The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 414

Finally, it was time for the advanced class's specialty segment. Not only was the little troublemaker excited, but He Zheng was also thrilled. However, for some reason, the expressions of the tutors nearby looked unusually grave.

He Zheng sensed something amiss and timidly asked, "Uncle Zong, were these questions prepared by Auntie?"

Zong Zhao lifted his eyelids slightly and replied calmly, "I prepared them."

Everyone: "!"

At this point, even the tutors grew more apprehensive, and Zong Jincheng couldn’t help but muster the courage to ask, "Father, you do know the difficulty level of the imperial examination questions, right? You’re not giving us the palace-level difficulty straight away, are you?"

Zong Zhao replied expressionlessly, "I know."

Zong Jincheng: "..."

You don’t look like you know.

After giving his instructions, Zong Zhao announced that Shunzi would be the invigilator the next day.

Shunzi, who had just been envying Buyan earlier: "!!!"

Great General, you truly see my worth!

As expected, the more important tasks fall to me!

An invigilator! That’s an invigilator!

Is this finally Shunzi’s moment to turn his luck around and bring glory to his ancestors?

When Xu Wan arrived, the matters in the grand study had already been settled. Zong Zhao strode out of the room and, seeing her awake, asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Xu Wan replied blankly, "No, have you?"

"Not yet. Let’s go together." Zong Zhao wrapped an arm around her and gently steered her away.

Xu Wan, who hadn’t even stepped inside: "?"

Curious, she asked, "What’s going on? What did you tell them in there?"

Zong Zhao guided her along and said, "I handed out the imperial examination questions. The tutors and students will take the test together tomorrow."

Xu Wan was surprised. "Oh? You’ve already come up with the questions? That was fast. I’ll come to invigilate tomorrow, then."

Zong Zhao held her hand as they walked back to their courtyard. "No need. I’ve arranged everything. Buyan will guard the exam papers, and Shunzi will invigilate. Tomorrow, you can rest and accompany me to the palace."

Xu Wan chuckled. "You really know how to delegate. Will Wenxiu be taking the exam tomorrow?"

"It’s up to him. He can go if he wants, but I suspect Father won’t let him leave his side. I visited this afternoon—Father has been eating properly, but he keeps staring at Wenxiu."

Xu Wan sighed. "Thank goodness Wenxiu is here. At least Father-in-law has some comfort… Oh, right, what’s the topic of the imperial exam?"

A faint smile tugged at Zong Zhao’s lips. "Take a guess."

......

"What on earth is the imperial exam question? Is it hard?" Zong Jincheng wailed dramatically in his bedroom.

Pan Hongzi was also curious, but knowing the question in advance would be like cheating, so he didn’t dare ask. He could only watch silently as the little troublemaker threw a fit.

Unable to resist, Zong Jincheng turned to Buyan, who was bringing him foot-soaking water, and asked, "Buyan, can you give me just a tiny hint? I’m afraid Father doesn’t know the difficulty level and might wipe us all out with one question."

Buyan set the water down silently and replied impassively, "Young Master, I don’t know how to read. I can’t give you even the slightest hint."

Zong Jincheng: "..." Oh right, I almost forgot.

Pan Hongzi had already given up. He pulled the covers over his head and prepared to sleep. freёnovelkiss-com

Still unwilling to accept defeat, Zong Jincheng pressed on, "Then at least tell me—are the characters in the question few or many? Is it a dense block of text with complicated strokes?"

If his father set the question, there was a chance they wouldn’t even understand the question itself, let alone answer it.

Buyan thought for a moment and asked, "What are strokes?"

Zong Jincheng: "..."

The little troublemaker slumped weakly. "Never mind, you can leave… Father really knows how to pick his people. There’s no way to get anything out of you."

The next day.

Shen Yibai and Wei Xinglu rushed back early for class, only to be greeted by the imperial exam questions set by Zong Zhao. Their hearts sank, and their feet itched to retreat.

Shen Yibai immediately started babbling excuses. "I just remembered there’s something urgent at home. Let me ask Auntie for a day off. I’ll come back tomorrow. See you all later—"

Buyan ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍blocked the doorway with the exam papers: You’re not escaping, kid.

Shen Yibai: "!"

The little troublemaker burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying Shen Yibai’s failed escape attempt. "Sit down and take the test already. If you keep dawdling, you’ll have even less time."

Reluctantly, the two clowns took their seats.

Invigilator Shunzi had already received the exam questions. With the help of several assistants, he quickly transcribed eight copies and distributed them to the nine examinees.

Zhao Yin whispered, "These questions don’t seem that hard. I was so scared when I heard the Great General set them—I barely slept all night."

He Zheng also looked at his exam paper and read the question:

"In ancient times, there was a kingdom where corruption had rotted the court from top to bottom. Then, a new ruler ascended the throne, determined to eradicate corruption and restore order. If you were a minister, how would you handle this?"

He sucked in a breath. Isn’t this just asking for strategies on governance? Writing about loyal service was his forte—if he imagined the new ruler as his elder brother, he could outshine everyone!

Confident, He Zheng picked up his brush.

Zong Jincheng received the original copy written by Zong Zhao. At first glance, the elegant, precise characters stood out—unlike the printed uniformity of the Hanlin North Academy, these were uniquely bold and powerful.

He muttered, "As expected of the top scholar in both civil and military exams. My father is truly amazing!"

Shunzi cleared his throat and announced loudly, "The exam has begun. All examinees may start writing."

"Yes!" they chorused.

In the carriage on the way to the palace.

Xu Wan remarked to Zong Zhao, "The question about governance is a bit challenging. I recall something similar being asked in the palace-level exams."

Zong Zhao replied, "Similar questions have appeared in the imperial exams before, so I thought we’d test them together. We won’t grade them by palace-level standards, of course."

Xu Wan nodded. "Fair enough. No wonder you made all the tutors take the exam. Jiang Yan has no intention of returning to officialdom, so if he didn’t participate, I wouldn’t know his current limits. This is a good opportunity to assess everyone."

Zong Zhao held her hand and said, "You’ve been working too hard lately. Just relax and have tea with the Crown Princess later. Don’t worry about anything—I’ll handle it."

Xu Wan realized he had taken charge of the advanced class to lighten her workload. Both of them had been exhausted, yet he was the one who stepped up first, shouldering her responsibilities just so she could rest a little more.

It was then that Xu Wan seemed to grasp the true meaning of marriage.

1 + 1 > 2

Because life together was better than being alone, two people willingly entered the bond of marriage to spend their lives side by side.

At this moment, Xu Wan also felt a pang of guilt. She felt she hadn’t given as much as Zong Zhao had—she hadn’t done anything special for him.

She looked up and asked, "You mentioned earlier that once the exam questions were finalized, you’d ask me for a reward. What is it?"

The carriage jolted slightly, causing the hairpin in her hair to sway. Beneath her delicate brows, her almond-shaped eyes shimmered like clear, captivating pools.

Zong Zhao’s throat moved as he averted his gaze. "We’ll talk about it when we get home."

"Alright," Xu Wan agreed softly.

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