First Exam

Baek Hyeon entered the palace, the candidates lined up to be absent first. The number that signed up was 100 people, all of them from the lower, middle and upper tiers of nobility.

Each of them was given a table, paper, brush and ink, the paper contained general knowledge questions.

Many found it difficult to do it, some immediately complained when they read it, some scratched their heads, some leaned their heads on the table and some were calm in doing the questions.

"Sir, look at this matter. I, who is already a minister, can't necessarily answer all these questions correctly, the crown prince is really smart to make such a difficult question," said prime minister Cha to prime minister Seol, who read it secretly, stay in the royal library.

"I'm also sure, out of these 100 people, only 9/10 people will pass the first stage hiss, I'm lucky that I've become prime minister," said prime minister Seol.

"Huhuhu.." Prime Minister Cha groaned.

"What happened to you?" asked prime minister Seol.

"I remember the struggle I used to have huhuhu.. I was told to fish in the lake without bait, three days and three nights I struggled finally I got what I wanted now huhuhu..." Prime Minister Cha whined making Prime Minister Seol amused and then left him.

"Hey wait for me huhuhu.." said Prime Minister Cha.

***

Eun Ha cooks rib soup for her uncle, the smell of the food is so delicious that it pierces Chin Sun's nose and heads to the kitchen.

He is shocked to see who is cooking.

"Wow, there is a new servant in this house, hey rude woman, what to cook? Em please hurry up to cook Your master is very hungry and he must hurry to meet his idol woman," said Chin Sun.

"You loser, here I feed it," said Eun Ha, handing a spoon filled with hot soup.

"Hey! hey! hey! Have you gone crazy, I am your master, behave a little politely if you still want to live," replied Chin Sun and left Eun Ha.

"How can Mr. Moju give birth to a child like him tsk tsk tsk," Eun Ha muttered.

***

Many participants started going crazy with the exam questions given, Baek Hyeon started to get confused while banging the brush handle on his head.

The supervisor shouted that there were only 15 minutes left to do the assignment. Baek Hyeon was annoyed with himself.

"Huh, what's with this brain, let's get to work," said Baek Hyeon while banging his head.

"Hey! You over there, don't make noise!" said the supervisor to Baek Hyeon.

"What a chatterbox," Baek Hyeon grumbled.

They focused on working on the problem again, the atmosphere there was very quiet, even the sound of the wind could be heard clearly as if there was no life.

"Gonggg!!"

The gong sounded signaling that the time for doing the assignment was over, they were all told to stand up, and the supervisor took their answer paper.

"Ahh I'm sure I won't pass the first stage, this is very difficult," muttered someone there.

"It's very difficult," said the people who took the test.

***

"Who escaped?" asked prime minister Cha.

"Not announced yet, they are still assessing their work," prime minister Seol replied.

***

The results of the exam were announced, only 35 people passed and 75 people failed in this first test.

Baek Hyeon smiled because he passed the first test.

Suddenly the king and Crown Prince came.

"The King and the Crown Prince are coming..." said the eunuch outside the gate.

Then the King and Crown Crince came, everyone bowed, while Baek Hyeon was curious to see the faces of the King and Crown Prince now because they had met when he was a child.

Someone next to Baek Hyeon hit him on the shoulder.

"Hey keep your head down if you want a long life," said someone next to Baek Hyeon.

Then Baek Hyeon bowed his head, the king and Crown Prince sat on their thrones.

"Your Majesty, they are all people who passed the written exam, then I submit the game that Your Majesty wants to play," said the supervisor.

"Father, let me take the lead in this game, would you please?" said the Crown Prince, then the King nodded his head.

"Father, will you continue to see this shameful incident?" said the Crown Prince.

"It's okay, isn't this one of their tests," replied the King.

"Okay father," replied the Crown Prince.

"There's a little game I'd like to play with you guys," said the Crown Prince.

Then they were told to sit back down and they were given a bottle of soju each.

They were all confused as to why they were given soju.

"I want us to have a drink together to celebrate your success in this first stage," said the Crown Prince.

"He hasn't changed at all," Baek Hyeon muttered to himself.

"Pour your drinks," said the supervisor.

They all poured their drinks into cups, they were all confused as to why His Majesty ordered them to drink alcohol in front of the King.

His majesty the Crown Prince drank a glass of soju, surprising those in front of him.

"What are you guys doing, drink up," ordered the supervisor.

They all drank the soju in one gulp, the Crown Prince returned to his throne, and watched as they drank their own soju.

"Spend it," said the Crown Prince.

They were all shocked, but they had to obey His Majesty's orders, some of them were already like madmen, just standing up was not enough.

"Father, you should just go home to your father's house, I don't want you to see this embarrassing thing," said the Crown Prince.

"Well, I leave this all to you," then His Majesty the king left the place.

"Pay respects to the noble .." said the eunuch.

The ministers saluted but some of the people who took the test were already unconscious.

"Why is there an event like this Sir, this is a disgrace to the kingdom and the nobility," said one of the ministers to prime minister Lee Joo Chan but he remained silent as he stared at the Crown Prince.

They all finished their drink bottles, Baek Hyeon gripped the table tightly, he started to feel drunk but he tried to hold it in. Meanwhile, there were other participants who were really drunk to the point of hallucinating.

There are even those who are not drunk at all after finishing a bottle of soju.

"You go in your respective order and get the paper here," said the Crown Prince.

They went one by one and took the paper in front, the first person came forward and he was already drunk, he crawled forward and tried to get up he leaned his head on the table, completely helpless then smiled broadly at the Crown Prince as he took the paper and showed it to him Crown Prince.

Alternately with the others, now it was Baek Hyeon's turn to come forward, the path was a little wobbly. Holding his head as if adjusting the position of his hat, he paid his respects to the Crown Prince.

"Nice to meet you again, Your Majesty," said Baek Hyeon smiling.