"Look at that person.
Chapter. "
Fang Yun pointed his chin at a person in front of the cauldron. Everyone looked over and was speechless. They looked at that person and walked forward.
An old man in a tattered green robe stood in front of the cauldron. His hands were hanging by his side and his head was drooping. His body was swaying slightly and his eyes were closed. He seemed to be dozing off. His hair was like a chicken nest that had just been scratched by a hen. His beard was a mess, like a large piece of bitter gourd silk tangled together. A strand of noodle hung from his white beard.
Fang Yun saw this and almost laughed out loud. Although he knew that this beggar uncle was famous, he did not expect it to be so exaggerated.
However, no matter how messy his hair was, there was not a trace of dust or grease on it. This was because at Hanlin Academy, one could not be tainted by dust. Even if Zhao Jingkong jumped into a pool of grease and came out, he would still be clean in the blink of an eye.
Zhao Jingkong's clothes were stained with grease, which was especially glaring under the bright morning sun.
"So it is true." Fang Yun sighed.
"It's an eye-opener, but … sigh … some things are better left unsaid." Chang Wanxu said.
A few of the scholars nodded. Everyone knew that Chang Wanxu was going to say that Zhao Jingkong was impolite. However, Zhao Jingkong's impoliteness did not hurt anyone. Chang Wanxu also knew that criticizing him would make him impolite.
"For this kind of courtesy, sometimes it doesn't matter." Fang Yun's expression changed slightly. He looked at Zhao Jingkong as if he was hiding something.
Someone said in a low voice, "It is said that this person did not get along with the previous emperor and the old emperor. In order to avoid being suspected by the previous emperor and the old emperor, he sullied himself."
"That is the most likely possibility."
"It's a pity. If he was resolute, he would be the second Li Wenying."
"Everyone has their own ambitions. Perhaps the beggar uncle has another world in his heart."
"It's hard to say …"
Fang Yun and the others talked. Some of the scholars around them listened attentively. Some did not care. No one thought it was strange. This was completely different from Chen Zhiyuan's attitude towards Fang Yun. They were commenting, while Chen Zhiyuan was reprimanding.
Fang Yun softly sighed. Others might not know, but yesterday he had heard from Dong Wencong and the others that Gyeongo had tried to drive a wedge between Zhao Jingkong and the Late Emperor and the Imperial Ancestor. He had even used the Juwen Pavilion and the School of Miscellany to attack Zhao Jingkong. In the end, this had caused Zhao Jingkong to go into seclusion for ten-some years. Zhao Jingkong only reappeared in Jingguo after he became a Grand Secretary. However, he had become a completely idle wild crane. He didn't even attend the funeral of the previous emperor.
Because Li Wenying had asked Zhao Jingkong to replace him, Fang Yun had a natural good impression of Zhao Jingkong. No matter what this beggar uncle was like, he was still a Grand Scholar, which made people feel at ease.
The examinees gradually arrived near the copper cauldron.
Other than Zhao Jingkong, there were also the Notre-Dame's Inspector, the Governor of Jiang Province, and the Minister of the Academy standing in front of the copper furnace.
The rest of the officials stood on both sides, not taking the main seat.
After everyone had arrived, the ceremony that Fang Yun was incomparably familiar with began. First, the Governor of Ge Province led the examinees to worship the saints. Then, Zhao Jingkong recited the Sacred Text of Sacrifice. Finally, the Minister of Jingguo Academy announced the rules of the examination.
Zhao Jingkong originally looked drowsy, but when he recited the Sacred Text of Sacrifice, he was incomparably serious. If one closed their eyes and listened, they would be no different from the other Grand Scholars. However, after he finished reciting, he returned to his usual listless state. He closed his eyes and dozed off while standing. His body would sway slightly from time to time.
Fang Yun looked at the examinees around him. The average age of the examinees was at least ten years older than the previous examinees. He sighed with emotion.
After the ceremony. People who were familiar with him said goodbye.
Fang Yun looked back before entering the examination room. The beggar uncle was sitting on a chair and sleeping soundly. The surrounding officials looked more helpless than the other.
Fang Yun smiled and continued to find his examination room.
After a while, Fang Yun found his examination room. It was not much different from the examination room of the Elementary Scholar Examination. There was a bed, a table, a chair, a toilet, and other necessities. Other than that, there was nothing else.
Fang Yun quickly tidied everything up and stood behind the table, waiting for the examinees to give out the test papers.
The High Scholar Examination first tested poetry, then classics, and finally policy. The examination lasted for a day.
Not long after, the sound of wheels rolling on the ground sounded. It was moving and stopping.
Fang Yun turned his head slightly in the direction of the carriage because he heard many examinees exclaim softly. He also heard a very rare word.
"Random Examination."
Fang Yun did not even realize it at first. It was only after he thought carefully that he remembered what it was.
Normally, the three subjects would be tested one day in order. However, the random examination would give out the questions of poetry, classics, and policy at the same time. It would also take three days.
Fang Yun was very clear that although the two subjects did not seem to be very different, the random examination tested one's determination and choice. This was because different topics could easily distract one. When writing poetry, one would inevitably think about the classics or policy. The more one thought about it, the more confused one's mind would be. This would cause the contents of the three subjects to affect each other and ultimately cause one's grade to drop.
This was not the most fatal part. The most fatal part was that once one's thoughts were affected, one would fall into self-blame and regret.
Fang Yun thought for a while and quickly made a decision.
The carriage appeared and the runner handed a thick stack of papers to Fang Yun. Fang Yun thanked the runner and sat down with the test papers.
The first page was filled with the title of the poem and the requirements for the poem's rhythm and theme. The second page was blank.
Fang Yun placed the thick stack of papers in front of him. He only took the first and second pages and placed them in front of him. It was as if he did not know that there were more classics or policy questions.
After Fang Yun finished reading the questions of the poems, he slowly began to think.
Writing a poem required a long process. Fang Yun constantly thought about it. He considered the theme, the rhythm, the structure, the concept, the concept, etc. If he wanted to write a poem, one day was not a long time.
In the process of thinking, Fang Yun's mood would change slightly every time he glanced at the stack of papers. It was as if there was a force urging him to look at the classics and policy questions so that he could have more time to think.
However, Fang Yun did not hesitate from the beginning to the end. In the end, he even pressed the paperweight on the thick stack of papers and continued to think seriously.
Two hours passed, four hours passed …
"Ah …"
A scream suddenly sounded and disappeared. Fang Yun's heart trembled. He realized that someone had lost control of their emotions and was being isolated by the power of the Divine Temple.
This kind of random examination was not enough to cause people to lose control of their emotions. However, this was the Imperial Examinations. More than half of the examinees had failed at least three times. The pressure was unimaginable.
Furthermore, every year there were people who went crazy or even committed suicide before and after the examinations.
Elementary Scholars were not High Scholars. They did not have the courage to answer the questions. If they wanted to answer the questions smoothly, they had to rely on their own willpower. However, this kind of random examination had no effect on High Scholars.
Fang Yun did not use the strength of his courage. This was because when he was handing out the papers, he had already decided that if he could not even pass a random examination, he would not be qualified to be a High Scholar. He would not have the right to use his courage.
Not long after, the sound of crying could be heard.
"Choosing disorder is indeed an incurable disease. Coupled with the pressure, this random examination is heartless." Fang Yun thought to himself as he pressed the inkstone on the thick stack of papers.
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