Quick Wear: I'm Really Not a Scumbag

The chief examiner of this joint examination was Zhang Fengchun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the co-examiner was Sui Yang from the Hanlin Academy.

The sealing officials and transcribers have completed the work of sealing and transcribing the test papers. Now it is time to mark the papers. Since there are so many candidates taking the exam, the markers in the academy have to work all night to mark the papers.

The examiners of the imperial examination not only had high academic achievements, but also strictly restricted the relatives of officials from staying away, which was also to prevent cheating.

But man's plans cannot compare to God's plans. The imperial examinations in the Zhou Dynasty had become increasingly unfair in recent years. This could be seen from the fact that almost all the candidates who passed the examinations were from aristocratic families, and there were almost no candidates from poor families or remote areas.

If everyone knows it but doesn't make it public, what can the emperor know?

All matters of the court must be approved by the Prime Minister Dugu Xin before they can be done, and even the imperial examination is naturally no exception. Otherwise, why would it be said that young descendants of his family who are in cahoots with him would have an easier time entering the Hanlin Academy?

Zhang Fengchun's heart was bleeding. The test paper in front of him was a perfect score, but the person was just from a peasant family. If this person had a slightly better background and some redeeming qualities, he would be willing to promote such a person. After all, he still valued talent.

He is not a completely bad person, but the world is like this. If he doesn't do what others say, he will have no way out.

"Oh, what a pity. Let's give this test paper to the young master of the Dugu family. Or we should follow the rules of previous years and make the top ten papers public." Zhang Fengchun made a decision quickly.

"Don't let this guy cause trouble. It's best to send him back home, lest the Dugu family take his life. He's just a farmer's son. He can teach and farm diligently when he returns home."

Zhang Fengchun still felt a little bit reluctant in his heart. If someone else was being pushed aside, he would never help. However, he came from a poor family in his early years. His grandparents were just ordinary farmers. It was his father's passing the imperial examination that indirectly changed his fate.

He can’t be where he is today without his father’s efforts in his early years.

He finds it somewhat difficult to let go of his childhood memories and the farmers' simplicity and sincerity. He doesn't know if he will ever be able to retire peacefully, so he can only hold on cautiously, living one day at a time and trying to protect himself.

He just needs to endure a few more years. If he can really retire, he just wants to take his family home, rent dozens of acres of land, and live in peace until the time of peace.

Teach your little grandson to study hard and send him out when he has the opportunity.

"Yes, sir." Ma Ze'an saw his appreciation for talent.

"Why not keep him in our house and let him work for you? It wouldn't be a waste of his talent."

Zhang Fengchun was indeed somewhat tempted, but he quickly figured it out. "How suspicious is Dugu Xin? Let's not cause any trouble. Tell our people to be more careful and not act recklessly. If you are unsure, feel free to ask me."

Ma Ze'an nodded, "Understood, sir."

Chen Xuyan tilted his head on the roof and thought for a moment. Zhang Fengchun was probably one of the few officials in the court who still had some conscience. He was the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a high position, and he was still a useful person, but he didn't have a strong background. It wouldn't be too much to trick him first and then save his family's lives, right?

——Results announced

"This champion is actually a farmer's boy? Didn't I hear that he is from the Dugu family?" The man made faces and couldn't help wanting to laugh, but he was also afraid that there might be spies from the Dugu family around, so he could only hold it back uncomfortably.

"You don't know, the chosen one was indeed the unlearned one from the Dugu family, but Master Zhang Fengchun overcame all objections and finally let this farmer's son make the list. Otherwise, wouldn't all the civil and military officials in the court respect him? He has a conscience and doesn't come from an aristocratic family, so naturally he'll side with us common people!"

Everyone around was immediately filled with respect for Zhang Fengchun. "Master Zhang is such a good official! He's not even afraid of offending the all-powerful Dugu Xin. It seems the emperor still understands the plight of the common people."

"Master Zhang is a good official!"

"Yes, look at what Chen Xuyan wrote. He is truly talented. A pearl will never be forgotten!"

"Master Zhang is a good official!"

"Master Zhang is a good official!"

......

The servants of the Dugu family left the list with expressions as if they had eaten shit.

Dugu Jinghuai, who was waiting in the luxurious carriage, had lost much patience. "You should also go and check the list."

The servant who went to check the list first hesitated for a long time before he dared to report.

"What? I'm not even on the second-place list? Are you blind? I'm first! My dad had someone swap Chen Xuyan's paper with mine a long time ago."

The servant didn't dare to dodge when he was slapped, so he could only bite the bullet and say out loud what he had just heard under the list.

Dugu Jinghuai did not get angry again, but just asked the coachman to drive back home with a sullen face.

If Zhang Fengchun really did it, then his position as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue would be at the end of his career.

At this time, Chen Zhao and Wei Siqi also squeezed to the bottom of the list. They looked from the back to the front, their expressions becoming more and more heavy. Could it be that Chen Xuyan failed the exam?

Even though Lin Zengjie, who could barely recognize a few characters, had found it, the two of them were still standing behind, reading it line by line.

"What are you two looking for? Isn't Chen Xuyan the first one? Why can't you look up and read such big words?"

Chen Zhao's gaze moved to the first person in the first row. "My brother, is he number one?"

"It should be said that he is a tribute scholar." Wei Siqi rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not seeing things.

The bustling discussions around them also did not escape their ears. Lord Zhang Fengchun?

In order to avoid being surrounded, several people quietly left the list. Wei Siqi said hello to them and ran to read Chen Xuyan's article. Jin Yonghuai followed him.

He looked at it for half an hour, and Lin Zengjie, who was getting impatient, decisively went to take him out.

"What are you looking at? The sun is so bright. If you don't leave, we will." Chen Xuyan's brother even bought the wine and meat for the celebration. He was already impatient.

"Chen Xuyan is indeed a man of incredible talent. I think he will most likely be either the top or second place in the imperial examination this time. With his looks, he might even be the third place." Wei Siqi was also happy, as if he was among those who passed the exam.

Jin Yonghuai shook his head and said, "The third place is just a pretty boy, so of course the first place is the most impressive."

Wei Siqi gave him a complicated look and said, "You don't understand. Forget it. There's nothing more to say. Let's go back."

"Hey, what do you mean? Why doesn't the second brother understand again?" Lin Zengjie's face was full of gloating.

Li Wentao leaned against the wall, his mind barely wrapping itself around him. The imperial court had long been rotten, so how could such a person still exist? Zhang Fengchun had offended the Dugu family for Chen Xuyan, and it looked like he was headed for disaster.

Really interesting.