Chapter 165
The news that Zhan Feiyu had been designated as the top scholar for the prefectural examination circulated throughout Nanxuan Prefecture. A small faction, driven by jealousy, escalated their rhetoric from "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" to "hens crowing at dawn," wishing to strip Zhan Feiyu of her qualification for the imperial examinations. Even if they themselves could not become the top scholar, at least one spot would be freed up, perhaps allowing them to be registered as tong sheng.
"The results are out..." Seeing a group of uniformed yamen runners appear, the people who had been waiting for a long time erupted in a frenzy. Instantly, the crowd behind surged forward like a tide.
"You're stepping on my foot!"
"Don't push!"
"Who's pulling my sleeve."
Meanwhile, in a private room of a teahouse, Qi Heng, who was somewhat anxious, glanced out the window and then back at Zhan Feiyu, who was sitting opposite him, engrossed in her book. He couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you even a little worried?"
Without even looking up, Zhan Feiyu replied with a smile, "Didn't they say I was the designated top scholar?"
Seeing Zhan Feiyu's calm demeanor, Qi Heng felt less tense. He picked up a bean roll and popped it into his mouth. "The outside world is buzzing with rumors. Perhaps Prefect Zhang will give your top scholar title to someone else to quell the situation."
Qi Heng was teasing, but there was some truth to his words. Although no one explicitly mentioned examination fraud, rumors were rampant. If Zhan Feiyu truly was the top scholar, then the rumors would become fact. Therefore, to avoid trouble, they might indeed change the top scholar.
Zhan Feiyu, who had put down her book, also smiled. "Do you think Prefect Zhang, who can't even suppress a few scholars, would be swayed by gossip?"
Uh... Qi Heng thought for a moment and realized she was right. As the Prefect of Nanxuan, if he couldn't control even these minor disturbances, he wouldn't be able to hold his position.
Qi Heng, who had worried for nothing, took a fierce bite of the bean roll, muttering with a sour taste, "So you're confident of victory? No wonder you can still read so calmly at a time like this."
"Actually, I wasn't necessarily the top scholar for the prefectural examination before," Zhan Feiyu said. Seeing Qi Heng's eyes widen, she changed tack and boasted, "But Prefect Zhang wants to establish his authority, so my becoming the top scholar is a certainty."
Can it be like that? Qi Heng, dumbfounded, didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he suddenly took a bite of a pastry, only to find it tasted sour. This was too infuriating...
In front of the posted results, a throng of crowded scholars craned their necks and peered forward.
"Zhan Feiyu is the top scholar!" a sharp voice rang out. The previously noisy scene fell into sudden silence. Everyone focused their gaze, and indeed, the name Zhan Feiyu was listed at the very top.
For a moment, everyone's hearts were filled with mixed emotions. Although there had been rumors before, seeing the reality before their eyes still left them unsettled, unsure if it was jealousy or envy.
"The top scholar of Nanxuan Prefecture, doesn't that mean I'll definitely pass the academy examination?" an old man with white hair said dejectedly, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.
This was a perfect match for the upper couplet: "Hooked above becomes old, hooked below becomes examination; old examines tong sheng, tong sheng examines until old."
"A nine-year-old Xiucai! He's only a year younger than the Third Young Master Ming back then," another scholar echoed with emotion.
Third Young Master Ming hailed from the Ming family of Qingya Academy. He had begun his studies at the age of three or four, and even so, it took him five years of study to achieve his scholarly title. Zhan Feiyu, on the other hand, had only studied for about two years in total. How could they, who had toiled for decades, bear this?
"Examination fraud! Heaven is unjust!" Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a blue long gown shouted, pushing aside those in front of him as if driven mad.
"Examination fraud! Heaven is unjust!" Seeing the yamen runners approaching, the man shouted again, rushing to the posted results and tearing them down in a frenzy.
"Stop!" Four yamen runners shouted sternly, but the results were still torn down by the man.
"Don't tear it, I haven't finished reading it yet..." a thin, dark-skinned teenager yelled angrily. He hadn't performed well and had only looked at the names of the top ten after the results were posted, planning to look up from the bottom of the list later, hoping he might be among those listed. But before he could, this madman had torn down the results.
The middle-aged man, being apprehended by the yamen runners, struggled violently, his hair disheveled. Yet, he still shouted loudly, "You lackeys arrest me, but you can't silence the masses! Examination fraud..."
The black-skinned teenager was not the only one who didn't get to see the results. After exchanging glances, the crowd spontaneously headed towards the prefectural yamen.
In the teahouse, the page who had gone to see the results excitedly pushed open the door. "Young Master, you're a tong sheng! Miss Zhan is the top scholar of the prefectural examination!"
"Really?" Qi Heng jumped up. In his excitement, he even knocked over his chair. "What place did I get?"
"Young Master, you're sixth," the page chuckled, his excitement as if he himself had been selected.
