Chapter 127: Gu Huaizhi’s Cheating

“Erlang, you still don’t trust me to handle this? I handed the exam basket you gave me to a peddler and personally saw Gu Huaizhi buy it.”

Li Guangyao played with the fan in his hand, glancing at Song Erlang’s swollen and reddened index finger. “Oh, what happened to this?”

Song Erlang gritted his teeth and said, “Gu Huaizhi did it.”

A surge of malice rose in his heart, as he eagerly awaited the moment Gu Huaizhi would enter the examination hall, only to be caught by the proctor and beaten to death.

The exam basket in Gu Huaizhi’s hands had cheat sheets written on bamboo slips, which Song Erlang personally wove into the basket. Then, he had Li Guangyao find a way to get it sold to Gu Huaizhi.

When the time came for the examination at the tribute academy, Li Guangyao would report someone for cheating, and they would surely expose Gu Huaizhi.

Those who engage in corrupt practices or cheating, if lightly punished, would be flogged and then exiled three thousand li^[1]流放三千里 (liú fàng sān qiān lǐ) =  “Be exiled three thousand li” is refers to a severe punishment where a person is banished to a distant and harsh location, far from … Continue reading.

The heavier punishment would be beheading.

But either way, it’s a dead end.

According to the law, exile would last at least eight or nine years. Gu Huaizhi’s frail health would never survive the harsh conditions. It’s practically a death sentence; there’s no way he could endure and return alive.

“What are you angry about? No matter how pleased Gu Huaizhi might be now, he won’t live to see the end of the provincial examination.” Li Guangyao brought over a bundle and shoved it into Song Erlang’s arms. “I can’t help much with the imperial examinations, but here’s a ‘top scholar’s robe’ blessed by a master, along with a bag of money.”

Song Erlang’s eyes gleamed, knowing full well that Li Guangyao was trying to curry favor with him. Once he became an official, there would be many benefits for Li Guangyao.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony with Brother Li.”

——

Gu Huaizhi traveled to the prefectural city accompanied by Mo Yuan and Mo Chen. They stayed in a small courtyard within the city. Early on the morning of the eighth day, they headed to the examination compound.

Most of the other examinees took the route from Xiangchun Gate, passing through Gaosheng Gate, Zidong Garden, crossing the Wenxing Stone Bridge, and arriving at Yicun Village before reaching the main gate of the examination compound, believing it to bring good luck.

However, Gu Huaizhi, disliking the crowd, chose to take a less traveled path. When he arrived, a considerable number of people were already there, forming a long line at the gate.

The main gate of the examination compound faced south, and the compound itself was quite spacious, with only one large entrance.

By coincidence, Song Erlang was lined up ahead of Gu Huaizhi, with just a few people between them.

Song Erlang glanced back at Gu Huaizhi, his gaze briefly sweeping over the exam basket in Gu Huaizhi’s hand. He sneered inwardly and adjusted his robe.

The robe he was wearing was the one Li Guangyao had given him. Li Guangyao had been very generous, providing him with one hundred taels of silver as travel funds.

In his heart, Song Erlang had already made up his mind that once he became an official, he would reward Li Guangyao by promoting him.

Before even entering the examination compound, Song Erlang was already daydreaming about his future.

Gu Huaizhi did not take Song Erlang seriously, regarding him as nothing more than a petty show-off.

After waiting for nearly an hour, it was finally Gu Huaizhi’s turn. He placed his items on the wide table, spread his arms, and allowed the soldiers to inspect him for any hidden cheat sheets.

The meat pies were all cut into small pieces, and the rich, spicy aroma of the meat wafted through the air, making everyone salivate.

Gu Huaizhi lowered his eyes and tidied up, received his number, and entered the examination compound. Inside, the archway on the east side was labeled “For the Selection of Scholars,” and the west side was labeled “For the Seeking of Talents.”

Walking past the main hall, the waiting rooms, and the sedan hall, he arrived at a hive-like cluster of examination booths, densely packed with a total of eight or nine thousand rooms. They were divided into the East and West Literary Fields, each with fifty-seven rows of booths.

The booths were arranged according to the Thousand Character Text, and Gu Huaizhi was assigned to the thirty-fourth row in the East Literary Field, marked with the character “Wang.”

Gu Huaizhi found his booth, which had a roof made of tree bark. On rainy days, one would need to use an umbrella inside. The booth was extremely cramped and rudimentary, with only a plank to sit on and a simple table.

