Voices rose one after another outside the Imperial Examination Hall, some happy and some sad.
But the voices of joy are ultimately only a minority.
Most people cried out in grief and shed tears outside the Imperial Examination Hall.
Zhou Maoxue stood in the crowd, still looking at the list nervously, but his mood had sunk to the bottom.
Only half of the list has been posted, not all of it.
However, this list is released from the back to the front, and the earlier you go, the better the ranking. His name is not on the list posted earlier, so his hope for the later ones is slim.
But he always had a fantasy in his heart.
What if I get lucky this time and perform exceptionally well, or what if the examiner likes my paper?
Finally, all the lists are posted.
There were already loud gongs and drums and firecrackers all around...The first place winner had already ridden away on a tall horse amid the congratulations and praises of the crowd.
Zhou Maoxue's distraught eyes still lingered on the list.
He hadn't seen it clearly yet. There must have been too many names and he missed it.
The servant beside him glanced at him cautiously, gently tugged at his sleeve, and said in a trembling voice: "Sir... there doesn't seem to be any name for you."
Buzz!
The only remaining fantasy was shattered, and Zhou Maoxue's mind was like a bolt from the blue!
I failed the exam again... again?!
Zhou Maoxue's knees went weak and he fell to the ground, tears in his eyes and he stared at the ground with his teeth clenched.
God is so unfair! How can he treat me like this?
I am extremely intelligent and have countless friends, but why can't I pass this simple imperial examination?
How will my family see me when I go back this time? How will my old friends take me seriously? Failing the exam is a small matter, but my face is a big one...
Countless clouds of sorrow gathered in his mind.
The servant beside him comforted him, "Master, it's because those examiners were blind and didn't know your talent. We will definitely pass the exam next time! Let's talk about it when we get home."
After saying that, he was about to help Zhou Maoxue up. Zhou Maoxue shook his right arm violently, causing the servant to stagger. Then he raised his head, his eyes red, and angrily cursed, "Get out!"
"Test, test, test! Damn it!!"
"Am I living just for exams? How long do I have to keep taking them? Do I have to keep taking them until my hair turns completely grey like him?"
Next to Zhou Maoxue, a candidate in his seventies with white hair and beard was suffering a mental breakdown and crying loudly, complaining about the unfairness of the examination room.
Most of the lost people around were like this, beating their chests and stamping their feet.
The proud and confident Chinese and foreign students had already left this place, leaving behind the sound of tears on the ground.
The crying around him made Zhou Maoxue even more upset. He clenched his fists and shouted, "This is an unfair exam! The court doesn't know how to judge people! Does my talent have to be proven by an exam?!"
The servant smiled apologetically and kept comforting him: "Ah, yes, yes, yes! Master is right..."
"Fuck you! You little dog slave, how dare you laugh at me?!"
The servant was slapped hard in the face, and he covered his face with his hands, feeling very aggrieved.
But at this moment, someone beside Zhou Maoxue yelled at the school official not far away: "Why! There are so many candidates this year, why didn't the court increase the number of candidates on the list, but select according to the usual quota?"
"A group of illiterate craftsmen from Dongjiao University were selected as officials! This is unfair. I have studied hard for more than 40 years, but the official position was taken by illiterate people from Dongjiao University. People's hearts are no longer the same, and the words of the saints no longer exist. Is this the example that the court has set for the people of the world?!"
"Yes! Well said! If the court wants to be fair and just, it needs to add more candidates to the list!"
After his roar, the people around him started to shout and complain loudly, demanding that the court increase the number of admissions.
Zhou Maoxue was still feeling sorry for himself, but when he saw the sudden change in the crowd, he was stunned and looked at the people below and asked, "Dongjiao University, what's going on?"
The servant covered his face and whispered, "Master, the court issued an edict to add an eighth-rank official title, called Doctor of Science, as an advisor to the court. The talent selection was from Dongda University students who were promoted from Dongjiao University to the Royal Academy of Sciences. This happened two days ago."
"How come I don't know?" A hint of shock flashed in Zhou Maoxue's eyes.
"After you finished your exam, you went to drink with your friends..." The servant felt extremely aggrieved.
Zhou Maoxue didn't care. His eyes kept moving around the ground, and he muttered, "Whose idea was this in the court, Marquis Jianye?"
"Isn't it? Who else could it be other than Marquis Jianye? Everyone in the world knows that Dongjiao University is Marquis Jianye's property."
"Marquis of Jianye...Marquis of Jianye." Zhou Maoxue raised his head and looked around. More and more people were joining in the condemnation.
The academic officials could not stand the situation and had already returned to the Imperial Examination Hall.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to Zhou Maoxue's mind.
The people’s hearts are available!!
Thinking of this, he quickly ordered his servants, "Go find some people to come over and book two restaurants in the city. I want to treat these failed students to a meal. Also, I won't be going home these days, so don't tell my family."
The servant asked nervously, "Sir, what do you want to do?"
"What? This young master is going to do something big, something earth-shattering!"
There was a gleam in Zhou Maoxue's eyes, and when he stood up, his face was full of vigor and vitality.
Fang Zhengyi is about the same age as me. He can accomplish great things, and I can do the same, and even better than him!
Today we have a great opportunity and we can use the people’s will.
After this battle, maybe I can become a leader among the folk scholars and gain fame!
No one dares to underestimate me, Zhou Maoxue, anymore!
As for the imperial examination...screw the exam!
......
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