Chapter 265: Supervision is Simple, Just Check the System (2 / 2)

The metropolitan exam tested the Five Classics (Poetry, Documents, Rites, Changes, and Spring and Autumn Annals). The top scorer in each subject was named Jing Kui, and the top five candidates overall were chosen from among them.

The model essay (Chengwen) was selected to serve as an example for future examinees.

To ensure fairness, Xu Yanmiao refrained from using his system to peek at the sealed names—he didn’t want to form biases.

After carefully reviewing the paper, he nodded.

“This is indeed well-written.” He turned to the other examiners. “What do you all think?”

The paper was passed around, and each examiner gave their assessment. The consensus?

On a scale of 100, the score ranged between 88 and 95.

A decision was made.

Xu Yanmiao, as the chief examiner, made the final decision. “Alright, he’s the one.”

Just as he was about to set the paper aside, Scholar Yue eagerly reached for it, admiring it with great fondness. “These characters are excellent—round and full, yet graceful in form. Looks like he studied the Stele of Cao Quan, issued by the Magistrate of Heyang. He’s captured a bit of its underlying strength, without any excessive softness. Not many people practice clerical script these days! I haven’t seen such writing in years.”

Xu Yanmiao glanced at Scholar Yue and absentmindedly started chewing on his pen.

[Round and full…]

Meanwhile, Grand Rector Wu of the Imperial Academy enthusiastically invited the Minister of War to an arm-wrestling match. “We’ve been sitting for days, flipping through papers. My arms and wrists are stiff—come on, let’s loosen up!”

The Minister of War’s eyes lit up. “Let’s do it!”

The two men immediately took their seats, locking hands and pushing against each other with equal strength. Their wrists swayed back and forth—first left, then right. Grand Rector Wu’s face turned red, veins bulging on his neck as he exerted himself.

Then, suddenly—

[Wu Grand Rector, that paper in your hand… could it be Liang Youwu’s?]

“Bam—!”

With a grunt from the Minister of War, Grand Rector Wu’s arm slammed onto the table.

The Minister of War grinned. “Well played.”

He hadn’t noticed Xu Yanmiao’s inner thoughts earlier.

But Xu Yanmiao was now eyeing Grand Rector Wu with an intrigued expression.

[This feels… a little too coincidental. Am I overthinking it?]

[The Stele of Cao Quan… Heyang… Returning to Heyang to study… Hmm…]

[And that female statue was round and full, the Cao Quan script is round and full… Is this some kind of hint? Did Wu select Liang Youwu just based on his calligraphy style?]

[Well, since the top classicist has already been decided, it shouldn’t be a problem if I take a peek at the name on that paper, right?]

The Minister of War noticed Grand Rector Wu’s trembling wrist and cast him a meaningful glance. Lowering his voice, he said:

“Grand Rector Wu, that impersonating examinee once said something very true—If you don’t want people to find out… “

[Then don’t do it.]

[Oh ho! It really is Liang Youwu’s name!]

Oh ho!

All the examiners turned in unison toward Grand Rector Wu. His wide, startled eyes said everything.

“This is truly…” Scholar Yue was dumbfounded.

Brazen beyond belief!

No wonder Little Baize had mentioned him earlier—he had been hiding this secret all along!

Grand Rector Wu hardened his expression, trying to stay calm.

No worries—this was all just speculation. He had been very careful and had not accepted any bribes from Liang Youwu! They couldn’t convict him based purely on coincidence, could they?

[Phew, thank goodness. Neither Wu Grand Rector nor Liang Youwu knows that I’m aware of this! Once the ranking is posted and Liang Youwu sees himself as the Classic of Rites top scorer, wouldn’t he, out of gratitude, bring a generous gift to thank Wu?]

[When that happens, we’ll catch them in the act!]

[I’m so smart!]

The Minister of War suddenly let out an exaggerated “Aiya!” and flipped his hand to clasp Grand Rector Wu’s wrist, as if joking. “Wu Grand Rector, your hand goes from cold to hot in an instant? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were wandering the underworld.”

Grand Rector Wu forced a stiff smile and tried to respond calmly. “It must be exhaustion from the past few days. The moment I relaxed, I got hit by an evil wind.”

The Minister of War gave him another meaningful look. “I see. Well, with the ranking about to be announced and the locks opened, you should really find yourself a good physician.”

“Thank you for your concern, Minister.”

A sickly flush crept onto Grand Rector Wu’s face as his heartbeat pounded louder and louder—so much so that he feared others might hear it.

He kept chanting in his mind:

“Liang Youwu, you must not come! Don’t be foolish enough to drag me down with you! You only blackmailed me, you didn’t actually bribe me—so don’t be stupid and show up again!”

A hired servant sat on a stool by the bed, with a steaming basin of tea water beside him. Liang Youwu’s head and neck were hanging off the edge of the bed, while the rest of his body remained snug in his warm blankets.

The servant picked up some mukdenia leaves, rubbing them through Liang Youwu’s hair, carefully cleansing from the roots to the tips.

Just then, Liang Rui entered, glanced at his youngest son, and chuckled. “What made you decide to wash your hair?”

Liang Youwu smiled slightly, his chest vibrating with laughter. “The rankings are about to be announced—I thought I’d clean up and bring myself some good luck.”

On the Wuchen day of the second month, during the nationwide metropolitan examination, a fire broke out at the examination hall. Imperial Censor Jiao Xian locked the gates, resulting in the deaths of over ninety scholars.

— “Ming History”

“When Yang Yi was serving in the Hanlin Academy, he was appointed chief examiner for the metropolitan examination. One day, a fellow countryman who was about to take the exam approached him, saying: ‘Since you’re overseeing the test, could you give me some guidance in advance?’ Yang Yi, deeply offended, flicked his sleeves and stormed off, exclaiming: ‘Utter nonsense!’

Later, Yang Yi, knowing the gravity of the examination, unconsciously favored essays that contained the phrase ‘Utter nonsense’ (Pi Xiu Zai). As a result, all examinees who wrote those words were selected.”@@novelbin@@

— “Yao Shan Tang Wai Ji”

(Essentially, Yang Yi’s exclamation became an unwitting exam clue—those who picked up on it and used ‘Pi Xiu Zai’ in their essays all passed.)

The Stele of Cao Quan is actually called The Han Magistrate of Heyang, Cao Quan’s Stele. In this alternate world, I’ve created a character named Cao Quan, who also served as the Magistrate of Heyang. 😊