"County Magistrate Chen dares not search the cubicles, is he trying to shield Zhan Feiyu?" the middle-aged candidate shouted hoarsely, as if to ensure every candidate in their cubicle heard him.
Magistrate Chen's face turned ashen, his sharp gaze fixing on the middle-aged candidate kneeling on the ground and bellowing, "Do you know the penalty for slandering an official appointed by the court?"
The candidates participating in the county examination held no scholarly titles. A commoner, in front of over three hundred candidates within the examination grounds, accusing the magistrate of cheating was, in essence, a slander of a court official. On a larger scale, it was an accusation of examination fraud.
The middle-aged candidate lowered his head, his body shrinking slightly, yet he adamantly refused to back down. "Rumor has it Zhan Feiyu is a disciple of Scholar Gu. Magistrate Chen, you are shielding Zhan Feiyu to curry favor with Scholar Gu!"
"Utter nonsense!" Instructor Zhao reprimanded angrily, cupping his hands towards Magistrate Chen. "Your Excellency, since Mao Zhengfeng is so insistent, why doesn't Your Excellency order the yamen runners to search the cubicles?"
If he didn't search, it would appear as though he had something to hide, making it impossible to silence the public. Instructor Zhao's presumptuous suggestion was made with the expectation that if no cheat sheets were found, Mao Zhengfeng would be unable to slander Magistrate Chen and Xiao Yu.
Magistrate Chen's face was stern, his brows furrowed. This matter was rather peculiar. Mao Zhengfeng's certainty about cheat sheets in the cubicle suggested he had likely made arrangements beforehand. This was a trap, but it was unclear whether it was aimed at him or Zhan Feiyu. Magistrate Chen pondered, or perhaps it was intended to ensnare both of them.
"Your Excellency, this student conducts himself with integrity. Since this person is spewing baseless accusations of cheating, I implore Your Excellency to search the cubicle to prove my innocence!" Zhan Feiyu's clear voice resonated powerfully, her gaze clear and composed.
Glancing at Qian Pingchao in the cubicle diagonally opposite, Zhan Feiyu continued, "To prevent Mao Zhengfeng from further accusing the yamen runners of shielding me, I request Your Excellency to have someone search Mao Zhengfeng first, and then let him personally search the cubicle!"
The contemplative Magistrate Chen did not immediately respond. Had Zhan Feiyu not perceived Mao Zhengfeng's scheme, or was she planning to lure the enemy into a trap?
At this juncture, Magistrate Chen could not afford to overthink. He commanded in a deep voice, "Constable Fei, please temporarily collect Zhan Feiyu's examination paper. You two, search Mao Zhengfeng."
After a while, Mao Zhengfeng feignedly ran his hands over the desk and under the stool, as if checking if cheat sheets were hidden there. He then looked at the cubicle walls, glancing around before directly prying at a loose bluestone brick on the right side, at the very bottom.
At this moment, anyone with eyes and a brain could see that Mao Zhengfeng was well-prepared and had a clear target! Otherwise, how would he know that the brick in Zhan Feiyu's cubicle was loose?
"Found it!" After prying the bluestone brick loose, Mao Zhengfeng shouted loudly, casting a triumphant glance at Zhan Feiyu, who stood outside the cubicle. He then reached his right hand inside, eagerly awaiting the retrieval of the decisive evidence – the cheat sheet!
"Ah!" A shrill scream pierced the air. Mao Zhengfeng cried out in extreme terror, frantically shaking his right hand.
No way! Zhan Feiyu's eyes widened, her small frame instantly leaping to the side. Despite it being winter, she broke out in a cold sweat.
Terrified, Mao Zhengfeng tried to get help from a nearby yamen runner, "Help me..."
Magistrate Chen and Instructor Zhao were also startled. Who would have thought that a snake would be hidden in the gap of the brick in the middle of winter? Logically, with the biting cold, snakes should be hibernating. However, perhaps disturbed by Mao Zhengfeng's action of prying the brick, a foot-long snake had bitten his hand. The snake's body coiled around his wrist twice. No wonder Mao Zhengfeng's face had turned ashen.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, it's not venomous." Constable Fei grabbed the snake's head and forcefully pulled it off. He then shook it vigorously, and the small snake seemed to be dazed.
Zhan Feiyu turned her head away, absolutely refusing to look. She, who could ruthlessly kill even the Jade-Faced Gentleman, was terrified of snakes. The thought of the scene just now made her skin crawl.
Finding a snake while searching for cheat sheets, Magistrate Chen was certain that Zhan Feiyu had made thorough preparations. However, seeing her turn away, her body stiff, Magistrate Chen paused in surprise. Was she afraid of snakes? But then, Magistrate Chen understood. It was likely that Scholar Gu had sent people to deploy this secretly, and Zhan Feiyu was unaware of it.
Glaring at Mao Zhengfeng, Magistrate Chen sternly asked, "Mao Zhengfeng, do you still need to search the cubicle?"
