I'm coming clean: I'm the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

As the bell rang, the candidates left the examination hall one after another.

Gu Ci packed up his exam basket and walked out of the exam hall. It was already dark.

Wang Qingya, lifting her skirt, jogged over from the crowd outside the door, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

"Brother Gu!"

She was panting, her eyes sparkling: "How did the test go? Were the questions difficult?"

Gu Ci smiled and said, "I've answered them all."

"That's good, that's good."

Wang Qingya breathed a sigh of relief and took out a paper package from her bosom, handing it to her: "I waited for a long time at the street corner, afraid you would be hungry, so I specially bought osmanthus cake."

Gu Ci took it, pinched off a piece, and put it in his mouth.

The pastries were still warm, with a sweet osmanthus fragrance, and melted in your mouth.

He glanced at Wang Qingya's slightly flushed cheeks and felt a warmth in his heart.

This girl must have been standing outside all afternoon.

"Thank you, Qingya."

Wang Qingya lowered her head, twisting the hem of her skirt with her small hands, and spoke in a softer voice.

"My dad booked rooms for you and Brother Gu at the Laifu Inn, right next to the exam hall."

"That's very thoughtful."

Gu Ang squeezed through the crowd, carrying a bundle on his shoulder, his face full of exhaustion: "Ci'er, let's go, it's getting dark."

Wang Qingya waved to Gu Ci: "Brother Gu, good luck tomorrow!"

She watched the two brothers walk away before turning back.

The maid behind her whispered, "Miss, your legs must be sore from standing all afternoon, right?"

Wang Qingya shook her head: "It's not sour."

She recalled Gu Ci's smile when he accepted the osmanthus cake, and felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

Laifu Inn is located east of the examination hall and is the largest inn in the prefectural city.

The building is three stories high, with two large red lanterns hanging at the entrance.

Upon seeing the Gu brothers, the innkeeper immediately greeted them with a smile: "Are you young masters Gu? Lord Wang already instructed that your rooms are on the second floor, room number 'Di'."

The "Earth" room is located at the very back of the inn. The room is spacious and has two beds, with hot tea on the table.

Gu Ang put down his bundle, walked to the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Gu Ci: "Ci'er, have some water and rest."

Gu Ci took the teacup and drank more than half of it in one gulp.

The warm tea dispelled the fatigue of the day.

Gu Ang walked around the room, checking the window bolts and door latches. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke up: "Ci'er, I overheard the candidates talking outside the examination hall just now."

"Um?"

"They said the last question today was particularly tricky, something about the pros and cons of 'early success'."

Gu Ang frowned, his voice tinged with anger: "I knew something was wrong as soon as I heard it. Isn't this obviously aimed at you?"

Gu Ci smiled and said, "Brother, you have sharp ears."

"Those people came out and started cursing, saying that this question was too unethical."

Gu Ang leaned forward and lowered his voice, "Ci'er, how did you do? Did they give you any trouble?"

"no."

Gu Ci took a sip of tea: "That question was indeed specifically designed to target me, but I've already answered it."

"Did you answer well?"

"It should be good."

Gu Ang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"These people are really awful. They give you an exam, but they deliberately set questions to make things difficult for you."

"Brother, the more they act like this, the more it shows they lack confidence."

Gu Ci leaned against the bed, his eyes calm: "If they were really capable, they wouldn't have resorted to such methods."

Gu Ang thought for a moment and said, "That's true."

He stood up and walked to the door: "Ci'er, you rest first, I'll go downstairs and buy you some more food."

"Brother, don't buy too much, I can't eat that much."

"Okay, okay."

Gu Ang pushed open the door and went out.

The room fell silent.

Gu Ci lay on the bed and closed his eyes.

Since he has chosen this path, he is not afraid of being set up by others.

In this life, his ambitions were not limited to achieving fame and success in the imperial examinations.

Instead, he wanted to protect the Gu family, his brother, and everyone who cared about him.

......

The next morning, before dawn, Gu Ang woke up.

He got up quietly and walked to the window to look outside.

Early-rising vendors were already hawking their wares on the street.

