Chapter 1032: Winning the Provincial Examination Again

This Lantern Festival was no different, because Wang Yan didn't go out to socialize, but just ate and chatted at Old Bao's house. When Old Bao returned from the palace, he gave some instructions.

It was still about the handling of relationships with other schools of thought.

As the saying goes, there is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts. Wang Yan was bold and proposed a school of thought at eighteen, even published a book, and even sold it explosively. This was a challenge to other schools of thought, and it was necessary to debate it.

Academic is politics. It's like the old stubborn conservatives who would never become Wang Yan's disciples until they died. Because Wang Yan's school of thought had a considerable degree of positivity, and had the connotation of challenge, which was the foundation of reform. If Wang Yan's school were allowed to grow, it would be necessary to set off another wave of reform. It should be targeted, and it should be targeted.

This was the purpose mentioned earlier: to set off an academic movement.

However, Old Bao was also well-intentioned. As the saying goes, "the tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind." Old Bao was still very satisfied with Wang Yan, this younger generation. He cured his son's illness, and even he himself practiced the exercises taught by Wang Yan, and his appetite was much better, his spirit was more sufficient, and he even had the strength to practice a small number.

It was also because he didn't go out to socialize, so Wang Yan didn't pretend, and naturally didn't "ask the blue sky with wine," didn't "that person is in the dim light"...

This time was not suitable for going out to pretend. After all, he had already published a book, and it was not very good to go out to be romantic and do useless things. Since the first half month of publishing the book, he had not appeared, and even the Royal Library had not been visited again, only coming out to Old Bao's house to eat on the Lantern Festival. After that, he had been studying for the examination at home with peace of mind...

The provincial examination and the provincial examination were not much different. The subjects of the Mingjing examination were the same. During the examination, the courtyard was locked, two subjects were taken a day, and they were locked for three days, and they were not allowed to leave until the examination was finished.

What was different was that the examination level was higher, the invigilators were of a higher level, the degree of strictness was higher, and the quality and level of the participants were higher. The conditions of the examination hall were also better, the number of participants was larger, and more than ten thousand people were taking the examination at the same time.

Therefore, the area around the Tribute Examination Hall was very congested on this day. There were more than ten thousand people taking the examination, as well as other book boys, maids, and family members sending them to the examination, and carriages, etc., which were chaotic.

Thanks to Wang Yan's successful self-marketing, on the way to the examination hall, there were enthusiastic greetings everywhere. Regardless of whether they were scholars nervous before the examination, everyone who saw Wang Yan had a smile on their face.

For the friendliness of others, Wang Yan always gave a friendlier response. So all the way, he was nodding and responding to others' greetings with a smile, occasionally calling out the names of people he knew, saying that he was also nervous, and comforting others to perform well, etc.

People who were called by name often straightened their waists, and being called by name by Wang Yan, and specifically saying a few words, was truly a very face-saving thing.

And those who were called by name by Wang Yan were regardless of wealth. Some looked wealthy, and some looked poor and dilapidated, but Wang Yan's attitude was the same. However, some scholars were Bianjing locals, sent by their parents, and Wang Yan also politely greeted them and chatted simply for a few sentences.

In short, no one felt looked down upon, and no one felt looked down upon.

Everyone saw Wang Yan's great style.

As for whether anyone was thinking in their hearts about watching the joke of Wang Yan not passing the imperial examination, that was unknown...

Wang Yan and Fan Chunren and Feng Jing took the examination supplies from the hands of a group of attendants and book boys, and Wang Yan patted Little Dongliang's head with a smile: "Go back."

"Young Master will definitely pass the imperial examination." Little Dongliang looked serious, as if Wang Yan was already a successful candidate.

"I'll take your auspicious words, let's go."

Wang Yan waved his hand and started queuing with Fan Chunren and Feng Jing to enter the venue.

As the closest to him, having been together almost every day for the past few months, every time he received an invitation, Wang Yan had to take them both with him, plus daily discussions and exchanges, so these two were easily influenced by him. So Fan Chunren and Feng Jing had accepted Wang Yan's school of thought in its entirety and were his firmest supporters.