He Sheng entered a moment later. The young page proudly boasted to Qi Heng, "Young Master, I squeezed into the front row when looking at the results, and I was the first to run back and report the good news after seeing your name."
The young page's words were clearly directed at He Sheng. His young master had lost, but he, the servant of Miss Zhan, had won! Even though he was short, he was clever and quick on his feet, making He Sheng's tall stature useless.
"Someone caused trouble?" Zhan Feiyu knew something had happened from He Sheng's expression.
He Sheng, who had been looked down upon by the young page, replied matter-of-factly, "A candidate shouted about examination fraud and tore down the results. He has already been arrested by the yamen runners."
The young page was struck by lightning, his smug expression freezing on his face. He had run back too quickly and didn't know what happened afterward. He had embarrassed his young master.
"Could it be Kou Yuanxing?" Qi Heng couldn't help but ask. Kou Yuanxing had submitted his paper half an hour early in the first round of the prefectural examination. The subsequent rumors also said that Kou Yuanxing was the rightful top scholar of the prefectural examination, provided that Prefect Zhang had not secretly appointed Zhan Feiyu.
"No, it was a middle-aged man, about thirty years old, with a northern accent from Nanxuan Prefecture. He was strong and robust, with calluses on his palms and burn marks on the back of his hands, suggesting he was engaged in manual labor for many years." He Sheng observed meticulously. When the middle-aged man was caught by the yamen runners, he struggled for a moment, almost breaking free, possessing much greater strength than ordinary scholars.
Looking at the old calluses on his palms, with his right hand clearly having more than his left, coupled with some burn scars on the back of his hands and wrists, He Sheng estimated that this person was a cook, although he might have been a scholar in the past.
Ah... The young page tilted his head, staring blankly at He Sheng, completely deflated by the blow.
...
Just as Zhan Feiyu had predicted, neither the previous rumors nor the middle-aged man's frenzied tearing down of the results today had prompted Prefect Zhang to appear or issue any refutation.
Half an hour later, the yamen runners had re-copied and posted the results. The troublemaking middle-aged man was publicly beaten with fifty strokes of the cane and banned from participating in the imperial examinations for ten years.
Around noon, the people who had come to see the results gradually dispersed. A total of fifty people were admitted in the prefectural examination and would be eligible to participate in the academy examination in August. Those who failed had to start all over again.
Not far from the Gongyuan, there was an alley where the houses were divided by their owners into small, independent rooms, and some were separate small courtyards. During the prefectural examination period, they could be rented to candidates at high prices.
"How could Yuanxing fail!" the speaker, a young man no older than fifteen or sixteen, his youthful spirit ignited, his eyes red with anger, exclaimed, "Even if he wasn't the top scholar, with Yuanxing's talent, he should at least be in the top ten of the prefectural examination!"
"Watch your words!" The middle-aged man sitting beside him looked rather somber. Looking at his son's clamoring, he said again, "Yuanxing's failure was not due to insufficient talent, but because he spoke inappropriately at the Gongyuan!"
The group of candidates who had been seated together on the same day submitted their papers early. While waiting at the Dragon Gate, Kou Yuanxing had boasted that he would bet with Zhan Feiyu. If he became the top scholar, then Zhan Feiyu would no longer be allowed to study or participate in the examinations, and vice versa.
When Tutor Xiao learned of this, he knew it was not good, and indeed, Kou Yuanxing's name was nowhere to be found on the results posted today.
"Tutor, little junior brother is only speaking up for Yuanxing. Even if Yuanxing spoke inappropriately, he's only a thirteen-year-old boy. Who would have thought Prefect Zhang would be so narrow-minded as to directly disqualify Yuanxing's name?" The young man sighed, admitting that in the end, the weak could not contend with the strong.
Still indignant, Xiao Ziheng retorted, "Can officials set fire while the people are forbidden to light lamps! Zhan Feiyu and the young master of the Chen family can make a bet, so why is it a grave mistake when it comes to Yuanxing!"
"Because Zhan Feiyu's wager was for the border soldiers! While Yuanxing's wager was for personal revenge! Using the imperial examinations as a stake, such recklessness, such child's play, Prefect Zhang only disqualifying Yuanxing's ranking is already showing leniency!" Tutor Xiao was also furious, glaring at Xiao Ziheng, "You three will return to Huaixian with me tomorrow morning!"
If they lingered any longer, Tutor Xiao worried that further trouble might arise.
Looking at his son, who was still unwilling to give up, Tutor Xiao said earnestly, "Prefect Zhang is a fourth-rank official, the father and mother official of Nanxuan Prefecture. You are merely a tong sheng, and Yuanxing is still a commoner. Unless you have no intention of participating in the imperial examinations for the rest of your lives, then follow me back to Huaixian!"
"Little junior brother, listen to the Tutor. Don't cause any more trouble!" The young man also chimed in. Not to mention that Zhan Feiyu had genuine talent and her selection as top scholar was well-deserved. Even if Prefect Zhang was biased, so what?
