Chapter 93
Chapter 93
March 29, the 38th year of Huayuan.
In previous years, when we should have changed into thin spring clothes, this year we are still wearing cotton clothes.
Even the room where Ji Yuan and his friends studied had charcoal fire burning.
"Why is it so cold this year?" Wu Ying said, "You really don't need our help with the bedding for the exam?"
Everyone was eating in the dining room, so they started talking about this matter.
Ji Yuan, Gao Laosi, and Bai Heshang have already prepared everything while reviewing.
After all, they have experienced many exams, so they know very well what they should and should not bring.
Ji Yuan said: "We have prepared everything. They are all the most commonly used items for the imperial examinations. There will be no mistakes."
"That's good." Wu Ying added, "There are fewer scholars on the street recently. One reason is the cold weather, and the other is the exams are coming up. I see everyone is very anxious."
There are only a few days left, so I must be anxious.
Many scholars who came to Beijing, like Ji Yuan, didn't even have time to get together and chat.
Most of the people Ji Yuan knew came from Jianmeng Mansion.
For example, Zhang Xun from Zhengrong County, who had guaranteed him the Tongshi exam, issued a letter of guarantee as a student on government academy scholarship, which allowed him to take part in the provincial exam.
Actually, this is Zhang Xun's second time taking the imperial examination this year.
His contemporaries included Mr. Sun, and Zhang Jieyuan, who won the last provincial examination in Jianmeng Mansion.
Considering Zhang Jieyuan's knowledge, he probably chose that path and deliberately failed the imperial examination the following year.
Then this year we will strive for the top two rankings.
Ji Yuan's guess was probably correct. Zhang Jieyuan and his family did exactly that.
So it seems that Zhang Jieyuan has a good chance of making the list this year.
Other than that, it was his same year.
Meng Huawei, who ranked second in the provincial examination last year, and Jia Hao and others.
There were even people like Wang Zhuliang who were surrounded by luxurious cars and beautiful servants as soon as they passed the imperial examination.
After they came to Beijing, they also looked for Ji Yuan. After they found out where he lived, they came over several times.
But to really talk about a reunion, that didn’t happen.
Everyone is very nervous, so let’s prepare well for the exam.
But they also said that after the exams are over, they will definitely sit down and have a good drink.
Everyone is under a lot of pressure.
This is inevitable.
On the night of March 30th, Ji Yuan was awakened by the wind outside. He woke up from his sleep in a daze and only heard the wind blowing very hard outside.
When I woke up the next day, I found that snowflakes were falling from the sky.
The weather is getting colder.
It was unusually cold.
"The fields outside the city have just been planted with wheat."
Ji Yuan and his companions arrived in the capital on February 19th. On the road outside the capital, they saw large fields with many farmers and oxen working on them.
There seems to be something wrong with this unseasonal snowstorm.
Fortunately, the snow stopped after a day, but the cold wind was still blowing.
I heard that the Imperial Examination Hall is still under repair. It seems that the wind is too strong and they are worried that the seats and premises may not be safe.
The fields in the suburbs were indeed damaged.
It seemed that the emperor was going to send the prince to offer sacrifices to heaven on his behalf to appease the wrath of heaven.
As news came out one after another, it seemed that none of them were good.
When Wu Ying came back from outside again, his face looked extremely ugly.
He locked the door and made sure no one could hear him, then he said, "The Fifth Prince's Cuju team will most likely be cancelled."
Cancel?
Isn’t this a good thing?
Why does Wuying look so solemn?
Wu Ying added: "We just ran into Wang Li and his group. They took great pains to find out that they are already looking for another way out."
"That's not important. What's important is why the Cuju team was disbanded."
"The Emperor is ill."
“I started to get sick years ago.”
So before the New Year, the Cuju team would occasionally play games, and the Fifth Prince was also interested.
But I stopped playing football completely after the New Year.
After all, the emperor was sick, and as the emperor's youngest son, how could I go play football?
Listening to Wuying's words, Ji Yuan roughly sorted out the timeline.
It was fine from July to August last year.
The emperor and his entourage even went on an autumn hunting trip, but the weather turned cold and the emperor fell ill. By the beginning of spring this year, his health had improved somewhat.
Unexpectedly, this spring cold weather made the emperor's health worse.
This is how it happened, the prince offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for blessings on his behalf.
Even the prince offering sacrifices to heaven on behalf of the emperor was a sign of succession.
The imperial court did a good job of keeping the secret, as most people were completely unaware of it.
It was because the incident happened suddenly that a little news leaked out.
Ji Yuan counts the time.
It is correct to say that the emperor fell ill around autumn or winter.
The current emperor ascended the throne at the age of 22 and used Huayuan as his reign title, which has never been changed.
This year marks the 38th anniversary of Huayuan.
