Wei Wusheng took the exam papers and, after leaving the palace, rode by carriage to the Imperial Academy.
The Imperial Academy was enclosed by red walls and green tiles—aside from the palace itself, it was the Great Yu's most magnificent architectural complex.
After the Yu Emperor ascended the throne, he personally ordered its construction.
One could say the nation's full resources were poured into it.
In contrast, the palace had only undergone ordinary maintenance over these decades, never undergoing any major construction projects.
This was enough to demonstrate the emphasis placed on the civil examination system.
At the entrance to the Imperial Academy stood a towering, imposing memorial archway.
When he arrived at the gate, the guards immediately dropped to one knee, fists clasped in salute: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Wei Wusheng raised his hand. "Rise."
"What brings Your Highness here personally?" the guard asked.
Wei Wusheng replied, "I wish to consult with the masters of the Imperial Academy about some questions."
"Then would Your Highness permit this subordinate to make a record first?" the guard asked cautiously.
"Naturally."
Wei Wusheng smiled.
After the record was made, Wei Wusheng proactively added, "I'll sign my name."
"Your Highness, there's no need for such formality."
Generally speaking, the Imperial Academy was not open to outsiders. However, it wasn't extremely strict either. Certain areas were absolutely prohibited without permission, but essentially it remained a state institution. For instance, the library—some noble children could borrow books from there.
Moreover, the imperial school was located inside, and imperial clan members attended classes there. Wei Wusheng himself was a graduate of this place.
It was only because the civil examination grading was currently underway that discipline was somewhat stricter.
But regardless, for non-core areas, imperial princes would not be obstructed from entering.
"You're just following proper procedure. Let me sign."
Wei Wusheng had no airs about him. After completing the formalities, he entered the Imperial Academy.
Within the Imperial Academy, at the very center of the main axis, a massive, magnificent building served as the collective grading location—the Hall of Supreme Impartiality.
Inside, over four thousand exam papers (across two subjects) were being graded by over a hundred Imperial Academy scholars working overtime.
Here, without the highest authorization, outsiders were absolutely forbidden to enter.
The guards at the entrance were specially dispatched Jinyiwei.
Upon reaching this point, Wei Wusheng stopped in his tracks.
He had originally planned to casually find any master within the Imperial Academy to take a look.
After all, these masters all held at minimum a jinshi degree—they were surely learned and knowledgeable.
But after wandering about briefly without encountering anyone, he prepared to leave.
At that moment, a Grand Secretary descended the steps of the Hall of Supreme Impartiality.
Wei Wusheng looked up and, recognizing Zhang Zhao, hurried forward.
"This old subject greets the Sixth Prince."
Zhang Zhao took the initiative to bow.
Wei Wusheng returned the gesture with both hands, his bow no less deep than the other's, and asked curiously, "Why has Master Zhang come out?"
"The guards reported that Your Highness was lingering at the entrance, so I came to pay my respects." Zhang Zhao said.
"It's like this."
Wei Wusheng smiled, then presented the exam papers to him with both hands: "Master Zhang, after learning the civil examination topics, I tried taking the exam myself in the palace... Please instruct me."
Zhang Zhao opened the papers with both hands, glanced at them, then raised his head to look at Wei Wusheng with some puzzlement. "Your Highness, why have you come to this old subject for grading today?"
"Have I disturbed Master Zhang's grading work?"
"No, no." Zhang Zhao hastily denied it, saying, "On grading days, the Grand Secretaries grade papers in the Hall of Supreme Impartiality. If the guards hadn't reported it, I might have been remiss in my duties to Your Highness."
Hearing this, Wei Wusheng revealed a somewhat embarrassed smile: "The exam was only yesterday, and today is grading day. If I wait until after the results are announced, the questions and model answers will already be everywhere. If I bring my papers for instruction then and they happen to be well-written... wouldn't Master Zhang think I was borrowing others' words?"
His words left Zhang Zhao stunned.
He was just like a student who had written what he thought was a good composition, believed it was quite good, and excitedly brought it to his teacher to see, while also worrying the teacher might think he plagiarized—a 'vain' student.
Zhang Zhao couldn't help but laugh out loud.
But the next moment, he quickly restrained himself: "Please forgive this subject, Your Highness. This official meant no offense."
He really couldn't hold it in.
"Master Zhang, please just review it for me first." Wei Wusheng laughed awkwardly.
"Mm, please wait a moment, Your Highness."
And so, Zhang Zhao began to carefully peruse his exam papers.
Both subjects were written on a single sheet of draft paper. The characters were written very small, but the handwriting was delicate and clear, perfectly legible and pleasing to the eye.
