Lin Shubai and Yan Qinghe looked at Shen Yuxi in shock.
Why did this young woman they had never met know their private affairs so thoroughly?
No, it wasn't this young woman.
To be precise, it was an ethereal, elusive mechanical voice.
Yet the young woman before them clearly hadn't opened her mouth, so why could they hear her speaking?
Could it be...
What they were hearing was her inner voice?
At this thought, the two exchanged a glance.
The system's voice continued, [Lin Shubai is talented and willing to work hard. Among this year's candidates, you could count on one hand those whose talent rivals his. Barring any accidents, Lin Shubai can place in the first class.]
[Heaven won't let down anyone willing to work hard.]
Shen Yuxi sighed inwardly. In her previous life, hadn't she been another Lin Shubai?
During her nine years of compulsory education, she had thought everything would be fine once she got into high school. In high school, she had thought she just needed to work hard and get into university.
After graduating from university, she had wanted a good job. Once she had a job, she had wanted a high salary.
But behind that high salary lay torment, forbearance, sacrifice, and staking everything on a single throw, all unseen by others.
One hurdle after another.
Who hadn't made it through with their back teeth clenched?
Yan Qinghe patted his shoulder with relief, his voice full of envy but without jealousy. "Brother Lin, let your younger brother congratulate you in advance."
Since that voice could describe their private affairs so accurately, presumably everything it said was true.
Lin Shubai smiled shyly.
The system's words had undoubtedly given him tremendous confidence and encouragement.
He understood only too well that beyond every person stood someone greater, and beyond every heaven lay another heaven. This was especially true of the spring examinations, where talented candidates were beyond counting.
To perform a little better, Lin Shubai hadn't dared relax for even a moment.
The spring examinations began tomorrow. He had been so nervous that he hadn't even eaten dinner, spending all that time reviewing his books instead.
A string in his mind had been pulled taut, as though it might snap at any moment.
The system's words had undoubtedly given him a pill to settle his nerves.
Lin Shubai felt the pent-up breath that had lingered in his chest, leaving it painfully tight, gradually dissipating.
"Miss, have you come looking for someone at this late hour?" Lin Shubai rose and asked of his own accord.
Judging solely by Shen Yuxi's clothing and the guards stationed nearby, her identity was certainly no ordinary one.
Shen Yuxi chuckled. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a stroll. Before I knew it, I'd wandered here."
"The spring examinations begin tomorrow. Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Everyone's too nervous to sleep. They're worried they won't pass, so they're all reviewing their books."
In truth, Lin Shubai's explanation wasn't entirely accurate.
Some of them were desperately sleepy and were merely forcing themselves to hold on through sheer willpower.
It was like a competition, everyone scrambling to get ahead.
When one person studied, the others refused to fall behind.
Afraid someone else would study even a little more than they did, they had created a situation where no one dared go to sleep first.
"You'll face enormous pressure over the next few days. If you don't even sleep properly, where will you find the energy for tomorrow's examination?"
Shen Yuxi reassured them, "Learning was never the work of a single morning or evening. Studying a moment longer won't make you the top scholar; studying a moment less won't bring all your previous efforts to nothing."
"The strength of your foundations has already been established. Rather than driving yourselves to exhaustion in body and mind, get a good night's sleep. Enter with your minds at their clearest, and you'll have already won more than half the battle."
After strolling around, Shen Yuxi returned to her residence, leaving Lin Shubai standing there in a daze.
"Brother Lin? Brother Lin?"
Yan Qinghe raised his voice and called several times before Lin Shubai came back to himself.
"Hurry and get some sleep. It's too late."
With that, Lin Shubai was the first to lie back down on his sleeping mat. He pulled his quilt over himself and went to sleep fully dressed.
Yan Qinghe was dumbfounded.
Brother Lin, just an hour ago, you were declaring with such conviction that you wouldn't rest until you'd studied to midnight.
With someone taking the lead, the taut strings in the hearts of the candidates who had been forcing their eyelids open to study instantly went slack.
Sleepiness surged over them like a tide, impossible to resist any longer. Yawning incessantly, their eyes bloodshot, they put away their books one after another and lay down to rest.
The sky hadn't yet brightened; only a streak of fish-belly white showed in the east.
Security was tight inside and outside the examination compound. Imperial guards stood in ranks with halberds in hand, while banners stood solemnly in the wind.
High walls and thorn-covered stockades encircled it in layers, separating inside from outside. The atmosphere was so stern and solemn that no one dared breathe freely.
Thousands of scholars in blue robes gathered like clouds, lining up by their numbered tokens, every face taut.
Many still had weariness beneath their eyes, yet all stood with straight backs, their expressions nervous and solemn.
Some clutched books to their chests, committing a few last passages to memory; some closed their eyes and steadied their breathing, forcing themselves to remain calm; others had pale faces and trembling fingertips, clearly unable to settle their nerves.
Today was the great day of the spring examinations. As an examiner, Shen Yuxi arrived at the examination compound an hour early.
