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Thus, there is no absolute justice in the world, only relative justice!

Lian Musu sorted his thoughts one by one in his mind, determined to carve out a path from such a grand proposition.

Once his thoughts settled, he opened his eyes, only to be startled by the realization that morning had passed and it was now afternoon.

He saw that lunch had already been served at his desk, cold to the touch. He picked up a biscuit and began to eat, his mind still churning, his expression solemn and serious.

Events of the past whirled through his mind, and he soon came to a conclusion.

He did not disagree with what the sage had said; he too desired the world that the sage had depicted. However, it was ultimately too idealistic, too impractical to implement in governance at present. What he wanted to write about was a concept of "justice" that could immediately benefit the people.

Having clarified his thoughts and made up his mind, he smiled slightly, sensing something unusual about the crowd, and he instinctively looked up.

With just one glance, he noticed a tall Noble Young Master wearing a Purple Jade Crown and a cloud-patterned, wide-sleeved robe, swiftly exiting the crowd, surrounded and supported by many, his strides as powerful as a dragon’s or a tiger’s, commanding an extraordinary presence that made all commoners instinctively step aside.

As he looked over, the man had already turned away, with no view of his front, moving quickly with his robes billowing and waist ornaments swaying with each step.

Just as he was about to redirect his gaze, suddenly a small round Jade Pendant caught a ray of sunlight, emitting a burst of light, and with only a blurry glimpse of its shadow, the person disappeared from sight.

Lian Musu’s head buzzed, and he abruptly stood up, rushing forward a few steps, wanting to chase after the figure to get a clearer look.

"Jieyuan Lian!"

A loud call snapped him out of it, and when he came to his senses, he saw that Minister Jia and everyone else, be they commoners or soldiers, were all looking at him.

Minister Jia wore a mix of surprise and concern as he approached him.

Looking down, Lian Musu realized he was one step away from leaving the examination area.

The commoners had been whispering about the Noble Young Master who had just left.

They only dared to discuss him once he was gone and Minister Jia wasn’t looking their way.

They had barely uttered a few words before noticing that Jieyuan Gong, who was as refreshing as a gentle breeze and bright moon, uncharacteristically stood up and moved.

The crowd became restless.

The Noble Young Master just now was to be admired from afar, not to be approached, for he could burn those who came too close.

The Jieyuan Gong from Taiyuan Prefecture was different; he was far more approachable, and his demeanor warm and gentle like jade, a pleasant sight to behold.

This was especially true for the ladies, who watched him with hearts bewitched and agitated; one of the girls could not control herself and cried out with a high-pitched voice, convinced he was heading her way.

Having regained his composure, Lian Musu knew he had lost his poise. He bowed to Minister Jia and the others, sincerely apologizing.

In front of everyone, Minister Jia spoke sternly for a while, and then he shouted at the crowd, eventually restoring calm to the agitated assembly.

But whether or not the news had spread, more and more onlookers arrived, forming a solid ring around the perimeter. The scholars who had previously dispersed hearing the commotion, also rushed back to join the spectators.

Lian Musu returned to his seat, his mind in turmoil, no longer as calm as before.

That round Jade Pendant seemed to have a flower carved in its center, resembling a lotus from what little he could make out; the distance was too great, the glimpse too fleeting, and he could not see it clearly. Its shape was very similar to the one his sister owned.

If the front did indeed display a blooming Little Lotus, and the back bore the word "Nannan," then it would undoubtedly belong to his sister.

Xiao Bao said his younger sister was in the palace, and just now that person...

Lian Musu’s gaze returned to the direction where the Noble Young Master had departed, his eyes brimming with emotion.

He closed his eyes and strived to control the surge within his heart, and when he opened them again, all that remained was clarity.

He scanned the crowd and noticed that the Commander of the Imperial Guard was no longer there; he had caught sight of him leaving just a moment ago, and the direction was exactly the same as that of the person who had left.

If it was someone who could command the attention of the Commander of the Imperial Guard, could it be...

If his guesses were correct, then he absolutely had to pass this examination, he must pass it at all costs, to have the qualification to stand before that person, to pay his respects properly, to properly go and confirm the suspicions in his heart.

He restrained himself from thinking any further. Whether it was so or not, he had reasons that compelled him to succeed!

Past experiences had honed his mind to be extremely stable and resilient, the more critical the moment, the more he was able to maintain his composure. From the moment of discovery to settling his heart, it took but a brief moment.

He remained composed for a short while, then calmly rolled up his sleeves, lifted his hand to grind the ink and moisten the brush; paper was spread across the table with inkstones placed on either side.

With a steadfast look, Lian Musu ground the ink deliberately and evenly, pressing hard and pushing lightly, not stopping until the ink was smooth and supple, flowing without hindrance from the brush.

He picked up the brush, dipped it in the ink, and with a solemn expression wrote the first stroke of the day.

The crowd around him, without needing any word from Minister Jia, dared not even breathe too loudly out of tension. They had been waiting for this moment all day, and finally, the man began to write, especially the scholars who were watching eagerly with widened eyes.

The three scholars who had almost been hit by Guo Neng’s carriage were also there; the scholar with the last name Zheng gripped the arm of the one named Wu, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on the man in the center of attention.

Minister Fan, who had not left the study, naturally saw the Emperor heading towards the crowd and then quickly exiting. As the Minister of Rites, it was his duty to offer counsel, but today he pretended not to see.

Originally, he saw Lian Musu become distracted, and his nerves tightened as he stood up, intently watching the man in the center.

Only he knew how much hope and effort he had invested in this candidate; no one else could have been more anxious for his success.

Otherwise, why would he have insisted on staying up to this moment without leaving?

After paying respects to the Emperor, while others had left, he, at his advanced age, chose to stay put, simply to ensure that the candidate felt at ease.

This candidate reminded him so much of his own youth, yet was much more composed in handling matters than he had been at that age. Even if the person refused to join his tutelage, he still wished for him to ride the wind and waves.

His Majesty is wise; if the candidate passes this hurdle, he is bound for great achievements in the future. He wouldn’t be like himself, who back in the day had various impediments and ended up confused and doddering, spending his life in compromise to protect his family and household.

Seeing Lian Musu quickly recollect himself, Minister Fan heaved a deep sigh of relief.

When he finally saw the man start to write, a huge weight settled in his heart, and he couldn’t help but stroke his beard in great admiration, "He has depth and breadth of knowledge, the universe in his belly, divine in every stroke.

Master Feng indeed has a discerning eye, ha ha! "

Feeling jovial inside, he couldn’t restrain himself from bursting into loud laughter.

Not far away, the Emperor marched with a very stern expression, as if suppressing a ferocious storm, instilling fear in the hearts of onlookers.

The entourage, led by the Commander of the Imperial Guard, made their way through the crowd and proceeded to the place two streets over where horses were kept.

This location was some distance from the Imperial Academy, and with fewer people around, the horses meant for the Imperial Guard had been left here, guarded by a single person.

On seeing the Commander of the Imperial Guard, the horse keeper immediately stood up and saluted, the Commander hurriedly waving him aside.