Chapter 284: Chapter 284
"Your Majesty, this is the list of successful candidates for this year's provincial examination..."
By mid-February, an exciting examination had concluded, and in less than half a month, An Ning had the list of this year's successful candidates in her hands.
"Zhang Heng, Dou Bian, Zeng Gong, Zhang Dun, Su Shi, Cheng Hao, Su Zhe, Zhang Zai..."
Hmm, good, all the familiar names are basically here!
Indeed, holding the name list in her hand, An Ning nodded with satisfaction - talented people will always rise to the occasion regardless of the circumstances.
Even if the exam questions had slightly different emphasis this time.
Although the chief examiner for this session was still Ouyang Xiu, the imperial examination content has always been closely related to current court politics.
With the emergence of superior crop varieties and being at a critical juncture of court changes, the ensuing economic and even land issues were undoubtedly top priorities.
Even though An Ning hadn't deliberately mentioned it, when the Ministry of Rites submitted the exam papers earlier, they had still made it a major component of the classical texts section, even surpassing poetry in weight!
At least when it comes to getting things done, they're quite agreeable.
Chuckling lightly, An Ning made her approval with great satisfaction.
By early March, on the eve of the results announcement, outside the examination hall there was already a massive crowd forming. Scholars wearing blue Confucian robes and various servants were all eagerly anticipating the results. Even roadside vendors occasionally came forward to watch the excitement.
Amid the bustling crowd, noisy sounds could be heard everywhere.
Not far away, in an exquisitely decorated pavilion, An Ning was leisurely sipping tea by the window, occasionally glancing outside.
On both sides of the window, heads also popped out from time to time, but unlike An Ning who was merely watching the spectacle, their eyes were filled with anxiety.
The moment the red results list was posted, the crowd grew even noisier. Wild laughter and crying could be heard continuously, and people nearly crushed each other trying to get closer to the list. Under the crowd's pressure, a stampede nearly occurred.
Seeing this scene, Sima Xiang beside her couldn't help but frown and said worriedly to An Ning opposite her:
"Your... no, young master, maybe we should head back first!"
Although Her Majesty has outstanding martial arts skills, in such a chaotic place, what if someone has malicious intentions? The more she thought about it, the more anxious Sima Xiang became, her misty eyes pleadingly looking at the person before her.
Being stared at , An Ning couldn't help but chuckle, lightly tapping her folding fan on the table:
"Alright, relax. Even if something really happens, your Majesty here may not excel at much else, but carrying one person away is more than sufficient."
In this lifetime, she had openly practiced swordsmanship and martial arts since childhood, plus her cultivated abilities and lightness skills from her spatial powers. Even if hundreds or thousands of troops were dispatched, whether she could fight them was one thing, but escaping with someone was definitely achievable!
And if worse comes to worst, she still has medicine!
Otherwise, how would she dare to be so adventurous in this lifetime...
"Alright, Ah Xiang, as you said, we rarely get out . This excitement is too good to miss..."
"Tonight there's still the lantern festival you love most, when our Miss Sima can truly shine..."
As she spoke, An Ning's gaze once again turned to the bustling scene outside. After all, this was the first imperial examination under her reign, and the legendary list of outstanding scholars.
Success in the examinations - speaking of which, those so-called historical celebrities probably wouldn't get as emotional as these people before her, crying and laughing uncontrollably...
What a pity, not being able to recognize faces is truly one of life's rare disappointments! An Ning thought with rare regret.
Lately, perhaps from reviewing too many boring memorials, nothing could stop An Ning the amusement-seeker from enjoying this spectacle...
"Ah, young master..."
Seeing her , Sima Xiang beside her could only stomp her foot helplessly, while still anxiously scanning the surroundings.
Fearing that Her Majesty might encounter danger.
As for the long-awaited lantern festival, that was far less important than Her Highness's safety.
Outside, the noise continued unabated...
Just as the two in the room - one enjoying the spectacle, the other nervous - were occupied, who would have thought that trouble would actually occur at a window not far from them.
"Brother Yang, what are you doing..."
Amid the panicked shouts of scholars from the next room, An Ning turned to see that outside a window about two rooms away, a middle-aged man dressed in white scholar's attire was unfortunately hanging headfirst from the window.
Or rather, if someone above hadn't been desperately holding onto his pants leg, he would have already fallen completely.
Hanging halfway in the air, the man was clearly terrified, even his speech had become stammering.
"Brother Wang, Brother Su, you... you mustn't... mustn't..."
Unfortunately, before he could finish the word "mustn't," accompanied by a slight tearing sound of fabric, the man's cry for help was cut short as he rapidly fell downward.
Witnessing a tragedy about to occur, many scholars upstairs and downstairs stared wide-eyed.
However, in the next moment.
Accompanied by a sudden whooshing sound, a folding fan unexpectedly appeared mid-air, and just before the man hit the ground, it neatly pierced through layers of clothing at his shoulder, firmly pinning him to the opposite wall...
Such an unbelievable turn of events left the spectators upstairs and downstairs utterly stunned.
The previously noisy market suddenly became eerily quiet.
Finally coming to their senses, the people downstairs hurried forward, attempting to pull out the folding fan and rescue the unfortunate man.
But after trying with all their strength...
Well, they're just scholars who just finished examinations - temporary physical exhaustion and lack of strength is quite normal!
Finally, some quick-witted person ran to the kitchen to get a kitchen knife from the waiter, barely managing to cut through the clothing and rescue the man.
Unfortunately, after all that commotion, the poor unfortunate had already passed out completely by then.
This scene left not only the spectators but even An Ning herself utterly speechless. Recalling that the folding fan she had thrown out didn't seem to have any important markings or identifiers,
An Ning was preparing to leave with her companion when suddenly there came rhythmic knocking at the door!
Sima Xiang instinctively became alert!
"Excuse us, brother. We two are students from the next room. We came to return something we believe belongs to you!"
Oh, the next room. Thinking of the names accidentally called out earlier, and despite her companion's disapproving look, An Ning nodded with great interest...
Soon, two young men dressed as scholars entered the room. Both appeared to be around twenty years old, wearing blue robes, with bold and unrestrained temperaments, carrying a hint of unconventional flair.
Tsk, truly a pair of good friends, what a pity...
Unfortunately, after all that commotion, the poor unfortunate had already passed out completely by then.
Sure enough, the next moment, the leader spoke first, holding the folding fan An Ning had thrown:
"I am Zhang Dun, courtesy name Zihou. This is my good friend Su Zizhan. Might this folding fan belong to you, brother?"