Chapter 40: Triumphant News

As Li Jie was writing his second Four Books essay, the time was approaching noon. A roll of drums sounded, and the bailiffs began to collecting the first set of examination papers. This midday collection was primarily intended to allow the examiners sufficient time to grade the papers; otherwise, reading over a thousand submissions within just a few days would be an unreasonable demand.

Before entering the examination hall, Scholar Zhou had already explained the entire prefecture examination process to Li Jie, so he was not surprised. When the bailiff reached his examination cell, Li Jie respectfully handed over his neatly transcribed answer sheet. Noticing it was already noon and his second essay was mostly complete, he took out the food Madam Wang had prepared for him in the morning and began to eat.

Up in the main hall, Lu Heng was preparing to review the papers collected by the bailiffs. Lu Heng had attained the prestigious Jinshi degree in the fifth year of the Chenghua era. Father and son both being Jinshi holders was considered an immense glory; his father, Lu Ju, had earned his Jinshi in the eighth year of the Xuande era. Hailing from a distinguished scholarly family, Lu Heng possessed an exceptionally high level of proficiency in the formal *zhenti* essay style.

After reading several dozen papers, Lu Heng could not help feeling a slight wave of irritation. The candidates of this current cohort were truly underwhelming. Although the first prompt was a complex composite question designed with deliberate difficulty, scholars with a modest literary reputation like Chen Xingzhi should not have produced absolute nonsense. Ironically, some obscure and unknown candidates had written quite passably.

He picked up the next test paper. The forceful and vigorous handwriting already possessed a distinctive backbone and elegance, immediately standing out among the myriad of submissions. Lu Heng thought to himself, hoping this essay would match the caliber of the handwriting and not leave him disappointed.

"The great sage feigned illness to decline his ruler, thereby maneuvering through twists and turns to pin his hopes upon his ministers."

Splendid! The opening theme was interpreted brilliantly—concise yet packed with vigor.

Continuing further down the text and reading with careful appreciation, his spirit was instantly revitalized!

One could see clearly where the argument began and where it ended; the transitions were distinct and sharply drawn. A single stroke of the brush endowed the essay with boundless momentum and waves of profound depth, placing it worlds apart from those who merely bogged themselves down in the rigid mechanics of drafting composite prompts.

Upon finishing the essay, Lu Heng silently made up his mind. This paper must be selected, and furthermore, it must be ranked as the top laureate (*anshou*). Even if this essay were submitted to the provincial examinations or the metropolitan examinations, its brilliance could not be obscured. He had not expected such a rare talent to emerge in this prefectural examination, which stirred a profound curiosity within Lu Heng. He longed to know precisely who the candidate was that could write such a magnificent piece of literature.

Lu Heng flipped the paper over to check the name.

Oh? It turned out to be this young man. Lu Heng had recently caught wind of Lin Pingzhi's name. Previously, Lu Heng had been entirely unimpressed by the widespread praise showered upon someone merely for securing the top spot in the county examinations. Having fought his way out from among tens of thousands of imperial scholars, Lu Heng had witnessed far too many county examination prodigies to find them worth a second glance.

Yet, upon reading this essay, Lin Pingzhi had officially caught his eye. Even if Lu Heng himself were to write this piece, it would have been impossible to surpass. He turned and issued an instruction to the attendant beside him.

"Go and invite Instructor Zhang over."

When Instructor Zhang arrived, Lu Heng handed him Li Jie's answer sheet.

"Instructor, please take a look. How is this essay crafted?"

Instructor Zhang accepted the paper and began to read it with rapt attention. When he finished, he clapped his hands in admiration and declared, "The underlying meaning is exhaustively explored, the underlying structure and framework are exceptionally taut—it evokes the praise Liu Zihou bestowed upon the writings of Changli!"

Who was Liu Zihou? None other than Liu Zongyuan, one of the Eight Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Changli referred to Han Yu, the foremost among the Eight Masters. Instructor Zhang's praise for this essay was exceptionally high. Although Lu Heng thought very highly of the piece, comparing it directly to Han Yu was perhaps slightly exaggerated. Most likely, the essay simply struck a chord with Instructor Zhang's personal literary tastes, and Lu Heng chose not to dampen his enthusiasm.

"Wenquan, what rank do you think this essay deserves?"

"Prefectural Magistrate, does even need to be asked? This essay must take first place! Even if I had not looked at any other candidate's paper, this essay possesses a natural perfection so subtle it defies artificial artifice. I venture to say that no essay in this prefectural examination can surpass it."

