Chapter 86: The Whole World Reads!

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With a surge of excitement, Song Mu opened the book, and on the very first page was a famous quote from the great scholar Zhang Ce.

“A gentleman who never tires of learning will ultimately attain enlightenment. Possessing immense strength, one should become the backbone of the human race, ensuring peace and stability for the people, and bringing prosperity to the world, with blood and devotion as proof of one’s loyalty!”

In a single sentence, the noble heart and unwavering loyalty of this great sage were laid bare, and Song Mu felt his own blood stir, unconsciously straightening his back and lifting his head.

Song Mu read on. On the slightly yellowed pages, around the printed text, many handwritten brush notes had been added.

The printed content of “On the Power of Letters” only explained the steps for guiding qi, but Senior Brother Sun’s annotations went further, carefully detailing the optimal amount of literary force to mobilize for each step, and the subtle changes that should occur as the literary force passed through different meridians in the body.

Such detailed commentary was nothing short of divine aid to a novice like Song Mu, making his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

After a careful reading, Song Mu let out a long breath and felt even greater respect for Senior Brother Sun. With such diligence and attentiveness, surely after this year’s exam, he would pass next year’s county exam and become a Scholar.

Song Mu continued reading. When he finished the first chapter on guiding qi, he sat cross-legged on his bed and began to practice as instructed.

A current of literary force emerged from Song Mu’s dantian and began to flow slowly through his body.

After three or four cycles, Song Mu gradually became aware of something new in the surrounding air.

Minute motes of light, as fine as dust, hovered invisibly in the air, occasionally flickering around him.

This was literary qi, drawn in by the literary force within him, slowly entering his body, gathering in his dantian, then emerging once more as a mighty current of literary power.

With just a single attempt, Song Mu found he could easily draw these wisps of literary qi into himself, cultivating with surprising ease. He was overjoyed, and thought that the claim that results would take three to five days was clearly a cautious overstatement.

If Senior Scholar Sun were present, he could only smile wryly. Though a newly minted scholar had already condensed literary force, to use it to absorb literary qi from the world required constant reading of the classics, while quietly sensing the literary force within.

Those with exceptional talent might sense literary qi within half a day; for others, it could take three to five days before it truly appeared around them and could be absorbed for personal use.

Yet Song Mu had accomplished all this in less than an hour.

His abilities were due in part to the many ancient poems and verses he had previously composed. Repeatedly stirring the literary qi had long since brought him into resonance with the world’s literary energy. Now, with a mere thought and a stir of literary force, the literary qi would gather to him naturally.

Song Mu felt calm. He closed his eyes and focused, immersing himself in cultivation.

Meanwhile, an important moment had arrived in the examination hall.

After a day and two nights of marking, the examiners had finally finished grading all the scholars’ papers and ranked them accordingly.

The papers were now divided into three stacks on a large table in a spacious room.

Yet none of the robed examiners seemed willing to leave. Instead, they stood around, bristling with anticipation.

Before long, a figure entered—it was Examiner Fan. He was surprised to find so many people gathered, but smiled and said, “Why be so impatient, gentlemen? It is already late. The announcement isn’t until two days from now. We can finalize the rankings tomorrow.”

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At that moment, someone shook his head and spoke up.

“Sir Examiner, these papers have been keeping me up at night. We simply must see today who wrote these remarkable essays.”

“Yes, Sir Examiner, we wish to see as well,” the other examiners echoed, voices filled with eagerness.

Fan sighed, understanding what was on their minds.

The quality of this year’s papers was indeed extraordinarily high, with many outstanding works.

Some of them, he thought, might even be sent to the provincial capital for the chief examiner to review.

But most of all, the examiners were intrigued by the paper with the unique handwriting. The essays it contained had left them all deeply moved.

“Well then, since everyone insists, let’s rank the papers now and reveal the names,” Fan declared.

The examiners all breathed a sigh of relief.

Ranking first, then revealing names, was the proper procedure. Once the names were unsealed, the results would be copied as a backup, and the top three from each subject would be transcribed before the results were posted on the day of the academy examination.

As for the original, it would be sealed in the prefectural academy, and only if one of the candidates later achieved the highest honors would it be sent to the provincial academy for posterity.

The crowd parted to clear a path. Fan approached the three stacks of papers, carefully leafed through them, and said, “Gentlemen, let us rank the poetry, prose, and essays in this order.”

The examiners nodded, their eyes drawn irresistibly to the papers.

Among the three top papers—poetry, prose, and essay—two were by the same person: the one with the distinctive handwriting.

Xiao Li stood nearby, saying nothing, but he already suspected the truth.

The “Song of the Southern Village” was magnificent and brimming with talent, its weight alone enough to secure first place.

The author of that poem had also written such impressive essays and treatises; clearly, the top honors belonged to him.

Examiner Fan, after reviewing the papers, felt the same. He took the essay with the unique script and placed it at the top of the stack.

“No objections to this essay, I presume?” he asked.

The others recognized the formidable essay and made no protest.

Next, Fan picked up another paper, an interpretation of the classics by the same author, and placed it on top of that stack as well.

“This... Sir, do you truly believe this should be first?” someone asked, and others voiced their agreement. They preferred another essay—faultless in every respect, though less original, it best reflected the opinions of contemporary scholars.

Fan only smiled meaningfully and replied:

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“Gentlemen, your choice is not wrong, but if I may venture an opinion, that essay does not carry enough weight.”

The examiners looked puzzled, so Fan explained further.

“Let us not forget, this topic was set by the current Crown Prince’s tutor, and the Crown Prince himself is ten years old and has studied for many years.”

His words gave the others pause, but they soon understood.

“What do you mean, sir?”

“Though the essay does not discuss study methods directly, its ideas are clear and its vision grand. It earnestly exhorts scholars to learn, and describes the dignity that a true gentleman should possess. If I may put it another way—”

“This essay, with some refinement, might even appeal to the imperial household. What do you think?” Fan’s tone was steady as he spoke.

The examiners bowed their heads in thought.

Xiao Li also pondered, a smile on his face. Fan’s reasoning was sound.

The topic set by the Crown Prince’s tutor was meant not only to test scholars across the land, but also to test the Prince himself.

The Emperor, having a son in middle age, cherished him dearly. But the Prince was still a child in some ways, and not all lessons could be absorbed simply because a teacher recited them.

All under heaven study; so too does the Son of Heaven.

Since the founding of the Wen Dynasty, ten generations of emperors had all passed the highest civil examinations. The dynasty’s founder himself was a sage of the highest order, and even the current emperor had attained the rank of Grand Academician.

Only in such an age could such wonders occur, when all aspire to the highest ideals of Confucian scholarship.

Thus, the sons of the nobility also competed in the imperial examinations. In the great examination hall of Chang’an, the candidate in the next cubicle might be a prince, a marquis, or even the Crown Prince himself.

Therefore, the essay’s exhortation to study was important for kindling ambition in the heart.

Only by seeing the scholarly spirit of the nation could the Crown Prince compare himself and be inspired.

The examiners all exhaled, now feeling content rather than resentful.

Feng Dongwei exclaimed in awe, “First in all three subjects—what power!”

Their eyes shone as they gazed at the papers, curiosity ablaze.

Fan swept his wide sleeves and declared, “Unseal the names, finalize the rankings!”

...

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