Since ancient times, the academies where scholars took examinations had been rather austere.
Especially after Sage Zhu, extravagance and waste were forbidden, and simplicity was considered beautiful. For a time, places everywhere even competed to see who could be poorer, particularly in matters involving scholars.
Of course, the Examination Halls used for the imperial examinations were different. Those concerned the royal family and the Great Wei Dynasty, after all.
The Examination Hall in Southern Yu Prefecture was rather shabby. Instead of roof tiles, bundles of thatch covered its buildings.
Even its signboard had no gold paint or anything of the sort. Everything looked plain and simple.
It was not yet the hour of the Rabbit, but scholars and talented young men had already crowded outside the Southern Yu Prefecture Examination Hall.
Twenty constables stood at the entrance to the Prefectural Examination Hall, long sabers at their sides, watching the crowd with stern expressions.
Scholarly examinations, whether imperial or prefectural, were extremely strict. Anyone caught cheating would, at minimum, be barred from official service for life; at worst, they would be exiled three thousand li away.
This was no laughing matter.
A quick glance revealed only twenty constables at the Prefectural Examination Hall, which seemed far too few. By rights, the Prefectural Examination should have been Southern Yu Prefecture's most important business at present. There ought to have been more.
Before he could think it through, quite a few people gathered around him.
"Are you Xu Wangu-Brother Xu Qingxiao?"
Someone approached and bowed to Xu Qingxiao as he spoke.
"I wouldn't dare claim the name Wangu. I am indeed Xu Qingxiao. And you gentlemen are?"
Xu Qingxiao emerged from his thoughts and looked curiously at the men before him, though that form of address really made his teeth ache.
Xu Wangu? Aren't they giving me far too much credit?
As soon as Xu Qingxiao answered, delight spread across their faces.
"We are scholars from Beilin County. We arrived in Southern Yu Prefecture yesterday and heard that you composed a lyric at a banquet. Your Man Jiang Hong expressed every aspiration in the hearts of scholars like us. Now that we've met you, Brother Xu, you truly do possess a magnificent bearing and a commanding heroic spirit."
"Indeed, indeed! Brother Xu, your talent is extraordinary. Ever since we read your celebrated lyric, we've scarcely slept a night, hoping only to see you in person as soon as possible."
"Brother Xu, we have a presumptuous request. Could you leave us your signature? Even if we fail the Prefectural Examination, at least we won't have come all this way for nothing."
They showered him with every kind of praise, looking for all the world like adoring young fans.
Leaving one's name simply meant giving an autograph.
Understanding what they wanted, Xu Qingxiao responded courteously and nodded. They grew even happier, pulling out booklets and opening them to the first page. They handed him a slender brush and had even prepared an ink pouch.
Dipping the brush in a little ink, Xu Qingxiao signed his name.
In almost no time at all, Xu Qingxiao had signed for all three. Before he could put down the brush, another four or five people approached with the same request.
Asking a scholar one admired for an autograph was common enough, and it was considered quite a sophisticated pursuit.
Xu Qingxiao was easygoing and turned no one away.
The hour of the Rabbit had yet to arrive, and the scholars were either waiting patiently or chatting.
Suddenly hearing that Xu Qingxiao had appeared and was giving autographs was like a stone falling into an ancient pool, stirring a thousand waves.
"Quick! What are you standing around for? Xu Wangu is here!"
"What? Xu Wangu is here?"
"Xu Wangu is signing autographs! Let's hurry over!"
"Xu Wangu will become a Grand Confucian at the very least. If we frame a Grand Confucian's handwriting at home, it could bring blessings to our descendants!"
"Take me along! Take me along!"
"Who is Xu Wangu? Never heard of him. Why would I want his autograph?"
"What? Xu Wangu is Xu Qingxiao? The one who wrote Man Jiang Hong? Brother, wait for me!"
The crowd instantly erupted. Since they had nothing else to do anyway, there was no harm in running over for an autograph.
By now.