Although they were overshadowed by following Wang Yan, they actually had quite a reputation in the scholar group, and they were very respected when they went out alone. This was still Fan Chunren not showing his father; if he said his father was Fan Zhongyan, his reputation, although not as good as Wang Yan's, would still be better than it was now.

Feng Jing had no big background, and had no big connections in the capital, so he relied purely on talent. After all, in the original history, the top scholar of this subject was him, and he even won first place in all three levels.

Speaking of which, Feng Jing had an interesting story.

That is, in this imperial examination, there were royal relatives who wanted their own family to be the top scholar, so they bribed the officials in charge, and found a great immortal to calculate who would be the top scholar, and the immortal calculated it in the Feng family. So they had to use means to target the one surnamed Feng.

Feng Jing heard about this, changed his name to Ma Liang to take the examination, and finally successfully became the top scholar. The result was that people in the palace knew that the top scholar was Ma Liang, but the scholars and people outside all knew that the top scholar was Feng Jing.

Thus, there was a saying circulating among the people like "The world wins Feng Jing, the sky wins Ma Liang," and "Mistaking Feng Jing for Ma Liang" became a famous proverb, which has been circulating ever since.

Speaking of which, it was an interesting story, but it was also quite sad, a proper black humor. Of course, no matter how bad Feng Jing's family was, it was better than the people who were digging in the fields and couldn't eat enough.

However, now that Wang Yan was here, there was no business for Feng Jing. After all, the biggest favorite for the top scholar this time was Wang Yan. His reputation was too big, and everyone in the world knew it. Using means to affect his imperial examination was really not easy to end, and the whole world was waiting to see if he could pass the imperial examination.

If he passed the imperial examination, he was impressive; if he became the top scholar, he was a god. If he didn't pass, he was still impressive, but his mysterious halo would be cut off, changing from a god to a human.

And Wang Yan's prestige had been converted into influence. If he incited now, when scholars were gathering in the capital, he could pull out thousands of people to protest. Scholars making trouble, although the destructive power was not great, it was scary. Not to mention anything else, as long as it was recorded in the history books, the Emperor and ministers of this dynasty would basically be negated.

Even if he didn't pass, he would have to take out the paper and compare it with the first place to calm the controversy. If they couldn't give a reason, the scholars would really go crazy. This was not Wang Yan's own business; after all, Wang Yan was already a figure who established a school of thought, and had such a great reputation, yet couldn't pass the imperial examination. What should the scholars in the future do? It could be done, but it couldn't be done so obviously.

Moreover, he was also a person with a background now. Ouyang Xiu, Old Bao, and Fan Zhongyan could also count.

Because Wang Yan played well with his son, and because the prescription he sent had curative effects, Fan Zhongyan wrote to Wang Yan to tell him about his physical condition, and asked Wang Yan to see if he needed to change the medicine. Of course, this was only a small part, and more was exchanging ideas about the school of thought with Wang Yan, which was actually a test of Wang Yan's views on reform under the name of exchanging ideas on the school of thought. Fan Zhongyan was still not dead.

These people, one by one, were not easy to deal with, and they were truly ruthless when cleaning up royal relatives.

Therefore, anyone with a brain would not target him on this matter.

Just like this, while queuing, while chatting with people. After another strict inspection, Wang Yan came to his examination hall with the imperial guards who had been transferred to invigilate.

The imperial guard obviously had also heard of his name, and his eyes were full of curiosity, wanting to see what was different about Wang Yan.

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, bowed politely, and took some cakes that had been broken and checked, and sent them to the imperial guard, and then arrived at his small space to arrange the things he brought.

Like the provincial examination, the first thing was to light a fire, boil water, and make tea. It was only the end of January, and Bianjing was located in the north, and the Yellow River had only just thawed for a long time, so it was cold, and drinking hot water was a must.

He also tidied up the bunk, and then packed up the brush, ink, inkstone, and paperweights, etc., drank tea comfortably, waiting for the examination questions to be announced and the examination to begin...

Three days passed like this, Wang Yan handed in the paper, waited for the minor official in charge of invigilation to bring minor officials and imperial guards to check, packed up his things, and walked out quietly.

