Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 102 The results of the prefectural examination are announced, and the top scholar is at the top of the list!
Zhao Zilu stumbled out of the vermilion gate of the prefectural examination hall, his embroidered gold robe soaked through with cold rain. He collapsed in the rain outside the Jiangzhou prefectural courtyard, covered in filth and shivering all over.

"How dare you! I am the son of one of the ten great families of Jiangzhou Prefecture, how dare you treat me like this!"

His face was deathly pale, and he continued to mutter curses.

The conversation abruptly ended.

He froze abruptly, trembling all over, and looked up at the strange phenomenon in the sky—

The purple clouds surged like waves, and raindrops formed from the essence of talent began to fall.

In the distance, purple smoke rises from the summit of Wenfeng Peak, and a three-thousand-foot waterfall of talent cascades down from the heavens. The calligraphy, with its silver hooks and iron strokes, flows and shines in the rainbow light, as if the Milky Way were hanging upside down.

It illuminated the entire city of Jiangzhou, making it as bright as day!
"This is Jiang Xingzhou's poem. How could such a terrifying phenomenon exist?"

Zhao Zilu's pupils suddenly contracted to needle size, and his Adam's apple bobbed laboriously in his pale neck. The raindrops of his falling talent were clearly as hot as molten gold, yet they froze him so hard that his very soul trembled.

"He has become the top scholar in Jiangzhou Prefecture; he is destined for great success."

"And I, Zhao Zilu, am the esteemed son of the Zhao family."

"But they ended up soaking wet and ridiculed."

"His future is ruined!"

The mud and water soaked through Zhao Zilu's brocade robe. He gritted his teeth in hatred, his nails digging deep into his palms.
A crimson glint appeared in Zhao Zilu's eyes, and a surge of hatred coiled around his heart like a venomous snake.

If I don’t take revenge for this, I swear I won’t be a human being!
The purple aura gradually dissipated, but its lingering charm remained.

Professor Zhou stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the lingering glow of talent in the sky, his eyes still filled with shock. After a long while, he sighed:

"Only today do I realize that poetry can be written with such grandeur!"

He turned and looked towards the courtyard, in the direction of Jiang Xingzhou's examination room, and said solemnly, "This poem is beyond human skill; it is a gift from heaven!"

"This has transcended mere description of scenery and risen to the level of heaven and man looking down upon the human world!"
It can be described as a poem that moves even ghosts and gods to tears!

Breathtaking!

I dare not comment!

As Prefect Xue Chonghu turned around, his sleeves fluttered, creating ripples of scholarly elegance. He shook his head and sighed at the stunned examiners.

This sigh fully expressed the awe that everyone present held for literature and the Way.

Cui Chengye, the magistrate, held his pen in mid-air, intending to copy this poem from Dafu, but he was unaware that ink was dripping onto the Xuan paper.

Registrar Liu Mingchuan closed his eyes slightly, silently reciting the line "The waterfall plunges three thousand feet."

On the table, the vermilion inkstone in front of the examiners had long since dried up, yet no one thought to add water to grind the ink.

The hall was completely silent, with only the lingering purple aura flowing between the beams and pillars.

The chief and deputy examiners were still immersed in the awe of the poem "Looking at the Waterfall at Mount Lu" and were unable to recover for a long time.

The candlelight on the desk flickered gently, casting a yellowish glow on the exam papers throughout the room.

“Tick-tick~!”

A single candle tear fell onto the bronze plate, shattering the stillness of time.

Zhou Yuanjun then coughed lightly, flicked his sleeve, and held up a vermilion brush, saying, "Gentlemen, it's time to grade the other students' exam papers."

"Yes, absolutely!"

Cui Chengye hurriedly rolled up his sleeve and took out another exam paper.

"Hurry up and grade the papers, don't be late!"

Everyone seemed to awaken from a dream and returned to their places.

The desk was piled high with exam papers.

However, when their gaze returned to those ordinary exam papers, they found them utterly uninteresting.

