The second day of the Autumn Provincial Examination, the second session.
Wei Nisheng had chosen the Classical Commentary Examination rather than the Poetry and Rhapsody Examination.
Thus, he was not tested on poetry or rhapsodies, but on official compositions such as essays, judgments, edicts, and proclamations.
Fortunately, this session played to Wei Nisheng's strengths.
These were precisely the forms Feng Yan had made him practice most over the past two years.
Essays had to argue clearly, judgments had to rule precisely, edicts had to sound majestic, and proclamations had to carry solemn weight.
So Wei Nisheng picked up his brush and wrote in one flowing sweep, finishing everything by noon.
With nothing to do that afternoon, he leaned against the wall early and listened to the sounds outside.
From some examination cell in the distance came snores, rising and falling like frogs calling in a summer pond.
Wei Nisheng listened for a while, smiled, then closed his eyes again to rest.
The third day, the third session: the policy essay.
Questions of state policy revealed a candidate's ability!
If everyone performed roughly equally in the first two sessions, this was the session that would determine their rankings in the Autumn Provincial Examination.
"Policy essay..." Wei Nisheng drew a deep breath and spread out the examination paper.
His gaze fell on the policy question. Then his entire body went rigid.
[Question: The causes of the fall of the Gansu Three Prefectures.]
Eight characters, like eight nails, driven into the paper-and into Wei Nisheng's heart.
Feng Yan had told him never to mention Prince Ning in a policy essay, never to discuss the merits or failings of feudal princes, and never to touch upon the imperial family's taboos.
That was an iron rule, one Feng Yan had impressed upon him repeatedly.