Hearing those words, the Prince of Jin froze mid-step.
The top lyrical composition had already been selected?
But this was only the first morning of grading!
Could there be some kind of cheating scandal at play?
Filled with confusion, the Prince of Jin walked from behind the screen toward the Evaluation Hall.
Upon seeing the Prince of Jin, all six people inside simultaneously rose to their feet.
Gu Yixin led them in bowing respectfully: "We subjects pay our respects to the Prince of Jin."
"Everyone, please dispense with the formalities." The Prince of Jin walked over and helped Gu Yixin to his feet, guiding him toward the grand armchair. "Master Gu, please be seated."
Gu Yixin was the Prince of Jin's teacher.
Although he wasn't the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, because the Crown Prince had died early, his status was essentially equivalent.
The Prince of Jin's heir was currently studying under Master Gu's guidance.
Without question, he was the foremost literary authority of the present day.
"Your Highness, please."
Gu Yixin also actively invited the Prince of Jin to sit.
Then the two took their seats in the positions of honor, while the remaining officials, including Zhang Zhao, sat on either side.
"This is the lyrical composition we've currently evaluated as first-grade. Please review it, Prince of Jin." The chief examiner for lyrical compositions, Sun Kang, rose and picked up the examination paper.
"Master Sun, there's no need." The Prince of Jin gestured for him to stop. "His Majesty commanded this prince to come and observe. This is official business, nothing more. All you masters should focus on grading the papers. You may make your own decisions regarding the rankings."
After these words were spoken, Sun Kang sat back down with a smile.
Gu Yixin glanced at the Prince of Jin, then turned his head back, his expression somewhat peculiar.
This prince was actually fairly proper, with acceptable bearing.
But he lacked a certain wisdom and sense of responsibility.
As the supervisor of the imperial examinations, he deliberately emphasized that it was His Majesty who ordered him to come.
It was as if to say that even if he created pressure for the Grand Secretaries, it was the Emperor's requirement.
He bore no responsibility.
But since he'd said as much, the grading and evaluation continued.
"The top lyrical composition has already been selected?" Zhang Zhao had also heard earlier and asked in confusion.
He'd only stepped out for about a quarter-hour, and they'd already evaluated the first-grade top essay?
Did my vote not count or something?
"Is it truly that excellent?" someone else asked.
"This old man has not exaggerated in the slightest."
Sun Kang gripped the examination paper whose name had been sealed with thick paper, his voice full of excitement. Looking around at everyone, he said with particular appreciation: "In fact, even if this composition were placed among the writings of the sages, there would be no sense of incongruity whatsoever!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions uniformly became serious.
What were the writings of the sages?
They were the classic works left behind by the sages.
And in the current world, Sacred Learning was the foundation of governance.
This evaluation, without a doubt, elevated this lyrical composition to the heavens.
The reason he could say this was because the scholarly pursuits of this period emphasized practicality as their foundation. Although the mainstream learning was Sacred Learning, the sages hadn't been completely elevated to an untouchable divine pedestal.
A good essay was a good essay.
"Your Highness, everyone."
After Sun Kang stood, he stepped back several paces. Facing everyone as a Grand Secretary, he began to personally recite the composition: "'An Exhortation to Learning.' The superior man says: Learning should never cease."
Upon hearing this title and opening passage, some people nodded in approval.
"Right from the start, it grasps the proper way to write the upper argument on the theme of 'books.' Books are learning, and learning should never cease." Zhang Zhao also offered quite fair commentary.
They weren't just fawning over a colleague's praise because someone claimed this was the top essay.
As educators on the front lines—or rather, veteran grading teachers—
When reading compositions, just the title and opening paragraph alone could give them fifty percent certainty.
For this examination on the theme of 'books,' the upper argument was about learning.
In fact, the essence was 'An Exhortation to Learning.'
"What follows is even more spectacular."
Sun Kang raised his fingers slightly and continued excitedly: "Blue dye is extracted from the indigo plant, yet is bluer than the plant itself; ice forms from water, yet is colder than water. Wood, though straight enough to match the carpenter's line, when steamed and bent to make a wheel, becomes curved enough to match the compass. Even after drying in the sun..."
As he read aloud, these metaphors emerged, and everyone sat up straight, taking notice.
"Louder, this old man's hearing is poor."
One Grand Secretary even reminded him—they were all old fellows, after all, and needed the volume raised.
Sun Kang continued reading with rich emotion.
Whenever he reached a passage he particularly liked, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh in appreciation.
The other old men also seemed to drink it in like fine wine, completely immersed and engaged.
