Chapter 161 Public Humiliation
The capital city is bustling and dazzling, and it's easy to get overwhelmed if you're not careful. Since everyone has just come from a small town, their excitement will probably last for a while. Fortunately, Zhao Yunjing had instilled a lot of self-discipline in them while they were at the academy. Zhao Yunjing said they would spend two days exploring, and they really only spent two days exploring. On the day of the Imperial Academy exam, everyone packed their bags and waited on the first floor early in the morning.
They all wore orange coats embroidered with the words "Peach Blossom County".
This was Feng Wei's first time going to the capital to take the imperial examination. He hadn't slept much last night and felt very nervous. When he put on this coat this morning, he felt more confident. When he went downstairs and saw that everyone else was wearing it, he felt even more confident.
Turning his head and seeing Chen Gongzi's serious expression, Feng Wei went to comfort him: "Brother Chen, don't be nervous. It's just taking the Imperial Academy exam. It's not as difficult as the Grand Examination. Even if there are no more places available at the Imperial Academy, we can still get into other good academies based on our performance in the Grand Examination."
Zhao Yunjing had already listed three or four academies with decent reputations for them. Although the Imperial Academy was the first choice, it was not the only choice. Just like when he was choosing between Shanglin Academy and Huilan Academy, he chose the weaker Huilan Academy, but it was still able to shine.
Especially since they've reached this stage, the role of the teacher is no longer relevant. The most important thing is their own mindset and knowledge consolidation. To consolidate knowledge, all they need is a quiet place and a conducive reading atmosphere. So what they really need is a place where they can be quiet and undisturbed.
Young Master Chen looked at Zhao Yunjing, who was coming downstairs with Hu Peiran, and said indifferently, "Who said I was nervous? I'm second on the list, you're the one who should be nervous."
Feng Wei clicked his tongue: "Second on the list, something to be proud of."
Young Master Chen threw a punch, Feng Wei parried and attacked, Young Master Chen parried and attacked again, and back and forth, the two started fighting on the spot. The classmates next to them saw this but did not stop them. Some even placed bets on the spot, shouting that they would bet on who would win.
Zhao Yunjing chuckled, said a few words to the shopkeeper, and then walked towards them: "It's getting late, let's go."
The Imperial College is located to the east of the capital, in the same direction as the Imperial City, but several kilometers apart. The Imperial College is on a mountain outside the city, and from the highest point of the mountain, you can vaguely see the roof of the Imperial Palace.
There were quite a few people coming to the Imperial Academy to take the exams. Zhao Yunjing and his group had set off quite early. When they arrived, there were already hundreds of candidates gathered in front of the gate of the Imperial Academy. Including their accompanying family members, there were probably three hundred people.
The gates of the Imperial College were tightly closed. The candidates, who were already making a ruckus, grew impatient as they waited. Their tone became urgent, their voices louder, and their hostility was palpable. An hour later, three or four people were already fighting, and the most serious conflict even resulted in bloodshed.
The Imperial College's annual enrollment period is always today. The mountain gates open precisely at Chenshi (7-9 AM) to allow candidates to ascend the mountain. Today, it's almost the end of Chenshi, and the candidates are making such a racket, yet the Imperial College's gates remain tightly shut, and not a soul can be seen.
Zhao Yunjing frowned, a bad feeling creeping over him. He glanced at his classmates, all of whom looked grave.
A few more people started fighting ahead, and all twenty candidates took a few steps back. But as the fighters moved closer to them, everyone's attention turned to them.
Everyone was dressed in the same clothes, which already attracted attention, and someone immediately recognized them: "They are from Peach Blossom County!"
"Peach Blossom County? Is that the Peach Blossom County where Zhao Yunjing, who won the top spot four times in a row, is from?"
"Yes! It's that Peach Blossom County! I must say, Zhao Yunjing is really handsome! Even if he can't become the top scholar, his looks are enough to make him a prince consort. He'll never have to worry about food or clothing, and he won't even have to work hard. He'll get everything he wants right away! Brilliant!"
"That's right, he already has a bright future ahead of him, so why does he still want to come to the Imperial Academy and compete with us for a spot? Does he want to gain some prestige too? After all, the Imperial Academy is the royal academy, and its students are true disciples of the emperor. People will praise them for that!"
"Ah, I heard he was a true farmer from humble origins. Even though he became the top scholar in the imperial examination, the nobles in the capital still looked down on him. If he could stay at the Imperial Academy for a while, things would be different when he left. As a student of the emperor, even high-ranking officials in the court would have to treat him with great respect."
"So that's what you were planning! Tsk tsk tsk, I thought he came from a poor background and would be very aloof and arrogant, but I didn't expect him to be so vulgar. Well, that's right, we all eat grains and have emotions and desires, it's normal. But since we're all just ordinary people, don't put on that arrogant face, I find it offensive!"
Zhao Yunjing never expected that simply standing here would be his original sin.
Just as he was about to speak, a voice came from inside the tightly closed mountain gate: "This young brother is right. It is normal for people to have emotions and desires. It is not shameful to show them on one's face. But if one wants both a reputation for being noble and a gilded one, and engages in all that hypocrisy, then that is despicable!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the mountain gate opened, and a group of men dressed in moon-white robes walked out. The man in the lead was tall and strong, with powerful strides and a solid foundation. It was obvious that he had been eating porridge for several days (and had practiced). The man in the lead walked straight through the crowd toward Zhao Yunjing.
"So you are Zhao Yunjing? I am the class monitor of Class A at the Imperial Academy, and my surname is Yu." His words were impeccable, but his attitude was disdainful, and his eyes were contemptuous. "Winning the top spot four times in a row must have been hard work, but every day from now on will be even harder for you, because I am here at the Imperial Academy. As long as I am here, you can forget about ever getting ahead."
"Young Master Yu, you have quite the big mouth."
"Whether you're arrogant or not, you'll find out later. Our Yu family has been a family of scholars for generations. By my grandfather's generation, we had already produced four top scholars. I am not very talented, and I dare not say that this year's top scholar title is easily within my grasp, but I still have more opportunities than you."
Young Master Yu said earnestly, "I'm not telling you this to discourage you or make you give up, but to prepare you mentally in advance, so that you won't be unable to accept it after failing the exam and take your own life!"
The group of students from Class A behind him burst into laughter, their bodies shaking with laughter, some even laughing until tears streamed down their faces, bending over with mirth.
Although they wore moon-white robes that made them look quite scholarly, they were wearing two thick cotton coats underneath because of the freezing weather. They looked three sizes bigger than in the summer, and when they laughed or swayed, they looked like wriggling worms, which was incredibly disgusting.
Zhao Yunjing felt physically unwell and almost vomited on the spot. He turned his head away, intending to deal with these people after the nausea passed, but he was misunderstood and his sore spot was touched, leaving him unable to stand up.
"Listen to me, the Imperial Academy is not suitable for you. You should leave. Everyone here is from a prestigious family and you can't reach their level. I'm worried that you'll be so discouraged that you won't want to live anymore after less than two days!"
Zhao Yunjing turned his head back and asked, "May I ask, Young Master Yu, was it your own decision to ask me to leave, or was it an order from the Imperial Academy?"
Young Master Yu paused, and another voice came from inside the mountain gate: "If this is Young Master Yu's own will, what will you do? If it is an order from the Imperial Academy, what will you do?"
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