Joy of Life: Starting from Teacher Fan Xian

Chapter 61 The Sixty-First No. Scholar
The question of the palace examination was a policy question with great profound meaning. Lin Ruo held the pen and fell silent for the first time.

“Is it a problem for an official to be capable but corrupt?”

As he pondered over the question, many thoughts came to his mind, but Lin Ruo was unable to put pen to paper.

As a person with modern consciousness, he naturally adheres to the way of being an official. He should be capable but not greedy, serve the people wholeheartedly and benefit the people. This is the right way.

But this avenue is obviously not feasible in this future feudal society.

In the treacherous and bizarre court, power politics prevails and the emperor emphasizes checks and balances. He would never tolerate a capable and clean minister standing in the hall.

Lin Ruofu is the most vivid example.

As a poor student, he worked in the court for decades and was praised for his integrity. However, after becoming the prime minister, his personality changed overnight, he took countless bribes and became greedy, which made him hated by the upright people in the world.

Everything about this is like a deal. To reach a high position, apart from having the ability, one must be obedient.

The prerequisite for being obedient is undoubtedly to hand over one's own handle. Only when His Majesty the Emperor holds a sharp knife that can kill people will he feel at ease to consider the latter's ability.

Half an hour passed and Lin Ruo still hadn't started writing.

Compared with this, other tribute scholars have begun to get better.

Several scholars from the Hanlin Academy were patrolling the examination room. When they saw this scene, they couldn't help but wonder, "Is this question difficult?"

The champion who once spent three hours on a ten thousand word essay now has not made a single stroke. What is blocking his thoughts?

After looking at each other, several scholars from the Hanlin Academy showed disappointment in their eyes.

In fact, Lin Ruo has already found the best entry point. He is just thinking about a very basic question: what kind of person he wants to be.

What kind of people write what kind of articles.

Lin Ruo smiled: "Of course I have to be a capable person who serves the people."

Lin Ruo wrote the first line in a smooth and flowing manner: As an official, you should hate evil as much as you hate others.

Just one hour later, the five thousand words of policy questions appeared on the paper. Lin Ruo took a deep breath and felt that the depression in his heart had completely dissipated.

His eyes slowly swept across the court, and Lin Ruo did not make any extra movements. Two scholars from the Hanlin Academy came over following the sound, thinking that there was some doubt.

But when they saw the student handing over the examination paper with both hands, the two scholars were stunned, exchanged glances silently, and looked at the time. Only an hour and a half had passed.

One of the Hanlin Academy scholars asked in a low voice, "Do you really want to hand in the paper?"

Lin Ruo nodded with certainty.

After taking the papers, the two scholars from the Hanlin Academy walked out of the hall silently.

In another side hall, two scholars were immersed in appreciating the policy paper and then evaluating and scoring it.

"how?"

"It was beyond my expectation. I saw a lot of ambition in the article. I didn't expect that such a good article with both form and spirit could appear nowadays."

The scholar from the Imperial Academy gave a very high evaluation, but his breath was stagnant, and he said in a deep voice: "But it is obviously impossible to become the top scholar."

Another scholar responded with a sigh: "It's too good to be true, but no one can achieve such an ambition."

"Yes, just like Mr. Shu, the Grand Secretary." The scholar from the Hanlin Academy replied.

"Then, can I get into the top three?"

"Yes, he will definitely be among the top three." A scholar said confidently.

"Then send it to His Majesty, and pick the two best ones after all the candidates have finished their examinations. Your Majesty is the real decision maker for the top prize, and our words don't count."

……

"Your Majesty, Lin Huiyuan's paper."

In the spacious study, Eunuch Hou came forward with the test paper. Emperor Qing's eyes lit up and he took the paper: "You answered so quickly?"

"This student has always been like this, always unbelievable." Eunuch Hou praised him generously. His Majesty admired this boy very much. On the surface, he was praising Lin Huiyuan, but in fact he was flattering his master's ideas.

Spreading out the test paper, Emperor Qing read it word by word, his expression gradually changing from joy at the beginning to expressionless.

After an incense stick of time passed, Emperor Qing closed the test paper and suddenly his face darkened: "How can he be so naive and ignore even the slightest bit? It's simply absurd."

Eunuch Hou, who was observing the situation from the side, immediately saw the problem and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please don't ruin your health. Young people who have just entered the officialdom are all like this. Just endure a little hardship and temper your temper."

"In the palace, he doesn't look like a rigid and upright person." Emperor Qing rubbed his brows and pretended to think, "Bring someone to see me."

……

"Lin Huiyuan, when you see His Majesty later, don't follow the path written on the test paper."

As soon as he was led out of the Taiji Hall, Eunuch Hou was eager to give Lin Ruo a shot of prevention, and gave him many instructions, fearing that the young man would be too stubborn and annoy His Majesty.

Lin Ruo nodded and said nothing.

Outside the study hall, Eunuch Hou glanced at the young man and said in a deep voice, "Lin Huiyuan, wait a moment. I will go ahead and report first."

Lin Ruo nodded, but unexpectedly, Eunuch Hou came out sighing after a while.

His Majesty doesn’t want to see me...Lin Ruo was a little confused.

"Your Majesty is tired." Eunuch Hou said without surprise.

On the surface, he didn't see me, but in fact he had already finished knocking on the door. His refusal to let me in obviously meant that he was not satisfied and wanted me to go back and make changes.

Lin Ruo knew what he was thinking very clearly.

"Can the person leave?"

In the study, a slightly hunched figure looked calmly at the memorial in his hand.

"Your Majesty, I have sent someone to send it back to Taiji Palace." Eunuch Hou replied hurriedly.

"Lin Huiyuan is a smart man and will understand what your majesty means."

"It is precisely the smart people who don't understand what I mean." Emperor Qing sneered, "No tears will be shed if no blood is seen."

Not long after, the palace examination ended and the other two graded papers were sent to the study.

Emperor Qing took a quick look and was quite pleased with it.

After quickly scoring and ranking the A's, Emperor Qing handed the papers over and said, "Go and announce the results of the palace examination as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Hou lowered his head to take the paper, glanced at it briefly, and suddenly froze. However, he regained his composure after a moment and left the study without saying a word.

Regaining his indifferent expression, Emperor Qing continued to look at the memorial in his hand, and said, "Take your time to read it. There's no rush."

……

As the sun set, the carriage of the Fan Mansion left the palace gate. Teng Zijing drove the carriage, staring at the gentleman in the carriage and the imperial edict tightly held in his hand. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Sir, how is it?"

"The first place in the first class will be appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy." Lin Ruo looked out the window and answered without knowing what he meant.

Teng Zijing was delighted: "You have won the first place in the imperial examination and have achieved great success. Congratulations, sir."

Soon he realized that the gentleman didn't seem to be in a very good mood, so Teng Zijing quickly fell silent.

Lin Ruo turned around and smiled, "Actually, I'm in a good mood."

...

(After thinking about it, I decided to set a minimum update standard of more than 8500 words per day on weekdays and to words on weekends. I have to do it. Today I updated words, and tomorrow I hope to update words.)
(End of this chapter)