The pre-arranged spot did not contain any cheat sheets. Even if Mao Zhengfeng were foolish, he would know that something had gone awry. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, realizing he was finished.
"Take him away!" Having no desire to witness his regret, Magistrate Chen gave an order. Two constables immediately stepped forward, grabbed Mao Zhengfeng, and dragged him out of the cubicle.
Although there was a delay of about fifteen minutes, the facts were clear. Mao Zhengfeng had merely made groundless accusations. Zhan Feiyu tremblingly returned to her cubicle, still feeling as if a snake were behind her.
Zhan Feiyu had drafted her answers for the Five Classics but had not yet begun transcribing them when she saw several candidates submit their papers to the officials ahead of time. Each examination was held on alternate days, meaning the presiding official had to review over three hundred papers within two days and two nights. The candidates who submitted early were aiming for the "ti zuo tang hao," meaning they wanted Magistrate Chen to notice their papers, perhaps even to review them in person. Of course, all of this was contingent on possessing genuine talent; otherwise, it would be counterproductive.
By the time of Shenshi, the sound of the cloud drum rang out again, and all candidates stopped writing. Answering further would be considered cheating. Zhan Feiyu waited until the junior official collected the papers before packing up her ink and brush and "escaping" the cubicle as quickly as possible.
Just as they had entered the examination grounds, the waiting candidates filed out once the Dragon Gate was opened. Zhan Feiyu, who came out last, looked at Yin Wuyan with a mournful expression.
"I didn't know you were afraid." For the first time, Yin Wuyan felt he was in the wrong. He avoided her resentful gaze, quickly wrapping Zhan Feiyu tightly in his cloak and handing her the small hand warmer.
Zhan Feiyu tilted her chin up, huffing proudly, but obediently walked alongside Yin Wuyan towards the exit.
...
After the sun came out, the temperature finally rose. The day of the results boded well, causing many candidates to wait in tea houses and inns early in the morning.
"Sit properly." Seeing Zhan Feiyu leaning halfway out the window, Yin Wuyan reached out and pressed her back into the chair.
Although Zhan Feiyu sat properly, she grunted like a piglet, her chubby paws pointing to her bloodshot eyes. Since returning from the examination, she had dreamt of the exam for two consecutive nights, with a snake coiled around her neck, frightening her into screaming. Even with He Nuan accompanying her, Zhan Feiyu dared not sleep, so she lit a candle and read until dawn.
"Go back and get some good sleep," Yin Wuyan said helplessly, his cold gaze shifting to Zhong Guang at the table behind them.
Zhong Guang, the "culprit," wore a distressed expression, wishing he could disappear on the spot.
Zhan Feiyu sighed, blinking her eyes, her clear, small voice drawn out, "It's not that I don't want to sleep, it's that I don't dare to sleep! I'll have nightmares!"
"Little Ancestor, please don't add fuel to the fire!" Zhong Guang looked pleadingly at Zhan Feiyu. Lord Qi's glares were enough to flay him alive.
Yin Wuyan gently stroked the young girl's head, "I'll watch over you."
Instantly, she beamed like a little wild cat that had stolen fish. Zhan Feiyu eagerly agreed, "Okay, I'll go back and catch up on sleep after the results are posted! Big Brother, let's go down and take a look too."
Seeing Yin Wuyan taking Zhan Feiyu out to view the posted results, Zhong Guang, who had narrowly escaped, kicked Ji Chaice's leg. "You should think of a solution! Lord Qi is about to dismember all my bones."
"Serves you right!" The aloof Doctor Ji said with disdain, "If you hadn't been so meddlesome, would Lord Qi have beaten you?"
Originally, Zhong Guang only needed to retrieve the cheat sheet behind the bluestone brick. But he insisted on playing a prank, putting a snake inside. To prevent the snake from hibernating and becoming ineffective, he also obtained some medicine from Doctor Ji and smeared it on the brick. Therefore, after Mao Zhengfeng pried the brick loose, the smell of the medicine stimulated the small snake to awaken as soon as he reached in.
"How could I have known that the plump girl would dare to kill people, yet be afraid of a non-venomous snake!" Zhong Guang felt utterly wronged. The plump girl had such a bold spirit; she had slit the Jade-Faced Gentleman's throat. To prove his innocence, Zhong Guang argued righteously, "Don't you remember when we searched Zhou Wenquan's body at the detached residence? The plump girl even asked me to cut off a finger from the mortuary. I never saw her afraid! You tell me, did the plump girl deliberately frame me? Is she not afraid at all?"
"You're overthinking it!" Doctor Ji pushed Zhong Guang's approaching face away. "Observing Xiao Yu's complexion, she has a deficiency of both heart and spleen, typical of insomnia, with frequent dreams and easy awakening. You've genuinely frightened her."
His last hope dashed, Zhong Guang felt a dark future ahead, almost wishing he were dead, thinking of how Lord Qi would still beat him severely under the guise of martial arts sparring.