People surged around Xu Qingxiao, with several hundred surrounding him in layers, all asking for his signature.
Among the crowd, Wang Ru and the others struggled to maintain order. Even Xu Qingxiao panicked a little at the sight. Several hundred men were charging at him like wolves and tigers-who could withstand that?
Beside him, however, Chen Xinghe watched it all with a calm expression.
In truth, Chen Xinghe very much wanted to ask one question.
Would you like my autograph?
But he could not bring himself to say it.
Glancing at Xu Qingxiao, who was being so enthusiastically sought after, Chen Xinghe felt a little envious, but his resolve grew firmer still.
After today's Prefectural Examination.
He would make everyone understand that he, Chen Xinghe, was the most talented man in Southern Yu Prefecture.
When you come begging me for my signature then, I won't give it to you.
Just as Chen Xinghe was imagining this, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Excuse me, are you Brother Chen Xinghe?"
It was a refined-looking scholar holding a little booklet and a brush.
"Yes."
At that moment, excitement stirred in Chen Xinghe's heart.
At last, someone recognizes me.
Very good. Since you have such discerning eyes, I'll give you my autograph. My very first autograph-you'll be able to boast about it to your descendants one day.
That was what Chen Xinghe thought.
The young man held out his booklet and brush. "I heard you're Xu Wangu's elder brother. Could you help me get his autograph?"
The refined-looking young man spoke with tremendous excitement.
The next moment, Chen Xinghe slowly withdrew the hand he had already extended and said with a cool expression.
"Ask him yourself."
With that, he stepped back half a pace, lowered his eyes to his nose and his nose toward his heart, and shut himself away from the world.
Meanwhile, the commotion outside the Prefectural Examination Hall had drawn the attention of those within.
Inside the Southern Yu Examination Hall.
Nine old men stood a short distance away in the examination grounds, watching the bustle outside.
"The Prefectural Examination begins in another hour. Why is it so noisy outside?"
The old man at the center, who headed the group, frowned slightly as he asked.
"Lord Zhao Da, we made some inquiries just now. Apparently, Xu Qingxiao has arrived, and the scholars are merely a little excited."
Someone answered, explaining the reason.
"Xu Qingxiao? The Xu Qingxiao who composed Man Jiang Hong?"
He asked, then continued.
"To compose a peerless lyric for the ages is indeed remarkable. It is good to see heroes emerge from the young, but there is no need to treat him like this."
"Have someone put a stop to the noise. Open the gates when the hour of the Rabbit arrives."
Lord Zhao Da spoke unhurriedly.
This Lord Zhao Da had an impressive background. He came from the Hanlin Academy and was the chief examiner for Southern Yu Prefecture's Prefectural Examination.
Someone from the Capital City truly did have a broader outlook.
Xu Qingxiao's name was renowned throughout Southern Yu. Ordinary scholars, even those who had studied for several more years, would greet him courteously upon meeting him. After all, who would not want to become acquainted with a promising young man?
Yet Lord Zhao Yuan showed no surprise whatsoever. Instead, he remained just as composed as always.
On reflection, that made sense. Great Wei's Hanlin Academy was where scholars from across the land gathered. How could anyone there be mediocre?
Soon, the Examination Hall sent people out to stop the commotion.
Only when someone intervened did Xu Qingxiao breathe a sigh of relief. Wang Ru and the others were panting even harder.
Fortunately, everything finally quieted down.
These scholars were simply too ferocious. If the officers had not stopped them, Xu Qingxiao felt they would have started putting their hands on him.
Just then, however, Li Xin approached.
After exchanging bows with Xu Qingxiao, he gave him a meaningful look.
Xu Qingxiao understood at once and responded with a smile. Neither said anything.
And so it continued until the hour of the Rabbit.
"Enter."
With the tolling of a bell and a ringing voice, the Prefectural Examination was about to begin.
The Examination Hall's gates opened. The twenty officers gathered together, and the students formed four lines, entering one after another.
