Outside the courtyard, there was a sudden silence. Countless fearful gazes turned toward Sir Fan, unsure of what the student's problem was. Fan Xian looked at the student carrying the tattered bedding and suddenly asked, "Have you checked?"
An official from the Ministry of Rites and an official from the Overwatch Council reported at the same time, "We have. There is nothing strange."
The student raised his head and puffed out his chest as he looked at the young Sir Fan. His expression was calm, without a trace of panic. Fan Xian frowned slightly and asked again, "Did you check after taking off your clothes?"
"Yes, sir." The official next to him saw that more and more people were gathering at the entrance to the courtyard, and couldn't help but feel anxious. In another hour, the imperial edict from the palace would arrive. At this speed, it would be difficult to let all the scholars in.
At that moment, Fan Xian suddenly stood up from his chair and walked to the side of the calm-looking student. He looked him up and down and suddenly laughed. He leaned close to his ear and said, "There is something wrong with your clothes."
He spoke very quietly, so only the student heard him. In the cold weather of early February, the student's forehead was beaded with sweat! The student's name was Yang Wanli. He had no idea how Sir Fan, famous for his poetry, had discovered his secret. Under Fan Xian's quiet gaze, he couldn't help but feel like he was about to collapse.
Fan Xian suddenly smiled and said, "Go in. If you reveal it now, your ten years of effort will have been wasted. But remember, during these two days in the examination hall, don't let me find out that you have used your clothes."
Yang Wanli was pleasantly surprised, but it was difficult to suppress the lingering fear. With a sullen face, he said, "Thank you, sir, for your help." Afraid that this young, eagle-eyed scholar would change his mind again, he shouldered the tattered bedding, covered his face, and rushed into the examination hall. He had made up his mind that during these two days, he absolutely could not take off his clothes to look at the inner layers.
Immediately after, Fan Xian warned a few poor students who tried to smuggle notes into the examination hall. Gradually, the officials around him understood what was going on. Although they were surprised by Sir Fan's eyesight and judgment, they were also faintly anxious. They were afraid that they would not make it in time.
Fan Xian, however, seemed to be acting as an official for the first time. He smiled as he examined each of the students who entered the examination hall. He did not miss a single one. He removed many pairs of shoes, many hats, and many brushes with paper balls hidden behind them. He piled them up in front of the entrance to the examination hall. Only now did the students in the queue realize that this year's examiner was actually a powerful figure brimming with killing intent. He was not at all like the immortal poet Xie Man they had imagined, and would not care much about their cheating. Thus, they hurriedly retreated and threw the things they had on them into the gutter at the back of the examination hall.
The leader of the Overwatch Council today was someone Fan Xian was familiar with. It was Mu Tie, who was temporarily in charge of the First Bureau. Hearing the reports from his subordinates, he hurried over. Seeing Fan Xian kneeling down without a word, he said with some embarrassment, "Sir, it's getting late. You have to hurry."
The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Overwatch Council saw how respectful he was to Fan Xian, and they could not help but jump in fright. They did not expect the Overwatch Council to be so courteous to a civil official. Only then did they think of Fan Xian's background: a prime minister, a minister, and a princess. Thus, they did not dare to say anything more. They only quietly listened to Fan Xian's reply.
Fan Xian took out his pocket watch and looked at it. It was indeed getting late. Only then did he shake his head and stop this interesting game. Standing up, he spoke clearly to the hundreds of students at the entrance to the examination hall. "I am Fan Xian. I believe you have all heard of me before. Everyone saw me earlier. To avoid delaying the examination, I will not strip search you today. "
The students were overjoyed.
Fan Xian smiled slightly and looked around. "Throw the things you carry on your bodies into this bamboo basket, and I won't blame you. If I find you during these two days of exams, be careful that I have people strip you naked and throw you in front of the palace walls, so that everyone under heaven knows how refined you all are."
The students were terrified. Only now did they realize that the smile of the immortal poet, Fan Xian, contained a bone-chilling murderous aura. Thus, they all obediently filed in. As for whether or not there were more students who wanted to take the risk, that was a matter for the future.
Once they were let in, the speed increased. Before long, the entrance to the examination hall was quiet again. All that was left was a floor of smelly shoes and countless scraps of paper. It looked rather miserable. The officials from the Ministry of Rites quickly arranged for people to clean up in preparation for the palace's edict to open the examination. They also had to set up incense tables and fire firecrackers. For a moment, they were very busy.
As they busied themselves, they thought that Sir Fan Xian's conduct was indeed very different from that of other Qing officials. If he had ignored the smuggled goods, that would have been fine. How could he have allowed the students to take the examination after being found out? If this had happened to any other examiner, the Imperial Censorate would have caused quite a ruckus. But everyone knew that if Fan Xian dared to do this, he was not afraid of such things.
