Chapter 57

When Xun Yi woke up, it was already the evening of the fifth day of the lunar month.

During dinner, Li Xinghong told him about the dual examination system.

Xun Yi frowned: "No wonder it's so strict this time. Could it be that our dynasty is preparing to emulate Qianming and carry out a major reform of the imperial examination system?"

"Perhaps," Li Xinghong said. "Just now, Lord Zhu sent a letter saying that this time the grading will be done by Deputy Minister of Personnel, Song Baode."

"Song Baode?" Xun Yi put down his chopsticks. Wasn't this the person who had tried to block the inheritance of the noble title to him when Xun Yu was on his deathbed?

Back then, Xun Yu, on his deathbed, wanted the emperor to pass the noble title to Xun Yi. However, a group of people led by Song Baode used the excuse that Xun Yi was too young, fearing that he would be arrogant and extravagant, and that he might die young, so the noble title of the Xun family was left vacant for the time being.

Noble titles, unless during the early stages of the founding of the dynasty, were rarely granted now. If one could be taken away, it might be possible to reclaim the Xun family's fiefdom for the court in the future. Therefore, the current emperor tacitly agreed to wait until Xun Yi came of age before making a decision.

"I see, so this time it's aimed at me!" Xun Yi's eyes turned cold, and he began to think: Song Baode wants to target me through the examination papers. There are only the first literary examination and the third political examination where he can do so. The second mathematical examination has standard answers, making it difficult to find fault with Xun Yi.

"I'm not worried about the first part of the literary examination, as it has fixed answers. But the part that uses historical analogies and the final essay might be problematic. If he recognizes my paper, he might use it as an opportunity to suppress my ranking and score."

As Xun Yi had guessed, Song Baode and his five companions deliberately looked for Xun Yi's paper while grading.

"Grade the first part first, and then give me the papers with all correct answers," Song Baode said, sipping his tea, his hatred surging uncontrollably.

"Xun Yuan, you ruined my literary path, so don't blame me for targeting your son."

The literary path relies on human nature, integrating Confucian and Legalist principles, and has five stages of cultivation. Completing all five stages allows one to transform into a celestial being. Besides the heavenly-bestowed path of achieving merit, one can also accumulate literary qi by writing books and passing down knowledge. There is even a more convenient shortcut—the imperial examinations.

The God of Literature personally oversees the imperial examinations, cultivating seeds of literary deities.

Starting from the local examinations, every scholar who wins the title of Jieyuan (top candidate) is granted divine power by the God of Literature, lighting up their literary destiny and beginning their cultivation of the literary path.

This is the first stage, the establishment of the literary heart, where the heart is as clear as a lake and the qi is pale white.

At the metropolitan examination, the God of Literature grants another divine power to those who win the title of Huiyuan (top candidate), advancing them to the second stage of the literary path—establishing words. With a wealth of poetry and literature, the qi is rich and dark, comparable to a deity. They can use poetry and prose to move the spirits, which is the literary divine word technique used by officials like Wenpan.

If one can win the title of Zhuangyuan (top candidate) at the palace examination, the God of Literature grants a third divine power, advancing them to the third stage of the literary path—establishing merit. Winning all three titles is an extremely difficult achievement. Such people are remembered for eternity and possess the power of the three stages of the literary path. Wenpan, the current official, is at this stage. Many people stop here. Although Ke Zhuangyuan is a literary deity, he did not win all three titles in his lifetime, so he only received the blessing of the God of Literature once and gradually cultivated his literary qi.

The Zhuangyuan who wins all three titles is the backbone of future literary deities. In the Great Zhou Dynasty and throughout history, such people are few and far between.

Song Baode was once the top scholar in his county, easily winning the title of Jieyuan. However, he was defeated by Xun Yuan in the metropolitan examination, only managing to place second, while Xun Yuan won the title of Huiyuan, advancing to the second stage of the literary path.

Xun Yuan won two titles in a row and, by his literary talent, could have been a Zhuangyuan. However, winning all three titles and moving the spirits with literature would make it difficult for such a talent to serve the court.

Each scholar who wins all three titles is marked by the God of Literature. In the future, it would be difficult for the court to control their influence. They might even become a living sage.

After winning all three titles, one is considered half a literary deity, registered in the Wenxiang Palace, and can participate in the Wenxiang Examination held every twelve years, competing with scholars from other countries in the Great Zhou region.

If one wins again, achieving four titles, they are granted the fourth divine power by the God of Literature, advancing to the fourth stage of the literary path—establishing destiny.

The heart is filled with pearls and jade, the qi is presented in five colors. The heart is like a brocade, and the land is like a painting.

At this stage, the literary qi transforms into five colors, and one is respected in Confucianism. Wenxiang, as an evil deity, is at this level and is already a high-ranking literary deity. After death, one can directly join the literary deity system and become a subordinate deity of the three emperors.

Under the rule of the Heavenly Court, the nine great continents hold a competition every sixty years, where scholars with four titles compete in the final literary path competition under the watch of the three emperors.

If one wins again, achieving five titles, they directly transform into a celestial being.

Becoming a celestial being in sixty years is the fastest path for literary deities. With five consecutive titles, one can become a celestial being in one step!