About a quarter-hour later, Zhang Zhao finally finished reading.
Slowly raising his head to look at Wei Wusheng, who was extremely nervous like an earnest student, Zhang Zhao smiled gently: "Sixth Prince, both the literary composition and policy essay are quite good."
"Could I pass the provincial examination?"
Wei Wusheng asked expectantly.
"Your Highness is of imperial blood—why would you need to pass the provincial examination?"
"I mean, do I have the caliber to pass the provincial examination?"
Zhang Zhao smiled mysteriously, then asked tentatively, "Does Your Highness wish to hear the truth, or...?"
Knowing that this question meant bad news, Wei Wusheng still replied directly: "Naturally the truth. Master Zhang need not spare my feelings."
Zhang Zhao: "You could pass."
"Then what ranking would I achieve?"
Wei Wusheng's face showed delight as he urgently pressed for an answer.
"Assuming there are a hundred juren spots in Jingzhao, Your Highness would perhaps..." After a moment's consideration, Zhang Zhao said, "around fiftieth place."
Hearing this, Wei Wusheng, who had been tense, suddenly relaxed with relief.
"I thought I did very poorly..."
Halfway through speaking, Wei Wusheng suddenly realized: "Oh! I just remembered—Master Zhang, you were the zhuangyuan of the special examination that year. So for you, looking at someone ranked fiftieth among juren must be like looking at a foolish child, isn't it?"
"Ha ha ha..."
Zhang Zhao was made to laugh again, revealing a genuine smile, and he hastily waved his hands: "Your Highness, my apologies. This old subject meant no offense. Please forgive me, truly forgive me."
Every imperial prince was a dragon's son—when facing them, subjects should be filled with reverence.
But the Sixth Prince made Zhang Zhao feel remarkably relaxed, and moreover, his heart felt extremely comfortable.
"No harm done, no harm done." Wei Wusheng wasn't angry in the slightest.
"Your Highness, your literary composition is passable, but your policy essay is quite excellent. For example..."
Zhang Zhao had just prepared to offer guidance when Wei Wusheng interrupted: "Master Zhang, civil examination grading is a matter of state importance—I dare not disturb you. But after the results are announced, could you properly instruct this student?"
"If Your Highness does not disdain this old subject's shallow insights, I will certainly speak without reservation." Zhang Zhao said with utmost seriousness.
"Then Master Zhang, I'll take my leave."
"Farewell, Your Highness."
After the two exchanged bows, Wei Wusheng took his papers and departed.
Watching this prince's retreating figure, Zhang Zhao couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
If not for being a 'wusheng,' this Sixth Prince would actually be quite outstanding among all the princes.
Moreover, he was an extremely likable and magnanimous person.
Not long after he left, a man in python robes, imposing and stern, walked over.
Compared to that prince, Zhang Zhao felt true reverence this time, and hastily went to meet him: "This old subject greets the Prince of Jin."
"Grand Secretary Zhang."
The Prince of Jin held his head high and upright, slightly cupping his hands in a calm, courteous gesture.
"Your Highness, please."
The Prince of Jin was in charge of overseeing this civil examination, so coming here was essentially an inspection tour.
With Zhang Zhao guiding from the side, the Prince of Jin walked in front. Thinking of having just encountered Wei Wusheng, he casually asked, "What was the Sixth Prince doing here?"
"The Sixth Prince was discussing exam papers with this old subject."
"Oh." Hearing this, the Prince of Jin paid it no mind and asked no further questions.
After ascending the steps, the Prince of Jin entered the Hall of Supreme Impartiality.
Inside, the hundred Imperial Academy scholars who were grading papers immediately stood up, bowing deeply in greeting.
As the Prince of Jin walked inward, he pressed his hand downward.
Subsequently, all of them returned to their positions and continued grading.
These hundred scholars were cross-grading examiners.
They were responsible for screening, but had no authority to assign grades—they only selected papers with potential, with the final grading to be determined by the Grand Secretaries.
Si Prefecture's faculty was slightly more luxurious.
The remaining five prefectures each had one Grand Secretary overseeing all civil examinations for that entire prefecture.
Of course, the quotas differed.
Si Prefecture's education was exceptionally advanced, with many children of officials as well, so the juren quota was approximately one hundred people.
The other five prefectures averaged around fifty people each.
Walking further inside, at the very back was an inner chamber. That was the Evaluation Hall, where several Grand Secretaries graded and ranked the excellent examination papers.
Just as he reached the screen in front of the hall, the Prince of Jin heard the excited voice of Grand Secretary Wu Kang, the chief examiner for lyrical compositions:
"The first-ranked lyrical composition has emerged! The first has emerged!"