C48 Broken Shadow!

Beiming Yuan noticed the subtle movement in Feng Tiange's expression. "Miss Zhixi, why don't you go ahead and share your thoughts?"

He assumed Feng Tiange was deep in thought and wanted to give some face to Empress Dowager Chu. However, this delayed Feng Tiange's trip to the Martial Academy. Truly a nemesis!

Feng Tiange felt a chill in her heart, unaware that Rong Qi had already vanished from the observation platform...

Ye Zhixi, along with Ye Qinghua, who had previously excelled at the Martial Academy, were both daughters of Ye Zhong, the Minister of Rites. Influenced by their father, Ye Zhixi excelled in all arts, from music to chess and calligraphy.

"Zhixi believes that treason is the gravest of crimes. Even with numerous military achievements, Dugu Yan has no right or qualification to meddle in imperial politics. As a subject, he became arrogant due to his merits, acting recklessly and without remorse..." Ye Zhixi stood upright before Beiming Yuan, her words filled with criticism and disapproval of Dugu Yan.

In the end, Ye Zhixi knelt before Beiming Yuan. "Regarding the case of the corrupt concubine, Zhixi believes the Crown Prince Lord is wise."

The room fell silent, the atmosphere as heavy as a funeral. All the officials pondered, knowing if they were faced with the same question, they would likely reach the same conclusion as Ye Zhixi—unless they had a death wish!

Beiming Yuan gestured for Ye Zhixi to rise and turned to Feng Tiange. "Are you ready?"

Feng Tiange nodded, and after a long pause, she slowly began to speak.

"Can merits and faults cancel each other out? They can if there's forgiveness, but not if justice is the aim. Clearly, the Crown Prince chose justice in the case of the corrupt concubine. Since there's no canceling out, we can't deny Dugu Yan's past achievements—defeating the Qiang, battling the Nanyu, and conquering Wu and Chu..."

These words made many people worry for Tiange.

This was indirectly accusing the Crown Prince of lacking forgiveness!

"What would you choose?" Beiming Yuan's expression remained unchanged, his lips pressed in a thin line.

"Forgiveness is just an excuse for cowardice. Merits and faults, in the end, cannot cancel each other out."

But Beiming Yuan, where is Dugu Yan's fault? Where is the fault of the Thirteen Sects? Where is my child's fault?

"Indeed, merits and faults cannot cancel each other out. No one can erase Dugu Yan's military achievements, just as no one has the right to forgive her numerous crimes." Beiming Yuan's face showed no change, but Tiange knew she had just walked the line between life and death.

Moments later, the examiner emerged from the back hall, respectfully standing at the front of the stage, and announced loudly, "The top scorer of this year's Wenn Mansion exam is Feng Tiange!"

As the words fell, no one cheered.

The entire hall seemed to turn to stone, staring blankly at Feng Tiange on the high platform. Once a laughingstock, now transformed into someone they could only look up to.

Feng Tiange ignored the crowd and took a step closer to Empress Dowager Chu. "I'll take my leave now," she said.

Without further explanation, Feng Tiange leaped gracefully off the platform and strode out of the hall. By now, the third exam at the Martial Academy must have already started!

As Feng Tiange's figure faded from view, whispers began to spread among the onlookers. Feng Xueyao stood frozen, her eyes filled with venomous hatred, glaring in the direction where Feng Tiange had disappeared. Her top spot, her pride, all gone...

Soon, the examiners would post the results of all three exams for the twenty candidates on the notice board outside the hall, ensuring fairness. Beneath the board, many officials, upon seeing Feng Tiange's exam papers, went from shock to admiration. The South Suppressing Marquis Mansion had truly produced a prodigy this time.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Chu barely had time to celebrate before rushing to the Martial Academy. Along with Feng Qing, Beiming Yuan and Dugu Rou also headed to the training grounds.

At the entrance, Rong Qi saw Feng Tiange approaching quickly and handed her the sword, "Broken Shadow." "I chose this sword for you, but the path is yours to walk."

The third exam at the Martial Academy was a trial. The thirty-three candidates who advanced could select their preferred weapons to enter the academy's back mountain training grounds. The first twenty to emerge would become this year's new students.

Feng Tiange took the "Broken Shadow" and paused for a moment. "Aren't you curious about my results at the Wenn Mansion?"

"You must have taken the top spot," Rong Qi replied warmly, his handsome face glowing softly in the sunlight. His smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze.

Rong Qi's confidence stemmed from his understanding of the elders at the Wenn Mansion. They wouldn't cater to political whims, but Ye Zhixi would, especially since Ye Zhong still held a position in the court.

What Feng Tiange didn't expect was that the third exam at the Martial Academy hadn't started yet. The proctor gathered all the candidates, anxiously waiting for the next instructions.

"It's been over half an hour. Why hasn't it started?"

"Can't you count? We're missing someone."

"Feng Tiange? If she doesn't show up, does that mean we all get a pass?"

"Who knows? Who knows what kind of connection Feng Tiange has with the proctor..."

Xie Ruxuan overheard some candidates grumbling nearby and couldn't hold back her frustration. She rushed to the front. "Why hasn't it started yet?"

Proctor Peng Shi wasn't fond of Xie Ruxuan's attitude, but out of respect for her brother, Xie Jin, he held back. "The decision for the third trial comes from the head instructor. It starts when he says it starts."

"So when is he going to say that? It's freezing out here, and we've been waiting forever! They say the Imperial Academy doesn't play favorites, but now the head instructor is leaving us all hanging because of Feng Tiange. If there's favoritism at play, we deserve an explanation!"

Xie Ruxuan's words left Peng Shi's face flushed with embarrassment. If personal connections didn't matter, how did Xie Ruxuan manage to skip the second round?

"Who wants an explanation?" A deep, authoritative voice suddenly interrupted. Peng Shi turned around, his expression shifting slightly.

The speaker was an elderly man in a raven-black robe, lean and wiry, with hair as white as snow. His presence was commanding, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. This was none other than Gongsun Pei, the chief instructor of the Martial Academy.

No one in the entire capital knew the true extent of Gongsun Pei's abilities, as no one had ever seen him in action. Yet, everyone was aware that the current leader of the martial world was this old man's most disappointing disciple.

The pressure accompanying Gongsun Pei's arrival immediately caused Xie Ruxuan to retreat to her seat, not daring to utter a word. All thirty-two candidates present stood in respectful silence, with no further objections.

At that moment, Feng Tiange arrived swiftly with "Broken Shadow" in hand.

"Begin," Gongsun Pei said, casting a seemingly casual glance at Feng Tiange before turning to instruct Peng Shi.

Peng Shi obeyed, leading the thirty-three candidates toward the entrance of the trial grounds. According to the rules, candidates could hunt fierce beasts within the trial grounds but were forbidden from harming fellow candidates. Violators would be disqualified on the spot.

Since the rules didn't prohibit candidates from teaming up, Xie Ruxuan, along with a few candidates she had previously arranged to partner with, entered the trial grounds first. Following them were Gu Ruochen and Jun Wushang.

Feng Tiange chose to go solo, not expecting a shadow to follow her.

"Hey!" Su Hu strolled up beside her, hands clasped behind his head, a piece of straw dangling from his mouth, looking every bit the carefree spirit. "I'll help you!"

"I don't need your help," Feng Tiange replied coolly, the 'Broken Shadow' sword strapped to her back.

The so-called trial ground was nothing more than an oval-shaped area resembling a canyon behind the Martial Academy. It was teeming with wild animals and concealed numerous instructors from the academy. Their purpose was twofold: to protect the candidates from getting hurt by the beasts and to monitor every move the candidates made.