Gate of God

Once he entered the examination venue, Li Zhuangshi saw Fang Zhengzhi standing at the entrance quietly looking at himself.

"Don’t tell me I’ve been discovered?" Li Zhuangshi had a guilty conscience, but forcefully calmed himself down. "Zhengzhi, why don’t you find a seat to sit down first?"

"I wish to ask Uncle Li a few questions." Fang Zhengzhi walked to Li Zhuangshi’s side and spoke calmly.

Li Zhuangshi’s heart thumped, and sweat instantly broke out from his back. If Fang Zhengzhi had seen through him now, then everything was over.

"Please... ask!" Li Zhuangshi inhaled deeply.

"What would happen if Uncle Li misses the role this time?" Fang Zhengzhi’s tone sounded calm, just like they were chatting casually.

"Miss the roll?" Li Zhuangshi frowned. "If I miss the roll, I believe I will take the examination again. Even if the Hall of Dao in the Southern Mountain Village is demolished, I will still bring Huer to another village!"

Li Zhuangshi didn’t conceal. This were his true intentions. After eight years of effort, how could he give up?

"Then what if you were banned from participating in the Law of Dao examination?" Fang Zhengzhi continued to ask.

"This..." Li Zhuangshi was taken aback. He indeed hadn’t thought about this. Then, he was suddenly stunned. Why would Fang Zhengzhi suddenly ask such a question?

Just as he prepared to speak, he realised that Fang Zhengzhi had already shaken his head and walked away.

"Looks like Uncle Li haven’t thought about that..." A faint voice floated over, yet it caused Li Zhuangshi to feel a chilling sensation in his bones.

"Had he realised? No... I can’t wait anymore!" Li Zhuangshi gritted his teeth and quickly followed.

...

The examination venue of the capital examination was different from that of the county examination. Every seat was separated with a wooden board, and people outside cannot be seen. Hence, there was naturally no way to interact or cheat.

If the county examination’s theory examination was the epitome of relaxation, then the capital examination’s theory examination could be described as seamless and gapless.

This didn’t mean that the Great Xia Dynasty had suddenly preferred the pen to the sword. Instead, it was because the purpose of the capital examination and the purpose of the county examination were two completely different concepts.

Passing the county examination meant that one had begun to practice.

It was equivalent to entering the door.

The Great Xia Dynasty naturally wouldn’t directly block the talented at the doorstep, hence, giving chance at the theory examination was counted as normal.

But the capital examination was different. After the examination, one’s name would enter into the record, and every month, there would even be money grants. Even though it wasn’t much, but the social status was completely different.

Hence, the possibility of cheating was really too low, and the punishment would be incredibly serious.

A light one would be forfeiting one’s examination results, a serious one who ban one from three rounds of examination. If the situation was especially vile, it might even cause a lifetime ban from participating in the Law of Dao examination.

This time, Fang Zhengzhi had prepared before becoming. Furthermore, due to Yan Xiu’s explanation in the room, he naturally had become more familiar with the rules of the capital examination.

The amount of people participating in the examination was too many, hence the time to enter the venue wasn’t as strict.

The interior of the capital office was spacious and rooms of various sizes filled the examination venue. Each venue had invigilators patrolling, and Fang Zhengzhi quickly found a brightly-lit spot and sat down.

Then, he waited quietly for the theory examination to begin.

Then, right at this moment, an invigilator wearing a black official robe suddenly walked towards Fang Zhengzhi, and behind him, Li Zhuangshi followed.

"He arrived rather quickly!" Fang Zhengzhi sighed. His face was calm as normal, and didn’t seem anxious at all.

Li Zhuangshi followed behind the invigilator and his gaze was fixated at the spot where Fang Zhengzhi stuffed the letter into. He was indeed afraid of Fang Zhengzhi, he was too smart.

He didn’t dare to wait till the official start of the examination.

Because, the longer he dragged, the easier it was for problems to occur.

"Fang Zhengzhi?" The invigilator walked in front of Fang Zhengzhi.

"Yes." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

"Somebody reported that you brought the answer sheet into the venue!" The invigilator’s gaze instantly became fierce.

When the words left his mouth, the attention of a few scholars who were currently finding their seats were instantly perked. Bringing the answer sheet? Wasn’t this cheating?

"Fang Zhengzhi brought in the answer sheet?!"

"This isn’t very possible? With his Roll Champion results in the county theory examination, even though he wouldn’t be able to get a good ranking in the capital examination, but making it into the Second-Class Roll wouldn’t be a problem. Why would he bring in the answer sheet?"

"I believe it is for a good ranking! He knows that this time, the competition in the capital examination is intense, hence took the risk of bringing in the answer!"

"Hmm, that’s possible!"

One by one, the scholars started to gesticulate, and discussed softly.

"Theory examination answer sheet? The theory examination hadn’t even begun, why would there be an answer sheet?" Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t at all anxious. He continued to seat at his table, his face filled with an innocent expression.

The invigilator was taken aback. After being reminded by Fang Zhengzhi, he instantly managed to regain his senses. As the invigilator of the capital examination, he had the responsibility and task of maintaining order in the examination venue.

Hence, after hearing Li Zhuangshi report, he didn’t think too much and directly walked over.

Now that he understood, the invigilator’s gaze shifted towards Li Zhuangshi. The meaning was clear, can you explain what you are reporting?

"It’s the capital examination’s materials! Inside, there is the original text of the Law of Dao, and a few answers guessed outside the exam!" Li Zhuangshi met the invigilator’s gaze and instantly explained without concealing anything.

If the invigilator left at this moment, all his previous efforts would have gone to waste.

"Fang Zhengzhi, explain yourself!" The invigilator nodded lightly and looked at Fang Zhengzhi again.

"Hmm, we can’t bring in materials?" Fang Zhengzhi heard the invigilator’s words and looked as if he had just woken up from a dream, his expression filled with shock.

When the surrounding scholars saw this, they instantly began to laugh.

This Fang Zhengzhi was indeed dumb, he actually asked such a question.

This was the capital examination; how could he be allowed to bring in resources related to the Law of Dao. If that was really allowed, there would likely be people who would bring their entire bookshelf over.

"Obviously not! Bringing in materials is counted as cheating!" The invigilator instantly cited the rules.

"But the examination hasn’t even started, this isn’t allowed too?" Fang Zhengzhi continued to ask.

"No!" The invigilator could already confirm that this Fang Zhengzhi in front of him would definitely possess cheating materials, else he wouldn’t ask such questions.

"Alright, then what are the punishments for bringing in materials into the examination venue?" Fang Zhengzhi didn’t seem too worried.

But, the surrounding scholars already couldn’t quite contain themselves.

Bringing in materials into the examination venue was counted as cheating, based on the rules, even if it was found out before the examination started, one would be removed from the examination on the spot.

If there were answers within the materials relating to guessing of questions, they would be banned from participating in the next three rounds of examination.

"Fang Zhengzhi is going to be removed from the examination!"

"I never thought that this would happen, this is indeed the greatest news of this capital examination!"

"Indeed!"

The surrounding scholars also could confirm that Fang Zhengzhi being removed from the examination had already become a reality, except that this incident was too shocking.

Bringing in materials?

Then, reported by people on the spot, and then being removed from the examination...

Indeed, the consequences of some things came very quickly!

"Bringing in materials into the examination, following the rules set by the Imperial Academy, must be removed from the examination! About whether one would be banned from future examinations, it would require the personal judgement of the chief examiner!" The invigilator’s tone at this moment seemed extremely cold and heartless.