Chapter 36: First-Class Scholar in the Imperial Examination, Member Lang
It was only later, through overheard conversations in the teahouses, that Xu Ning learned the truth. Meng Yangming and Meng Lingzhu had come to Mingdu City for revenge.
After meeting Xu Ning and exchanging the manuals, they had immediately located the home of a high-ranking minister. They had wiped out his entire family, leaving no one alive, in a single, brutal night.
The entire city of Mingdu buzzed with discussion about the shocking event. But no one did anything to Meng Yangming.
Even the imperial court, for all its power, dared not make things difficult for him.
This must be the oppressive aura of a Grandmaster, Xu Ning thought. One person, through sheer power and reputation, can silence an entire nation.
"It seems that Meng Yangming's original enemies, the ones who poisoned him, must have implicated this minister in Mingdu City," Xu Ning muttered to himself, piecing together the story.
As for why the imperial court didn't intervene, Xu Ning speculated on several possible reasons.
First, Meng Yangming might possess irrefutable evidence of the minister's crimes and collusion with his enemies. This evidence would prevent the court from speaking out publicly against him without exposing their own corruption.
Second, the oppressive aura of a Grandmaster was simply too strong. The court feared provoking him and suffering the same fate as the minister.
However, Xu Ning felt this second explanation alone was untenable. If Grandmasters were truly that powerful, able to slaughter ministers with impunity, wouldn't they be able to establish their own kingdoms? Could they simply replace emperors with whomever they wanted?
Therefore, Xu Ning suspected a third, more likely explanation. The royal family almost certainly possessed its own Grandmasters, or some other hidden power capable of dealing with such threats. Meng Yangming's actions were tolerated, not because the court was helpless, but because of the third reason.
The current situation at the palace was incredibly tense, with vicious factional infighting over the succession. No faction wanted to risk offending a powerful Grandmaster at this critical juncture, potentially driving him into the arms of their enemies. So, naturally, they were all ignoring Meng Yangming's actions, pretending they hadn't noticed.
These were just Xu Ning's speculations for now. He would need to ask Meng Yangming again to clarify, when the time was right.
However, Xu Ning wouldn't have the chance to ask in the short term. The imperial examinations had already begun.
Xu Ning had registered two days prior, and today was the day of the metropolitan examination.
After carefully packing his examination materials and supplies, Xu Ning headed to the examination hall.
This exam was attracting enormous attention. Undercurrents of political ambition swirled throughout Da Xuan, all focused on this event.
On the second floor of a teahouse across from the examination hall, Meng Yangming and Meng Lingzhu sat by the window, drinking tea and observing the crowd.
Seeing that Meng Lingzhu's gaze remained fixed on the examination hall entrance, Meng Yangming couldn't help but sigh. "Girl, why do I feel you're even more nervous than the actual candidates waiting outside? Are you still thinking about that kid Xu Ning?"
Meng Lingzhu blushed upon hearing this, her cheeks flushing. "Grandpa, I'm not! I'm just... curious about the results."
Meng Yangming wanted to say, Your thoughts are written all over your face. It's obvious to everyone. However, he didn't say anything and just smiled as he drank his tea, letting her be.
After a long while, Meng Lingzhu couldn't contain herself any longer. She asked, "Grandpa, do you think Xu Ning can pass this time? Become a Juren?"
Meng Yangming was surprised. "A Juren? You think he can become a successful provincial candidate?"
Meng Lingzhu nodded eagerly. "What else could he possibly become? He's already a Xiucai."
Meng Yangming said carefully, "Let me make this clear first, I'm not looking down on him. But becoming a Juren is extraordinarily difficult. The competition is fierce. I think it's a bit risky to assume he'll pass."
Meng Lingzhu immediately objected. "But Grandpa, he's a Jieyuan! He was the top scholar in the county examination! That means something!"
Meng Yangming shook his head patiently. "So what if he's a Jieyuan? Studying for these exams isn't like martial arts, where you can steadily reach a fixed level through practice."
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"The imperial examinations depend heavily on performance on the day, on the考官's preferences, on luck. How many scholars are called geniuses from childhood, only to fail miserably in the end? The provincial and metropolitan examinations will definitely have different questions, different graders. Who knows if he can still perform well under that pressure?"
Hearing Meng Yangming say this, Meng Lingzhu's eyes showed more worry than before.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the metropolitan examination concluded smoothly after several grueling days. Now, it was time to wait anxiously for the results!