The lingering charm of Jiang Xingzhou's poem "[Dafu]" and "Looking at the Waterfall at Mount Lu" still resonated in their hearts; every word was like a pearl, and every sentence was deeply moving.

Looking at these ordinary poems and articles now...

The vast majority of them were tasteless, like chewing wax.

Cui Biejia's red pen hovered over an exam paper three times, but he ultimately couldn't bring himself to write "Grade B"!
The vermilion pen, used for judging the case, remained suspended, and ink dripped onto the paper, spreading out in a dark red hue.

"Ugh"

Someone let out a soft sigh.

Having seen the vast ocean, how can one appreciate a stream again?
The assembled civil officials, clad in purple robes and jade belts, were all intoxicated by Jiang Xingzhou's poem.

And that nectar, named "Looking at the Waterfall at Mount Lu," still lingers in their minds, its fragrance lingering long afterward.

How would they view the poems and lyrics of the three hundred students from Jiangzhou Prefecture who went to take the imperial examination?

Then go and grade the papers.

This is somewhat unfair to the other students!
After a long time,

Zhou Shanzhang flipped through the scroll with his fingertips, the vermilion brush hovering in the air.

Suddenly, a bold and vigorous handwriting caught my eye.

"Revisiting Chaisang Ferry"

Thirty years ago I crossed the river, and now my temples are gray.

The river's roar swallows the old oars, the mountain's color reflects the rusted nails.

I happened to meet an old man harvesting wheat, and I could still recognize his youthful appearance.

He smiled and pointed to the egrets on the sandbar, telling his old friend about it.

The brushstrokes were as sharp as iron hooks and silver lines, the ink seemingly carrying the sound of metal and stone. A faint, clear cry could be heard drifting in through the window. Turning my head, I saw the moonlight outside was silvery, but where was the egret?
"What a beautiful poem!"
What a beautiful scene at Chaisang Ferry! And what a sight to behold, with temples already streaked with gray!

Zhou Shanzhang's spirits lifted slightly. He had finally found another good article. His fingertips paused abruptly, and the jade ring on the page made a clear sound.

He suddenly straightened up, his official robes catching a gust of wind, startling the candlelight into flickering.

He brought the exam paper close to the lamplight, and where the light shone through the Xuan paper, the ink marks shimmered and sparkled.
Zhou Shanchang's brows furrowed in surprise: "This poem... actually has a hint of the grandeur of 'leaving the county'?"

"Oh!"

"The poem begins, '[Thirty years ago I crossed the river, now my temples are gray.' This young man must be at least forty or fifty years old."

As the candlelight flickered, the examiners all turned to look at them.

Zhou Yuanjun slowly closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

Nice writing!
These mere forty characters evoke a sense of life's hardships and trials.

"The true essence of poetry lies not in skillful craftsmanship, but in its natural charm—"

Zhou Yuanjun opened his eyes, stroked his beard, and sighed, "This young scholar's writing, full of vicissitudes, is actually closer to the 'leaving the county' realm than the brilliant essays of those young men!"

"Only those who have experienced the vicissitudes of life could write with such profound melancholy and poignant emotion."

With a light flick of the vermilion brush,

The nameplates fell down in a flurry.

The list of candidates clearly reads: Zhang Youyi, a student from Chaisang County, Jiangzhou Prefecture, aged seventy-two.

Zhou Yuanjun suddenly smiled.

He picked up the vermilion brush and heavily circled the three characters "Zhang Youyi".

"Zhang Youyi? Isn't this the old scholar who was promoted to fill the vacancy after Zhao Zilu was eliminated?"

This old scholar was lucky; he passed the second question of the prefectural examination by sheer luck!

"I never imagined this old man would have such good fortune! He performed so brilliantly on the third question of the prefectural examination!"

Registrar Liu Mingchuan stroked his beard in amazement, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"What a beautiful line: 'The river's roar swallows the old oars, the mountain's color is like rusted nails'!"