"After the results are posted, Xiao Yu will surely be in the top ten. The next examination will be 'ti zuo tang hao,' so you don't need to worry about snakes," Doctor Ji, with a flicker of conscience, offered some comfort.
Instantly revitalized, Zhong Guang perked up, slapped his thigh, and laughed triumphantly. "How could I have forgotten this? Haha, my face is finally saved!" Although his entire body ached, Lord Qi had at least shown mercy, otherwise Zhong Guang would truly have been too ashamed to show his face.
Looking at the triumphant Zhong Guang with contempt, Doctor Ji mercilessly exposed him, "He didn't hit your face because Lord Qi didn't want Xiao Yu to know. Don't flatter yourself."
Uh... Zhong Guang's smile froze. After the plump girl appeared, his loyal subordinate had been cast aside by Lord Qi.
On the street, although it was not yet time for the results to be posted, many scholars and their families had already crowded at the front. Fortunately, the sun was out, so standing outside wasn't too cold.
"Do we really need to squeeze like this?" Zhan Feiyu stared, dumbfounded, at the crowd constantly pushing forward, as if whoever squeezed to the very front would have a higher ranking.
Yin Wuyan protected Zhan Feiyu, retreating to a nearby set of steps to stand.
"Big Brother, I heard that during the imperial examinations in the capital, there's 'catching a groom at the榜下捉婿'?" Zhan Feiyu's round eyes sparkled with curiosity. "And throwing embroidered balls? Would one marry even if a beggar caught it?"
Yin Wuyan looked at the young girl waiting for his answer, her head tilted up. Had she grown a year older for the new year to become interested in these things? "It's all pre-arranged. 'Catching a groom at the榜下捉婿' is just for good luck."
Having two of life's four joys on the same day was indeed a double blessing and a good omen. Zhan Feiyu nodded in understanding. "What about throwing embroidered balls?"
Yin Wuyan's gaze shifted slightly. His clear voice rang out, "That is a custom of the Tong tribe in Lingnan Dao."
So, throwing embroidered balls was indeed a fabricated plot! Zhan Feiyu looked up and met Yin Wuyan's deep phoenix eyes, momentarily stunned. Big Brother, is this...? Uh, realizing her slip-up, Zhan Feiyu guiltily touched her nose. It was true that the more one spoke, the more mistakes one made, and the less one spoke, the fewer mistakes one made! Since it was a custom from Lingnan Dao, how would she know? The excuse of storybooks could only fool outsiders who didn't know her. Zhan Feiyu wished she had twelve hours a day to study; how could she possibly have time for idle reading? Moreover, scholars generally looked down upon barbarians, so how would they write about barbarian customs in storybooks? Furthermore, scholars who wrote storybooks were usually doing it to earn money, their learning was average, and they would have little understanding of barbarians.
Yin Wuyan couldn't bear to see the young girl troubled. He tapped her smooth forehead with a finger, "Speak with caution and act with prudence."
She nodded like a pecking chick, Zhan Feiyu smiling obsequiously, "I've remembered."
Seeing the yamen runners appear, someone excitedly shouted, "The results are out..." Indeed, with the sound of three firecrackers, the approaching yamen runners cleared a path for the surrounding crowd. They brushed paste onto the wall and began to affix the榜单.
The red榜 for the county examination used a circular format, commonly known as "tuan an." In the center was a large character "中" (zhōng), with the top part shorter than the bottom, forming the character "贵" (guì). Surrounding the character "中" was the first circle, selecting twenty people, and the outer circle selected thirty people. The entire "tuan an" listed fifty people. Outside the "tuan an" was a supplementary list, also a waiting list. Candidates whose names appeared on this list could still participate in the second examination. The presiding official would select about a hundred people based on the results of the first round. Thus, over three hundred people participated in the first round of the county examination, and after eliminating half the candidates, over a hundred people would proceed to the second examination, the "zhao fu."
Zhan Feiyu stood on her tiptoes, watching the surging crowd, and patted her chest in relief. Fortunately, she hadn't joined the throng. Seeing how frantic the people were about the results, her short stature would have been completely swallowed by the crowd.
"Magistrate Chen has ranked you as the first place in the main examination," Yin Wuyan said in a deep voice. Seeing the young girl's instantly beaming face, the corners of his mouth also curved upwards.
"Then I don't need to go to the cubicle for tomorrow's examination?" Zhan Feiyu laughed crisply. The thought of snakes in the cubicle made her spine tingle. Now she seemed like an ordinary young girl. Yin Wuyan's smile deepened. When they returned, he would have Ji Chaice prepare medicinal pills to ward off snakes and insects for the young girl to carry with her.
Before the榜单, some rejoiced while others despaired. In less than half an hour, the crowded masses finally dispersed.
"Big Brother, let's go take a look too." Zhan Feiyu hopped off the steps, and even though she knew she was first place, she still wanted to see the榜单 with her own eyes. Yin Wuyan followed behind Zhan Feiyu at a leisurely pace.
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