My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 287 - 167: Secret Scheming

Song Residence.

Inside the small courtyard.

Li Nuo was sitting beside a stone table, while an old man with white hair and beard stood next to him, respectfully bending his waist and from time to time asking him something.

Li Anning sat in a nearby pavilion, propping her chin with one hand, unblinkingly watching the scene.

Painter Chen had served as a court painter for decades, and had even once occupied the position of chief painter in the palace. In his youth, he was already known as a great master of painting in Chang'an. Yet here he was, like a student, seeking instruction in painting from Li Nuo...

Could it be that Li Nuo was skilled at painting flowers and birds, and the spring examination just happened to include an area he was not good at?

If the Imperial Examination really included painting of flowers and birds..., thinking of a certain possibility, her face couldn't help showing a smile.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

Painter Chen crossed his hands in front of him and bowed deeply to Li Nuo as a disciple would, gratefully saying, "Thank you for the guidance, Master. To think that in my lifetime, I could witness such a comprehensive masterpiece, I could die contented..."

Li Nuo, feeling embarrassed, touched his nose. The existing grandmasters of painting in Daxia had been captured by him, all their portraits merged into one; wasn't it a comprehensive masterpiece?

Painter Chen further inquired, "May I ask if the Master is acquainted with Zhao Yuan, Liu Qian, Shen Nian... and a few other experts?"

Li Nuo didn't even know the names of those people, and replied, "I'm not familiar with them, but I have studied their works."

Painter Chen sighed inwardly.

He had lived in vain for more than fifty years, only now realizing the vastness of the world.

The realm that so many in the world of painting pursued for their entire lives, others obtained effortlessly.

Painter Chen left the Song Residence.

Before leaving, he left behind a stack of silver notes.

He had originally come to give guidance to others.

But in the end, he was the one who received guidance.

He did not deserve to take this money.

Li Nuo picked up the stack of silver notes and counted them, then looked towards Li Anning, asking, "For this one visit, you gave them three thousand taels of silver?"

Li Anning snatched the silver notes from his hands and said, "This is my own savings, I'll spend it as I wish."

Although she was a Princess, the only income she had was the salary given by the Royal family.

Three thousand taels of silver was also not a small amount to her.

She just felt that the silver was worth spending.

Li Anning took another look at Li Nuo and asked, "Where is your wife?"

Li Nuo replied, "She went out with Mumu; they should be back soon."

Li Anning tucked away the silver notes, saying, "Then I'll be going. Study hard and don't slack off..."

Having already walked to the entrance, she stopped, turned her head back, and reminded him again, "Really, don't slack off!"

Not long after Li Anning left, several figures walked into the small courtyard.

Li Nuo turned his head and looked, saying, "Dean Tang, gentlemen, long time no see..."

The visitors were Dean Tang Xian of Qingfeng Academy, along with several elderly teachers. They had come to deliver academy robes and a student identity card to Li Nuo.

During the registration for the spring examination, candidates needed to fill in an academy of their choice.

Generally, everyone would choose from the Four Great Academy, and if they were admitted among the top hundred in the spring examination, they could directly enter the academy.

Even if they were ranked after one hundred and couldn't get into one of the Four Great Academy, it wouldn't affect entrance to other smaller academies.

When Li Nuo filled in his choice, he wrote down Qingfeng Academy. Normally, after the spring examination ended, candidates would have to sign up at the academy themselves.

Li Nuo received the things for entering the academy and said with a smile, "Sorry, these past few days have been rather busy, so I haven't had a chance to visit the academy. I appreciate that Dean Tang and the teachers had to make the trip..."

Dean Tang laughed and replied, "Mr. Li, please don't say that. It's our honor that you have chosen to join Qingfeng Academy."

Mr. Chen clasped his fists and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Li, for ranking first in the spring examination."

After the other three elderly scholars offered their congratulations, their eyes also conveyed disbelief as they looked at Li Nuo.

Ranking first in the spring examination was not something uncommon, but to be the top scholar in all six arts in the first ranking, that was only achieved by Li Xuanjing back in the day.

