Mortal Mage

Zhang Mingxuan nodded slightly, picked one each, paid a copper coin and started eating.

"It's cool and sweet, the ice melon is fresh and juicy, refreshing and delicious. It tastes really good." He praised it while tasting it.

"I heard that he was a foreign merchant, and was personally received by the Emperor."

People gathered in the street of Fangshi continuously.

"The Emperor will meet with merchants? I don't believe it."

"Tsk, look at the pomp of this merchant, he must be rich enough to rival a country, otherwise why would he mobilize most of the Feathered Guards in Taihe City to come. If the emperor hadn't received him personally, which official in our dynasty could afford such a pomp?"

Everyone was talking about it.

But what I saw was a seven or eight meter long carriage pulled by tall and handsome horses of seven colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The carriage occupied half of Taihe Street. The carriage was wrapped in white gauze, and a dozen half-hidden, beautiful women were lingering around a fair-faced young man. The carriage was filled with fine wine and delicacies and was moving slowly forward.

“The life of the rich is incomprehensible.”

After eating the last bite of ice melon, he no longer wanted to watch. Today, he could be considered to have broadened his horizons in Taihe City. "A frost peach at twenty cents and an ice melon at fifty cents would be enough to feed a family for half a month in Kangtai County, but in Taihe City, they are just two pieces of fruit."

"Without a budget of tens of thousands of taels of silver, such a grand occasion cannot be supported."

"No wonder the country is in deficit and the people in the counties are living in poverty. The cost of this official reception alone is tens of thousands of taels of silver. A county only collects this much in taxes in a year."

He shook his head, went back to the inn and went to bed early; "I have to take the imperial examination tomorrow, so I should get some rest today."

-

Inside the Taihe Palace, there are cloud-like towers, rosy pavilions, pearl palaces, and pearl towers.

"Chirp, chirp"

A sparrow stood on the eaves of the beautiful hall and pavilion, chirping non-stop.

In the blue sky, there are a few white neon clouds with gold edges hanging, shining like the morning dew on the golden tiles.

The Feather Guards stand guard in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony

-

In the Chaohui Square, nearly a thousand eunuchs and maids neatly arranged a thousand tables and chairs, pens, ink, rice paper, and snacks.

Outside the Taihe Palace, nearly a hundred officials from the Ministry of Rites checked the identity lists of each student one by one.

"Zhang Mingxuan, 18 years old, from Lishu Village, Kangtai County. Fair-skinned, thin, sword-like eyebrows, a prominent and slender nose, flat cheekbones, a small forehead, and a height of 5 feet 5 inches and 3 inches. Fingerprints, palm prints, and foot prints are consistent with facial features, and he is allowed to enter."

Waves of young eunuchs' voices sang at the palace gate and echoed in the square.

"The list of students for the 51st Imperial Examination of the Taicang Empire has been submitted."

"The first place in the imperial examination is Zhang Mingxuan, from Lishu Village, Kangtai County. District A, one seat."

"The second place in the imperial examination is Chen Zhize, from Taihe City. District A, seat 2."

"The third place in the imperial examination is Zhao Junyi, from Taihe City. District A, seat three."

"The fourth place in the imperial examination is Zhang Da, from Taihe City. T-shaped area, seat 14."

“…“”

"The thousandth place in the imperial examination, Xu Xiongfei, from Danyang Town, Qingyun City. Guizi District, seat 100."

The weather is calm and sunny.

When all the candidates were in place, a rumbling drum sound was heard from the tower of Taihe Palace.

Then a drake was heard screaming from far away in the stands of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"The Emperor has arrived."

Then the young eunuchs in the stands took turns to sing.

"The Emperor has arrived."

"The Emperor has arrived."

"The Emperor has arrived."

A yellow sedan chair was carried out by four eunuchs in the distant stands. Then, a man in a yellow robe walked out of the sedan chair and sat on the dragon throne that had been reserved in the stands.

At the highest point stood a huge dragon throne, at the second step stood nearly a thousand palace maids and eunuchs, and at the third step stood hundreds of civil and military officials.

Nearly a thousand sword-bearing guards of the Feather Guard, dressed in bright red official uniforms, stood on both sides of the square.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

The surging sound was like the roar of the sea, echoing in the square.

All the officials shouted "Long live the emperor" three times, and drums and music sounded.

Kneel down, Le stood up again, and bowed three times.

The ceremony is over.

An old eunuch, with a voice as hoarse as a duck, announced an imperial decree.

--

"The heaven and earth are bright, all things are flourishing, I have received the mandate of heaven and ascended the throne to govern."

"It is the will of heaven. Since I ascended the throne, I have been diligent and cautious, and have done my best to pacify the four directions, support the borders, rectify the military, revitalize the harem, restore the imperial examination system, and govern the court. I have made great contributions to the country and the people."

"In order to ensure the well-being of all people and the peace and prosperity of the country."

"I have worked hard to strengthen the country, vigorously reformed, and revived the prestige of the country. This year's imperial examination is a time to test the talents of the world. All candidates should display their talents to the fullest, climb the mountains, and fulfill their responsibilities to the motherland; shouldering the great cause of Taicang, you should cut through the thorns and create a glorious chapter. Do not insult my earnestness."

"I hereby order."

--