{Examination Venue}
(Ling Yu POV)
As I stood in the noisy crowd of participants, I could not help but look out the still-open doors behind me. I saw many people wishing their families and friends well on the test. There were some elders with tears in their eyes wishing their adult children good luck. While others were friends playfully ribbing their friends, whose eyes were obviously wishing them the best. However, all of them provided near-unwavering support.
My eyes looked around the crowd searching for the two familiar faces. Yet, not one face in the crowd was ringing any bells.
'Of course they weren't here,' I thought privately to myself.
Part of me could still remember several years ago when I took the Imperial examinations. My parent had been so proud. Disregarding the costs, they sent me to the capital with a pocket full of money, telling me that they believed in me.
Unfortunately, belief wasn't enough. I flunked, and that was enough to be written off by my father and to be patronized by my mother. This morning my father didn't even look at me. And my mother...
'Just do your best.'
'Don't get your hopes up too high.'
'You can always come home.'
My throat tightens at the memory, so I turn my head back to the hastily raised podium surrounded by guards in front of me. Standing on the stage was a powerfully built man that appeared to be in his sixties. He had thick but well-groomed facial hair, and his eyes seemed to give off a sense of perpetual amusement. As if everything in his eyes were a show to watch.
*THUM*
The man's hands let out a thunderous sound as he clapped. The sound was so intense that I felt it in my very body. The sudden sound completely silenced even the rowdiest examinee. When the room went completely silent, the man snapped his fingers, and the guards in the corners of the room shut the doors to the entrance and locked them. They then took position in front of the door, blocking the exit.
I could see some people grow nervous and paranoid. Having taken the Imperial exam thrice, I knew that this kind of situation was quite common. No examiner would be satisfied if the test questions leaked out because then what would be the point of the test?
"Good morning to all of the examinees. To those who do not know me, I am Cao Peng, the assistant of City Lord Meng Tao." The man's voice easily carried across the entire room.
"Today's examination will be divided into three portions: the elimination round, the written test, and the final interviews." He continued while slowly walking to his left, revealing a piece of sign with writing on it as well as an arrow pointing to the right.
'From this distance I can't read it.' I squinted my eyes to try and get a better look, but it appeared that the examinees were intentionally placed just far enough to be nearly impossible for the average person to read.
"With all that said, the first exam starts now. You have thirty seconds to make a decision based on this sign beside me."
The room remained quiet for a few seconds to process the words before large chunks of the group rushed to the podium, only stopping when they reached the unmoving guards. The first person who arrived at the podium read for a few seconds before immediately running to the right.
"Easy choice!" The man yelled as he picked up speed.
Those a second behind him read for even less time before chasing after him like starving wolves.
'Why is there a physical component? Wasn't this supposed to be a exam?'
Not being the most fit, I was still rushing to the stage when I saw people beginning to split up. Large groups running to the right with top speed with only a few running to the left. More and more often I saw people who obviously hadn't had time to read immediately run to the right where the majority had chosen to go.
I ignored the part of me that wanted to follow. Until I understand the rules of the exam, I refuse to be hasty.
By the time I reached the podium, more than half of the examinees had already made their choice, and there were probably fewer than twenty seconds left.
'The examination pass rate is less than one out of one hundred; there are only four positions, and the salary is one hundred bronze coins a month. To take this exam, go to the left. If you choose to go to the right instead, the first to arrive in the hall will receive thirty copper coins. The second through tenth places will receive five copper coins. And the next twenty will receive one copper coin apiece. Choose quickly.'
I froze momentarily as I comprehended what I just read. Then I stopped to think about how much thirty coins could help my family. For once I would be able to contribute, even a little.
My eyes shifted to the right momentarily before I remembered that the majority of participants went that way. More than half of the examinees went to the right for a chance to earn a reward, and knowing my physical abilities...
'Or lack of physical abilities...'
I took a second to look around me and noticed several others around me with less-than-stellar physical attributes. Some seemed to be paralyzed by the choice as their eyes swapped between a "guaranteed" reward if they were fast enough and a potentially life-changing job if they managed to beat the odds.
"There are ten seconds left." A deep voice called out from his podium. This Cao Peng's face resembled a cat that caught a canary as he stared down at us.
With his reminder, I gritted my teeth and ran towards the left hall. As I ran, I heard several others running as well. Some footfalls followed me while others grew more distant.
