Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 13 Grand Scholars Reviewing Examination Papers

After leaving the palace, Wei Wusheng took the examination paper and went to the Imperial Academy by carriage.

Surrounded by red walls and green tiles, the Imperial College is the most magnificent architectural complex in Dayu, apart from the Imperial Palace.

It was built by order of Emperor Yu himself after he ascended the throne.

It can be said that the nation's resources were exhausted.

On the contrary, the palace has only undergone ordinary repairs over the past few decades, and has never undergone major construction.

This is sufficient to demonstrate the importance attached to the imperial examination system.

At the main gate of the Imperial College stands a tall and imposing archway.

Upon reaching the entrance, the guards immediately knelt on one knee, clenched their fists, and saluted: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Wei Wusheng raised his hand and said, "Get up."

"His Highness has come in person?" the guard asked.

Wei Wusheng said, "I want to ask the teachers at the Imperial Academy for some questions."

"May I take notes first?" the guard asked cautiously.

"That's natural."

Wei Wusheng said with a smile.

After the record was made, Wei Wusheng offered to sign his name.

"Your Highness, there's no need for that."

Generally speaking, the Imperial College (Guozijian) was not open to the public. However, the rules weren't strictly enforced. While certain areas were absolutely off-limits to unauthorized entry, it was essentially a state institution. For example, the library was accessible to the sons of noble families, who could borrow books from it.

Moreover, the royal academy is located there, and the royal children attend classes here. Wei Wusheng is a graduate of this academy.

However, since we are now grading papers for a scientific exam, the discipline is quite strict.

However, in any case, the prince will not be hindered from coming to non-core areas.

"You're just doing your job, sign it."

Wei Wusheng was unpretentious and entered the Imperial Academy after completing the formalities.

At the very center of the Imperial College stands a magnificent building, the Zhigong Hall, where examination papers were collectively reviewed.

More than 4,000 exam papers (divided into two subjects) were graded by more than 100 scholars from the Imperial Academy, who worked overtime to grade them.

Without the highest order, outsiders are absolutely not allowed to enter this place.

The guards at the gate were specially dispatched by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Upon reaching this point, Wei Wusheng stopped.

He originally intended to just find any tutor at the Imperial Academy to take a look.

After all, these masters all started with a Jinshi degree, so they must be very knowledgeable.

After wandering around for a while without finding him, I decided to leave.

At this moment, a Grand Secretary descended from the steps of the Zhigong Hall.

Upon seeing this, Wei Wusheng realized it was Zhang Zhao and quickly stepped forward.

"This old minister greets Your Highness, the Sixth Prince."

Zhang Zhao took the initiative to bow.

Wei Wusheng bowed with both hands, his bow no less than the other man's, and asked curiously, "Why did Master Zhang come out?"

"The guards informed His Highness that he was lingering at the gate, so I came over to pay my respects," Zhang Zhao said.

"Is such that."

Wei Wusheng smiled and presented the exam paper to the other party with both hands: "Master Zhang, after I learned the exam questions, I tried to take the exam in the palace... Please give me your guidance."

Zhang Zhao opened the exam paper with both hands, glanced at it, and then looked up at Wei Wusheng, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Your Highness, why have you come to this old minister to grade the papers today?"

"Did I disturb Mr. Zhang from reviewing the papers?"

"No, no," Zhang Zhao quickly denied, adding, "On the day of the examination, the Grand Secretaries were grading the papers in the Hall of Supreme Justice. If it weren't for the guards announcing this, Your Highness might have been neglected."

Hearing this, Wei Wusheng gave a somewhat embarrassed smile: "The exam was just yesterday, and the papers are being graded today. If the results had already been released, the questions and sample papers would be everywhere. If I then took the exam paper to ask for help, and if I wrote well... wouldn't Master Zhang think I was borrowing someone else's words?"

His words left Zhang Zhao completely stunned.

He was like a vain student who had written a good essay, thought it was excellent, and excitedly showed it to his teacher, while being afraid that the teacher would think he had plagiarized.

Unable to contain himself, Zhang Zhao burst out laughing.

But the next moment, he quickly composed himself and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I had no intention of offending you."

I just couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Master Zhang, you should take a look at me first," Wei Wusheng said with an awkward laugh.

"Yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment."

So Zhang Zhao began to carefully review his exam paper.

The two subjects were written on a single sheet of paper. The characters were small, but the handwriting was delicate and clear, making it very easy to read and pleasing to the eye.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Zhao finally finished reading.