The emperor is sixty years old this year, which is not considered young in ancient times. The elderly are indeed prone to sudden illness in autumn and winter.
So that's how it is.
Liu Jun asked: "Will that affect this year's examination?"
Ji Yuan shook his head: "Since you don't say it, then everything will remain the same."
"The Emperor's illness should be curable."
Otherwise, this year's imperial examination would have been cancelled.
He had said before that the situation of the imperial examination would change along with the policies, and it would be fine if the situation was stable.
If it is unstable, it will probably be like the martial arts examination, where it is hard to say when it will start.
The emperor is sixty years old and has been ill several times. Even if he recovers this time, it is hard to say what will happen next.
Still need to prepare in advance.
When the Meng Mansion was being built, it was very far away from the capital, and what happened there would basically not affect them.
Even though there were such big changes in the provincial examinations, they were still that far apart.
And in the capital, the emperor's cold could affect the fate of all their people.
That's what Wang Li and his gang are like.
When things are good, you can live a life of luxury by following the emperor's youngest son.
If anything goes wrong at the top, they will be in dire straits.
Capital city.
It's difficult too.
It is true that serving the king is like serving a tiger.
Ji Yuan had no feelings for the emperor, so he naturally analyzed things more rationally.
Monk Bai and the others felt more at ease knowing that the imperial examination would not be affected.
It can be done up to three days before the exam.
There were indeed changes in the imperial examination.
The time has not changed, it is still April 8th.
The length of the exam has not changed and is still six days and six nights.
The chief examiner was changed from Prime Minister Li to another alternative candidate.
Chu, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion and concurrently the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was a third-rank official.
That is the university scholar who believed more in Confucius' idea of "respecting the superiors".
The examiner has changed?
Why.
Ji Yuan tries to find the truth from the clues.
Monk Bai and Gao Laosi looked at him eagerly.
There are still three days before the imperial examination, and they are like frightened birds at the slightest sign of trouble.
It was fine before when they were in the provincial school, because there were special teachers to comfort them, and there were even Jinshi teachers who analyzed the questions for them.
Now that you have to rely on yourself for the examination, it is inevitable that you have to think too much.
The scope of the questions was outlined for everyone before the examiner decided on it.
He said at the time that no matter which examiner was in charge, the range should not be too different.
But test questions are test questions.
The change of chief examiner still concerns the students.
So, why do we need to change the examiner at the last minute?
First of all, for those in a higher position, it is just a matter of words and will not bring much change to them.
But it has to be changed after all.
Why?
Ji Yuan looked out the window and saw the snow was almost melting.
The March snow a few days ago was not heavy.
It has almost disappeared in the past few days.
"The prince has gone to offer sacrifices on behalf of the emperor."
The most important affairs of a state are sacrifices and war.
The prince went to offer sacrifices to heaven on behalf of the emperor, which also represented the emperor's wishes.
The original chief examiner of the imperial examination, Li Shoufu, had another identity.
Prince Taifu.
So that's how it is.
Ji Yuan didn’t know how to explain it, so he just said a few words: “Perhaps, the emperor has other considerations, which have little to do with us.”
Finally, he said, "The Crown Prince is going to offer sacrifices. The court needs Prime Minister Li."
Gao Laosi still didn't understand, but Monk Bai was thinking about it carefully.
After a night passed, the two men had dark circles under their eyes. It seemed that they had thought about it all night and finally figured it out.
It is a favor for the prince to offer sacrifices on behalf of the emperor.
If the Prince's tutor were to be the chief examiner, everyone in the court would be even more certain of the Prince's status.
One gains while the other loses.
Where does this put the emperor?
If the emperor was still healthy, he might not care.
But when people are sick, they start to worry and think too much.
How could an emperor of such high position and power, who had sat firmly on the throne for more than 30 years and created a relatively peaceful society, allow such a thing to happen?
The more you can't hold on to power, the tighter you should hold on to it.
Replacing the chief examiner is to balance the forces in the court.
So what Ji Yuan said was right, this was a matter of the top level and had little to do with them and would not affect the imperial examination at all.
They haven't reached that point yet.
Moreover, when the prince went to offer sacrifices, he really needed Prime Minister Li's help in presiding over the government.
Ji Yuan saw a strange harmony in this, a harmony that resulted from the balance between the father and son of the Heavenly Family.
This harmony is too fragile.
Until a certain point in time, perhaps it will burst out.
Throughout history, how many successions of imperial power have been peaceful and smooth?
I'm afraid there are very few.
Ji Yuan hoped that the emperor was in good health, but he also knew that this matter would be decided sooner or later.
Ji Yuan smiled and shook his head.
You can't see the whole picture if you only see the tip of the iceberg.
Anyway, now we know that it will not affect the examination.
