The detailed records and names of the top ten were posted, causing a great uproar among the crowd.
The names listed were all utterly unfamiliar to everyone.
Not a single "Young Master So-and-So" or "Mister So-and-So," whom they knew, made the list.
And when some people looked at the information of the top ten, which revealed their identities and daily lives, the crowd became even more disbelieving.
"I know Han Xin, the first-place winner. He's a dissolute fellow, an unemployed vagrant, who couldn't even afford to eat. He was supported by a laundry woman!"
"Even the laundry woman eventually said he was good for nothing and grew tired of him!"
"What?? Someone who can't even support himself, someone who doesn't know how to survive, became the top scorer in the assessment? We couldn't even compare to such a person??"
Han Xin's experience left countless people with their mouths agape.
A person like that, at first hearing, sounded like someone everyone disdained.
Such a vagrant not only lacked ambition but was also utterly devoid of talent, living day by day without a care in the world.
Walking on the street, no one would spare him a second glance.
Yet, this very vagrant surpassed everyone and took first place, making countless people question their own lives.
He Yun, who ranked second, also had his identity quickly exposed.
"I know that He Yun. He's He Yun from our village! He's just a peasant, and he also got second place? He never studied before!!"
The words "never studied before" deeply struck the crowd.
Many who had come to participate in the imperial examination were literate.
Even if they hadn't studied much, they had studied.
But now, someone who had never studied had passed the assessment, and not only that, but he had achieved second place, far surpassing them.
How could they accept this?
"It's fake, it must be fake. Why can someone who never studied surpass us? This must be a mistake!!"
"Yes, it must be a mistake. No matter how bad we are, we couldn't possibly lose to someone who never studied!"
"There are problems with the review, there are definitely problems with the review of this imperial examination!"
Even someone who had never studied could achieve second place, while many who had studied fell far short.
This made many suspect that there were significant issues with this imperial examination.
He Yun's existence directly ignited the doubts in everyone's hearts, causing many to begin questioning.
And after learning the identity of the third person, others became even more displeased.
"Li Xin, who ranked third, is the son of a merchant, a lowly born. How can such a person be assessed with us? How can he surpass us?"
"What? A merchant's son really participated in this assessment? And he surpassed us? This is a rigged game, there must be foul play!"
"Unfair, this assessment is completely unfair. With the abilities of these people, they shouldn't have surpassed us. We demand a thorough investigation into them, a thorough investigation into this assessment!!"
Upon learning the identities of the top three, many felt that this assessment was rigged.
They believed that given the identities of these three, they should not possess such talent.
Therefore, they demanded a thorough investigation into this assessment, almost causing a riot.
Fortunately, at this moment, the examination staff promptly presented the answer sheets of the participants for everyone to see.
They also released the correct standard answer sheets, which diverted the crowd's attention.
"Hiss! Is this the answer sheet of that vagrant Han Xin? It's too amazing! He got almost everything right!!"
"My heavens! His answer to the question about the laws of Great Qin is so good, even after seeing it, I can't help but praise it!!"
"Worthy of being number one! This answer sheet is a perfect answer sheet!!"
Han Xin's answer sheet drew sighs of admiration, and He Yun's was equally impressive.
What's more, the first thing people praised was He Yun's calligraphy.
"Didn't He Yun never study? Why is his handwriting so beautiful?"
"Yes! This handwriting looks like that of an old scholar. Just looking at it makes it hard to believe he's someone who never studied!"
"Talented, too talented! He Yun answered so well! These answers are all very good. It seems He Yun has genuine substance. Although he never studied, this second place is well-deserved!!"
After evaluating He Yun's answer sheet, someone began to comment on the third person's.
But at this moment, He Yun had no patience to listen further.
When he learned that he had achieved second place, He Yun was also bewildered.
He felt his answers were not perfect enough, and there was still a significant gap compared to those wealthy young masters who claimed to have answered perfectly.
Therefore, he also doubted if the list was mistaken.
Was the second-ranked He Yun someone else entirely?
But when his answer sheet was presented, and when he heard the evaluations of his work...
He was utterly convinced that the one who achieved second place was indeed him.
This made He Yun ecstatic, and he immediately rushed home without a second thought.
Upon arriving home, his parents had already gone to the fields and were not there.
He then ran to the fields, and seeing his parents from afar, he shouted loudly.
"I passed, I passed! Dad, Mom, I passed! I passed second place, I can be an official!!"
"What??"
Although He Yun shouted very loudly, his parents heard every word clearly.
Yet, they still asked with doubt what He Yun was talking about.
At this moment, He Yun was also impatient.
"Dad, Mom, I passed! I can be an official of Great Qin, and you can live a life of ease with me!"
"Even though I'm a peasant, I can still be an official!!"
The word "peasant" seemed like He Yun's destiny.
But the existence of the imperial examination allowed him to defy fate.
From now on, he was no longer a peasant. He could be an official of Great Qin.
He could also assist the King and manage Great Qin, just like others.
This life-changing leap was an incredibly profound experience for He Yun.
When He Yun's parents heard clearly, they were stunned for a long time, and then they wept with joy.
"Waaaah! My child passed! My child can also be an official! My child is no longer a peasant!"
"So peasants can truly defy fate, so the imperial examination can really allow peasants to become officials!!"
Previously, many had questioned the imperial examination. They doubted if it was just a path for the wealthy to become officials. Could it truly lead to advancement for ordinary people?
Many held skeptical attitudes about this.
But now, after the first stage of the assessment was released, no one doubted it anymore.
...