Truly, like father, like son.

After some polite conversation, Dean Tang looked towards Li Nuo and asked, "Mr. Li, are you planning to take part in this year's Imperial Examination?"

Li Nuo nodded.

That was actually why Dean Tang had come to the Song Residence today, to confirm this matter.

In previous Imperial Examinations, registration would end a month in advance, but this year, because the rules had changed and the spring examination was scheduled before the Imperial Examination, the deadline for registration was pushed back quite a bit.

All the academies had to submit the list of candidates for this year's Imperial Examination by the 20th of the second lunar month at the latest.

In reality, the vast majority of students who passed the spring examination wouldn't participate in the Imperial Examination.

Every scholar had three opportunities in their lifetime to take part in the Imperial Examination and had to be under forty years old.

Students who had just passed the spring examination and entered an academy were far less capable than those who had been studying in an academy for many years. Even if they took part in the Imperial Examination, it would just be a waste of an opportunity.

As the top scorer of the spring examination, if he postponed it for one session, he would gain four more years of study time, which could help him aim for a higher ranking and a better starting point in his career.

Moreover, this session of the Imperial Examination was exceptionally competitive. Many students from the academies chose to avoid the limelight, preferring to wait another four years rather than compete with the talented individuals of this session.

After listening to Dean Tang explain this, Li Nuo smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dean Tang; just go ahead and register me for it. If worst comes to worst, I'll simply come again in four years."

Hearing this, Dean Tang did not try to persuade him further, and talked with him about some other matters related to the Imperial Examination.

The new batch of students would normally start their official enrollment after the Imperial Examination.

Li Nuo planned to participate in the Imperial Examination this year, and the academy would arrange for him to enroll early.

During this period, whether he went to the academy or not was up to him. Once the examination certificate was ready, Tang Xian would personally deliver it to him.

With the Imperial Examination approaching, knowing that Li Nuo needed to focus on his preparation, several people didn't pester him and soon took their leave.

Upon exiting the Song Residence and on the carriage ride back to the academy, Mr. Lu muttered, "What do you think, can Mr. Li rank in his first attempt at the Imperial Examination?"

Mr. Chen replied, "Although ranking first in the spring examination is nothing special, a spring examination where one excels in all five arts has never existed in history. In old Chen's view, Mr. Li passing the Imperial Examination with flying colors is of no doubt. It's just a pity—if he waited another four or eight years, the top scholar would certainly be from our Qingfeng Academy..."

In actuality, the top scholars in each Imperial Examination would most likely emerge from the Four Great Academy.

More precisely, from Qingfeng, East Mountain, and Beixi, the three great academies.

Yunmeng Academy, with its focus on training military officers, would almost always secure the top scholars in Shooting and Horse Riding, whereas the top scholar in the Imperial Examination would be produced by the other three great academies.

However, this year's Imperial Examination was unusual. It coincided with the coming of age of young talents from major noble families, a constellation of stars in their own right. These noble families each had their own academy, so securing the top scholar from among the Four Great Academy would undoubtedly be difficult.

Obtaining even one top scholar among the Six Arts would already be considered good fortune.

These top noble families could afford personal calligraphy tutors from renowned calligraphers, painting masters for teaching painting, and diligent training from a young age in music, archery, and horsemanship. How could the students from the academies compete with them...

At the Song Residence.

Li Nuo sat in his room, idly scribbling a few lines on paper.

Without illuminating Gu Yanran's portrait, his writing could not be called ugly, but it was not particularly pleasing to the eye either.

A great calligrapher need not be a painter, but painting masters generally can produce commendable calligraphy.

Li Nuo had also hoped to illuminate his calligraphy as a permanent skill this time but ended up somewhat disappointed.

Logically, even if the calligraphy of these painting masters did not reach the highest standard, they should at least be considered first-rate and satisfy the requirements of Legalism.

Perhaps their collective calligraphy skills still fell short of merging into a permanent skill, and were thus forcibly merged, so it did not show...

