The Red Mansion

Chapter 72: Predicting the Topic for the Provincial Examination (Part 1)
It's already the end of March.

In late spring, willows are swaying and peach blossoms are in full bloom.

At 4:45 PM that afternoon, Qu Jishan finished teaching and suddenly said to Jiang Nian, "My father wants to see you. He wants to invite you to my house for a meal. Would you like to go?"

When Jiang Nian heard this, a surge of joy spread in his heart like spring water.

He had long wanted to visit Qu Jishan's father, Qu Tai. Qu Tai was a second-rank cabinet scholar, profoundly learned and highly respected. Furthermore, he suspected Qu Tai would become a high-ranking official in the imperial court. If he could gain his favor, it would be a significant opportunity.

Because he was not in a position to initiate a visit, he had originally planned to look for an opportunity to go in early April. However, today Qu Jishan took the initiative to invite him, saying that Qu Tai wanted to see him and invited him to his home for a meal, which was exactly what he wanted, and he was naturally very happy.

"I'm so grateful for your kindness, old gentleman. How dare I refuse!"

Jiang Nian immediately agreed, took two bottles of fine tea brought from Jiang Ning, and called Meng Xiong for personal protection. The two of them mounted their horses and left the Jiang family with Qu Jishan.

The spring breeze blows on my face and the horse's hooves gallop lightly.

The Qu family is not far from the Jiang family. It is located in the East City of the inner city of Shenjing. It is a three-courtyard house, more than twice the size of Jiang Nian’s two-courtyard small house.

After entering the main gate and passing through the hanging flower gate, I saw lush flowers and trees in the inner courtyard. Several crabapple trees were in full bloom, forming a pink cloud, and the fragrance of the flowers spread all the way to the carved lattice screen in the study.

Qu Jishan led Jiang Nian to Qu Tai's study. The furnishings in the study were simple and elegant, with several famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, the bookshelves filled with books, and the air filled with the fragrance of ink.

Qu Tai was sitting at his desk, sipping tea. On the table lay Zhu Xi's "Collected Commentaries on the Four Books." He was over seventy, his hair graying and his face thin, yet he appeared vigorous and his eyes sparkled. He wore the official robes of a cabinet scholar, adorned with a peacock pattern so lifelike it looked as if it might fly from the robe at any moment.

Jiang Nian walked slowly into the study, bowed to Qu Tai, and said in a clear voice: "Junior Jiang Nian, I pay my respects to the old gentleman."

If addressed by official title, Jiang Nian should call Qu Tai "Mr. Qu" or "Mr. Cabinet Scholar".

In Daqing, the Grand Secretary was called "Zhongtang" and the Cabinet Scholar was called "Gexue".

Because Qu Jishan was Jiang Nian's teacher, Jiang Nian called Qu Tai "old gentleman" and called himself "junior", which was both respectful and intimate, and appropriately narrowed the distance between them.

Qu Tai put down the teacup in his hand, his eyes fell gently on Jiang Nian, and after looking him up and down, he smiled and said, "Brother Nian, there is no need to be polite. Sit down, Jishan will sit down too."

If Qu Jishan doesn't sit, it will be inconvenient for Jiang Nian to sit.

Jiang Nian did not sit down immediately, but offered the two bottles of tea he had brought with him with both hands: "These are two bottles of tea that I brought from Jiangning. It is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept them, old sir."

Qu Tai did not pretend to be polite. He took the two bottles of tea and looked at the bottles. He saw that the bottles were painted with the scenery of Jiangning, which seemed to bring the scenery of Jiangning into the study in the capital city.

Qu Tai opened the tea bottle again, looked at it and sniffed the tea leaves. The tea color was bright and the fragrance was delicate. He estimated that the two bottles of tea were not cheap, but not very expensive either, so he decided to accept them. He nodded gently to Jiang Nian and said, "Brother Nian is thoughtful."

Only then did Jiang Nian sit down with Qu Jishan.

A servant poured tea for Jiang Nian and Qu Jishan. Qu Tai asked Jiang Nian a few questions, then said, "Jishan said you have an exceptional memory and a sharp mind. You can study as hard as an average person in one day, which is amazing. Is this true?"

"Sir, you are too kind." Jiang Nian bowed to Qu Jishan and looked at Qu Tai again. "I don't deserve such praise. However, it is true that I have a slightly better memory. This is thanks to my parents' upbringing, it is innate."

If these words were to reach the ears of Emperor Taishun, it would be beneficial to Jiang Nian.

Qu Jishan smiled slightly and took over the conversation: "That's the truth, there's no need to be so modest, Nian'er."

Jiang Nian had been traveling through time for several months, and time had flown by like water. He had been studying diligently, as diligently as most people would for years. Especially in recent days, thanks to the generous guidance of Qu Jishan, a top student preparing for the imperial examination and a potential Jinshi, he had made rapid progress in the examination-taking techniques that rivaled those of an average person who had diligently studied for half a year.

Qu Tai's eyes were penetrating. He said, "However, Jishan also told me that your academic foundation is a little weak, and your knowledge of the imperial examinations is even weaker. Even though you have an excellent memory and a quick mind, if you study the imperial examinations diligently for a month under Jishan's guidance, it would be equivalent to an ordinary person studying diligently for a year. Your chances of passing the Shuntian Prefecture County Examination next month are very small. If you take the Shuntian Prefecture County Examination, the regular examination next year, your chances of passing will be much greater."

Jiang Nian's expression remained calm as he replied respectfully, "Old Master, you are absolutely right. However, I will strive to pass the provincial examination next month. If I fail, I will consider taking the regular provincial examination next year."

Qu Tai nodded, his eyes flashing with approval. "There are only ten days left until the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination, the special examination, begins next month. The Thirteenth Prince summoned Jishan and me a while ago and personally instructed Jishan to teach you wholeheartedly and not neglect his studies. He hopes you'll pass the exam next month. Jishan has already obeyed, and I also want to help you. These past few days, I've provided some provincial examination questions and abridged answers. If you carefully refer to them, they may be helpful for you in your exam next month."

This is the topic!

As soon as he finished speaking, Qu Tai took out a stack of manuscripts from the desk and handed it to Jiang Nian.

Qu Tai was over seventy years old. He had served as a reader in the cabinet, a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, and a chief academic officer in the Imperial College. He was knowledgeable and proficient in the art of imperial examinations.

Jiang Nian took the manuscript, feeling a surge of excitement. Qu Jishan, curious as he was, also came over to take a look. The teacher and student began to look through the manuscript together.

The pile of manuscripts was densely covered with test questions and abridged answers, written in neat, clear handwriting, like a carefully drawn map for the imperial examination. Every test question and every abridged answer had been carefully considered, and they condensed Qu Tai's knowledge and experience.

Qu Tai continued, "The questions I set are based on four things..."

His voice was deep and powerful, revealing to Jiang Nian the mystery of the imperial examination questions.

He explained in detail the four bases for his prediction.

First, the provincial examination questions were strictly limited to the "Four Books" and "Five Classics", with Zhu Xi's "Collected Commentaries on the Four Books" as the standard answer, which contained some high-frequency test points.

Secondly, the chief examiner of the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination next month is Wang Tingyu. Qu Tai knows Wang Tingyu very well and can guess the direction of Wang Tingyu's questions.

Third, Qu Tai knew that the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination next month would be presided over by Emperor Taishun. He also knew Emperor Taishun very well and was well aware of the current political situation in Daqing.

Fourthly, the poetry test questions in Daqing's provincial examination usually require praising the emperor. You can recite fixed images, prepare relevant allusions and praising sentences, and master the technique of limited rhyme.

(End of this chapter)