Chapter 177: A big blockhead has great wisdom

Fang Chongyong! I'm not doing this anymore! Divorce! I won't serve you anymore!

I really am leaving this time!

In the main hall of the Fang family residence, Wang Yunxiu had already packed her bundle, preparing to return to her hometown in Hua County. She just shouted and yelled about leaving, cursing for over an hour, but still hadn't left.

Ananye crouched on a desk like a cat, looking speechlessly at Wang Yunxiu's 'performance,' yawning boredly.

Wang Yunxiu and Fang Chongyong had been arguing nonstop for three days; today was the final imperial exam, yet Fang Chongyong remained unmoving, refusing to even step out the door, let alone go take the test.

His lazy attitude infuriated Wang Yunxiu.

"But it seems you two aren't even married."

Ananye said slowly.

Wang Yunxiu stared, then turned to Fang Chongyong and asked back, "Is that so?"

"Put down the bundle, come over and make tea for me, and let your husband give you a lesson."

Fang Chongyong sat calmly before the desk, tapped the tabletop, and said.

Wang Yunxiu glared at him silently, finally sighing, obediently fetched the exquisite tea set gifted by Zheng Shuqing, and placed the Longtan Yunwu tribute tea from Kui Zhou into it.

Seeing Wang Yunxiu skillfully brewing tea, having already softened, Fang Chongyong then remarked: "Dragon pool and tiger's den—avoiding them is safest; one must not think that having martial skills lets one recklessly stir up trouble."

Huh?

Upon hearing this, not only did Wang Yunxiu pause her teaspoon, but Ananye, who was watching the excitement nearby, also jumped down from the desk, walked over, and asked doubtfully: "Why is that?"

"This imperial examination will definitely see a major incident. If I were to take the exam, with the little knowledge I have, embarrassing myself would be minor, leaving evidence would be major."

"If I were to become the top scholar and yet write on the exam paper: 'O vast sea, you are all water; O toad, you have four legs,' and similar verses, what do you think would happen?"

Fang Chongyong stared at Wang Yunxiu and asked.

"Probably... it would be quite ugly."

Wang Yunxiu said unwillingly, yet had to admit that someone of Fang Chongyong's level in the exam hall would be about as capable as an illiterate learning to write; estimating he couldn't even keep the rhyme in poetry.

No matter what, this gentleman at least lacks the knowledge needed for the imperial examinations, completely clueless. It would truly be better to let Wang Yunxiu herself take the exam; perhaps her score would be a bit higher.

Any examiner, seeing Fang Chongyong's exam paper, would know he is 'unlearned and unskilled,' making it impossible for him to become a presented scholar under normal circumstances.

Thus either the paper would be tossed aside like trash (unsuccessful candidates' papers are not archived in the Gongyuan), or, under pressure from the powerful, they'd hold their nose and appoint him.

If the latter, in some cases the exposure of examination fraud would make this paper the evidence for determining guilt and sentencing.

This holds true for both examiners and examinees!

"Exactly, this is leaving a living handle for certain people, becoming a hidden danger for someone."

"Do you think your husband would make such a mistake?"

Fang Chongyong said solemnly.

"The exam papers that passed are to be sealed and stored in the Ministry of Rites Gongyuan; the jokes inside will surely spread and become widely known among the folk. His taking the exam as an 'illiterate' is laying bare his weakest point in public, inviting others to gang up on him."

"So, is it that the loophole in substitute examination is smaller? After all, my little male cousin is also quite talented."

Wang Yunxiu pondered, beginning to grasp Fang Chongyong's reasoning.

"Correct, Li Kui indeed took the substitute exam, but if he doesn't say it, I don't say it, and the informed examiners don't say it, who would know?"

"Who saw it? Who could prove it? Who would go out of their way to find fault with me?"

Fang Chongyong retorted confidently.

"The biggest loophole of the feudal era is the lack of cameras, video recorders, cell phones, or any electronic devices! No means to restore the exam scene!"

"If someone claims Li Kui took the exam in my place and I didn't attend, where is his evidence? Does he have any? On what basis does he say this?"

"Spreading such rumors can incur political responsibility, especially since Fang Chongyong might already be an official by then—who would dare say this?"

"If an investigation were truly launched, the threshold would be extremely high! How high? So high that even Ji Ge would not sit on the dragon throne before such an investigation could occur."

"Yet once an investigation is launched, it will inevitably alarm Ji Ge. To preserve his dignity and ensure his promises aren't seen as empty talk, Ji Ge will cover the sky with one hand, suppress the investigation, and then banish the officials who wanted to investigate far away."

