Chapter 303

Near noon, all the people watching the list were gone, and the gate of the Prefectural Academy was finally completely quiet.

The gate was opened again, and a fat man in official uniform walked out leisurely with his hands behind his back.

"Go, tear down those three exam papers for me." He instructed the Ya Men runner beside him, and after thinking about it, reminded him, "Be careful, don't break them."

The Ya Men runner responded with a "Yes" and ran over in two or three steps to start working.

The secretary Gongsun Ang behind him smiled, "Elder Dong, you are still the most resourceful; throwing out the exam papers directly is more effective than explaining a thousand sentences."

Su Qingyao glanced at him sideways, "How are you talking? What resourceful, this is called wise and resourceful!"

Gongsun Ang held back the corners of his mouth that were about to rise.

"Yes, yes, yes, Elder Dong's teaching is right, it was my improper word choice."

After a pause, he said again, "But this matter is a bit strange; you have presided over the imperial examinations for more than ten years, and this is the first time someone has made trouble; their courage is not small."

Su Qingyao sneered, "Need you say? It must be that someone is supporting them from behind."

As for who this person is, one can know even with their toes.

Besides those hypocritical hypocrites of the Duan family, who else could it be?

Gongsun Ang naturally guessed it too and sighed, "I advised you back then; since the Duan family is determined to win this prefectural top scholar, and Duan Xiu's essay is also outstanding, why not just follow their wishes and save all this trouble."

"You, you just wouldn't listen and insisted on appointing Jiang Zhan as first. In this way, how could the Duan family be willing to let it go? It would be strange if they didn't make trouble."

Su Qingyao understood this principle, but why wouldn't he?

It's just that he had his own considerations.

Officially, as the chief examiner, selecting talented people with good character and learning for the imperial court, fairness and justice are the first priority.

Even if the Emperor himself came today, he would have to admit that Jiang Zhan wrote better than Duan Xiu!

So his appointing Jiang Zhan as first is reasonable and logical.

Furthermore, the Dacheng Academy also felt that Jiang Zhan's essay was the best and strongly recommended him as the top, and if he insisted on singing a different tune and abandoned Jiang Zhan to choose Duan Xiu, the matter would definitely not be hidden.

Those masters from Dacheng Academy who were responsible for grading are all Jinshi graduates who can reach the Emperor's ears, and they are not in the same camp as him; what if they report it to the superiors?

Accusing him of unfair judgment and favoritism.

Would it be clear then?

Su Qingyao made this decision after weighing the pros and cons.

Moreover, from a selfish point of view, he originally appreciated Jiang Zhan more.

I don't know why, but he just felt that the kid looked pleasing to the eye no matter how he looked at him, much cuter than that guy Duan Xiu...

"My Lord." The Ya Men runner respectfully handed over the three exam papers that had just been torn down.

Su Qingyao took them, confirmed that they were not damaged, carefully tucked them into his sleeves, and then climbed into the carriage with a *grunt*.

The carriage drove all the way to the Su Fu.

The Su Fu is also here at Huanglong Cave, not far from the Prefectural Academy, and arrived in about two quarters of an hour.

After entering the door, Su Qingyao first washed up, changed into clean clothes, ate something, and then went straight to Chunhui Hall, intending to see his mother, Old Madam Zhao.

As a result, he was stopped by Nanny Qing, who served Old Madam Zhao, halfway there.

Nanny Qing was Old Madam Zhao's dowry maid back then, had been in the mansion for many years, was loyal, and had watched Su Qingyao grow up, so the relationship was naturally different from ordinary servants, and she spoke more casually.

"My Lord, why don't you go back and come another day." She said with a smile.

Su Qingyao was puzzled, "Why is this? I've already come, how can there be a reason to turn back."

His mind turned quickly, "Could it be... Mother is angry that I have been too busy these few days and didn't go to pay my respects to her, so she is avoiding me?"

Nanny Qing was between laughter and tears.

"My good Lord, please stop, if the Old Madam knew you thought of her this way, she would really be angry."

As she spoke, she nudged toward Chunhui Hall and reminded him in a low voice, "The Princess Consort and the Heir Apparent are inside..."

Those two are here again?

Su Qingyao suddenly realized.

No wonder Nanny Qing wanted to stop him; nothing good ever happens when that mother and son visit, they must be asking for something again.

Last time, in order to claim credit for Shen Jing Bin, his half-sister Su Jin Xiu ran over several times to cry and complain, saying that her son was pitiful, old and still not married, originally liking the Duan family's young lady, but she didn't look at him at all.

If he had some real power, he wouldn't be looked down upon like this, and so on.

The implication was that she wanted to snatch Jiang Li's credit.

But in the end, it was brushed off by him.

He told Su Jin Xiu directly that the letter asking for credit had been sent to the top by fast horse eight hundred years ago and couldn't be brought back, which made Su Jin Xiu furious.

Su Qingyao knew clearly in his heart.

Although Shen Jing Bin is his nephew, he has always been unreliable in doing things, and it is fine to just mix and wait for death; if he really had real power, who knows if he would cause any trouble.

What if it gets big and implicates the nine generations?

He wouldn't step into this pit.

Su Qingyao immediately changed his mind, didn't go to Chunhui Hall, and turned directly to the study, locked the door, and prepared to write the exam questions for the second round of exams tomorrow.

To avoid leaking the questions, he always sets the questions the day before the exam.

According to practice, three exam poems and three mathematics problems.

Su Qingyao had already thought about the exam questions for the poems in his mind, and just needed to write them out.

As for the mathematics problems...

That is even simpler; in the entire Da Zhao, he dare not say his level is one of the top two, but at least it is in the top three.

Given that the first round of exams was relatively easy, the second round must be slightly more difficult.

Of course, it can't be too difficult, otherwise, if no one can do it, what is the point of such questions?

Just as he was concentrating on setting the questions.

Harsh scolding suddenly came from outside, "You dog slave, dare to block this Heir Apparent's way? Get lost, this Heir Apparent wants to find his uncle!"

Su Qingyao's train of thought was interrupted, and he frowned unhappily.

Truly lingering, and can't avoid it.

He put down his pen, stood up and walked to the door, opened a crack, and instructed the guards at the door, "It's noisy to death, hurry up and send him away."