Chapter 111: Chapter 107: Candidate Artifact Evaluator

Seeing that Mo Rong had gotten ahold of Li An’s exam paper, both Gao Feng and Hua Ming’s expressions turned grim.

“Could it be that Song Mingzhang discovered something and invited Mo Rong over?”

Both of them had this thought in their minds.

But this time, their affairs were extremely confidential; no one should have known…

Strange, very strange!

“Just now, Fellow Daoist Gao said that this person’s exam paper should have had two mistakes…”

Jin Taoyuan then spoke up aptly.

Old Song had a good relationship with him, and him saying this casually now would attract Mo Rong’s attention, leaving no room for Gao Feng and Hua Ming to maneuver later.

Moreover, by speaking up now, Gao Feng and Hua Ming couldn’t blame him.

Mo Rong raised her eyes, “Oh? Mistakes?”

Gao Feng’s eyelid twitched slightly, and he immediately forced a smile, “It shouldn’t be. I was just joking with the two fellow Daoists. The last two questions were extremely difficult, and by average standards, they should have been mistakes. The fact that this person managed to identify them means their knowledge is indeed extraordinary…”

He quickly changed his tune!

Mo Rong’s status was above his, and speaking nonsense in front of her was asking for trouble.

Even if there were exchanges of interests with others, they had to be set aside for now.

Mo Rong nodded, then looked at the exam paper, nodding again, saying, “Hmm, Lu Hua and Zheng Xiaoxiao are also not bad.”

She pondered for a moment, “I think this year we might as well take in one more, and admit three candidate Artifact Evaluators.”

“Although there are only two vacancies, admitting three initially can motivate candidate Artifact Evaluators to constantly strive to learn and improve. When they officially become Artifact Evaluators, we can filter them again. What do you think?”

Upon hearing this, Gao Feng and Hua Ming hurriedly nodded, very pleased.

“Mo Deputy Seat is wise!”

“This will indeed benefit the growth of candidate Appraisers.”

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Mo Rong’s involvement left them no room to maneuver, meaning they had to grade the papers truthfully.

That being the case, Lu Hua would most likely be out of luck.

But Mo Rong’s suggestion, although unprecedented, prevented their plans from falling apart.

Their interests were preserved!

As for what would happen when they officially became Artifact Evaluators, that was a matter for the future.

“Hmm, then let’s do that.”

Mo Deputy Seat nodded, then gracefully left.

“Alright, as Mo Deputy Seat suggested, let’s quickly compile the results – ”

Hua Ming spoke up.

…

Mo Rong’s Artifact Evaluation Room was on the third floor, spacious and grand, with at least four arrays arranged inside.

After she returned, Song Mingzhang, who was waiting anxiously in her Artifact Evaluation Room, hurriedly saluted, “Greetings to Mo Deputy Seat.”

Mo Rong nodded, “Rest assured, Master Song, I’ve reviewed Zuo Wen’s exam paper, and there should be no issue with entering the candidate Artifact Evaluation Room queue.”

Upon hearing this, Song Mingzhang was very excited, “Thank you, Mo Deputy Seat, thank you!”

Mo Rong said, “This Zuo Wen is rather talented… Master Song, I am curious, what is your relationship with him?”

According to her understanding, Song Mingzhang’s son and daughter-in-law died relatively early due to certain events, leaving only a granddaughter who wasn’t very accomplished.

Therefore, Song Mingzhang had always seemed rather detached from personal gains inside the Treasure Pavilion, being a relatively upright person.

Mainly because he had no personal benefits to seek.

It was quite rare for him to actively seek her help this time!

Of course, her willingness to help wasn’t without her own interest motives.

If she hadn’t intervened, this exam would have become an interest exchange between Gao Feng, Hua Ming, and the others.

But her appearance brought Li An into the picture.

Thus, in the future, whether Lu Hua, Zheng Xiaoxiao, or Zuo Wen got out depended on her mood.

Everyone had something to ask of her, turning her into the biggest winner.

