The heavy snow in the capital of Qi Kingdom was quite substantial.

After a day, the entire capital was already a blanket of white.

Walking on the streets of the capital, with each breath the people took, one could see white mist.

Except for seeing Master Zhang off from the capital, Xiao Mo had been reading at the inn the whole time.

Unknowingly, the weather gradually warmed, and it was already early March.

On this day, on Xuanwu Avenue leading from the capital to the examination hall, the small stalls and vendors on the roadside had already been cleared away.

Today was the day of the imperial examination.

After being searched, Xiao Mo entered the examination grounds and came to his examination cell.

The examination was divided into three sessions, one session per day.

The first day’s first session was poetry and rhapsody.

It tested one poem and one rhapsody each. This was the most important examination in Qi Kingdom, directly determining whether one would be admitted as a jinshi.

Poetry topics were generally quite free but rhapsody topics mostly came from Confucian classics, history books, or imperial edicts.

This examination tested literary talent, prosody, and parallelism.

The poetry topic was "Bright Moon."

Xiao Mo wrote "Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear," slightly modifying the first stanza to fit the topic.

The rhapsody topic was "The Rise and Fall of Nations."

Xiao Mo wrote in imitation of "The Epang Palace," composing "Rhapsody on Chunli Palace." Fortunately, this world had many dynasties with rich history, making it very easy to find allusions to replace those in the Epang Palace rhapsody.

For this first examination, putting aside everything else, he first needed to secure his qualification as a jinshi.

Second session: Discourse.

This tested one discourse essay.

Similar to the argumentative essays from Xiao Mo’s previous life’s college entrance examination, it required developing arguments about a historical event, governing philosophy, or philosophical proposition.

It examined the candidates’ insights, logical thinking, and writing skills.

Third session: Policy.

This tested five policy questions. This was a practical governmental ability test, involving specific issues in politics, economics, military affairs, law, and people’s livelihood.

After completing three days of examinations, when Xiao Mo left the examination grounds, he had a feeling as if he had lived through another lifetime.

Regarding whether he could pass, Xiao Mo was quite confident.

As long as he passed the imperial examination, the palace examination would be manageable.

In Qi Kingdom, although "jinshi and first class," "jinshi origin," and "equivalent to jinshi origin" had different starting points, the most important thing was still the subsequent struggling and fighting in officialdom.

Ten days later, at dawn.

As the bell of Xuanwu Avenue rang out, not far from the palace gates, Minister Fang of the Ministry of Rites, under the protection of soldiers, personally hung up the spring rankings.

One by one, the promoted scholars crowded under the rankings list, craning their necks in anticipation.

"I passed!"

"I passed too!"

"Young master! What rank did you get!"

"I’m ranked fiftieth! Hahaha!"

"Quick! Take him away!"

"Didn’t pass... I didn’t pass..."

"Hahaha, I’m twenty-second! Hahaha!"

"This twenty-second place, quickly take him back to the residence!"

As soon as the imperial examination results were posted, people were already catching sons-in-law from under the rankings.

Seeing himself in first place, Xiao Mo didn’t dare make a scene, afraid of being caught by someone who wouldn’t let him leave without getting married. He quickly slipped away quietly but he could hide for a while but not forever. In Qi Kingdom, the inns where promoted scholars stayed all had to be registered.

How could someone like Xiao Mo, the principal graduate, possibly hide?

Before long, the high officials and nobles of the Qi capital rushed into the inn where Xiao Mo was staying.

Fortunately, Zhang Qianzhi had prepared early. Before leaving the capital, he had already anticipated today.

Miss Zhang had guards stationed at Xiao Mo’s door, not allowing others to disturb him.

Unlike other young ladies from noble families, Miss Zhang often appeared in public and had a certain reputation in the capital. Many people recognized her.

Seeing Miss Zhang arrive, others naturally didn’t dare act presumptuously.

"Thank you, Miss Zhang," Xiao Mo bowed to Zhang Shuiqing.

"Principal Graduate Xiao need not thank me," Zhang Shuiqing smiled, "However, with this young lady bringing people today, I’m afraid all the civil and military officials in the court now know that you are my father’s man."

Xiao Mo said calmly, "It was already the case."

From the moment he was nominated as principal graduate, he had been Master Zhang’s man. Later, needless to say, he had even visited Master Zhang but Xiao Mo had been prepared in his heart.

In the court, how could one not take sides?

Currently, he stood with Master Zhang, which meant standing with Prime Minister Fang.

Zhang Shuiqing nodded and smiled, saying no more.

Ten days later was the palace examination.

Qi Kingdom’s palace examination was different. There was no written response section, but rather scholars took turns having audiences with the emperor.

All scholars resided in the outer palace, and only after all scholars had their audiences could they leave. This generally lasted two to three days.

The order of audiences was determined by drawing lots.

Xiao Mo was unlucky and drew the last position.

On the third day, Xiao Mo walked into the great hall.

In the great hall sat the ruler of Qi Kingdom, Prime Minister Fang, and the other six ministry ministers.

Everyone knew about the relationship between Xiao Mo and Zhang Qianzhi.

Everyone knew about that "Grace Distribution Edict."

And now, everyone also knew about "Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear" and "Rhapsody on Chunli Palace."

When Xiao Mo entered, almost everyone looked toward the prime minister sitting beside the emperor.

Xiao Mo was already considered Zhang Qianzhi’s student, which made him Fang Ling’s junior disciple.

After Xiao Mo entered, Fang Ling closed his eyes and remained silent, neither listening nor observing.

"Student Xiao Mo pays respects to Your Majesty and bows to all the ministers," Xiao Mo performed a solemn bow.

"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to ask the blue sky. I wonder what year it is tonight in the heavenly palace," the Qi ruler smiled as he looked at Xiao Mo, "What a talented and handsome young man! Ministers, don’t speak first. Let me test him first!"

Ordinary scholars’ palace examinations lasted at most one incense stick’s time but Xiao Mo remained in the great hall for a full half-hour.

After Xiao Mo left, the Qi ruler looked at those around him, "Regarding this palace examination’s top scholar, I presume you ministers have no objections?"

Mid-April.

At the county magistrate’s residence in Qingshan County.

Magistrate Sun was brewing tea and playing with his birds in the courtyard.

"Master! Master!"

Just as Magistrate Sun was adding water to the cage for his parrot, a servant came stumbling and tumbling in, frightening the parrot into several flutters.

"What’s the matter? So reckless, you scared my bird!" Magistrate Sun scolded.

"Master! Someone from the imperial city has come!"

"Someone from the imperial city? Did they say what for?" Magistrate Sun was startled, thinking to himself that he hadn’t been particularly corrupt recently.

"Master, the person from the imperial city said they’re here to commend you! Xiao Mo from your county has achieved the triple crown!"

"What!" The Qingshan County magistrate was overjoyed, "Good, good, good! Quickly go meet the imperial envoy!"

However, when the Qingshan County magistrate had walked halfway, he suddenly thought, "Quickly prepare a big red horse and big red flowers to prepare a parade for the top scholar!"

"That... Master, the top scholar didn’t come to the county seat."

"Didn’t come to the county seat? Where did the top scholar go?"

"The top scholar seems to have returned to the village."

"..."

"Master, I’ll immediately have someone go bring the top scholar here."

"No need," the Qingshan County magistrate drew his sleeves together and looked toward She Mountain, "The top scholar probably won’t come these few days."