“The students pay respects to the Lord Prefect!”
More than three hundred examinees bowed together in greeting.
Yu Qing, blended among them, could not stand out too much and had to follow the rehearsed motions along with everyone else.
“No need for such formality.” Lu Jiwei smiled and raised both hands to signal them to rise.
The examinees thanked him and stood straight.
The official in charge here began introducing the six candidates in front, “My lord, these six are this session’s…”
Lu Jiwei raised a hand to interrupt. “No need for introductions. The six top scorers of this provincial examination, I already met them at the celebratory banquet after the results. They are all outstanding talents of Lie Prefecture. This seat remembers them clearly!” His finger pointed with emphasis at the top scholar Zhan Muchun, his smile warm and clearly pleased.
“Thank you, Lord Prefect, for the undeserved praise!” The radiant Zhan Muchun led the thanks, and the other five bowed along with him.
The crowd of examinees behind, including Su Yingtao, Fang Wenxian, Zhang Manqu and Pan Wenqing, all felt deep envy toward the six top provincial examinees who received such open admiration from the Lord Prefect.
Everyone knew that even if these six failed to make the metropolitan list in the capital examination, or even if they slipped up there, various internal reasons meant Lie Prefecture would still arrange official posts for them as a priority. Barring surprises, their starting positions would not be poor.
In other words, these six top provincial scorers would, at worst, soon become officials of Lie Prefecture. That was also why Su Yingtao and the other three had tried to curry favour with Zhan Muchun earlier. Right now was the easiest time to get close to him. Later it might not even be possible to gain his attention. The four of them ranked inside the top thirty, so their own futures still carried much uncertainty.
Lu Jiwei did not waste words. He immediately introduced the two men beside him. “Come, allow this seat to introduce to all our fine scholars the two great masters of Lie Prefecture. This is Mr Di Zang, the foremost spiritual plant master in Lie Prefecture. And this is Mr Yu Qi, the foremost demon-discerning master in Lie Prefecture.”
The examinees showed some surprise. They had not expected the Lord Prefect to bring such figures to this occasion. To them these two were truly important personages in Lie Prefecture, people they normally could not approach. They quickly bowed in respect to the two masters.
Di Zang and Yu Qi merely smiled and nodded toward the crowd without speaking. They shared no common topics with these young examinees and did not wish to steal the spotlight.
After the polite exchanges, the examinees parted to make way. Guided forward, Lu Jiwei entered Chaoxi Garden to inspect. The six top provincial scorers accompanied him to answer the Lord Prefect’s questions on behalf of everyone. The rest followed behind. Yu Qing mingled among them. He truly had never imagined he would one day drift into such a scene. At least he had broadened his horizons.
Lu Jiwei naturally asked how everyone was settling in and whether the food was satisfactory. He openly instructed the person in charge to take good care of the examinees’ meals so that Lie Prefecture’s talents could better bring honour to the prefecture.
When it came to accommodation, they had to enter the temporary rooms for inspection. The nearest room, that of the top scholar, naturally became the main focus.
Not everyone could go upstairs, so most examinees waited below.
Yu Qing was naturally among those waiting below. He watched helplessly as Lu Jiwei and the others entered the very room he had once occupied. Then he looked around at the other examinees staring eagerly. He wondered what these people were hoping for with such shining eyes and what they could possibly gain.
Lu Jiwei could not spend all his time here at the lodging area. After a quick look at the nearby building and a casual stroll through Chaoxi Garden, he suddenly changed the subject. “Almost all of Lie Prefecture’s newly selected talents are gathered here today. Such a rare chance. Since the moment is perfect, would the two gentlemen be interested in witnessing their abilities?” He stopped walking, turned and faced the two masters.
The moment he stopped, everyone else stopped. All eyes fixed on him. Some examinees vaguely sensed an opportunity to shine and hope flickered in their gazes.
Di Zang and Yu Qi reacted a little slowly. They exchanged a smile. Di Zang asked with a laugh, “How exactly would you like us to witness it?”
Lu Jiwei swept his eyes over the crowd of examinees, stroked his beard and said, “The two gentlemen may each set a question. Our newly selected talents of Lie Prefecture will each compose two essays in response. The two gentlemen can then judge which are superior and which are inferior. This can also serve as ink treasures left by them for the academy before they head to the capital, for the academy’s students to study and admire. What do the two gentlemen think?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yu Qing, who had been idling in the crowd, felt a sudden chill run down his spine. His nerves tightened, and his scalp tingled.
Writing ordinary text was fine. Calligraphy practice had been a basic daily task back at the Daoist temple. His handwriting was no worse than Ashi Heng’s, perhaps even slightly better. He had some natural talent there. Writing simple letters or short pieces was also no problem. But asking him to produce proper essays on assigned topics was truly beyond his current level.
When he parted from Ashi Heng, Ashi Heng had specifically warned him that during the metropolitan examination it did not matter if he performed poorly, since no one expected him to pass anyway. Still, he hoped Yu Qing would put in some effort on appearances. The reasoning was simple. Failing the exam was normal. You could write badly, but you must not write in a way that made the examiner immediately suspicious and tempted to dig into your background to find out how someone like you ever passed the provincial level. That would be going too far.
He still knew nothing about the proper answering format and had planned to use Ashi Heng’s connections in the capital to learn a little before the exam. Now this sudden event hit him. Saying he was not panicked at all would be a lie. He already could not help scanning his surroundings.
