He reached out to Chen Shi, his words earnest: "Chen Jieyuan, this world doesn’t have many people who understand you. You and I are not strangers on different paths. Co, co over here and lend your aid!"
Fang Tan and Wei Xize were moved by his words, unable to stop their eyes from reddening.
The young master’s heartfelt speech resonated with them too.
Chen Shi looked straight ahead, speaking blandly: "Finished talking?"
The earnest expression on the young master’s face froze.
Chen Shi ignored his hand, continuing to walk forward, saying, "Since you’re done, go back and wash your neck, wait for the major examination where I’ll slaughter you like a little chick."
The young master’s expression sank, stopping in his tracks, watching him walk further away.
The next morning, Chen Shi woke early; Chen Tang did not attend court, but accompanied him in washing, burning incense, offering incense to his grandfather Chen Yindou’s spirit tablet, then instructed Chen Shi to bow to his mother, saying: "The Imperial Examination prohibits carrying talismanic weapons and treasures. If you have any, remove them to avoid embarrassnt if discovered, and they might easily be lost."
Chen Shi took off the Youquan Wandering Dragon Sword and so treasures from his body, handing them over.
"Your clothes should also be changed to ordinary ones, not those imbued with treasures, nor should any talismans be drawn on your body."
Chen Tang thought for a while, saying, "Firearms are also forbidden."
Chen Shi mumbled sothing, retrieving so iron caltrops from the small temple.
Seeing these iron caltrops, taller than himself, Chen Tang’s eye twitched, saying: "Cannon is also forbidden, and the Dragon Head Rocket, you can’t bring those either."
Chen Shi, dejected, took out two General Cannons and a dozen rockets.
Seeing these gigantic objects over twenty feet long, Chen Tang couldn’t help but have a headache, wondering how this child’s small temple could fit so many things.
"With the General Cannon, there must be bullets; take out the bullets."
Chen Shi took out the bullets, saying, "There’s nothing else this ti."
Chen Tang, sowhat skeptical, entered his small temple, rummaging through it, bringing out the Fu Shen Tianji and Stone Rock Lady, advising: "Plant these spiritual dicines in the Little Heavenly Realms. These cannot be brought either. Rest assured, I’ll keep them in the Little Heaven safely, they won’t be lost."
After Chen Shi finished dealing with everything, Chen Tang said, "Even the dog cannot be brought."
The black pot barked a few tis in protest, but Chen Tang firmly refused.
After inspecting several tis, confirming Chen Shi wasn’t carrying anything contraband, he personally escorted Chen Shi to the Ministry of Rites.
This Imperial Examination was overseen by the Ministry of Rites, with the Literary Examination held there and the Military Examination held in the Divine chanism Camp.
The Ministry of Rites had cleared out several office residences days earlier to provide scholars from various regions a place to take the examination. The Literary Examination was divided into three sessions: the first session tested principles, the second analyzed debates, and the third posed questions. The Military Examination also had three parts: testing skills in the first, artistry in the second, and combat in the third.
The exam days included literary in the morning and military in the afternoon, spanning three consecutive days.
Results would be posted a month later, revealing the outcos.
Afterward would be the Imperial Examination.
Upon arriving at the Ministry of Rites, Chen Shi found the place filled with experts from both the Ministry and Divine chanism Camp. Soldiers from the camp had swords at their waists, muskets on their backs, dicine pouches hanging, bags containing lead bullets, and iron caltrops dangling from their backsides.
In the sky, towering Yellow Turban Warriors gazed down, scrutinizing each scholar entering the exam venue.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites summoned their Primordial Spirits, inspecting each scholar’s body to ensure no forbidden items were present.
Furthermore, enormous stone statues depicting Divine Beasts stood in each exam hall. There were two types: one resembled a dragon with four feet, its body smaller than a dragon, displaying a cheerful appearance. The other looked like a tiger with dragon horns and scales, having a mane on its back, bearing a stern face with suspicious eyes.
When Chen Shi arrived, several Ministry clerks were offering incense to the stone statues, presenting sacrifices like cattle and sheep.
Suddenly, the statues clanged loudly, turning from stone into flesh-and-blood creatures, leaping off the altar and beginning to scrutinize each candidate.
"Those are Bi’an and Fuxi; any cheater, even if assisted by Ghost Gods, cannot escape their notice."
Chen Tang advised, "Go on in, take the exam seriously, don’t feel too pressured."
Chen Shi agreed, stepped forward to report his na, and upon hearing it, the examiner led him into the exam hall.
Chen Shi sat on a cushion, noticing the hall as a grand chamber, with several desks and cushions besides him, mostly empty, but two desks had occupants: one the young master, another an unknown young man.
Within the exam hall, they were the only three.
"I am Zhang You, it’s an honor to et Chen Jieyuan."
The stranger sitting on the cushion slightly bowed with a smile, saying, "I haven’t stayed at Qixia Temple, and I’m staying at my uncle’s place."
"No whispering!" an examiner shouted.
The two Divine Beasts, Bi’an and Fuxi, strode in, walking around with authority, assessing the three.
As a bell struck, an examiner appeared before the three, bearing a stern visage, proclaiming in a resonant voice: "Today’s grand examination first question covers the Four Books Principles, Changes Principles, Poetry Principles, Spring and Autumn Principles. The Four Books Principles have six questions; Changes, Poetry, Spring and Autumn each have three. Scholarly candidates choose one, engage in interpretation and resolution, with one hour as the limit."
Then, so clerks pushed boards into the hall, one board reading: "Four Books Principles: One, behaving as in Xia tis, riding in Yin carriages, wearing Zhou helts, and music incorporates Shao dance. Two, cherishing relatives leads to benevolence for the people, benevolence leads to affection for things. Three..."
Chen Shi examined them one by one, receiving inkstone, paper, and brush from clerks. The paper was xuan paper, ink already ground, brush prepared.
Chen Shi chose the topic: Thunder in heaven, great expansion; a nobleman avoids improper manners.
"This topic Zhu Scholar spoke about!"
Feeling quite excited, he imdiately wrote his na, origin, and topic, about to start writing.
At this mont, a clerk approached, taking the xuan paper from him, scrutinizing his handwriting and considering his topic.
The other two clerks similarly approached, taking the papers from Zhang You and the young master, studying the handwriting and topics beside them.
After a mont, the three clerks actually sat down, their pens flying across the papers, writing the interpretations of their chosen topics!
Chen Shi was dumbfounded, hastily appealing to Bi’an and Fuxi: "Cheating! We’re cheating!"
The two Divine Beasts turned a deaf ear, overlooking the scene.
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