When they returned to the Anzhi Hall, Meng Anci was still suffering in his cell. Jin Shanyao her hand and pulled out his pen. "Come on... Su Wenqian needs to see you."
Meng Anci's eyes brightened slightly, " Lord Su has read my article?"
After failing the imperial examination, he would delve into the essence of whatever he studied, grasping a single point and wanting to understand the entire underlying principles.
"Hmm... they said your writing is excellent, and even added annotations..."
As they talked, the two arrived at the back hall of the government office, where Jin Shanyao pressed Meng Anci down into a chair.
He smiled and looked at Su Wenqian, " Lord Su... please enlighten me."
Su Wenqian glanced at her helplessly, then took out Meng Anci's exam paper and spread it on the table. " Anci, your essay is very well written. This level is more than enough to pass the academy exam."
Just stay calm and perform normally. It's just that...
He paused, pointed to the exam paper, and said, "Here, you subtly criticized the current disaster relief regulations as 'mere paperwork, ignoring the people's suffering.' The words are true, the reasoning is sound, but it's too sharp."
Su Wenqian turned the exam paper towards Meng Anci, "The provincial examination is for selecting scholars, not for those who dare to speak out against injustice. If the examiner is playing it safe, they can easily push you to the bottom of the list based on this alone, or even... eliminate you outright."
Jin Shanyao's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but put away her smile and become calm.
Meng Anci puzzled. "Does this mean the exam papers have to be written according to the examiner's preferences? What's the point of the imperial examination then?"
Su Wenqian softened his tone, "The examination hall is like a battlefield, and the pen is the knife. The knife must be sharp, but it cannot make people feel that the knife will hurt them."
The imperial examination system, rather than being a means for selecting capable ministers for the court, was more about officials choosing their own colleagues. Who would like someone who might stab them in the back at any moment?
He looked at Meng Anci with a meaningful gaze, "You're still young. The Xiucai exam is just an entry-level test. Your essays won't be seen by loyal ministers or the emperor. It's not too late to speak the truth later."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Meng Anci pondered Su Wenqian's words repeatedly, which meant that the priority in the imperial examinations was to secure a place first and then figure things out later.
He understood...
Meng Anci and bowed deeply to Su Wenqian, "Thank you for your guidance, sir... I will remember it."
Su Wenqian nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad... I hope we can serve as officials in the same court in the future."
After saying goodbye to Su Wenqian, on the way back, Meng Anci asked Jin Shanyao, "Auntie... how do you interpret Lord Su's words?"
Jin Shanyao somewhat disappointed. She had thought Su Wenqian was going to teach Meng Anci the content of the essay, but it turned out to be the rules of the imperial examination. What was so difficult about that?
She felt it necessary to be clear with Meng Anci: "The imperial examination is like a hunt, with the examiners as hunters and the candidates as prey. A smart prey will never bare its teeth and howl when it's right next to the trap."
You must first appear harmless, even palatable, and become the hunter's dog, catering to his every whim. Then, when the hunter lowers his guard, bite his throat clean.
Meng Anci stared at his aunt in shock, speechless for a moment.
Jin Shanyao patted his shoulder comfortingly, "Don't envy your aunt's understanding. You're still young, you don't see things as deeply as I do, take your time... no rush."
Meng Anci thought to himself, "It's over. I realized it too early... My aunt is indeed my aunt. She can't stand the slightest grievance and is always thinking about how to retaliate."
Inside the Anzhi Hall, Meng Anzhi saw the two return and asked Qing He to set out the meal.
The Jin Shanyao, "Didn't I tell you to eat first? What if you ruin your stomach from hunger?"
Meng Anzhi ladled her a bowl of soup and said with a smile, "It's no fun for me to eat alone without you all here... What did Lord Su say to Anci?"
Jin Shanyao took the soup bowl, casually placing a piece of meat into it. "Just a few words. The gist is that while the writing is excellent, one shouldn't be rash; one must know how to temper one's brilliance."
She glanced at Meng Anzhi and added, "It's the same principle as when you treat a patient: prioritize stability before aiming for accuracy."
Meng Anci picked up the bowl and looked at Jin Shanyao in shock. Her aunt hadn't said that just now! Why are they saying different things?
