Chapter 148

After the academy exam ended and before the retest began, it was time for Liu Xuezeng and other heads of schools, along with their companions, to start evaluating the papers.

The heads of schools and their companions only had the right to assist in grading the papers and couldn’t interfere with the setting of questions.

So, at this moment, they were reading the papers and only then did they realize that Liu Xuezeng had set such a tricky poem question.

Especially for several heads of schools, their academy’s students would participate in other regions, not in this one.

Facing this poem question, they couldn’t help but secretly rejoice that fortunately, their academy was five hundred miles away, and they didn’t have students here — after all, due to current conditions, it’s generally inconvenient for people to travel five hundred miles away to study.

Otherwise, if their students encountered such a question, it would be heartbreaking!

They had various thoughts in their hearts, but they didn’t show anything on their faces, only inquiring, “Why did you think of combining two unrelated poems?”

Liu Xuezeng replied calmly, “These two lines are from the couplet at my hometown ancestral hall. It’s widely known, and as long as one recognizes the characters, they will remember it.”

The heads of schools and their companions were taken aback by this statement.

You just took a couplet from your hometown ancestral hall and used it as the basis for your question?

Others don’t know about this, and these two lines, even if they’re taken separately, aren’t particularly famous.

Trying to identify both sources at once? This is practically a death sentence!

Of course, if the person who set the question was a contemporary famous writer, and the anecdotes of his hometown were widely known, then setting such a question might be appropriate.

But for a Ministry of Rites official like Liu Xuezeng… he’s really overestimating himself!

While the heads of schools and their companions silently criticized, although it didn’t show on their faces, Liu Xuezeng himself also realized after looking at several papers that perhaps his question was a bit off.

This was his first time serving as a Ministry of Rites official in the capital, and the prefectural exam in Qingzhou was also the first academy exam he had overseen.

If this exam turned out to be too difficult for the majority of the candidates, and there weren’t enough people for the retest, it would be a bad ending.

So, he proposed, “In that case, let’s split the poem question into two halves. If they can interpret either the first half or the second half correctly, they will be considered as having answered the question correctly. Of course, those who can interpret both halves will be even better.”

This was actually a way to broaden the scope of acceptance.

After all, even if the poem was difficult, breaking down one line should still be manageable, right?

After all, this was just the main exam of the academy exam, so it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit lenient.

Since no one was pressing them with questions anymore, everyone went on to grade the papers and give their own evaluations.

Relieved that he wasn’t being surrounded and bombarded with questions, Liu Xuezeng himself let out a sigh of relief.

As he began grading the papers, the more he read, the more he realized that he had indeed loosened the requirements.

Allowing others to interpret half of the question correctly as a correct answer was necessary, or else there might not be enough candidates for the retest!

Of course, there were about a dozen papers where the candidates managed to identify the sources of both lines of the poem, and these candidates had interpreted the question even more accurately, undoubtedly placing them at the top.

What pleased Liu Xuezeng the most was that one of the papers.

Look at that, he was indeed a legendary figure, climbing from humble beginnings to his current position, and there were still candidates who admired him like they would a great literary figure.

Since the main exam only required listing the names and didn’t involve the formal transcription process like the provincial exam, Liu Xuezeng and his companions were reading the original papers.

Unconsciously, he read this particular paper twice.

The main exam was only meant to eliminate half of the candidates, and the list of candidates who would proceed to the retest could be determined without ranking them.

Thus, the process was very fast.

After the list was released but before the retest, several heads of schools and their companions looked at each other, wanting to persuade Liu Xuezeng to reconsider his approach.

After all, this main exam was just the beginning, and making a mistake could be rectified, but the retest was crucial for a scholar’s future.

If they were to repeat the same questions from the main exam, it would surely be unforgettable and impactful for this batch of candidates.

This would leave a bad impression, and Liu Xuezeng’s reputation would undoubtedly be affected.

As for those who volunteered to help grade the papers, their reputation might also be implicated.

Liu Xuezeng was well aware of the stakes and quickly reassured them, “The questions for the retest will be simple! Everyone can rest assured!”

Two days later, Mu Er Pang, Ren Shun, and Zhao Xiuwen participated in the retest together.

Mu Er Pang had performed well in the main exam and had rested properly for the past two days, so he was already in his best condition.

On the other hand, Ren Shun and Zhao Xiuwen still looked somewhat pale, bearing the appearance of having experienced many hardships.

Most of the other students in the same room looked similar to them.

Meanwhile, the other two who had formed a pact with them had already been eliminated and had no chance to participate in the second round.

