Chapter 314: Chapter 127: Prefectural Examination (4)
Among the group, De’an was originally the one with the slimmest chance of becoming a Scholar.
But thanks to the questionable antics of the two candidates who had ranked tenth and eleventh, the test-takers ranked seventh through eleventh were all unable to participate.
With Li Cun also absent, it meant that based on the actual number of examinees in Qingshui County, De’an was now ranked seventh.
This time around, Qingshui County was only admitting seven Scholars.
If De’an could just hold onto his ranking, there was an extremely high chance his dream would come true.
’If I give it my all, I’ll have everything.’
’If I don’t, I’ll have to wait another year or two to try again!’
’And if my luck is particularly bad, I might even have to retake the county exam!’
This was a consequence De’an couldn’t bear. So, he had to give it his all! ’Even if I fail, it won’t matter. At least I will have tried my best, and I won’t have any regrets for the rest of my life!’
Driven by this thought, De’an didn’t act like the other candidates. He didn’t take a day off right after the exam, nor did he spend the following day calling on friends to heatedly discuss the questions and criticize the Lord Prefect’s examination standards.
He holed himself up in his room and buried himself in his books, his lamp still burning late into the night.
His fervent diligence put genuine pressure on Huang Chen and Chu Xun. Neither dared to slack off any longer and both returned to their studies.
As for Zhao Jing, he was the most self-disciplined of them all.
On the morning after the prefecture examination, while everyone else slept in, Zhao Jing rose at his usual hour. He first went through a set of fist forms, then read half a book.
By the time the others got up, he had already been studying for nearly four hours.
...
「In the blink of an eye, the day the results were to be posted arrived.」
On that day, the four of them finally emerged from their small courtyard together, making their way early to a teahouse outside the examination hall.
By the time they arrived, they were already late. The first floor of the teahouse was overflowing with people, with patrons even crowding the walkways.
But there was no need to worry. Wang Jun had already booked a private room on the second floor, so they just needed to head straight there.
Wang Jun spotted them from a window and waved frantically for them to hurry up. They entered the teahouse and were led to the private room by an attendant.
Unsurprisingly, Wang Xiao was there as well. Although he hadn’t taken the exam, he considered himself a good friend to the others and naturally wouldn’t miss a major event like the announcement of the results.
"Don’t be nervous. You’re all sure to pass."
Wang Xiao said, "The number of people who pass the prefecture examination is more than three times the final number of Scholars. In other words, no fewer than twenty candidates from Qingshui County will pass this round."
And in their group, even De’an, the weakest scholar among them, had ranked thirteenth in the county exam.
So, there was really no need to worry. Their positions were quite secure.
But De’an was still worried. "I heard the examiners are all great scholars, academic officials, and instructors invited from a prefecture five hundred *li* away. What if they have particularly harsh standards and I’m unlucky enough to have my paper fall into their hands?"
You shouldn’t assume the Lord Prefect himself grades the prefecture examinations.
That’s impossible. The workload is simply too immense!
Generally, the Magistrate selects suitable chief and deputy examiners from a list of candidates recommended by the Ministry of Rites to assist with grading. He can also invite academic officials and instructors from prefectural academies over five hundred *li* away to help. Of course, since prefecture examinations are held simultaneously in various regions, the most common practice is for academic officials and instructors from two prefectures to grade each other’s exams.
But if the examiners are uncertain, why is it so important to cater to the Lord Prefect’s tastes?
That’s because the Lord Prefect holds the right to finalize the rankings.
In other words, while the Lord Prefect might not personally grade the papers—though in some places, the Magistrate does join the chief and deputy examiners, reviewing papers by lamplight through the night.
But whether or not he actually reviews them depends on two things: the Lord Prefect’s own stamina, and whether any emergencies have arisen within the prefecture.
If the overall situation in the prefecture is stable, harmonious, and progressive, and the Lord Prefect is full of energy, then the chances of him participating in the grading are high. The reverse is also true.
However, the final authority to determine the rankings always rests with the Magistrate. If the Magistrate is displeased with a paper, its rank will surely be lowered, and vice versa.
Therefore, catering to the tastes of the one in charge was truly a mandatory skill.
Soon, the auspicious hour arrived. Gongs and drums sounded to clear a path as flags and silk ribbons fluttered in the air. A group of constables, clustered around the results list, made their way toward the announcement wall outside the examination hall.
Seeing everyone peering out the window, Wang Xiao smiled and said, "I’ve arranged for two of my personal attendants to watch for the list. If any of you have passed, they will report back immediately."
Sure enough, before the official news-bearers could arrive, the two attendants Wang Xiao had arranged for came running upstairs, their faces alight with ecstatic joy.
"Congratulations, Young Master! Congratulations, gentlemen! You’ve all passed! Zhao Jing of the Zhao Village in Qingshui County is the top scorer of the Qingshui County Prefecture Examination! Ding Shutian is ranked second! Huang Chen is fourth! Young Master, you’re fifth! Another gentleman, Shang Liangchun, is sixth! And Chen De’an is seventh..."
When De’an heard his rank, he burst out laughing and leaped from his stool. "Seventh! As long as I can hold on to seventh place, the title of Scholar is in the bag for me this time!"
Wang Jun, however, retorted, "You stupid servants. You call me ’Young Master’ and them ’Sir.’ Doesn’t that make me a whole generation younger than them for no reason? You idiots! Remember to call them ’Young Master’ next time, too."
The attendant’s face twisted as if he were constipated.
’But "Sir" and "Young Master" aren’t the same thing at all.’
’If you weren’t the young master of the Wang Family, we could call you "Sir" just like any other candidate—that’s what everyone does. But now you’re telling us not to call *them* "Sir" and only "Young Master"? That just drags down their status for no reason. Where’s the sense in that?’
