Chapter 317: Sudden Change in the Exam Hall

Perhaps because the last arithmetic problems made everyone cry, the chief examiner Su Qingyao had a change of heart and set two policy essay questions that weren't so bizarre for the third round.

The first question came from the *Book of Documents*: "When in doubt about a crime, be lenient; when in doubt about merit, be generous. Rather than killing the innocent, it is better to miss the classics."

That is to say, when the severity of a crime is in doubt, it is better to deal with it leniently; when the size of merit is in doubt, it is better to reward it heavily. Rather than wrongly killing an innocent person, it is better to make a mistake in law enforcement.

Candidates were asked to express their views on this.

This really wasn't difficult.

It was just giving candidates a chance to flatter those above and sing praises; as long as they weren't brain-dead, basically everyone could write it.

The second question was more practical.

It came from *Mencius*: "If you don't violate the farming season, grain will be inexhaustible."

No explanation needed; I believe everyone understands it, which is not to delay the farming season, and grain will naturally be inexhaustible.

It was easy to break the theme: one sentence—Heaven arranges everything; if it tells you when to plant crops, just do it.

Thinking of going against Heaven and doing the opposite?

You'll starve to death!

Of course, if Du Ruo were to do this question and see this statement, she would definitely want to refute it.

Haven't you seen off-

Have you not seen the hybrid rice that Old Yuan created, three harvests a year to eat your fill.

Ahem, that's getting a bit off-topic.

Back to inside the examination hall.

Jiang Zhan looked at the two questions on the paper, pondering for about half an hour before he began to write.

In truth, policy essays were his weak point.

Ever since he returned to Longquan Cun with his mother, the Su Shi, at the age of eight, Jiang Zhan had always stayed in that small place of Xiushan Zhen; usually, he didn't leave the academy gates unless there was something to do, and his knowledge of the outside world came mostly from books or the idle chatter of his fellow students.

This resulted in his perspective being very limited.

Especially regarding current affairs, he only knew the surface.

However, his strength lay in his literary talent, and combined with his rich store of knowledge, it was enough to make up for this defect. Anyway, he had been first in the previous two sessions; as long as he didn't hand in a blank paper this time, the Prefectural Top Scholar would definitely be his.

Jiang Zhan was not in a hurry, lowering his head to focus intently on drafting his work.

On the invigilation platform, Su Qingyao pointed at Jiang Zhan, showing off triumphantly to Gongsun Ang, "See that? That lad has the exact look of a Top Scholar; the moment this official saw him, I knew he was extraordinary."

Gongsun Ang wanted to laugh a little, "Yes, yes, yes, Elder Dong's eye is naturally excellent."

With his master acting so conceited, someone who didn't know better might think Jiang Zhan was his son.

Speaking of Jiang Zhan, Gongsun Ang subconsciously looked at Duan Xiu.

Suddenly, he let out an "eh."

"Elder Dong, look at Young Master Duan..."

Su Qingyao reluctantly pulled his gaze away from Jiang Zhan and turned to Duan Xiu next door. When he saw Duan Xiu's state, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise, "What's his situation? Why is he scratching his ears and cheeks? Does he have fleas on him?"

"That shouldn't be the case." Gongsun Ang was caught between laughter and tears; no matter what, he was the most favored eldest grandson of the Duan family, "Could it be that he can't write it, so he's getting anxious and worked up?"

Can't write it? Ha!

Su Qingyao sneered, "Isn't he best at writing long-winded, bootlicking essays? This first question is practically tailor-made for him; how could he not be able to write it?"

Gongsun Ang also felt it was strange.

With Duan Xiu's ability, it should be impossible for him to be stumped by these two ordinary policy essay questions.

He observed Duan Xiu carefully, only to see that Duan Xiu's condition was becoming increasingly exaggerated; not only was he drenched in sweat, but his body had even started to tremble.

"Elder Dong, something seems a bit wrong," Gongsun Ang warned.

Su Qingyao noticed it too, rising to walk over there, "I'll go over and see what's going on."

At this moment, Duan Xiu was already on the verge of a breakdown.

He didn't know what had happened, why his body was becoming harder and harder to control; first it was the itching, an itch deep into the bone marrow, an itch that made one wish they could carve off that layer of skin and flesh!

Then came the excitement, excitement so intense he wanted to strip off all his clothes and run naked around the examination hall!

Immediately following that was great sorrow... great joy... and intense hatred!!

He wanted to laugh, yet he wanted to cry.

