Chapter 36: First-Class Scholar in the Imperial Examination, mber Lang
It was only later, through overheard conversations in the teahouses, that Xu Ning learned the truth. ng Yangming and ng Lingzhu had co to Mingdu City for revenge.
After eting Xu Ning and exchanging the manuals, they had imdiately located the ho of a high-ranking minister. They had wiped out his entire family, leaving no one alive, in a single, brutal night.
The entire city of Mingdu buzzed with discussion about the shocking event. But no one did anything to ng Yangming.
Even the imperial court, for all its power, dared not make things difficult for him.
This must be the oppressive aura of a Grandmaster, Xu Ning thought. One person, through sheer power and reputation, can silence an entire nation.
"It seems that ng Yangming's original enemies, the ones who poisoned him, must have implicated this minister in Mingdu City," Xu Ning muttered to himself, piecing together the story.
As for why the imperial court didn't intervene, Xu Ning speculated on several possible reasons.
First, ng Yangming might possess irrefutable evidence of the minister's cris and collusion with his enemies. This evidence would prevent the court from speaking out publicly against him without exposing their own corruption.
Second, the oppressive aura of a Grandmaster was simply too strong. The court feared provoking him and suffering the sa fate as the minister.
However, Xu Ning felt this second explanation alone was untenable. If Grandmasters were truly that powerful, able to slaughter ministers with impunity, wouldn't they be able to establish their own kingdoms? Could they simply replace emperors with whover they wanted?
Therefore, Xu Ning suspected a third, more likely explanation. The royal family almost certainly possessed its own Grandmasters, or so other hidden power capable of dealing with such threats. ng Yangming's actions were tolerated, not because the court was helpless, but because of the third reason.
The current situation at the palace was incredibly tense, with vicious factional infighting over the succession. No faction wanted to risk offending a powerful Grandmaster at this critical juncture, potentially driving him into the arms of their enemies. So, naturally, they were all ignoring ng Yangming's actions, pretending they hadn't noticed.
These were just Xu Ning's speculations for now. He would need to ask ng Yangming again to clarify, when the ti was right.
However, Xu Ning wouldn't have the chance to ask in the short term. The imperial examinations had already begun.
Xu Ning had registered two days prior, and today was the day of the tropolitan examination.
After carefully packing his examination materials and supplies, Xu Ning headed to the examination hall.
This exam was attracting enormous attention. Undercurrents of political ambition swirled throughout Da Xuan, all focused on this event.
On the second floor of a teahouse across from the examination hall, ng Yangming and ng Lingzhu sat by the window, drinking tea and observing the crowd.
Seeing that ng Lingzhu's gaze remained fixed on the examination hall entrance, ng Yangming couldn't help but sigh. "Girl, why do I feel you're even more nervous than the actual candidates waiting outside? Are you still thinking about that kid Xu Ning?"
ng Lingzhu blushed upon hearing this, her cheeks flushing. "Grandpa, I'm not! I'm just... curious about the results."
ng Yangming wanted to say, Your thoughts are written all over your face. It's obvious to everyone. However, he didn't say anything and just smiled as he drank his tea, letting her be.
After a long while, ng Lingzhu couldn't contain herself any longer. She asked, "Grandpa, do you think Xu Ning can pass this ti? Beco a Juren?"
ng Yangming was surprised. "A Juren? You think he can beco a successful provincial candidate?"
ng Lingzhu nodded eagerly. "What else could he possibly beco? He's already a Xiucai."
ng Yangming said carefully, "Let make this clear first, I'm not looking down on him. But becoming a Juren is extraordinarily difficult. The competition is fierce. I think it's a bit risky to assu he'll pass."
ng Lingzhu imdiately objected. "But Grandpa, he's a Jieyuan! He was the top scholar in the county examination! That ans sothing!"
ng Yangming shook his head patiently. "So what if he's a Jieyuan? Studying for these exams isn't like martial arts, where you can steadily reach a fixed level through practice."
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"The imperial examinations depend heavily on performance on the day, on the考官's preferences, on luck. How many scholars are called geniuses from childhood, only to fail miserably in the end? The provincial and tropolitan examinations will definitely have different questions, different graders. Who knows if he can still perform well under that pressure?"
Hearing ng Yangming say this, ng Lingzhu's eyes showed more worry than before.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the tropolitan examination concluded smoothly after several grueling days. Now, it was ti to wait anxiously for the results!
This waiting process was tense for everyone, and Xu Ning was no exception.
After all, the result of this tropolitan examination was directly related to whether he could fulfill his teacher Qiao Hexuan's deepest wish. It also determined if he could qualify for the final palace examination.
Qiao Hexuan's lifelong goal was simply to cultivate a successful candidate in the provincial examination, a Juren. That alone would have validated his teaching.
Xu Ning, however, had set his sights higher. He wanted to bring back a Jinshi, a successful tropolitan graduate, for his aging teacher. The palace examination was the final key to achieving that Jinshi status.