Maybe when something really happened, he had already been sent out, away from the disputes in the court. Who can say for sure?
While people outside were discussing the sudden change of examiner, silence returned to their place.
Monk Bai and Gao Laosi couldn't help but look through the "key points" that Ji Yuan had marked, which were the parts that Ji Yuan said might be tested.
I don't know why, they just want to see it.
Of course, this is not actually drawn, but it is what they remember in their minds after the era has passed.
At this moment, the 3,900 people who would take the imperial examination this year had gathered in the capital.
More than 3,900 Juren were all important figures in their hometowns. Now they were preparing for the exam in the capital, and there was no difference between them and the students taking the Tongshi exam.
Everyone is looking forward to finishing the exam quickly and hoping the results will be released as soon as possible.
This exam is not an exam that changes your destiny, but a step to determine whether you can become a superior person.
After all, being able to take such an exam already makes one a rare talent in the secular sense.
What they want is not to stand out from the crowd, but to reach the sky in one step.
And this kind of expectation is generally stronger and more mind-stirring.
Once they have tasted a little of power, they can't help but desire more power.
It is no exaggeration to say that the entire capital city is in a turmoil over this matter.
There are more than 3,900 candidates, which can be divided into three categories.
The first category is people who study in the Imperial College. Nowadays, many of those who can study in the Imperial College are princes and nobles, or those recommended from various places, and their status is also not bad.
Most of them have received a good family education, and their families have countless books, so their starting point is much higher than others.
But when it comes to talent, it’s hard to say.
After all, with this kind of educational resources, even ordinary students can learn a lot.
The second category is those trained by various families. Their families are also extraordinary. Most of them are local big families, and there is no need to say much about their own family traditions.
This part is mostly composed of places with excellent reading atmosphere, such as the Jiangnan area, including Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Zhejiang.
They have a profound cultural background and solid knowledge, and they were selected from a large number of imperial examination candidates.
For them, it is a matter of not being able to grasp the risks of the imperial court, and there are still some differences when answering the questions.
The third category is the more marginalized candidates.
The Jianmeng Prefecture where Ji Yuan and his friends are located is in the middle. In terms of educational resources, it is not as good as that in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, let alone that in the capital.
If we say that educational resources are poor, then Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and even the northwestern border areas also have something to say.
But if we have to classify them, they are in the same category.
He came from an ordinary family and although the environment he lived in attached great importance to the imperial examination, he had few resources.
But students from this kind of background have a great advantage.
They have known the hardships of studying since they started school and have experienced more than others, so they are more resilient than other students.
Often can stand out.
Although the students are in different circumstances, their ultimate goals are the same.
It’s better for Ji Yuan and the others to live in Wuying.
If you stay at an inn, you will find out how much discussion there is about these things every day.
Of course, there is also discussion about the number of admissions.
I heard that there are more candidates this year, and the number of admitted people will also increase.
But not necessarily.
Who made so many Jinshi and Juren waiting to become officials?
The proportion of people admitted through the imperial examinations is gradually declining.
The number of candidates increases year by year, but there are only a few positions. There seems to be no other good way except to block the places in the imperial examination.
Furthermore, the higher you go, the clearer the positions become.
The court does not need so many "senior officials".
Most people are pessimistic about this year's admission rate.
Some people said that last year, out of more than 2,000 people, a total of 150 were hired.
There are nearly 4,000 candidates this year, and I'm afraid the number will remain the same.
We will have to wait until after the exam to find out the details.
They are all in the capital, so it is convenient for the Ministry of Rites to discuss it.
On the seventh day of April, Ji Yuan and his team checked their things again and would move into the Gongyuan this afternoon.
It will officially begin on the morning of the eighth day.
The Tianqi National Examination stipulated that candidates had to enter the Imperial Examination Hall the day before the examination, because they would search more carefully to see if they had any smuggled items and whether everyone's identity information matched.
Not only that, you have to sign a document before the exam. If you bring in materials, cheat, whisper, or even talk too much, your results will be invalidated and you will never be hired again.
The inspection was specially scheduled in the afternoon to maintain the dignity of the candidates, and there was a special search area at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall.
I heard that there was a period of time in the previous dynasty when students had to take off their outer clothes in public and be carefully inspected inside and out.
Although this method was quickly stopped, the impact it brought was huge.
Scholars have always wanted to maintain their reputation and have self-respect.
This kind of search in public is really disgraceful.
But if we don't check, the situation of cheating will only get worse.
It is said that if businessmen have absolute interests, they can sell out their country or even themselves.
For these scholars, passing the imperial examination could no longer be simply described as an absolute benefit, but a good "deal" of earning 100,000 silver coins as a magistrate in ten years.
As long as you can pass the exam, cheating doesn’t matter.