However, now that it was the retest, they had already shown their faces to the Ministry of Rites officials and the guards, and their written exam papers from the main exam had been archived.

It was unlikely for someone else to take the exam in their place. Therefore, the rule of forming a pact with five people had relaxed, and it was enough for two or three people to guarantee each other.

Speaking of which, Ren Shun and Zhao Xiuwen were a bit puzzled about being able to proceed to the retest.

Because Zhao Xiuwen had only interpreted the first phrase and used the anecdote of Yang Xueshi as the main theme.

He hadn’t studied the first line of the poem or perhaps had read it but didn’t remember it.

It could be said that he had only interpreted half of the question.

Ren Shun managed to interpret both lines of the poem, but he spent a significant amount of time during the main exam pondering the poem, somewhat neglecting the preceding essay question.

As a result, his essay paled in comparison to his past work.

Mu Er Pang used Shen Cui’s words to console everyone, saying, “The questions in the main exam were difficult for us, and they were difficult for everyone. The main purpose of the main exam was just to eliminate half of the candidates, not to determine our success.”

Zhao Xiuwen and Ren Shun nodded in agreement, with Zhao Xiuwen adding jokingly, “So, are we like the tall ones among the dwarves?”

However, this jest did little to lighten the mood, as everyone’s thoughts were still fixed on how difficult the main exam had been and how challenging the retest might turn out to be.

Consequently, even before entering the examination hall, the atmosphere among the waiting candidates was already very tense.

The process proceeded as before, with half of the candidates from the previous round being admitted one by one.

After settling into their seats, they didn’t have to wait long before the signal cannon outside signaled the start of the test. Liu Xuezeng began writing the exam questions.

As they waited for the exam questions, many candidates couldn’t help but breathe heavily, fearing that Liu Xuezeng would spring another surprise on them.

Mu Er Pang had performed well in the main exam, but he secretly hoped that Liu Xuezeng wouldn’t draw any inspiration from his hometown this time.

He really didn’t have the mental energy to analyze the examiner any further!

After about ten to twenty minutes of anxious waiting, the exam proctor lifted the wooden signboard with the exam questions written on it.

The good news was that this time, when Mu Er Pang read the exam questions, he didn’t hear any nearby candidates gasping in surprise. So, this time, the questions shouldn’t be too difficult.

Mu Er Pang patiently waited for the proctor to reach him, and as soon as he saw the exam questions clearly, he immediately copied down both of them.

The essay question was (What is hidden within oneself is unforgivable).

Similarly, it was a standard question, taken from the “Great Learning.” The complete sentence reads, “The superior man makes demands on himself, while the petty man makes demands on others. It is unforgivable to possess knowledge and yet fail to act upon it.”

So, this question covers the idea that true gentlemen hold themselves to strict standards first, only asking of others what they can achieve themselves.

They refrain from doing what they shouldn’t and then expect the same from others.

Instead of adopting a forgiving attitude towards themselves and others, they are those who can’t forgive others’ faults but can teach forgiveness. That’s what this passage conveys.

“The Great Learning” is a book that discusses Confucian thoughts on self-cultivation, family management, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world.

This passage talks about self-cultivation. Mu Er Pang plans to write following the idea of “forgive oneself as forgiving others.” It’s not too difficult once he has this mindset.

Once he has this mindset, he starts looking at the poem title.

The title consists of just four characters.

Most people would be confused by such a title, but everyone in the exam room is surprisingly calm. Why is that?

That’s because during the later period of the Spring and Autumn era, there was a politician, thinker, and diplomat named Yan Ying, also known as Yanzi. The title refers to Yanzi moving house.

Most scholars should be familiar with Yanzi, right?

“Yanzi Jun Qian” means Yanzi moved. They might not have heard this specific story, but they are likely familiar with the story of Mencius’s mother moving three times.

Since Mencius has a related moving story, it’s not unusual for Yanzi to have a similar, albeit less well-known, story.

Anyway, they just need to write about it. If they don’t know the specifics, they can praise Yanzi’s achievements!

Many students have this idea, so the atmosphere in the exam room becomes more relaxed.

There’s no longer a situation where groups of students are deep in thought but unsure how to start writing.

Mu Er Pang continues to answer questions in order, ensuring the preceding article is well-written before considering the poem title.

Unlike many other students who immediately start writing, he pauses when he sees the poem title.

He refuses to believe that Liu Xuezheng would deviate from his usual style and give such a simple question.

There must be a trap!