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At night, the guards actually received wages, meaning they could earn double pay, which was a great opportunity for them.
The safety of watching over the house at night was merely a matter of raising a hand: "Rest assured, Miss Liu, I will definitely handle it well." After the initial excitement, the young man patted his chest and promised.
At this moment, Liu Qingxi was unaware that her decision would later resolve a significant trouble for herself.
Far away in the capital, Yang Yichen was also in deep trouble. Although he had rejected wave after wave of invitations, the number of people watching him showed no signs of decreasing.
Half a month later, the Imperial Examination officially commenced, with Emperor Dugu Han personally setting the questions and presiding over it.
On this day, the palace guards were exceptionally strict. The fifty students fortunate enough to participate in the Imperial Examination arrived at the Palace Gate before dawn, each dressed neatly and full of spirit, standing straight with their backs erect while waiting at the Palace Gate.
The guards at the Palace Gate wore black armor, standing motionless with long spears in hand, their expressions stern as they gazed straight ahead.
As time passed second by second, those who were somewhat familiar exchanged pleasantries among themselves.
However, no one knew about the turbulent emotions within; after all, those who stood here were all competitors. The advancement of one person's rank meant the regression of another.
Thus, they secretly competed against each other, each hoping to be the last one laughing.
Among the fifty candidates, there were familiar faces except for one slightly immature countenance.
The young man's angular face still bore traces of youthfulness, yet his gaze was resolute. The hardships he had endured were evident; he saw through the facades of those around him. Their superficiality was merely a show.
As time ticked by, accompanied by a heavy sound, the thick doors opened with a low hum. Before them lay a long marble path that seemed endless, leading to an imposing hall.
This was the court where ministers gathered for audience. On either side of the road were wide plazas adorned with precious flowers and plants. The design of this plaza allowed for unobstructed views from above for the watchmen to observe any anomalies.
Walking along the long and polished path brought them to a three-story grand hall. They climbed step after step past numerous guards until they finally reached this solemn and majestic building.
This was the Golden Throne Hall. Every three steps there was a guard and every five steps there was a sentinel; they stood watch around the Golden Throne Hall without blinking.
Observing this architecture revealed its exquisite details. Above the eaves, under blue Glazed Tiles were two layers of identical rafters. The round wooden pillars beneath the crimson rafters were intricately carved with elaborate patterns.
In the Golden Throne Hall, every brick and tile is utilized with exquisite craftsmanship. The main door is made of wood, imbued with a historical weight, representing the dignity and grandeur of the nation, and symbolizing the country itself.
Fifty candidates lowered their heads, afraid to look around, fearing that any misstep might provoke the Sovereign seated in the hall.
Following the footsteps of the leading eunuch, they formed two lines and slowly entered the hall. The resplendent gold and splendor before them left them in awe, marveling at its imposing grandeur.
At the top, a throne crafted from pure gold, adorned with majestic dragon carvings, symbolizes the highest ruler who holds the lives of countless people in their hands.
Today, it is this Sovereign who will decide their fates.
At this moment, Emperor Dugu Han had not yet arrived. Surprisingly, the candidates were not as tense as they had imagined; their peripheral vision scanned the coveted Golden Throne Hall they longed to see.
They stood three meters below that position, and looking up at the person seated there filled them with trepidation.
On either side stood two rows of accompanying guards and eunuchs. Behind them hung bright yellow drapes, surrounding columns that supported the structure of the hall, all inscribed with phrases about national peace and prosperity.
A moment later, a eunuch's sharp voice pierced through the air: "The Emperor has arrived!" The elongated tone was jarring to their ears.
But they paid no mind to it; they quickly knelt down, arms pressed against the ground, their heads bowing low: "Long live His Majesty!"
The synchronized voices echoed throughout the hall. Due to its great height and vast area, there was a faint reverberation.
Experiencing the Golden Throne Hall for the first time filled the candidates with excitement that was hard to quell.
"All you loyal ministers, rise!" A powerful voice resonated throughout the hall.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers and fifty candidates slowly stood up, aligning themselves in formation.
At this moment, some bolder candidates dared to lift their heads. They saw a man dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe seated on the throne above. His face bore no wrinkles; despite being over fifty years old, he appeared to be in his thirties.
"Today is primarily for you candidates. You are all the pillars of my Western Moon. The future construction and strengthening of our Western Moon will depend on you, especially the younger generation. You are more vibrant and full of hope."
"I hope you all can do your utmost to please me, and of course, I will not treat you unfairly."
After some formalities, Dugu Han proceeded to the official segment of the Imperial Examination: "Alright, the examination officially begins now. There are individual desks prepared for each of you nearby, and you will answer independently. The questions will be on the papers that will be distributed shortly. You have half an hour. Now, begin!"
All the questions were formulated by the Emperor based on current events and political issues. Each candidate would draw a question, but the likelihood of two adjacent candidates drawing the same question was low.
Yang Yichen, as the top candidate in the Imperial Examination, was assigned to a position near the front and center, closest to the Emperor. Upon receiving his exam paper, he found the question quite simple: discuss the current military strength.
A straightforward seven-word prompt that seemed easy but was actually quite challenging. The Western Moon Kingdom had a history of over two hundred years since its founding and faced numerous foreign invasions each year.
This was also a reason why, despite decades of development, the Western Moon Kingdom had not progressed rapidly.
The resources spent each year on resisting foreign enemies consumed a significant portion of the national treasury, which had always been a concern for successive emperors of the Western Moon Kingdom and a lifelong goal for them to address.
The aim was to find a permanent solution to foreign invasions, enhance national military strength, and instill fear in potential aggressors, thereby achieving absolute superiority in morale.
Even as an ordinary man, one could have such thoughts; it was akin to competition with neighbors—ordinary people would naturally think about delivering a resounding slap to their rivals, making them feel far behind.
Yang Yichen focused on the matter at hand, integrating insights from common people and this year's military conflicts. He pinpointed the most critical issues clearly and emphasized the importance of weaponry.
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