Zhao Yao was tidying up books in Mr. ng’s study. When he heard that the Five Talents of Jinling ca to visit Mr. ng, he was not curious and did not go to see them.
The Five Talents of Jinling often climbed the mountain to visit Mr. ng. Today was not their first visit. Every ti they ca, Mr. ng was very pleased, and his spirits seed to lift slightly.
Li Jue and the other four chatted with Mr. ng for a while. Seeing Mr. ng’s weary look, they rose to take their leave. As they were departing, Mr. ng asked them not to co again in the future. Once he was gone, they should not co to see him off. He said he only wished to leave quietly, without troubling anyone to bid him farewell.
Mr. ng also urged them to participate in the civil service examination, but Li Jue and the others did not respond to his advice. Naturally, they did not outright refuse him either.
After Li Jue and his companions left, Mr. ng called Zhao Yao and Zheng Xilin to his room.
Seeing Mr. ng’s face full of exhaustion, Zheng Xilin advised him to rest and discuss any matters after recuperating. Upon hearing this, Mr. ng deliberately joked that he was soon to take his eternal rest, and then he would be able to sleep well. For now, he would skip resting.
Hearing Mr. ng jest about his condition, Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao were montarily at a loss for how to console him.
Mr. ng had long beco indifferent to life and death. Though he felt so regret, he faced his impending demise without panic or unease—only acceptance. However, there were matters that he still found hard to let go of.
In recent days, Mr. ng had not been awake much. Each ti he awoke, he gave instructions to Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao. This ti, calling them to his side was also to give so instructions.
Zheng Xilin tried to persuade Mr. ng again, but he was refused.
Mr. ng leaned back against the bedside, his expression calm, his gaze gentle as he looked at Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao.
"I don’t have many days left. While I’m still clear-minded, let’s talk more."
Hearing Mr. ng speak thus, Zhao Yao felt troubled in his heart. He knew Mr. ng disliked seeing others grieve for him, so he dared not let any sorrow show on his face.
"Uncle, let Mr. ng speak if he has sothing to say."
Zheng Xilin sighed softly in his heart, then, with resignation, said to Mr. ng, "Whatever instructions you have, please feel free to give them."
Mr. ng was amused by Zheng Xilin’s words: "I don’t have any particular instructions, just so lingering concern for Li Jue and the others. I just advised them to take part in the civil service examination, but they didn’t consent."
"You know very well they wouldn’t agree to participate in the civil service examination, so why did you try?" Zheng Xilin said. "They won’t take it, and they’ll prevent others from taking it too."
"I know, I just wanted to try," Mr. ng said with a gentle sigh, "I overreached myself."
Zheng Xilin deliberately remarked, "You’re about to pass away, so why worry about such trivial matters."
"Mr. ng, they’re not as crucial as you think. Their not participating won’t affect the implentation of the civil service examination," Zhao Yao comforted Mr. ng. "The exam is extrely challenging. Even with great learning, they might still fail. I think they’re afraid of failing, which is why they don’t dare to take the civil service examination."
Mr. ng hadn’t considered this angle. He asked, surprised, "Is the civil service examination really that difficult?"
"Certainly, it’s harder than the Imperial College exams," Zhao Yao felt Mr. ng had underestimated the civil service exam. "It’s thousands of tis more difficult than the exams for the Imperial College because it’s for selecting talent for the court. Moreover, the civil service exams don’t just test article writing, poetry, or song compositions, but real skills and substance."
He continued, "The Five Talents of Jinling are indeed good at writing articles and poetry, but that doesn’t an they can pass the civil service examination. I fear they couldn’t even pass the simplest county exam."
Mr. ng only knew the civil service exams tested the Four Books and Five Classics but wasn’t clear about the specifics. He assud the content was similar to previous recomndation and imperial selection tests.
In the past, the final stage of recomndation and selection exams was personally set by the emperor, who would choose topics from books like "The Analects." For example, using the topic "Walking together, there must be my teacher," for the examinees to answer.
"I don’t know what this year’s civil service examination will test, but it certainly won’t be as simple as testing articles and poetry," Zhao Yao said earnestly. "The civil service exam is for selecting talent for the court, and the purpose of selecting talent is to benefit the people. Benefiting the people cannot be achieved by crafting beautiful essays and poems alone. To benefit the people, officials must get things done, so the exam tests practical matters."
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