Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 754: What's the Use of Frivolous People
In Hanyuan Hall,

Still stable.
All the inspecting officials were sitting on a high platform. From time to time, some officials would go down to check around, while the rest of them would sit there and drink tea and rest.

Of course, the people sitting in the center of the high platform were the examiners of Luo Yunhou.

I don't know whether Zhang Jinyu didn't sleep well or didn't eat enough. He was wrapped in a blanket, still lazily lying on the podium. I don't know where he got another blanket to pad his waist. If he put a stool under his legs, it would become a bed board. The officials around him, even Shen Zhongxin, turned a blind eye to this. The censors seemed to be blind as well. They just took turns to supervise the exam and drink tea and rest, and didn't ask any questions.

As for why the three princes were nowhere to be seen, they must still be fast asleep in the big tent and have not woken up yet. Only in the hall, many candidates were sitting there in a row, grinding ink and holding pens, writing eight-part essays.

There were very few students who did not write down their thoughts while taking the exam. As soon as they looked up, they could see the officials on the platform. The appearance of Marquis Luo Yun was naturally reflected in their eyes. Many children from aristocratic families and academy schools were somewhat moved. This year, the teacher of the special examination would be Marquis Luo Yun. It could be said that this was the beginning of changes in the world.
Only Xu Changwen was calm and collected. He picked up the solution he had written yesterday, looked it over carefully, and only after he felt that it was correct did he pick up the brush and write it down.

As for what they wrote, the writing style was sharp, and some of the words were even sharp. The so-called rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of every man, and there is a fixed number both inside and outside. Most of the candidates' strategies were to defend outside and suppress the inside to maintain the stability of the court.
Only Xu Changwen did the opposite. He advocated benevolent governance at home and made punishing corrupt officials a top priority. If the officials are clean, the officials will be clean. If the officials are clean, the court will be clean. If the court is clean, the world will be stable.

Xu Changwen wrote steadily. The examiner passing by also glanced at him and his eyes lit up, thinking it was a good article.

I continued to walk forward. After half a day, most of the answers had been answered. This showed the candidates' writing skills. Of course, there were also candidates who just wanted to get by. After half a day, they had not answered half of the answers.
Zhang Jinyu woke up from his sleepiness, yawned, opened his eyes, squinted and looked around. Everyone was there, and the candidates were still writing attentively. Zhang Jinyu nodded constantly when he saw their enthusiasm.
"Ningbyon, what time is it?"

"My Lord, it is already past noon."

"Uh, so fast,"

Zhang Jinyu was stunned when he heard this. He remembered that when he came to the palace in the morning, he was just mentally exhausted. He took a short nap and half a day passed. He hadn't eaten breakfast yet, but it was time for lunch.
"Is there anything going on in the palace?"

"My Lord, no, everyone, please follow the rules, everything is fine."

Ning Bian leaned down and whispered. He was standing on the high platform and had a clear view of the situation below.
"Ah That's good,"

Looking around, I saw that the three princes had not come yet. They must have stayed in bed. The sun was not setting yet. After all, the examiners had not gone to eat yet. I couldn't be too impatient.

"Well, wait a little longer, and we'll talk when I wake up and feel sleepy."

"Yes, sir, the food is always hot, so you don't have to worry if it's late."

Ning Bian had no choice but to stay and accompany the Marquis.

Just lie down,
A man sitting at the back of the hall suddenly raised his hand.

The inspector Yan Cong saw that this row was the one he was in charge of. He stood up and walked over. He saw that the student sounded familiar. He took a closer look and realized that this was the candidate who knelt at the door that day, Su Wenliang from the Marquis of Jingnan's Mansion.

"What do you have to say?"

"My Lord, I have finished answering the questions and need to hand in the paper,"

Su Wenliang had already cleaned up the table in front of him, leaving only two rice paper folding pages. He handed in one chapter per topic yesterday, and today, he had to fold the remaining two chapters together, with a slight excitement on his face.

But the inspector Yan Cong in front of him looked a little ugly. How could this person be so reckless? He didn't even know the rules of the Enke. It's not impossible to hand in the paper early, but it can't be like this. Rules are rules. How can they be broken every time? Advise;
"Mr. Su, you have to think about it carefully. Otherwise, check it again. If you miss something or do less, it will be a waste of opportunity."