Therefore, the court is very cautious about the ranking of Huiyuan in the palace examination. If a Huiyuan has already won two titles, they generally do not give them the title of Zhuangyuan.

After winning three titles, one's destiny belongs to the God of Literature, and even the emperor cannot easily decide their fate. Thus, the previous emperor suppressed Xun Yuan, and given his romantic nature, he was given the third place, Tanhua.

Since ancient times, Tanhua has been known for their romantic nature, sometimes even more prominent than the top candidates. As for the Zhuangyuan, the previous emperor chose Song Baode based on his personal preference.

Thus, both Xun Yuan and Song Baode only received two blessings from the God of Literature and could not participate in the Wenxiang Examination with three titles.

Thinking about how he lost the opportunity to become a celestial being because of Xun Yuan, Song Baode harbored resentment towards the Xun family.

"If I can't achieve three titles, neither will your son!"

Xun Yi had many works circulating in recent years, not to mention the two books he wrote. Song Baode, being a meticulous person, collected and studied Xun Yi's handwriting. Although the works did not have the special characters used in the original manuscripts due to the printing process, the movable type used was based on Xun Yi's handwriting, so the brushstrokes still revealed some of his style.

Moreover, the special characters used in the examination papers would expose Xun Yi's identity.

After a day of grading, they selected five papers with all correct answers in the first part.

"If Xun Yuan's son can't even get all the answers right in the first part, he won't get the title of Jieyuan even without my intervention."

The five papers were neatly written, but one was stained with ink. Song Baode shook his head and set it aside: "The paper is not neat, deduct points."

Then, he compared the other four papers and set one aside: "This paper is stiff and lacks creativity, even though all the answers are correct. Set it aside for now."

He then passed the remaining three papers to the others. The major questions in the second part of the papers were clear and well-argued. After the five of them reviewed them, they nodded and let Song Baode set them aside.

"Unless something unexpected happens, these people can directly become Juren (scholar-officials)."

Even without the results of the next two examinations, the first paper alone showed that these three had the talent to become Juren.

"Moreover, Xun Yi should be among them." Song Baode stared intently at one of the papers. The special characters used were very noticeable: "Mao," "Yu," "Yuan," "Yun"...

"The Duke of Maode from the Xun family, as well as his grandfather, father, and mother's names. It must be him!" Song Baode secretly condemned this paper and selected his favorite one.

"This paper has a restrained literary qi, like orchids and clouds. It seems the God of Literature favors this student. Moreover, his insights into agriculture and nomadic civilizations are profound. It subtly points out the differences between the Heavenly Court and foreign deities."

"Excellent, excellent. How can the vast and magnificent Heavenly Court of our Nine Provinces be compared to those barbarian deities?" Seeing the clear stance in the paper, even if the language in the last part was somewhat flawed, Song Baode was unwilling to be too critical.

"Ah-choo—" Xun Yi suddenly sneezed. While Song Baode was grading the papers, they had already started the second examination.

The second examination was about mathematics and engineering, even including a ledger for practical calculations.

"Fortunately, I learned these things from a young age." Xun Yi felt lucky, thinking his luck was really good. He had encountered familiar questions in both examinations. "But when it comes to mathematics, Liu Zhenying was the best. I wonder how he is doing now? And Li Junde, did Liu Zhenying's tutoring help him?"

He quickly wrote down his answers, feeling no pressure in this examination.

The God of Literature stood behind him, watching him answer the questions, then went to check the papers of Xun Sheng and others. In the second examination, there were still three people with all correct answers. Besides the two Xun family members, there was another student from elsewhere in the county.

"It seems we can only determine the winner in the third examination."

The third examination was about political essays, testing the students' sensitivity to politics and their ability to handle affairs. After becoming Juren, they would be qualified to serve as officials. If they couldn't handle practical matters, what good would poetry and literature be?

Thus, the political essay asked about how to judge cases and manage the livelihood of the people.

Xun Yi rubbed his chin, recalling what he had learned in the City God's Temple. "Wenpan taught me these case-handling skills, and they are indeed useful!"

Determined to offer incense to Wenpan later, Xun Yi read the last two questions.

The last two questions involved current political issues. One asked about how to respond to the invasion of the northern barbarians. Xun Yi knew little about military strategy but had studied a lot due to his family background.

"Well, even if it's just theoretical, I answered the other questions well, so I should get a good score."

The other question asked about the measures to take as an official when an epidemic breaks out, with additional constraints on food supplies and military forces.

A few days ago, Xun Yi had a practical learning experience in Miaoxian.

"Good deeds bring good returns; I believe this now!" Xun Yi had acted out of kindness to help people in Miaoxian, and now it was all paying off.

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. The ancients were not wrong!"

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Bookworm's Tea Room

Regarding Xun Yi's name, Xun (xun) Yi (yi) is pronounced correctly, not gou. Please don't call him Gou Yi.

Also, regarding Feng Ye's name, Feng (feng) Ye (ye) is pronounced correctly, not hua. Please don't call him Feng Hua.

Of the three main characters in the three books, Changming's name is the easiest to pronounce, even though it has three characters. Mobile users, please visit http://m.piaotia.net

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