Good writing—this objectively existing thing—generally doesn't provoke much disagreement.
Of course, some trash gets popular because its audience has lowered standards, making it actually not good despite many people enjoying it.
But these Grand Secretaries—which of them hadn't achieved zhuangyuan or bangyan status?
For people whose aesthetic and intellectual cultivation had reached that level, encountering good writing was more exciting than seeing a peerless beauty.
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful."
One Grand Secretary tapped his fingers on the armrest, sighing with genuine admiration.
The Prince of Jin, present throughout, though always evaluated as mediocre, could still appreciate the caliber of this essay.
First paragraph: Blue dye surpasses its source.
Second paragraph: I once stood on tiptoe to see into the distance, but it's not as good as the broad view from climbing high.
Third paragraph: Therefore, without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand li...
From this essay, the excellent passages that could be excerpted—no, the famous quotes—were everywhere.
After finishing, Sun Kang paused, watching everyone with a smile at the corners of his mouth.
Just like someone who'd recommended a good show, waiting for praise.
"Let me see it."
Gu Yixin raised his hand.
Immediately, a young scholar took the examination paper from Sun Kang's hands and presented it with both hands to Gu Yixin.
"The language is simple, yet the words are vivid. More importantly, the reasoning is practical. From each paragraph to the next, there's an elevation of depth."
Zhang Zhao, the chief examiner for policy essays who wasn't particularly specialized in lyrical compositions, couldn't help but comment: "Each paragraph represents a progression in reasoning. Why we study, the function of studying, how to study. Moreover, the diction is extremely apt... It's as if grabbing my dull-witted student by the neck and admonishing him word by word."
"Too brilliant." Someone interjected. "Today's scholars only know that the purpose of studying is for the imperial examinations and official titles. But they don't understand what studying has actually changed in them."
"That final passage about perseverance wearing through metal and stone... wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"
"This student has truly studied well."
The more Zhang Zhao thought about it, the more remarkable he found it: "Even if this essay were placed among jinshi examination papers, it could still take first grade, absolutely."
"Among the juren candidates, there's actually someone with such profound insight?"
"Could it be Minister Sun's son?" someone speculated.
In this imperial examination, over seven thousand people participated nationwide, including quite a few young prodigies, and among them was one hot favorite for jieyuan.
That was Minister Sun's son, Sun Qian.
What made him different was that he participated in the imperial examinations exceptionally late.
Before age sixteen, he hadn't even taken the children's examination, focusing entirely on his studies.
Then at sixteen, he took the xiucai examination and achieved first place in all subjects, earning the title of 'Gold Yuan.'
At that time, his learning and wisdom already surpassed ordinary juren.
This year at eighteen, he was taking the juren examination.
Everyone knew that Minister Sun had his son take the examinations so late for only one purpose: to create a record unprecedented since the examinations began—winning first place three times consecutively.
The xiucai's Gold Yuan, the provincial examination's jieyuan, and the metropolitan examination's zhuangyuan.
The reason for hosting that birthday banquet inviting scholars wasn't just to marry off his daughter, but also to show off his son.
"It's somewhat like his style, yet not quite..." someone said. "I've read Sun Qian's 'Ode to the Crimson River.' His writing is extremely ornate and beautiful. While this 'Exhortation to Learning' also has vivid language and profound literary skill, one can clearly sense..."
Zhang Zhao said: "He's not trying hard."
Exactly.
What constitutes superior writing?
It's when any random line from my essay can be extracted and used as a famous quote.
Yet reading through the entire piece, you feel the language is quite concise.
"This essay's significance as a warning to young scholars across the realm is second to none."
Finally, Gu Yixin interrupted everyone's gossiping mood of 'guessing the author' and offered this assessment.
These words carried tremendous weight.
It was like saying the "Three Character Classic" was required memorization for elementary students.
Sun Kang agreed: "Also, all the scholars at the Imperial Academy—those conceited little brats—should be required to memorize the entire piece."
The Prince of Jin on the side was exceptionally nervous.
Because although he thought this essay was good, he truly hadn't imagined it would be this good...
The deep-seated fear of his teacher made him afraid to meet Gu Yixin's gaze.
"First grade, without question."
After Sun Kang spoke, he seemed somewhat conflicted: "However, it was said earlier that if the policy essay isn't good, it's impossible to achieve sub-yuan status..."
"He's already written 'An Exhortation to Learning.'"
Gu Yixin, who was typically stern and rigid, held this argumentative essay with the first trace of pleasure appearing on his face: "Even if his policy essay were blank, he should still be guaranteed a sub-yuan position."