Wenxian Hall.

Outside the examination room.

Prince Zhu Biao stood at the door of the examination room, looking at the confident back, with a smile of relief on his lips.

"How did he perform?"

After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Biao glanced at the invigilator Xue Ru next to him and asked slowly.

"Back to His Highness the Crown Prince, Marquis Jiu'an is very knowledgeable. Although he was late and lost some time, he answered all the test questions without any effort. After several years of invigilation, I have never seen anyone answer so fast. It's incredible.

Dare to believe it.”

Xue Ru bowed his hands and said in amazement.

"really?"

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but ask.

"The official saw it with his own eyes."

Xue Ru nodded and said seriously.

But in fact, he had never even seen Hu Fei's exam papers.

"He really did not disappoint me!"

Zhu Biao couldn't help but smile, nodded with satisfaction and said.

"It seems that this year's top pick is none other than Jiu'an Hou."

Xue Ru cupped his hands and echoed.

He knew that the prince had always valued Hu Fei, so praising Hu Fei in this matter was undoubtedly praising the prince.

"By the way, I heard from those candidates just now that he was sleeping in the examination room?"

Zhu Biao hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject and asked.

"yes."

Xue Ru hesitated for a moment and replied with a grimace.

"How can he sleep in the examination room? Even if he answers questions very quickly, he cannot be tolerated. Why not remind him?"

Zhu Biao frowned and asked in a deep voice.

"Xiaguan...Xiaguan doesn't dare."

Xue Ru said with a bitter face and embarrassment.

"Next time, I must step forward to remind you that since you are about to become the number one scholar, you should pay more attention to your words and deeds."

Zhu Biao looked at Xue Ru and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, I understand."

Xue Ru nodded hurriedly, feeling aggrieved.

Originally it was Hu Fei who was sleeping, but now it seemed that it suddenly became his fault.

Zhu Biao said nothing more and turned to leave.

Seeing the prince leaving, Xue Ru wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed helplessly.

As the first exam ended, what happened in the exam room quickly spread among the capital. News about Hu Fei's speed in answering questions and sleeping in the exam room also spread.

...

Prince Yan's Mansion.

In the main hall.

Butler Ge Yang hurriedly entered the mansion and quickly came to the main hall.

"how?"

Seeing Ge Yang's return, King Yan Zhu Di immediately stood up and asked impatiently.

"Back to Your Highness, the first exam has ended, which is good news!"

Ge Yang bowed and saluted, and replied with a smile.

"Oh? What's going on?"

When Zhu Di heard this, he immediately became interested and asked hurriedly.

"Back to Your Highness, word has spread throughout the capital city that Marquis Jiu'an answered the questions very quickly. He answered all the questions without any effort. It's incredible!"

Ge Yang said loudly, with an uncontrollable smile on his face.

"Really?!"

"Great, he won the first battle. I have long said that he will be the number one pick this year!"

After listening to Ge Yang's words, Zhu Di couldn't help but clapped his hands and said happily, with a look of relief on his face.

"It seems that the gambler in Changlefang who bet one hundred thousand taels on Jiu'anhou lost is probably going to regret it. It is said that apart from the Wenxian Pavilion, the most popular place now is Changlefang."

"I heard that after the first game, the betting market in the gambling house got bigger, and more and more people placed bets, but only a few lost bets. I'm afraid Changlefang will lose everything this time."

Ge Yang smiled and couldn't help but laugh.

"But I am a prince, otherwise I would want to join in the fun at Changlefang."

Zhu Di smiled, shook his head, and said with a little pity.

"By the way, Your Highness, although everything went well, there are rumors outside that Marquis Jiu'an fell asleep in the examination room directly after answering the questions."

"According to the rules, candidates are not allowed to do this, so Jiu'an Hou's move has caused dissatisfaction among many people, especially other candidates, who are talking behind their backs and have nothing good to say."

Then, Ge Yang hesitated and said worriedly.

"It doesn't matter, they are just a group of people with inferior skills. Let them speak what they want to say. Let's wait and see what else they can say on the day when the results are released."

Zhu Di snorted coldly, waved his hand, and said disdainfully.

"Your Highness, since it goes so well, would you like to invite Marquis Jiu'an to come and sit down?"

Ge Yang nodded and asked with a smile.

"No need, this is just one game, there are two more waiting for him, let him have a good rest, and after the results are released, I will hold a banquet for him to celebrate."

Zhu Biao waved his hands and said with a smile.

Everyone seems to think that Hu Fei's position as the number one scholar is an established fact, but what they don't know is that at this time, Hu Fei is feeling more miserable than anyone else.

...

North Street.

Hong Bin Building.

In the backyard pavilion, Hu Fei and Princess Anqing were sitting side by side on stools.

Seeing the sun setting in the west, the bitterness on Hu Fei's face became more and more obvious, making it uglier than crying.

After leaving the examination room, he went directly back to Hong Bin Building without going anywhere, not even home, because he knew that the old man must be eagerly waiting for him to return.

The rumors from outside had already reached his ears, and he didn't even need to go out to inquire. The diners who came to Hong Bin Building for dinner had already brought in all the rumors on the street.

He didn't expect that he just gave up on himself and fell asleep on the table, but everyone thought that he answered questions quickly and performed superbly, and they all thought that he would be the top pick in this spring!

Faced with such rumors, Hu Fei had a hard time defending him. It is estimated that no one would believe him even if he says that he has not answered a single question.

"What's wrong? Are you tired?"

Princess Anqing noticed Hu Fei's expression and asked with concern.

"It's okay, I'm just thinking about what questions will be on tomorrow's exam paper."

Hu Fei smiled, blurted out an extremely lame answer, and regretted it after he said it.

"Don't think about it, relax, you can do it."

"Go to bed early tonight. I will go find you early tomorrow morning and then accompany you to Wenxian Hall."

Princess Anqing smiled and said softly.

"good."

Hu Fei had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

"Master, it's almost time, it's time to go back."

At this moment, Pei Jie slowly walked closer and said something respectfully.

In order for Hu Fei to cope with the exam well, Hu Weiyong has given a death order. Hu Fei must go home before sunset every day and cannot go anywhere.

"There's still a while, don't rush."

Hu Fei glanced at the setting sun that was about to disappear into the horizon, and said reluctantly.

"Okay, go back quickly, it's time for me to go back."
To be continued...