He was not the first to walk out of the examination hall. This was because a considerable number of people had given up treatment. After seeing the questions and thinking of the competitors taking the same examination, they understood their own strength, so they simply didn't sit there and check again and again, but handed in the paper and left directly. It belonged to spending money to accumulate experience and coming again next time.

So when Wang Yan came out of the examination hall, he faced this group of people who crowded up. As a result, seeing Wang Yan come out, Little Dongliang, who had come to greet him, was pushed aside, which made Little Dongliang puff his cheeks, wanting to hammer their dog heads.

Little Dongliang was now properly learning martial arts. Although his body was still thin, he was also becoming strong, and he had learned various killing moves taught by Wang Yan. These scholars were really not Little Dongliang's opponents. After all, a kick to the crotch and a poke to the eye would end the battle.

However, he was still sensible, and retreated silently, standing on the side to watch the excitement.

"Brother Ziyan, can you tell us how you broke the questions?"

"Yes, Brother Ziyan."

"Tell us."

They looked at Wang Yan with hot eyes, just like students in the class who always went to find classmates who studied well to check the answers after each examination a thousand years later, wanting to confirm how they answered.

Wang Yan didn't care at all, waved his hand to let the scholars quiet down, and made space.

He handed the things he was carrying to Little Dongliang, and then stood in the circle, wearing his slightly dirty moon-white thick shirt, draped in his fox fur coat, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, and spoke loudly in the hall.

"My experience is not as rich as you brothers. Since you all want to know what I think and how I broke the questions, then I will dare to say it. Let's start with poetry. There is no big requirement for poetry in the examination. Antithesis and rhyme are basic, followed by clarifying the meaning, which is the primary thing. The poem of this subject is titled..."

Wang Yan's move was still very arrogant. As a scholar taking the same examination, he analyzed the questions for people here and gave a big lecture directly. But on the other hand, he was already a figure who established a school of thought, and was already studying more advanced academics, and wanted to set norms for scholars, so he naturally had the qualification to lecture. This was quite contradictory, but it really happened, and no one felt it was inappropriate...

The people who graded the imperial examinations were gathered in advance, and during the grading period, they were not allowed to leave, and they had to eat, drink, and defecate in fixed places. Although they still couldn't stop messy things, they also guaranteed fairness and justice to the greatest extent.

Therefore, Wang Yan revealing how he answered the questions was not a big problem, and if there was a problem, it was the problem of invigilation and grading.

His answer was really outstanding. He didn't need to look at other people's papers to know that it was outstanding, belonging to riding alone and leading the way. If he didn't even have this confidence, he would have lived in vain all these years. Even if it was his first time participating in the imperial examination, there was nothing different.

His reputation had long been known to the world, and as long as he didn't answer too poorly, he would definitely not fail. If he couldn't pass, then there must be a dark curtain, and Zhao Zhen's face would not look good, and no one would target him at this time...

There were people with hearts everywhere, and there were people who started recording Wang Yan's answers, and even after asking Wang Yan, they started writing on the spot.

For such people, Wang Yan had always appreciated them. He even reminded them on the side when others couldn't remember.

Just like this, waiting until Fan Chunren and Feng Jing came out, and after chattering with other scholars for a while, Wang Yan finally left.

"How did the two elder brothers do?" Wang Yan asked with a smile.

Feng Jing smiled: "Normal performance, whether I can pass depends on heaven's will."

"Yes, the two of us are not like you, Wang Ziyan, who is gifted by heaven. The scholars of the provincial examination are all outstanding people from all over the country. Normal performance is the greatest ability, and I can't care whether I pass or not."

Fan Chunren gave a big yawn, "I just want to go back and bathe, then drink heavily, and then have a good sleep. It is exactly 'I am drunk and want to sleep, you go'."

"Good, then let's drink heavily and have a big dream." Wang Yan clapped his hands and laughed, then called out, "Dongliang."

"Young Master?" Little Dongliang, who was squatting at the carriage door with his sleeves tucked, turned his head.

"Go back and roast lamb skewers."

"Okay." Little Dongliang nodded happily, jumped off the slow carriage directly, and ran back, he loved eating roasted lamb skewers the most.

