Chapter 477 - 305: Golden List Top Scorer, Spotlight of the Masses (Part 2)

The Seventh Prince summoned Chu Ming, first to inform him that he had entered the top hundred, and second to brief him on the overall situation of the poetry competition.

"Thank you, Your Highness, I will do my utmost."

"Hmm, it’s getting late, you should return and prepare quickly."

"Yes."

"..."

...

The next day.

The heavy snow that lasted for several days had finally eased a bit.

Imperial City, Diligent Study Hall.

The Diligent Study Hall was where today’s Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition, the poetry contest among a hundred participants, was held.

At this moment, a hundred people were already seated inside the hall.

On the hall’s platform, Prime Minister Zuo Yuan, Minister of the Ministry of Rites Qi Nankai, and Scholar of the Xue Lin Pavilion Lu Jin were the main officials overseeing this poetry competition.

"This year’s Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition, for the poetry section, uses ’snow’ as the theme, lasting for two hours..." Zuo Yuan spoke on the platform about the requirements and rules of the competition.

After he finished speaking, Minister of the Ministry of Rites Qi Nankai came forward and waved his hand grandly: "Let the competition begin."

Below the platform, the hundred attendees either took up their brushes and ink or bowed their heads in deep thought.

Those who could sit here were undoubtedly people well-versed in knowledge, mostly young individuals like Luu Xi, Xuu Mu, and Zhuge Chen, but there were also middle-aged faces with wrinkles, as well as teenagers.

However, there was only one young teenager, and that was Chu Ming.

At sixteen or seventeen years of age, most would be studying in academies, striving for county and prefectural examinations. There were others like Chu Ming who became officials through recommendations, but they were rare.

And the only one able to enter this Diligent Study Hall was Chu Ming alone.

On the platform.

Zuo Yuan maintained a calm expression, sweeping a gaze over the crowd below, pausing slightly when looking at Luu Xi, and when his gaze reached Chu Ming, an unnoticed strange expression flickered in his eyes.

Minister of the Ministry of Rites Qi Nankai and Scholar of the Xue Lin Pavilion Lu Jin similarly maintained calm expressions, and after surveying the seating, they left the Diligent Study Hall.

Cheating was impossible in the poetry competition, and no one dared to cheat.

Zuo Yuan took a general look around before also leaving the Diligent Study Hall.

The three came to the back of the hall.

Scholar of the Xue Lin Pavilion Lu Jin was the first to speak, "Prime Minister Zuo, Mr. Qi, how is His Majesty’s injury?"

Qi Nankai shook his head, a worried look on his face: "I do not know, since the hunting incident in the eastern suburbs, His Majesty has not summoned me."

"Alas..." Zuo Yuan sighed, "I am about the same, but since His Majesty was able to issue the mandate for the contest yesterday, he should be recovering well."

"Let’s hope His Majesty recovers soon; our Great Qin cannot be without a ruler for a day."

"With the Astronomical Bureau’s presence, His Majesty will surely be able to turn danger into safety."

"Our Great Qin has two great National Guardian Realms; His Majesty will be fine."

"Yes... yes..."

"..."

This year’s Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition was more unique than in previous years. Emperor Qin was poisoned and injured during the hunt in the eastern suburbs and has not appeared since, leaving many ministers with differing thoughts.

"Our Great Qin Kingdom is prosperous, and this year, the Golden Competition is brimming with talent. Among the literati, there are Luu Xi, Lu Zhen, Huangfu Cheng, Tang Zhe, and among the warriors, there are Du He, Luo Kui, each of whom could claim the top spot in previous years!"

"This year, someone might very well top the Golden List, giving our Great Qin another National Guardian Realm!"

"Topping the Golden List?" Scholar of the Xue Lin Pavilion Lu Jin shook his head gently, "It is incredibly difficult to top the Golden List. Since Emperor Min, it has been three hundred years since a Golden List Topper has appeared in the Great Qin."

He referred to Emperor Min, the prince who topped the Golden List three hundred years ago, saving the Qin Dynasty from collapse amidst turmoil, Chang Qin Jiumin.

"In the other halls hosting the competitions in music, chess, court arts, archery, and more than thirty other arts, no one has topped the list."

"However, this year’s poetry hundred-person competition indeed has a significantly higher overall level than previous years." Lu Jin noted, looking at Zuo Yuan: "Prime Minister Zuo, who do you think is most likely to win the top spot in the poetry competition?"

Zuo Yuan feigned deep thought and said, "Nephew Lu, Nephew Huangfu, are both excellent."

"And Mr. Qi?" Lu Jin turned to Minister of the Ministry of Rites Qi Nankai.

"The poetry submitted by Luu Xi yesterday was quite profound; in previous years, it would definitely be first."

"Actually, the poetry from the First-Grade Cold Family’s Xuu Mu and Zhuge Chen was also very good."

"Both come from humble backgrounds and have achieved such accomplishments; their future is limitless."

"Prime Minister Zuo, what does Lord Lu think of the commoner scholar Chu Ming?" Qi Nankai asked rhetorically.

Zuo Yuan paused, a strange flicker deep in his eyes, and said, "Judging by the poetry submitted yesterday, Attendant Reader Chu’s poetry prowess is in the top twenty."

"Attendant Reader Chu has exceptional talent. Previously passing the Wenlin Garden test by me and Lord Tang Bai, and later being granted the Attendant Reader position by Your Seventh Highness, even the Crown Prince seems to value him, surely he is hiding his true capability."

"Hiding his capability? Prime Minister Zuo, compared to the First-Grade Cold Family’s Xuu Mu and Zhuge Chen, how does he measure up?" Qi Nankai asked.

Zuo Yuan smiled without answering, giving a subtle response.

"Haha, as far as I know, Attendant Reader Chu excels more in classical text interpretation, may be lacking in some aspects of poetry, isn’t that right, Prime Minister Zuo?"

"It can’t be said so absolutely, Attendant Reader Chu, being only seventeen years old, naturally cannot be compared with others. To have achieved in classical texts is already a remarkable achievement."

"That’s reasonable."

"..."

The three of them discussed the general situation of the hundred participants in the competition outside the hall.

Time passed, inside the Diligent Study Hall, pens and ink sketched and the hundred people competed silently.

Two hours, when idle, feels slow, but for this kind of national grand competition, it passes incredibly quickly.

Using the rare, heavy snow of the Qin Capital as the theme for poetry, in ordinary times, it would only take a moment, in two hours, one could write an essay.

Therefore, some finished their poems early and revised repeatedly.

Some pondered first, then applied their ink in a grand manner, their work as lengthy as an essay.

Observing each person in the hall, everyone appeared calm, some confidently wielded their pens, others held wisdom in their grasp.

It is said that those who can enter the hundred in the competition are the finest, and they are all quite confident.

As two hours came to an end, the poetry competition that drew countless eyes concluded.

The hundred naturally put down their pens as Zuo Yuan, Qi Nankai, and Lu Jin entered the hall.