He placed all his belongings in the corner and took out the “five morning chicken”^[2]五更雞 (wǔ gēng jī) = “five morning chicken”, is a type of small stove used for cooking at night. It consists of an outer casing made of copper, iron, or bamboo and wood. Inside, it … Continue reading he had brought with him and set it on the table.

The “five morning chicken” was a bamboo and wood enclosure with an oil lamp in the middle, used for nighttime lighting, cooking, and boiling water.

On his second entry into the examination compound, Gu Huaizhi was very relaxed. He took out the fish cakes Su Wan had made and ate one. Then he set aside the wooden board, spread out a thick cotton quilt, and lay down to sleep, conserving his energy.

Although Gu Huaizhi closed his eyes, he was unable to sleep. With eight or nine thousand candidates from various counties in the prefectural city, and only thirty out of forty being selected this year, the competition was fierce.

During the queue, he had seen many familiar faces, most of whom were highly skilled and learned individuals.

At the stroke of midnight, the examination compound lit firecrackers, closed the gates, and began distributing the examination papers.

Gu Huaizhi picked up his exam paper and saw that the first section was a classical essay, or “Eight-Legged Essay(bagu wen)”^[3]“Bagu wen” (八股文) = “Eight-Legged Essay”, It is a form of classical Chinese essay writing that was used in imperial examinations during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The … Continue reading.

After a moment of contemplation, he picked up his brush and began to write.

The proctor, carrying a lantern, patrolled the room. Most of the candidates were highly focused, with some still pondering how to approach the questions and others writing while pausing to think. Only Gu Huaizhi, however, wrote with fluidity and speed.

In no time, Gu Huaizhi set down his brush and placed the exam paper in the upper left corner of his desk, waiting for the exam official to collect it.

The proctor couldn’t help but stop. It was still less than half an hour since the exam papers had been distributed, and Gu Huaizhi had already finished?

He raised his hand, signaling the soldiers behind him to stop, and stood in front of Gu Huaizhi. He picked up the exam paper to read his essay.

The proctor wasn’t expecting much from Gu Huaizhi’s writing. However, after reading a few lines, his expression turned serious. He slowed his reading pace and examined each word carefully, feeling increasingly impressed and astonished.

“Where are you from?” The proctor placed the exam paper back in its original position. If Gu Huaizhi maintained this level of performance in the next two sections, the provincial examination would be virtually assured for him.

Gu Huaizhi replied, “Xihe Town.”

The proctor nodded slightly, taking note of Gu Huaizhi, and was about to step away.

At that moment, a soldier hurriedly approached. “Sir, we have received a report of a candidate carrying cheat sheets and engaging in corrupt practices.”

The proctor’s expression changed. This was a serious matter, and he became stern. “Do we know which candidate it is?”

If no one reported it and the issue was only brought up after the examination list was posted, he would surely lose his position.

The proctor, filled with anger, said emphatically, “Whoever is found guilty will face severe punishment!”

The candidates in this row, upon hearing that someone was caught with cheat sheets and engaging in corrupt practices, all turned pale and lost their focus on the exam, fearing any unexpected developments.

Gu Huaizhi, however, remained calm. He closed his eyes, preparing to sleep.

The soldier’s voice was loud and clear: “The candidate from Xihe Town, Xinghua Village, Gu Huaizhi, has been identified. He is in the thirty-fourth row, Wang number booth.”

The other nervous candidates were stunned, their eyes filled with shock.

Gu Huaizhi’s reputation as a prodigy was well-known throughout the entire Guangling Prefecture. Who didn’t know of him?

It was unexpected that he would actually be caught cheating!

The proctor was taken aback, his gaze fixed on Gu Huaizhi. Thinking of the brilliant essay he had just read, he furrowed his brow. Such an exceptional piece of writing was actually produced through cheating?

He was reluctant to believe that Gu Huaizhi was cheating, but looking around the entire examination compound, his was the only paper done so well and so quickly.

“Search!” The proctor’s face was stern, and he spoke with uncompromising authority. “Those found guilty of cheating will have their degrees revoked, be banned from taking exams for life, receive fifty lashes, and be exiled three thousand li!”

The soldiers approached Gu Huaizhi’s booth and began to search his belongings, examining everything carefully, but no cheat sheets were found.

The searchers looked at each other in confusion. Was it possible that someone had made a false accusation?

“Found nothing?” The proctor came over, his gaze sweeping across the examination basket. He picked it up and handed it to a nearby soldier. “Open it.”

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Picture of 五更雞 (wǔ gēng jī) = “five morning chicken”