Entering the Exam Cell

Lu Zhan said unhappily, "He's merely quick-witted; he's still far from being able to remember everything at a glance. That requires becoming a Metropolitan Graduate. Besides, Jiangzhou governs nine prefectures, and the Great Origin Prefectural Academy is only one of them. If he truly were a heaven-sent genius, Li Grand Academician, the 'Academy Lord' of the Prefectural Academy, would surely make an exception and admit him to the Prefectural Academy, letting him study as a Licentiate alongside the finest Academy Students and Provincial Graduates in the whole prefecture! Do you think that's possible? Li Grand Academician is a third-rank high official, equal in rank to the prefectural governor, with an even higher literary rank. He is responsible for enlightening the tens of millions of people in the entire prefecture. Without his recognition, no one deserves to be called a prodigy!"

Everyone secretly laughed. Last year, Fang Zhongyong had visited Lu Family Town just as it was holding a small poetry gathering. Fang Li had then had Fang Zhongyong compose a poem at the gathering, crushing all the scholars present and leaving Lu Family Town's students disgraced. Lu Zhan had been among them, and more than once he had refused to accept Fang Zhongyong's superiority.

Liang Yuan said in a low voice, "Lu Zhan has a point. Fang Zhongyong is still too young. Even his best poem is only at the County-Exceeding level, not yet the Prefecture-Reaching level. But given time, perhaps he may achieve even greater things."

Lu Zhan added, "Exactly! At the very least, he needs a poem or essay that surpasses Prefecture-Reaching and reaches State-Ringing before he can be called a prodigy. As for Nation-Quelling and realms even higher, those are not matters we can discuss."

County, prefecture, state, kingdom—each level was larger than the last. This was the common administrative division throughout Saint Origin Continent.

Ge Xiaomao said quietly, "Actually, County-Exceeding poems and essays are already quite impressive. Many Academy Students can go their whole lives without writing one. Even if a Provincial Graduate composes a County-Exceeding poem, it is enough to hold a banquet in celebration."

Lu Lin, who had remained silent all this time, said in a deep voice, "The Barbarian Race is causing chaos, and Qing Kingdom is watching like a tiger stalking its prey. Rather than fight over fame and profit, we should rack our brains over resisting foreign aggression!"

Lu Zhan and Ge Xiaomao looked ashamed. Liang Yuan smiled and said, "Lu Stone, we were only chatting. Don't be so serious."

"Alas, the border troops have suffered repeated defeats against the Grass Barbarians, yet Liu... certain people disregard the nation's peril for their own selfish desires! If I can pass as an Academy Student, I will surely take up my pen and join the army—not to repay the court, but for the people of our Human Race!"

Lu Lin's words were passionate and stirring. The nearby area fell silent as a graveyard. Aside from a small number who sneered, most wore expressions of admiration.

Saint Origin Continent had Three Barbarian Regions: the Grass Barbarians, Sand Barbarians, and Forest Barbarians. Each of the three contained many tribes, such as the Wolf Barbarians and Tiger Barbarians. They were said to be descendants of unions between the Demon Race and the Human Race.

Fang Yun gave Lu Lin a careful look. He had thick brows and large eyes, with a square, upright face. He was also the most righteous person in the private school. Back when Fang Yun had first entered it, some people had bullied him, and Lu Lin had been the one to lend him a helping hand.

Though Lu Lin spoke little among the five of them, he was the one they respected most.

Yet even he did not dare curse Left Prime Minister Liu Shan in public.

After speaking, Lu Lin looked at Fang Yun.

Fang Yun froze, realizing he had slipped up. Although the former Fang Yun had not been as upright as Lu Lin, his impoverished family background had made him deeply aware of the hardships of the world. He had always wanted to earn fame through the examinations, then bring peace to the realm and stabilize the state. He had been a diehard advocate of war.

Fang Yun immediately said, "Lu Lin is right. A true man should set his sights on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide when he dies!"

Lu Lin showed approval. Liang Yuan laughed. "Fang Yun, you're getting better and better at sucking up."

The others chuckled softly.

As they chatted, they followed the crowd onward. Fang Yun rarely spoke; he had been constantly digesting his memories.

