Then, all the students also looked at Suolun’s score in disbelief.
In the past, Wangcheng Academy held examinations every year without exception, and Suolun was always in last place. Even in the simplest basic theory examination, which was out of two hundred points, Suolun had never scored more than ninety points.
Now, he had actually scored one hundred and seventy two points. This was really impressive.
Seeing this score, Lanling could not help but feel slightly surprised. It was about four points more than he had estimated for himself. It seemed that he had guessed some questions correctly after all.
Next, Lanling looked at the ranking. One hundred and seventy two points might be a good score, but the ranking was not particularly impressive.
There were probably more than thirty people ranked ahead of him. He was placed thirty eighth.
However, this was completely within Lanling’s expectations. The basic theory examination was the simplest for the other students, but for Lanling it was actually the most difficult.
So impressive. The young miss will definitely be happy, and I am also proud of you. Ye Jingyu came over and whispered in Lanling’s ear, Let us go home. Rest well and prepare for tomorrow’s second examination.
Lanling nodded and turned to leave.
He got into the carriage, left Wangcheng Academy, and returned to the Tianshui Earl’s Mansion.
But just as they drove out of the noble students’ avenue, a snow white carriage was stopped ahead.
Lanling knew that it was Zhi Ning’s carriage. After her marking work, she also had to go home.
Sure enough, a moment later, Zhi Ning came out surrounded by people like stars holding the moon. Then a young eunuch knelt on the ground to serve as a human stool, letting her step on him to board the carriage.
From beginning to end, Zhi Ning did not glance at Lanling even once, even though his score was an unprecedented one hundred and seventy two points.
And Zhi Ning indeed did not take it to heart. Although she was slightly surprised when she saw Suolun’s score.
But after all, this basic theory subject was the simplest of all. It was completely rote memorisation. If after spending several months he still could not memorise it, then Suolun would truly be a good for nothing.
But without doubt, Suolun’s good luck ended here. In the next subject, the policy essay questions, they would definitely make Suolun reveal his true colours.
Zhi Ning knew that Suo Ningbing was a talented woman. She must have helped Suolun bet on many questions and written many policy essays for Suolun to memorise.
However, the questions in the next examination were unprecedentedly difficult, unprecedentedly unexpected, and unprecedentedly shocking to everyone’s eyes.
It was absolutely impossible to guess the questions correctly.
Zhi Ning could almost guarantee that with such difficult questions, Suolun was destined to suffer a crushing defeat. It would be hard for him to even score twenty or thirty points.
And to obtain the noble warrior medal, one could not fail in any examination!
Go. Zhi Ning said indifferently.
Four snow white fine horses galloped wildly, heading towards the princess’s mansion. The eunuch beside her followed closely like a ghost, his feet not touching the ground.
After returning to the princess’s mansion, Zhi Ning stepped down from the carriage and immediately saw a white haired and white browed eunuch standing at the door.
She was slightly surprised, then revealed an unprecedented smile. She quickened her steps forward and said, Why did Duke Li not enter the mansion? It is late at night, and you are advanced in years.
Zhi Ning’s expression towards anyone was always cold and indifferent, giving the feeling that she could not smile. But at this moment, she actually revealed an unprecedented smile, and it seemed not fake but sincere.
This person was Li Chenglian, the trusted eunuch of Prince Zhi Li and the future leader of the eunuchs in the Nu Lang Kingdom.
Immediately after, the middle aged eunuch who had been following behind Zhi Ning stepped forward, kowtowed respectfully and said, Father, your son kowtows to greet you and wish you well.
The eunuch who followed beside Zhi Ning had extremely high martial arts. When killing in the royal city, he had never needed more than one move. With him by Zhi Ning’s side, her safety was absolutely assured.
But at this moment, when he saw this white haired and white browed eunuch, he was completely like a mouse seeing a cat.
Li Zhu, in front of the master, it is not appropriate for you to greet me in this way. The great eunuch Li Chenglian said indifferently.
It is appropriate. How could it not be? Zhi Ning said coquettishly, Both my brother and I grew up under your watch. On that day of great chaos, if you had not risked your life to protect us, my brother and I would have long since become corpses. If it were not for the rules of etiquette, I would want to bow to you whenever I see you, old one.
This vicious woman could actually act coquettishly.
Li Chenglian’s eyes revealed pity and love. He almost could not resist reaching out to stroke her head. When she was small, he had done exactly that.
Eunuchs had no descendants. Zhi Li and Zhi Ning had both been raised by him. He truly treated them as his own grandson and granddaughter and doted on them.
How did Suolun perform? Li Chenglian asked. His tone sounded very calm, and he did not add words like profligate or good for nothing in front of Suolun.
Zhi Ning said, Ranked in the top thirty eight. Somewhat unexpectedly good. But the basic theory was after all the simplest subject.
Li Chenglian nodded and said, The young master knows about the bet between the princess and Suolun, which has caused a stir throughout the city. He feels that the princess has been somewhat unwise.
Yes, Zhi Ning knows she was wrong. Zhi Ning lowered her head and said.
Li Chenglian said, This should again be Suo Ningbing’s handiwork, creating public opinion to force the royal family. She is very clever.