The risk of being caught is not worth mentioning compared to the glory of being admitted.
After several twists and turns, we have finally come up with a relatively compromise solution.
Although it is still embarrassing, at least it won't be a search in public.
On the afternoon of April 7th, the weather finally got a little warmer.
The chief examiner, co-examiners, tribute officials, stewards, supervising officials, etc., had already entered the Imperial Examination Hall long ago.
The area a few meters away from the Imperial Examination Hall had been cleared, and no one except the students taking the exam was allowed to enter.
Ji Yuan and others took their identity deeds and the provincial examination papers and went through several verifications. The officials also repeatedly asked about their family, age, hometown, etc.
If you answer incorrectly once, you will be asked again.
This method is also intended to prevent impersonation.
Ji Yuan must be clear about his hometown, but he still repeated it silently several times before entering.
The same goes for Monk Bai and Old Man Gao. It's impossible not to be nervous when taking the imperial examination.
A few people were walking and saw a familiar person at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall.
Zhang Xun and the others were taking deep breaths. When they saw Ji Yuan coming, they held Ji Yuan's hand tightly and said, "Let me get some of the spiritual energy of the God of Learning."
Ji Yuan almost laughed out loud.
But many people around me think so.
Even if I am not as shameless as Zhang Xun, it’s okay to stand closer.
There was even a guy named Wang Zhuliang, but he looked away when he looked at Ji Yuan and didn't dare to think too much.
The people around him asked, "Who is that? Do you know him?"
Why are there so many people around him?
He looks young and handsome. Where does he come from?
The only people who were familiar with Wang Zhuliang were the scholars he met after coming to the capital, so they naturally did not know Ji Yuan.
Wang Zhuliang's eyes were complicated: "This is our champion."
First place?
So young?
Someone nearby also looked over.
Everyone could see at a glance the handsome scholar surrounded in the middle. He had sharp eyebrows, a pair of peach blossom eyes, and a slight smile on the corners of his mouth.
As if he noticed the gazes of others, he looked to the side.
Ji Yuan was stunned. He didn't expect that when he saw the girl who asked him to give the book to her, he nodded subconsciously with a smile in his eyes.
Cheng Yishan took a breath of cold air, and her friends around her quickly pulled her back: "Calm down, calm down."
"Let's go to the tribute house."
When Gao Laosi saw that the Imperial Examination Hall was open, he hurriedly said to everyone.
Ji Yuan nodded to them again, took his things and left.
Wang Zhuliang and others who fell behind had mixed feelings.
Before coming to the Imperial Examination Hall, watching the candidates taking the exam was one of the must-see activities for women in the capital of Tianqi State.
Although they look at it, they have high standards.
Only someone with Ji Yuan's appearance could catch their eyes.
It would be better if I were not married yet, maybe I could be noticed by someone.
The maid next to Cheng Yisan was helpless.
These young ladies are good in everything except that they like to watch the fun and are a little playful.
Many daughters of officials would at most look from behind, but she was different, she had to stand in front.
But looking at the Imperial Examination Hall again, what's so good about these people? Her young lady's knowledge is even better than those here.
"Let's go, there aren't many interesting ones."
"There's a new dim sum shop opened in West Market. Let's go try it."
After Cheng Yishan finished speaking, she sighed, "It doesn't matter whether you go or not. The dim sum they make is definitely not as good as the one made by my cook."
Cheng Yishan's friend Miss Yan smiled and said, "Of course, the egg tarts are really delicious. Why don't you ask her to make them again?"
"This is easy. Let's ask her to make some and give her more money this month."
More and more people gathered around the Imperial Examination Hall.
I had only taken a few steps and the sky was clear, but after just a few steps, it was suddenly covered with dark clouds, lightning and thunder. I guess it would rain heavily soon.
It’s definitely not possible to go to Xishi to buy snacks, so I’d better go home and eat egg tarts.
Cheng Yisan took her friend and maid and got into the carriage with brisk steps. She subconsciously looked at the Imperial Examination Hall through the window.
The candidates who are coming to take the exam are already queuing up.
I hope the heavy rain will stop after the candidates go in.
"This is a day that produces talented people." An old man couldn't help but say.
The little boy next to him was curious: "How can there be talent when there is lightning and thunder?"
"Whenever a talent is born, there are always some strange signs. The spring rain came just as the candidates entered the examination hall. Isn't this the birth of a talent?"
If Ji Yuan had heard this, he would definitely say, isn't this just like in later generations, when netizens see lightning and thunder, they always shout, wondering if there is a master who is transcending a tribulation?
At this moment, Cheng Yisan became interested.
She had read many stories about ghosts and monsters, and this was indeed what was said in them.
Just as Cheng Yisan was about to say something, raindrops fell on her fingers as she lifted the car curtain.
