Divine Writing
"Great... great calligraphy! Great calligraphy!"
When Kong Kong, the Academic Commissioner, saw Qiu Yan begin writing, his gaze fell upon the characters, and he instantly became as if he had lost his soul, staring intently at the brush and the characters beneath it, line after line, completely absorbed.
"Your Excellency, look..." The clerk beside him was about to remind him, which brought Kong, the Academic Commissioner back from his daze.
But the provincial education commissioner turned and glared at the clerk, then whispered a reprimand, "Don't make a sound, lest you disturb Qiu Sheng!"
"This... yes, Your subordinate obeys." The clerk was taken aback, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart, but he dared not object and could only agree.
When Kong, the Academic Commissioner recovered from his shock and looked at Qiu Yan's calligraphy again, he no longer felt lost and bewildered, but was still amazed.
"His handwriting is truly remarkable. Hmm? What font is this?"
This Kong, the Academic Commissioner, was quite accomplished in calligraphy and often appreciated it. He had a collection of works by School of Names calligraphers at home and considered himself knowledgeable about the styles and techniques of ancient and modern calligraphy in Great Rui. However, when he saw Qiu Yan's calligraphy, he was captivated, only to suddenly realize that the style was completely unfamiliar to him.
"His handwriting is upright and dignified, with the curves seemingly imbued with bone, unyielding and resolute! Each character is like a sculpture! This is calligraphy that has been practiced to the point of being intricate, possessing a spiritual essence! But how is it so completely different from the current Qin Script!"
The Qin Script currently popular in Great Rui was created by the late Prime Minister Qin Ling. Combining the legacy of the previous dynasty, it emphasizes elegance and unrestrained strokes. When writing, one should be mindful and spontaneous, completing the stroke in one go, giving people a sense of naturalness, as if the great principles of heaven and earth are contained within it. Therefore, it has spread widely and people flock to it.
But Qiu Yan's current handwriting is perfectly straight, with precise spacing between characters, giving it a sense of Order.
"Could this be his own creation? Or did he learn it from some hermit?"
While Kong, the Academic Commissioner was still thinking, a thought suddenly struck him. He realized that Qiu Yan hadn't stopped writing since he started, and had completed all ten lines of text in the blink of an eye. Then, without stopping, he began to interpret the meaning of the text.
"Such speed, without the slightest pause, yet not a single word is wrong! He must have already prepared the draft in his mind. No wonder his paper was blank before; I wronged him. Indeed, as the ancients said, 'In writing, a few words can convey the meaning; in calligraphy, a single word reveals the heart.' A person who can write like this must have a heart as clear as the words; he cannot be a cunning person. I was prejudiced before."
Just as Kong, the Academic Commissioner's thoughts settled, Qiu Yan had already finished writing the questions on the classics in one go and put down his pen.
Seeing this, Kong, the Academic Commissioner nodded and said in a low voice, "Check it carefully, don't rush." He spoke to Qiu Yan with a gentle expression, then turned and left.
Not long after, Qiu Yan got up and handed in his paper.
Most of the candidates were still engrossed in their questions, but Qiu Yan wrote them down much faster than most of them. When he got up, a servant led him to the main hall.
Watching Qiu Yan's departing figure, the middle-aged and young people in the examination hall next door all had complicated expressions. They had thought that Qiu Yan was going to be in trouble because the provincial education official was targeting him everywhere, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better and the provincial education official suddenly changed his attitude.
"I overheard the clerk talking earlier; his name seems to be Qiu Yan. I wonder who he is. I'll have to find out after this exam."
On the other side, Qiu Yan arrived at the main hall and saw Kong, the Academic Commissioner sitting upright.
Upon seeing Qiu Yan, Kong, the Academic Commissioner forced a smile and greeted him, inquiring about his studies. His attitude was completely different from before. Qiu Yan, however, remained neither humble nor arrogant, showing no sign of being flattered.
Upon seeing this, Kong, the Academic Commissioner nodded to himself, his opinion of Qiu Yan rising even higher.
That's how people are. If they don't like someone, no matter what that person does, they'll feel dissatisfied. But if they like someone, even if that person contradicts them to their face, they'll feel that the other person has their own opinions.
After exchanging a few words, Kong, the Academic Commissioner, glanced at the paper Qiu Yan had handed in, nodded, and said, "Well-organized, not bad, especially the handwriting, it's really beautiful. I wonder who your teacher is?"
Qiu Yan replied, "This is something I figured out myself by studying ancient and modern calligraphy models and understanding the writings of Sage." He spoke frankly, but it surprised the Kong, the Academic Commissioner, who praised him repeatedly and his attitude towards Qiu Yan changed.
After a while, another candidate came to hand in his paper. Kong, the Academic Commissioner, gently encouraged Qiu Yan for a few words and then let him leave.
"Put this paper away properly." Kong, the Academic Commissioner, handed Qiu Yan's exam paper to the clerk beside him and gave him this instruction. The meaning was clear: he wanted to take it.
The clerk whispered, "Sir, Qiu Yan has connections with the prefect. If he ranks too high in this Dao Examination, there might be rumors, which would be detrimental to you."
"Why fear rumors when recruiting talent for the country?" Kong, the Academic Commissioner glanced at the clerk. "I heard you have a good relationship with Zhang Yu of Qingchang. He recently visited you. But public matters are public, and private matters are private. Don't mix them up!"
Upon hearing this, the clerk was alarmed, realizing that his little secret had not been kept from his superior. He repeatedly apologized and left with the examination paper.
Watching the clerk's retreating figure, Kong, the Academic Commissioner shook his head. "You just don't see things clearly. Qiu Yan's calligraphy alone is enough to make him the top scholar. If I were to suppress him, it wouldn't be to avoid suspicion, but rather to be seen as jealousy and envy, which would cause trouble in the future."
After leaving the Prefectural Academy, Qiu Yan continued walking without stopping.
The area in front of the Prefectural Academy was still crowded with people, mostly maids and servants, clearly indicating that their young masters had not yet come out to take the exam.
Back at the inn, Zhang Zhen soon came to visit. The two talked for a while, and then more students came out of the examination hall. Some were nervous, some were casual, some were confident, and some were uneasy.
Many people gathered together, discussing the exam questions and each other's answers.
Qiu Yan knew almost no one among the students, so he simply sat and talked about literature with Zhang Zhen.
"This... must be Brother Qiu?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind. It was someone greeting Qiu Yan. Qiu Yan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a teenager. He immediately recognized him as the boy who had sat in the examination booth next to him during the Dao Examination.
"My name is Zhou Guan, greetings." The young man was quite outgoing. After introducing himself, he started chatting with Qiu Yan and Zhang Zhen. After a few words, he asked about what happened in the examination room, which Qiu Yan naturally brushed off with an excuse.
As night fell amidst the noise, the students, seeing that it was getting late, dispersed.
The results of the Dao Examination will not be released for more than ten days, and that will be the crucial moment for success or failure.
As night fell, after dinner, Zhang Zhen and Zhou Guan bid farewell to Qiu Yan. Zhang Zhen returned to his residence, while Zhou Guan stayed at the inn across the street. He only came in to befriend Qiu Yan after seeing him.
After seeing the two off, Qiu Yan went straight back to her room, washed up, and then blew out the light. However, instead of lying down, she sat cross-legged on the bed.
"It's finally nighttime; it's time for a check."
With a thought, the Living Soul leaped out from the top of the head, and instantly, a cold wind swept through the entire room. Then, scrolls appeared in mid-air, floating layer upon layer in the room, slowly rotating like a vortex.
At the center of that vortex was Qiu Yan's Living Soul.