When they reached the entrance of the Literary Academy, two expressionless soldiers stood there. One of them held out his hand toward Fang Yun.

"Examination tablet. Documents."

Liang Yuan handed the book box to Fang Yun. Fang Yun opened it, first taking out the wooden examination tablet and identity documents from the top and handing them to one soldier, then passing the book box to the other.

The soldier on the right took the book box and inspected it. Inside were a writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, brush holder, brush rack, paperweight, bamboo water tube, a cloth bundle of sugar cakes, and other items. The soldier nodded and handed the box back to Fang Yun.

The soldier on the left glanced at the examination tablet, then examined the identity documents. They bore a portrait drawn when Fang Yun had registered for the examination, along with a written description of his build and appearance. The soldier compared them with Fang Yun before finally letting his gaze fall on the medicinal cloth wrapped around Fang Yun's head.

"What happened? Are you the one who arrived by ox cart?" the soldier asked sternly.

Fang Yun replied, "Last night, I was attacked by four criminals with Great Origin Prefecture accents. Fortunately, I barely escaped with my life. Doctor Li of Benevolent Life Hall dressed my wound; he can testify for me."

The soldier nodded. "Every Imperial Examination has three ancient sages stationed at the Sacred Academy, observing the world from above. No one can deceive the eyes of the sages. You know the consequences yourself."

"This student understands."

The soldier returned the examination tablet and documents to Fang Yun and allowed him inside.

Only then did Fang Yun's friends learn that he had been beaten. They were furious, but this was the Literary Academy, so they did not dare make a sound and could only suppress their anger in their hearts.

The square beyond the Literary Academy's main gate was broad and spacious. Fang Yun raised his head slightly and saw that the nearby sky was a cloudless azure. This patch of blue sky formed an irregular circle, while beyond it dark clouds packed the heavens and rain continued to fall. It was as though some majestic power had driven away the nearby clouds to ensure the examination proceeded smoothly.

Once all two thousand candidates had entered the Sacred Academy, they gathered before the Temple of Sages. Soldiers and constables stood on either side of the candidates, local officials stood before them, and at the very front were the county magistrate, the County Academy Lord, and the academic administrator of the Prefectural Academy—the three examiners for the County Examination.

On Saint Origin Continent, the "Literary Academy" was an extraordinarily important institution. Alongside the military and civil officials, it was one of the three great systems of every kingdom. It was responsible for enlightening the myriad people and administering the Imperial Examination, and it was also the best school in every region. Once war broke out against the Demon Barbarians, the teachers and students of the Literary Academies would rush to the battlefield.

At the county or prefectural level, an Academy Lord's status was usually slightly below that of a county magistrate or prefectural governor. But in every state, the state Academy Lord was equal in official rank to the state governor and often exceeded him in literary rank, with an overall status greater than the governor's.

The national Literary Academy was also called the Academy. The one in charge of an Academy was inevitably one of the four Grand Secretaries, known as the "Literary Prime Minister" or the "Acting Master." This was because Confucius alone was qualified to be called "Master"; he was the Master of the World.

The true master of every Literary Academy and Academy was Confucius alone. Whether Academy Lord or Literary Prime Minister, they merely managed the Literary Academies and Academies on Confucius's behalf.

Literary Academies were places where Saints lectured on the classics, while government offices were merely part of the monarch's court. In the hearts of many scholars, Literary Academies held a higher status.

Before the three examiners stood a bronze incense burner half a man tall, from which three thick sticks of incense gave off curling blue smoke.

Before the bronze incense burner stood the Temple of Sages, with red walls, black eaves, vermilion gates, and scarlet pillars.

At the innermost point stood a statue of Confucius. Beneath it were smaller standing statues of the six Second Saints: King Wen of Zhou, Mencius, Xunzi, Zengzi, Zisi, and Yan Zi.

Below the statues of the two Second Saints stood the Sage Tablets of dozens of Half-Sages.

Fang Yun stared at the Temple of Sages in astonishment. He could clearly sense a tangible yet invisible force emanating from the building, bearing the majesty of mountains and the vastness of an emerald sea.

That must be the Literary Qi contained within the Temple of Sages—and the power driving away the dark clouds, Fang Yun thought.

The county magistrate shouted, "Pay respects to the Saint!"

