Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

A cacophony of voices, filled with joy and sorrow, echoed outside the貢院 (Gòngyuàn - Examination Hall).

However, voices of joy were ultimately in the minority.

The majority were lamenting, tears streaming down their faces outside the gates of the Examination Hall.

Zhou Maoxue stood in the crowd, still anxiously scanning the list, but his spirits had already plummeted to rock bottom.

The list was only half-posted; it hadn't been fully displayed yet.

However, the list was being released from back to front, with the earlier names being lower in rank. Since the names posted so far didn't include his, the hope for later was slim.

Yet, a sliver of hope lingered in his heart.

What if he got lucky this time, exceeding his usual performance, or perhaps the examiners appreciated his paper?

Finally, the entire list was posted.

The surrounding area was already filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and the popping of firecrackers... The first-place candidate had already ridden away on a tall horse amidst the cheers and adulation of the crowd.

Zhou Maoxue's listless gaze continued to linger on the list.

He hadn't seen clearly yet; it must be because there were too many names, and he missed his for a moment.

His servant beside him, cautiously glanced at him, gently tugged at his sleeve, and said in a trembling voice, "Young Master... it seems your name isn't on it."

Buzz!

The last remaining shred of hope shattered, and Zhou Maoxue's mind felt as if it had been struck by a bolt of lightning!

I've failed... again?!

Zhou Maoxue's knees weakened, and he knelt on the ground, tears welling up in his eyes, biting his teeth and staring at the ground.

Heaven is unfair!! How could it treat me like this?

I am intelligent and have countless friends, so why can't I pass this small imperial examination?

How will my family view me when I return home this time, and how will my former friends regard me? Failing the exam is a small matter, but losing face is a big deal...

Countless worries gathered in his mind.

The servant beside him comforted, "Young Master, it's all because those examiners are blind and don't recognize your talent. We'll definitely pass next time! Let's go home and talk about it."

After speaking, he prepared to help Zhou Maoxue up, but Zhou Maoxue suddenly shook his right arm, causing the servant to stumble, and then he raised his head, his eyes red, and angrily cursed, "Get out of here!"

"Exams, exams, exams! Damn exams!!"

"Am I living just to take exams? How long do I have to keep taking them? Do I have to keep taking them until my hair is completely white like him?"

Next to Zhou Maoxue, an examinee who was already over seventy years old with white hair and beard was mentally collapsing, wailing and complaining about the unfairness of the examination hall.

A large group of disappointed people around were mostly like this, beating their chests and stamping their feet.

The successful candidates, full of pride, had already left this place, leaving behind a ground full of weeping.

The surrounding cries made Zhou Maoxue even more upset. He clenched his fists and roared, "This is the unfairness of the examination hall!! The court doesn't know how to recognize talent! Does my talent have to be proven by exams?!"

The servant smiled obsequiously, constantly comforting, "Yes, yes, yes! Young Master is right..."

"I'll go to your mother! You dog servant dares to laugh at me?!"

A slap landed heavily on the servant's face, and the servant covered his face, feeling wronged.

At this moment, someone next to Zhou Maoxue shouted at the officials in the distance, "Why! This year, there are so many candidates, why doesn't the court increase the number of successful candidates, but instead uses the usual quota?"

"A group of illiterate craftsmen from Dongjiao University can be exceptionally selected to enter the court and become officials! This is unfair. I have studied diligently for over forty years, but I am being squeezed out of official positions by the illiterate people from Dongjiao University. People's hearts are not what they used to be, and the sages' words are no longer valued. Is this what the court is doing as an example for the world?!"

"That's right! Well said! If the court wants to be fair and just, it should supplement the number of successful candidates!"

After he shouted this, the surrounding people followed suit, clamoring and demanding that the court increase the number of admissions.

Zhou Maoxue was still feeling sorry for himself, but when he saw the sudden change in the crowd's style, he was suddenly stunned and looked at the servant and said, "Dongjiao University, what's going on?"

The servant covered his face and said softly, "Young Master, the court issued an imperial decree to add an eighth-rank official title, called Doctor of Science, to serve as an advisor in the court. The talent selection is from the Dongjiao University students who have been promoted to the Royal Academy of Sciences. This happened the day before yesterday."

"How come I don't know?" A hint of shock flashed in Zhou Maoxue's eyes.

"You went to drink with your friends after the exam...." The servant felt extremely aggrieved.

Zhou Maoxue didn't care, his eyes constantly moving on the ground, muttering, "This... whose idea is this in the court, Marquis of Jianye?"

"Isn't it? Who else could it be besides Marquis of Jianye? The whole world knows that Dongjiao University is Marquis of Jianye's property."

"Marquis of Jianye... Marquis of Jianye." Zhou Maoxue raised his head, looked around, and the number of people joining the protest was increasing.

The officials couldn't withstand the scene and had already returned to the Examination Hall.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Zhou Maoxue's mind.

The people's hearts can be used!!

Thinking of this, he quickly instructed the servant, "Go find me some people to come over, and book two restaurants in the city. I want to invite these failed scholars to dinner. Also, I won't be going home these days, don't tell the family."

The servant nervously said, "Young Master, what do you want to do?"

"What to do? This young master is going to do something big, something earth-shattering!"

A gleam of light flashed in Zhou Maoxue's eyes, and when he stood up, his face was already full of vigor.

Fang Zheng Yi is about the same age as me, he can do great things, this young master can do the same, and even be stronger than him!

Today, a great opportunity is in front of him, and the people's hearts can be used.

After this battle, he might be able to become a leader of the scholars among the people and gain great fame!

No one would dare to look down on Zhou Maoxue anymore!

As for the imperial examination... to hell with the exam!

......

"..... The prince killed the catfish spirit, and finally lived happily ever after with the mermaid princess."

Inside the Princess's study, Fang Zhengyi held a cute little girl in his arms, closed the storybook, and gently pecked her on the cheek.

"The story is over, take her back to sleep."

Shui Yibai, who was standing aside, smiled and carried her daughter back to the room.

As soon as the mother and daughter left the study, Fang Chengyu walked in with his homework book, rubbing his eyes and said, "Dad, I can't do this problem, can you help me solve it?"

Fang Zhengyi lowered his eyes, condescendingly and disdainfully said, "Useless, bring it here."

Fang Chengyu pouted, "The teacher just taught the equation, I didn't understand it...."

Fang Zhengyi glanced at it, picked up the homework book and held it in front of his face, scrutinized it for a long time, and threw it back to Fang Chengyu.

I don't understand.... Is elementary school homework so difficult now?

"You can't even do this problem! What are you learning in school? You don't have to sleep tonight, if you don't understand it, you will stand in the classroom tomorrow to attend class, do you understand?"

Fang Chengyu became anxious, "But the homework has to be handed in tomorrow!"

Fang Zhengyi said earnestly, "Son, people must learn to be responsible for themselves. How many people can help you on the road to growth? Isn't there teaching material at home? Go back and study hard. What others tell you is not yours. Only what you learn is yours! Don't be afraid of suffering, if you are afraid of suffering, you will suffer for a lifetime, if you are not afraid of suffering, you will suffer for half a lifetime!"

Fang Chengyu opened his mouth, took back the homework book with disappointment.

Just as he was about to turn around and leave, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) broke into the room, panting and said, "Your Excellency! Something big has happened! The Marquis of Jianye's mansion is under siege!"