Chapter 311: Deciding who comes first in an art
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
No one could understand what Nangong Hao was thinking. Was he going to hand in a blank script? Was this question too easy? Did he find the court examinations too easy?
But that did not seem very possible.
If Nangong Hao did not care about the court examinations, he did not have to come all the way to the capital and announce his participation.
Almost all of the officials knew that the Nangong Family valued their reputation. Handing in a blank script would not be tolerated.
As such...
What was Nangong Hao thinking?
Just as all the officials were thinking about it, Nangong Hao picked up his script and flipped it over.
"What... what’s going on?"
All of the officials were stunned when they saw it.
In the moment Nangong Hao flipped over his script, they could all see that his script was not blank. It was filled with words.
This meant that Nangong Hao was not handing in a blank script.
It’s not blank?
How is that possible?!
All of the officials were stumped. No one was willing to believe what they were seeing. Before Fang Zhengzhi had asked to hand in his script, Nangong Hao’s script was still blank.
Could it be...
How is that possible?
"Oh my god, how did he do that?"
"That is impossible!"
"Unbelievable."
All of the officials were consumed by terror.
If Nangong Hao was not handing in a blank script, there was only one possibility.
Just now...
In the moment that everyone was engrossed with Fang Zhengzhi, Nangong Hao had completed his script at supernatural speeds.
However, when they tried to recall what happened...
The entire episode, from Fang Zhengzhi’s announcement to his exchange with Su Qing, lasted no more than 10 minutes.
This meant that Nangong Hao had completed his paper in that time.
That was too fast!
All of the officials were stumped by that speed.
What stunned them even more was that Nangong Hao had finished his paper during a time which was least conducive for writing a paper.
Any interruption would easily break one’s train of thought and momentum.
Yet, during the most chaotic part of the entire court examination, Nangong Hao managed to finish his paper.
Furthermore, he had completed it in such a short time.
This meant that Nangong Hao had already reached a state of nirvana where he could not be disturbed by anything around him.
"Natural Heart Dao... is this Natural Heart Dao?!" Wu Feng looked at Nangong Hao with fear.
This was the first time he feared someone to this extent.
The fear stemmed from the depths of his heart.
Su Qing finally recovered from his shock. He looked at Nangong Hao, then back at Emperor Lin Mubai. Emperor Lin Mubai’s expression changed slightly.
"Seal the scripts." Emperor Lin Mubai replied.
"Yes, your highness." Su Qing replied.
All of the officials went silent when they heard this.
If Fang Zhengzhi was the only one to hand in his script, then they could charge him for disrespecting the Emperor. But now, even Nangong Hao was handing in his script.
What else could they say?
Were they going to charge Nangong Hao as well?
Su Qing had already walked over to Nangong Hao. He looked at the script on the table and prepared to seal it.
Just at that moment, a hand stopped Su Qing.
This was Nangong Hao’s hand.
"Young Master Nangong, do you not plan on handing it in?" Su Qing was confused.
"No, but I think that Official Su has got something wrong?" Nangong Hao’s gaze towards Su Qing was plain and calm.
"What is it?" Su Qing was getting slightly suspicious.
"Official Su participated in the imperial examinations four years ago. You made it into the courts and advanced to the post of imperial messenger. Can’t you see who submitted their script first?" Nangong Hao pointed towards Fang Zhengzhi.
Su Qing was stunned.
All of the officials next to Emperor Lin Mubai were also taken aback.
"Can’t you see who submitted their script first?"
They knew what Nangong Hao was getting at, and they knew that Nangong Hao was referring to Fang Zhengzhi.
However, they could not figure out why Nangong Hao would say something like that. This was a small matter. It was just the order of submission.
If the imperial messenger in charge of sealing the scripts went in a different order, most people will not raise any objection.
Was Nangong Hao a petty person?
Clearly not.
That meant that Nangong Hao was doing this on purpose.
Another thought was raised in the officials’ minds. If Nangong Hao was saying this on purpose, then did he hand in his script right after Fang Zhengzhi on purpose too?
No one could understand it.
However, Su Qing reacted quickly.
He was second to Nangong Hao during the imperial examinations and a rank four official in the courts. However, he was nothing in the face of Nangong Hao.
At least, he was nothing right now.
There would always be a difference between rank one and two. It was an unassailable gap.
Su Qing knew this very well. Even though he was the invigilator for the examination, he still bowed to Nangong Hao apologetically.
Then, he turned to bow to Fang Zhengzhi.
"Official Fang, please accept my apologies. I have made a mistake!" Su Qing walked over to Fang Zhengzhi and prepared to seal his script.
A hand quickly stopped Su Qing in his tracks.
This was Fang Zhengzhi’s hand.
What now?
Su Qing’s eyes glimmered, but he tried to suppress it.
"Official Fang, do you not plan on handing in your script?"
"I still plan to hand in my script, but I wonder if Official Su has neglected to consider some things?" Fang Zhengzhi glanced at Su Qing flatly before looking at Nangong Hao.
"What have I failed to consider?" Su Qing tried to remain calm.
