History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 65 Du Ling's attempt to find fault fails
Regardless, the joint examination for the state academies was finally made up for. However, Governor Yuan was still furious. He saw at the Cui Academy that the Han students all took today's exam very seriously, but what about these imperial princes?

People dare to fight in groups these days! The new school decree is not just a reform of primary school curriculum, but also a decree from the imperial court!
These scoundrels are all talk and no action, how dare they be so disrespectful! They know they can't be severely punished, so they'll just give extra rewards to those with outstanding performance!
Wei Xue Guan (尉学馆).

During the midday grading period, the staff distributed food, and the students sat in small groups, some asking each other how the morning exam went, and others guessing what the afternoon exam would be like.

Wei Mao and Wei Jing went to refill Wei Yao and Wei Zhen's water bottles with hot water. When they returned, Wei Jing said happily, "We went to the grading area and listened for a while. The teachers were praising our classmate Yao for answering the questions so well."

Wei Zhen had already come to terms with it, but then she pouted and said, "Hmph, I didn't answer a single question in the last test."

Wei Mao: "If you take the test like this again, I'll teach you two a good way to avoid handing in a blank paper. Just finish writing down the questions you know how to answer. Don't try to do too much at once and end up losing at both ends."

Wei Yao was just about to drink some water when she glanced at him with a smile. Noticing his expression turn suspicious, she turned around to look at him in the direction he was looking.

It's Master Du, coming this way.

The other person didn't approach, but called out to Wei Yao, "Wei Yao, come here for a moment."

Wei Maoxian stood up and shook her head at Mao Tongmeng.

Wei Yao followed Master Du alone to a quieter spot. Du Ling impatiently waved his sleeve, stopping her bowing gesture, and seized the opportunity to question her: "I saw your answers. In the second round of the quiz, when you answered questions on bamboo slips, did you deliberately write fewer words on the first few slips to finish quickly and create tension among your fellow students?"

Wei Yao, neither humble nor arrogant, retorted: "Master, you are speculating about my intentions based on this. I have always remembered the proper etiquette of respecting teachers and daring not to contradict you. But please teach me how to explain this in a way that is both respectful and believable to you?"

"I say one thing and you say three, isn't that talking back?"

"The Master just spoke four sentences, and I will only reply with four sentences."

Du Ling's breathing quickened with anger, and he changed his tone to lecture, "Since I came to teach you, I've thought about not only teaching you academic subjects well, but also teaching you moral character. Wei Yao, if you answer questions normally, no one can surpass you right now. Why bother trying to leave your classmates who are not as good as you even further behind, making them unable to concentrate on answering questions and getting even worse grades? If they all do poorly in the future, how well can you do on your own?"

Wei Yao didn't respond. At this point, saying "This disciple has learned much" would be tantamount to admitting what he said. Yes, he was entirely right, but so what! Even if her fellow disciples were all successful and strong in the future, none of them could compare to her own success and strength!

It was too late to say anything more at this point. Du Ling gave a final warning: "That's enough. The exam is over. I won't bring it up again. Don't think about it too much either. Focus on the exam this afternoon and don't let other schools outperform our Wei Academy."

Just as Wei Yao returned to her seat, the results for the morning session were announced.

Senior Brother Xue Nixia came to her area to take attendance. Those whose names were called were eliminated and would not have to take the afternoon exam. Four students from the same dormitory were called: Wu Ji, Wei Jian, Wei Jiezhi, and Qu Rong.

More than half of the students at the Bu Family Academy have left.

The eliminated students had to move all their belongings, causing chaos and noise as they cleared space and rearranged tables. Wu Ji came over to say goodbye, wiping two lines of tears with his saliva, which disgusted Wei Yao and the others.

A student who had been rejected from the second dormitory ran over, handed Wei Yao a thin piece of paper, and stammered, "Wei Yao, I like..."

"Happy my ass!" Wei Mao snatched the note, his sharp eyebrows blazing as he yelled at the other person, "Get lost!"

