After their minds were read, the entire court trembled with fear.

Chapter 79 President, welcome home (crossed out) to the Imperial Examination Hall!

The forgotten memories of Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, surfaced from the corners of his mind, and he laughed, "What else could it be? That old man's appearance is truly enough to stop a child from crying."

[You just wanted to say that the old man is ugly, but you're beating around the bush.]

Chen, Assistant Minister of Rites: ...One should be modest in conduct!

"Minister, could you arrange for Cui Yuanzhe to sit directly in front of me? Like, face to face with him?"

The people from the Ministry of Rites exchanged glances, completely bewildered by Shen Zhiyi's request.

The Minister of Rites said, "The seats have all been arranged..."

Shen Zhiyi had a pitiful look on her face.

"But it's not that it can't be changed." The Minister of Rites changed his tone.

Shen Zhiyi must have her reasons for doing this. At worst, she can just bring that Cui Yuanzhe guy to Shen Zhiyi to answer the questions, regardless of whether he's confused or not.

However, this matter needs to be reported to the old emperor.

*

The next day came in a blink of an eye.

Shen Zhiyi, who was a proctor for the first time, got up early without complaint and set off with high spirits.

Aunt Cheng called the person to a stop.

"It's cold outside, Shen Lang, why don't you take a hand warmer with you?"

"No, no, no."

I don't have a hand warmer. I only have a hot water bottle at home, and that's not good enough for me.

Aunt Cheng smiled, turned around and brought out a hand warmer for Shen Zhiyi, which dazzled Shen Zhiyi's eyes.

"Ok?"

“I made this. The ladies in the palace use this in winter. Shen Lang, you should take it with you. It’s small and can be easily tucked into your sleeve.”

"It's really convenient, thank you Aunt Cheng."

After receiving the hand warmer, Shen Zhiyi went to the examination hall in the dark.

The area outside the examination hall was already packed with candidates.

Just as Shen Zhiyi was wondering how to get in, someone patted her on the shoulder.

"Oh, Brother Chen, we meet again. What a coincidence!"

Shen Zhiyi turned her head and saw Su Ziruo's smiling face.

Her gaze fell on the other person's basket, but there was no trace of spices.

Su Ziruo noticed this and laughed, "Spices are for women. I'm a grown man, bringing spices to an exam. My classmates will definitely laugh at me."

Shen Zhiyi rolled her eyes: "You think something can be divided into men's and women's products? Do you think spices are menstrual pads?"

"What, what?"

Shen Zhiyi was worried about how to squeeze in, so she ignored Su Ziruo.

"Shen, uh, Brother Chen, you're here really early today!"

Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, cleverly changed the subject and then pulled Shen Zhiyi out of the crowd.

Neither of them paid any attention to Su Ziruo's desperate shouts from behind.

After entering the examination hall.

"Oh dear, I forgot to tell you yesterday that we examiners are supposed to sleep in the examination hall the day before, but I forgot."

[Holy crap, how could you forget that!]

Didn't you notice something was missing when you slept in there last night?

“I found it.” Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, nodded. “But it would be bad to wake you up since you’ve already fallen asleep. It’s alright, it’s all a small matter. You don’t even know what the question is, so there’s definitely no problem.”

I have a feeling this old guy is subtly mocking me.

Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, was startled: "I will definitely remember you next time, Shen Lang, please don't be offended. Oh no, I should call you President Shen today."

Why is the chief examiner of the imperial examination called the "President"?

Shen Zhiyi laughed awkwardly for a while, and the phrase "start selling a house from scratch" that she used when she was scrolling through Douyin looking at unrealistic houses in her mind couldn't help but come to mind.

[President, welcome home!]

[Sobbing, now I'm really a CEO, but this CEO isn't the same as that CEO; I still don't own a house.]

Shen Zhiyi sighed and walked towards the entrance of the examination hall with her hands behind her back.

Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, scratched his head in confusion.

Could it be that Shen Lang wants a house? Her current place is indeed rather poor.

He has extra houses, but he doesn't dare give them away, and Shen Zhiyi wouldn't dare accept them either.

With a jumble of thoughts in his mind, Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, came to Shen Zhiyi's side and looked at her standing there like a gatekeeper.

Candidates from all over the country began to enter the venue one after another, and once inside, they stayed for three days and two nights.

Before entering the examination room, there was a strict body search, which left Shen Zhiyi stunned.

[This requires a body search. How did the original owner manage to sneak in?]

Ministry of Rites Assistant Minister Chen: Good question. They also want to know how Shen Zhiyi managed to sneak in. Logically speaking, it's impossible for a woman to disguise herself as a man to enter the examination hall. And it's also impossible for her to pass the imperial examination by a hair's breadth and become a sixth-rank official. But it's impossible that she's standing right next to him now.

No one could figure it out, so they simply stopped thinking about it.

The first hurdle was simply a quick touch to check for any cheat sheets hidden in the clothes, and a thorough inspection of the candidates' belongings. The meticulousness of this inspection shocked Shen Zhiyi.

[My goodness! They checked everything, even the candles and food! They were really thorough.]

But Shen Zhiyi soon realized that she was too shocked; the second hurdle was taking off her clothes.

The candidates were taken to a small room and made to strip completely naked.

Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, whispered in Shen Zhiyi's ear: "The newly added regulations this time focus on checking parts that can be stuffed with things."

[Just say it's chrysanthemum, oh dear, you shouldn't have eaten such greasy food this morning, I feel like throwing up.]

Why wasn't the Minister of Rites allowed to add these things himself?

"Hey? Wait, stop right there."

Shen Zhiyi snapped out of her thoughts and stopped a candidate who was about to be led to the second hurdle.

Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, stepped forward with excitement and asked, "Shen Lang, what's wrong with this person?"

"I don't think so. We've searched everything and there's nothing there."

Shen Zhiyi didn't waste any words, but directly reached out and touched the other person's face.

The candidate took a large step back and hugged himself.

"I like women, not men!"

A few black lines appeared on Shen Zhiyi's face. She pointed at the other person and said domineeringly, "Grab him."

"Here."

The examinee was brought in front of Shen Zhiyi, and Shen Zhiyi started touching the examinee's face again.

The touch terrified Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites.

On a high-rise building not far away, the old emperor sat by the window, watching.

"What is Shen Zhiyi doing? There's something written all over the other person's face?"

The Minister of Rites shook his head: "No, I don't think so."

Even the dumbest person wouldn't write cheat sheets on their face.

Hehe, I touched it, I touched it!

Shen Zhiyi smiled smugly and, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, directly tore off her mask.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

The crowd screamed, but it was quickly suppressed.

Wow, this human skin mask is really well made.

Without the human skin mask, the candidates were like people who were naked, covering their faces as if afraid of being seen.

Shen Zhiyi waved her hand: "Take him away."

Having successfully caught one cheater, Shen Zhiyi's interest soared even higher.

I feel so accomplished!