Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 27: The County Examination Case Uncovered, and the List of Successful Candidates Posted!
"The literary skills of 'leaving the county' are so formidable!"

Li Yunxiao was stunned, his face ashen, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

He was well-versed in literature from a young age, possessed exceptional talent, and was one of the most outstanding scions of prominent families in Jiangyin County. Yet today, he suffered such a complete defeat before a scholar from a humble background.

His prized poetic and literary style, "Clouds Above," appears so pale and powerless in the face of Jiang Xingzhou's poetic and literary style, "Deep in the Clouds."

The power of "exiting the county" level poetry and prose techniques is overwhelming compared to other ordinary poetry and prose techniques.

A sharp pain shot through his unfocused pupils. He groaned, a metallic taste rising in his throat, and staggered back into the crowd of monks.

Jiang Xingzhou rode the clouds and mist, flying down from the sky, dispelling the "deep in the clouds" poetry and prose, and returning to the hundred Mengsheng.

He suddenly noticed that the bronze bamboo slips were emitting a clear, resonant sound:
[Li Yunxiao, his literary pursuits have suffered a setback, and his spiritual realm is clouded. His cultivation level is reduced by 1000!]
[Li Yunxiao, questioning the divine judgment, harboring reckless anger, caused his bloodline to reverse, resulting in a further reduction of his cultivation level by 2000!]
[Lu Ming, distracted, cultivation level -100!]
[Han Yugui, heartbroken, cultivation level -200!]
[Cao An, Qi stagnation, Dao cultivation -150!]
Whispers arose among the onlookers. Several scions of prominent families, who were usually on good terms with Li Yunxiao, turned their faces away, unable to bear witnessing the tragic backlash Li Yunxiao suffered from Wenxin.

The folding fan in Lu Ming's hand snapped in two with a "crack".

Han Yugui's face was ashen.

The incense smoke in front of the steps was suddenly disrupted and torn to pieces by the chaotic flow of literary energy.

Their lifelong belief that "aristocratic families are born with a literary lineage" has suffered a severe blow.

"Sigh, why are you doing this to yourselves!"

Jiang Xingzhou lightly flicked his sleeves and shook his head inwardly.

Three thousand points of cultivation—this is something a student could only achieve through half a year of diligent study.

The preliminary examination for scholars is merely the first stepping stone, the first major tribulation, on the path of literature. Such setbacks will be commonplace on the road to literary success. If one's progress in literature stagnates and even regresses, one's literary path will come to a standstill.

Cai Chao patted the white pheasant on his blue robe, and watched as Li Yunxiao retreated silently, unable to argue any longer. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The silk lantern from the Li residence last night still lingers in my mind.

If he weren't worried that Li Yunxiao might have a mental breakdown and reveal the shameful secret conversation at the Li residence the night before, he would definitely have given him thirty strokes of the rod.

"quiet!"

Cai Chao turned to the assembled students and coldly warned them: "The path of literature is like a refinement, and the judgment of the Confucian Temple is like a furnace. The rankings of the county examination have been determined. If any of you students dare to cause trouble or question the Confucian Temple's judgment, I will not let you off lightly!"

Cai Chao was too lazy to pay any more attention to Li Yunxiao and ordered the county examination results to be released.

The vermilion gate swung open with a bang, revealing the four golden characters "Zai Ming Ming De" (meaning "In Manifesting Virtue") on the plaque.

Dozens of yamen runners in black boots filed out, forming two rows on the left and right, holding cannons and chanting, firing cannons and blowing horns.

"Bang~ Bang~ Bang~!"

The firecrackers crackled and popped, filling the air with smoke.

The thousands upon thousands of people gathered in front of the county school suddenly dispersed, as if they had been slashed open with a red brush, and became restless.

"The results are released!"

"Look! The three jeers at the Confucian Temple have been heard! Who has achieved the top score in the preliminary examination?!"

"The cultural heritage of Jiangnan has always been controlled by our aristocratic families."

My Han family is the most prominent family in Jiangyin. The literary atmosphere of Jiangyin is as fertile as the fields. The talent accumulated by you scholars is nothing more than a stone of old millet in my Han family's granary.

"Who else but me, the Jade Tablet, can claim the top spot in this scholar's examination!"

The patriarch of the Han family, Han Mingyuan, laughed heartily, the gold seal of the Jinshi degree adorning his jade belt trembling. It was under his leadership that the Han family's status among the prominent families of Jiangyin rose against the tide.

"Make way, don't push!"
"The county examination case has been filed; this official hereby bestows honors upon it!"

County Lieutenant Zhao Tieshan took a rolled-up red notice and posted it on the bulletin board outside the door.

The notice board in the county government office displays red slips of paper bearing the name of someone who failed the imperial examination.

When the results of the county examination were announced, all the exam papers were unsealed and issued by name, a process called "issuing the case". Each time the case was issued, a cannon was fired and a blown by a blown man was used.

The person who ranks first is called the "Top Student in the County," and this honor is awarded the county's first-class commendation.

The top five will be awarded the title of "Top Five County Students," an honor that will be recognized by the county.