A trace of unconvinced light flashed in Zhi Ning’s beautiful eyes. She could not stand hearing that others were also clever.
Li Chenglian continued, The matter on the Tianshui City side should be launched in advance.
Zhi Ning was surprised and said, Is it necessary? Those high level warrior lords are very greedy.
Li Chenglian said, The young master said to promise them that every high level warrior lord who rebels can be enfeoffed as a baron, and their territories can be hereditary.
Zhi Ning was surprised. She had not expected Zhi Li to actually agree to such an outrageous condition. But she raised no questions and bowed, saying, Yes.
A quarter of an hour later, dozens of black shadows rushed out from the princess’s mansion and Zhi Li’s mansion, heading towards Tianshui City in the southeast at the fastest speed.
…
After returning to the Tianshui Earl’s Mansion, Suo Ningbing was the first to greet them. Her beautiful eyes looked at Lanling. Although she did not ask aloud, her large watery eyes seemed to be able to speak.
One hundred and seventy two points, ranked thirty eighth. Ye Jingyu said.
Suo Ningbing’s beautiful eyes brightened and she said, Little brother, you are truly amazing.
Ye Jingyu said, This is only the beginning. The third and fourth examinations next are when Suolun will shock everyone. At that time, he will amaze all eyes.
Suo Ningbing said, Before, Gui Qinshao always looked down on Suolun and felt he had no prospects. Now that Suolun is so outstanding, it is time to let her see.
Lanling changed the subject and said, Sister, how many warriors belonging to our Suo clan are there in the royal city now?
Suo Ningbing said, About a hundred or so. They are the ones who have guarded our Suo clan for generations. Previously half were in the manor, but now the manor has been given to Duke Zhi Ting, so these warriors are all in the earl’s mansion. Does little brother have something to ask?
Lanling said, Have them prepare. The time for us to leave the royal city is not far off.
Suo Ningbing was surprised, then nodded and said with slight excitement, Good. I cannot wait to return to Tianshui City.
Lanling opened his mouth but said nothing.
Sister has stewed ginseng soup for you. Drink it and then rest immediately to prepare for tomorrow’s examination. Suo Ningbing said.
…
The next day, the bet between Suolun and Zhi Ning had already spread throughout the entire royal city.
Almost everyone was discussing this matter and imagining which part of Zhi Ning’s body Suolun would kiss if he won by chance.
Countless men discussed it with great excitement. When they reached the exciting parts, they immediately felt their whole bodies burning and hurriedly entered the spring buildings to extinguish the fire.
In short, Suolun became popular once again. Last time it was because of the Nineteen Beauties of the Royal City. This time it was even hotter than last time, almost known to everyone.
But unfortunately, the entire royal city still had no one optimistic about Suolun. The betting at the silver casino was still open. The odds for Suolun obtaining the noble warrior medal were still one to ten, but apart from that previous ten thousand gold coin bet, there was almost not another half gold coin.
Because the entire royal city had no one who felt that Suolun could pass the graduation grand examination, let alone enter the top ten and obtain the noble warrior medal.
Although in the first examination Suolun had obtained a high score and entered thirty eighth place, changing his previous last place predicament, this was after all rote memorisation. It was the easiest subject, was it not?
Today’s second subject, the political essay examination, was still held in the evening, in the same grand examination hall as yesterday and with the same examiners as yesterday.
In the evening, Lanling once again took the carriage into Wangcheng Academy. When there were still half an hour left before the examination, he entered the examination hall and came to his seat.
The content of the second political essay examination was very simple. It was to give a topic and write a policy essay.
However, this was also the most difficult. Because a policy essay could completely test a person’s breadth of mind, level, wisdom and so on.
Whether a person had talent could be completely seen from one article.
Moreover, the marking of the policy essay examination was done by ten examiners reading in turn, which to the greatest extent eliminated unfair influences brought by individual examiners’ positions and preferences.
For the topic of the political essay examination, Lanling had thought of many, many possibilities. He had also prepared many related policy essays, especially combining them fully with classic famous articles from ancient China.
Now the key was whether he could guess the topic correctly.
Half an hour later, all the candidates had arrived. The twenty examiners also entered one after another. Princess Zhi Ning and the great cultivator from the Shenlong Holy Temple still sat in the top central position.
Looking at Suolun’s face, Zhi Ning thought to herself that Suolun was probably still dreaming of guessing the topic correctly, so that the policy essays prepared for him by Suo Ningbing could be used.
He was completely dreaming. Today’s policy essay was difficult beyond compare.
For Suolun to obtain a high score, it would be unless the sun rose in the west.
…
Dong! The bell rang, and the second political essay examination began. The twenty examiners started distributing the exam papers.
The exam paper was very simple. It had only one line of topic and two sheets of white paper.
At the first glance of the topic, Lanling’s heart trembled violently. He looked at it again in some disbelief.
At this moment, almost all the noble students also let out surprised sounds. Without doubt, they were also very, very surprised by this topic.
Lanling had thought of many policy essay topics, but this topic was one he had never imagined no matter what.
How many more years of national fortune does the Nu Lang Kingdom have? In which year will the country perish? On what matter will the country perish?
This policy essay topic truly shocked everyone’s eyes. It was really unprecedentedly difficult and truly something no one could have guessed.