Chapter 487
Chapter 487
Zhu Rong stared at Zhang Chong for a long moment, then turned and left without a single word of threat. Of course, Zhu Rong had no need to threaten him. Anyone could guess how fiercely the Crown Prince’s faction would now attack him. No matter how much Zhang Chong believed he had not betrayed them, in their eyes, he was an undeniable traitor. A traitor was more despicable than an enemy, and they would have to punish him with extreme measures to assert their authority.
‘Besides, Zhang Chong, you have no backing, do you? Shen Lang has the Count of Xuanwu's Estate behind him and is protected by the King, but unlike Shen Lang, you have no one. The Crown Prince’s faction was your only support, and now you claim you don’t need it. What an immature and absurd thing to do.’
As he reached the main gate, Zhu Rong finally tossed a single remark over his shoulder.
“Zhang Chong, living with such lofty ideals is no easy feat!”
***
In the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examinations were divided into the Provincial Examinations and the Metropolitan Examinations. In the Song Dynasty, they were divided into the Provincial, Metropolitan, and Palace Examinations. The Yuan Dynasty largely followed the Song's system, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties, the examinations were divided into the Provincial Examinations, the Metropolitan Examinations, and the Palace Examinations. In the Great Yan Dynasty, the Provincial and Metropolitan Examinations were considered the same concept, making them essentially synonymous.
The Ming Dynasty's Provincial Examinations were grueling, consisting of three sessions, each lasting three days. Furthermore, Zhu Yuanzhang, a staunch institutionalist, was obsessed with creating rules for everything, and the imperial examinations were no exception. While the earliest form of the eight-legged essay appeared during the Yuan Dynasty, its format was formally established during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty. From then on, candidates could no longer write freely and were forced to compose essays in an extremely rigid style.
The Tang Dynasty's examinations were not only incredibly difficult but also minutely categorized into numerous subjects. There were examinations on the Classics, the Presented Scholar examination, law, Daoist scriptures, and many others, allowing for a great deal of freedom.
In contrast, the imperial examinations of the Great Yan Dynasty were not as rule-bound as those of the Ming and Qing, nor were they as minutely divided or as free as those of the Tang. For instance, the literary portion of this Special Examination would be held over two and a half days. The first day would test recitation from memory and mathematics; the second day, policy essays on current affairs; and the third day, poetry and rhapsodies.
As Shen Lang analyzed this world’s examination system, he was quite impressed. It wasn't as cumbersome as the Tang’s, nor as restrictive as the Ming and Qing’s. The content was broader than that of the Ming and Qing, and the format was not so rigid that it required mere rote memorization.
***
Three thousand people were participating in this Special Examination in the capital alone. The scholars who had clamored just yesterday, threatening to boycott the exam unless Madman Nan's eligibility was revoked, quickly shrank back when the King became enraged. They scurried home even before the Imperial Guard was dispatched, comforting themselves with their own thoughts.
‘Even if Madman Nan takes the exam, is he going to pass? He’ll only make a fool of himself. We’ve studied for over a decade and taken countless exams. But a mere beggar? How much could he have possibly studied? He’s never set foot in an academy or received any training for the imperial examinations. How well could he possibly do? We thought Shen Lang would bring in some famous scholar to help him cram, but he didn't. And we hear he spends his days at home reading novels. With that, he expects to compete with us? There's nothing more absurd in this world! Just you wait. In the examination hall, we will crush you into dust and make you so ashamed you won't be able to bear it.’
And so, they ate and drank well in their respective homes. Those with calm minds slept soundly, while the anxious ones tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. But tomorrow was the exam; they couldn't afford to ruin it from lack of sleep. How could they rest easy? A little wine might help, but not too much, lest they suffer a hangover. Those with money might visit a courtesan to relieve their tension, but even then, they had to exercise restraint and not overexert their lumbar strength. Those without money had to take matters into their own hands.
Madman Nan had money. He hesitated for a very long time, tempted to go out and relieve his tension. He had even chosen a place: the Spring Blossom Pavilion, less than three *li* from the Marquis of Changping's Estate. Of course, the name alone told anyone that it was not a high-class establishment but one that catered to the middle and lower classes. To Madman Nan, however, it was as good as a luxury brothel. In the past, he couldn't even enter the small shops on the street, and could only afford the portly women who solicited customers at the cheapest prices in the marketplace. A single silver coin was the most he could spend at one time. After an hour of hesitation, he decided against it.
‘Now that Han Nu has started to lose weight, wouldn't I be wronging her if I went whoring? I'll just take care of it myself and save some money.’