Prefect Cui exclaimed in admiration, “The character ‘swallow’ is like waves crashing against a wrecked boat, and the character ‘rust’ is like moss corroding copper and iron. Only someone who has personally experienced the vicissitudes of life could describe it like this!”

After reciting the poem three times, Zhou Yuanjun suddenly felt a lump in his throat and sighed, “At first glance, it seems bland, but upon closer reading, its depth becomes apparent. ‘Laughing, I point to the egrets on the sandbar, and tell my old friend’—it seems leisurely, but upon careful reading, one can see three parts sorrow and seven parts transcendence. It is clearly a profound understanding after experiencing the ups and downs of life!”

"This boy should be taken!"

All the noblemen in the hall nodded in agreement, and for a moment the only sound in the hall was the rustling of robes; not a single person objected.

"Compared to the arrogant and conceited young man like Zhao Zilu, this old scholar, who has studied the classics with his white hair and is still devoted to literature, shows the integrity of the scholars of Jiangzhou."

As Zhou Yuanjun gazed at the characters on the scroll, he saw that the ink was vigorous and powerful, like gnarled branches, and that there was an indomitable spirit in the brushstrokes.

He hesitated for a moment, then dipped his brush in cinnabar and wrote heavily on the examination paper: "[Recruited as a Xiucai]".

The examiners continued grading the papers without stopping their red pens.

"This poem, 'Remembering the Past at Chaisang,' is also a masterpiece!"

Cui Chengye lightly stroked the paper with his fingertips, and where the ink was dripping, each character had strength and vigor.

He nodded slightly, his vermilion brush hovering over the exam paper for a moment before finally writing down a bright red "Grade A, Tenth Place".

The anonymous name has been revealed, but the fragrance of ink lingers—Cao An!
"Cao An of Jiangyin?"

The examiners looked at each other and smiled.

"This young scholar, Cao An, demonstrated remarkable talent in the three rounds of the prefectural examination. His essays on exorcising demons and saving the people were like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath. His answers to questions on classical texts were as gentle as a spring breeze and as refreshing as spring rain. Now, this poem from Chaisang is even more powerful and profound, fully displaying his talent."

All three essays were ranked among the top ten in the prefectural examination!

"Rare, rare!"

Zhou Yuanjun clapped his hands in admiration, "It's truly rare to see such a young talent with such a steady writing style. Jiangyin County has produced some outstanding individuals this year!"

He put down his red brush; the night watchman's drum had already passed the third watch.

Three hundred exam papers fell like autumn leaves, layer upon layer.

Two hundred of the rejected scrolls were sadly closed up.
Only one hundred volumes were accepted, still quietly spread out on the jade table, reflecting the faint candlelight.

"All volumes have been finalized."

Zhou Shanchang rubbed his sore eyes. "However, the final ranking will be determined by combining the results of the three trials."

The hoarse sound of the night watchman's clapper came from outside the hall.

"The night dew soaks our clothes; all students, please return home."

Zhou Yuanjun walked outside the hall and saw the students sitting quietly like pines in the examination room of the prefectural academy. "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the list will be posted in front of the gate of the Jiangzhou prefectural academy."

The night wind swept the fallen leaves across the stone steps, and the names of a hundred students whose fates were about to be rewritten were now sleeping in a vermilion wooden box on the desk of the academy master.

A rustling sound began to rise inside the examination hall as the students silently packed up their writing implements and examination boxes. The dim yellow lanterns swayed under the eaves, casting long, thin shadows of the students.

Someone lightly touched the still-wet ink stains on the table with their fingertips, as if bidding farewell to this examination cell;
Some people carefully folded the copied drafts into their sleeves, as if they were treasures.

As dusk settled, shadowy figures appeared on the bluestone path.

Three hundred students hurriedly filed out, carrying their examination boxes. The soft clinking of the wooden boxes mingled with the rising and falling greetings.

"Brothers, farewell!"

