Chapter 393

The youth's gaze was steady, his pace unhurried.

His friend watched on the left, his enemy smiled on the right.

He spared no glance for either, striding steadily up the stairs, across the threshold, into the great hall, to stand before the eight examiners.

It was then that Xu Mo realized there were familiar faces among the examiners.

To avoid bias he made no idle chat, only bowed as low as he could toward that section, and replied in a clear voice, "Student Xu Mo pays his respects to the honored examiners."

Some nodded approvingly, their gazes growing fonder.

The head examiner unrolled his scroll, first admiring the neat and tidy penmanship, then quickly looking up. "Please read your submission."

Xu Mo took a deep breath, gazing northward as if traversing an endless river of time, seeing the countless bones of his forebears, the countless resentful spirits cut down too soon, the fierce battles playing out around him.

The shadows leapt and spun about him, wailing.

Then he turned his head and all was stillness and peace, confidence and poise.

"In my shallow understanding, we must end this war!" His voice rang out clearly. "War has cost us all too much—lives, loved ones, homes, peace. Our nation needs to heal, our people need calm days. Ending strife is the wish in every heart, the trend of our age, the dream that every brother and sister struggles toward..."

Some examiners nodded almost imperceptibly, others were impassive.

These views were nothing new from those arguing to end war, however well phrased, and lit no fire in their eyes.

Until Xu Mo paused, his tone indignant. "Yet the war cannot end lightly. Great Yu and the Northern Nomads have hated each other for decades. The last emperor waged war, the present promotes peace, yet neither has quelled the border conflicts. The root cause is Great Yu's lack of strength."

"To strengthen the nation is to strengthen oneself, and the world. Only when Great Yu's dynasty is powerful can there be any chance of grinding our enemies underfoot, of ending war—using war to end war! To allow our people to thrive and multiply!"

The youth's tone was stirring, his every word a pearl. His speech contained the hopes of countless people. Even the listeners were moved.

"Well said! Using war to end war, to allow our people to thrive!"

One examiner slapped the table in praise.

Others scoffed coldly. Deaf to either reaction, Xu Mo looked to the head examiner.

That there were eight examiners showed the system's effort to avoid bias, but any flock contains odd birds. It was unsurprising the Fang family had installed one of their own.

As long as the head examiner was fair and just, the exam could proceed fairly.

Sure enough, the man in the center glanced up from the scroll and nodded. "You make some reasonable points."

This was acceptance of Xu Mo's talent.

He breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his gaze. He no longer cared who had graded him highly or poorly.

The reading was only the second step. The imperial audience would be key.

At the head examiner's call, "Next, An Jun," Xu Mo bowed and stepped away, exchanging nods with his friend as they passed on the stairs.

The once nervous young man seemed to draw confidence from him, steadying as he went.

Returning to the gathered students, Qi Huai also sent an encouraging look.

Xu Mo smiled faintly before closing his eyes to review the questions the emperor might ask, and how best to answer them.

He didn't know how much time had passed before the last student finished reading.

A stir went through the crowd. Everyone murmuring anxiously about the impending imperial audience.

But the eight examiners went to stand outside Taihe Hall, waving the students back. "Guanglu Temple, come forth."

Dozens of young men in matching robes came forward carrying stacked food boxes. These they arranged on the tables the students had used, along with bowls, chopsticks, and spoons.

Only then did the students realize noon had come. The simple morning meal was long digested, leaving them hungry.

"As it is lunchtime, and your stomachs must be rumbling, please eat to your heart's content," the head examiner said, earning considerable goodwill.

The students bowed in thanks before taking their seats.

Beside Xu Mo sat Qi Huai and An Jun. The two ate steadily, even critiquing the dishes.

"They say the imperial examinations serve good food, and it's true!" When even the son of the Minister of Rites was impressed, it showed the court's generosity.

Four dishes, two buns, five desserts, and five fruits plus a bottomless bowl of soup and rice. This was fine fare anywhere.

"I heard the Guanglu Temple is specifically responsible for banquets, rituals, and court meals," An Jun said between bites. "They must bring in a fortune."

Here "fortune" had two meanings—money, and rich food. Xu Mo smiled. "Do well on the exam and you can join Guanglu Temple yourself."

After the focused eating, Guanglu Temple workers swiftly cleared away the bowls and utensils, even the tables and chairs, leaving the four hundred students clustered at the door of Taihe Hall.

The noon sun beat down intensely. The students' hearts burned with anxiety.

The imperial audience was at hand. They would stand before their realm's highest leader, the one they all served.

"We don't know what the Emperor likes or dislikes, what can't be mentioned..." Some tried to learn what they could.

"His Majesty is kindhearted. Past exams have been fair. There's no need to fear," came the noncommittal reply.

Who would reveal vital information at this crucial juncture?

If someone did, they surely had ulterior motives.

Like Fang Yuan, standing aloof, hands clasped behind his back. "Do you know, this year's exam will not be attended only by His Majesty?"

Most of the students fell silent.

Information at this level was privy only to elite households. Commoners knew nothing.

"Please, Master Fang, tell us what you can." Some began flattering him.

Fang Yuan readily obliged. "His Majesty has reigned twelve years, and sired four sons and two daughters. The eldest prince is sixteen or seventeen now—old enough to learn statecraft. "

No prince was born with the talents of an emperor. Only by selection and meticulous grooming could one gain the ability to rule the realm and command both scholarly and martial spheres.

His Majesty wished to educate the next generation, and the examinations presented a prime opportunity.

In turn, any prince brought to the examinations must already be in the Emperor's favor.

Fang Yuan's words conveyed three things: First, he was selling the students a favor by revealing the Emperor planned to bring a prince—giving them a chance to befriend an imperial companion.

Second, this prince was likely the Crown Prince, and a contender for the throne. The cunning would want to curry favor with the future Emperor.

Third, and most importantly, this was meant to intimidate Xu Mo and disrupt his focus.

While Fang Heng's accusations at the city gates had exposed the Fang clan's hand, what of it when faced with a Crown Prince?

The Fang family was confident no trump card could be more valuable.

"Ah, which prince might His Majesty bring? It wouldn't be the eldest prince? I heard his mother is the esteemed Imperial Consort Gong..." Someone jumped in to stoke the flames.

"Who else but the eldest? The second prince's mother is a no one, the fourth is crippled. Even together the two can't match the eldest alone!" Another quickly added.

Murmuring spread through the crowd. Opinion seemed to shift entirely in the Crown Prince's favor.

Until an inopportune voice spoke up. "Have you all forgotten... the fifth prince, newly returned?"