11: Don’t be afraid of natural disasters, don’t follow the example of ancestors, don’t be concerned about what people say

It was late Yin time, and all was silent.

A large number of students had already gathered in front of the Imperial Examination Hall.

Students living in Ying Province, along with their families, were outside cheering them on.

As for the child students from more distant villages and towns, most of them were alone.

Today, Qin Chuan also woke up very early.

To be precise, ever since the shooting star entered his dream yesterday, he hadn't slept again.

As soon as Yin time arrived, he tidied his clothes and prepared to go out.

He didn't wake Chen Zhou or Zheng, nor did he disturb Qing Mo; there was no need.

Although—this matter was quite important to him; if he didn't pass this time, it would likely waste several years.

Of course, that wasn't entirely true; perhaps there were other ways for Haoran Righteousness to advance.

Time passed by minute by minute.

As soon as Mao time arrived, with the sound of the watchman's gong, the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall opened wide.

"In the spring of the Yichou year, by imperial decree, to seek out talented individuals from the populace."

Su Qing's voice resonated clearly from within the hall.

"...Students participating in the prefectural examination, please enter quickly."

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan was about to follow the large group inside when he suddenly felt something, turned his head, and looked behind him.

Indeed, among the onlookers, he saw Qing Mo excitedly waving.

In front of her, Chen Zhou and Zheng were also looking at him with smiles.

Qin Chuan smiled and waved, acting confident, then walked into the Imperial Examination Hall with his head held high and chest puffed out.

"Whoa! What the hell is that!"

Qin Chuan was startled as soon as he walked through the door.

At the main entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall, there stood a huge stone tablet, on which were inscribed the admonitions of the sages.

What startled Qin Chuan was not the stone tablet, but the two dragon-shaped creatures carved on it.

Qin Chuan looked at them and felt as if they were still slowly wriggling.

Especially after he voiced his complaint, he even felt as if these two things, whatever they were, rolled their eyes at him.

At this moment, a slightly stern voice came.

"Students, the Imperial Examination Hall is guarded by Fu Xi (xì, the eighth of the nine sons of the dragon). If anyone intends to cheat by bringing in hidden materials, dismiss such thoughts early, lest you say you were not warned!"

After the words fell, Qin Chuan indeed saw a few individuals among the many students whose expressions subtly changed, unsure if they had been caught red-handed or were simply frightened.

"Students, take your seats!"

Qin Chuan wasn't concerned about whether there were cheaters, but he was curious and took a few more glances at the appearance of Fu Xi, finding it strange.

After entering the cubicle, he waited for the announcement of the results.

When the bell rang, the first examination began.

This session primarily tested ink meaning, text pasting, and other content that relied on rote memorization.

Qin Chuan had long since mastered this and began to answer slowly.

Meanwhile, at the invigilator's position.

Su Qing stood beside someone, looking at the students before him and sighing.

"I wonder how many will achieve official status this time, Zheng Xue Zheng, what do you think?"

The square-faced man beside him shook his head and said:

"How could I know the situation in Ying Province as well as you, Senior Su? This time, I've been appointed as the Education Administrator by imperial decree, and I only hope that no problems arise. Senior Su, are you asking because you have someone in mind?"

Su Qing chuckled, "There truly is one, a disciple of the Chen clan. I see in him the potential of a great scholar!"

"Oh? Then I shall have to see for myself." Zheng Xue Zheng was noncommittal.

However, hearing Su Qing's words reminded him of another matter concerning his visit to Ying Province this time.

He thought to himself: 'My younger sister married into this Chen clan. I wonder if she has suffered any grievances. Once this matter of the Education Administrator is settled, I should go and see her.'

"Perfect!"

Qin Chuan checked his answers again and muttered to himself.

At least it was a good start.

The only thing that annoyed him was the lunch provided by the Imperial Examination Hall. He wasn't sure if his taste had become picky from the food at home recently, or for some other reason, but the taste of the lunch was truly uncomplimentary.