Groups of people bid farewell under the archway, with someone calling out loudly, "See you again tomorrow at dawn, at the foot of the list!"

The sound of horses' hooves echoed on the bluestone slabs, and the young man inside the carriage was filled with unbridled pride.

Jiang Xingzhou, the Xue brothers (Xue Fu and Xue Gui), Han Yugui, Cao An, and others rode in a carriage back to the Xue State Duke's Mansion. The rumbling of the carriage was mixed with the barely suppressed excitement of the young men.

Han Yugui leaned against the brocade cushion, still clutching the transcribed answer sheet in his bosom, his fingertips lightly tapping the window frame in rhythm with the wheels of the carriage.

Gu Zhimian lifted the carriage curtain, and the night breeze brushed against the joy on his brow.

The questions for this prefectural examination were quite favorable to them.

The first question, a practical exercise in exorcising demons on Taihu Lake, was practically a free point. They followed Jiang Xingzhou in exorcising demons on Taihu Lake, charging into battle and killing numerous demon soldiers and civilians, achieving top-notch results.

The third question was predicted correctly; the poems and essays that everyone had prepared for two months were bound to be excellent.

"Only the second question, a question on the interpretation of the classics, is truly difficult."

Lu Ming rubbed his chin.

Han Yugui smiled and shook his head, saying, "What's there to be afraid of! It's difficult for everyone, which makes it fair. The difference in the scores won't be significant."

The copper bells on the cart shafts jingled, and Gu Zhimian suddenly lowered his voice: "Do you think we'll all pass the imperial examination this time? And become scholars?"

"If all of them are correct, that would be an incredibly joyous occasion!"

Han Yugui pulled a gold-leafed folding fan from his sleeve, unfolded it with a "snap," and covered the corners of his mouth that were turned up.

The group exchanged smiles, realizing that it wasn't entirely impossible.

They glanced in unison at Jiang Xingzhou, who was leaning against a gilded armchair inside the carriage, resting with his eyes closed.

In this Jiangzhou prefectural examination, Jiang Xingzhou was the only one who wasn't worried about his final ranking. He was first in the top tier in every round, and no one could compete with him!
"Brother Jiang, your talent is truly outstanding. I offer my congratulations in advance."

"Brother Han is too kind. The results will be announced tomorrow. See you there!"

"Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!"

The next day.

As dawn broke, a dense crowd had already gathered in front of the Jiangzhou government gate.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

"The results of the prefectural examination have been released!"

Hundreds of yamen runners in black robes moved about like a woven tapestry, and gilded carp lanterns hung high on both sides of the vermilion gate, while the brocade-draped scrolls swayed slightly in the morning breeze.

The streets in front of the academy were bustling with people. Early risers set up their sweets stalls, the rising steam mingling with the shouts of their vendors. The glutinous rice balls, barely coated with frosting, were snatched away by the students.

"Give way! Give way!"

The students squeezed to the front of the crowd, oblivious to the dew soaking their silk robes.

In the distance, carriages belonging to various noble families were parked, their curtains drawn low, yet unable to conceal the eagerness of those inside as they frequently lifted the curtains to peer out.

Lei Wanting's imposing figure stepped onto the stone steps, the vermilion scroll in his hand fluttering in the wind.

"Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination, first in Class A, top scholar—" The captain's voice was booming, but he deliberately paused when he read the name.

The entire room fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

"Jiang Xingzhou!"

The moment the three words were spoken, the crowd erupted in a roar.

Han Yugui snapped his folding fan shut, and Cao An was already staggered by the crowd.

This was expected, and no one was surprised!

Last night, a waterfall of talent fell, from which countless children and teenagers in Jiangzhou Prefecture benefited.

Someone shouted "Congratulations on Jiang Xingzhou's top scholar position!" and congratulatory shouts immediately surged towards Jiang Xingzhou in the crowd. "Congratulations to you too!"

Jiang Xingzhou smiled and returned the greeting with a bow to the surrounding students and commoners.