"Selling soy milk! Hot soy milk!"

"Steamed buns and mantou, fresh out of the steamer!"

Gu Ang turned around to look at his younger brother who was still sleeping, and quietly left the room.

When he returned with two bowls of soy milk and a few steamed buns, Gu Ci was already up and washing his face.

"Ci'er, eat something quickly, there's only one hour left before you enter the examination hall."

Gu Ci took the soy milk and took a sip: "Brother, you should have some too."

"I've already eaten."

Gu Ang handed over the steamed buns: "Eat more, exams are mentally taxing."

Gu Ci ate two steamed buns and drank most of a bowl of soy milk.

Gu Ang watched him closely, worried that he might not have enough to eat.

"That's enough, bro, you'll be stuffed if you eat any more."

"Alright, let's go."

The exam room for policy essays.

Gu Ci sat in his seat, while the candidates around him gathered in twos and threes, talking quietly.

"How did you answer that last question yesterday?"

"Don't even mention it, I spent ages writing this, and I feel like I gave a terrible answer."

"Me too, I have absolutely no idea how to write it."

"We're alright, but that eight-year-old kid is really pitiful; they deliberately dug a hole for him."

Gu Ci ignored the comments and waited quietly for her hair to curl.

As the drums sounded, the chief examiner, Shen Wendao, entered with several deputy examiners.

"Today's test will be on policy essays, consisting of three questions. You have three hours to complete them."

Shen Wendao's voice was steady, but his gaze lingered on Gu Ci for a moment.

The yamen runners started curling their hair.

Gu Ci took the test paper, unfolded it, and took a look.

Question 1: "Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the prefecture-county system."

Question 2: "On the Way to Reform Taxation".

Question 3: "Discuss strategies for border defense."

None of the three questions were easy.

Gasps immediately rose from the surrounding area.

"This question is way too hard!"

"What exactly is the prefecture-county system?"

"Border defense? I don't even know where the border is."

Gu Ci remained calm.

He picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and began writing from the first question.

"The prefecture-county system was established after Qin Shi Huang abolished the feudal system. Its advantages are threefold—"

The pen tip glides across the paper, leaving behind lines of sharp, elegant calligraphy.

"First, centralized power ensures that orders are issued from a single source, thus winning the hearts of the people. Second, clean and efficient governance ensures that officials are appointed and dismissed by the court and their positions are not hereditary, thus preventing the threat of powerful clans entrenched in power. Third, a stable territory ensures that prefectures and counties are directly under the control of the court, eliminating the worry of regional warlordism."

The examiner who was inspecting the examination hall was surnamed Li. He was a senior instructor at the prefectural school who had taught for more than 30 years.

He walked slowly through the examination hall with his hands behind his back, looking at the worried faces of the candidates, and sighed inwardly.

This question is indeed difficult to answer.

The third question, "Border Defense," is particularly challenging; it's not something you can answer simply by reading a few books.

As he walked, he came up behind Gu Ci.

Looking down, I was stunned.

This article...

Not only is the concept lofty, but the logic is also clear and well-founded, with each point supported by evidence.

Most importantly, this child is only eight years old!

Instructor Li stood there, staring intently at Gu Ci's exam paper, unable to move his feet.

He watched as Gu Ci continued writing:

"It also has three drawbacks: First, power is too concentrated, and if the monarch is incompetent, the whole country will be in chaos; second, officials are frequently replaced, and it is difficult for them to serve for long, making it difficult to stabilize the government; third, local governments lose their autonomy and it is difficult to respond in time to emergencies."

"However, the key to governing the world lies in balance. Although the prefecture-county system has its drawbacks, it is the best policy compared to the feudal system, which led to the separatism of feudal lords and frequent wars."

Instructor Li took a deep breath and strode towards the platform.

"Lord Shen, you must take a look at this."

Shen Wendao was flipping through a book when he heard the voice and looked up: "What is it?"

"That eight-year-old child, his strategy..."

Instructor Li handed over the exam paper: "Take a look for yourself."

Shen Wendao took the exam paper, glanced at it, and raised his eyebrows.