He realised that if his deception was exposed here, with his current cultivation and strength, escape was almost impossible.
Right now he felt as though a bolt of lightning had shocked him awake from a daze. In his heart he cursed Ashi Heng. He had known something could go wrong on the road. Sure enough. What was he supposed to do now?
He already felt a sword hanging above his head, ready to fall at any moment.
For the other examinees present, this was an unexpected delight. Whether their essays turned out well or poorly, they lost nothing. If they did well, perhaps the Lord Prefect would take notice.
Of course, for one particular person it was disaster falling from the sky.
Compared with the eager, shining eyes all around him, Yu Qing’s gaze darted rapidly as he searched for a way out.
Di Zang and Yu Qi were stunned for a moment. They had not expected the Lord Prefect to put them in charge of such a task.
They glanced at each other again, reached silent agreement through their eyes. Di Zang politely declined. “This matter should not fall to us. Setting questions is something the Lord Prefect should handle personally.”
Lu Jiwei chuckled. “Setting the topic is a small thing. What this seat truly wants is to borrow the two gentlemen’s prestige to offer some worthwhile prizes and give our Lie Prefecture scholars a proper send-off before the capital journey. Please do not refuse.”
Hearing this, the two understood the deeper meaning. The Lord Prefect had suddenly arranged this scene not mainly to showcase the students’ talent, but to demonstrate through them that even these two great masters had to follow his lead.
The real aim was to display strength and calm everyone’s hearts.
It seemed simply showing their faces was not enough. They exchanged another look.
It was not that they refused to give Lu Jiwei face. When it came to refined literary composition, they were certainly no match for these young examinees who had emerged from the provincial examination. Asking them to judge the quality of these candidates’ essays would be inappropriate and could easily lead to ridicule.
Yet since Lu Jiwei had said it openly in front of everyone, they could not refuse without losing face.
After a brief pause, Yu Qi spoke. “Lord Lu, in my humble opinion, setting essay topics is unnecessary. First, even setting aside the time needed to answer, with more than three hundred people here, the two of us would have no idea how long it would take to read everything. We simply could not manage it.”
Lu Jiwei was about to suggest that if essays were too much, they could switch to poetry. That would be quicker and easier to judge.
But Yu Qi did not give him the chance to speak. He continued swiftly. “Second, these young people have already been tested and ranked once at the prefectural level through the provincial examination. Their literary ability has already been judged. With our level, it is not suitable for us to make further pronouncements. Lord Lu, how about this instead? Let us test something they have never been tested on before. Let us test their quick wit. With you leading, the three of us can each provide several riddles. Give them the time it takes one stick of incense to burn. See who can solve the most riddles in the shortest time. This way no one’s feelings are hurt. What does my lord think?”
It had turned into guessing riddles? The examinees looked at one another.
Yu Qing, who had been desperately thinking of ways to handle the crisis, was also stunned. If it really became a riddle-guessing contest, then he no longer needed to find an escape plan. Essays could be ranked good or bad, but failing to guess riddles carried no real consequence.
He immediately stood on tiptoe and stared fixedly at Lu Jiwei’s reaction, desperately hoping the Lord Prefect would listen to reason and drop the ridiculous essay idea.
Di Zang was already nodding repeatedly, clearly approving of Yu Qi’s suggestion. It resolved their own awkwardness while still giving Lu Jiwei the respect he deserved.
The proposal was indeed reasonable. Lu Jiwei nodded and decided on the spot. “Good! We will follow the two gentlemen’s advice. Only… are you willing to provide rewards?” A playful expression appeared on his face.
The two masters glanced at each other again. They knew that this time they had to offer something substantial. Offering too little would not match the Lord Prefect opening his mouth publicly like this.
Yu Qing, meanwhile, finally lowered his heels. He let out a heavy breath of relief.
Di Zang swept his gaze over the crowd of examinees and announced with a loud laugh, “Since the Lord Prefect has spoken, how can we refuse? I offer one hundred jin of spiritual rice as a prize!”
The prize matched his status perfectly.
At these words, many examinees gasped. Everyone knew the value of one hundred jin of spiritual rice was at least ten thousand taels of silver.
What was happening? Yu Qing, who had just relaxed, instantly pricked up his ears again. He stood on tiptoe once more, eyes wide as he stared at Di Zang. One hundred jin of spiritual rice? His gaze was filled with disbelief.
He wanted to know whether the prize worth ten thousand taels went to one person or was to be shared among more than three hundred examinees.
If it was the former, he would feel deeply unfair. Back then, for just a few hundred taels of silver, he had not hesitated to beat up three senior sect brothers. Now guessing a few riddles could win ten thousand taels. That seemed far too easy.
Yet Di Zang had not said how the reward would be distributed.
Lu Jiwei smiled with great satisfaction and then looked toward Yu Qi with a smile.
Yu Qi gave a wry smile inside, knowing it was his turn to speak. Calmly and clearly he said, “One cup of Profound-grade ‘Demon-Revealing Dew’ as a prize.”
“Demon-Revealing Dew?” The examinees began to murmur among themselves. Some, lacking experience, did not know what it was.
Yu Qing, still unable to lower his heels, felt his heart tremble again. It was understandable that ordinary examinees did not know what Demon-Revealing Dew was, but as someone from the martial world, how could he not know? It was an excellent tool for subduing demons. Just one drop placed on a demon cultivator would force them to reveal their true form. That was why it was called Demon-Revealing Dew.
The key point, of course, was its value.