The Resolute Cannon Fodder Teaching In Ancient Time

Chapter 47: Forty-Seven Treasures

The next day, Xu Zhen continued to grade the exam papers.

On her way, an official spotted her and approached, greeting her, “Minister, you’re really riding high these days!”

Xu Zhen quickly replied, “Not at all, it’s merely the Emperor’s generosity.”

The official said, “Once the autumn exams are over, you must come to the banquet we’re hosting. It’s a chance for everyone to gather together.”

Xu Zhen responded, “No problem.”

The official replied, “Then I won’t disturb you any longer.”

After saying this, he walked away with a smile.

Xu Zhen said her farewells to a few of them and then arrived at the Ministry of Rites to begin grading the exams. During this time, the Deputy Minister came to join her, and Zijiu also arrived to help out.

The three of them discussed the papers, but ultimately it was Xu Zhen who made the final decisions on scores.

As she went through the questions, she realized that there were no standard answers for a few of them, so she assigned scores somewhat randomly.

However, the more papers she graded, the more familiar they seemed. After glancing over a few more, it suddenly occurred to her that the exam questions—

They resembled the random questions she had casually filled out during her time at Qinglong Mountain!

Xu Zhen flipped through several pages.

This year’s exam papers had been divided into six different versions for each examination room to prevent cheating, which meant there was a large base to draw from.

Nevertheless, she still spotted five or six questions that she recognized.

These were all questions she had written in her own exam booklet.

Xu Zhen felt stunned.

Had she guessed the exam questions so accurately?

Just as she intended to take a closer look at how the students had responded to those questions, Zijiu seemed to have noticed something amiss.

She abruptly stood up with a serious expression, accidentally knocking over an inkpot on the table.

The Deputy Minister nearby, startled, asked, “What’s wrong, Zijiu?”

Zijiu replied anxiously, “Some of the answers are too similar!”

Her implication was clear: there had been another leak!

After saying this, she frowned, clutching the exam papers, and quickly hurried toward the palace.

Xu Zhen was taken aback, realizing that Zijiu had misunderstood. Just as she was about to explain, Zijiu had already run off.

Frantically, Xu Zhen got up and rushed after her, calling out a few times from behind.

But it was still too slow.

By the time she reached the palace entrance, the Emperor was already starting to lose his temper inside, throwing things around in a fit of rage.

Outside, the young eunuchs stood with their heads bowed.

Xu Zhen attempted to enter, but a eunuch blocked her, saying that the Emperor was in a state of anger and she couldn’t be admitted without first waiting.

Worry etched across her face.

Standing outside, she could hear the Emperor’s thunderous voice scolding someone inside, resonating painfully through the ornate red doors.