Chapter 33: The Examination Begins, the Capital in Turmoil

The capital gate.

As a notice was posted, it drew a crowd of onlookers.

It was Da Xia Academy's enrollment notice.

The notice's appearance set the whole capital abuzz.

The State-Protecting Duke's residence.

The steward hurried to the heir apparent's residence.

"Your Highness."

"Da Xia Academy's enrollment notice has been posted."

Steward Wang hurried over, holding a copied notice, and arrived at Gu Jin Nian's residence.

Inside the room.

Gu Jin Nian, who had just dozed off for a moment, involuntarily opened his eyes.

The steward's voice was piercing, startling Gu Jin Nian awake.

"What's wrong?"

After opening his eyes, Gu Jin Nian stretched his waist, yawned, and walked out of the room.

"Your Highness."

"Da Xia Academy's enrollment notice has been posted; please take a look."

Steward Wang handed the copied notice to Gu Jin Nian.

Taking the notice, Gu Jin Nian glanced at it.

The notice's content was actually quite simple.

Anyone aged sixteen or older but not over thirty, regardless of gender, family background, or origin, may go to Small Stream Village to participate in the enrollment preparations.

The information was just a single line, yet it surprised Gu Jin Nian somewhat.

"Is this really Da Xia Academy's enrollment notice?"

Gu Jin Nian looked at Steward Wang, feeling surprised.

"Your Highness, I assure you, this is what I personally copied down, not a single word missing."

Steward Wang gave his reply.

He was also a bit curious, as Da Xia Academy's notices in the past were always overly formal and full of countless regulations.

But this time it's different.

As long as one meets the age requirement, regardless of gender, they can go—this is rather strange.

"Teaching Without Class?"

"How are the people of the capital reacting?"

Gu Jin Nian inquired.

"Your Highness, the people have already flocked over, heading to Small Stream Village, and the capital's nobles have also prepared carriages."

"We have also prepared a jade palanquin; should Your Highness go now or in a few days?"

Steward Wang gave his reply.

Although it was just a sentence or two, Gu Jin Nian could imagine the current scene in the capital.

I fear that countless carriages will pour into Small Stream Village.

"No."

"The actual enrollment is three days away; there's no rush to go now—let's see how things develop first."

"Send someone over to report any developments directly to me."

Gu Jin Nian shook his head.

One can imagine that Small Stream Village is probably overflowing with people right now.

But Da Xia Academy, being the highest institution of learning in Da Xia, would not casually accept just anyone.

There must be multiple layers of assessment involved.

So going now wouldn't affect anything.

Wait and see.

"Good."

"Then I will keep the carriage ready; if Your Highness needs it, just give the order."

Steward Wang spoke up, saying as such.

"Good."

Gu Jin Nian nodded, then returned to his room to continue reading ancient texts.

As he continued reading over this period, the fruit condensed by the ancient tree grew ever more mature, having reached the second stage.

Moreover, Gu Jin Nian discovered that the ancient tree's fruit has three stages of maturity.

The first stage shows a gold color, the second stage is a bright gold, and the third stage is pure gold—not a dull, earthy yellow, but shining like the great sun.

At present, the talent fruit has reached the second stage, bright gold in color.

One step further, and it becomes pure gold.

Yet, as he read during this period, Gu Jin Nian also found that merely reading in this way yields very little talent.

Reaching the third stage is extremely difficult.

Even the fruit currently in the ancient tree has only just reached the second stage; it is not yet fully mature.

The more mature the fruit, the better the reward.

Gu Jin Nian naturally wants to wait until it turns pure gold to pick it, but judging by the current situation, he estimates it will take about a month.

And even that is only my own estimate; whether it can actually succeed is another matter.

Therefore, Gu Jin Nian plans to go and harvest the fruit in two days to see.

After all, his curiosity is also quite strong.

Thus.

Time drifts slowly.

After the Da Xia Academy enrollment notice was posted, the entire capital boiled over; all city gates were already overcrowded, and every household took their children to go.

This is a once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years opportunity.

If one is selected to enter the Da Xia Academy, the future prospects are limitless.

One must know that every scholar of the Da Xia Academy is a court minister, every one a high‑ranking noble; merely attaching oneself to a bit of connection guarantees a soaring future.

A dragon‑like line of people rushed toward Xiaoxi Village.

Xiaoxi Village lies three hundred li from the capital; it is more a town than a village.

Some high‑ranking nobles have already prepared swift horses and are hurrying to Xiaoxi Village.

Even among the crowd there are plenty of Daoist cultivators, wielding swords to fly, drawing countless commoners to watch.

In less than about two hours.

Outside Xiaoxi Village it was already overcrowded.

Very quickly.

The news also reached the capital.

Inside the Prince's residence.

A servant stood outside the courtyard.

"His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Outside Xiaoxi Village, soldiers guard on all four sides; no one is allowed to enter, strictly controlled."

"However, at the eastern entrance, lanterns hang; only those who answer the questions correctly may enter the village."

"To the south there is a Poetry Street guarded by Establishing Speech scholars; gaining their approval also permits entry."

"The western side is garrisoned by soldiers; firewood and grain are not admitted, no one may enter." "The northern side has a few blind and deaf elders posted, also barring entry."

The servant spoke, informing of Xiaoxi Village's situation.

"Indeed."

Inside the room, Gu Jin Nian did not appear surprised; on the contrary, he felt it was expected.

If there were no restrictions, merely leveraging the Da Xia Academy's name to enroll a hundred thousand people would be nothing.

Having limits is reasonable.

