Under the guidance of several officials from the Taichang Temple and the Imperial Censorate, two hundred and eighty-five imperial scholars filed into the Chengtian Hall.
This was a magnificent and towering hall, where Coiling Dragon Jade Pillars stood proudly, surrounded by carved dragons and painted phoenixes, showcasing the court's majesty.
Upon entering, Zhang Jian's expression subtly changed, the Red Virtue True King Fate within him hidden inside the Life Pillar, while the Mimic Jade Pendant transformed into the Great Scholar's Destiny, resisting the court's dense Dragon and Tiger Qi infiltration and suppression.
Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged.
He noticed that the Chengtian Hall was already filled with over two hundred desks.
On each desk was a small wooden tag.
The wooden tag displayed the name of each Advanced Scholar.
With extremely keen eyesight, he saw there were a total of twenty-three rows, the first twenty-two rows each with twelve people, and the last row with nine people.
"Go to your seats, do not speak loudly or whisper!"
As the Chief Examiner for the Ministry of Rites Examination, Imperial Censor Zhuang Ying's face remained stern, but his words carried great authority.
Upon hearing this, the Advanced Scholars promptly went to their seats in sequence.
Zhang Jian's seat was the first position on the right in the first row.
Each row of twelve was divided into six on the left and six on the right, with odd numbers on the left and even numbers on the right, arranged outward from the center.
The center faced directly at the bright Dragon Throne before the Golden Tier.
Wangqing Province and Zhang Jian were seated on either side of the central aisle, facing the Emperor directly.
Zhang Jian could see Wangqing Province not far away, sweating from his nose, taking deep breaths several times to calm himself.
His own expression, however, remained unchanged.
The book indeed contained a Golden House, and having seen much, and understanding the essence of things, naturally he felt little awe, but more rational curiosity instead.
At this moment, he seemed to feel a vast Divine Power approaching from one side of the Chengtian Hall; in his Divine Thought, the majestic Divine Power gathered in one person's hand, akin to Sheji Sovereignty held by a deity residing in the mortal world, where the Dragon and Tiger Qi made way.
A figure dressed in a black Emperor's Robe entered from the side hall.
Daqian favors black, and this young Emperor's robe was primarily dark black, yet the dragon patterns were bright yellow. He wore the Flat Heaven Crown and kept a stern demeanor, casting a glance over the many imperial scholars, paying special attention to Wangqing Province, Zhang Jian, and Peng Yuanshou, before slowly retracting his gaze, signaling to Zhuang Ying beside him to begin.
Zhuang Ying, clad in a purple official robe, looked grim, surrounded by several officials dressed in purple, and even red robes.
Zhang Jian speculated they might be some of the court's high-ranking ministers, parts of the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers.
It's unknown who among them is the Prime Minister, or the Grand Commandant.
Zhuang Ying spoke lightly.
"Your Majesty decrees that the Palace Examination for the talent exhibition of Spring in the sixth year of Emperor Jingwu shall officially begin. Please distribute the exam papers for the Palace Examination, dear officials!
Imperial Scholars, please complete the writing of the exam questions within three hours; you must focus and not whisper or peek at others' papers. Violators will be expelled from Chengtian Hall, stripped of titles, and never employed again!"
Three hours equate to six hours.
Six hours for the Palace Examination isn't very long, nor is it particularly short.
If a special exam question arises, the Palace Examination may be extended.
Sitting upright at the desk, Zhang Jian kept his gaze steady.
Interview etiquette was something he was well familiar with.
Of course, Palace Examination etiquette was one aspect, but the critical factor was the solid evidence in hand.
Even so, upon receiving the Palace Examination question, Zhang Jian felt somewhat peculiar.
"Questioning Imperial Governance and the Imperial Mind?"
His eyes flickered but he didn't immediately start writing; such questions often tested a minister's emotional intelligence.
He had many thoughts in his mind that he could elaborate on.
The materials he had collected on Emperor Jingwu in the past few days now proved useful.
It's just unfortunate that he didn't have a definitive grasp regarding Emperor Jingwu.
Nevertheless, he had some basis, which was better than many Advanced Scholars relying purely on guessing.
Emperor Jingwu ascended the throne young, observing his actions, forming a new army, appointing honest ministers to purge local corruptions, and eliminate malpractices; he's likely not an emperor prone to grandiose schemes, more probably a pragmatist.
Of course, this is temporary.
Many emperors begin with vigorous work in their youth, only to slack off in old age.
Catering to this pragmatist is certainly harder than dealing with emperors who favor grandiose schemes.
Zhang Jian could write an article that could impress the Emperor and many court ministers, but he felt that going all out with one's trump card in a single Palace Examination was somewhat a misuse of talent.
When it's time to boast, there's no need to be overly pragmatic.
Adding a bit of substance is sufficient.
After pondering briefly, Zhang Jian picked up his brush: "Subject's view: Subjects have heard that the emperor's governance of the world must have practical policies to restrain the populace and manage myriad affairs, thus bringing prosperity to the realm; the emperor must have a genuine intent to invigorate the state affairs, stimulating all professions, reforming the administration, achieving supreme governance, establishing order, and enforcing laws..."
He wrote fluently and at length; his main proposition was to improve governance and promote national development.
This was indeed an old tune, but in the current Palace Examination question, the approach was considered superior.
Zhang Jian wrote extensively about ways to innovate governance, though most were brief discussions, stopping at essential points to ensure he touched the emperor's key concerns wisely.
Overstatement might offend some of the court's high-ranking ministers, which would be unwise.
Undermining the topic might lead Emperor Jingwu to see him as pretentious, hence Zhang Jian needed to give Emperor Jingwu the impression that he had substantial content but could only discuss it privately with him.
Such tactics might not mean much to many high-ranking ministers, but among scholars who had yet to enter the officialdom, it certainly surpassed the mindless conjectures of lesser talents.
Certainly, during this process, Zhang Jian couldn't merely write a dry article without praising his ruler when appropriate.
However, over-exaggerating about the emperor would be overly conspicuous.
In the article, Zhang Jian cleverly praised the governance of the Grand Ancestor and the Grand Ancestor before subtly introducing his own views.
An article of approximately a thousand words was also infused with Vast Righteous Qi, and in the eyes of several Daoists from Dong Shen Temple in the court, the bright righteous intention radiated in colors, prompting one figure clothed in an Infinite Daoist Robe and bearing a High Crown to approach and examine Zhang Jian's original script.
Yet, after just a glance, this Daoist raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips, quickly returning to his place.
Still maintaining an air of indifference, showing interest in nothing.
"What is happening with Master Jingming?"
Emperor Jingwu asked the aged eunuch nearby, who had long eyebrows, responding by whispering into the Emperor's ear, which sparked the Emperor's curiosity, who then descended from the tier and stepped beside Zhang Jian.