First, they presented their travel permits, then their examination admission documents. Finally, they were checked for hidden notes or any writing on their clothing.
Only after this rigorous inspection were they allowed inside.
The benefits of fame became immediately apparent.
Xu Qingxiao had originally stood near the back, but everyone made way for him, practically forcing him to the front.
Before long, Xu Qingxiao received his numbered token and entered the Examination Hall.
The Southern Yu Examination Hall had four examination rooms in total. Xu Qingxiao was randomly assigned to Room A.
Once inside, Xu Qingxiao mostly followed behind Chen Xinghe.
This was his first Prefectural Examination, and there were many things he did not understand.
"Junior brother, come with me."
After entering the Examination Hall, Chen Xinghe spoke quietly, telling Xu Qingxiao to follow him.
The two walked side by side into the Inner Hall, collected three sticks of incense, and bowed toward all four directions. Portraits of sages hung on each of the hall's four sides.
However, these portraits did not depict their actual appearances. They were imagined representations, a form of embellishment.
After paying their respects to the sages, they passed through the Inner Hall. Rooms A and B were to the left, while Rooms C and D were to the right.
"Junior brother, go left. Brother Wang Ru and I will go right. Do your best on the examination. We'll meet at the inn afterward."
"Oh, right. Here are your brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Take them."
Chen Xinghe pointed toward the entrance on the left and took a small bundle from his sleeve. It contained the writing supplies he had prepared for Xu Qingxiao.
"Thank you, senior brother."
Xu Qingxiao accepted the writing supplies offered to him. Chen Xinghe had prepared them before they came, but worried that Xu Qingxiao might lose them, he had kept them with him all along.
The three then bowed to one another and went their separate ways.
After bidding them farewell, Xu Qingxiao headed toward Room A.
Before long, the entire examination room came into view.
The small cubicles were arranged in rows running lengthwise and crosswise, with nothing screening their fronts and only a writing desk inside. Two examiners patrolled each examination room.
After he handed over his numbered token, someone directed Xu Qingxiao to his place.
It was fairly near the front, the seventh seat.
Once inside the examination room, Xu Qingxiao moved more gently. The strictest rule in the examination grounds was that no noise was permitted.
Only after entering his own cubicle did Xu Qingxiao understand just how strict the examinations were.
The little cubicle was rather dim. There was a bucket on each side, one for relieving himself and the other filled with clean water.
The Prefectural Examination consisted of just one session, lasting six hours.
After taking his seat.
Xu Qingxiao waited quietly.
Nearly an hour passed.
Quite a few people gradually gathered there.
A glance at the sky showed that it was already three quarters into the hour of the Rabbit.
The examination would officially begin at the hour of the Dragon.
Just then, an old man approached Xu Qingxiao. He was a supervising examiner.
Over sixty, with a head of white hair and a smile on his face, he looked at Xu Qingxiao and spoke.
"The great talent Xu?"
"My respects, sir."
Xu Qingxiao rose and bowed.
The old man waved a hand. "No need for that. Do well and win some glory for our Southern Yu."
The old man smiled as he spoke.
Xu Qingxiao smiled too and nodded.
After the old man left, Xu Qingxiao did not sit idle. He laid out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from his little bundle one by one.
Once everything was arranged.
Xu Qingxiao began grinding ink in advance.
But as he ground it.
His gaze could not help settling on the brushes.
He had a brush of his own, after all.
And it was a Literary Artifact.
I wonder... what effect would it have if I wrote my essay with the Literary Artifact I condensed?
Just as Xu Qingxiao was pondering this.
Another bell rang.
The hour of the Dragon had arrived.
The students rose one after another, while the supervising examiner stood in the center and began reciting the examination rules.
Once the rules had been read, an exceptionally resonant voice rang out.
It was the voice of the chief examiner, Zhao Yuan.
"The Prefectural Examination begins."
"The topic is."
"Secure the Nation."
The voice carried throughout the entire Prefectural Examination Hall.
Many faces lit up with surprise and delight.
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