Lu Heng stroked his beard with a smile, then clapped his hands and said, "Splendid! Great minds think alike! This essay was written by Lin Pingzhi from Min County. As long as his responses to the remaining prompts are above average, he shall be granted the position of top laureate."

At that very moment, having just finished writing his second Four Books essay, Li Jie remained entirely oblivious to the interlude that had transpired in the main hall. As for the remaining Five Classics and poetic composition prompts, Li Jie pondered them briefly before answering with the fluid grace of flowing clouds and moving water.

After completing his answers, seeing that the surrounding candidates were still hunched over their desks writing away, Li Jie stretched his wrists. He then began transcribing the essays from his draft paper onto the official answer sheet. Once the transcription was finished, realizing there was still plenty of time before the end of the session, Li Jie simply settled into meditation and practiced his internal cultivation. The candidate sitting across from him was already accustomed to such eccentric behavior, merely assuming Li Jie was a scholar devoted to Daoist philosophy.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Three beats of the drum sounded, signaling the conclusion of this session of the prefectural examination.

Li Jie filed out of the examination hall along with the surging crowd. This time, Lin Zhennan was not waiting outside because, upon leaving at noon, he had received word that a close friend had been injured. He had sent a servant to pick up Li Jie instead, while he himself went to visit his friend—though calling him a friend was a stretch, as he was merely a figure mingling in the jianghu underworld.

Upon returning home, Madam Wang showered Li Jie with endless expressions of warmth and concern. Seeing that his demeanor remained completely normal, she did not press him with further questions. Over the next few days, Li Jie resumed his usual routine of studying, practicing martial arts, and calligraphy, quietly awaiting the release of the prefectural examination results.

On the day the results were posted, the Lin couple rose very early. Listening for the sound of the approaching heralds outside, Lin Zhennan paced back and forth restlessly across the main hall, his expression tense and anxious.

"Why hasn't news about our Pingzhi arrived yet? Could it be he wasn't selected this time? I inquired beforehand, and candidates were saying this prefectural examination was exceptionally difficult. Could Pingzhi have failed to make the list?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Madam Wang rebuked him with annoyance at hearing such discouraging words. "My son Pingzhi will undoubtedly pass. The fact that the heralds haven't arrived yet only means Pingzhi's ranking is extraordinarily high."

Seeing his wife's displeasure, Lin Zhennan firmly sealed his lips. Madam Wang, taking advantage of the moment, went off to prepare the reward money intended for the heralds who would bring the good news. In her eyes, her son was simply the absolute best, and he was certain to pass this prefectural examination with flying colors.

A moment later, a servant came running inside, shouting in sheer excitement, "Master! Madam! The heralds of good news are here! The good news has arrived!"

The couple felt their spirits instantly lift. Leading the maidservants and pages, they hurried briskly to the front gate to welcome the messengers of good news.

Upon reaching the entrance, they spotted a clever young runner standing right before the gates. "Might this be the residence of Young Master Lin Pingzhi of Min County, Fuzhou Prefecture?"

Beaming with excitement, Lin Zhennan gestured graciously with both hands and said, "Indeed it is! You are here to deliver the good news, are you not? Please, come right in, please come right in!"

Recognizing this as the Lin household, the herald raised his voice and announced formally, "Official dispatch! Young Master Lin Pingzhi of your esteemed household has placed first in the Fuzhou Prefectural Examination of the twenty-second year of the Chenghua era!"

With a resounding boom, the herald's announcement struck the ears of the surrounding onlookers like a clap of thunder.

"Good heavens! The Lin family is truly going to produce someone remarkable this time!"

"When that young lad took the top spot in the county examinations, I knew right then he would soar to great heights!"

"The Lin family is bound to produce a provincial graduate (*juren*) in the future. Who knows, maybe our street will even produce a full-fledged Jinshi scholar!"

"I've thought the Lin boy was exceptionally bright ever since he was little, quite unlike ordinary folk!"

Hearing that Li Jie had captured the top laureate spot in the prefectural examination, coupled with the chorus of praise and discussion rising from the surrounding crowd, Lin Zhennan flushed crimson with excitement. He turned to the nearby servant and commanded loudly, "Hurry! Quickly, fetch the reward money!"

The herald smilingly accepted the bounty, discreetly weighing it in his hand to find the reward immensely generous, whereupon his face broke into a radiant grin.

"Heartiest congratulations to your esteemed household on the young master claiming the top laureate position!"

The surrounding townspeople offered their congratulations as well. The Lin couple, completely submerged in the waves of felicitations, were overwhelmed with boundless joy. Once the crowd finally dispersed, Lin Zhennan waved his hand generously toward the servants and maids. "Rewards! Today the master is overjoyed! Everyone gets a reward!"