Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 244 - 80: Academy Examination

Mr. Wen walked on the path to the study, still recalling what had just happened. His wife had stopped him, actually wanting him to explore Gu Chengyu’s marriage situation.

But he knew, they had already missed the chance. Earlier, when Gu Chengyu had achieved county champion, he wanted to bring up this matter and even discussed it with his wife, but she kept saying they needed to wait and observe, unable to make a decision.

Now, Gu Chengyu had become Prefecture Chief, if nothing unexpected happened, he would surely become a scholar after the next examination. Here, he couldn’t bring it up anymore. If Gu Chengyu wasn’t Prefecture Chief, he could still bring it up shamelessly. But now, they would soon be mismatched.

He was only a scholar, Gu Chengyu passed the prefecture exam, and could now even stand equal with him in status, not to mention Gu Chengyu was very likely to pass the upcoming exam. What advantage did their family have left? Gu Chengyu might be the youngest scholar of the Dayan Dynasty, his poems and essays were widely circulated, even the essays he could not write such, one can imagine how many Great Scholars would want to take him as a disciple?

Gu Chengyu has ambitions, he felt if his daughter really married Gu Chengyu, he should be uneasy. Although Gu Chengyu greatly valued relationships, he just wanted his daughter to live a life without worrying about food and clothes, he didn’t want her to be immensely rich, because his daughter had no connections.

Wen Yiqin originally went to the main house for breakfast, but who knew, just when she arrived outside the main house, she heard her father and mother’s conversation. At first, hearing her mother wanting to marry her off to Gu Chengyu, her face blushed, she was even a year older than him! But then she heard her father refuse, saying they were not a match.

Wen Yiqin returned to her room in a daze, her face a bit pale, her mind flashed with Gu Chengyu’s tall figure and handsome face. He was young but different from those other scholars. How he was different, she didn’t know, but in a crowd, he stood out immediately.

"You did well this time, you’ve always been good at strategy essays!" Mr. Wen looked at his proud student before him, his heart full of pride.

This was his student, from the initial enlightenment to now passing the prefecture exam in over three years, he had been diligent with Gu Chengyu, and after this examination, Gu Chengyu would probably head to the county school.

"Thank you, teacher, I am fortunate to not have disgraced you!" Gu Chengyu bowed to Mr. Wen, after today, he probably wouldn’t come to this private school much.

"Are you here for school today? At this point, I have nothing more to teach you. With your knowledge, passing the examination is a sure thing." Mr. Wen felt Gu Chengyu no longer needed schooling, rather, attending might affect his studies.

"I came today to inform the teacher, I plan to study at home for a while, and if I encounter difficulties, I’ll consult you at the private school!" Gu Chengyu, seeing Mr. Wen say this, naturally followed along.

August is the middle of autumn, although it wasn’t the scorching summer anymore, even in the early autumn morning, the heat was oppressive!

Gu Chengyu sat in the examination hall, waiting for the exam papers to be distributed. Ye Zhiqiu and others were scattered in the examination venue, but Gu Chengyu didn’t see them in his view. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

This examination was hosted by the Academic Administrator, with the chief examiner being Imperial Censor Mr. Chen. The examination comprised two sessions. The first session tested classic text, moral meaning, strategy questions, and poetry and prose, with a variety of subjects but fewer questions in each category.

As usual, nothing could be brought inside, he brought nothing when he entered. It was still early, the sky was just light, not yet time for distributing the papers.

Gu Chengyu glanced around and saw Imperial Censor Mr. Chen leisurely entering the examination hall, sitting at the main seat in the front.

Chen Xuewen examined the candidates below and suddenly focused his gaze on Gu Chengyu. Gu Chengyu’s seat number this time was "heaven number one," very close to the chief examiner.

Chen Xuewen gave Gu Chengyu a deep look then shifted his gaze elsewhere, rubbing the armrest. He recalled the handwritten letter from the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, feeling deeply conflicted. This was a major case of cheating, he was highly reluctant, but the Minister of the Ministry is his teacher, there was no avoiding.

This business started over a month ago when the teacher gave him a handwritten letter, instructing him to use any means to ensure a candidate named Gu Chengyu wouldn’t pass the exam. He didn’t know why his teacher targeted this candidate, but his teacher’s instruction, as his pupil, despite reluctance, he had to take it.

He truly was in a dilemma, the teacher wanted him to ruin this candidate, ensuring he would never rise again.

After Chen Xuewen strangely glanced at Gu Chengyu twice, he grew wary. Before the exam, he had already investigated Chen Xuewen’s background. Chen Xuewen was Yu Family’s senior disciple, and when he was a scholar, he entered Yu Zheng’s tutelage, and Yu Zheng was indeed Yu Family’s father, right? Coincidentally, this time’s chief examiner was Chen Xuewen.

Because the chief examiner doesn’t grade papers, furthermore Jingyuan Prefecture wasn’t Chen Xuewen’s hometown, there was no need to avoid these connections. But in Gu Chengyu’s view, this was the court’s negligence.

Gu Chengyu squinted, so Yu Family hadn’t learned their lesson yet! Three months ago, when he returned home shortly, Yu Family took action. Since they were the only ones with the soap recipe, Yu Family chose to sabotage there, they had someone purchase soap and then applied a layer of colorless and tasteless potion.

If someone used this soap to wash, their face would erupt in rashes. When the person came to cause trouble, Gu Chengyu exposed the ruse, and used another soap to wash the person’s face, promising the rashes would disappear in three days.

In the end, Yu Family not only failed but also boosted the reputation of the Gu Family’s soap.

That night, Gu Chengyu sneaked into Prefect Jiang’s backyard, used a knockout smoke, and then sprinkled a herbal powder on Yu Family’s members. That powder was good stuff, it should make Yu Family quiet.

Gu Chengyu searched around the examination hall and found nothing unusual, maybe the trouble was in the food. Either hiding a note in the food for cheating, or spiking with a laxative to cause diarrhea, in general just these few methods.

He had a space, notes could be thrown into space, food could be secretly swapped, anyway the examination usually served white bread and small dishes, worst-case he simply won’t eat the dishes!

After waiting for a while, the exam papers were finally distributed.

Gu Chengyu first carefully checked the exam papers, draft paper, and the examination tools, he didn’t want to be schemed before the exam even started.

After ensuring there were no problems, he looked at the content of the papers. The classic texts and moral meaning took up less proportion, followed by two strategy questions, and finally a piece of poetry and prose.