The driver immediately drove home as the rain was falling too heavily.
The onlookers thought so, and the scholars who entered the Imperial Examination Hall thought so even more.
Fortunately, some people had umbrellas among their preparations.
Ji Yuan checked, took his room number, and followed the guards forward.
As soon as he walked to the banquet hall, he discovered an incredible coincidence.
Before, perhaps he would not have noticed it easily, but after seeing what happened to Cai Fenglan, he couldn't help but look at the location of the table.
Good job.
It's the right time.
Now with the heavy rain, it is really windy and rainy.
Ji Yuan looked at his body.
Fortunately, he is fifteen now and in much better health than the average scholar.
Ji Yuan put away his umbrella, trying his best not to get the small bed wet.
The banquet halls in the capital are larger than those in the provincial capital, and the quality seems to be much better.
The whole structure is made of wood and stone, which is quite windproof.
However, these pavilions are only used once every three years, so even if they are repaired in advance, there will always be omissions.
Ji Yuan looked around and did not put the four treasures of the study, but instead brought extra clothes to block the drafts.
It’s not that he is careful, it’s that he is really afraid of getting sick!
We've been here for six days and six nights, who knows what the night will be like.
Fortunately, there is no rain leaking overhead.
The guards standing outside had already put on raincoats. When they saw Ji Yuan's actions, they reported it to their patrolling superiors.
The boss also looked at Ji Yuan. He also couldn't make a decision, so he reported to one of the deacons in charge of the examination.
The deacon was delighted. He was the deacon's supply officer and had always been in charge of the Xishe. He said, "There is still such a smart student. Let him be, as long as he does not attend the Xishe."
"What do you mean by not attending the dormitory?"
When the chief examiner, Chu Daxueshi, arrived, everyone hurried to pay their respects to him.
The steward secretly curled his lips, but his face remained respectful: "There is a student from Jianmeng Mansion who is afraid that the room will leak air, so he wants to find something to block it. The guard came to ask if it is allowed."
Chu Daxueshi also laughed, but he seemed to be saying casually: "Come to think of it, the seats in the Imperial Examination Hall have been inspected before, so how could such a problem still occur?"
After these words were spoken, the deacon supply officer who was originally laughing stopped laughing. This matter was his responsibility, and if there was a problem, it would naturally be his fault.
"Your Excellency, there are many candidates for the imperial examination this year, and the time for review is short. This is my negligence."
This is not a big deal. There are two or three thousand seats in the hall. There is no problem if we check all of them. It is also easy to check if there are any leaks.
But it’s really hard to say about things like air leaks.
Furthermore, the weather was already warm in April before, so even if there was some wind, the candidates only felt cool.
This year was really an emergency.
If it were another superior, he would not ask this question.
But they temporarily replaced Chu Daxueshi as the chief examiner, which would definitely make things difficult for Prime Minister Li and his faction.
That's right.
The emperor ordered to replace the chief examiner of this year's imperial examination. This is very simple.
But when the time came, the officials in charge of specific matters could not be replaced.
Therefore, the chief examiner and the people who do the actual work below are not in agreement.
Not only were they not of one mind, they even fought openly and secretly over who would be the chief examiner.
Before the New Year, the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial requesting preparations for the next year's imperial examination.
This is a rule and it is also a popular thing.
Whoever is in charge of this year's imperial examination will definitely be beneficial to his faction.
He is the chief examiner of the imperial examination. Not only does he attract national attention, but he can also recruit many students.
In the imperial examination held every three years, who wouldn't want to recruit some promising officials to become his or her right-hand man?
The chief examiners of the imperial examinations in previous years had to go through a certain amount of competition.
This year, officials headed by Prime Minister Li and officials headed by Grand Secretary Chu were in conflict with each other.
Finally, the Minister of Rites agreed with Prime Minister Li, and the matter was finally handed over to this side.
But who could have imagined that just before the exam, the prince was sent to offer sacrifices to heaven on behalf of the emperor, and this matter had already attracted a lot of attention.
Li Shoufu felt it was not convenient for him to continue to be the chief examiner of the imperial examination, so he took the initiative to propose to resign from the position.
This proposal was exactly what the emperor wanted, and he sent it directly to the Grand Secretary Chu.
But the exam was about to start, and the officials working below could not move.
Scholar Chu had never thought of taking any action. He wanted to fight for it, but that didn't mean he wanted to make things worse.
Doesn’t he know clearly the people under Prime Minister Li?
If you act as a good mascot yourself, the examination will definitely be a success.
Besides, after working hard there for a long time, the credit will be yours, so why not do it?
Of course, it’s okay to point out some mistakes.
Not for any other reason, I just want to say it.
The people on Prime Minister Li's side knew what Grand Secretary Chu was thinking, so they were still cautious in their answers.