Meng Anzhi didn't notice her younger brother's unusual behavior. After eating a couple of mouthfuls of rice, she suddenly remembered, "Auntie, I saw Licentiate Candidate Li at the entrance of Hall of Saving the World today."
" Li Yuan? His father should be laid to rest by now."
"That's the strange thing," Meng Anzhi put down her chopsticks and said in surprise, "He was actually buying tonics; at the time, I even doubted my diagnosis."
Jin Shanyao slightly taken aback. Old Man Li was already on the verge of death and couldn't possibly survive for fifteen days, but this matter had nothing to do with them.
"Believe in yourself; your medical skills are now among the best in Qingzhou Prefecture."
Meng Anzhi's lips curled up, "I'm still far from it... I'll only be considered a master when I can tell how many days a patient has left to live at a glance, like my aunt."
" Anzhi... that was just a trick to fool people. No one can determine life or death at a glance. You must not take it as a target."
Seeing her aunt's pale face, Meng Anzhi couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Auntie... I know, I won't push myself into a corner."
Jin Shanyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it was too close. She quickly picked up two pieces of food with her chopsticks and put them in Meng Anzhi's bowl, saying, "Eat, eat."
With Meng Anzhi's current abilities, making a living is no longer a problem. Now, it all depends on how far Meng Anci can go. If he achieves top honors in the imperial examinations, that would be ideal.
Even if one only passes the lowest level of the imperial examination (xiucai), one can still teach and educate, and live a stable life.
At that time, her benefactor's request will be fulfilled, and the cause and effect will be resolved. Once Meng Anci turns fifteen, she can then leave.
The next day, the main entrance examination was held.
Qing He prepared lunch for the exam: steamed buns and a water bag mixed with ginkgo leaf powder to refresh the mind.
The provincial examination was more rigorous than the prefectural examination. Meng Anci couldn't wear the necklace, so the Jin Shanyao took half a branch from its body and transformed it into a wooden hairpin, which was then inserted into Meng Anci's hair.
"Auntie... please keep the necklace safe, I want to wear it when I get back."
Jin Shanyao and said, "Don't worry, you won't get lost... Focus on your exam, your aunt and sister are waiting for you outside the examination hall."
After checking the exam supplies, Meng Anci picked up the bamboo basket, took a deep breath, and said, "Let's go..."
"Let's go..." Jin Shanyao her hand, leading one person in each hand towards the examination hall.
A crowd had gathered at the entrance of the examination hall. When Zhao Zhiyuan saw them coming over to greet them, he called out softly to Sister Anzhi and then stood quietly beside Meng Anzhi.
Seeing his expression, Meng Anzhi assumed he was nervous and gently comforted him, "I heard from Anci that you are extremely learned and will definitely pass the imperial examination this time."
Zhao Zhiyuan curled his lips into a smile, " Green Mountain Academy is full of talented people, and the exams are unpredictable. I really don't have complete confidence."
Meng Anci stood between the two men, carrying a bamboo basket, and said coldly, "Brother Zhao, if you're not confident, you should go home."
Zhao Zhiyuan looked up at him, then suddenly smiled, "Thank you for your kind encouragement, Brother Meng."
As he spoke, he looked at Meng Anzhi, his expression serious, "Sister Anzhi, I will definitely do my best."
Meng Anci her teeth, leaned close to his ear, and whispered a warning, "Don't force me to hit you."
Zhao Zhiyuan was slightly taken aback. Before he could speak, someone grabbed his shoulder.
Shiyan excitedly came over, "What are you two whispering about together?"
Meng Anci laughed as if nothing had happened, "They say there are fewer people taking the imperial examinations this year than in previous years."
Shiyan frowned, looking puzzled. "Are you two out of your minds? There are so many people, and you think that's not enough?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the gates of the examination hall slowly opened, and the candidates immediately formed a long queue.
Meng Anci turned to Jin Shanyao, "Auntie, it's hot outside. You and my sister should go home and wait."
Jin Shanyao her hand, "I understand, you can go in now."
Meng Anci and, carrying a bamboo basket, joined the group along with Zhao Zhiyuan.
Just as Jin Shanyao around, she caught a glimpse of Li Yuan in the queue.
A fellow examinee asked, " Licentiate Candidate Li, how is your father's condition?"
Li Yuan urged the man to walk forward, "Still the same old problem... Stop talking, or you'll fall behind."