Chapter 46: Reclaiming the Top Rank, Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful

Zhao Xing had originally planned to submit his paper and rush off to eat, but since Chen Shijie had insisted, he could only wait by his side.

The examiners reviewed the papers individually, each responsible for a specific section before cross-referencing them.

In total, there were just over five hundred papers, which wasn't an overwhelming amount.

However, accuracy was paramount.

Xue Wenzhong first came across the question, "There is wind in the south of the city, acting tyrannically."

Seeing that Zhao Xing had not fallen into the question's trap and had answered it perfectly, half of his anxiety was relieved.

"He has certainly memorized Cao Xi Zhenjun's methods," he mused. "And rightly so, most of his techniques were passed down by the Zhenjun."

He then saw the question, "The earth is cold and yin, spring wood is useless, summer sun steams, and locusts thrive."

After reading Zhao Xing's answer, Xue Wenzhong's mind was completely at ease.

His expression brightened from gloomy, and he even broke into a smile.

"I misjudged him," he thought. "To answer this question so perfectly, his understanding of the Five Elements and Four Seasons is clearly profound. The remaining questions are no challenge for him."

The Old Minister of Agriculture was greatly relieved; his mood brightened, and his demeanor became much more relaxed.

He no longer worried that Zhao Xing would become arrogant due to his achievements.

Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun, and Pang Yuan were reviewing the section where Zhao Xing had flawlessly recited classic texts.

He had answered all the straightforward questions correctly, without a single error or omission.

While extensive knowledge and strong memory were commendable, Zhao Xing's speed was particularly remarkable. To complete thirty papers through the night without a single error was truly rare.

"Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous!" Chen Shijie suddenly exclaimed.

This startled the other examiners.

Chen Shijie's voice was so loud that it was likely even the candidates outside could hear him.

Indeed, some candidates outside did hear; after all, they weren't deaf.

Some had also seen Zhao Xing submit his paper early and enter the hall.

However, the candidates who heard were puzzled, wondering just how marvelous Zhao Xing's answer was for the chief examiner to react with such an exaggerated display of excitement!

"Among the Five Elements, none is nobler than Earth. Earth resides in the center and governs the four directions; that which commands all things does not contend with Fire for glory."

Chen Shijie was, in fact, looking at the last question Zhao Xing had answered.

The reason for his excitement was purely that Chen Shijie himself was an adherent of the 'Earth Advantage' school of thought.

Zhao Xing's answer, without a doubt, perfectly suited his preferences.

What's more, the answer resonated perfectly with the philosophy of the Earth Advantage school; any adherent of that school would undoubtedly appreciate it.

This was because it further elevated the Earth element, even bestowing upon it the title of 'governing the four directions.' While it might seem a bit like flattery, one had to consider how it was presented.

Zhao Xing's answer was spot-on, not baseless flattery, and it perfectly catered to Chen Shijie's preferences.

"Cough, cough, I seem to have lost my composure a bit," Chen Shijie awkwardly chuckled, quickly realizing his gaffe under the astonished gazes of the others. "It's nothing. Everyone, please examine this paper, and ensure your review is fair."

"What are you even trying to hide?" Gao Linong grumbled inwardly. "That smile is impossible to suppress; your attitude as chief examiner is so obvious, how can we possibly review it fairly?" He thought the chief official was utterly unreliable.

He didn't accept the paper, unwilling to go against his conscience and give Zhao Xing a high score, even after Chen Shijie's obvious display of favoritism. Gao Linong was known for his straightforward character.

The other examiners, however, were different; they immediately took the paper and began to examine it carefully.

"Hmm? It truly is marvelous!" Tang Wanchun exclaimed after reading it. Although he was not an adherent of the Earth Advantage school, he conceded that, objectively, such an answer certainly warranted a high score.

Pang Yuan and the other reviewers shared the same sentiment. Regardless of Chen Shijie's attitude, Zhao Xing's answer to the final question was genuinely impressive, well-reasoned, and not fabricated.