Madman Nan smiled contentedly and took out his special edition of *The Boundless Wind and Moon of the Golden Vase*.
***
Early the next morning.
Shen Lang had already instructed Han Nu to escort Madman Nan to the examination hall. It was out of the question for Shen Lang to see him off himself; besides, at such an early hour, he couldn't even get out of bed. Instead, Ning Zheng rose and personally walked Madman Nan to the gate.
“My lord, you need only see me off to here. I, Nan Ling, will not disappoint you.”
Madman Nan bowed. He was still flippant in front of Shen Lang, but he behaved himself in front of Ning Zheng. Ning Zheng said to him.
“Don't fixate on the results. Just do your best.”
Soon, Han Nu was driving the carriage from the Marquis of Changping’s Estate toward the examination hall. The lanterns hanging along the way looked like a sea of stars. With three thousand candidates taking the literary examination, the street was packed with lanterns they had hung to pray for success.
Upon seeing the carriage of the Marquis of Changping's Estate, the crowd began to mutter in voices thick with resentment.
“That must be Madman Nan in that carriage. That unlearned and unskilled beggar.”
Hearing this, a person next to him said.
“Don’t use the words ‘unlearned and unskilled’ for Madman Nan.”
“Why not? That’s what he is.”
The man replied.
“Shen Lang is ‘unlearned and unskilled.’ Madman Nan doesn’t even qualify for that title. He’s the dregs among trash. He doesn't even deserve to be called human.”
“You’re right. Well said. The dregs among trash, not even worthy of being called human.”
“For people like us, who have read the *Book of Odes* and the *Book of Documents* until we’re sick of them, to have to take an exam with such dregs… the heavens are truly unjust.”
“This isn’t the injustice of the heavens, but a man-made disaster! Isn’t this all the doing of that human disaster, Son-in-law Shen? Why don’t we all rush over and beat Madman Nan senseless? It’s still dark. If we all attack at once and then scatter, they’ll never catch us.”
“A fine idea. You charge in first!”
In an instant, the candidates participating in the literary examination stared at Madman Nan’s carriage with menacing eyes. It was the perfect opportunity to beat him to death, and the temptation was truly hard to resist. A group of several dozen, perhaps even a hundred, began to creep toward the carriage Madman Nan was in. Suddenly, Han Nu’s voice boomed.
“You want to beat Madman Nan to death? Fine, come on! Sisters, if anyone dares to come within three feet of us, burst their eggs!”
“Yes!”
Twenty strongwomen roared in unison. Hearing this, the scholars quickly dispersed. Burst their eggs—they had heard that phrase so many times over the past few days that the mere sound of it made them ache. Madman Nan, moved beyond words, said.
“Han Nu, I knew you cared for me. I will never let you down.”
Han Nu said.
“Shut up. One more word and I’ll burst your eggs too.”
Madman Nan’s heart pounded wildly as he screamed inwardly.
‘Sister Han Nu, come on. Come and burst them…’
Unable to beat Madman Nan to death, the literary candidates scattered far and wide. To them, even being near Madman Nan's carriage was a great humiliation.
“Tsk!”
“Tsk!”
“To walk the same path as that dreg unworthy of being called human is a great dishonor.”
“That dreg Nan, not even fit to be human!”
“Human disaster, Son-in-law Shen!”
On that road, Madman Nan’s carriage was not only isolated but also cruelly humiliated. As soon as the first person spat at his carriage, a chain reaction followed, and soon everyone was spitting in its direction. The path Madman Nan took to the examination hall became a wet road, slick with the spit of thousands.
As dawn broke, they finally arrived outside the massive examination hall. Madman Nan stepped out of the carriage, carrying a basket, and lined up behind the others, preparing to enter. Everywhere he went, the candidates scattered as if he were carrying a plague.
“The dreg Nan, unworthy of being human! The human disaster, Son-in-law Shen!”
When he walked to the back of a line to wait, everyone in front of him immediately left. In an instant, Madman Nan went from being the last person in line to the very first. Soon, he underwent the body search to prevent cheating. It was a humiliating process, but Madman Nan didn't mind at all. He had endured far more shameful things. In fact, he found it not shameful but rather stimulating. His only regret was that the person searching him was a man and not a woman.
After the body search, everyone entered the examination hall in order. Once all the candidates were inside, four examiners and several hundred Imperial Guards entered, and all the gates to the hall were sealed shut. An examiner then delivered a resonant speech, and the examination papers were formally distributed. The Special Examination, held to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of King Ning Yuanxian's ascension to the throne, had officially begun.