Minister Shen had already explained all the duties she would be responsible for as an examiner.
Yet the moment she appeared before them, the candidates were still shocked.
Some of the candidates who had slept in the streets and alleys had already recognized Shen Yuxi.
The most astonished were Lin Shubai and Yan Qinghe.
Wasn't this the young woman from last night?
She was actually the chief examiner this time?
Oh, of course!
Some quick-witted candidates had already guessed Shen Yuxi's identity.
The dynasty's first female official, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites: Lord Little Shen.
News of His Majesty appointing a female official had spread everywhere. They could hardly have avoided hearing about it.
Shen Yuxi swept her gaze across the crowd. Her eyes settled on Lin Shubai for a fleeting glance before moving away.
She spoke evenly. "Candidates, today marks the court's grand spring examinations, held to select talent for the nation with utmost fairness and impartiality. You have spent ten years studying by cold windows and traveled a thousand miles to sit these examinations, all aspiring to establish yourselves and serve your country. The court and the examiners shall naturally judge impartially and appoint solely on merit."
"Once you enter, strictly observe the examination rules. Harbor no hopes of getting lucky, engage in no cheating, maintain a reverent heart, and let your brush remain true to your convictions. Simply put everything you have learned into your papers."
"The court selects scholars not for momentary cleverness, but for their learning, temperament, and character."
"You need only answer calmly, without panic or haste, and demonstrate what you have learned."
"Yes. We shall remember your words."
The bell rang punctually at the hour of the dragon, resounding throughout the examination compound.
Shen Yuxi gave the final word. "Enter."
The candidates lined up for inspection. The officers and soldiers overseeing the examination had them undo their clothing for searches, strictly guarding against concealed materials, crib notes, and communication between candidates. They checked their registered birthplaces, portraits, and names, allowing them inside only after confirming everything matched.
Once all the scholars had entered their examination cells, the invigilators immediately shut the gates, locked them, and affixed seals.
Within the thorn-covered walls lay a world of its own.
The examination cells were small and low, one person to each, separated from one another. Candidates could see those ahead and behind but were forbidden to speak.
Each cell had already been supplied with a desk, brushes, ink, paper, an inkstone, an oil lamp, and clean water.
There were thirty patrolling officials in total.
As an examiner, Shen Yuxi had to keep making rounds.
Shen Yuxi personally unsealed the examination papers and checked that everything was in order before the other clerks distributed them one by one.
Silence lay all around, broken only by the scratching of brushes and the faint footsteps of the patrolling officials.
The oppressive atmosphere seemed almost frozen.
Shen Yuxi passed each examination cell at an unhurried pace. When she reached Lin Shubai, she stopped.
Catching sight of Shen Yuxi standing before him out of the corner of his eye, Lin Shubai paused his brush for an instant, then continued writing as though nothing had happened.
He was wholly focused on his paper.
Shen Yuxi glanced at it. Lin Shubai's handwriting was neat, his arguments clear.
His brush moved like the wind, yet every word was carefully weighed. A measure of clear, bright confidence rested between his brows, making him seem an entirely different person from his tense self yesterday.
Inside the examination grounds, an occasional faint cough mingled with the soft sound of brush tips gliding over paper.
Suddenly, a muffled thud shattered the silence.
In a nearby examination cell, a candidate collapsed straight onto his desk. The brush in his hand rolled away, and ink splashed onto his examination paper, spreading into a black blot.
The sudden accident immediately drew most people's attention.
Shen Yuxi frowned and admonished them sternly, "Concentrate on your answers. Do not let yourselves be distracted."
At her words, the restless candidates hurriedly collected themselves, suppressed their curiosity, and bent over their papers again. Only a few gazes still couldn't resist stealing glances in that direction.
An imperial physician was stationed at the examination compound precisely to handle unexpected incidents.
The Vice Minister of Rites and several clerks hurriedly carried the unconscious candidate to a resting room.
The candidate's face was as white as paper, his eyes tightly closed, his lips dry and cracked, and his breathing weak. His blue robe was already soaked with sweat.
[System, examine him. What's going on?]
The system scanned him and said, [It's nothing serious. He hasn't been eating properly these past few days, and he's been studying and memorizing texts day and night without enough sleep. Combined with his nervousness in the examination hall, it exhausted his strength and made him faint.]
Hearing the system say this, the Vice Minister of Rites breathed a sigh of relief.
But appearances still had to be maintained, so he hurriedly had someone fetch the imperial physician.
The imperial physician checked his pulse and breathing, going through the full procedure.
After a moment, he reported quietly, "This was caused by overexertion and a deficiency of qi and blood. He only needs proper rest and something to eat after waking, and he will be fine."
[From what you're saying, he must be very diligent and eager to learn. He just takes far too little care of his body.]
Judging by his clothing, he was probably a child of an ordinary family too.
After finally earning the right to come to the capital for the examinations, he had faltered at the crucial moment, just one kick away from the goal.
What a pity.