He was increasingly shocked as he looked at the paper, and finally put it down and looked at Gu Ci in the examination room.

"This child... is truly extraordinary."

Another instructor leaned over and said, "Lord Shen, let me take a look too."

Shen asked to hand over the exam paper.

After reading it, the instructor exclaimed in amazement, "The idea and the skill in writing are something that even the old scholars in the prefectural school might not be able to do, let alone an eight-year-old child."

"Editor Han said yesterday that he would try to keep him in check."

Instructor Li shook his head: "I think this can't be suppressed."

Shen Wendao didn't speak, but simply turned his gaze back to Gu Ci.

The child answers questions very quickly and is already working on the second question.

The afternoon was for poetry and prose.

The atmosphere in the examination room was more relaxed than in the morning.

After all, no matter how badly you answer the policy essay, you can still give it a shot in poetry and prose.

Gu Ci sat in his seat, waiting for his hair to be curled.

The drums sounded, and the hair was curled.

There is only one topic: "Write a poem on the theme of 'Spring Breeze'."

Gu Ci looked at the question.

spring breeze?

This question is a free point.

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and then...

"Riding a swift horse in the spring breeze, one can see all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day."

"The sordid past is nothing to boast about; today, my unrestrained thoughts are boundless."

The entire poem was written in one go.

Instructor Li, who was patrolling the field, came over again.

He was just conducting a routine check, but when he saw Gu Ci's poem, he froze.

This poem...

Full of youthful vigor and boundless spirit, the author vividly portrays the triumphant mindset of a young man.

Most importantly, the poem and Gu Ci's age are a perfect match.

An eight-year-old prodigy, riding high on his success, saw all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day.

Instructor Li stared at the poem, speechless for a long time.

It took him a while to come to his senses, and he quickly walked towards the platform.

"Lord Shen!"

Shen Wen looked up and asked, "What is it now?"

"You absolutely have to see this!"

Instructor Li handed over the paper, his voice trembling slightly: "This poem...this poem is simply..."

Shen Wendao took the paper, read the entire poem, and remained silent for a long time.

"This child... is truly a prodigy."

Another instructor also came over to take a look, and after reading it, he gasped: "If this poem gets out, it will probably shake the entire prefecture."

"It's not just the prefectural city."

Instructor Li said, "The structure of this poem is top-notch even within the entire Great Feng Dynasty."

Shen Wen put down the exam paper and looked at Gu Ci in the examination room.

The child has finished writing and is sitting there quietly.

On the high platform, Han Weiqing's face was ashen.

He lowered his voice and said to Shen Wen, "Lord Shen, this boy's three performances are all excellent. If this continues, I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?"

Shen Wen asked calmly, "Do you intend to suppress him?"

"It's not pressure, it's just..."

Han Weiqing gritted his teeth: "This child is too young. If he rashly enters the high school entrance exam, I'm afraid it will..."

"What?"

Shen Wen interrupted him: "Editor Han, the imperial examination system selects officials based on their talent and learning, not their age."

"This young man's three essays were all brilliant. If we suppress him because of his age, how can we explain this to the scholars of the world?"

Han Weiqing was speechless.

The three exams are over.

When Gu Ci walked out of the examination hall, the sun had already set.

Wang Qingya waited at the door as always.

As soon as she saw him, she ran over in quick steps and pulled a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve: "Brother Gu, this is some plum juice I bought, to quench your thirst."

Gu Ci took the porcelain bottle, uncorked it, and took a sip.

The sour plum drink was icy cold; one sip and I felt completely refreshed.

"Thank you, Qingya."

Wang Qingya's face flushed red: "My dad said he's taking you and Brother Gu to Yipinxuan for dinner tomorrow. It's the most famous restaurant in the city!"

"Then thank you very much, Lord Wang."

"Yes, my dad said you've been working hard on your exams these past few days, so he should reward you properly."

Gu Ang walked over carrying his bundle: "Ci'er, let's go back to the inn. I've prepared some hot water for you."

"good."

Wang Qingya waved to Gu Ci: "See you tomorrow, Brother Gu!"