Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 298 - 134 Provincial Examination

Gu Chengyu propped up his head, watching the Vice Examiner distribute the examination papers. Once all papers were handed out, the doors would be locked, and three candles were handed out along with the papers.

Actually, Gu Chengyu thought it was better not to write the examination paper at night in such an examination hall. Everyone’s quarters were locked; if a fire broke out, there would be no escape.

Once the doors of the quarters were locked, the first provincial examination officially began. Gu Chengyu ground the ink, picked up the paper, and scanned it briefly. There were passages from the Analects, University, and Mencius, each question requiring at least 200 characters, which was essentially transcription.

Then write a five-character eight-tone poem, which requires topic-breaking first. For the four canonical passages, each must be over 300 characters.

Gu Chengyu wasn’t afraid of the Four Books topics; the most troublesome were the canonical passages. The Dayan Dynasty’s canonical passage questions were already similar to the eight-legged essays of the previous Ming and Qing dynasties, akin to the Zou form of the Tang and Song eight-legged essays.

The four canonical passage questions first needed the topic to be broken and adhered to. Gu Chengyu didn’t look closely; he planned to finish the Four Books questions first.

Spreading the paper, Gu Chengyu began writing the Four Books questions on the draft paper, each question over 200 characters. To Gu Chengyu, it wasn’t much, as he wrote quickly. However, mistakes couldn’t be made, so he wrote slower than usual.

Leaving the examination hall was scheduled for the third day. Gu Chengyu planned to submit the paper early that morning; time was still sufficient for him.

By noon, sunlight poured into the hall, dazzling. Gu Chengyu squinted at the window; it was yet another sunny day, and he felt a bit hot. The quarters were poorly ventilated, with high temperatures inside, coupled with a small red stove on the side, burning charcoal to heat food.

However, now Gu Chengyu felt like he was in a steamer.

He removed two outer garments, exercised his Inner Strength, and felt better. Peering outside, he saw the exam taker opposite had long taken off his shirt, his white flesh visible from here.

Fortunately, he had Inner Strength, Gu Chengyu thought gratefully. Glancing at the small clock, it was nearly twelve; he planned to eat lunch before continuing. At noon, he intended to heat the clear water in the bamboo tube and settle for jerky and steamed buns.

Outside, the constables occasionally patrolled. If any student needed food, they could just ring the small bell beside them, and the constables would deliver it. However, it was said the food inside was very expensive.

Gu Chengyu scrutinized the jerky and steamed buns in his hands. In such weather, it might not last more than two days as the buns would spoil. Nevertheless, he wasn’t worried, as he had plenty of food in his space; he could cook some noodles at night, and no one would know. He only needed to manage breakfast and lunch.

After lunch, Gu Chengyu continued answering questions.

The four canonical passage questions followed, the first being: "The Master said to Yan Yuan, ’If employed, act; if dismissed, withdraw. Only my friend and I possess this virtue!’"

Gu Chengyu immediately recognized it was from "Analects: Shu Er," first breaking the topic. On the draft paper, he wrote, "A sage’s propriety in conduct and concealment, subtly demonstrated to the capable."

Then continued to expand the topic. This single canonical passage took Gu Chengyu over an hour to complete, with three questions remaining, clearly not finishing today. He didn’t plan to write at night; daytime stress was tiring, and he needed rest at night. Plus, he had plenty of time, estimating most students hadn’t even finished the Four Books questions yet!

By nightfall, Gu Chengyu had finished two questions. Awaiting the next day, he planned to tackle the remaining two questions and one test poem.

Removing the table board, he placed the examination paper and writing tools into his basket, lying on the bed to prepare for rest. The lantern above the quarters was lit; using his night vision, he looked at the opposite quarters, finding the exam taker was still writing hard.

In fact, three days was sufficient to complete these questions, but only for relatively agile students, demanding thorough memorization of the Four Books.

The following day, having rested all night, Gu Chengyu took out toiletries from his space to brush his teeth and wash his face, then boiled the buns and jerky, having them for breakfast.

After eating, he continued answering the two remaining canonical passage questions left from yesterday, spending an entire morning on them. At noon, he secretly cooked some noodles from his space. Eating only steamed buns and jerky had become unpalatable. Watching the patrolling constables leave, he quickly cooked the noodles, only adding salt and oil, combining them with jerky for another meal.

Having had his fill, Gu Chengyu visited the latrine, planning a short rest, as only a test poem remained, with answers copied onto the examination paper not taking long.

The final test poem required sixteen five-character eight-tone lines, essentially a prescribed style. The poem titled "The Immortal Emerges from Clouds," using the character "Platform." It derived from Jin dynasty poet Guo Pu’s "Immortal Wandering Poem," which included a line, "The Immortal emerges from clouds, seeing only gold and silver platforms."

Gu Chengyu found it rather surprising; not every scholar had read this poem, as it ventured beyond the Four Books and Five Classics, evidently a bonus question.

This poem required substantial time; Gu Chengyu decided to slowly conceptualize, first copying those answers onto the examination paper.

Fang Huai sat at the forefront, watching the last quarter below, the place where Gu Chengyu resided. Rising, he prepared to stroll. Approaching Gu Chengyu’s quarters, he stood a little distance away, peeking inside, finding Gu Chengyu was copying answers.

Time slipped by quickly; on the third day, Gu Chengyu was already finished, having checked his work. Waiting only for the hour to submit the paper.

At the Si hour, Gu Chengyu rang the bell beside him; in this narrow quarters, he couldn’t stay a moment longer.

Soon, a Vice Examiner came to unlock Gu Chengyu’s quarters, needing to seal his exam paper. The provincial examination was more stringent than previous exams, requiring candidates’ papers to be transcribed anew, someone else checking them, before grading commenced.

Gu Chengyu left the examination hall, feeling the fresh air was much more pleasant. Though the distance from the quarters to the restrooms was significant, the weather was hot, and the hall crowded, creating an unpleasant smell. This time, the provincial examinees numbered over ten thousand, yet only around three to four hundred were admitted!

"Sir! I’m waiting here for Mr. Sun, you hurry back, freshen up, and get some rest! There’s another test tomorrow!" Ming Yan specifically waited outside the examination hall for Gu Chengyu, while Ming Mo followed Yu Tuanzi running errands.

"Alright then! When Mr. Sun comes out, tell him I’ve returned to the inn!" Having not bathed for two nights, Gu Chengyu could smell himself readily. He didn’t dare retreat to his space; what if the constables suddenly decided to observe him? Given his youth, their curiosity was natural; then wouldn’t he be staging a spectacular vanishing act?