Chapter 396

Xu Mo's eyes reddened, and as soon as he heard the Imperial Court's praise for a few moments, he put down his ink brush.

He politely bowed and stepped back from the crowd.

With their morale boosted, the following scholars performed even better, each filled with passion and a sense of patriotism.

However, there were very few who could surpass Xu Mo.

"You've really done well. The mysterious Fifth Prince actually came forward to help you," Qi Huai, who had just returned, approached and whispered with a lowered voice, "No, it's not that he's helping you. It should be said that he's at odds with the Crown Prince, and coincidentally helped you. But it's lucky for you to receive assistance from the Fifth Prince."

Xu Mo remained silent.

Was it really just luck?

Was there... no other possibility?

His mind stirred slightly, and he asked in a way that moved his tongue but not his lips, "Did Brother Qi look up and see the true face of the Fifth Prince just now?"

"I didn't see clearly," Qi Huai exclaimed in surprise, "I only heard that he is a frail teenager of around thirteen or fourteen years old. The voice just now seemed convincing. But why, Xu Xiong, do you have a connection with the Fifth Prince?"

Xu Mo shook his head.

The age matches, but the frailty does not.

If he hadn't had experience feigning illness, he would have completely dismissed the suspicion.

Unfortunately, the Imperial Examination was strict, and Xu Mo found it difficult to even raise his head, let alone catch up and inquire.

No matter how many questions or troubles he had, they could only be left until the end of the examination.

As the sun set, the final examination of the imperial examination finally came to an end.

The Imperial Court was exhausted, collecting over four hundred ink scrolls, waiting only to announce the top three tomorrow and post the results the day after.

The Crown Prince and the chief examiners left one after another.

Over four hundred scholars, with sore legs, dispersed from the Taihe Hall and hurriedly made their way to the gates of the imperial city in pairs or threes.

Qi Huai intercepted An Jun and Xu Mo, and the three of them formed a group, joking about the ups and downs of the day.

"Xu Xiong, you're lucky to have encountered a contest between the Fifth Prince and the Crown Prince," An Jun sighed, "The Crown Prince supports Fang Yuan, and the Fifth Prince happened to help you. I'm afraid both of you will secure top ranks." "No problem. The top ranks consist of three people, right? We still have a chance," Qi Huai was particularly optimistic, "Fang Yuan will get the first place, Xu Xiong will get the second, and it wouldn't be bad if I can get the third."

"Pah, can ordinary people become the third-ranked scholar?" An Jun expressed disdain through his actions.

The two of them laughed and chatted, exuding the relief of finishing the examination.

Only Xu Mo had a serious expression, burdened with a heavy heart.

After experiencing so much turmoil, he no longer believed in the word "coincidence." The Fifth Prince had no reason to suppress the Crown Prince during the Imperial Examination, let alone help him.

Unfortunately, until the end of the examination, that slender figure in black did not appear again. When Xu Mo inquired with Qi Huai and An Jun, the information he received was always minimal and repetitive.

Fortunately, Xu Mo had a calm temperament. Even though his heart was in turmoil, his face remained calm and serene.

He searched around, trying to find one of the eight examiners, his respected mentor, only to unexpectedly come face to face with Fang Yuan's cold expression.

"He's just a commoner from Anshui Prefecture, yet he wants to compete with Young Master Fang for the top rank," disdainful comments came just at the right time, "If it weren't for the Fifth Prince stepping in, he wouldn't stand a chance."

"Why would the Fifth Prince help him? Could there be some secret deal behind the scenes?"

"It may be due to a disagreement with the Crown Prince, or it may be related to him in some way, but so what? He's just trying to please the foreign spies. The Imperial Court would never choose him as one of the top three scholars."

Upon hearing this, Qi Huai became angry and couldn't help but want to speak up.

"Don't." Xu Mo stopped him, calm and composed. "It's just a few extra words. If we really cause a conflict within the imperial city, it may affect our performance in the palace examination."

Although the imperial examination had already ended, the top three rankings had not yet been announced, so no one knew if they were still under the observation of the Imperial Court.

If their rankings were truly compromised due to a moment of anger, it would be a great loss.

