Volume One: Morning as a Humble Farmer Chapter 58: The Academy Examination Begins

A wave of laughter surged through the hall like the rising tide.

Jin Ruizhe’s face twisted in rage. He pointed at Chu Liu, ready to hurl abuse, but Magistrate Chen Liangbin raised his hand, and the bailiff’s sharp voice rang out: “Silence!”

The hall instantly fell quiet.

“Su Wei, in this county exam, how many questions did Scholar Xie accurately predict?”

“Sir, he correctly predicted two and a half.”

Chen Liangbin pondered for a moment, then turned to Chu Liu with a smile. “Scholar Xie, let us make an agreement. If you predict a question from the prefectural exam, this county will reward you with two hundred taels of silver. What do you think?”

“This student is willing to try. If I am wrong, I hope Your Excellency will not blame me,” Chu Liu agreed readily.

Returning home, he discussed with his master, and together they studied the possible topics. Regardless of whether his predictions would hit the mark, he planned to submit a dozen or so. Who could say? One might be correct.

“I am innocent. I predicted a few questions, and Jin Ruizhe falsely accused me of cheating to cut off my path in the imperial examinations. If such conduct is not severely punished, everyone might follow suit in the future. Would not the integrity of the exams be ruined? Magistrate, I beg you to uphold justice for your student!”

Not giving Jin Ruizhe a chance to defend himself, Chu Liu pressed on.

Jin Ruizhe’s face drained of color. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his eyes darted in panic, and he dared not utter a word.

After a moment, wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he forced himself to speak: “Scholar Xie did not cheat. It was a misunderstanding on my part, a slip of the tongue with no ill intent. I beg the magistrate’s kindness and forgiveness for my offense!”

Now he wished to admit fault?

Too late!

Chen Liangbin looked at Jin Ruizhe with undisguised disdain, enunciating each word: “The imperial examination is a matter of the utmost importance. You think you can brush this off as a slip of the tongue? Dream on.”

“Your learning is shallow and your temperament restless. Allowing you to pass the county exam was my greatest mistake. Go home, study diligently, cultivate your character. For the next three years, you are barred from the county examination…”

With a dull thud, Jin Ruizhe collapsed like a sack of mud.

A magistrate could destroy a household with a single word. In Xuan County, Chen Liangbin’s verdict sealed Jin Ruizhe’s fate.

If, three years later, Chen Liangbin chose leniency, Jin Ruizhe might have some hope. But if he kept harping on this matter, no one would dare stand as his guarantor, not even a stipend student.

Chen Liangbin waved his hand, and the bailiff called for two constables outside to drag Jin Ruizhe away.

Out in the street, Jin Ruizhe finally realized what had happened and broke down, screaming, “Your Excellency, I was only momentarily foolish! Please don’t annul my results…”

Jin Ruizhe was thrown out of the county yamen, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Dazed and distraught, he stumbled home.

Inside the hall, the remaining examinees were silent as cicadas in winter.

Having crossed the threshold of the county examination, they had felt a surge of pride, considering themselves a cut above the rest.

But Jin Ruizhe’s fate abruptly extinguished their pride.

At the same time, they understood a fundamental truth of life: too many words bring trouble, and disaster comes from careless speech.

This was the magistrate’s first lesson to them—a warning to be prudent in all they said and did.

Chu Liu took his leave.

Soon after, Chen Liangbin also departed.

The examinees found the banquet tasteless and, after picking at their food, hurried off.

…

Time slipped by, and the prefectural examination came to an end.

Forty from Xuan County attended the exam; fourteen became licentiates, among them Su Wei, Jiang Ping, and Su Zijian.

Chu Liu successfully predicted one question. Chen Liangbin kept his word, awarding Wen Lancang and Chu Liu one hundred taels of silver each.

Chu Liu had already explained that he and his master had worked out the topics together.

In this period, Wen Lancang not only tutored Chu Liu and the other two, but also diligently prepared himself.

He decided to sit for the June academy examination as well.

…

“What’s wrong? Why are you so nervous?”

Chu Liu noticed Su Biao’s legs trembling slightly, his palms slick with sweat, and quickly took his hand.

“I don’t know. I just feel scared,” Su Biao replied. Feeling Chu Liu’s steady grip eased his nerves a little. He couldn’t help but ask, “Why aren’t you the least bit nervous?”

Why should I be nervous as a guaranteed candidate?

Chu Liu did not reveal the truth. Instead, he comforted Su Biao: “Of course I’m nervous. It’s normal to feel anxious before an exam, but excessive nerves can interfere with your mindset and logic. You need to learn to adjust.”

“Come, follow me. Exhale, inhale, exhale again, inhale again…”

After several rounds of deep breathing, Chu Liu asked, “Do you feel better now?”

“Much better!” Su Biao replied. “It’s just that seeing so many examinees, I feel my chances are so slim I can’t help being nervous.”

Chu Liu glanced around.

There were over a thousand academy examinees, including many older students who had been sitting the exam for years, tirelessly chasing after fame until their hair turned white.

Pass this hurdle, and one became a scholar, a man of standing. Fail, and the years would slip by in vain.

No one knew what fate had in store.

Yet the heart longing to try would never die.

Chu Liu patiently encouraged Su Biao, “Don’t scare yourself. Those old candidates are just background; you and I are the main act. If they were capable, they would have passed long ago—why keep trying year after year? Besides, under our master’s guidance, we’ve practiced so many questions; perhaps we’ll hit upon the right ones. The academy examination is nothing to fear…”

Off to the side, Su Laibao could only frown, unable to help his son.

Hearing Chu Liu comfort his son filled his heart with warmth.

He had made the right choice.

Su Biao’s heart gradually calmed.

Wen Lancang nodded slightly, eyes full of comfort and approval.

His disciple possessed both knowledge and methods unknown to others.

Such a pupil had a promising future.

“Scholar Xie!”

A delighted cry cut through the air. Everyone turned to see Chu Zhaonan and his family approaching with beaming smiles.

Yuexi called out, bounding toward them like a lively fawn.

At the sight of Yuexi, Chu Liu’s heart lit up; he could not conceal his joy and hurried forward. “Yuexi, when did you arrive in Qingzhou?”

“Father took us sightseeing through many famous places. We’ve been in Qingzhou for less than half a month. Oh, and we’re now staying at the state academy. Once you finish the exam, you must come study there—we’ll continue our martial training…”

Yuexi’s smile bloomed, eager to pour out everything at once.

Clang!

Suddenly, the gong sounded.

The academy examination was about to begin.

Chu Zhaonan nodded. “Line up and enter. As long as you do your best, you’ll all pass.”

Wen Lancang waved them forward and led the two children to queue.

The inspection for the academy exam was stricter than ever.

Examination permits were checked and rechecked, and any discrepancy in physique or appearance was questioned.

Gaining weight from overeating or losing weight from illness—both required lengthy explanations.

This time, it was even more intrusive. During the body search, every part was touched.

When a hand brushed between Chu Liu’s legs, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

He imagined the old examinees being searched there; if they reacted, how mortifying it would be.

He thought, too, of the play “The Female Imperial Consort,” with its cross-dressing heroine—how had she managed to pass inspection?

At last, the procedures ended, and Chu Liu took his numbered token into the examination booth.

Inside, a thick stench of ammonia hit him.

He glanced at the chamber pot and scowled in disgust. It hadn’t been cleaned, and there were two holes in the lid.