"Blind and deaf? Placing these people to guard the north, aren't they afraid someone might sneak in?"

Gu Jin Nian asked curiously.

He felt nothing about the other three sides, only the north piqued his curiosity.

"Returning, Crown Prince, indeed some have slipped in."

"Thus now many more people have gone north, many times the number going to the other three sides."

The servant replied.

In an instant this made Gu Jin Nian even more curious.

He had thought those blind and mute people were all martial masters, but did not expect they could actually sneak in.

"When events deviate from the norm, there must be a demon."

"Mr. Su Wenjing could not have missed this; there must be some trap awaiting."

Gu Jin Nian thought to himself.

"Alright, continue the investigation; report any news immediately."

He spoke, gave the order to descend, and then, without further thought, quietly read his book.

And after the servant left.

Inside the Prince of State's residence, an unusual silence prevailed.

Inside the Da Xia Academy.

Dozens of people sat upright in a pavilion.

These were all teachers of the Da Xia Academy; though not Great Scholars, they were essentially Establishing Speech presented scholars, highly respected.

At this moment, they sat upright, their expressions somewhat unfriendly.

"Esteemed teachers."

"I admire Mr. Su Wenjing, but this notice he wrote did not even inform us; is he perhaps looking down on us too much?"

Someone spoke, voice calm, yet the dissatisfaction in the tone was almost written on the face.

"We have no issue being bypassed, but this notice—regardless of gender or background—I understand, yet I cannot comprehend why the enrollment site was chosen to be Xiaoxi Village."

"Moreover, I have heard Xiaoxi Village is guarded by soldiers, with checkpoints at the east, south, west, and north entrances; the southeast side involves poetry and riddles, which I also understand."

"But the west and north, staffed with warriors and a few frail elders, what does that mean?"

Another spoke, appearing magnanimous yet still full of resentment.

"I have heard that many are sneaking in through the north entrance; posting a few frail elders there, I do not know what Mr. Su Wenjing is actually doing."

"A prestigious Da Xia Academy enrollment, yet it appears so incongruous; I'm afraid if this spreads, it will become a joke to the world."

Another voice sounded.

It is evident that those present feel extreme dissatisfaction with Su Wenjing's actions.

"Enough."

Now the Emperor values Mr. Wenjing, and we have no way to oppose.

However, Sir Yang has already negotiated with the Emperor, so we won't be completely sidelined; everything still revolves around Mr. Wenjing, so please don't be anxious.

One must bow one's head under another's roof.

The voice sounded, making the pavilion utterly silent.

This old man knows, but there is something I need to mention to you all.

No matter what Mr. Wenjing wants to do, after the admissions end, a regular school must be established; this is an ancient rule that cannot be abolished.

Even if Mr. Wenjing disagrees, as long as we are united, he cannot do anything to us.

The way of educating people is extremely important; respect is due respect, but we scholars must not lose our integrity.

At this moment, someone stood up and spoke of an important matter.

After all, it ultimately comes down to a question of power.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, reaching a consensus.

Thus.

In the blink of an eye, another two days passed.

Over these two days, the hottest topic throughout the Da Xia Dynasty has been the admissions of the Da Xia Academy.

No one knows what medicine Su Wenjing is selling from his gourd.

The area around Small Stream Village is already crowded with people, not only the populace of the Da Xia Capital but also from all surrounding prefectures and counties; anyone who meets the conditions comes to try their luck.

The result is a flood of merchants; it is said that selling only capital snacks brings in a hundred taels of silver each day.

Moreover, lodgings at the nearby relay stations are extremely hard to find, with prices often increasing tenfold.

Although it is lively, the admissions of the Da Xia Academy also reveal a cruel side.

At the east entrance, one must guess lantern riddles, needing to answer three correctly to gain entry.

Missing one question results in immediate rejection, regardless of who it is.

Just yesterday, the son of the Da Xia top scholar was rejected at the door for missing a single question, sparking a huge uproar.

After all, who would have thought that missing just one question would cost the chance to enter? Know that this son of the top scholar was himself a hot prospect; according to previous Da Xia Academy admissions standards, his admission was a sure thing.

He fell in the preliminary round—how could this not cause controversy?

Moreover, it's not just him; many others turned away at the gate are capital officials and nobles, or families of scholarly tradition.

Many came, but those rejected were even more numerous.

The admitted line has already formed, and the examination is extremely difficult, giving the feeling of forcing ducks onto a shelf.

The topic is announced directly; each person is given ten breaths to answer—if correct, they enter; if wrong, they leave.

If the east entrance selection is difficult,

the south side is even more terrifying.

The chief examiner proposes topics at will, which must be seven-character ancient poems with parallelism and rhyme; at the same time, all six chief examiners must gain approval from at least five, otherwise no one passes.

What's more extreme is that a hundred people take the exam together, given only the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, and under the hundred-to-one system, only one out of a hundred is selected.

Of course, if there is truly outstanding talent, exceptional admission is possible.

This means the number eliminated on the south side is even more exaggerated.

As for the west and north sides, they are even stranger: on the west, officials and soldiers prohibit even firewood and rice from entering, and will beat to silence anyone who dares to force their way in.

They really mean business, with no joking.

On the north side, one can sneak in secretly, but no matter how many people enter, there is not a sound.

This is somewhat worrisome.

Until today, the north entrance finally released a batch of people.

They are the scholars who first sneaked in; after coming out, they say not a word, refusing to answer any question.

For a time, this sparked various doubts and controversies.

And today.

They set out.

(End of chapter)