Fan Xian sat in his armchair and smiled as he watched the busy crowd. He talked to Mu Tie, who was next to him. Mu Tie's position had risen a long time ago. He had always thought that it was because of Fan Xian, so he was particularly friendly to Sir Fan. "You have worked hard, Sir Fan. In a moment, when the edict is issued and the firecrackers are fired, please return to the hall to rest. This matter of inspection will naturally be handled by me."
Fan Xian smiled and looked at him. "This is my duty. In a moment, I will have to wander around the examination hall. I have no spare time."
"Sir, this is your first time on this mission, so you do not know. Actually, once you enter the examination hall, there is no need to worry too much." Mu Tie thought that this young nobleman did not know the unwritten rules of the examination, and so he spoke with a smile.
Fan Xian suddenly turned and asked in a low voice, "Will you be going to Northern Qi, Sir Mu?"
Mu Tie was taken aback. He had not been prepared for this, and so he replied without thinking, "The Council is still making arrangements, but it should be a matter of the Fourth Bureau. I may not be able to get involved." He suddenly thought of something. Sir Fan junior could write poetry, but he didn't like it. Instead, he liked to run small businesses. He thought he had guessed something. He smiled and said, "Sir Fan, are you planning to buy some goods from the north? I can help you arrange that. "
Fan Xian laughed. "It's nothing, it's nothing. I was just asking." Next to him, a subordinate brought them tea. Fan Xian made way for Mu Tie. Mu Tie asked curiously, "Sir Fan, it seems that you are in a good mood today."
The corners of Fan Xian's lips curled up, and an indescribable expression flashed in his eyes. He seemed to be thinking of something, and after a while, he said softly, "Actually … I have always thought that studying without having to take an exam is the greatest joy in life. After entering the capital, what I was most afraid of was the exams. I didn't expect that in a year and two hours, I would become a scholar. I can study without having to take the exams, and I can even watch my fellow scholars take the exams with great ease. So this is the greatest joy of life. "
— — —
The imperial edict came, the firecrackers sounded, the incense table was removed, and the doors of the examination hall were closed. The annual examination for the Kingdom of Qing had officially begun. Fan Xian heard the heavy wooden doors of the examination hall slowly close behind him, and a sudden realization hit him. In his previous life, he had never taken the college entrance exam. At the time, he had thought that it was the greatest regret of his life. In this life, he was unable to take the exam again. Although it was easy, he still felt a little regretful.
"Greetings, sir." Fan Xian entered the great hall. The cold spring wind blew in from the doorway. Fan Xian bowed to Guo You, the Minister of the Board of Rites, who was sitting in the middle. "The door to the hall is closed, and without your permission, it cannot be opened again. At this time, the students of the various prefectures have already received their examination papers and have begun to answer them. The corner door, which is responsible for bringing in food and water, is guarded by Sir Mu of the Overwatch Council and the officials of the Board of Rites. There should be no problem."
Guo You looked at the young fifth-level official below him. He looked at his handsome face and frowned imperceptibly. Then he smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Sir Fan." He then turned to the two examiners beside him and said, "According to the rules of previous years, after two hours, you will go down and patrol the grounds."
The two examiners of the examination were the Imperial College of Learning, and the other was a scholar of the Tongwen Pavilion. Both were personally appointed by His Majesty. Hearing Guo You's words, they nodded and said, "As you wish, sir."
Guo You then turned to Fan Xian and said, "Sir Fan, your duty is to maintain order in the examination hall and assist the two examiners. You will patrol the grounds from time to time, and you will also have to keep an eye on the corner door and be ready to receive an edict at any time."
The Minister of the Board of Rites sighed and cupped his hands in salute to the sky. "The examination of the spring examination is to select talents for the nation. We cannot be careless. Everyone, please be more attentive."
Following Guo You's words, the various officials in the examination hall returned to their duties. A solemn and tense atmosphere quietly pervaded every corner of the examination hall. Everyone knew that after several northern expeditions, His Majesty had shifted the focus of governing the nation to the rule of law. Thus, the annual examination was particularly important. A few years ago, there had even been a precedent of an incognito inspection, so no one dared to be careless.
Furthermore, this year's Spring Examination was one of the most important moments in the lives of those students who were burying themselves in their desks, furiously scribbling away. If they could successfully pass, then they would leap into the dragon's gate. If not, then they could only return to their hometowns and prepare for the next year's provincial examination. Who knew how many people's youthful years would be wasted by going back and forth. There were also those who were stubborn and arrogant. Once they failed, they would linger in the capital and refuse to return to their hometowns. There were those who were defeated, those who wandered about, and even more who disappeared without a trace.
This was the grand ceremony of the nation, the arena of life and death for the scholars.
Fan Xian stood on the stone steps and closed his eyes, listening to the rustling sounds coming from all around the examination hall. He thought of the slips of paper the Crown Prince and others had handed him, and a strange smile rose to the corners of his lips.
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