Inside the hundreds of carriages with vermilion lacquer and carved windows belonging to prominent families surrounding the mansion, dozens of sharp eyes stared at the red list, their expressions filled with envy.

"He topped the list of candidates in the prefectural examination!"
You can obtain top-quality literary talent and special literary skills!
You can visit the Confucian Temple and view the inscriptions for three days!

The head of the Shen family in Jiyang tapped his knuckles against the window frame, the jade thumb ring striking the sandalwood with a dull echo.

He gazed at the gilded name at the top of the honor roll, a mixture of envy and apprehension rising in his eyes.

The benefits that a top scholar could obtain were unimaginable to ordinary scholars.

At this moment, the position that had been coveted by many prominent families in Jiangzhou Prefecture was now in Jiang Xingzhou's hands, making their eyes burn with envy.

Lei Wanting's deep voice echoed in the morning light, eliciting gasps of surprise with each name he announced.

"Shen Zhiyun, second in the first class of the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination!"

"Brother Shen, where is he?"

A series of clear, tinkling sounds suddenly rang out from the east side of the crowd.

The bamboo curtain of the teahouse on the east side was lifted with a "whoosh," and Shen Zhiyun, the young master of the Shen family, leaned against the railing and chuckled. His Xiangfei bamboo fan was unfurled with a "whoosh," revealing the four characters "Talented to the extreme."

Congratulations, Brother Shen!

"Congratulations! Everyone present, please receive ten copper coins!"

Shen Zhiyun nodded slightly and gave the order. The servant beside her had already scattered a large amount of prepared celebratory money among the crowd on the street.

Downstairs, familiar students immediately laughed and cursed, "Well done, Shen Jialang! He prepared the prizes in advance!"

The sound of copper coins falling to the ground drew a crowd of children who scrambled to grab them.

Countless scholars sighed inwardly, "The Shen family of Jiyang is indeed incredibly wealthy. They're going to throw out tens of thousands of copper coins today!"

"Han Yugui, third in the first class of the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination!"

"In the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination, Cao An ranked ninth in the first class!"

Upon hearing their names, the students present congratulated each other.

"Xue Fu, Class B, Seventh Place!"

"Xue Gui, Class B, Seventeenth!"

The Xue brothers, Fu and Gui, exchanged a glance and embraced each other in ecstasy.

They actually passed, which was completely unexpected, as they hadn't had high hopes for this prefectural examination.

"Gu Zhimian, ranked tenth in the second class of the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination!"

When Gu Zhimian, the tenth-ranked student in Class B, reported for duty.

"I won! I really won?!"

Among the crowd, Gu Zhimian, dressed in coarse cloth, stood frozen in place, a copy of the Analects falling to the ground with a "thud".

Congratulations, Brother Gu!

There was a moment of silence, followed by an even louder burst of cheers.

When the words "Category C, Ninth, Zhang Youyi" came out of Captain Lei's mouth, the crowd suddenly fell into an eerie silence for a moment.

Many students were shocked and incredulous.

The old scholar, with his white hair and beard, staggered to the front of the list and looked at his name on the vermilion banner.

Suddenly, I saw his eyes redden, and he turned around excitedly and bowed deeply to the ground in the direction of the academy. The wooden hairpin that held his hair back had been knocked off by the crowd and fell to the ground. His white hair was disheveled like a tumbleweed.

"Medium! In the middle!"

Zhang Youyi's hoarse shout, mixed with a few drops of old tears, splashed on the bluestone slab, "Fifty years, a full fifty years, unknown and obscure!"
This year has been incredibly lucky! I passed the imperial examination for the first time in the spring and then became a scholar in the second time in the summer! I am extremely fortunate!

Suddenly, the old scholar pulled out a handful of silver coins from his pocket, and overjoyed, scattered them among the crowd like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

Congratulations, Brother Zhang!

"Brother Zhang, you truly are a late bloomer."