Yan Cong gave a kind advice, almost telling him to wait a while and sit there with the test paper.
Unexpectedly, Su Wenliang shook his head.
"Your Excellency, I have checked and found that I have not missed any questions. I have completed one poem and two policy essays."

"Master Su, there is still a day and a half left until the end of the imperial examination. Just be patient and it will pass. The imperial examination is held every three years, and the imperial examination is held every eight years. It is a rare opportunity, so you must answer the questions carefully."

Yan Cong did not agree. He reached out and picked up the answer sheet on Su Wenliang's desk, opened it and took a look. The article was written neatly and smoothly, and the handwriting showed his solid foundation. As for the article, it was well-balanced. There was too much to read carefully. Overall, it was good. He was sure to pass the provincial examination, but it would be difficult to pass with such a style.

But Su Wenliang bowed and said,
"Sir, I have indeed finished writing. I am uncomfortable here because I cannot lift my head or stretch my legs. To be honest, the dry food I brought with me is only enough for one day. You see, it is all gone."

After saying that, he took out the package from under him and opened it. There was only half a naan bread inside, and nothing else. The only thing for holding water was a bowl on the table, with half a bowl of water left in it.

Yan Cong took a quick look and saw that there was indeed nothing left. Since he couldn't persuade him, he could only hand in the paper.

"Okay, you sit down first. I will report to you. Do not disturb other people taking the exam."

"Yes, sir, I dare not."

Su Wenliang nodded and sat down. He took the two examination papers of the man and returned to his seat. He asked the substitute examiner to take his place. Then he walked along the side of the hall to the high platform, looked for Master Chu Nian, and whispered:

"Sir, there are candidates who need to hand in their papers,"

: "Well, has he finished writing at this time?"

Lord Chu Nian was drinking tea at his seat. When he saw the report from the inspector Yan Cong, the tea bowl in his hand shook. He was quite unhappy. How could he hand in his paper in advance when the Dragon Gate would not be opened for three days?

"Your Excellency, when I was on patrol, this person raised his hand to report that he wanted to hand in his paper. After checking, I found that he had indeed finished writing. Although I know it is against the rules, the rules of the special examination do not say that papers cannot be handed in early, so I collected his paper."

He bent down slightly and handed over the examination paper. Chu Nian was helpless. What he said was true. He took it and opened it to take a rough look. It was indeed completed. Although he did not read it carefully, with such a foundation, he was sure to pass the provincial examination. He was unsure. He glanced at Luo Yunhou, who was still lying there. He did not want to disturb the marquis, but this was the only case, and the chief examiner still needed to make a decision.
"Well, Yan Cong, follow me to see Luo Yunhou and ask about this matter,"

Pointing to the Marquis who was still sleeping soundly on the platform, Yan Cong paused for a moment and bowed.

"Listen to Master Chu."

The two of them walked towards the platform one after the other. When they reached the platform, Chu Nian clasped his fists and reported,
"My Lord, I have something to report. A candidate needs to hand in his paper early. Here is the answer sheet."

Zhang Jinyu, who was still lying there, didn't know what he was thinking about, but was suddenly interrupted. He was shocked. What kind of examinee handed in the paper so quickly? He just said it casually.
"Hand in the paper? Are you crazy? It's only been a day and a half."

Suddenly he opened his eyes and cursed again;
"For those who don't know the rules, let him hand it over and show it to me."

Helplessly, Zhang Jinyu stood up and asked Ning Bian to move a chair over for the two of them to sit down. Then he wiped his face, took the answer sheet, and opened it casually. It said, Su Wenliang, Wuzhong County, Suzhou. Hmm? Su Wenliang, isn't he the one who came in on his knees?
"This Su Wenliang from Wuzhong County, Suzhou, claimed that day that he was from the Su family of Jingnan Marquis's Mansion in Jingnan, is that correct?"

"My Lord, it's him."

Mr. Yan sat down, clasped his fists and replied, wondering in his heart, what choice will the Marquis make?

Zhang Jinyu immediately lost his good impression. He helped him that day for the sake of His Majesty's reputation. Now he is so unruly, which shows that this person is too aggressive and doesn't know when to advance or retreat. He may also do this to be different just to attract people like us. It's a pity that people in officialdom who have no strength will die if they show off like this.

