On stage, Gao Yan finally finished reciting "Xing Lv Ce".

  The surroundings were initially quiet, and then began to murmur in low voices. The students still did not understand the meaning of this essay, but they knew that it was full of elegant quotes from classics. However, the adults on the male spectator seats understood its profound implications. This essay seemed casual, yet it cleverly pointed out the loopholes in the current laws and regulations, and provided a way to make up for them. For a student, this was really unthinkable.

  The examiner on the stage did not expect that Gao Yan would actually be so reserved. However, the rules still had to be followed, and once he expressed doubts about the student's results, he naturally had to test him further. For example, Shen Miao's painting earlier was not as good as this "Xing Lv Ce" in terms of literary talent and practicality. The examiner asked: "As you said in your previous essay, the clear and just implementation of laws is vast and comprehensive, you say it needs to be carefully divided, what kind of division method do you propose?"

  Gao Yan was overjoyed in his heart, and apart from this article "Xing Lv Ce", there was another question that was exactly the same as what the examiner asked. He was deeply grateful to the person who wrote the draft for him, thinking that he would definitely reward them with more silver in the future. Therefore, he calmly and confidently stood up straight, following the answer on the draft: "Divided into three levels, commercial roads, official roads, and civilian roads should be separated..."

  Below the stage, Gao Daxia was already laughing with a mouth that couldn't be closed. He relied on the emperor's support and his extensive connections to reach this point in his official career. However, he didn't have any real abilities. Fortunately, he had a good son, Gao Jin, who could help him handle many things at a young age. Now, his second son, Gao Yan, was also showing extraordinary talent, so he should return to the ancestral temple and burn incense to pray for his ancestors.

  Gao Jin was smarter than his father, but he didn't believe that his younger brother could be so intelligent. He could talk freely in front of the inspector's questions, and it couldn't be that even the inspector had been bribed. Therefore, he also hesitated.

  Pei Lang picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, his hand still slightly trembling. He didn't know why, but every word that Gao Yan said seemed to be etched in his mind. The familiar feeling made him feel extremely absurd, and the anxiety in his heart couldn't be calmed at all.

  Su Minglang had just dozed off, and saw that the people around him were all looking at Gao Yan on stage with an appreciative expression. He simply pulled Su Lao's sleeve and asked: "Dad, is what he said good?"

  "Young genius." said Su Lao Die directly.

  Su Minglang pouted, seemingly unable to understand. After looking around and not seeing Su Mingfeng's figure, he asked: "Brother, why haven't you come back yet?"

  "Your elder brother is now weak in body," said Old Master Su with a light cough, "he came today with great effort, let him rest for a while."

  Fu Xiuyi heard the commotion over here and glanced at Old Man Su, seeing that Old Man Su's expression didn't change despite Su Mingfen's furrowed brow, before thoughtfully withdrawing his gaze.

  In any case, Gao Yan's performance today was extremely impressive, and he responded to the examiner's questions with ease, dispelling everyone's doubts. Naturally, he won first place without a hitch. The ranking is secondary; what's more important is that in the future, when people talk about the imperial examination, apart from Gao Jin, they will also know that he has a talented young second son.

  Gao Yan stepped down with a smile. This round of "selection" has come to an end, and the women's group "selection" has begun.

  Feng Anning didn't go on stage, she was already excellent in the "Qin" category, and the previous draw had already drawn the Qin category. Since the others were not outstanding, there was no need to go on stage. Shen Qing chose chess, she was good at bookkeeping, and chess also requires calculation, so it's slightly advantageous. Shen Yue, as expected, chose "Qin".

  Shen Yue had always loved things that made her stand out from the crowd. Since Chen Ruoqiu was originally a master of the guqin, not only could she play it well, but also compose small tunes and write lyrics on her own. Shen Yue learned this skill extremely well and every year, she would be ranked first in the exams, and thus, every year, people would gather to admire her skills.

  In the women's group, once Shen Yue was there, others wouldn't humiliate themselves by choosing "qin" (zither) class. Shen Qing naturally put in effort and got first place in the "qi" (chess) category.

  When it finally came to "Qin", the scene began to buzz with discussion again.

  Shen Yue stepped onto the stage with a gentle and elegant demeanor, burning incense and washing her hands. She was originally born with a delicate and refined appearance, wearing soft pink clothes that were truly captivating. With a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, she indeed had an air of a young fairy about her.

  She played "Singing to the Moon".

  "Ode to the Moon" is an extremely difficult piece, it's about a traveler in a distant land thinking of his hometown and loved ones. The beginning is gentle and melancholic, followed by intense and sorrowful, until the end leaves one sighing. The structure and rhythm are highly demanding on piano skills, as well as evoking strong emotions.

  In the previous life, Shen Yue also gained fame from this song, and for a time, no one could surpass her. In comparison, she was even more unbearable. Now that I think about it, it seems that every time Shen Yue gained fame, it was by stepping on Shen Miao's misfortune to climb up.

  Shen Miao looked at the girl on stage.

  Shen Yue had begun. As she plucked the strings, they seemed to come alive in her hands, stretching out infinitely soft and gentle, the melody ethereal, carrying a subtle flavor that floated into every ear in the room. Her fingers danced on the strings like butterflies flitting through a sea of flowers, each turn blending seamlessly into perfection.

  Feng Anning bit her lip, even if she didn't like Shen Yue, she had to admit that Shen Yue's piano skills were outstanding. In comparison, the piece she got "first prize" for just now seemed really clumsy.

  It was a melody that made one think of loved ones and hometowns, but it caused Shen Miao's fists to gradually clench.

  Even if reborn, the dead cannot be revived. Yuwen and Fu Ming will not appear again either. Shen Yue's song is like a funeral dirge of revenge, hearing it in people's ears, not only without comfort, but all blood feuds.

  Cai Lin ran to the outside of the seat, he tried hard to get closer to the high platform, so that every expression of his heart's person could be taken in. He was intoxicated with this beautiful piano sound, but suddenly interrupted by someone's conversation.

  "Second Miss is really unlucky, never got second place before, but was robbed of first place by Fifth Miss using despicable means." The speaker was a slender maid, Cai Lin recognized her as Shen Yue's personal maid Shuxiang, and couldn't help but look over there.

  "It's not like that, besides, Wu Niang didn't even choose, she just deliberately opposed Er Niang." Another maid said.

  "Alas, it's a pity that our second sister has a kind heart and doesn't know how much she's been bullied by the fifth sister in private. Isn't the fifth sister relying on the old master to dare treat the second sister like this? The second sister is really pitiful, having prepared for so long, only to have someone else snatch away the fruit of her labor."

  "It would be great if someone could help Er Jie get revenge, for example... let Wu Jie go on stage during the 'challenge'?"

  "What nonsense are you talking about?" Shu Xiang interrupted her: "Everyone knows that Wu Niang's piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are not good, and choosing Wu Niang is not lowering one's own status. I think it's impossible for the women's group to choose her, but if the men's group chooses her, that would be taking revenge for Wu Niang."

  The sound of conversation gradually subsided, Cai Lin's eyes moved slightly, and she looked at Shen Yue on the stage, with an idea in her mind.

  Digression

  Watch out, naughty kids are going to get into big trouble!