At dusk, after submitting their papers, the candidates were not allowed to leave.

—The prefectural examination lasted three days; they could only leave after all exams were finished. Before that, they had to spend the night in the Imperial Examination Hall, which also provided quilts.

But the provided quilts were not even fit for a dog!

The Imperial Examination Hall wouldn't be so kind as to wash them for you; after being stored for so long, mold and stench were the least of it.

Who knew who the previous owner of these quilts was? What if they had some infectious disease?

In short, Qin Chuan had wrapped himself tightly in his clothes, preparing to just lean on the table and doze off.

—After all, it was only two nights.

Unexpectedly, when he was half-asleep, he heard footsteps in the corridor.

He groggily opened his eyes and saw Su Qing's face, and the blanket in his hand.

"It's chilly in early spring, don't catch a cold. Take this blanket."

"Thank you, Prefect."

Qin Chuan was about to say more, but saw Su Qing make a shushing gesture, so he wisely closed his mouth to avoid disturbing the other candidates.

After Su Qing left, Qin Chuan looked at the blanket in front of him. With this, his night should be a bit more comfortable.

But what did Su Qing mean by this? An early investment?

On the other side.

When Su Qing returned, he saw Zheng Xue Zheng looking at him intently.

"Senior Su, isn't this a bit against the rules?"

Su Qing waved his hand and said, "With Fu Xi watching over and scholarly energy suppressing, I'm not cheating, so what's wrong with it?"

Zheng Xue Zheng: "But if someone in the court finds out, they might use this to attack you."

"If Brother Zheng doesn't say anything, how will they know?"

"So be it."

Zheng Xue Zheng sighed, "Now I'm curious, what kind of literary star has descended to earth, this student you think so highly of?"

"You will see," Su Qing stated with certainty.

The next day, Qin Chuan looked at the examination questions and fell into deep thought.

The second round of the Great Zhou prefectural examination tested policy essays, which concerned governance and ruling the people.

Qin Chuan was familiar with this stuff; wasn't this just policy argumentation!

The key was this question—

The national treasury is empty, military pay is difficult to sustain, and official salaries are nonexistent. How should this be handled?

Simply put: what should be done when the country has no money and can't pay salaries and military wages?

This was a huge question, asking people who weren't even xiucai to discuss national governance policies right off the bat.

Qin Chuan pondered for a moment. There was certainly an angle to answer from, but he was thinking about which angle would be more outstanding.

—You don't know who the person reviewing the papers is, and if this question is answered poorly, it could offend someone.

For example, if the person reviewing the papers is an official who receives a salary, and you advocate for cutting salaries, aren't you just asking for trouble?

After careful consideration for a while, Qin Chuan had an idea and immediately put pen to paper, writing the first sentence.

"Changes in heaven are not to be feared, ancestral laws are not to be followed, and human words are not to be pitied..."

Following that, as his brush danced, a resplendent light glowed upon his essay!

Unbeknownst to Qin Chuan, on his personal panel, an arrow pointing rapidly upwards appeared next to the level representing Haoran Righteousness!

A new school of thought was being born, and the entire Great Zhou seemed to subtly change!

"Crack!"

Outside the Imperial Examination Hall, lightning flashed, as if gods and demons were shaking.

Outside the park, people were discussing animatedly.

"What's going on? I just said today was a good day, why did it suddenly turn cloudy..."

"Wife, it's time to go home and bring in the clothes."

"I hope this change doesn't affect Chuan'er's performance in the Imperial Examination Hall."

Inside the Imperial Examination Hall, within his cubicle, Qin Chuan wrote as if divinely inspired.

The Green Sprouts Act, the Service Exemption Act, the Square Field Equal Tax Act, the Market Exchange Act, the Baojia Act—

—Various broad concepts were proposed by him, and the thunder outside the window grew louder!