Moreover, Fang Yuan was a person with deep thoughts. Were these words just unintentional remarks or were they deliberately orchestrated?

Xu Mo didn't know, he just tightly restrained Qi Huai and calmly locked eyes with Fang Yuan.

These two young men, who were not much different in age, had become enemies because of Fang Heng and the imperial examination, and they would forever be in opposition to each other.

It was either you die or I live.

"Good luck to you." After mouthing these three words, Fang Yuan turned and walked away.

Xu Mo responded calmly, neither annoyed nor angry.

It was only when they were far away that he released his grip on Qi Huai.

"What did Fang Yuan say just now?" An Jun turned his head in confusion. "Did he say he wanted to cook you?"

Qi Huai was greatly alarmed.

Xu Mo couldn't help but laugh and cry. "He said 'good luck to you'," he corrected his distracted friend with a wry smile. "Perhaps he thinks that the palace examination results will only be announced the day after tomorrow, and there will be a lot of variables within a day and night."

The current Imperial Court was not a resolute and unwavering entity. Its ears were particularly soft, and emotions could be easily influenced by the princes within the grand hall. It was likely that the selection process outside the grand hall could also be swayed.

"Don't worry, I saw your examination paper in the pile for the second-ranked scholars," Qi Huai said with determination. "The first-ranked scholars will be selected from the second-ranked scholars. I can't say for sure if you, Brother Xu, will be chosen, but it will be difficult to escape the second-ranked position."

With the trouble caused by Fang Yuan and the Crown Prince, obtaining this ranking was actually satisfactory for Xu Mo.

But as long as the Fifth Prince's intervention was not a coincidence, as long as he was... someone familiar, whether he would be in the first or second rank was unpredictable.

Thinking of this, Xu Mo's mood suddenly brightened.

He was no longer entangled in the identity of the Fifth Prince or the return of his youngest brother. Instead, he settled down and waited for the results of the palace examination.

This result would reveal all the answers.

As the students returned, the families waiting at the gates of the imperial city erupted in cheers.

Qi Huai's younger sister rushed ahead, a mixture of surprise and shyness. "Brother, how did it go? How did it go?"

"It went well. I feel pretty good about it," Qi Huai touched his nose and added, "Brother Xu was even more outstanding. The first place is within reach."

Qi Yue stomped her foot, glanced at Xu Mo from the corner of her eye, and only saw him smiling at his younger siblings.

"Don't look, don't look," Qi Huai murmured. "My brother's heart hasn't opened to love yet. He only has family in his heart, and you're not part of it."

"Mean brother," Qi Yue blushed even more and stomped away forcefully.

Leaving behind a mixture of sourness and bitterness, Qi Huai nearly burst into tears.

Looking at the young girl bouncing around by Xu Mo's side, his jealousy grew even stronger.

"Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother," one might have thought Jiang Sheng was about to lay eggs. "How did your exams go? Was anyone causing trouble? How did you perform? Can you become an official? Can I walk with pride now?"

"Yes, big brother, I can... Have the officials colluded with the merchants?" Zheng Ruqian also raised his voice, but luckily he remembered they were in a crowd and lowered the volume for the most important four words.

"Big brother, has Fang Yuan, that good-for-nothing, given you a hard time?" Fang Heng's words were filled with gritted teeth.

"Big brother, are you feeling unwell? Let me take your pulse for you." Wen Zhiyun, for some reason, tearfully approached.

Xu Mo almost couldn't resist telling them about the Fifth Prince's matter.

Considering the temperaments of his younger brothers and sisters, he forcefully held back and simply nodded, saying, "It's alright, at least I achieved a second-class rank."

A first-class rank would grant him an exceptional status, allowing him to directly enter the Imperial Academy and obtain positions as a compiler or editor, ranging from the sixth to seventh rank.

A second-class scholar was also extraordinary. He could become a licentiate of the Hanlin Academy and even serve as a substitute county magistrate in various locations, at the very least holding a minor official position.

Xu Mo was cautious by nature, so what he could say was likely close to the truth.

Jiang Sheng burst into cheers, exchanged a glance with Zheng Ruqian, and then dashed off.

"Second brother, hurry, let's do what we planned before. Quickly!"