Once the cross-referencing of papers was complete, the other officials also acknowledged Zhao Xing's exceptional intelligence.

"Returning to celestial timing, supplementing one spring phase, reducing one summer phase? Bing fire adjusts yin, Ding fire continues yang. This answer is even more complete than what I had previously conceived."

"Creating mountains in the south of the city using earth veins to block the wind, constructing canals in the east to divert water around the city, and building 'Guiyuan' water wheels – isn't this precisely what Cao Zhenjun once did?"

"I devised this question using Cao Zhenjun and the ancient city as examples; I didn't expect him to discern its core so quickly."

Seeing so many colleagues praise the paper, Gao Linong couldn't resist examining it closely himself.

A moment later, his gaze at Zhao Xing was complex.

"Why isn't this person my student?" he mused. "Of all people, the Old Minister of Agriculture had to be the one to discover him!"

"Hmph, at least his handwriting is terrible!" Gao Linong thought sourly. "Yes, among those who received an A-plus, his calligraphy must definitely be the worst!"

***

Without a doubt, the examining officials unanimously awarded him an 'A-plus' evaluation.

Even Gao Linong didn't go against his conscience to give an 'A-minus,' as examiners' scores and comments were recorded and reported.

Assigning an 'A-minus' solely due to poor handwriting would create a biased negative impression on the superiors, and poor handwriting was not considered a significant flaw in this era.

Once one officially entered the ranks, their vital energy was sufficient to precisely control their movements, making handwriting as precise as block printing. Therefore, it was a minor detail, and no candidate would ever be disqualified for such a reason.

Typically, an 'A-plus' designation wouldn't be granted so quickly. However, due to the unanimous agreement among the examiners, Zhao Xing, having submitted his paper first, also became the first to receive an 'A-plus' rating.

Since other candidates were still taking their exams, the examiners couldn't keep him there for further questioning. Zhao Xing cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and silently exited the examination hall.

***

The following day, papers were submitted gradually, and the exam results for over five hundred clerks were released that same afternoon.

Zhao Xing once again received an 'A-plus.' Due to the high difficulty of this theoretical exam, only two other individuals, besides him, also achieved an 'A-plus.'

These were Ding Shan and Liang Bai.

Ding Shan was quite familiar to everyone; he was the oldest clerk in Huailiu Academy and had always assisted Xue Wenzhong with documents and classics.

His aptitude for magic was mediocre; his 'A-plus' was purely a result of his advanced age and extensive practice with exam questions.

Liang Bai received an 'A-plus' for the first time. Such theoretical exams did not assess magical proficiency but purely theoretical knowledge, so it was normal for someone with mediocre cultivation to achieve an 'A-plus.'

In addition, nine other individuals were on the 'A' list, including Li Chengfeng, Wen Nanxing, and Xiao Ze.

Zong Shichang, however, received a 'B' grade, as Young Master Zong was not particularly skilled in this area.

"He actually got an 'A-plus' again! His excellent magic is one thing, but he's so proficient in theory too? Is this person truly destined to be an official?" Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had pushed themselves to their limits, hoping to surpass Zhao Xing in this examination.

When the results were released, they were immediately disheartened.

How could he have received another 'A-plus'?

"The Old Minister of Agriculture must have shown favoritism and given his beloved disciple hints or private tutoring in advance," Huang Tao grumbled resentfully.

"Brother Huang, just because you didn't perform well, you can't stand to see others succeed?" someone retorted.

"Exactly," another added. "The questions weren't set by the Old Minister of Agriculture alone; your own teacher also saw them."

Madam Cai's efforts in cooking so many meals hadn't been in vain; more people around started speaking up for Zhao Xing.

"You've lost to Brother Zhao before; there's no need to harbor such resentment. You were the one who initiated the challenge and tried to usurp his position."

"Brother Huang, stop deceiving yourself; it's pointless."

"..." Huang Tao felt deeply stung, but upon seeing more and more people speak up for Zhao Xing, he immediately stopped his forceful arguments. Otherwise, he would only embarrass himself further, so he sullenly slunk away.