More than ten days passed in agonizing suspense.
Finally, the day the results were announced arrived as scheduled.
Xu Ning didn't go to the announcent site. He had been notified in advance by an official ssenger to wait at his inn for the results to be delivered. This was a rare honor.
This special treatnt was usually reserved only for the top three candidates. It ant Xu Ning's ranking was almost certainly among the top three.
Sure enough, when the results were officially posted, a procession of ssengers ca to the inn with gongs and drums, announcing the good news to the entire neighborhood.
Upon learning the exact results, Xu Ning was sowhat incredulous.
First place. Top score in the tropolitan examination. He was now the Huiyuan.
It seems, Xu Ning thought, holding the official list in his hands, perhaps the imperial examinations aren't so difficult after all! First the Jieyuan, now the Huiyuan. Maybe I'm just naturally good at this.
First place in the county examination, first place in the tropolitan examination. He was now a double winner, a rare achievent.
If my teacher knew this, he would surely be overjoyed! Xu Ning thought, a warm feeling spreading through his chest.
anwhile, at the main results announcent site, ng Yangming and ng Lingzhu stared at the posted list, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets in shock.
Another top-ranking scholar. Xu Ning had exceeded their expectations once again.
ng Lingzhu couldn't help but tease her grandfather, a triumphant smile on her face. "Grandpa, didn't you say he might not pass? That it was too risky?"
ng Yangming couldn't help but rub his nose sheepishly, a wry smile on his face. "I... I underestimated him. Badly."
ng Lingzhu then suddenly muttered to herself, her voice filled with wonder. "A double top scholar! Jieyuan and Huiyuan! Truly a peerless genius."
ng Yangming added quietly, "Don't forget, he has another identity. A much more impressive one, perhaps."
ng Lingzhu nodded in agreent. She hadn't forgotten that he was also a legendary divine physician, capable of curing the incurable.
How did he manage to do it all? It seed like he could surpass others in everything he attempted, reaching heights that others couldn't even dream of.
There was another point ng Yangming didn't ntion aloud, but noticed clearly. Xu Ning was also a martial artist, and a skilled one at that.
Only ng Yangming, with his Grandmaster's perception, had noticed this hidden depth.
Sotis ng Yangming would amuse himself with a thought. If, in the future, everyone assud Xu Ning was just a weak, bookish scholar, easy to bully, and then so fool attacked him...
At that mont, Xu Ning would suddenly unleash a devastating set of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, or so other terrifying martial art.
Wouldn't that scene be absolutely hilarious? The ultimate surprise.
It's quite reasonable for a scholar like him to know the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, isn't it? After all, scholars need exercise too.
Then ng Yangming secretly lanted that such an extraordinary person wasn't his granddaughter's husband. What a waste.
Should I just kidnap him and force him to marry my granddaughter? he wondered, only half-joking.
For the next few days, Xu Ning basically didn't leave his inn room. He practiced his martial arts diligently every day, savoring his newfound Innate Realm power.
After all, he was now a celebrity in the capital. Going out would definitely bring a lot of unwanted attention and trouble. So he simply didn't want to go out. He focused on practicing and quietly waiting for the final palace examination.
anwhile, the results of the tropolitan examination had finally reached the remote Shentong Village by official courier.
Qiao Hexuan held the official notice in his trembling hands. His entire body shook with overwhelming excitent.
"Top scholar! Top scholar! My student is the top scholar!" Qiao Hexuan kept murmuring the words over and over, unable to believe it. As he spoke, tears of joy stread down his aged, weathered face.
Then, unable to contain his explosive excitent, Qiao Hexuan ran out of his small room and into the village square. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "He's the top scholar! My student has beco the top scholar in the tropolitan examination! He's a first-class scholar!"
He shouted the news repeatedly, not stopping, his voice cracking with emotion.
He took the official results and ran to every single house in the village, showing everyone he t the notice and telling them the incredible news.
For so many years, the villagers had actually held him in quiet contempt. They sent their children to him to teach, but without any real hope. They just needed basic literacy.
This attitude had resulted in the children who ca to study not taking it seriously. They never studied diligently, and none had ever succeeded.
Now, however, he had finally produced a scholar who passed the imperial examinations. And not just any scholar—the top scholar in the entire tropolitan examination.
His lifelong dream, the dream that had sustained him through decades of disappointnt and ridicule, had finally, miraculously, co true.
---
In distant Nanling,
Xia Yun also learned of the results of the tropolitan examination through his own swift intelligence network. At this mont, he and his sister, Princess Xia Li, stood atop the high city gate, both gazing silently towards the far-off capital city of Mingdu.
"He did it, sister," Xia Yun said softly, a smile playing on his lips. "The Huiyuan. Our Mr. Xu Ning is now the Huiyuan."
Princess Xia Li said nothing, but her eyes held a light of their own as she stared towards the capital.
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