Wen Zhiyun studied under Wu Taiyi for several days and his understanding of the medicine was greatly improved.
His previous assumptions were confirmed, and the blocked path gradually became clear. He then realized that the cases he had diagnosed were actually quite simple, nothing special in the vast sea of medicine.
He was like a piece of mulberry bark paper that had been exposed to the sun, finally falling into a mountain spring and drawing in the sweet rain.
This is a good thing, so the siblings no longer have to worry.
But it wasn't good enough, leaving them with a heavy heart.
Who exactly arranged for Physician Wu to work for them?
Is it... Xiao Wu?
Unfortunately, time was of the essence, and they didn't even have time to investigate before the palace examination arrived as scheduled.
The palace examination, as the name suggests, was an examination held in the imperial palace.
It was the final step in the imperial examination process and a crucial turning point.
Some say that the greatest fortune in the palace examination was that one was only ranked and would not fail.
Some say that the ranking in the palace examination is crucial, determining whether you will rise to great heights or suffer a life of loneliness and hardship.
Both statements are correct.
The fact that the imperial examinations of the Dayu Dynasty no longer resulted in failure was thanks to the blood and tears shed by the previous dynasty.
It is said that at the end of the previous dynasty, a scholar who failed the imperial examination several times joined the enemy army out of resentment. He devised strategies and won many battles, causing the previous dynasty to suffer a great loss.
Come to think of it, those who could pass the imperial examinations from the lowest level to the highest level were almost guaranteed to be talented.
Rather than letting talented people fail the exam with regret, it's better to directly assign them an official position, so that they can contribute to the dynasty in some way.
From then on, the palace examination abolished the elimination system, and all tribute students could obtain official titles, but were divided into three classes based on their merits.
The top three scholars in the first rank were called Jinshi Jidi, which are the most well-known Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua.
The second-ranked group consisted of dozens of people who were considered to have passed the imperial examinations. The person ranked first also had a nice-sounding name: Chuanlu.
The rest were classified as the third-class graduates, also known as the Jinshi graduates.
Although all of them could obtain official positions, the top three were determined by their level of excellence: the first-class graduates rose to prominence, the second-class graduates remained average, and the third-class graduates simply faded into obscurity.
If only talent and knowledge are considered, then answering questions in a conventional manner is acceptable.
However, the imperial examination requires more flexibility, composure in speech, and elegance in demeanor.
Historically, there have been those who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations but, due to their stuttering, only received the rank of "Tongjinshi" (a lower-level degree in the imperial examinations).
There were also those who barely made the list, but were promoted to the second tier or even the top tier because of their excellent handwriting and their humble yet confident demeanor.
The palace examination was the final step in the imperial examination system and the starting point for officialdom.
It vividly demonstrates that "anything is possible," and it also makes countless scholars anxious and nervous, with their palms sweating.
From the release of the results of the provincial examination to the palace examination, a full two weeks passed, during which all candidates made their final efforts.
Finally, they stood at the gate of the imperial city.
Xu Mo, Qi Huai, An Jun, Fang Yuan, whether they knew each other or not, whether they had a grudge or not, all waited straight ahead.
As dawn broke, faint light pierced through the clouds and reached everyone's shoulders.
Imperial guards, armed with long swords, stood watch at the entrance, waiting for dawn to break so they could welcome the students in.
This scene, which should have been solemn and dignified, appeared somewhat chaotic due to the lack of supervision.
The students either confided in each other, poured out their grievances, worried about what to do, or gossiped and inquired.
Xu Mo stood in the crowd, and by turning slightly to the side, he could see his worried younger siblings. He waved his hand to indicate that it was alright.
The Fang family has been unusually quiet lately, so quiet that everyone knows they must be planning something big during the imperial examination.
But so what?
With the end of the imperial examinations looming, Xu Mo could not give up; he would face any hardship head-on.
He closed his eyes, preparing for a final review.
Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. When she opened her eyes, she saw Qi Huai looking shy and awkward.
"Brother Qi?" Xu Mo asked, somewhat surprised.
“Brother Xu.” Qi Huai touched his nose and glanced at the group of family members. “Do you know the rules of the palace examination? You know that my father is the Minister of Rites. The imperial examinations have always been handled by the Ministry of Rites, and the rules of the palace examination are well-known to him.”
This is the difference between the sons of officials and commoners.
With strong connections to officials and extensive knowledge through multiple channels, he could be confident and composed even during the imperial examination.
Commoners are ignorant and their understanding of the imperial examination system is limited to a few words spoken by the Master or snippets heard from ancient books.
Unfortunately, at this time, no one was willing to generously share their knowledge.
Because of the competition between them, because the ranking is extremely important, and because it involves their future career prospects in the political arena.
Qi Huai's generosity was rare, and even though Xu Mo had inquired about it beforehand, he was still sincerely grateful.
"Historical records show that the imperial examination was presided over by the imperial family, but in reality, the imperial family only selected the top three candidates in the first class. The second and third classes were decided by officials, such as the ministers of the six ministries, or the three dukes and three ministers."
"The examination is divided into three parts. The first step is the policy question, which is the question set by the emperor, and the candidates write down their questions on paper. The second step is the reading of the paper, where the examiners check the candidates' papers, paying great attention to handwriting and literary style, and explaining the content of the essays. The third step is the palace examination, where various questions are randomly selected, not limited to books, and sometimes even based on the candidate's whim."
"Each of these three steps will receive evaluations from at least six examiners, with different characters representing different assessments. The higher the score, the better the ranking, and you might even be subject to a random check by the imperial family. Once the imperial family expresses their satisfaction, your chances of passing the palace examination will soar."
Qi Huai finished speaking in one breath, his mouth dry, but he didn't forget to glance at the pile of relatives in the distance.
"Brother Qi, you've worked hard." Xu Mo bowed and thanked him. "I've inquired in many ways, but none of them are as clear and thorough as what you've said."
"No need to be so polite, it's nothing." Qi Huai touched his nose again. "I only hope that Brother Xu will not forget the Qi family when he passes the imperial examination."
Qi... family?
Xu Mo was still puzzled when a commotion came from ahead, it seemed that the gates of the imperial city had opened.
All words were swallowed back, and the noisy crowd fell silent instantly. Countless students and their families looked up ahead.
An elderly man with a white beard appeared atop the city wall, dressed in a crescent-shaped white robe, and declared in a powerful voice, "As dawn breaks, the palace examination welcomes the new generation!"
The well-trained imperial guards, in perfect unison, slowly pushed open the gates of the imperial city.
A bright yellow rosy mist rose from the east, thin yet carrying the power of new life.
Batch after batch of talented people are the hope of the nation.
Young and eager, they bid farewell to their loved ones and, with courageous steps, rushed into the hall they longed for.
The Imperial City.
At the pinnacle of power, desire reigns supreme.
Man-eating beasts, luxurious cages.
But their steps were so resolute and unwavering.
Xu Mo took a deep breath and, together with Qi Huai, bumped into An Jun along the way. The three walked side by side, passing through the main gate, the Golden Palace, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, and finally arriving at the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Hundreds of students stood respectfully, looking up at the officials sitting in the hall, their eyes filled with admiration and a hint of expectation.
“I only hope that in the future, I will also have the opportunity to sit there and give all the poor students a chance.” An Jun’s face was full of longing. “At that time, there will be no more ghostwriters, and no poor students will be bullied and unable to speak out.”
That's a wonderful wish.
But staying true to your original aspiration is the hardest thing in the world.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com