"This brat..." Feng Jing shook his head with amusement.

Actually, they were all saying it nicely, but how could they see it so clearly? They were always thinking about the results in their hearts. Until the moment it was truly settled, it was impossible to really relax.

So unsurprisingly, Fan Chunren and Feng Jing were both drunk and unconscious, venting their nervous emotions from the past three days and relaxing their spirits. The so-

So, unsurprisingly, Fan Chunren and Feng Ji both drank until they were unconscious, releasing the tension of the past three days and relaxing their minds. The so-called balance of tension and relaxation lies precisely in this.

Only Wang Yan truly didn't care. If he wasn't given an official post, he had other development paths; it wasn't as if one could only rebel by being an official. Joining the army, becoming a mountain bandit, or becoming a great merchant, or even managing a business while staying in his hometown to build prestige and preach—these were all paths. It was just that he had never been a civil official and lacked the experience of walking the official path step by step, so he wanted to experience it...

The next day, Wang Yan looked at the two "little adults" standing before him, feeling somewhat confused.

"Changbai, you were doing well at home, why have you come to Bianjing? Did something happen at home?"

"Nothing at all, brother-in-law." Sheng Changbai smiled, "It is because brother-in-law caused such a great stir and gained such fame that Father sent me to the capital to follow brother-in-law and broaden my horizons."

The wedding rites had already been performed, so Sheng Changbai changed his form of address.

"That's a lie. It's because Uncle Sheng is afraid you'll be snatched away and regret this marriage."

Sheng Changbai smiled bitterly and shook his head, though he had no intention of blaming Ouyang Fa for his loose tongue.

Wang Yan smiled and reached out to pinch Ouyang Fa's face: "Good junior brother, I haven't seen you for a few months, why do you look a bit thinner?"

Ouyang Fa bared his teeth, trying his best to act like a well-behaved child: "It's all because I missed my good senior brother so much that I ate less."

"Smooth talker." Patting his head, Wang Yan let the little fatty go and asked, "Teacher wrote saying he was transferred to Yingzhou and has already taken up his post; how did you come to the capital with Changbai?"

"I was originally going to wait in Yangzhou for senior brother to return and marry before leaving. I had been reading and studying at senior brother's house all along. It was I who didn't let Uncle Fu tell senior brother, so please don't blame him. Changbai was coming to the capital, and I was bored in Yangzhou. It's been many years since I left the capital, and plus I missed senior brother, so I came along with Changbai."

Wang Yan nodded, introduced the two "little adults" to Fan Chunren and Feng Ji, and said, "Go eat, drink, and bathe, then follow me to Lord Bao's residence this afternoon."

"Senior brother, you took the metropolitan examination yesterday, how did you do?" Ouyang Fa asked with concern.

"What's the use of me saying I did well? I'll only know when the results are posted. I'll know sooner or later, and you aren't leaving tomorrow, so hurry up and go eat, drink, and bathe."

Wang Yan waved his hand casually, urging the two to leave.

"I thought my good senior brother would be happier to see us brothers come here. I didn't expect there to be no reaction at all. Sigh, human nature is truly not what it used to be."

Hearing the words from outside that sounded quiet but were practically shouted at the top of his lungs.

Wang Yan laughed and ordered: "Dongliang, beat him."

"Yes, Young Master."

As soon as the words fell, hurried footsteps were heard from outside, and in an instant, they disappeared...

Amusing the three in the room to laughter, Feng Ji shook his head and said: "I never thought Ouyang Gong's son would be so childlike. Just now, when he stood there without speaking, I thought he was a steady one."

Fan Chunren also laughed incessantly: "He is quite like his father; Ouyang Gong himself is also a free-spirited person."

"That's because he treats you two brothers as his own people and isn't standing on ceremony. Otherwise, this good junior brother of mine is truly a little scholar."

The three chatted idly, and after the two little ones finished bathing, they talked about the situation in Yangzhou. Thus, until the afternoon, everyone went to visit old Bao. This was a normal post-exam visit, mainly for old Bao, as an elder, to help the three relax their spirits.

A month passed, the examination results were posted at the tribute hall, and Wang Yan took first place in the provincial examination...