience had insisted on the exhausting journey."
Quite bitterly.
But he never saw Cui Yun show such consideration for him!
What merits does Shen Zhi possess?
"It’s not like that," Cui Bai saw his reaction and chuckled: "Our Weizhen today is indeed busy. He has to accompany Lady Shen to the Daoist School to draw divination lots."
"He went to Fengzhou before for personal reasons."
Hence, when Shen Zhi entered and unfolded his exam papers, he could sense dozens of scrutinizing gazes upon him, especially from the Emperor on the Dragon Chair.
He steadied his mind and seeing that he was well-dressed, he decided to cast aside any stray thoughts first.
The examination was extremely exhausting; the scholars brought their own food. No one mentioned going to the toilet, from morning until dusk fell, and every word and action was watched by someone.
Shen Zhi finished writing his essay in an inspired and fluid manner, and just as he was about to leave after submitting his exam, he was called out by the Emperor.
Ji Teng casually remarked: "You have a good sister."
This comment made Shen Zhi feel extremely uneasy, even panicked.
Perhaps Ji Teng had taken a fancy to his sister Yangyang and intended to make her his empress.
He left the palace gates with a heavy heart but was halted again.
"Shen Zhi."
Xie Xun approached from one side, gazing deeply at the person before him.
He remembered the times when he led his troops into battle, the rush of Golden Spear Iron Horse, the continuous cannon fire, and the desperation when ammunition and provisions ran out.
He did not make it back.
He died on the battlefield.
With several stab wounds oozing blood, he fell.
The sky was still so blue.
But the sounds of battle were incessant.
"Xie Xun!"
It was Jin Zhong’s hoarse cry of alarm.
But these memories were blurring and fading, and he was slowly becoming deaf to them.
When he closed his eyes for the last time, he had no regrets for donning the armor, only guilt towards his parents, guilt towards the ancestors of the Xie Family.
And guilt towards... her.
Actually, Xie Xun knew every time Zhen Mi secretly saw him off. He could spot her in the crowd at a glance.
But he always pretended not to know.
Return in triumph and venture forth again and again...
Until that battle in the Northwest. He had already begun to suspect Zhen Mi’s background. His emotions fluctuated sharply, but he had no solid evidence to confirm his suspicions.
However, he felt largely at ease. If she was not actually a Miss Yan, then when he returned this time, he would definitely...
Thus, he turned his horse around and headed towards her.
For the first time in public, he vaguely hinted it to her.
—You owe me, and you’ll remember it for a lifetime.
But ultimately, he never had the chance to confirm it.
The frail scholar Shen Zhi recognized the person: "Heir Xie."
Seeing that Xie Xun remained silent, he tentatively asked: "Do you have any instructions for me?"
Xie Xun brought his hands together in salute to his brow and performed a big bow to him.
"I should have expressed my thanks to you long ago, yet I have delayed it until now."