Therefore, she also wanted to know more about Li An since his performance was indeed astonishing!

He could even be compared to formal Artifact Evaluators.

Song Mingzhang was a bit uneasy, but he still said, “This person, this person… is my granddaughter’s husband.”

Mo Rong was taken aback.

Wasn’t Zuo Wen over a hundred years old??

Song Mingzhang taking him as a son-in-law… the age gap was rather significant.

However, she was also aware of some circulating information among the upper echelons and recalled some gossip, so she didn’t say anything.

“I’ll take my leave first. After this matter, I’ll definitely bring my grand-son-in-law to visit – ”

…

Shortly, the results were announced.

“This exam has admitted three candidate Artifact Evaluators!”

“Based on the grading results, the following three individuals have successfully passed the assessment and can enter the Treasure Pavilion as candidate Artifact Evaluators – ”

“Lu Hua!”

“Zuo Wen!”

“Zheng Xiaoxiao!”

In the examination hall, many examinees sighed!

Both Lu Hua and Zheng Xiaoxiao felt unexpectedly surprised.

According to the rules, there should have been only two vacancies for Artifact Evaluators, so why was a third added this time?

Their gaze immediately fell on Li An!

“Did Song Mingzhang pull some strings?”

“Song Mingzhang, that old man, is not a good person either…”

Their eyes had a trace of coldness.

Li An, however, felt a bit relieved.

He understood how this third spot came about.

If he hadn’t been attentive enough to infer something from the expressions of Lu Hua and Zheng Xiaoxiao, he would have failed!

The ten years of efforts within the Song family would have been wasted.

He wasn’t hoping to push Lu Hua or Zheng Xiaoxiao out. Where there are people, there are factions, and factions are essentially the division of interests. Song Mingzhang finding someone to achieve this level, getting Li An temporarily on the board, was already quite good.

Without Song Mingzhang’s help and networking, Li An wouldn’t have been able to breach such an iron curtain.

After announcing the results, the Treasure Pavilion people left the examination hall.

The examination hall buzzed with discussions, and many examinees were sighing.

“Brother Zuo,”

Zheng Xiaoxiao came over, smiling slightly, “Congratulations.”

Li An replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Mutual congratulations.”

“Being able to become a candidate Artifact Evaluator shows Brother Zuo’s great talent… We will learn much from you in the future.”

Zheng Xiaoxiao smiled.

Lu Hua was more straightforward, “Hey, Brother Zuo, from now on, the three of us will be competing on the same stage… Looking forward to your performance!”

He flashed a meaningful smile, then directly left.

…

Leaving the Treasure Pavilion.

Li An took a deep breath.

After ten years of hiding, he finally took the first successful step.

Actually, the hardest thing for him was entering the Treasure Pavilion!

The paths to entering the Treasure Pavilion are strictly limited, either being selected from a young age or having someone strongly recommend you.

“From now on, you need to maintain close contact with Mo Deputy Seat,”

Sitting in the car, Song Mingzhang earnestly reminded:

“Both of us love to read, but people who love to read often find themselves limited in social matters; keep this in mind.”

Li An nodded, realizing the best choice in the future would indeed be to align himself with Mo Rong.

Forming factions, small circles, aligning oneself with powerful figures, these exist everywhere.

If you’re not considered one of their own, why should they support or promote you?

Do you really think it’s all about ability?

By evening, they had already returned home.

“Quickly prepare a meal, we must celebrate tonight!”

Song Mingzhang instructed the maid, feeling very pleased to have resolved a matter close to his heart.

“Where is Anning?” he asked simultaneously.

“Miss, Miss…”

The maid was hesitant.

Song Mingzhang instantly sensed something amiss and said:

“What happened to Miss, speak!”

The maid said, “The Ninth Prince hosted a banquet today, and Miss went to attend…”

Upon hearing this, Song Mingzhang was momentarily stunned, then instantly trembled with anger, saying:

“What! What!”

“This shameless woman, how could she be so disgraceful!…”

“Puh!”

He directly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground…

…

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