Amidst the congratulations from numerous young students, there was a distinct hint of bitterness.

Two thousand students from Jiangzhou Prefecture took the imperial examination, but only one hundred passed and became scholars.

Zhang Youyi, an elderly scholar with white hair, ranked ninth in the third class and passed the county-level examination, becoming the oldest student admitted by the prefecture.

Fifty years of hard study went unnoticed, but now, in a single day, a young scholar enters the mansion!

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze swept over the list of one hundred candidates on the prefectural examination's honor roll, and a slight thought stirred within him.

From one prefecture and five counties, six students achieved the highest score in the preliminary examinations, and five of them made it onto the official list!

Only Zhao Zilu, the top candidate in this prefecture, failed the exam; all the others were on the list.

Jiangyin County stands out from the rest, with nearly twenty people making the list!
Han Yugui, Cao An, Lu Ming, Li Yunxiao, the Xue brothers, Gu Zhimian... These seven classmates who once stayed at the Xue State Duke's mansion with him to study for the exam and fought demons side by side in Taihu Lake are all on the red list!

"That's not surprising!"

Jiang Xingzhou smiled slightly.

In the battle to slay the demon at Taihu Lake, the eight men made outstanding contributions and ranked among the top in the first round of the prefectural examination.

In the last two games, they played steadily and no one fell behind.

Heaven rewards diligence; no effort is ever wasted!

In addition, more than ten students from Jiangyin, including veteran scholars Zhou Guangjin and Zhang Youyi, were also on the list, which shows that Jiangyin County's academic achievements in this Jiangzhou Prefecture examination were the best in Jiangzhou Prefecture!

Some are happy, some are sad.

Just as the Jiangzhou government was announcing the results,

In Jiangzhou, at the Zhao family ancestral hall, a plaque inscribed with "Passing Down Poetry and Etiquette" was publicly torn down and smashed in the marketplace by a group of ruthless government officials.

This plaque, bestowed by the Jiangzhou government to commend prominent families in Jiangzhou, can naturally be withdrawn.

The Zhao family prepared lavish gifts overnight, intending to visit Abbot Zhou and plead for the revocation of the lifelong ban on Zhao Zilu from taking the imperial examinations. However, they were turned away by the gatekeeper who said, "Abbot Zhou has caught a cold and will not receive guests."

The old clan chief, Zhao Huai, had no choice but to personally go to the Jiangzhou government office to apologize to the prefect.

The old transport commissioner stood under the dripping eaves for two whole hours, only to receive a reprimand from the prefect for "failing to properly discipline his grandson."

Zhao Zilu, with disheveled hair and bare feet, knelt before the Zhao family ancestral hall and wept bitterly all night.

Yesterday he wore a brocade headband adorned with pearls, but now the angry elder is throwing him into the incinerator, the leaping flames reflecting off his face covered in oil and sweat.

In the Zhao family ancestral hall, Zhao Zilu's name as an illegitimate son has been personally removed by the clan elders...

Besides "Passing the Imperial Examination", the most popular storytelling stories in Jiangzhou teahouses are "The Case of the Foolish Zhao Zilu's Rebellion".

"The selection of officials by the Holy Dynasty is like sifting sand with thunder."

Now, there was Zhao Zilu of the Zhao family, who, relying on his family's status, arrogantly mocked poor scholars on his examination papers. Little did he know—under the thunder's roar, what distinction is there between noble and lowly ants?

This caused a burst of laughter in the teahouse and secretly alarmed many scholars in the mansion.

The Great Zhou Dynasty court is serious about recruiting scholars regardless of their social status! Anyone who dares to harbor any wicked thoughts in this regard will likely be severely punished.

In front of the vermilion gate of Jiangzhou Prefecture, the banner pillars stand majestically.

Captain Lei Wanting stood imposingly in his iron armor, the list of scholars fluttering in the wind in his hand. As the last name was read aloud, a tidal wave of cheers erupted from beneath the red list.

Congratulations, Brother Li!