After I entered the exam hall, I paused to catch my breath and wipe the nervous sweat from my brow. It was then that I felt a finger tapping me on my shoulder. Standing next to me was a tall, short-haired man with a steely build with distinctive red eyes. He seemed to be one of the stragglers as well.
Without words, he pointed to rows of desks where many examinees had already taken seats.
"Thanks," I muttered.
He responded with a polite nod before turning away.
After ensuring I got the message, he made his way over to one of the desks and took a seat.
I found myself a seat as well and waited for the first part of the exam to end. After a few more examinees ran in, the assistant Cao Peng himself walked in with a few maids holding stacks of papers and a group of guards who closed the door on any further participants and stood watch.
Cao Peng walked to the front of the room facing the desks and cleared his throat.
"Congratulations on passing the first portion of the exam. The next portion will test your theoretical skills pertaining to the four possible positions available. I encourage you all to do your best on every section of the exam because a composite score will matter more than a high score in one subject and tanking in another." As he spoke, the maids began passing out stacks of papers and pens to each desk with a participant sitting there.
"The four positions that are available are the councilor, steward, marshal, and spymaster. The councilor assists the City Lord with managing internal and foreign affairs. Next, the steward manages the treasury and the collection of taxes and keeps track of the earnings or spending of the city. Marshals will handle strategy, train troops, and lead them into battle should the need arise. Lastly, the spymaster does what the name implies. Any further description of the jobs will happen during training." The man spoke at a steady rate, and by the time he was finished, the maids had finished handing out the tests.
Seeing the stack of papers before me, I felt a familiar knot in my gut. I took several deep breaths to calm myself down.
'Come on! Just because I failed the Imperial examination twice does not mean that it will happen for this exam.'
Paying no attention to any nerves shown by the participants, Cao Peng continued on.
"Inside your tests you will find four sections containing questions about communication, mathematics, strategic thinking, and intrigue. Your goal is to answer them to the best of your abilities. You all have four hours. Any and all cheating found will result in immediate disqualification and a ban from any government position. Keep in mind even if you do not pass, there is a chance to be hired at a later date for another position." The man took one last look around the room and, after seeing the initially nervous crowd settle down, continued.
"With all that said, let the test begin!"
From there all I heard was the sound of pens scraping against paper. I took a deep breath and began the test that would decide my future.
{Communication}
The first few questions were easy enough to answer and related to proper honorifics and ways to address foreign guests. However, one question stuck out to me.
You discover a young boy lost in one of the alleys in Skyfall City. He is hungry and scared but appears to be in possession of property reported stolen from the city lord's manor. What do you do?
A. Give the boy a hug and tell him everything will be okay.
B. Tell the boy that he does not recognize Mount Tai and defeat him to take ownership of the stolen goods to return or keep them.
C. Report him to the guards in hopes of earning a promotion.
D. Walk away and pretend you saw nothing.
'?'
'This one is a bit out there, but I guess "A" makes the most sense.'
{Mathematics}
The questions in this section were especially difficult. I unknowingly started to chew on the back of my pen. Slowly I managed to answer the questions one by one until I encountered another strange question.
"What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? Please show your work."
...
'What the hell is an unladen swallow!?'
{Strategy}
The questions in this section were relatively straightforward. I either knew them or I didn't. I just needed to score enough points that this section wouldn't drop my composite score much.
'The last thing I want to do is lead an army.' I thought while answering the last question in the section
{Intrigue}
Another section, another weird question.
You have been tasked with arranging the murder of a rival to your city lord. In what manner do you go about your plot?
A. Your target loves to read beneath a wall holding an antler plaque that is improperly secured. Sneak in the walls and loosen them the next time they choose to read.
B. Arrange for your target to be thrown in prison and bribe the guards to stage a suicide via three swords to the back.
C. Poison the whole town water supply. Can't possibly miss the target that way.
D. Lock the target in a house with several other targets under the guise of a dinner party and keep them under the impression that there is a large quantity of gold hidden within. Hire an assassin to pose as one of the guests and have them gain the trust of the guest and convince them to kill each other.
'What th-'
I let out an audible groan and rubbed my temples in irritation.
'Who wrote these silly questions!'
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Thanks for reading!
I was a few minutes late today because the chapter got a bit away from me. But in exchange, you guys and girls get a slightly longer chapter.
Can any of you recognize the questions from this chapter?
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