He quickly realized that this drawing of lots might not be so simple.
The seating arrangement in the Imperial Academy was based on height.
Han Mo was already a head taller than almost all the other students, so his height naturally placed him in the back row.
If he guessed correctly, his exam question would definitely be hidden within Qin Hui's sleeve!
However, Han Mo couldn't quite figure out what difficult problem this old fellow would pose for him.
"Brother Zhong, why don't we switch seats?"
Han Mo hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said to Zhong Yanchong.
"Switch seats?"
Zhong Yanchong gave Han Mo a confused glance. He himself came from a military family, so his height was naturally much greater than that of ordinary people.
The two of them were originally in the back row. At this moment, switching places from side to side was merely a change in order.
He really didn't understand what there was to switch...
"What are you two doing?"
As expected, the moment Zhong Yanchong stood up, Qin Hui suddenly reprimanded him sternly.
"Instructor Qin! When I left home this morning, I consulted a hexagram, and it indicated great fortune in the west for me today. Therefore, I wish to switch seats with Brother Zhong. I implore you to grant my request!"
Seeing Qin Hui's appearance of being fierce on the outside but timid on the inside, Han Mo smiled unhurriedly as he spoke.
"Absurd! The Master said nothing of strange, violent, or spiritual matters. Can such words be taken seriously? Sit back down!"
Qin Hui's words made Han Mo completely understand. It seemed his guess was correct.
Zhong Yanchong had originally intended to say something. After all, consulting hexagrams in this era was not really considered superstition.
This was not like later generations where all forms of divination were labeled as feudal superstition.
In this era, the I Ching was a classic text that scholars had to study diligently.
However, as he was just getting up, he suddenly saw Han Mo make a shushing gesture at him.
After a moment of hesitation, he ultimately said nothing and simply sat back down.
Having confirmed his suspicions, Han Mo's mind began to quickly strategize.
A direct confrontation was out of the question. He wouldn't even have the opportunity to catch a cheat in the act.
At this point, it seemed there was nothing else to do but deal with each move as it came.
With a sense of trepidation, Zhong Yanchong finally drew his assigned question.
It was almost Han Mo's turn, but Qin Hui suddenly placed his hand over the opening of the box.
A cold smile immediately appeared on Han Mo's lips. This fellow's cheating methods were truly clumsy.
However, at this moment, he didn't have the leisure to bicker with him.
He was more curious about what kind of peculiar question this fellow would come up with to make things difficult for him.
Although, he had been busy with various trivial matters recently.
However, he had not dared to relax for a single moment regarding matters that concerned his future plans.
He had almost finished reading all the past exemplary essays that Han Jiayan had procured for him.
As long as the questions posed by this old fellow weren't too obscure, he shouldn't make a complete fool of himself, right?
After a long wait, Han Mo finally reached his hand into the box in front of him.
Since only the last exam question remained in the box, there was no opportunity to pick and choose.
Therefore, Han Mo directly opened the exam question in his hand.
Qin Hui's lips curved into a cold smile, and his gaze towards Han Mo held even more anticipation.
This exam question was one he had specifically placed there. Although doing so might cause him some trouble.
However, compared to what Cai Xiao had promised him, such a small trouble was truly insignificant.
Now, he couldn't wait to see Han Mo get angry, argue with him, and ultimately be expelled from the examination hall.
As long as there was this record, even if Han Mo became the top scholar in the future, Cai Xiao could use this as a weapon to attack him.
Although, normally, almost all newly appointed Jinshi scholars would be appointed as officials in the capital.
But if your record contained such an entry as disrespecting elders, who knew where you might be relegated to.
This Great Song Dynasty, while vast, was not without its vastness.
If there was anything in abundance, it was officials.
No matter how astonishing your literary talent, you couldn't withstand being casually sent to some desolate corner.
As long as you left the city of Bianliang, Cai Xiao had plenty of ways to control Han Mo!
Cai Jing's faction had numerous followers, and it would be easy to deal with a newly appointed Jinshi scholar.
Under Qin Hui's expectant gaze, Han Mo's expression began to turn peculiar.
This exam question indeed had a problem!
"Sir, is this exam question mine?"
Han Mo frowned and looked at Qin Hui.
"This is an exam question that we instructors deliberated over at length. If you have any objections, you are welcome not to answer it!"
Qin Hui's face immediately took on a righteous and stern demeanor.
He was almost impatiently waiting to hear Han Mo utter profanities.
"There are beasts with six heads and four feet; and birds with four heads and two feet. Above, there are seventy-six heads, and below, there are forty-six feet. Question: How many birds and beasts are there?"
Looking at this paper filled with similar exam questions, Han Mo was completely stunned.
What was going on?
Was this a third-grade math exam?
Had he guessed wrong?
Was this old fellow not deliberately trying to make things difficult for him, but rather trying to help him cheat?
"Since you say it's correct, Sir, then Han Mo shall comply!"
To Qin Hui's surprise, although Han Mo's expression was odd, he didn't say anything offensive. Instead, he readily agreed and walked back to his seat with a beaming smile.
What the hell!
Qin Hui couldn't help but curse inwardly. What was going on?
Shouldn't this kid be grabbing him by the collar and arguing with him at this point?
He actually returned so happily?
Had he taken the wrong medicine, or had this kid taken the wrong medicine?
Looking at Han Mo's smile, Qin Hui suddenly had a bad premonition.
But he couldn't quite articulate what felt wrong.
In order to make things difficult for Han Mo, he had put in a great deal of effort overnight. After receiving Cai Xiao's note, he had rushed to the Imperial Academy before dawn.
Before formulating this exam question, he had specifically reviewed Han Mo's past grades.
This kid had never passed in the subject of mathematics, let alone such an ultimate difficulty.
Little did he know that while the original Han Mo certainly wouldn't know these things, the current Han Mo was a transmigrator from later generations!
Facing such elementary school level Olympiad math problems, did these really require consideration?