And he wanted to hit someone even more!

Duan Xiu was terrified to the extreme in his heart.

How could it be like this? Where exactly did the problem arise? Was he sick, or had someone plotted against him?

Who was it? Who wanted to harm him!

While gritting his teeth and cursing, Duan Xiu tried his best to control the violent emotions within his body; his long robe felt as if it had just been fished out of water, soaked through with cold sweat.

Su Qingyao walked up close, and seeing him in this state, he frowned and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Duan Xiu bit his teeth shut tight and didn't make a sound.

Yet his hands couldn't stop trembling.

The perfectly good test paper was suddenly stained with a large blotch.

Su Qingyao's brow furrowed even tighter; one had to know that a dirty paper, no matter how well written, would be disqualified without exception. Having taken the exam so many times, it was impossible for Duan Xiu not to know this rule.

"Duan Xiu, do you not intend to pass this third session?"

Su Qingyao's tone grew heavier, "Don't think that because you were at the top in the first two sessions, you can just muddle through the last one. If you fail the exam, this official can still disqualify you!"

The words had just fallen.

Duan Xiu suddenly lifted his head, his two eyes staring fixedly at Su Qingyao, burning with crimson flames inside.

He had the posture of someone wanting to eat a person.

Su Qingyao was given a huge fright by his appearance, and then he became furious, cold-snorting, "What, you are not convinced?"

Yes, he had no intention of offending the Duan family.

But if Duan Xiu dared to be disrespectful to him, the chief examiner, he would absolutely not let him off lightly!

Otherwise, as a dignified Prefect and Fourth-Rank Official, what prestige would he have left in the future...

Bang!

Duan Xiu suddenly let out a violent shout, stood up abruptly, and like a madman, smashed a fist against the partition; the inkstone toppled, splashing across the table and staining the entire test paper black.

The commotion was too large; the examinees were all startled, and one after another, they stopped their brushes and pricked up their ears to listen.

Su Qingyao was even more dumbfounded.

Having been a chief examiner for so many years, he had never seen such an arrogant examinee; had this Duan Xiu gone mad?

He was furious, pointing at Duan Xiu's nose and sternly reprimanding, "You scoundrel! You..."

Before he could finish speaking, a fist suddenly smashed toward his face without warning.

It hit his eye squarely!

Su Qingyao let out a cry of pain, covering his eye and retreating several steps before he could stand steady.

This turn of events happened in the blink of an eye; by the time Gongsun Ang and the bailiffs reacted, their beloved Prefect had already taken a good beating.

Gongsun Ang hurried over to check on Su Qingyao's injuries.

The bailiffs also rushed over here one after another.

Su Qingyao was shaking with anger, his eye swollen like a toad's as he ordered in a rage, "Someone, seize Duan Xiu for this official!"

Two bailiffs immediately stepped forward, wanting to drag Duan Xiu out of the cell, but Duan Xiu's ferocity flared, and he bit down on one of their cheeks.

Immediately, blood flowed everywhere!

The bailiff let out a miserable scream, his face twisted in pain, yet he dared not fight back.

"What are you waiting for, all of you get on him!" Su Qingyao almost fell backward.

With the Prefect's order, the bailiffs no longer cared about Duan Xiu's status and pounced together; grabbing arms, hugging legs, and locking necks, they finally managed to subdue the person.

Then they tied him up tightly with rope.

Duan Xiu still struggled incessantly, roaring, "Let me go, you dog slaves, dare to provoke this young master, this young master will make you die without a burial place!"

The entire examination hall fell silent.

These people, having reached this step, had experienced at least five imperial examinations; all sorts of strange things could happen in an exam hall, such as fainting from the stench, sudden death, or shitting one's pants, but someone going mad on the spot and beating the chief examiner like Duan Xiu was truly unheard of.

"Elder Dong, how shall we deal with him?" Gongsun Ang asked for instructions.

How to deal with him?

Su Qingyao wanted to strangle Duan Xiu!

But he couldn't right now.

In front of so many examinees, he had to take a stance first, otherwise, if everyone followed suit in the future, what would become of things?

Su Qingyao flicked his sleeves and said loudly, "Duan Xiu roared in the examination hall and beat the chief examiner; this is contempt for this official, and even more, disrespect to the imperial court! This act smears the reputation of scholars and brings shame to the sages. According to the Da Zhao Lüfa, it is ordered that all of Duan Xiu's previous results be abolished and he be forbidden from taking the exam for all eternity!"