Kou Yuanxing remained silent, his head bowed, which made Xiao Ziheng feel even worse. They had started their studies together, studied together, and Kou Yuanxing was highly gifted, even setting aside half an hour each day to teach Xiao Ziheng his lessons. They were like brothers.
Although Xiao Ziheng was angry, he still had some reason. It was just youthful bravado and unwillingness to accept defeat. "Can Prefect Zhang remain the Prefect of Nanxuan for his entire life? At worst, when a new prefect is appointed, Yuanxing and I will take the examinations again!"
Given that both were still young, they could afford to wait!
"Prefect Zhang might be transferred from Nanxuan Prefecture, but don't forget that Zhan Feiyu is a disciple of Scholar Gu!" Tutor Xiao unceremoniously poured cold water on his hopes. As a Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy, Scholar Gu didn't even need to act; his subordinates could suppress Kou Yuanxing and Xiao Ziheng, preventing them from ever rising in status for their entire lives.
"I..." Xiao Ziheng wanted to retort but couldn't utter a word.
"Tutor, we will return to Huaixian tomorrow." Kou Yuanxing's voice was hoarse. He was already thin, his clothes hanging loosely on him. Due to failing the examination, a somber gloom permeated his being, coupled with his sinister eyes, making him look somewhat eerie at first glance.
Tutor Xiao, who was strict with his only son, was very lenient with Kou Yuanxing, his student. He patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Yuanxing, don't worry too much. Prefect Zhang is not a narrow-minded person. Your inappropriate words and actions this time only resulted in Prefect Zhang disqualifying your ranking. This is a minor punishment. You only need to wait and take the examination next year."
Tutor Xiao was not just a tutor who only understood teaching. He also had some understanding of officialdom. Yuanxing harbored animosity towards Zhan Feiyu and spoke inappropriately at the Gongyuan. For public and private reasons, Prefect Zhang had already shown leniency in this matter.
Did they not see that the scholar who tore down the results earlier was banned from examinations for ten years? This was tantamount to ending his path to scholarly success.
The next morning, the drum in front of the prefectural yamen was struck by several people. Amidst the booming drumbeats, Kou Yuanxing's face was stern, his eyes filled with a hint of madness and determination.
"Whose child is this?" a passerby asked in surprise. It was the first time he had seen a child beating the drum to appeal for justice.
"Judging by his attire, is he a scholar?" a bystander whispered, recalling the rumors during the prefectural examination.
A few scholars who had woken up early to watch the sunrise at East Lake walked over. Following the surrounding crowd, one of them exclaimed, "Isn't that Kou Yuanxing, the top scholar of Huaixian!"
"What is he doing?" His companion also looked shocked. Looking at Kou Yuanxing standing at the entrance of the yamen, he felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Zhan Feiyu, waiting at the East Lake Inn, saw the yamen constables and arrived at the prefectural yamen more than half an hour later. The area outside the yamen was filled with scholars.
"Miss." He Nuan cautiously glanced around. With the crowd and chaos, He Nuan worried that the Chen family might send someone to harm Zhan Feiyu in desperation.
Zhan Feiyu nodded in understanding.
Someone with sharp eyes spotted her and shouted. The surrounding crowd parted, and Zhan Feiyu saw Kou Yuanxing standing outside the hall.
Zhan Feiyu looked at Kou Yuanxing, who was holding a sharp blade, in surprise. What was he trying to do?
Prefect Zhang, dressed in official attire, maintained an unchanged expression. Seeing Zhan Feiyu arrive, he then spoke to Kou Yuanxing, "You beat the drum to appeal for justice. Whom do you accuse?"
"This student accuses Prefect Zhang Chengli of examination fraud!" Kou Yuanxing's venomous gaze fixed on Zhan Feiyu as he spoke word by word.
Upon hearing this, a wave of gasps arose. Afterward, everyone retreated several steps in fear, lest they be implicated by Kou Yuanxing and get into trouble.
Zhan Feiyu, standing to the side, glanced at Prefect Zhang. Like the onlookers, she also took two steps back, her innocent demeanor suggesting that this matter had nothing to do with her.
Seeing this, Prefect Zhang almost failed to maintain his composure. This girl was clearly the epitome of "crossing the river and demolishing the bridge"!
"According to the laws of Daqing, a commoner accusing an official shall be beaten with thirty strokes of the cane!" Prefect Zhang's face was stern, his voice equally cold and merciless.
Although it was thirty strokes of the cane, there was a trick to it. If administered well, thirty strokes of the cane would only cause superficial injuries, appearing severe but not fundamentally damaging.
However, if the yamen runners were determined to target you, thirty strokes could cripple you by half.
"I Go To Ancient Times To Take Imperial Examinations" unedited chapters will continue to be updated, with no advertisements on the site!