It would be annoying if you don't find fault now and wait until the examination is over to cause trouble.
In official circles, you cannot leave any handle for your opponents.
After the steward explained it clearly, Chu Daxueshi made a look of sudden enlightenment: "Yes, you are the best person to do it. Go ahead and get busy."
They are busy!
So busy!
Only the examiner was hanging around here.
Chu Daxueshi took a look around and was amazed: "The work is really well done, in an orderly manner, with a proper balance between tension and relaxation."
"Let's go and wait for the exam to start."
It is not true to say that the examiner had no specific matter.
There are many things waiting for his review, and he will go back now to deal with the internal matters.
We also need to take a closer look to see which students have great potential this year.
It got dark early today, and Chu Daxueshi also said, "Distribute the candles in advance. The weather is bad, so distribute an extra one so that the candidates don't have to panic."
It's windy outside, and the candidates with unstable mentality will indeed feel a little anxious.
Give one more candle, and there will finally be some light.
As they were talking, tonight's meal and candles were all served.
But the lanterns outside could not be lit, and the rain was getting heavier.
The rain seemed to never stop all night long.
Ji Yuan just treated it as white noise and fell asleep. After all, he was young and had a stable mentality.
Except for the windows that had to be opened, he blocked all other windows in the room tightly, so while other candidates were still tossing and turning, he had already fallen asleep.
When he got up early in the morning, Ji Yuan subconsciously looked outside.
Has the rain stopped?
Ji Yuan looked under the bed again.
Some rain water from outside also poured in.
Fortunately, this place is paved with stone slabs, otherwise it would be even more uncomfortable.
The house was located in a windy place, and when the wind blew strongly, rain came in through the windows and door cracks.
Alas, God’s will cannot be violated.
Ji Yuan felt helpless and amused. He sat up, put on his shoes, and made sure there was not too much water before he stood up.
It was a stormy night and the bed was wet.
His start in the imperial examination seems to be a bit difficult.
Ji Yuan went to bed early, so he woke up early, too, but it was also his usual time.
But considering the candidates around him, he packed his things carefully.
He stretched his muscles only after everyone was almost awake, and used the rest of the time to wait for the exam.
April 8th is the first day of the imperial examination.
Ji Yuan closed his eyes and let his heart calm down.
After coming to the examination, no one discussed the examination topics.
Because the questions in the metropolitan examination were roughly the same as those in the last provincial examination.
The only difference is that the examination time has been optimized.
The imperial examination also consists of three examinations.
The first test was on the Four Books, with a total of three essays, each with 500 words. The only difference was that the imperial examination stipulated a maximum number of words, and each essay could not exceed 700 words.
Next are four chapters of the Five Classics, with questions asking you to choose two from five or one from five, and each chapter has between 800 and 1,000 words.
The first round lasts three days, one day longer than the provincial examination.
For this most difficult level, we were given ample time to answer the questions.
The second round lasted for two days, and again consisted of one essay, one imperial edict, one memorial, and five verdicts.
The third session lasted one day and tested five items on classics, history, and policy essays.
With this arrangement, the time is much more reasonable.
But we can also see the drawbacks, which are the problems mentioned during the provincial examination.
There are three exams each time, but most examiners only pay attention to the first one.
Just look at the time of the imperial examination and you will know. No wonder both the teachers and the students worked so hard in the first round.
It is estimated that the time of the provincial examination was temporarily changed last year, but the arrangement of the metropolitan examination was not copied, because the three examinations were intended to be equally important.
Although there are some differences in the actual operations, we can roughly guess what the court is thinking.
It's not that Ji Yuan intended to do so, but he just analyzed it casually.
Anyway, the first round of the imperial examination will last for three days.
It was still the same process as before. Ji Yuan had taken several important exams and could even calculate what to do and when.
Perhaps for this reason, the examination room was much quieter, with basically no noise at all.
Everyone has experienced the provincial examination, and some have taken the metropolitan examination several times, so everyone has a good idea of it.
This kind of silence is different from cautious silence, and it has a strange sense of oppression.
Looking around, the candidates taking part in the imperial examination are basically between 25 and 45 years old.
Most of the candidates of this age have elderly parents and young children to take care of. They are calm and have heavier burdens on their shoulders.
And when they looked at the young scholars, their eyes were mostly filled with jealousy.
Some even said that their eyes were like those of someone who was about to kill his relatives or enemies.
After all, they have worked hard for half their lives, and those young people, especially those students from the Imperial College, are in the same examination room with them.
How not to be frustrating.
Ji Yuan heard that the "child prodigy" who was specially recruited also took part in the imperial examination this year.
Come to think of it, that child prodigy is already in his twenties this year?
Ji Yuan's thoughts were drifting until he heard the sound of a bell and subconsciously looked up.