This was just Li Nuo's guess based on his experience. He would need to verify whether it was true or not.

He wanted to turn calligraphy into a permanent skill not because he was reluctant to lose a day's lifespan. He just felt uncertain—he only knew Hairpin Flower Small Regular Script, and if it were banned in the Imperial Examination, wouldn't he be finished?

Though the likelihood was slim.

It was not impossible.

To target him—directly changing the rules—was something those people had done before.

At Marquis Yongshou's Mansion.

Marquis Yongshou sat in his chair, looking at the people beside him and asked, "What should we do? Do any of you have a good plan? I've already inquired a few Six Arts examiners. Given his performance in the spring examination, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he's bound to pass the Imperial Examination...

Without official status, he's already lawless. With official status, and Li Xuanjing's protection, who could control him?"

Marquis Lantian spoke up, "What good strategy could there be? We've already warned those court painters, and we can't stop him from participating in the Imperial Examination..."

At this moment, another person said, "Though we cannot stop him from participating, we can keep him from ranking highly..."

Marquis Yongshou looked at him and immediately said, "Marquis Fengyang, if you have a good suggestion, speak up!"

A well-dressed man stroked his chin beard and said, "After my investigation, I found that Li Xuanjing's son writes a Hairpin Flower Small Regular Script so beautiful that even women feel ashamed. However, his proficiency in other script styles is hardly worth mentioning. As long as we target his handwriting, should we worry he'll pass?"

Marquis Yongshou said, "Be more specific."

Marquis Fengyang stood up and explained, "As far as I know, very few men practice Hairpin Flower Small Regular Script. In the three subjects of music, imperial, archery, it's impossible to interfere, but calligraphy, composition, mathematics, ritual—all involve writing. If we can bribe the examiners in his Examination Hall to penalize him upon seeing Hairpin Flower Small Regular Script, erring on the side of eliminating him rather than letting him through, even if he manages to pass the Book Department, he still won't make it on the Advanced Scholar ranking..."

Marquis Lantian thought for a moment and said, "It's difficult to decrease scores in mathematics, and in the Ritual Department as well. As for compositions in the Book Department, there are indeed possibilities to manipulate, but the easiest target is calligraphy. If only the Hairpin Flower Small Regular Script could be banned..."

Marquis Yongshou shook his head and said, "That's not something we can decide."

Marquis Fengyang smiled and said, "But someone can..."

Every Imperial Examination's questions and scoring are handled by designated individuals.

For calligraphy, the question setter and examiners are surely calligraphy connoisseurs. They could be court officials, academy scholars, or renowned calligraphers.

In the three subjects of music, imperial, archery, the format is fixed.

But in the three subjects of calligraphy, composition, and mathematics, question setters and examiners have a certain level of discretion.

Marquis Fengyang looked at the others and said, "This year's calligraphy question setter and chief examiner is Master Wei. Don't forget whose hand Master Wei's son died by..."

At the Ministry of Justice.

A young man walked into the Ministry of Justice, bowed, and said to the refined man behind the desk, "Sir, the young master has captured many painting masters through the Spiegel Bureau and made them write down their insights into painting. Just now, Housekeeper Wu began to inquire about Chang'an's calligraphy masters..."

Li Xuanjing replied indifferently, "No matter, whoever the young master wants to capture, just help him do it."

A moment later, the young man left the government office.

He marveled inwardly at how the young master would send the older man on a wild goose chase, and now, people would fear even passing by the Spiegel Bureau.

After the young man left, Li Xuanjing looked at the list before him.

Gu Yanran, daughter of Gu Wenhan.

Han Zhuo from Qingfeng Academy.

Liu Shang, Music Department Top Scholar.

Zhou Ting, Minister of Transportation.

Lu Sheng, Minister of Rites.

In addition to these, there were many other names on the paper—such as Zhao Yuan, Liu Qian, Shen Nian...

...

A meaningful smile appeared on his face. He lifted his head and stared into the void before him, his gaze lingering for a long time.

But there was nothing there.