Chapter 633 - 353: Have You Asked the People of the World?
Chapter 633: Chapter 353: Have You Asked the People of the World?
"...Fifth Class!"
The smile on Chen Yi’s face faded slightly. He turned to look back inside the examination hall, unable to fathom why Ma Shuhan was targeting him so deliberately.
Although the policy essay he wrote hadn’t addressed the prompt exactly as required, the content itself had no major flaws. Furthermore, according to his deduction, Ma Shuhan’s true aim was to use the Annual Examination as an opportunity to leak some of the Capital Prefecture’s schemes to the public. Since that goal had already been achieved, why did it matter whether his essay strictly adhered to the topic?
Xiao Wan’er’s smile vanished. She hurried over to stand by Chen Yi’s side, looking at him with a hint of worry. "Qingzhou..."
Shen Huatang, Xie Tingyun, and even Madam Zhang, Wan Rourou, and the others followed close behind.
Chen Yi snapped out of his thoughts and smiled gently. "Don’t worry, Wan’er."
Xiao Wan’er relaxed a little upon hearing this, though her hands remained tightly clasped beneath her cloak. "Could there be some sort of misunderstanding?" she asked nervously.
Chen Yi chuckled. "There are thousands of brilliant essays in this world, but no one can write something that pleases absolutely everyone.
"It’s only normal that the Lord Academic Administrator doesn’t like mine."
The Annual Examination was not like the imperial exams; it was simply meant to test whether scholars were studying diligently and improving their knowledge. Rankings, whether high or low, only resulted in minor rewards or punishments. Taking first place would earn a scholar some grain rations. Those ranked at the bottom might face reprimands, public criticism on the notice board, or even the stripping of their official scholarly status, depending on their performance. Because of this, the Annual Examination didn’t have overly strict rules. Whether the exams used blind grading to conceal names didn’t really matter.
However, for someone like Ma Shuhan to loudly reprimand a candidate before the examinees had even dispersed was exceedingly rare. Was Ma Shuhan deliberately targeting him? Chen Yi wondered why he would do such a thing.
At this moment, Chen Yi wasn’t the only one who had stopped to look back. The surrounding scholars who hadn’t yet left were also stunned. However, while Chen Yi was looking at Ma Shuhan inside the examination hall, they were all staring at Chen Yi.
Ma Guan and Tang Ye hurried over. "Mr. Qingzhou, you... why would the Lord Academic Administrator say such a thing about you?"
They found it equally bizarre. In previous years, after the Annual Examination concluded, the presiding Academic Administrator and two deputy examiners would evaluate and grade all candidates inside the hall. Before that process was finished, it was nearly impossible for anyone to know the results in advance.
Chen Yi shook his head, offering no response. After a moment of thought, he turned to Xiao Wan’er and said, "I’m going in to ask him a few questions. Wait here for a moment, Wan’er."
Xiao Wan’er hesitated. The words asking to go with him reached the tip of her tongue before she swallowed them back. She knew what Chen Yi was capable of. If he thought it was appropriate for her to tag along, he would have invited her without needing to be asked.
Understanding this, she dutifully stayed put. "You... Qingzhou, be careful..."
Chen Yi gave a slight nod and strode back toward the examination hall. Naturally, Ma Guan, Tang Ye, and the others followed right behind him.
Madam Zhang, Wan Rourou, and a few others had initially intended to go over and see what was happening, but seeing that Xiao Wan’er hadn’t moved, they felt it inappropriate to follow.
Watching Chen Yi’s group enter the examination hall, Wan Rourou asked thoughtfully, "Sister Wan’er, Mr. Qingzhou writes such magnificent poetry, so he must be quite skilled at essays as well. How could he be reprimanded by the Lord Academic Administrator?"
Xiao Wan’er nodded, then shook her head. "I... I don’t know either."
Madam Zhang, being older and more experienced, offered some comfort. "Wan’er, you don’t need to worry too much. It’s just a single Annual Examination."
Wan Rourou smoothly shifted the conversation, chiming in. "That’s right. Even if he doesn’t do well this year, he can always participate in the Annual Examination again next year.
"With Mr. Qingzhou’s brilliance, even passing the imperial exams wouldn’t be an issue, let alone a mere Annual Examination."
"I hope so..."
Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help the trace of anxiety lingering in her heart. Even though Chen Yi had told her to relax, she still couldn’t find peace of mind. After all, this Annual Examination was different from those in the past. With a Fifth Class grade, it was entirely possible for Chen Yi to be stripped of his scholarly status.
Inside the examination hall.
Chen Yi looked up at Ma Shuhan on the high platform. Seeing the man clutching several sheets of paper with a face full of fury, Chen Yi smiled and offered a polite bow. "Student Chen Yi, Chen Qingzhou, pays his respects to the Lord Academic Administrator."
Hearing the voice, Ma Shuhan turned around and glared down at him from above, his anger unabated. "You are Chen Yi?
"Guiyun Academy’s Mr. Qingzhou?"
"That would be me."
Chen Yi looked up at him, not showing the slightest bit of timidity from the earlier scolding. He stood tall and straight with one hand resting behind his back, looking every bit the part of an academy tutor. "May I ask why the Lord Academic Administrator claims this student’s essay is utter nonsense and graded it Fifth Class?"
The remaining candidates standing nearby, along with Ma Guan and the others who had followed Chen Yi inside, shared his confusion. They were all well aware of Chen Yi’s literary talents. Although they had previously only seen his poetry, essays and poems shared a common foundation. This was especially true for Ma Guan, Tang Ye, and their peers. Having studied the Calligraphy Dao under Chen Yi for several months, they often heard him impart profound truths of the Great Dao during his lessons. His words were always profoundly enlightening. Because of this, they simply assumed that whatever Chen Yi had written had failed to cater to Ma Shuhan’s personal preferences.
Meeting the gazes of the crowd, Ma Shuhan let out a cold sneer. "Since you have the gall to ask, this official will let you die knowing exactly why."
He pointed at the few sheets of paper in his hand. "The policy essay prompt asked for your stance on a southern campaign versus a northern war. And what did you write?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his expression suddenly darkened.
But Chen Yi didn’t give him a chance to speak again. "This student believes that once a war begins, it will inevitably drain the treasury and bring suffering to the people.
"Let’s not look too far back. In the recent western expedition led by Duke Dingyuan against Poshisu Country, we may have won, but we also sacrificed tens of thousands of soldiers.
"In Shu State, and even the neighboring You State and Jing State, there were villages where every single household was hanging white silk for mourning.
"Then there are the staggering losses in logistics, supplies, carriages, horses, and weapons. Has anyone bothered to calculate them clearly?
"The content this student wrote admittedly did not follow the proper method to address the prompt.
"However, this student believes that Annual Examination grades are secondary, and arguing over a southern or northern campaign is utterly meaningless."