Chapter 521 - 196: Ranking
Chapter 521: Chapter 196: Ranking
The grading hall was already packed. The provincial governor was present, as were the proctors and supervisors. Even the deputy and associate examiners had all arrived.
Once the red numbers were assigned to the papers, they had to be unsealed in full view of everyone. The numbers would then be cross-referenced, and the candidates’ names and information would be written on the preliminary ranking list according to their scores.
No one dared to treat such an important matter lightly. It was better to arrive early and wait than to be late and show disrespect for the special examination decreed by the Emperor.
But while everyone else was ready, the chief examiner, Gong Yuanxiu, was holding three exam papers, examining them over and over. For a long time, he was unable to decide on their ranking.
Someone chuckled, trying to break the awkward silence. "Perhaps our Heyuan Province has simply produced too much talent. The essays must be so good that even Mr. Gong finds himself at a loss, unable to choose between them."
"This year’s cohort is full of hidden talents. Every student is exceptionally skilled."
"When it comes to the students’ rankings, it’s only right to be cautious."
While some offered praise, others naturally scoffed in contempt.
The one scoffing was none other than Sheng Mingchuan.
Sheng Mingchuan, it must be said, had a reputation for being difficult.
But this difficult nature was reserved only for other officials. With students, he was kind and approachable.
If you don’t believe it, just go ask around in Xinghuai Prefecture. You won’t find a single scholar who doesn’t have a good word to say about the Lord Prefect.
The Lord Prefect not only held them in high regard and offered them frequent encouragement, but he also extended his courtesies to their families. His thoughtful concern was plain to see, and his appreciation for talent was widely known.
But Sheng Mingchuan’s appreciation for talent stemmed from a different place: the young were a force to be reckoned with, while he was getting on in years. By helping others now, he was paving the way for the next generation. For the sake of his own son’s future, he didn’t mind cultivating this "patron of talent" persona.
’Being good to his subordinates earns him the students’ praise. But what’s the benefit of being good to his superiors?’
’Especially this man before him—incompetent and powerless, yet conceited and arrogant. He looks down his nose at everyone, yet is consumed by ambition.’
’The problem was, his abilities couldn’t match his ambition, which made his every action seem crude, clumsy, and utterly repulsive.’
Sheng Mingchuan let out a soft scoff, drawing everyone’s eyes to him.
He himself paid it no mind, remaining perfectly composed in his reclining chair. He leisurely rolled two walnuts in his hand as he addressed Gong Yuanxiu in a slow, deliberate tone.
"If the students’ writing is so brilliant and their papers so flawless that Mr. Gong cannot distinguish their merits, why not bring them out? We can all take a look and vote on the ranking."
Someone chimed in, "That’s not a bad idea."
"There’s no precedent for it, of course, but if Mr. Gong is truly in a bind, we wouldn’t mind helping to lighten his burden."
"Bring them out, then. Once the ranking is done, we have other important matters to attend to. We can’t be held up here all day."
Gong Yuanxiu’s grip on the exam papers tightened, and his scalp prickled with anxiety.
He had read several of Tao Yanxun’s essays before and believed he was so familiar with his writing style that he could pick it out from thousands of papers at a single glance.
’But now, faced with these three papers... Each one is simple and unadorned, yet full of substance and gets straight to the point. Which one could possibly be Tao Yanxun’s?’
’The most brilliant of the three, he thought, must be Tao Yanxun’s. It had stunned him at first glance, making him want to slap the table in admiration. Yet, there was an unfamiliarity in the phrasing and word choice; it felt slightly different from Tao Yanxun’s usual writing.’
’Ironically, it was the least impressive of the three that felt vaguely familiar, reminding him of Tao Yanxun’s style.’
’But how could that be?’
’Tao Yanxun was a golden child of the Capital City! How could he possibly be outshone by a scholar from some poor, backwater region?’
Gong Yuanxiu waved off their suggestions. "No, no, that won’t be necessary. Ranking the papers is the chief examiner’s duty. How could I dare trouble you, my lords?"
All the while, his eyes remained glued to the papers, desperately searching for any clue that would confirm which one was written by Tao Yanxun.
But he couldn’t find any.
He looked again and again, but he still couldn’t tell.
Gong Yuanxiu thought of the promise he had made. ’If I mess this up,’ he thought, ’I’ll surely be reprimanded. Forget about a promotion—I might not even be able to keep my position at the Hanlin Academy.’
He was so anxious his forehead was beaded with sweat.
The weather had already turned cool, to the point where even robust men needed to wear lined jackets. Yet, to prevent fires, there wasn’t a single brazier in the grading hall. When it had rained a few days prior, many of the examiners had been chilled into fits of coughing. Even now, with the weather having warmed slightly, most were still bundled in heavy cloaks. And under these conditions, the gaunt Mr. Gong, who looked as frail as a withered branch, was sweating profusely?