USWHC -Chapter 490 The Imperial Examination (Part 10)

“Master, please listen to my explanation! I just… I just didn’t want you to take the exam. I never intended to harm you!” Shopkeeper Liao hurriedly explained.

But in the very next moment, Ji Yi suddenly slapped his palm as if something had just come to mind. Excited, he exclaimed, “Right! The Imperial exam—I almost forgot!”

With that, he turned and ran straight outside.

Seeing this, Shopkeeper Liao slapped himself hard across the face in frustration. “Look at this mouth of mine! Not a single word comes out right!”

With a sharp neigh, Uncle Ge and the others quickly chased after him, only to see that Ji Yi didn’t even bother with the carriage—he had already mounted a horse and was galloping away.

“Master, wait for us!” Uncle Ge shouted loudly.

Ji Yi glanced back with a faint smile and called out, “Stay here and investigate properly—find out who tried to harm me. If you don’t get to the bottom of it, don’t bother coming back!”

“Yes, sir!” Uncle Ge replied immediately in a submissive tone.

But Shopkeeper Liao jumped up anxiously and yelled, “Master, you rode off on the horse—what about the carriage?!”

“Pull it back yourselves!” Ji Yi’s carefree voice drifted back from afar.

Shopkeeper Liao’s eyes widened instantly. A carriage without a horse—were they supposed to drag it back by hand? Was this their punishment? He nearly went cross-eyed from shock!

From the southeast came the first light of dawn. Drums and gongs resounded as a loud proclamation rang out: “Close the gates!”

With a thunderous boom, the massive doors of the examination compound creaked shut. Dust billowed into the air, and the rumbling echoes lingered endlessly. These grand gates of the Gongyuan closed only once every three years—and once shut, they would remain sealed for three days. During that time, this place became a world unto itself, opened for no one and nothing.

“My lord, please enter and preside over the Confucian ritual!” someone said respectfully, bowing with theatrical formality.

And indeed, it all looked like a stage performance. Before the gates, the crowd had already gathered in layers upon layers—lovers seeing off scholars, friends and family offering support, and countless onlookers eager for the spectacle. The entire area was packed to the brim.

At the top of the steps, a man stood squarely before the gates, maintaining a solemn and imposing posture despite the roaring noise. He raised his chin, straightened his chest, and surveyed the crowd before finally nodding with deliberate gravity. “Proceed.”

Only then did he slowly turn around, flick his robe with force, and stride into the compound with an air of elegance and finality.

The man who had just been flattering him hurried after him, clearly afraid of being left outside.

In truth, his concern was unnecessary. After all that “performance,” the gates had barely moved—everything earlier had just been for show.

As he stepped onto the stairs, a guard approached and asked quietly, “Lord Lu, shall we close the gates?”

“Close them. Why wouldn’t we?” replied Lord Lu—the father of Lu Anzhi and a Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites.

Upon receiving the order, the guard immediately turned and shouted, “Close them! Quickly—don’t miss the time!”

Indeed, even in ancient times, examinations had strict entry deadlines. The rumbling sounds grew louder, this time far more urgent than before.

With the increasing beat of gongs and drums, the gates shut faster and faster. Soon, only a narrow slit remained. The guard glanced up at the sun hanging high in the sky and shouted, “Time’s up—close!”

At that very moment, a voice rang out from afar:

“Wait!”

Everyone was startled. Who would dare cause trouble at the Gongyuan at a time like this—did they have a death wish?

They craned their necks to look, but saw no one. The guard frowned and rubbed his ears. Had he misheard?

A few men exerted force again, preparing to seal the final gap. But just then, a sharp neigh rang out from behind the crowd.

A horse?

In the next instant, a figure leapt into the air. Clad in green robes that fluttered like wings, he appeared like a divine being descending from the heavens. Gasps rose from the crowd as everyone stared wide-eyed. With light steps like a dragonfly skimming water, he soared over their heads.

But in the very next second—

Thud!

The man tumbled forward and landed flat on the ground in a most undignified heap.

Well… so much for that heroic entrance. Clearly, he had tried to leap off the horse and make a grand jump—but ran out of momentum halfway through!

Seeing him sprawled awkwardly on the ground, the crowd burst into laughter.

Trembling, he raised his voice and said, “My lord, please don’t close the gates! This student, Ji Yi, has come to take the exam—”

Before he could finish, the guard’s previously surprised expression turned cold. Without even bothering to listen further, he waved his hand dismissively.

“The time has passed. No entry allowed. Close the gates!”