It’s the exact time of morning.
The test papers are about to be distributed.
The 8th day of the fourth month, the 38th year of Huayuan.
The first exam of the three-day joint examination officially began.
The Imperial Examination Hall was locked inside and out, and the doors were tightly closed, and no one was allowed to enter or leave without permission.
Internal and external examiners are also separated, and examiners supervise each other and are not allowed to show favoritism.
The examiner came over slowly and said, "This year's questions are improvised! Please answer them carefully!"
Provisional title.
In order to prevent cheating in the imperial examinations, Tianqi State has always had two sets of plans.
The first is to answer the previous questions.
The second is to make up questions impromptu before the exam.
The second item really tests the examiner's ability. Those with average literary talent will basically not do this.
This year's chief examiner is Mr. Chu, a native of Jiangnan, and his ability in imperial examinations is beyond doubt.
With the deputy examiner also setting questions, the questions for the first round were distributed very quickly.
Ji Yuan was not surprised at all.
This was also expected. Judging from the reactions of other candidates, it was not a big deal.
It’s an exam anyway, so it doesn’t matter what you test.
Three questions from the Four Books.
Four questions on the Five Classics.
As usual, Ji Yuan read all of them, and his eyes widened the more he read.
Not only him, but also Bai Heshang and Gao Laosi rubbed their eyes vigorously.
They still remember that day when Jiyuan joked that he would set exam scopes for everyone.
After hearing about some changes in the court, Ji Yuan also read many articles written by students of the Imperial College and analyzed the scope of this year's exam questions with them.
The two listened very carefully and kept it in mind.
But they really couldn't imagine that Ji Yuan guessed four of the seven questions correctly.
It's the kind that hits the mark.
No matter how calm Monk Bai and Old Fourth Gao were, they were dumbfounded at this moment.
Is Ji Yuan a god? !
It was the same collection of essays by students from the Imperial College, so how could he tell what the examiner liked?!
You know, the chief examiner had not yet been determined at that time.
Afterwards the examiner was determined and then replaced.
Even the topic was made up on the spot.
Why? !
The two of them were flipping through the papers but were unable to start writing. The guards next to them thought it was their first time taking the exam and they were so nervous that they didn't know how to answer the questions.
The guards were secretly worried about them.
But then, I saw them spread out the paper quickly and write as if they were possessed by God.
Fortunately, they reacted quickly, otherwise their exams this year would have been in vain.
Ji Yuan was also surprised.
But in his surprise, he seemed to think it was not too outrageous.
He read a lot of contemporary essays, most of which were articles published in the Imperial College in recent years.
It also analyzes the preferences of the teachers in the Imperial College and the preferences of well-informed bookstores.
These things basically have traces to follow.
There are only so many questions in the exam. They can recite the sutra by heart, so it’s not too outrageous that they can answer a few of them right?
Only he can say this.
If you put it outside, you will probably be despised.
Who can guess it?
What are you thinking about!
If the imperial examination questions were really that easy to guess, why would they bother studying so hard? They could just guess the questions.
Ji Yuan put the paper away and prepared to answer the questions.
His mood was not very fluctuating at the moment.
So what if you are faced with questions from the high school entrance examination? You still have to write the essay as you should.
If the essay is not good enough, knowing the topic in advance is useless.
Actually, it was the Jinshi scholar who told them this method before the provincial examination.
He only optimized it a little bit.
The first question on the Four Books in the imperial examination.
As a subject, one should be respectful; as a son, one should be filial.
This sentence comes from "The Great Learning", a required subject.
And this sentence is not unfamiliar.
But the exam question only cut off a part of it, and there is another part before being a minister.
As a ruler, one should be benevolent; as a minister, one should be respectful;
As a son, one should be filial; as a father, one should be kind.
It means that the monarch should be benevolent, the ministers should be respectful, the children should be filial, and the father should be loving.
On the test paper, it is inappropriate to say "you" or "father".
So the first and second sentences were deleted, and only the emphasis was placed on being a subject, but what a son should do.
Ji Yuan guessed the right answer for this question.
If you want to answer this question, you naturally cannot just look at one sentence.
Actually, it is divided into exams.
If a child is asked to answer, just use this sentence.
When answering questions in the provincial examination, one must definitely look at the whole story before giving one's own thoughts.
When answering in the imperial examination, not only do you have to read the content of the previous and subsequent articles, you also have to state the allusions in them.
Before this sentence, there are also quotations from the Book of Songs and Confucius' views on the content of the Book of Songs.
The Book of Songs says that the area around the emperor's capital is where the people live, just like a bird perching on a corner of a hill.
Confucius commented on this: "If one knows where to stop, how can one be a human being but not as good as a bird?"
What I mean is that birds know where they should be, so why don’t humans know that?
