In North Square, more than a hundred examiners had not yet dispersed.
Having reviewed the exam papers for over two hours, they engaged in heated discussions for another full hour regarding the final results.
Particularly regarding the ranking of the top three, the examiners had already split into factions, engaging in fervent verbal spats.
Such a scene was beyond even what Empress Feng, who set the questions, had anticipated.
"Her Majesty, the Empress, arrives."
The eunuch shrieked, and the hundred plus examiners hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects.
"My honorable examiners, I’ve heard that you have been incessantly debating the top three results of today’s Written Examination. I, too, am quite interested and wish to see the kind of talent that has sparked such a controversy."
Empress Feng said with a smile.
Her beautiful eyes glead as she looked towards a few answer sheets not far away.
Which is stronger, the Spiritual Practitioners’ or Martial Artists’ forces? Even Empress Feng herself had never considered an answer.
Her original intention in setting the question was twofold.
Firstly, to flush out the Seventh Prince, and secondly, to weed out the illiterate scholars from poor families. She had not expected that it would cause such a large outcry.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the top three places are indeed difficult to determine. The distinguished officials present have divided into three factions, each asserting the superiority of the Martial Artists, the Spiritual Practitioners, and..."
Vice Minister Cheng of the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for overseeing the examination affairs, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stepped forward to report.
Among the Civil and Military Officials of Longteng, there are individuals from both spiritual and martial backgrounds.
Of course, in terms of numbers, there are more officials of martial background.
Hence, these officials tended to favor answer sheets suggesting that the Martial Artists’ forces were stronger in the Written Examination.
However, so officials of spiritual background, such as the staff mbers of Grandmaster Jin, were convinced of the Spiritual Practitioners’ superiority.
The appearance of the third category was sowhat unexpected to Empress Feng.
Could there be other argunts besides the victory of Spiritual Practitioners or Martial Artists?
Empress Feng was also quite curious. She walked forward and picked up one of the answer sheets.
"Spiritual Practitioners and Martial Artists et, the Martial Artists prevail. The reason is none other than that I am also a Martial Artist..."
The first sheet Empress Feng saw was from a candidate nad "Murong Ziyue."
This candidate was quite interesting; being a Martial Artist herself, she was steadfast in her belief in the inevitable victory of the Martial Artists’ army.
Her answer sheet overflowed with self-confidence and a conviction of victory, and not only that, her literary grace and handwriting were unlike typical won – they bore the strong deanor of a man.
"Well answered."
As a woman herself, Empress Feng could tell from the answer sheet that this person was bound to be extraordinary.
As a Martial Artist, one must have a firm martial heart. Murong Ziyue’s answer sheet truly deserved to be rated as upper-class.
The handwriting of this second answer sheet, however, was much uglier than the first, looking rather childish, signed by "Xin Zhuo."
Unlike Murong Ziyue’s answer sheet, Xin Zhuo believed that in a battle between Spiritual Practitioners and Martial Artists, the Spiritual Practitioners would win.
He did not base his judgnt on self-perspective, but rather on the records of nurous battles between Martial Artists and Spiritual Practitioners since ancient tis, concluding that Spiritual Practitioners held a combat advantage.
"At such a young age, he can analyze advantages and disadvantages, and he is aware of many battles from ancient to present tis. This child is also quite exceptional."
The examiners who recomnded Xin Zhuo’s answer sheet also considered it a rare find.
Xin Zhuo... Empress Feng glanced at the sheet and her elegant brows furrowed.
"Is that last answer sheet the son of Grandmaster Jin?"
Empress Feng did not comnt on Little Xinzhuo’s answer sheet, but her gaze moved to the final sheet, only to find that the na on it was not Jin Chen’s.
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