"Official Su participated in the imperial examinations four years ago. You made it into the courts and advanced to the post of imperial messenger. Can you not see who you were closer to?"
"What do you mean?" Su Qing’s expression darkened.
"Official Su was already by Nangong Hao’s side. Yet, you decided to turn around just because of something he said. This is a clear indication of your indecisiveness. You gave up what was closer and came to me, who was further. This is an extremely inefficient way of doing things. If this is how you handle the complicated matters at the imperial academy, I will be worried!" Fang Zhengzhi said with concern.
Life was all an act.
Emperor Lin Mubai was such a great actor. He had to use this chance to show off some of his acting skills as well.
As to why he wanted to make things difficult for Su Qing.
He did that on purpose.
Reason?
There were two reasons. Firstly, if he had let Su Qing collect his script, he would have lost out to Nangong Hao even though it seemed that he had the advantage.
Those officials may not understand, but Fang Zhengzhi knew.
Before Nangong Mu left, he had come to see Fang Zhengzhi. He did not say much, but Fang Zhengzhi remembered one sentence.
"He will come after I leave!"
At that time, Fang Zhengzhi did not really understand what was going on. However, after Nangong Hao announced his participation in the court examinations, he understood.
Fang Zhengzhi’s challenge to Nangong Hao.
Nangong Hao had come all this way for one purpose - restore the honor of the Nangong Family. Nangong Hao’s submission of the script right after Fang Zhengzhi was proof of this point.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi did not know how he did it, the fact was that Nangong Hao completed his policy paper in that short period of time.
Then, Nangong Hao’s tactic was incredibly well planned and executed.
Normally, the first one to hand in his script would be the one in an advantageous position.
However, Nangong Hao had spoken up for Fang Zhengzhi. This allowed the spotlight to shine on him. This was also his way of showing who’s boss.
Nangong Hao would never allow himself to lose the advantage in the theory examination.
If Fang Zhengzhi was to challenge Nangong Hao, he could not lose the initiative either. As such, he played the ball right back into Nangong Hao’s court.
At the cost of Su Qing...
As to why he wanted to bully Su Qing... that was the second reason. Su Qing was thick skinned enough to take it.
More importantly, Su Qing had already declared war on Fang Zhengzhi with his little show previously.
This was the perfect time for Fang Zhengzhi to kill two birds with one stone.
All of the officials looked at each other in awe.
It was clear...
Fang Zhengzhi was doing this on purpose.
However, Fang Zhengzhi’s statement was perfectly logical. He even used Nangong Hao’s words, making it quite irrefutable.
More importantly, it cut very deep.
Su Qing was in this position only because the Crown Prince had placed him there. There was no explicit approval given by the Emperor. And now, Fang Zhengzhi was questioning his abilities in front of the Emperor.
Furthermore, he had used Nangong Hao’s words. This was the worst possible of concoction for Su Qing. His position was now in jeopardy and he could all but forget about a promotion.
"Vicious!"
"Extremely vicious!"
They had never truly seen Fang Zhengzhi as a threat before this. No matter how talented Fang Zhengzhi seemed to be, they always treated him as a lowly villager.
No one actually feared him.
All of the officials thought that they would school him easily.
However, having seen what he had done to Su Qing, they all gasped. Who were they to think that inexperience meant that he didn’t know anything about politics?
Fang Zhengzhi was the prime example.
Su Qing’s expression darkened. He had never been humiliated like this before. Four years ago, he lost to Nangong Hao in the imperial examinations.
He gave up his cultivation to serve in the courts.
He knew for a fact that Nangong Hao would never enter politics.
Before, he was slightly unclear as to why Nangong Hao would say what he did. However, Fang Zhengzhi’s reply clarified everything for him.
The two of them were using him as their chess piece!
Furthermore, they were doing it without any regard for him.
Su Qing could not possibly accept being humiliated this way.
Thoughts raced in his mind. He knew that he had to resolve this situation quickly. Else, his future would be ruined.
That would mean that his plan would fail.
He knew that he could not rebut Fang Zhengzhi right now. If he did so, his future would be instantly erased.
Right now, the only thing that he could do was self preservation. He need to prove that he had a talent for resolving problems.
He had to use his actions to turn the tables back in his favor.
"Official Wang, please help to seal Young Master Nangong’s script." Su Qing glanced at an imperial messenger.
"Okay." One of the imperial messengers nodded and walked over to Nangong Hao.
吗?"Su QIng nodded then turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi, his expression calm. "Young Master Fang, can you let me seal your script now?"
All of the officials nodded when they saw this.
It was mature and admirable that Su Qing was able to react so calmly in this situation. This simple action resolved the tension between Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi.
He sent someone else to collect Nangong Hao’s script.
He himself would stay and collect Fang Zhengzhi’s script.
This way, both Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi would not have anything to say.
"You are a quick learner, a quick learner indeed!" Fang Zhengzhi smirked as he placed his script in Su Qing’s hand.
Su Qing’s expression darkened once again. He raised his hand and received the script.
"Thank you Official Fang for your lesson!"
All of the officials nearly crumpled to the ground when they heard this.
"A quick learner?!"
"How shameless could this guy get?!"