He yelled at the person to leave, then immediately tore the note to shreds, making it seem as if the person had come to confess their feelings to him.

Wei Yao acted as if nothing had happened.

As Wei Mao helped her carry the desk inside, he got down to business: "That scoundrel Du Ling secretly tutored Qu Rong for several days, all for nothing. I don't believe he's not angry. Did he scold you again when he came to you just now?"

"Speak your mind if you feel wronged." Wei Yao recounted the two questions and answers from earlier, as well as the other party's hypocritical preaching. Wei Mao listened with a smile and casually praised, "So you have the ability to predict the future. You answered every word he said."

It wasn't that they had foresight; they were simply familiar with Du Ling's methods of finding fault.

On the other side, Bu Yanzhen, his ears red, took the initiative to help Wei Zhen move her desk. Seeing that he remained silent, Wei Zhen could only speak first: "How did your exam go this morning?"

Bu Yanzhen was embarrassed: "I almost wrote a blank paper for the last question."

He was straightening his desk when Wei Zhen leaned closer, bent down, and whispered, "Me too."

Bu Yanzhen was even more at a loss, and said in a trembling voice, "I will go back to help my fellow disciples."

Seeing him running away as if he were fleeing, Wei Zhen knew that Bu Yanzhen probably didn't joke around with his fellow disciples much. Others might find this kind of personality boring, but she liked it.

At 1-3 PM, the afternoon session began.

The exam questions surprised the students; there was only one question, which was to list all the poems they had learned so far. Whoever finished first could leave first, and the students of Weishi Academy didn't need to worry about their desks, as servants would help them return to their dormitories.

This exam was the most serious and non-teasing one in the history of the joint entrance examination.

Wei Yao was the first to hand in her paper, and then waited by the examination hall. After Wei Mao, Wei Zhen, and Wei Jing finished answering their questions, the four of them headed to Hexi Street together, as they had agreed beforehand.

To ensure safety and avoid alerting the enemy, Wei Mao and his two companions' servants were all disguised as farmers, peddlers, or ordinary travelers, as instructed.

Only then did Wei Yao tell her companions about the strange behavior she had seen Duan Dalang exhibit in front of the Changyi Pavilion the day before. None of them were the type to stay at home and study to death, and they knew from the name that the Changyi Pavilion was a kind of entertainment venue.

Wei Jing said with disgust, "No matter what difficulties Duan Dalangjun may have, he shouldn't have gone to that kind of place at this time!"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Wei Zhen said, "But have you ever considered that Master Duan has devoted all his attention to our Wei Academy, which is why he has neglected to educate his own son?"

These words made Wei Yao's nose sting with tears: "Yes, Zhen is right. What I'm thinking is that Duan Dalangjun is older than us, and he must have read more books and understand more principles than us, so why does he have to go to the music and dance hall at this time? Is there something so important that he can't bear to go during this period of time?"

Wei Mao: "You mean...it's related to Master Duan's fall?!"

Wei Jing: "Why didn't he say anything that day?"

Wei Mao: "You've been reading supernatural tales for nothing. Some things don't have any clear evidence."

Wei Yao nodded. Talking to smart people is so much easier!
In fact, Wei Mao felt the same way! He asked her directly, "Have you thought about how to investigate this matter?"

"Before the clues become clear, I think we should carefully walk around the area around the Music Pavilion to determine the location where Master Duan fell."

Wei Mao: "Understood. I'll come over again early tomorrow morning, following the same route that Master usually takes when he teaches us, to see what the street looks like in the early morning, whether it's lively or chaotic."

He was pleased by Wei Yao's approving look, but then he realized that she had already thought about all of this.

When the four arrived at Hexi Street, Du Tongding crawled out through a hole in the wall of the state academy. Luckily, he wasn't seriously injured. He needed to find a place to hide from Xi Jiao for a couple of days. Where to hide? Aha! The Open-Clothes Pavilion!

(End of this chapter)