I swept the Phoenix with the Onmyoji Shikigami

Chapter 297 He scanned the names on the list again and again

Whenever Shen Xing sees his work completed in this way, he feels an indescribable sense of accomplishment and pride.

He knew that this was not just a change in the way of writing, but also a reflection of his perseverance in the face of difficulties and his courage to challenge himself.

During this period, Shen Xing also used his free time to read a large number of books and poems, constantly enriching his inner world.

On the day of the imperial examination, the sun shone through the sparse clouds and onto the quaint examination hall, adding a touch of solemnity and sacredness to this fate-determining event.

Shen Xing stood in front of the entrance to the examination hall and took a deep breath. Although his right arm was still wrapped in bandages and his movements were a little inconvenient, his eyes were extremely firm. He knew that this was a critical moment for him to prove his strength and change his fate.

Entering the examination room, Shen Xing found a seat and sat down. The candidates around him were either bowing their heads in deep thought or writing furiously. The air was filled with a tense and focused atmosphere.

Shen Xing slowly picked up the pen. Although his right hand was still a little stiff, he overcame numerous difficulties with his tenacious perseverance and unremitting efforts, and wrote his answer stroke by stroke.

Sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto the rice paper, but it failed to stop him from moving forward.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Only when the last bell rang, announcing the end of the exam, did Shen Xing breathe a sigh of relief.

He looked at his clumsy but sincere answer sheet, and his heart was filled with emotion and relief. He knew that no matter what the result was, he had done his best and had no regrets.

Walking out of the examination hall, Shen Xing's eyes involuntarily swept towards the crowd, as if he was looking for something.

At this moment, a familiar figure flashed by not far away. The light steps and upright posture were so similar to the heroine who saved him from danger that night!

Shen Xing's heart skipped a beat, and he chased after him without hesitation, passing through the bustling crowd, trying to find the figure that had been haunting him.

However, when he chased to the intersection, the figure disappeared like a phantom, leaving Shen Xing alone feeling lost.

He looked around, hoping to catch that familiar figure again in the crowd, but reality told him that it was just an illusion in his heart, a beautiful but distant dream.

Shen Xing smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Just as Shen Xing was immersed in loss and thought, a clear and pleasant voice suddenly rang out, like a breeze in spring, instantly blowing away the haze in his heart.

He looked up and saw that not far away, Miss Hua Yue'er's carriage was parked at the intersection. Hua Yue'er was pulling open the curtain and looking at him with a smile on her face.

"Mr. Shen, what a coincidence!" Hua Yue'er's voice was filled with surprise and intimacy, as if there was some kind of unspoken understanding between the two. When she saw Shen Xing running over, she couldn't help but feel secretly happy, thinking that this was a sign of their telepathy.

Shen Xing was caught off guard by this sudden situation. He quickly organized his thoughts and smiled politely back at Hua Yue'er.

However, he knew in his heart that it was not appropriate for him to have too much interaction with Hua Yue'er at the moment, especially at such a sensitive moment.

"Miss Hua, what a coincidence. Thank you for saving my life last time. Shen Xing will always remember it in his heart." Shen Xing's tone was sincere, but not out of place.

Upon hearing this, Hua Yue'er showed an even brighter smile on her face. She took light steps, stepped down from the carriage, and came in front of Shen Xing.

"Mr. Shen, you are too polite. It is just a simple favor. However, your talent and character are highly appreciated by my father and me. Since we have met by chance today, why don't we invite you to move to the Prime Minister's residence and let us show our hospitality?"

Shen Xing smiled bitterly in his heart when he heard this. He knew Hua Yue'er's good intentions, but at this moment, he hoped to have some time alone to sort out his thoughts. Moreover, the prince's invitation also made him feel an invisible pressure.

Just as he was hesitating, the prince's entourage happened to arrive at the intersection. They saw Shen Xing and Hua Yue'er standing together, and a complicated look flashed in their eyes.

Then, they stepped forward, bowed to Shen Xing and said:

"Mr. Shen, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince invites you. Please follow us."

Shen Xing's heart tightened when he heard this. He knew that the prince's invitation was very important, but at this moment, he just wanted to escape from all the troubles.

So, he suddenly had an idea and pretended to be very weak, his body swaying slightly as if he would fall down at any time.

"Oh, Mr. Shen, what's wrong with you?" Seeing this, Hua Yue'er hurried forward to support Shen Xing and asked with concern.

Shen Xing took the opportunity to say:

"Perhaps I have been overworked in recent days and have caught a cold. I feel unwell right now. I am afraid I cannot go to the Prime Minister's residence, let alone meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Please forgive me."

Seeing this, the prince's entourage could not force it any further, so they respectfully expressed their understanding and arranged for someone to send Shen Xing back to the inn to rest.

Hua Yue'er watched with worry as Shen Xing was helped onto the carriage. She reluctantly withdrew her gaze until the carriage had gone away, secretly praying in her heart that Shen Xing would recover soon.

On the day when the results were announced, the sky was as clear as a blue sky, and the breeze was not dry, yet it seemed to carry a subtle chill.

Shen Xing stood in the bustling crowd, staring at the bright red list, feeling mixed emotions. His injuries had gradually improved under careful care, but his mood at the moment was more difficult to describe than the physical pain.

He scanned the names on the list again and again, and every word hit his heart like a hammer.

However, until the end, he still didn't find his own name.

Shen Xing was stunned. He couldn't believe the facts in front of him, and he was even more unwilling to accept this cruel result. The students around him also looked at him in surprise and confusion. They knew Shen Xing's talent and hard work, and didn't understand why such a talented young man would fail the imperial examination.

"How is this possible? Even the teacher praised Brother Shen's poems and essays, so how could he fail the exam?" A student who was good friends with Shen Xing couldn't help but ask, his tone full of confusion and unwillingness.

"Yeah, I find it strange too. Could it be that in the imperial examination, in addition to talent and learning, there are other factors that we don't know about?" Another student echoed, his brows full of worry.

Shen Xing listened to the discussions of the people around him, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings. He knew that the road to the imperial examination was never smooth, but he could not accept such a result after working so hard. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner waves.

"Perhaps, this is fate." Shen Xing whispered to himself, his tone revealing a bit of helplessness and relief. He knew that he could not continue to immerse himself in the pain of failure, and he had to cheer up and face reality.

Just as he was about to turn around and leave, an elderly examiner slowly walked over. His eyes stayed on Shen Xing for a moment, as if he could see the confusion and unwillingness in his heart.

"Young man, the road to the imperial examination is long and arduous. Temporary gains and losses cannot determine your future."