Congratulations! Brother Wang is truly talented!

Beneath the red list, the hundred students had rosy cheeks and joyful expressions. People are in high spirits when they have good news, and their congratulations to each other are endless.

From this day forward, they will be classmates and scholars in Jiangzhou Prefecture!
Meanwhile, on the outskirts, 1,800 students who had failed the exam stood silently like statues, their faces filled with grief and despair.

Some people clutched their faded blue collar sleeves tightly, their faces pale; others tilted their heads back and swallowed something, a bitter taste rising in their throats.

A gaunt figure lowered his head, clenching his fist in secret. "Three more years. Three more years of hard study! After three years, my name will surely be on the honor roll!"

Commandant Lei Wanting's eyes flashed like lightning. The moment the list in his hand slammed shut, his voice boomed like a bell: "All those who have passed the prefectural examination shall follow me to the Jiangzhou Prefectural Academy and be granted the title of Xiucai (a scholar who has passed the lowest level of the imperial examination)!"

"I will obey your command!"

Jiang Xingzhou, Shen Zhiyun, and over a hundred other students responded in unison and bowed in respect.

Led by Commandant Lei, the students filed into the Jiangzhou government compound.

All that could be seen was the main hall of the mansion.

Prefect Xue Chonghu sat at the head of the table, with civil and military officials standing solemnly on either side.

Zhou Shanzhang, along with his instructors and tutors, had been waiting for a long time.

Hundreds of scholars from the prefectural academy stood around the main hall to watch the ceremony—they were students still studying diligently at the prefectural academy.

Other scholars who felt hopeless about passing the imperial examinations would seek other opportunities and leave the government office.

Inside the main hall, all the students stood solemnly in silence.

The instructors held sandalwood trays in their hands, on which were stacks of neatly arranged scholar's robes, the blue satin as black as ink, with subtle patterns.

"Issue the scholar's robe, scholar's handkerchief, and scholar's sword—!"

Professor Zhou's voice was as loud as a bell, and its lingering sound resonated far and wide.

One hundred students stepped forward in turn, bowed, and accepted the square scarf, blue robe, and sword symbolizing their scholarly rank.

At the end of the line, a boy's hand trembled slightly with excitement as he nearly dropped the sword as he took it from him.

Zhou Yuanjun's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, but she remained silent.

"Thank you, Your Excellency and Your Excellency!"

The students shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and echoing throughout the courtyard.

"From this day forward, you are all scholars of the Jiangzhou Prefecture!"

Professor Zhou stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as he slowly swept over the students below. Though his voice was soft, every word was firm and resounding.

"Those who are classmates in the same year should look out for each other. When you rise to prominence in the future, do not forget those who stood shoulder to shoulder with you in this hall today."

He paused, flicked his sleeve slightly, and his tone suddenly became solemn—

"From this day forward, you are the face of the scholars of Jiangzhou Prefecture!"

"Whether you go to the imperial examinations or travel around to study in the world, you must always remember your identity. Every word and deed is related to the dignity of Jiangzhou's cultural heritage and must not be dishonored!"

"I will heed your teachings!"

The students solemnly agreed, their eyes filled with determination.

After the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination, there is another important step – the Jiangzhou Prefecture Confucian Temple, where the young scholars are given a spiritual awakening to help them break through to the next level of the Xiucai (a lower-level scholar) rank!
"All students, please take your seats and calm your minds! Today, with the help of the sacred power of the Confucian Temple of this prefecture, we will assist you in overcoming the tribulation of becoming a scholar—the enlightenment of your 'literary mind'!"

Standing in the main hall of the prefectural compound, Zhou Yuanjun shook his sleeves and, with a voice as loud as a bell, suddenly warned sternly: "The development of a literary mind is as delicate as walking on thin ice! Those with distracting thoughts, it's not too late to withdraw now!"

"Here!"

All the students responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the main hall of the mansion.