Everyone bent at the waist in worship.

The County Academy Lord shouted, "Pay respects to the Second Saints!"

Everyone bowed again.

"Pay respects to all the Sages!" the academic administrator of the Prefectural Academy shouted.

Everyone bowed for the third time.

Then the County Academy Lord recited the Ritual for All Sages.

Fang Yun had this text in his memories. It had originally been written by the Half-Sage Dong Zhongshu, listing the name of every Sage along with a brief description. After Dong Zhongshu's death, additions had been made by the "Duke Yansheng," a direct descendant of Confucius.

Next, the academic administrator of the Prefectural Academy announced the rules of the examination hall.

Finally, the county magistrate declared the examination open. Led by constables, the candidates entered their examination cells according to the numbers on their examination tablets.

Fang Yun carefully examined his own tablet. It read, "Earth, Ding, Chen, Three." Then he carried his book box on his back and began searching slowly.

The examination cells were rows of connected little rooms, with roads between every two rows wide enough for two horse carriages to pass abreast.

The cells faced south with their backs to the north. They were less than ten feet tall. If Fang Yun entered and stretched both arms straight out, he could touch the eastern and western walls. They were extremely cramped.

Inside were a table, a chair, and a chamber pot. On the table sat a brush washer filled with clean water. There was nothing else.

Fang Yun found his examination cell and stood at its entrance, looking it over. Once he sat down, no matter what happened, leaving the cell would be considered the end of his examination. He would not be permitted to reenter.

Fang Yun could not help clenching his fists as he slowly walked into the examination cell.

I can do this! Fang Yun said firmly to himself.

Fang Yun sat quietly and raised his head to look at the sky. With the eaves blocking his view, he could see only a small half of the sun.

The sunlight within the Literary Academy had become exceptionally gentle. Even when Fang Yun looked directly at the sun, he felt no discomfort.

Recalling the aura of Literary Qi from the Temple of Sages, Fang Yun yearned even more for that mysterious power.

The sound of a carriage came from the east, drawing closer and closer.

Before long, a carriage slowly appeared before the examination cells. Someone took out a stack of slightly yellowed paper and handed it over.

Fang Yun stood and accepted the examination paper with both hands. "Thank you," he said.

The paper distributor nodded, glanced at Fang Yun, and continued handing out papers to the next candidate.

Fang Yun set the examination paper on the table and sat down. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar paper, he gave a strange, bitter smile.

Even in another world, I still can't escape examinations. I wasn't a top student in my previous life. I just hope I won't become a poor student in this one.

Thinking this, Fang Yun did not immediately begin writing. Instead, he first flipped through the examination paper.

He had once read a story about people taking an examination with an enormous number of questions but only ten minutes to complete it—far too little time to finish. Many people hurriedly began answering, hoping to write as much as possible.

Yet the final question on the examination paper read: Answer only the final question.

After reading that story, Fang Yun checked every page of every examination paper. He was not looking for the final question, but carefully checking for damage, errors, or omissions.

During one examination, Fang Yun had discovered a problem with the second paper and asked the teacher to replace it ahead of time. If he had waited until after answering the first paper, replacing it would have wasted quite a bit of time.

Having benefited once, Fang Yun formed the habit.

The examination paper was somewhat larger than the ones Fang Yun had taken in his former life. It contained forty pages in total. Thirty pages had questions printed on them, while the other ten were blank. If there was a problem with the question pages, a candidate could manually copy out the entire paper anew.

The paper and printing quality were superb, only a few decades behind Earth's standards. Fang Yun was not surprised in the least. This was a world of Literary Qi; if it lagged behind in such fundamentals as brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and printing, it would have long ago been wiped out by the Demon Barbarians.

Fang Yun skimmed through it and gained a general understanding.

The first three pages tested the lives or deeds of some of the Sages. Confucius and the six Second Saints were compulsory. It looked simple, but the answers had to be words from the Classics of the Sages. They could not be answered in one's own words, or else it would not count as an Appeal to the Sage's Words.

The next three pages tested the poems, lyrics, songs, and fu of the Sages.

The following fifteen pages each provided one sentence and required the original text before or after it to be filled in.

The final nine pages all required reciting large passages, or even entire chapters, from the works of the Sages.