Chapter 88

The crux of the matter is that the Yu Qing he knew never read or wrote, and didn't even carry a single scholarly item on him. This had been the case for the few months they had been together, spending his days playing with insects, not at all like a scholar, but more like a masked bandit. There were too many things that didn't add up, and even with a hundred eyes, one couldn't see the potential in him!

Such an unreliable person, who spent his days lying around playing, actually managed to ace the imperial examination with a perfect score. Where could one go to reason about this?

Of course, if one thought about it carefully, there were signs beforehand. It was during the riddle-solving competition at the Wenhua Academy in Lieshou that Brother Shiheng had already demonstrated his extraordinary talent.

Sigh! Xu Fei sighed in his heart, perhaps he really was a hidden gem!

Su Yingtao immediately followed Zhan Muchen's words, "This isn't a mistake on Brother Zhan's part. We didn't see it either. Brother Shiheng is indeed an extraordinary person, with a talent that surpasses the ordinary. But Brother Zhan, your performance was also excellent, ranking thirteenth, which means you outperformed the top candidates from over thirty other prefectures. The literary spirit of Lieshou will surely be greatly invigorated!"

Zhan Muchen was not dissatisfied with his results and was also very happy, as he had fulfilled his duty to himself and his family. However, he still sighed, "Compared to Brother Shiheng, I pale in comparison. It's like a grain of sand trying to shine as brightly as the moon. There's no comparison. Once Brother Shiheng's results are announced in Lieshou, the scholars will surely spread the news, and we, as his fellow candidates from Lieshou, will share in the glory!"

The others nodded in agreement. Fang Wenxian suddenly noticed Xu Fei's silent demeanor and hurriedly said, "Brother Xu also did well."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only the other three but even he himself felt a pang of sorrow.

As the top candidate from Lieshou, Zhan Muchen's success on the imperial examination list was beyond reproach, given his obvious talent. But what about Xu Fei, who ranked over a hundred in the provincial examination and still made the list? How could they, who ranked higher, feel about this?

Upon reflection, he realized he was overthinking it. There was another candidate who ranked over a hundred in the provincial examination, and his performance was even more astonishing. In comparison, Xu Fei's results didn't seem so impressive. Perhaps Xu Fei had some hidden talent that he hadn't shown in the provincial examination. Winning the riddle-solving competition at the Wenhua Academy might have hinted at something.

When praised, Xu Fei felt uneasy. He knew how he had achieved his results and quickly said, "Ranking 155th isn't great; I was just lucky."

He had actually aimed for a higher rank, but even with the exam questions, he couldn't make it into the top hundred. The candidates who came to the capital for the imperial examination were all the best from their respective prefectures, and he couldn't achieve his goal.

Su Yingtao said, "Brother Xu, your words are a slap in the face. You passed, and we didn't."

Pan Wenqing added, "Brother Xu, among the thousands of candidates from all the prefectures, ranking 155th is already a remarkable achievement."

Though they felt a twinge of jealousy, they still had to praise him. Zhan Muchen looked at the four of them and smiled slightly. Some things were better left unsaid. He patted Xu Fei's shoulder, "Don't worry, try again next time. With your talent, you still have a chance." Then he headed toward the public display of the examination results.

The others naturally followed.

With Su Yingtao and the others clearing the way, Zhan Muchen and Xu Fei quickly reached the front and saw the most crowded area where the top candidate's results were displayed.

After a careful read, Zhan Muchen sighed sincerely, "Entering the imperial court in one day, fulfilling one's life's ambition... This line captures the aspirations of countless scholars, filled with grandeur! The final line, 'Fulfilling one's life's ambition,' echoes the beginning, making it a brilliant piece. In terms of 'official rank,' none can surpass this. The poem responds to the exam question with a grand and sweeping momentum, worthy of a perfect score!"

Su Yingtao couldn't help but sincerely praise, "Brother Shiheng's spirit and ambition are truly extraordinary!"

Pan Wenqing smiled bitterly, "As Brother Zhan said, it's a grand and sweeping spirit! When Brother Shiheng put pen to paper in the examination hall, he must have been confident of his success!"

Xu Fei scratched his chin, finding it hard to reconcile this poem with his impression of Yu Qing. He couldn't see the grand spirit in him, only a few traits of deceit and trickery. He found it hard to imagine that a person who valued money over life could write such a grand poem. It seemed unfair!

However, he had seen Yu Qing's handwriting before, during the riddle-solving competition. Yu Qing's handwriting was indeed excellent, and he could recognize it now.

The group continued to praise, but Zhan Muchen, not listening, carefully read the other exam papers. Unlike the poem, these essays left him even more amazed, "A masterpiece, written in one breath! 'The emperor receives his mandate from heaven...' Reading this line, I am again in awe. Brother Shiheng has the talent to turn the tide with his pen, a skill I cannot match!"

