Chapter 131

Chapter 131

“In this season of martial peace and spring blossoms, the scholars' gathering is breezy and clear. Coinciding with the year of the grand examinations, you scholars, carrying your books, gather like clouds, aspiring to set the world right.

By imperial decree, I preside over the examinations in Jizhou. Observing the flourishing literary culture, it truly relies on the enlightened governance of our sacred court.

Our Emperor, with the virtue of Yao and Shun, shines with the brilliance of the sun and moon. The Imperial Academy revives elegance, widely opening the door for selecting talents; the Pan River gathers spirits, broadly nurturing individuals capable of governing the nation. You scholars, having benefited from such generous favor, should reflect on how to repay this debt with sincere dedication.

As Su Shi once said: ‘Those who achieve great deeds in ancient times not only possess extraordinary talent but also unwavering perseverance.’

Now, observing you scholars studying by lamplight with well-worn texts, having pored over classics until your hair turned white, you already possess qualities worthy of high office. However, the three days of the examination hall are not merely a contest of literary skill but truly a test of character.

May you keep your heart as pure as jade, wield your brush with powerful strokes. Do not seek success through deceitful means; instead, make your mark with integrity and grandeur. If you leap over the Dragon Gate, do not forget the original intention of serving the emperor with the virtue of Yao and Shun; even if you stumble in this exam, maintain a pure heart and simple integrity, and fight again another day.

Be encouraged, scholars! The beginning of a promising journey lies in this single effort.

This official wishes to see a gathering of outstanding talents, working together for good governance, repaying the heavenly grace above, and bringing glory to the homeland below. I offer these few words of encouragement.”

Today was the first day of the Prefectural Exam. The voice of the Education Intendant echoed through the examination hall.

First-time test-takers were so inspired they were moved to tears. Those who had taken the exam several times yawned, hoping the speech would end soon so they could quickly receive the papers and begin.

The Prefectural Exam was similar in format to the county exam, with roughly the same content, but the participants were a different group.

All examinees came from the sixteen counties of Jizhou. The county with the most participants had thirteen examinees, while the smallest had only two. They were led into the examination hall by the county education officers from their respective areas.

The Prefectural Exam was much stricter than the county exam. The gates opened at *mao* hour (5-7 AM) for roll call and entry. Anyone who failed to respond after three calls was considered to have forfeited the exam.

After roll call, the procedure was the same: body search, receiving a number plate, and quickly finding one’s assigned cell.

By the Prefectural Exam, the examination cells were no longer simple but semi-enclosed small cells.

Each cell had a table, a stool, and a wooden bed about a foot wide. If tired from writing, one could lie down and rest for a while (though not really).

Actually, the Autumn Provincial Examinations were also held here. During the provincial-level exams, which lasted three days, examinees were not allowed to leave the venue. They ate and slept within the examination hall, hence the need for the bed.

After entering, talking was prohibited. Examinees carefully checked their cells for any leaks or damage. Although they could not change cells, they could request proctors to help with repairs to prevent exam papers from being damaged in case of rain.

After ensuring everything was in order, they sat down and waited quietly until the speech concluded and the exam papers were handed out.

In the Prefectural Exam, Chen Qingyan and Chen Qinghuai were not assigned adjacent cells. Not only were they separated, but to prevent cheating, all examinees from the same county had their seating assignments randomized.

Chen Qingyan was assigned cell number seven, and Chen Qinghuai was in cell forty-five. This year, a total of 171 examinees participated in the Prefectural Exam, with roughly a twenty percent pass rate.

Do not assume that because more people pass, the Prefectural Exam is easier than the county exam. Those who made it this far were essentially the cream of the crop from their counties. To stand out among them, one had to be even more exceptional.

Chen Qingyan sat in his seat, wiped the table clean, and focused on waiting for the exam papers.

The first session tested textual memorization. When the questions were distributed, Chen Qingyan began grinding ink while pondering. By the time the ink was ready, he had a clear plan in mind. Lifting his brush and with wrist elevated, he began writing his answers on the scratch paper...

*

Outside the examination hall, Wang Ying and the others sat in a teahouse nearby. After sending off the two examinees in the morning, the group had been waiting there over tea.

After a while, Lu Zhongqi arrived with Liu Changyi, so Li Shi and Fang Ling left with Qing Yun.

Liu Changyi watched Qing Yun leave, his gaze trailing after her, much to Wang Ying's amusement.

Chen Qingsong quietly kicked him and whispered, “Stop looking! She's gone already!”

Liu Changyi blushed and sat down, quickly picking up his teacup to hide his embarrassment.

Liang Boqing said, “I wonder what this year’s exam questions are like. I remember the Prefectural Exam from the year before last had a particularly tricky question that stumped a large number of examinees.”

Lu Zhongqi stroked his beard thoughtfully. “You must be referring to the question on the meaning of ink: ‘All things are complete within us. Turning within and reflecting with sincerity, there is no greater joy.’”

“Exactly, that’s the one. I heard it required precision down to the levels of *Shuowen* and *Erya*, while also addressing disputes between Han and Song dynasty Confucian scholars, with citations from no fewer than ten classics.”

Coincidentally, Liu Changyi had encountered this question during his Prefectural Exam. His answer was standard and not particularly outstanding, but he still achieved a good ranking, placing sixth in that exam, which shows how difficult the question was.

Chen Qingsong, sitting nearby, began pondering. The question was too hard; he feared he wouldn’t answer it well. His respect for the examination system deepened even more.

If all goes according to plan, he would take the Prefectural Exam the year after next. He didn’t know if he would pass then, but he had to work hard to avoid falling behind his two older brothers.

Around *chen* hour (7-9 AM), the teahouse was getting more crowded, with almost everyone discussing this Prefectural Exam.