"This loophole is far smaller than that of any random Ministry of Rites official in the Gongyuan, or even officials of the Six Ministries, being able to see examinees' papers."

"The exam paper Fang Chongyong left behind would be the best evidence for future political rivals to attack him! Moreover, this black-and-white document has a very low threshold for inspection, making it hard to deny later. Those with ill intent who obtain the evidence can immediately start writing, putting a charge of examination fraud on Fang Chongyong."

"Li Kui's exam paper, however, is solid and stable; passing to become a presented scholar poses no problem. When the time comes, any entanglement falls under the category of 'no first in literature, no second in martial arts,' leaving nothing to argue about. Such 'favoring one side' is also permitted as an unwritten rule in Tang imperial examinations."

"Those unaware of the inside story, seeing this paper, would have nothing to say—'Fang Chongyong' taking the exam, having background, being named top scholar is perfectly normal."

"Those who know the inside story would not 'self-destruct' for no reason, and Ji Ge does not allow them to do so."

"This scheme is: as long as the lid isn't lifted, others will never know what's hidden underneath."

"It could be a pot of porridge, or perhaps a Hello Kitty plush lying inside—who would know?"

"After hearing these principles, Wang Yunxiu was deeply impressed, constantly praising Fang Chongyong's deep foresight, having long thrown their previous unhappiness to the clouds."

"I told you you needn't worry uselessly; you don't know how formidable your husband is in Sha Zhou—those Western Region big-bearded merchants worth tens of thousands of taels submit meekly before him like quail."

"A mere imperial examination is nothing."

Ananye echoed from the side with a sarcastic tone.

"Alright, alright, say two less sentences."

Fang Chongyong retorted at Ananye, then turned his head to look at Wang Yunxiu and said:

"However, your concern is not unnecessary, just not exactly what you imagined."

"This imperial examination will certainly see a major incident. The son of Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yi, Zhang Shi, will definitely become a presented scholar, and possibly even first class."

"To bring down Zhang Yi, this matter will likely be exploited by those with intent, causing a disturbance among the examinee body."

"At that point, the sage emperor will certainly hold a final examination in the Daming Palace, personally assessing the abilities of the admitted examinees."

"After all, I will still have to undergo this great examination."

Fang Chongyong sighed lightly. If nothing happens on Zhang Shi's side, naturally good, saving us this trouble.

But he believes Zhang Shi's matter cannot be hidden; someone will surely make a big fuss! Fang Chongyong never pins his hopes on enemies' negligence, never assumes others will follow his preset plan.

Fang Chongyong had already heard some rumors: Zhang Shi earlier bragged at the Apricot Flower Building that he would definitely become a presented scholar; likely the final result will be the same.

So, since a Zhang Shi has already shown up in this examination, might there be more "Zhang Shi"?

I have to say, the likelihood is very high. From Du Fu's and Yuan Jie's complaints, Fang Chongyong deduced a terrifying piece of information: the Tang imperial examinations have become so rotten that they must be reformed. Now perhaps only Ji Ge thinks this thing can still be used.

Since the Kaiyuan era, the Tang examinations have gradually degenerated; nepotistic households are everywhere, and the testing halls have become battlefields for backstage power struggles.

It wasn't that there were no problems before; the lid just hadn't been lifted, so no one knew what demons and monsters lurked inside.

Perhaps in Ji Ge's view, the examination candidates are an 80/20 split: eighty percent capable, twenty percent riffraff.

But after lifting the lid this time, he might reach the opposite conclusion: only twenty percent are capable, the remaining eighty percent are riffraff!

I bet Ji Ge's expression at that moment will be spectacular.

"Alas, find a chance to leave Chang'an. Even a single examination has so many tricks; this place truly isn't fit for people."

Wang Yunxiu couldn't help but complain. The matter of Li Kui taking the exam on her behalf had always made her uneasy.

"It's not that easy to leave. After the exam, one still has to report to Xingqing Palace; who knows what the Sage will arrange."

Fang Chongyong sighed.

During the Tianbao years, political struggles in Chang'an will certainly intensify.

Later here, he will be like a small boat tossed in huge waves; a moment's carelessness would shatter him to pieces.

And yet he still can't run!

Today's Ji Ge, like a willful brat, could make any choice; he doesn't have to follow others' expectations.

His destructive power is immense; irresponsible and willful—perhaps that's Ji Ge's true nature.

That, I fear, is what people often say: "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger."

