Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo's courtyard.
After returning from the Provincial Examination, Xiao Mo was having tea with the Village Chief.
After Bai Ruxue returned to the village, she first went up the mountain to see her younger sister.
But at noon and in the evening, Bai Ruxue still came down the mountain to cook for Xiao Mo and wash his clothes.
"You said the last question on the policy essay was about discussing the feudal princes?"
The Village Chief took a sip of tea, sounding rather surprised.
"Yes." Xiao Mo nodded.
"The feudal princes really do wield great power these days, and they have armies at their command. Though I'm only an old Talented Scholar, I've heard that there's a great deal of talk in court about curbing their power.
"Even though the last policy essay question was framed as a discussion of the feudal princes, everyone knew that the politically correct answer was to curb their power.
"This time, the final question put the matter of the feudal princes squarely on the table. It seems His Majesty truly intends to act."
Xiao Mo smiled. "Which candidate taking the Provincial Examination this time would dare not write in favor of curbing their power? His Majesty is probably using the candidates' 'outcry' to deliberately put pressure on those princes."
The Village Chief smiled too. "A year ago, His Majesty personally led an expedition and put down the Rebellion of the Seven Kings. The feudal princes' power was greatly weakened. And with His Majesty's Dragon Might at its height, the court's military strength and morale are overwhelmingly superior to those of the princes in the various regions. This really is the best time to curb their power."
"Exactly." Xiao Mo nodded.
Xiao Mo had ultimately decided to write about the Edict of Spreading Grace. He had reasoned that although the feudal princes had armies at their command, His Majesty had put down the Rebellion of the Seven Kings. The court had a tremendous military advantage over the regions, and the princes were even more afraid of the court.
The fact that this Provincial Examination openly put "curbing the feudal princes' power" on the test paper meant the court was going to get right in their faces.
Otherwise, how could the court openly ask candidates to discuss the feudal princes?
Actually, in Xiao Mo's view, even if the court didn't dare provoke the princes, and even if their power was evenly matched, there was nothing wrong with writing about the Edict of Spreading Grace.
After all, if the central government lacked sufficient power, anyone could see that the Edict of Spreading Grace wouldn't be enforceable. But the examiners wouldn't say anything about that.
He was offering a different approach.
The examiners would only think, "He has ideas. They're novel, but he hasn't thought them through."
But even if they thought he hadn't considered things carefully, they wouldn't think less of him.
What, did they really expect a Talented Scholar who had only read books and never spent a day in officialdom to govern the realm?
"Xiao Mo, how did you answer the final question?"
The Village Chief was genuinely curious about Xiao Mo's response.
Unless something unexpected happened, a candidate's answer to the final question would greatly affect the impression they made on the examiners.
"I wrote about..."
"Village Chief! Village Chief!"
Just as Xiao Mo was about to explain his Edict of Spreading Grace, Hu Hansan came running over from the village.
"Village Chief... outside... outside..."
Hu Hansan was so out of breath he couldn't manage a complete sentence.
"Don't panic. Take your time. What's happening outside?" Seeing Hu Hansan like this, the Village Chief began to feel anxious too.
"Village Chief! The county magistrate! The county magistrate is here!" Hu Hansan cried excitedly.
"The county magistrate?" The Village Chief jumped. "What's he doing in our village?"
Clang-a-lang, clang-a-lang!
Bang, bang, bang!
Bang, bang, bang!
Just then, the sound of gongs and drums came from not far away.
A dragon-and-lion dance troupe came along too, dancing as they went.
At the head of the procession, Magistrate Sun of Qingshan County was beaming from ear to ear, fanning himself over and over. He shouted happily to the people around him, "Don't stop! Keep the music going, keep dancing! Louder! Make it livelier!"
"Could it be...!"
Suddenly, the Village Chief's heart began to race as a bold idea came to him.
The results would be posted tomorrow afternoon.
But today, the magistrates from every county in Jiangnan Province would receive the list.
In the Qi Kingdom, once the list left the examination compound, it was no longer a secret. County magistrates could find out a day early which candidates had passed.
And Xiao Mo was the only person from Shiqiao Village who had taken the Imperial Examination.
The only reason the county magistrate would come to Shiqiao Village at this time, making such a festive show of it with gongs, drums, and dragon-and-lion dancers, had to be Xiao Mo.
"Magistrate, that's Brother Mo, and the man beside him is our Village Chief," a man said excitedly, pointing at Xiao Mo.
Magistrate Sun hurried over to Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo and the Village Chief, naturally, knew better than to stand there impolitely. They stepped out of the courtyard and bowed. "We pay our respects to our magistrate."
"Hahaha, there's no need for formalities." Magistrate Sun helped Xiao Mo to his feet. "Scholar Xiao! No, Top Scholar Xiao! From now on, I'll be basking in your glory!"
"What? Top Scholar?" The Village Chief was dazed for a moment, even wondering if he'd heard correctly.
The Village Chief had thought it would be wonderful enough if Xiao Mo passed the Provincial Examination.
But Xiao Mo had... come first in the Provincial Examination in Jiangnan Province!
"Magistrate Sun, you flatter me. If it weren't for your support, I might not even have passed." Xiao Mo hadn't expected to take the top spot in the Provincial Examination.
"Hahaha, Scholar Xiao won first place entirely through his own talent. I merely added flowers to brocade."
That was what Magistrate Sun said, but in truth, he was feeling immensely pleased with himself.
When Magistrate Sun had first arrived, he'd only hoped to win the local scholars' favor and improve his reputation.
He hadn't really expected the Talented Scholar he sponsored to pass.
But now, not only had someone passed, he'd even come first in the Provincial Examination!
This was a political achievement—an achievement that shone bright as gold!
Unless something unexpected happened, Xiao Mo would surely pass the next Metropolitan Examination too. And perhaps he could even aim for the title of Zhuangyuan!
Still, this young man was remarkably calm upon learning he'd become the Jieyuan.
As expected of someone who had become the Jieyuan—his composure was exceptional.
The Scholar Fan from the neighboring county had reportedly nearly gone mad with joy when he learned he'd passed at the age of sixty.
Magistrate Sun treated Xiao Mo as if he'd found a long-lost brother, and the more they talked, the more enthusiastic he became.
The Village Chief was very tactful. He led the other villagers away, giving the magistrate and Xiao Mo some time to talk.
Magistrate Sun chatted with Xiao Mo about everyday matters, his parents, and what he liked to do in his spare time.
When Magistrate Sun learned that Xiao Mo had no parents, made a living by herding cattle and gathering herbs, braved all kinds of weather, and traveled hundreds of miles to find a teacher, he admired this student all the more—one who had not even been born into a poor scholar's household.
"Xiao Mo..."
Magistrate Sun took Xiao Mo's hand, his voice full of emotion.
"I'm truly glad to see what you've achieved. I know you've suffered a great deal.
"I have a daughter, sixteen years old, and still unmarried.
"If you don't mind, how about I, as Yue'er's father, personally act as matchmaker and arrange your engagement?"
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