The Cold Door Hero

Summary

The palace examination was held in the Grand Celebration Square due to good weather, with candidates standing at their tables equipped with writing materials. At the start of the exam, Yu Shen revealed the question: to compose a double quatrain poem on the Northern Expedition within an hour. While many candidates felt relieved at the familiar topic, they understood the high stakes involved, as only twenty would be admitted. As time passed, candidates struggled to create exceptional poems. Li Yan Qing, feeling the pressure, decided to draw inspiration from past works and successfully penned his poem. After the written exam, scholars waited in the Phoenix Nest Pavilion for the announcement of the top twenty candidates. Conversations revolved around the significance of the rankings and the impact of luck and connections on future appointments. Deputy Chief Examiner Liu Ling then called out the names of the top ten candidates, including Li Yan Qing, who was relieved to be recognized. The top ten would proceed to interviews with the emperor, marking a critical step in their pursuit of official positions.

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