Becoming a Sage Starts From Condensing the Essence of Time

Chapter 87: Holding Two Swords in the Spring Quarter Examination Hall, A Discussion on the Northern Expedition (3)

Translator: Atlas Studios       Editor: Atlas Studios

The Third Headmaster took a sip of tea and shook his head gently. He muttered softly, “The big question for the Spring Quarter Examination this time was set by Qin Lishi. I wonder how this young man who painted ink bamboo will answer it?”

Lin Residence, Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion.

In the large pool, the koi fish rolled from time to time, attracting the beauty of spring.

After Li You’an sprinkled a handful of bait, he turned to look at Madam Hua, who was lying on the couch and reading quietly. “You can actually be so calm and composed?”

Li You’an smiled.

“An Le’s painting is superb, but his talent can actually be seen in the painting. The poems he wrote in the inscription are all extraordinary, so there’s naturally no need to worry about his literary talent.”

“It’s not a matter of suspense to enter List A. The main thing is whether he can suppress the scholars on the Literary Department’s Literary Music Ranking and obtain the spot for the Hall Examination.” Madam Hua flipped through a page of Demon Theory and said calmly.

“There are only ten spots assigned to List A to enter the Scholar Rankings in the Hall Examination. The rest are all recommended by noble and talented officials. Now that the recommendation spots have long ended, if you can’t enter the top ten, there’s naturally no hope of the Hall Examination.”

“Those scholars on the Literary Department’s Literary Music Ranking are all knowledgeable. It’s really a little difficult for An Le to enter the Hall Examination.”

Li You’an chuckled and took a sip of the Longjing tea in his cup. “Besides, Prime Minister Qin’s question this time… must be very tricky. With An Le’s personality, I don’t think it’s possible.”

Madam Hua’s long eyelashes fluttered.

“If he can’t enter the Hall Examination, so be it. Otherwise, he’ll be forced to be involved in the storm and end up in a sorry state.”

Li You’an nodded and looked at the Heavenly Wave Pavilion with the octagonal heavy eaves that could be seen at a corner of the Water Pavilion. The corners of his lips curled up.

“That’s true, but if he doesn’t even enter the Palace Examination, it will make people feel that it’s a pity and even make people feel that Green Mountain is humiliated.”

“Clang—”

In the Literary Department, the sound of a distant bell kept lingering in the foothills.

All the Provincial Scholar candidates who had entered the numbered rooms according to the examination plaque quietened down and waited for the Spring Quarter Examination to begin.

Armored soldiers with sabers at their waists stood outside the numbered room and stared at every examinee with fierce expressions. If the examinees were suspected of cheating at all, they would be pulled out mercilessly.

A bell rang. Other than making the examinees quiet down, it also meant that the questions were distributed.

The officials in official robes picked up sealed paper questions in a wicker basket and began to distribute the first Spring Quarter Examination paper questions in the numbered rooms.

Another bell sounded as if it had shattered the spring rain.

This meant that the examinees could start reading the paper.

For a moment, the sound of flipping through the paper was like waves rising in the vast sea. In an instant, it spread in the air above the Literary Department. It was really like a battlefield.

Every Confucian scholar was naturally looking forward to and curious about the questions. After all, it concerned their future. Reading the questions seriously could help them analyze the hidden traps in the questions to prevent them from falling into them and losing their marks.

Every examinee had a nervous expression on their face.

Even the cultivators who were cultivating frowned. Although cultivation could increase one’s strength, it did not have much advantage in terms of learning.

Of course, the competition among cultivators was not for ordinary Confucian scholars on the List B Scholar Rankings, but for cultivator Confucian scholars who were also competing for the List A Scholar Rankings. This way, the pressure would be much greater.

The numbered room seemed to be filled with all kinds of things in the world. Liu Yue flipped through the questions with a contemplative expression on his face. As he ground the ink, he thought about the answer method and technique.

As for Confucian Xu, who was in a numbered room a few rooms away, a hint of joy flashed across his eyes. Then, he dipped his brush and impatiently wrote.

It was cold in spring, and a drop of icy rain fell.

An Le wiped away the drop of spring rain on his face. As he ground the ink, he read through the questions in general.

He also had some confidence and answers in his heart.

Suddenly, he stopped grinding ink and frowned. His gaze was fixed on the last question on the paper.

The question was very short, but it made An Le narrow his eyes slightly.

“Great Zhao has moved south for 500 years, but Emperor Yuan Meng is still powerful. He has countless valiant generals under him.. Question: Do we continue the North Expedition or not?”