The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Meng Yunzheng clearly felt the tense bodies of the candidates around him and their heads bowed low.

He slightly lowered his head as well, catching a glimpse of a bright yellow hem moving slowly upwards onto the high seat.

The Emperor sat on the Dragon Chair, looking into the hall at the candidates. The other officials assumed he was merely observing the candidates’ demeanor, as it was the first imperial examination he presided over since ascending the throne, so they remained silent, waiting for the Emperor to finish his survey.

The Emperor scanned the crowd and quickly found his target.

It wasn’t that his eyesight was sharp; it was that Meng Yunzheng was too conspicuous, making it hard for him not to notice.

After spotting him, the Emperor retracted his gaze, and only then did the eunuch beside him loudly call for everyone to pay respects.

Meng Yunzheng, mingling among the crowd, bowed to the Emperor, who couldn’t help but cast another glance at him, then nodded, ”Rise.”

Once everyone was seated, the Emperor spoke a few encouraging words, and the exam commenced.

The main focus of the imperial examination was strategy questions. After the questions were distributed, the hall echoed with the sound of pages turning.

Meng Yunzheng looked at the strategy questions, noting that each question was eight to nine hundred words long, primarily focusing on economy and livelihood, followed by military matters, with four detailed questions altogether.

For Meng Yunzheng, it wasn’t difficult, and after a brief contemplation, he was the first to begin writing.

While others were still reading the questions, his action of grinding the ink seemed quite abrupt.

The minister overseeing the exam noticed the Emperor looking in his direction and whispered, ”Your Majesty, that candidate is Meng Yunzheng, the Second Scorer, ranked first in this year’s provincial examination.”

The Emperor acknowledged with an ”Mm.”

The ministers found the Emperor’s expression indifferent, lacking any extra emotion, momentarily puzzled, unable to discern whether the Emperor favored or paid little attention to Meng Yunzheng.

Regardless, it seemed an unusual reaction.

The Emperor was unaware of the ministers’ thoughts. He knew well that Meng Yunzheng was the Second Scorer; exam results were always promptly reported to him.

The Emperor’s heart was a mix of pain and joy—joy for his sharp eye in recognizing an exceptional talent, yet pained by Meng Yunzheng’s lack of ambition to rise higher, wishing only to return as a teacher, which he thought was a waste of potential.

Assured, he knew this candidate’s imperial exam results would be outstanding.

The more he pondered, the more frustrated he felt, causing him to fidget restlessly, eventually standing and walking towards the hall.

The sound of footsteps tightened the candidates’ hearts, their hands trembling involuntarily, silently praying that the Emperor wouldn’t approach them.

The prayers seemed effective, as the Emperor did not venture elsewhere, casually walking towards the seventh row, fifth seat.

There, he stood beside Meng Yunzheng, watching him answer the questions.

Feeling the shadow above, Meng Yunzheng looked up and saw the Emperor gazing at him with interest.

Meng Yunzheng paused briefly; standing and paying respects at this moment would cause too much disruption, yet showing no response seemed inappropriate. So, he slightly nodded to the Emperor and continued writing.

The Emperor, ”...”

Ministers observing the situation, ”...”

Are you mad, Meng Huaiyuan? Do you know what you’re doing? Is that expression truly appropriate in the presence of His Majesty? Aren’t you afraid in the slightest?

They looked back at the Emperor’s face... Hmm... still no change.