"Come, all come and hug."

Fang Chongyong called Wang Yunxiu and Anaye over, and with his robust arms embraced both, kissing their cheeks.

"If anything ever goes wrong in the future, I'll lead you out of Chang'an, wander the world, and live carefree together."

Fang Chongyong solemnly promised.

"Just brag then."

Wang Yunxiu rolled her eyes, outwardly dismissive but inwardly quite pleased.

…

I don't know whether Fang Chongyong's jinx finally lit up, or Zhang Shi's big mouth truly begs a beating, or whether Zhang Shi's father Zhang Yi's official rank has made many people envious.

The final result of this examination hasn't been announced yet, but rumors of Zhang Shi achieving top rank in the Jinshi exam have already spread wildly, so that throughout Chang'an's streets and alleys one can almost everywhere hear gossipers discussing it.

On the day the results were posted, just as everyone said, the recipients of the top Jinshi rank, besides the rumored "sure thing" Zhang Shi, were Fang Chongyong and a man named Cen Shen.

Among them, Fang Chongyong's name was listed first, Cen Shen second, and Zhang Shi last! Cen Shen had also held office, and like Fang Chongyong, had resigned and returned for the exam.

According to the default imperial examination rules, these are the first, second, and third places in the Jinshi (supplementary) category!

As for the others, Yuan Jie and Du Fu's names appear prominently! However, they are in the third tier, merely indicating they passed the Jinshi.

Among these, Cen Shen followed Fang Youde's path, while Yuan Jie and Du Fu were recommended by Li Linfu; as for Fang Chongyong and Zhang Shi, need not say—those who understand get it.

The other candidates were children of high officials, from distinguished families, with at least a fourth‑rank official background.

One could even say Yuan Jie and Du Fu were the accidental ones who squeezed into this examination circle; the rest were each placed in their own niche, and before the exam even began, who would pass and who wouldn't was already roughly predetermined, needing only minor adjustments.

This year's examinations are far from simple; for instance, the first round "Poetry Writing" had the title "Xiangling Gu Se Poem" and required only five‑character lines, twelve verses in total. What exactly this entails is baffling to anyone outside the literary circles.

If Fang Chongyong were to take the test, he'd probably be unable to compose any line, let alone understand what the prompt asks for.

Similarly, many candidates, like Fang Chongyong, can't even grasp this simplest five‑character poem; the rest need not be mentioned, so they can only rely on their own abilities.

Thus, rumors of examination cheating began to spread among the candidates. Whether they were those who already felt hopeless of passing, or those who thought they should rank first yet didn't, they all linked together, as if someone among them was fanning the flames, unafraid of escalating the matter.

That day, it was already three days after the results were posted.

Yuan Jie and the wheelchair‑bound Du Fu, both beaming, came to Fang Chongyong's house to congratulate him, celebrating Fang's first place in the top Jinshi rank.

After three rounds of wine in the main hall, Yuan Jie calmly asked, "Sir Fang, are you aware that public opinion has been raging lately, with everyone discussing examination cheating?"

Du Fu set his chopsticks down, perking up his ears to listen to Fang Chongyong's reply.

"I don't know, what's up?"

Fang Chongyong feigned surprise and asked back.

"Sir Fang, you seem unaware: Zhang Shi is a notorious idle in Chang'an, one could even say he's completely useless!

Yet now he somehow holds a top Jinshi rank; many say the examiners are currying favor with Imperial Censor Zhang Yi! Once Zhang Yi becomes prime minister, they can be promoted."

Yuan Jie said with some worry.

"Both of you are exceptionally talented; you shouldn't have to worry about such issues."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly and said.

"Sir Fang, you truly don't know!"

Du Fu sighed lightly, "If the Sage were to hold another exam at Daming Palace, testing the top candidates, I'm afraid complications would arise."

He and Yuan Jie both relied on Li Linfu's connections to secure their ranks. In reality, if everyone lacked a patron and competed fairly, perhaps under the examination rules Du Fu and Yuan Jie might not have passed.

Or perhaps both of them are well aware that one cannot rely solely on one's own ability to secure such a smooth success in the examinations.

"When troops come, the general blocks; when water comes, the earth covers, that's all."

Fang Chongyong laughed heartily, seeming not at all worried about what might happen next.

However, what Fang Chongyong and his companions didn't know was that in Qinzhengwubenlou, where Ji Ge is, several high‑ranking court officials had already quarreled into a frenzy, developing serious disagreements over this examination's outcome.

(End of chapter)