The top thirty students were designated as "county students" and entered the county school, where they could receive a monthly salary from the imperial court.

All others were eliminated.

County Lieutenant Zhao Tieshan stood before the red list of successful candidates at the county academy, loudly announcing their names and displaying their ranking on the red list as he read each name.

At the same time, with each name read aloud, a barely perceptible golden thread emerges from the red list, following the earth's veins and entering the ancestral hall of the corresponding candidate's home—this is the merit of the county examination at the Confucian temple, which increases the literary fortune of the entire family for those who pass the imperial examination.

The moment the red list slowly unfolded according to the rankings,
The street suddenly fell silent.

"Jiangyin County Trial Case!" Zhao Tieshan's voice was like tearing silk, echoing for miles around. "First place in the Class A, top candidate for the young scholar, Jiang Xingzhou!"

Upon seeing the top-ranked candidate in the preliminary examination, Old Master Han's gaze froze. He let out a long sigh and stomped his foot in anger, his previous high spirits completely gone.

"Second place in Class A, Han Yugui."

"Third in Class A, Cao An"

"Fourth in Class A, Li Yunxiao."

"Fifth in Class A, Lu Ming"

"."

"First Class, Tenth Place: Gu Zhimian"

"The students are here!"

Gu Zhimian was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

"Gu Sheng actually got tenth place! Humph, what good luck!"

"It was only because the Xue family's private school took care of him that he was able to pass the imperial examination as a student of the highest rank, otherwise, how could he, a poor family member, have passed the examination and become one of the top ten students?"

Several young men from prominent families in Jiangyin, who had failed in the first round, looked at him with envy, holding literary fans.

Han Sheng Gu Zhimian turned a deaf ear, but recalled the bright moon reflected in the inkstone when he copied the sutra last night.

These privileged young men will never understand how, while they were enjoying their luxurious lives, this poor boy from a humble background was writing history under the cold rain in a leaky house.

The students gathered in front of the bustling red list, eagerly anticipating the results, but were destined to be disappointed—only the top thirty out of thousands of students would be admitted, making the chances of passing the exam extremely slim.

An elderly man with white hair, wearing a faded crimson robe, listened to the magistrate Zhao's recitation of his name in the crowd, but waited in vain for his own name to be called.

His hunched back was arched like a shrimp, his cough echoed like a broken bellows in an empty valley, and his expression was full of disappointment.
He had been taking the imperial examinations for fifty years, but had failed each time.

Now I'm dizzy and lightheaded; I'm afraid I'll never have another chance in this lifetime.

"Category C, number ten: Zhang Youyi! Who is Zhang Youyi? He is to immediately enter the county school and be granted the county student's robe!"

After Zhao Tieshan finished reading the last name among the thirty candidates, he shouted.

The white-haired old man was looking dejected when he suddenly heard the county magistrate announce his name. He was shocked and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

"I am Zhang Youyi, a student!"

I, an old man, have passed the preliminary examination! Haha! Heaven has eyes! I am seventy-two years old, and I have actually passed the preliminary examination in Jiangyin County!
"You little butcher, how dare you look down on your old father again!"

An elderly man with white hair raised his hands in the crowd, laughing maniacally, tears streaming down his trembling robe.

Zhang the butcher, who was supporting the white-haired old man, was also stunned when he heard the voice. He couldn't believe it and said with great joy, "No, no! Father, you have brought honor to our Zhang family and made our family name shine!"

"Hmph, what an ignorant child!"

The white-haired old man immediately turned cold and was very displeased.

Butcher Zhang immediately realized he had misspoke and quickly slapped himself twice, forcing a smile as he said, "I misspoke, son, slap yourself! You've brought honor to our Zhangjia Village; you're the only scholar from our village to date!"

"This is right!"

The white-haired old man couldn't help but smile broadly, "Zhangjia Village in Hexi, Jiangyin, produced just one scholar like us!"
"A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen," and our Zhang family, having suddenly risen from humble beginnings to prominence, must maintain a respectable appearance.

From this day forward, your butcher's knife must never touch meat again, lest it tarnish your literary fortune!

"Yes, yes~, Dad, you're in charge!"

Butcher Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead, the pig-slaughtering knife at his waist humming and vibrating.

If he doesn't do this business of slaughtering pigs and selling meat, what should he do to make a living?
The surrounding crowd erupted in laughter.

"Butcher Zhang, thanks to your father's literary talent, you're going to change careers!"

Chun Tao, a young maid, squeezed into the crowded throng, tiptoed, and craned her neck in anticipation.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the top spot on the honor roll, with the title of County Lieutenant Zhao Tieshan.

"First in Class A: Jiang Xingzhou, the top candidate in the preliminary examination!"

Oh, Young Master Jiang passed the exam! Go tell the young lady!

The county exam lasted all day, and it was already dark. The young lady must be getting impatient!

She was overjoyed and, not caring about the rest of the names, turned and ran towards the Duke of Xue's mansion.
-
Asking for a monthly ticket!
Aiming for a top-five new fantasy novel!
(End of this chapter)