When the group had finished their inspection and moved on to look at other candidates' answers, Zhan Muchen still sighed sincerely, "To witness Brother Shiheng's grand essay today, my heart is stirred, and I have learned much. This trip has been worthwhile, truly worthwhile!"

Not long after the group left, a carriage stopped nearby.

Yu Qing, expressionless and calm, lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

Du Fei, who followed, nodded in approval. To remain so composed in the face of such a monumental event truly befit a gentleman, just like his father!

He had caught up with Yu Qing later, as riding in the capital was not allowed, and he had pulled Yu Qing into the carriage to bring him here.

As soon as the two left, a clerk from the Lieshou Guild also arrived.

The thin man lifted the curtain and, seeing the empty carriage, immediately turned to his companions, "What are you waiting for? Go find him!"

The group quickly dismounted and tied their horses to the posts.

Yu Qing stood under the archway, staring at the name on the list. The three characters 'Shiheng' were shockingly prominent.

Seeing this, Du Fei's lips tightened, and his eyes welled up. He thought, "The old master can now rest in peace!"

Without a word, Yu Qing turned and walked away. His basic judgment was still intact; he headed toward the most crowded area, pushing his way through the crowd with his cultivation, easily bypassing the ordinary people.

Standing before the familiar exam paper, Yu Qing's face, which had been expressionless, finally showed a hint of despair.

He couldn't believe it, even after seeing the messenger, even though his heart was in turmoil. How could he have passed? How could he have become the top candidate with a perfect score? This was a lie!

Even after seeing his name at the top of the list, even though his heart was even more troubled, he still couldn't believe it.

He had written the exam himself; how could he not know? Someone must be playing a trick!

Only now, seeing his own exam paper with his own eyes, did the turmoil in his heart finally break, and he began to show signs of collapse.

But he still tried to remain calm, carefully examining the content. Could someone have tampered with it?

It was possible. Maybe an enemy of A Jiezhang had discovered his son and deliberately done something.

However, after reading all four exam papers, he found no issues. It was indeed his original exam paper, and he could recite the content, so he couldn't have remembered it wrong.

A fleeting rational thought told him that an enemy of A Jiezhang wouldn't be so foolish as to risk such a dangerous act in the examination hall. What would be the point?

Could the exam papers have been misjudged?

He remembered the essay. Though the language was obscure and he didn't fully understand it, he could at least recognize the characters. He thought he could grasp the general meaning. The answer was clearly off-topic, yet it received a perfect score. Was he being mocked for not having a proper education?

He had seen Mr. Ming's answer beforehand and, based on Mr. Ming's interpretation, thought Mr. Ming had also answered off-topic. No wonder Mr. Ming had failed nine times. So, he had confidently used Mr. Ming's answer.

Who would have thought that the off-topic answer would receive a perfect score? How could he accept this?

He had run here from the Zhong residence without showing any emotion, even packing his belongings, ready to leave. But then came the news of his perfect score as the top candidate. It was as if the sky had fallen.

He wanted to shout, "Which blind official graded this paper?"

But his rational mind told him that a paper displayed publicly couldn't be that far off, no matter how different it might seem.

Because of this, his expression, as he stared at the exam paper, became even more distorted, his teeth bared, his face contorted, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. He wanted to drag Mr. Ming out and beat him to a pulp, to vent his anger. He had never been so angry in his life!

You've failed nine times in over twenty years, but you help me with a question and I pass, and not just pass, but become the top candidate with a perfect score, after a sleepless night and a rushed answer!

No matter how many reasons he could think of, he couldn't accept it!

He couldn't find any reason for his success!

He couldn't find any reason for such a huge mistake!

Failing nine times in over twenty years, and then passing with a casual answer? Not only passing, but becoming the top candidate? And not just that, but a perfect score, a once-in-a-century achievement? And you claim to be the 'Afternoon Mr.' who failed nine times?

He wanted to tear the exam paper from the wall and eat it, then poke out his own eyes to thank A Shiheng!

Why did he choose the 'Afternoon Mr.' to answer the question? Any other person would have been better!

His rational mind told him that if given another chance, he might still choose Mr. Ming. Who could be safer than someone who had failed nine times?

Du Fei had squeezed next to Yu Qing. Though he didn't fully understand the answers, he saw the perfect score and thought it must be good. He whispered, "We should copy it down. The master will want a copy, so we don't have to send someone again. By the way, do you remember it? If so, you can write it down when you get back."

"Write your grandfather!" Yu Qing, who usually called Du Fei 'Uncle Du,' spat out a curse and walked away.

Du Fei stood there, stunned, thinking he had heard wrong.

Yu Qing walked out of the crowd and looked up at the sky. He made a firm decision in his heart: as the leader of Linglong Temple, he would establish a rule that all disciples must read and study!