I opened the letter and read it. The handwriting was okay, but the article had too many words and I didn't want to read it. I closed the letter and asked;
"Lord Chu, have you seen your answer sheet? How is it? There are so many words, I am too lazy to read it. Since you dare to hand in the paper early, either you want to do something shocking, or your article is very unique and shocking." This is what Zhang Jinyu stubbornly believes. Thinking about the plot he followed in his previous life, there were always a few people who wrote articles in the imperial examinations that shocked the world and were said to have talents that will be passed down through the ages. What's worse, some of them were like some madmen, making a set of drunken remarks to shock the world. The Su family of Jingnan Marquis's Mansion knelt from the beginning to enter, which really shocked many people. It's interesting.

Lord Chu Nian suddenly smiled and shook his head. How could the Marquis have such an idea? If he really wanted to write an article that would be passed down through the ages, he had to carefully consider it. The intention must be profound and thought-provoking, and he had to get straight to the point. To be honest, all the shocking works in the past were those that criticized the court and the royal family. Only in this way could they resonate with scholars and officials all over the world. However, this article was not about these things. As far as the article was concerned, it was very standard and well-balanced, without any ingenuity. It was just a first-class article. How could he be so shameless as to hand it in?

"My Lord, a masterpiece that will be passed down through the ages cannot be written in such a short time. It is not too much to consider every word, and it is thought-provoking and has unique insights. This article is about the court's policy of stability. Troops were sent inside the pass to suppress the rebellion, and heavy troops were deployed outside the pass to defend the country. It is a repeat of the old ways. As for how to reduce the great threat of the past century, it is just briefly mentioned. According to the rules, it is a first-class article and can be passed."

"Oh, it's so mediocre, and it's a first-class article?"

Zhang Jinyu opened his eyes, sat up, took the answer sheet and flipped it open to take a look. What was written on it was what the court was currently doing. He was good at taking shortcuts. Suddenly he thought of the attitude implied by His Majesty that day. It seemed that this year's special examination was a little different. He had forgotten to ask.

"Master Chu, you can't let them off easy. All these essays will be ranked as B-grade, and the A-grade essays will be strictly followed according to the examination rules. As for those below B-grade, they will all fail."

"My Lord, aren't you being too strict? If that's the case, wouldn't there be very few articles that should have been on the B list?"

Chu Nian was a little bit unbelievable. Was Luo Yunhou too strict? If so, the students would definitely complain.

"Master Chu, change your mind. Ninety percent of the more than a thousand people can write essays, and another ninety percent can make the list. The children of officials in the academy are all in my palace. Do you think there are so many in the Imperial Examination Hall?"

This is what Zhang Jinyu just thought of. With the same test paper and the same score, some people can pass and some cannot. The reason lies in the number of admissions. It seems that this point has been overlooked by Zhang Jinyu.
Chu Nian's face also changed. It turned out that what the Marquis said was right. The students of the Imperial Academy, the academy, and the children of the major aristocratic families were much better than those children from poor families. As a result, most of the people on the list were children from aristocratic families.
So there is still a problem. The Marquis means to strictly review the articles and reduce the number of people on the list, but that is all we can do.

"Thanks to the Marquis's reminder, I almost missed the big thing. Invigilation is just the easiest thing, marking the papers is the hardest. Marquis, your final marking of the quota is even more difficult."

"Why?"

Zhang Jinyu saw that Chu Nian didn't seem to be joking. It was just a matter of selecting the names on the list. How difficult could it be? He could just tick the name and it would be done.
"My Lord, according to the regulations, for the provincial examination, the registered names of candidates do not need to be covered, so when the examiners are marking the papers, they will see the names on the list."

Chu Nian gave a bitter smile. This was the old rule, and only Luo Yunhou didn't know about it.

"What? This is true."

Suddenly I thought of the answer sheet in my hand. I opened the first page and saw the candidate's registered name. It was clear at a glance. If this was true, it would be difficult to deal with. Officials protecting each other was not a joke. But if this was the case,
Zhang Jinyu spread out the paper, then turned the first page and left it unread, leaving only the written article. Naturally, he could not see it when he placed it on the table. In this case, the inspector could also review the paper, and the original reviewer would be the final reviewer. No one could see who was who.

"Don't worry, Master Chu. I have my own way. There are so many examiners, it's time to use them."

