Chapter 41: Governing with Virtue

After the minor incident with Huang Zongping, the provincial examination finally commenced.

At the beginning of the exam, the first step was to verify the candidates’ identities. Although this had already been done outside, a second confirmation was an indispensable procedure, meticulously enforced to prevent favoritism and fraud. The scrutiny was so thorough that it consumed nearly half a day.

Deputy examiner Liu Xiqian took Yi An’s registration list and compared it to the roster in his hand. After confirming everything was in order, he returned the list. Yet the name struck him as familiar. After a moment’s thought, a trace of suspicion flashed in Liu Xiqian’s eyes. He asked uncertainly, “Your name is Yi An? Are you the Yi An who took the top prize at the literary gathering in Hangzhou?”

Yi An nodded. “Yes, that is indeed me. It’s a modest reputation, not worth mentioning.”

Liu Xiqian smiled and replied, “It’s true that hearing about someone is not the same as meeting them in person—you are indeed a distinguished talent. I’ve read your poem; it was excellent. Even those old fellows in the Hanlin Academy may not be your match. When I return to the capital, I must show your work to them.”

Having come to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Liu Xiqian naturally wished to experience the local customs and meet the renowned scholars. He had heard of many famous names; as the saying goes, ‘Under great fame, there are no unworthy men.’ Understanding these scholars would aid him in his upcoming assessments.

Yi An’s name had recently become widely known among the scholarly circles, and out of curiosity, Liu Xiqian had evaluated his much-praised poem, which left a deep impression on him.

As Liu Xiqian finished speaking, Yi An felt several glances sweep over him from the other candidates nearby. Clearly, they too were familiar with his reputation.

Yet some of these gazes were less than friendly, and Yi An noticed them.

“Scholars are prone to belittle one another”—today, Yi An experienced this firsthand.

He could not help but smile wryly, thinking that if he had known earlier, he would not have shown his talents at the literary gathering, avoiding all these troubles.

Nevertheless, timidity did not suit his nature. Since he had already acted, he might as well face the exam head-on and decisively crush any petty doubts.

“Sir, you flatter me. There is always a higher mountain; my small achievements are nothing to boast about.” Yi An responded modestly. Showing off was not his style—such childish displays would be far too immature.

“Indeed, not arrogant nor impetuous. I have high hopes for you. I look forward to your performance in the provincial examination. Who knows, one day we might serve together as officials. Ha ha ha.” Liu Xiqian nodded, somewhat surprised by Yi An’s composure.

Ordinary young people were inevitably proud and oblivious to others—even Liu Xiqian had been that way in his youth.

But Yi An’s temperament was rare and precious. Unless misfortune struck, Liu Xiqian could foresee a place for him in the imperial court in the future.

Unbothered by the surrounding stares, Yi An returned to his seat.

Each candidate’s seat was a completely enclosed cubicle, just large enough for one person. The sides were closed off, leaving only an opening in the center for entry and exit.

Once the exam began, the doors to the hall were shut and heavily guarded outside. No one was allowed in or out until the examination ended.

The duration of the test was two days. During this time, all food and drink were provided by the authorities. Typically, the meals consisted of steamed buns and plain porridge, but if candidates paid extra, the officials could offer some meat dishes as well. In this respect, the authorities were quite humane.

On each desk lay paper, ink, brush, and inkstone, awaiting the examiner’s command to begin and the announcement of the topic.

“Bang!”

“Release the topic!”

After the sound of the gong, the deputy examiner loudly declared the subject.

“Governance through virtue!”

This topic was not particularly difficult and aligned perfectly with Chief Examiner Wan Songling’s philosophy. Still, its connection to politics made it somewhat vexing.

Yi An closed his eyes in contemplation. After a long while, he finally began to write, first setting out his main argument.

Essays on the classics had no standard answers; they tested not only literary talent but also insight. If one strayed from the topic or failed to satisfy the examiner, it was likely their name would be absent from the list of successful candidates. Literary skill was important, but sometimes, a distinctive perspective mattered even more.

Some rejoiced, others worried; some candidates quickly developed unique interpretations, while others hesitated, unable to begin. Even if one’s foundational skills were solid, without ideas, their writing would fail to move the examiner.

Thus, often, some might succeed by chance, striking upon a moment of inspiration. But in most cases, those whose names appeared on the list possessed both exceptional insight and extraordinary talent.

Additionally, the chief examiner’s taste played a role.

This was where the value of the notes gifted to Yi An by Master Chen became evident.

However, the topic posed no difficulty for Yi An. As someone from a later era, even after countless years, he still remembered those memories deeply.

Regarding “Governance through virtue,” he could think of several approaches with his eyes closed.

Taking a deep breath, Yi An carefully considered his response, then wrote what he deemed the most suitable essay.

Brush in hand, he wrote without pause. In just a short while, the pages were densely filled with his answers.

Glancing at the time, he saw that there was still a whole day left before the exam ended. Not wanting to waste it, Yi An sat cross-legged and began circulating his internal energy.

His recent cultivation had brought his internal energy close to fullness, signaling that his Foundation stage was nearly complete. Next would be the Returning Origin stage.

As the name suggested, Returning Origin meant channeling the true energy within, reverting it to its essence and achieving a qualitative transformation. Once true essence was condensed, the Returning Origin stage would be attained.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already the second day.

Yi An stretched and moved his limbs a little. The space was still cramped—any movement was a luxury. Crouching here for so long was a test of both spirit and physical endurance.

Looking around, he saw that many candidates’ faces were pale; most were barely managing to stay upright.