Slowly raising his head, Zhang Zhao looked at Wei Wusheng, who was extremely nervous, like an honest student, and smiled, "Sixth Prince, your literary talent and policy essays are quite impressive." "Will you pass the imperial examination?"

Wei Wusheng asked expectantly.

"Your Highness, you are of royal lineage, why would you want to take the imperial examination?"

"What I mean is, is it at the level of passing the imperial examination?"

Zhang Zhao smiled mysteriously, then tentatively asked, "Does Your Highness want to hear the truth, or..."

Knowing that these words were ill-advised, Wei Wusheng still said directly, "Of course it's the truth, Master Zhang, you don't need to hold back for me."

Zhang Zhao: "It will hit."

"What rank could it be?"

Wei Wusheng looked delighted and pressed for more information.

“Assuming there are a hundred successful candidates in the imperial examinations in the capital, Your Highness might…” After a moment’s thought, Zhang Zhao said, “…around fifty.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Wusheng, who had been tense, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought I was really bad..."

Halfway through his sentence, Wei Wusheng suddenly realized, "Oh! I just remembered, Master Zhang was the top scholar in the special imperial examination back then. So, looking at the top fifty candidates is like looking at stupid children!"

"Hahaha……"

Zhang Zhao was amused again, and he smiled sincerely, waving his hand hurriedly: "Your Highness, I apologize. This old minister had no intention of offending you. Please forgive me, please forgive me."

Every prince is a son of the dragon, and subjects should be filled with awe when facing him.

But the Sixth Prince made Zhang Zhao feel quite relaxed and extremely comfortable.

"It's alright, it's alright." Wei Wusheng wasn't angry at all.

"Your Highness, your writing skills are acceptable, but your policy proposals are quite excellent, for example..."

Just as Zhang Zhao was about to offer his guidance, Wei Wusheng interrupted, saying, "Teacher Zhang, the grading of the imperial examinations is a matter of national importance, and I dare not disturb you. But after the results are released, could you please give me proper instruction?"

"If Your Highness does not mind my humble opinions, I will certainly speak frankly and without reservation," Zhang Zhao said earnestly.

"Then, Master Zhang, I'll take my leave now."

"Your Highness, walk slowly."

After exchanging greetings, Wei Wusheng took the exam paper and left.

Watching the prince's retreating figure, Zhang Zhao couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

If it weren't for his 'disobedience', this sixth prince would be considered quite good among all the princes.

Moreover, he is a very lovely and kind person.

Not long after the other person left, a burly and serious-looking man dressed in a python robe walked over.

Compared to his attitude towards that prince, Zhang Zhao was truly in awe this time, and hurriedly greeted him: "This old minister greets Your Highness, Prince Jin."

"Lord Zhang."

The Prince of Jin raised his head, straightened his body, bowed slightly, and performed the salute in a peaceful manner.

"Your Highness, please."

The Prince of Jin was in charge of organizing this imperial examination, so his visit here was essentially an inspection.

Led by Zhang Zhao, Prince Jin walked ahead. Thinking of his earlier encounter with Wei Wusheng, he casually asked, "What brings the Sixth Prince here?"

"His Highness the Sixth Prince and this old minister are discussing the examination papers."

"Oh." Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin did not take it to heart and did not inquire further.

After stepping onto the steps, the Prince of Jin entered the Hall of Supreme Justice.

Inside, the hundred scholars from the Imperial Academy who were reviewing the papers immediately stood up and bowed deeply in greeting.

As the Prince of Jin walked inside, he gestured with his hand.

Afterward, all of them returned to their seats and continued grading the papers.

These 100 scholars are cross-examination examiners.

They were responsible for screening, but had no authority to grade; they merely selected the papers with potential, and the final grading was determined by the Grand Secretary.

The teaching staff in Sizhou is slightly more prestigious.

The remaining five states each had a Grand Secretary appointed to oversee all the state's imperial examinations.

Of course, the number of slots is different.

The education system in Sizhou was too advanced, and there were many sons of officials. The number of candidates for the imperial examination was about one hundred.

The other five states each had an average of about fifty people.

Further inside, at the very end, is an inner room. That is the Hall of Judicial Review, where several Grand Secretaries grade the outstanding examination papers.

Just as Prince Jin reached the screen in front of the hall, he heard the excited voice of Wu Kang, the chief examiner of the poetry examination:

"The first piece of prose-poetry has been published! The first piece of prose-poetry has been published!"

(End of this chapter)