The couple in the last days traveled to ancient times, farming and storing grain and meat in the war

Maybe if people start preparing now, they may really be able to get the top three places in the imperial examination.

Thinking of this, Emperor Li didn't care whether the ministers were there or not. In front of the Prime Minister, Lord Liang and others, he sent someone to Dengping County in an urgent manner for 800 miles to convey his oral order, asking Xiao Yan to participate in this year's imperial examination as well.

Now, not only the Prime Minister and others were shocked, but Lord Liang was also shocked.

Everyone's mind was racing. What did the emperor mean by this?

Why do we need to take exams when we are already officials? Although Da Yan did not explicitly prohibit officials from taking exams, this has never happened in Da Yan history.

But everyone was not stupid after all, and soon they remembered that Xiao Yan was the first scholar, the Juren also got the first place, and that Dayan had not had a top three scorers for many years.

Then, all the adults sighed in their hearts.

It is not easy to pass the imperial examinations. Even under the rule of a wise ruler, it is not always possible.

Xiao Yan was handling official business in the county government office when he suddenly heard that the emperor had an oral order for him. Naturally, he immediately brought everyone from the county government office out to listen to the order.

But after hearing this, Xiao Yan was almost speechless.

What the hell, he still has to take part in the imperial examination?

County Magistrate Yuan and the others were also confused. Aren't their masters already officials? Why do they have to go to the imperial capital to take the imperial examination?

But they didn't hear any talk of dismissing their lord from his position as county magistrate, which made everyone even more confused.

I've really never heard of anything like this.

From then on, Xiao Yan not only had to take care of the affairs of Dengping County, but also had to take the exam. Naturally, he went back home that night and told his family everything.

The family was also confused.

Seeing her husband looking extremely speechless, Jiang Ningning tried to hold back her laughter and almost got hurt.

When Ji Wei, who was still recuperating at Xiao Yan's house, heard about this, he almost cursed on the spot.

His grandma's.

I was originally glad that my apprentice didn't have to take the exam again, so I wouldn't have to show him the top scorer in the imperial examination.

Nowadays, isn’t it still very likely that I can pass the imperial examination and become the top scorer in literature?

He still believed in his apprentice's ability. Even if he had never prepared for the imperial examination before, the top scholar and the top juren would definitely make it easier for him to pass the exam than others.

Seeing that Ji Wei's face was not in good shape, Jiang Ningning tried even harder to hold back her laughter.

Knowing that there was no one around, Jiang Ningning comforted Xiao Yan: "You don't need to prepare. The exam is in a few days anyway. Besides, you're already an official. If you fail the exam, it won't affect us at all."

"That's true, but don't we still have to go to the Imperial Capital?" Xiao Yan was still speechless. What the hell was going on? It was a complete waste of his time.

Jiang Ningning also didn't know what the top three places in the imperial examination meant, so naturally she didn't know what Emperor Li was going to do.

The next day, the teachers at Honghu Academy heard about this and said to Xiao Yan and Jiang Ningning, "We should see if Ruoqing can get the top three places in the imperial examination to prove that he is a wise ruler."

He also talked about how throughout history, every time someone won the top three places in the imperial examination, it always happened under the rule of a wise ruler.

Xiao Yan and Jiang Ningning finally understood and felt even more speechless.

Xiao Yan, in particular, simply didn't want to talk anymore. This was completely absurd. Even under a less wise ruler, it was still possible for someone to pass the imperial examinations.

But there was no other way, Xiao Yan still had to go to Dijing for reference.

Xiao Yan didn't even have to register himself, as someone from Dijing had already registered for him.

But after all, he was still the magistrate of Dengping County and had a lot of things to do, so Xiao Yan was naturally not in a hurry to go to the capital.

Instead, he planned to rush to the capital three days before the examination.

Naturally, he didn't hold out hope of passing the exam, even though he had been one of the two top scorers before. He just wanted to go through the motions.

Fortunately, the imperial examination only lasts three days.

But the round trip will take six or seven days, plus the day of entering the examination hall, it will take at least ten days.

While he was in the capital, all the affairs of the government office had naturally to be handed over to County Magistrate Yuan.

When Xiao Yan arrived in the capital, Xie Jing had already heard that Xiao Yan would also take part in this year's imperial examination and was waiting for him at the city gate.

This is the biggest news in the imperial capital recently. The emperor actually issued an edict personally, asking Xiao Yan to take the exam as well. All the candidates who came to the imperial capital to take the exam were discussing this matter.

Xiao Yan was even more speechless and held his forehead with his hand.

Xie Jing was amused.

After entering the examination hall and taking the test, Xiao Yan immediately returned to Dengping County without even waiting for the results to come out. Regardless of whether he passed the exam or not, he still had to deal with the matter that had been delayed by the county government.

The invigilating officials paid special attention to Xiao Yan because they knew that it was the emperor's oral order that Xiao Yan be invited to take the exam.

Seeing Xiao Yan being the first to leave the examination room and ride away on horseback, these officials were surprised and looked down at the test paper Xiao Yan handed in.

Then, everyone's eyes widened.

They were originally in a dilemma. The person was sent by the emperor to take the exam, and the officials probably understood the emperor's intention. What if the person failed the exam?

So do they have to forge documents for others so as not to go against the emperor's will?

But now... it seems that it is no longer necessary.

After the imperial examination was over, Emperor Li wanted to see what his minister Xiao Yan looked like. However, the palace maid came back and said that the minister had already returned to Dengping County.

Emperor Li was also stunned.

Then, he gave up hope that Xiao Yan would pass the imperial examination. He felt that if he could pass, he would definitely not be in a hurry to go back.

But half a month later, when the results of the imperial examination were announced, the list of successful candidates and the answer sheets of the top ten were presented to Emperor Li.

When he saw that the first place winner was Xiao Yan, Emperor Li was stunned again.

Then he quickly took out the first place answer sheet and looked at it.

This time, the exam will not only test current affairs, but also state governance, as well as insights and strategies in dealing with foreign countries.

Before he had even finished reading the answers, Emperor Li slammed his hand on the table in delight, "This is the loyal minister God has bestowed upon me. I am truly the Son of Heaven!"

Emperor Li also called out: "Come, come, come, take a look too, take a look too!"

The ministers present could only take the examination papers in confusion. When they saw that Xiao Yan had really won the first place, they were all stunned and felt a little unconvinced.

Could it be that those who graded the papers guessed the emperor's intention and falsely gave Xiao Yan the first place?

Even Lord Liang was surprised and suspicious.

But the contents of the answer sheet that followed slapped them in the face.

Everyone looked at each other in shock. This is truly a capable minister who can govern the country!

……

At the entrance of the examination hall.

Xie Jing was extremely surprised to see that he had passed the exam and ranked ninth.

But seeing that he came and left in a hurry, and his classmate and good friend Xiao Yan who had already returned to Dengping County also passed the exam and ranked first, he was also stunned.

Then he nodded again, no longer surprised.

After all, my good friend is talented and capable.

In addition to his unique insights and advanced thinking, he learned a lot from this good friend. His knowledge and thinking were improved. This was probably part of the reason why he was able to pass the exam this time.

Then what's so surprising about his friend also getting admitted and ranking higher than him, even first?