This statement naturally means "respect the superior", which once again emphasizes the distinction between superiors and inferiors.
Later, the book of songs continued to praise King Wen of Zhou, saying that he was an upright and honest person.
Next, it was the test questions, which were about what it means to be a ruler.
Overall look.
It can be interpreted in almost any direction.
At the beginning, we talk about respecting elders, starting from the fact that people should do the right things in the right positions, and then we talk about what the king, his subjects, and his fathers and sons should do.
This is an interpretation from a small perspective.
From a broader perspective, this chapter explains the opening phrase of the University, “Aiming at the Highest Good,” which is what needs to be done to reach a state of perfection.
Zhuzi Leiyu also commented on this chapter. Zhuzi said: "In the chapter on supreme goodness, all the effort is put into discussion and research."
In short, after the explanation, I very much agree with the content of this chapter, saying that it is meticulous and very precise.
Confucius emphasized the importance of respecting the elders, and Zhu Xi's explanation of this chapter was extremely precise.
Therefore, the tone of this sentence has been set.
But what is difficult to determine is what has been discussed above about what the emperor, his subjects, and his father and son have done.
The exam questions deleted the requirements for the king and father, and only retained the requirements for subjects and children.
So how to answer?
This brings us to another aspect, the "Book of Filial Piety".
Ji Yuan had naturally studied the Book of Filial Piety and had also taken an exam on it.
At that time, it was said that although the name of the Book of Filial Piety contains the word "filial piety", the entire content seems to be about filial piety, but in fact it is about loyalty to the emperor.
This can be used here.
As a ruthless answering machine, Ji Yuan rarely feels like writing at this moment.
Because this question is too hypocritical and too annoying.
This is like taking things out of context.
The original text clearly has requirements for the emperor, his subjects, and his sons.
For example, as the Analects says, "While one's parents are still alive, one should not travel far away."
Many people will use this sentence to restrain their children, but many people only realize later that there is actually another sentence behind it: There must be a plan for traveling.
Removing the latter is like telling the other person that you can't go out.
Add the latter and it becomes: you can't just go out casually, you have to have a goal.
The first question of these four books is almost the same approach.
It only emphasizes the obedience of subjects and sons.
But it does not emphasize the responsibilities of a king or father.
Ji Yuan lowered his eyes.
He had a better way to answer the question, but at this moment he wanted to deliberately "rebel".
Ji Yuan replied with a bit of evil humor, "Aiming at perfection, you must be as diligent as possible, and polish it like a mirror, and then you will be able to gain some insights."
To put it simply and in general terms, the central idea of this chapter is to strive for perfection.
He didn't explain it from small details at all, but simply picked out the meaning of the whole chapter. The meaning of this chapter is to make people pursue a higher realm and reach a perfect world.
If you want to achieve it, you must ponder it carefully, observe it carefully, and study it seriously, and finally you will be able to see some results.
After writing the opening chapter, Ji Yuan added: "If one person is kind and righteous, and is able to work with others to achieve his goal, this is true for one person, and for all people as well."①
What it means is that we should be honest, benevolent, just, and strive to improve our self-cultivation in a harmonious society. If everyone does this, then that's all that's needed.
Here comes the point, how can we do it?
Ji Yuan continued to answer: "But if you don't give up profit, you can't have benevolence and righteousness to have this?"
"Only by giving up profit can we avoid fighting, winning, and conquering."②
How to do it?
Is it possible to do this without getting rid of the utilitarian mindset?
No, you must get rid of the utilitarian mentality, only then can you achieve your goal.
The rest is easier to write.
First, focus on eliminating profit, and then bring out the concepts of joy and profit in Mencius.
In Mencius's Gaozi chapter, he wrote that a minister should not serve the monarch out of self-interest, and should not serve the monarch just for the sake of profit. Then, he used Mencius to endorse himself, and the whole context of the text emerged.
Perhaps, if you want to achieve the highest good, you cannot be utilitarian.
From this perspective, there is nothing wrong with this article, and it even raises the level of loyalty to the emperor.
But it needs to be viewed in conjunction with the test questions.
The person who set the question cut off the most beneficial part of this chapter and removed all the requirements of the king and father. Isn't that utilitarian?
After Ji Yuan finished writing, he thought that if the person who set the question could see through it, then his writing would not be in vain, but he would definitely fail the imperial examination.
If you don't see it and instead praise him, then his sarcasm would be like showing it to a blind person.
It’s so difficult. For a moment, I don’t know whether I want the other person to see it or not.
Forget it, just watch it.
It was rare for him to add emotion to his comments, and he felt it was a pity that the other party didn't notice it!
As for the imperial examination?
Ji Yuan thought that he might have to let things slide for his next exam.
How to release it?
Let’s take a look at the second question first.
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