Chu Nian saw that the Marquis was confident. Although he didn't know what method the Marquis had to avoid all this, he believed that since the Marquis had said so, there must be a way to solve it. He did not ask any more questions, but pointed to the answer sheet in his hand and asked;

"My Lord, what should we do with this person?"

"Call the man over and ask him,"

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Zhang Jinyu was really angry. You were given the opportunity to enter the exam, but you didn't seize it and just did these unruly things. Although he himself was used to being unruly, it didn't mean he could tolerate others being unruly. People who don't follow the rules will not be tolerated in the officialdom.

Yan Cong's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that the Marquis and Lord Chu didn't like this man. He didn't know what would happen. He stood up and clasped his fists to agree. He turned back and walked to Su Wenliang. He saw that this man was actually dozing off on the table. He actually fell asleep. He was really ignorant and fearless.
He reached out and knocked on the table. Su Wenliang, who was sleeping, got up quickly when he heard the noise. When he saw that it was the inspector, his face lit up with joy.
"Sir, have you handed in your papers?"

"Hmph, after you hand in your papers, it's up to you. Follow me."

Yan Cong, with a sullen face, woke up Su Wenliang, and went to the high platform in the hall, one after the other, to pay their respects to the chief examiner, Luo Yunhou.

When he got closer, Yan Congyi clasped his fists and reported,
"My Lord, here comes the examinee Su Wenliang,"

"Well, come on!"

Zhang Jinyu took the man's answer sheet in his hand and spread it out on the table. When he saw Su Wenliang approaching cautiously, he deliberately said,

"Are you Su Wenliang?"

"My Lord, I am a student,"

Su Wenliang hurried out, bowed, and lost his arrogance. He was a man with good sense.
"What a beautiful handwriting! How did you do it?"

Zhang Jinyu took a deliberate glance and praised.

Su Wenliang's face lit up with joy, and he bowed again.
"I am deeply ashamed to receive your praise, Your Excellency. I will hand in my paper and ask for your permission!"

"Well, the article is well written. It's a great talent. If he passes the exam, consider it my congratulations in advance!"

Zhang Jinyu kept saying nice things, and even she believed them, let alone others.

"Thank you, sir. After I hand in my paper, may I leave? I don't even have enough for dinner. I only have boiled water to fill my stomach!"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere became cold instantly. Zhang Jinyu, who didn't want to have a fight with him, was stunned. This was premeditated. Good fellow, he put his mind on this. Only Lord Chu Nian couldn't stand it anymore and scolded him;
"Su Wenliang, who told you that you can get out during the imperial examination? Once the gate is lowered, not even a fly can get out before the time is up. No matter who it is, in the last examination, a candidate died of heartburn and fever. They could only wrap him up with a mat and stand by the wall, waiting for the gate to open before they could deal with him. How dare we change the rules left by our ancestors?"

The people around were obviously attracted by the conversation here. Su Wenliang saw that he couldn't get out, but the food was really gone, so he gritted his teeth and said;
"Sir, I am a reckless student, but the food is only enough for one meal, which is really not enough to fill my stomach."

"Come here, give him the food I brought."

"Yes, my lord."

The inspector beside him handed over the food box that had not been touched by Master Chu. Su Wenliang took it in his hand, not knowing what to do. How was Master Chu supposed to eat?
Chu Nian didn't care at all. He ate meat with Luo Yunhou these days and didn't touch the food he brought with him. It was a bit of a waste.
Zhang Jinyu smiled and waved his hand.
"In that case, the papers have been handed in. You take your things and go back to the back hall to rest. Don't talk too much, or you will be punished for cheating in the imperial examination."

"Thank you, my lord. Thank you, sir."

Su Wenliang was overjoyed. He bowed to all the masters again, picked up the food box, and left happily. After the man had finished packing, Yan Cong led him to the back hall. Along the way, he only sighed in his heart.
Zhang Jinyu stared at the paper in front of him, and thought for a while. He still had to save the Su family's face with the Marquis of Jingnan and the princess, but this person was too arrogant.

"My Lord, what are you going to do?"

"Haha, oh no, that's wrong. This person is frivolous and keeping him here will bring disaster. If Your Highness knew about this, he might even thank me. Bring me the pen."

With a sneer, he asked Chu Nian for a brush!
(End of this chapter)