The focus of discussion was firstly on the brothers Chen Qingyan and Chen Qinghuai from Longquan County.

The two had previously attended a Poetry Society in Jizhou, where their poems gained some fame. Additionally, both were disciples of Liang Liufang, the Foremost Scholar of Jiangnan, which made many scholars quite curious about them.

Secondly, there was Lin Zhen, the top candidate from Guangyuan County. He had once written a parallel prose piece titled *A Breeze Under the Bright Moon*, which even the prefectural educational instructor praised, saying he was talented and had the bearing of a master.

Then there was an examinee from Tianyang County named Sun Xingyun, said to be a ten-year-old prodigy. Only ten years old this year, he was proficient in all Four Books and Five Classics. Everyone wanted to see what this prodigy looked like.

The room buzzed with lively discussion. Don’t assume scholars are always refined; when it comes to gossip, they chatter as loudly as market gossips, their voices clearly audible even through screens.

“In my opinion, this year’s top candidate will undoubtedly be one of the Chen brothers!”

Wang Ying paused, put down his teacup, and listened intently.

Someone nearby asked, “Why do you say that?”

“These two studied at the prefectural school for a few days. My friend said their scholarly foundation is rock-solid, and they’ve achieved quite a bit in poetry.”

“Just look at who their teacher is. If I could receive guidance from the great talent Liang Liufang, I might have passed the provincial exams long ago.”

A few people nearby burst into laughter. “Brother Cai, that’s quite a boast. Why would the great talent Liang Liufang take you as a disciple?”

“Exactly, you took the Prefectural Exam four times before passing the county exam. You might need another four tries to even have a chance at passing the provincial exams.”

The middle-aged man surnamed Cai flushed red and said, “That… that was because I had bad luck. It was either windy or rainy, and when the weather was finally good, the questions were all incomprehensible. How could that be my fault?”

“What does luck have to do with the imperial exams? Under the same conditions, if you couldn’t pass, how did others manage?”

Cai Nong, unable to argue, flicked his sleeves and sat down angrily.

Meanwhile, a group led by Fang Wenke strongly agreed with Cai Nong’s words. “That Chen Qingyan is merely riding on the coattails of Liang Liufang’s talent. His own scholarly abilities are nothing special.”

“Exactly. Rumor has it that Chen Qingyan once cheated during the county exam and was disqualified. Now, who knows what connections he used to resume participating in the imperial exams.”

The speaker was Xu Rui, also from Longquan County. He happened to have taken the county exam alongside Chen Qingyan and knew about this incident.

At first, Xu Rui thought he might have mistaken the person. After all, he had witnessed Chen Qingyan being expelled from the examination hall back then and assumed he could never take the exams again.

It wasn’t until he saw Chen Qingyan standing behind the Longquan County educational instructor during roll call that he confirmed it was indeed the same candidate who had been caught with a cheat sheet.

His words instantly caused a stir, like a pebble in a pond. Everyone crowded around him and asked, “Is that true?”

“You can’t just say things like that recklessly!”

Xu Rui patted his chest and said, “If I speak a single false word, may I be struck by a carriage the moment I step outside.”

Wang Ying felt his breath catch, never imagined that after so long, this matter could still be dragged up...

Those who had been flattering just moments ago suddenly turned against him. "I never thought Chen Qingyan was that kind of person!"

"I always found it strange—if he were truly talented, how could he still not have passed the civil service exam in his twenties?"

"Then why would Liang Liufang take him as a disciple?"

Fang Wenke fanned himself leisurely and said, "Have you forgotten? Liang Liufang was also stripped of his eligibility to take the imperial exams due to cheating."

"Wasn't he framed?"

"That's right, didn't the court grant him special permission to continue taking the exams?"

Xu Rui snorted coldly, "Those are just rumors spread by people. If it were true, why didn't he go on to become the top scholar? Master and disciple are nothing but frauds cut from the same cloth!"

This was going too far. Chen Qingsong and Liu Changyi both looked offended and stood up to confront them.

Mr. Lu held them back by their arms and said, "No need to argue with them. What Qing Yan and Qing Huai are capable of will be shown through their own abilities. If they pass the exams, it will naturally shut these people up."

Liu Changyi said, "But they’re speaking that way about our teacher!"

Liang Boqing waved his hand with a smile, completely unbothered by their words.

He had heard worse in the past. Scholars' tongues are sharper than knives—those jealous of his talent would have loved to drag his name through the mud.

But so what?

When people spoke of Jiangnan's foremost talent, it wasn’t Zhang San or Li Si—it was still Liang Liufang. No matter how much they belittled him, they still study his poetry while never matching his skill.

"Don’t worry. After the Prefectural Exam, they’ll have nothing left to say."

Over on the other side, the group was still discussing how Chen Qingyan had managed to have his exam eligibility restored. Wang Ying could no longer bear to listen and stood up, saying, "Teacher, I’m going to stop by the shop."

"Go ahead. Qing Yan and the others won’t be out until late afternoon. There’s no point just waiting here."

After Wang Ying left, Lu Zhongqi curiously asked, "Was that Qing Yan’s husband? The one you told me about?"

"Yes, his name is Wang Ying."

"I heard he opened a shop himself, and it’s quite well-known in the prefecture now."

"Wang's Vegetable Shop was opened by him."

"He looks quite young but is quite accomplished."

Liang Boqing stroked his beard and said, "His talent isn’t just in business. Weren’t you curious about how Qing Yan had his exam eligibility restored? Most of the credit goes to him."

"Oh?" Mr. Lu grew interested.

The teahouse wasn’t the place for such a discussion, so the two paid their bill and left to talk further at the Lu residence.