They walked quickly to the prayer mats placed in the main hall. Although they looked excited, no one made a sound. They each sat cross-legged on the prayer mats according to their assigned order.

Then, they closed their eyes and focused their minds, immersing themselves in their respective literary palaces and adjusting their breathing—preparing to cultivate their literary talents!
If a scholar's mind is not open to literary pursuits, the literary rank granted by the government will ultimately be nothing more than an empty title.

Only when one's literary mind is enlightened can one truly grasp the power of a scholar's literary rank and draw upon the talent of heaven and earth!

Jiang Xingzhou sat cross-legged on the cushion, neatly arranging his scholar's cap, robe, and sword to his side.

immediately,

He closed his eyes slightly, his mind sinking into the world of literature.

The moment he closed his eyes, all was suddenly silent.

At this moment, within his flawless Purple Mansion Palace—

A palace built with eight thousand bricks, its entire surface as smooth and lustrous as jade, radiating light and color, resembles a celestial palace in the heavens.

The dripping from the glazed tiles of the palace walls is not morning dew, but rather the solidified essence of talent, which makes a clear, ringing sound when it hits the ground.

Inside the palace, the ten-zhang-tall jade osmanthus tree rustled down its golden petals.

In the rear garden of the Imperial Palace, a hundred flowers bloomed in competition. Ink orchids unfurled their buds, vermilion plum blossoms drooped from their branches, and twin lotus flowers bloomed... a fleeting illusion.

A pair of blue phoenixes stood between the palace beams, their feathers scattering as they flapped their wings and ignited into pale purple flames in mid-air.

Above the palace walls, an atmosphere of talent permeated the air, with faint echoes of dragons roaring and phoenixes singing.

Outside the palace, the Wenhe River flows. On its surface, a series of dark-colored koi carp swim.

The strange phenomena that occurred within the Wen Palace were so numerous that they were difficult to distinguish.

In the center of the literary palace, a scholar's spirit, formed from wisps of green smoke, floats silently.

The spirit had taken on a human form, with all four limbs and a clearly defined face, yet it still resembled a clay or wooden sculpture—

All seven orifices are closed!

The eyelids are like sealed jade slips, the lip lines are like unopened inkpads, and although the earlobes and nose wings have their shapes, they are useless and have no sensation.

The entire spirit of literature remained silent, like the first snow covering a monument, oblivious to the light, shadow, sound, and color of the outside world, as if still trapped in the chaos before the separation of heaven and earth.

A bronze bamboo slip emerged from the void, hovering beside the spirit of literature. Spiritual patterns flowed across its surface, and lines of golden seal script appeared and refreshed like flowing water.

With a solemn expression, Zhou Yuanjun held the Jiangzhou Prefecture Yuanjun token high in both hands and bowed deeply towards the Confucian Temple.

"The Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination is for selecting officials for the nation!"

"Today, there are one hundred newly appointed scholars. We beseech the Holy Temple to bestow upon them their talents and help them—to awaken their literary minds!"

The words had barely left his lips—

"boom--!"

Deep within the Jiangzhou Confucian Temple, the bronze tripod that had been silent for many years suddenly trembled!

Inside the cauldron, famous poems from past dynasties, written at the county and prefecture levels, seemed to be inspired, each word shining brightly and each sentence resonating, transforming into a clear and melodious recitation that vibrated and resonated within the cauldron!
"Wow——!"

The vast literary spirit accumulated over a century erupted like a volcano, soaring into the sky!

Brilliant beams of talent burst forth from the cauldron, piercing the sky and then cascading down like a silver river in mid-air!

"Boom!"

A torrent of talent pierced through the green tiles of the mansion, like a celestial waterfall pouring down, precisely enveloping the hundred young scholars in the main hall of the mansion!

Jiang Xingzhou felt a chill on the top of his head—

A surge of holy power flowed into his crown chakra!
Inside the Purple Mansion Literary Palace, his closed-eyed literary spirit suddenly trembled!
(End of this chapter)