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He would definitely miss this year’s Spring Imperial Examination.
Thinking this through, avoiding such a calamity, his luck was indeed quite good.
Luck, this kind of thing…
The Crown Prince pressed his lips together, remaining silent for a long time.
In just a few days, Song Jingyun achieved great success.
Using bamboo strips dyed with paint, he crafted a bamboo fan painting, exquisitely delicate and stunning. Even Jiang Mixia held the fan, praising it endlessly, “This fan is truly beautiful.”
Previously, Song Jingyun’s bamboo silk fan was also very attractive. However, the simple texture formed by the quantity and thickness of the bamboo strips, though elegant and understated, lacked a certain exquisite feeling.
Now, with colorful paintings on the fan surface, the entire fan exuded a more vibrant and dynamic feel, appearing even more appealing.
“It’s decent,” Song Jingyun’s eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of pride in his eyes quickly fading. He then remarked in a serious tone, “It’s just that time was a bit short. I could only weave it like this. If I had more time to practice, I would definitely be able to create even more beautiful fans.”
Jiang Mixia opened her mouth but decided not to speak
When Jiang Mixia bought the bamboo fan paintings earlier, the shop’s owner enthusiastically explained the challenges of creating such artworks and the years of apprenticeship required to achieve the current level of skill. Yet, within a few days, Song Jingyun had already reached an impressive level of proficiency and continued to refine her work.
Can they still create even more beautiful fans?
The onlookers felt delighted, with some already putting down their inkstones, picking up their brushes.
Indeed, in the face of absolute talent, all other efforts seemed trivial.
The days of the Spring Examination arrived slowly.
Just before the start of an exam, examinees who had not participated in the Spring Imperial Examination before noticed something amiss.
The examination papers were blank, devoid of any specific topics.
Are we supposed to showcase our own creativity and freely choose topics?
Typically, the Spring Imperial Examination consists of eight rounds of tests, each lasting eight days.
The first round of exams comprised seven questions on the Book of Rites and eight on the Classics, with one essay question and seven judgment criteria for the seventh round, and a selection to answer one question from edicts, imperial decrees, or memorials in the eighth round.
Although the Book of Rites was thoroughly memorized by most examinees, who could recite its teachings effortlessly, the level of understanding might vary. Hence, after the exam, everyone was concerned that the question might pinpoint their weaknesses.
Since all scholars read the same books, mastering difficult concepts and understanding complex ideas was a challenge. If everyone wrote similar responses, wouldn’t the competition be more subdued, making it harder to stand out?
However, by choosing their own topics now, individuals could naturally select their strongest areas, ensuring the creation of a splendid piece of writing.
Envy, jealousy, and hatred were topics that these individuals hadn’t grown tired of discussing…
After a moment of bewilderment, the examinees began to grasp the situation, a hint of joy flickering in their hearts.
What if the topic one excelled in happened to be the favorite of the chief examiner?
No one followed the usual preparation methods for the exam. There were no post-exam mock tests to delay crafting a splendid essay related to the exam content, which was not conducive to excelling in the Spring Imperial Examination.
Suddenly, some began to understand the mixed feelings of those, including Guo Shengrong, participating in the exams together.
However, as the ink-dipped brush hovered over the paper, hesitation filled the air among the examinees.
End of this chapter.