This waiting process was tense for everyone, and Xu Ning was no exception.
After all, the result of this metropolitan examination was directly related to whether he could fulfill his teacher Qiao Hexuan's deepest wish. It also determined if he could qualify for the final palace examination.
Qiao Hexuan's lifelong goal was simply to cultivate a successful candidate in the provincial examination, a Juren. That alone would have validated his teaching.
Xu Ning, however, had set his sights higher. He wanted to bring back a Jinshi, a successful metropolitan graduate, for his aging teacher. The palace examination was the final key to achieving that Jinshi status.
More than ten days passed in agonizing suspense.
Finally, the day the results were announced arrived as scheduled.
Xu Ning didn't go to the announcement site. He had been notified in advance by an official messenger to wait at his inn for the results to be delivered. This was a rare honor.
This special treatment was usually reserved only for the top three candidates. It meant Xu Ning's ranking was almost certainly among the top three.
Sure enough, when the results were officially posted, a procession of messengers came to the inn with gongs and drums, announcing the good news to the entire neighborhood.
Upon learning the exact results, Xu Ning was somewhat incredulous.
First place. Top score in the metropolitan examination. He was now the Huiyuan.
It seems, Xu Ning thought, holding the official list in his hands, perhaps the imperial examinations aren't so difficult after all! First the Jieyuan, now the Huiyuan. Maybe I'm just naturally good at this.
First place in the county examination, first place in the metropolitan examination. He was now a double winner, a rare achievement.
If my teacher knew this, he would surely be overjoyed! Xu Ning thought, a warm feeling spreading through his chest.
Meanwhile, at the main results announcement site, Meng Yangming and Meng Lingzhu stared at the posted list, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets in shock.
Another top-ranking scholar. Xu Ning had exceeded their expectations once again.
Meng Lingzhu couldn't help but tease her grandfather, a triumphant smile on her face. "Grandpa, didn't you say he might not pass? That it was too risky?"
Meng Yangming couldn't help but rub his nose sheepishly, a wry smile on his face. "I... I underestimated him. Badly."
Meng Lingzhu then suddenly muttered to herself, her voice filled with wonder. "A double top scholar! Jieyuan and Huiyuan! Truly a peerless genius."
Meng Yangming added quietly, "Don't forget, he has another identity. A much more impressive one, perhaps."
Meng Lingzhu nodded in agreement. She hadn't forgotten that he was also a legendary divine physician, capable of curing the incurable.
How did he manage to do it all? It seemed like he could surpass others in everything he attempted, reaching heights that others couldn't even dream of.
There was another point Meng Yangming didn't mention aloud, but noticed clearly. Xu Ning was also a martial artist, and a skilled one at that.
Only Meng Yangming, with his Grandmaster's perception, had noticed this hidden depth.
Sometimes Meng Yangming would amuse himself with a thought. If, in the future, everyone assumed Xu Ning was just a weak, bookish scholar, easy to bully, and then some fool attacked him...
At that moment, Xu Ning would suddenly unleash a devastating set of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, or some other terrifying martial art.
Wouldn't that scene be absolutely hilarious? The ultimate surprise.
It's quite reasonable for a scholar like him to know the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, isn't it? After all, scholars need exercise too.
Then Meng Yangming secretly lamented that such an extraordinary person wasn't his granddaughter's husband. What a waste.
Should I just kidnap him and force him to marry my granddaughter? he wondered, only half-joking.
For the next few days, Xu Ning basically didn't leave his inn room. He practiced his martial arts diligently every day, savoring his newfound Innate Realm power.
After all, he was now a celebrity in the capital. Going out would definitely bring a lot of unwanted attention and trouble. So he simply didn't want to go out. He focused on practicing and quietly waiting for the final palace examination.
Meanwhile, the results of the metropolitan examination had finally reached the remote Shentong Village by official courier.
Qiao Hexuan held the official notice in his trembling hands. His entire body shook with overwhelming excitement.
"Top scholar! Top scholar! My student is the top scholar!" Qiao Hexuan kept murmuring the words over and over, unable to believe it. As he spoke, tears of joy streamed down his aged, weathered face.
Then, unable to contain his explosive excitement, Qiao Hexuan ran out of his small room and into the village square. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "He's the top scholar! My student has become the top scholar in the metropolitan examination! He's a first-class scholar!"
He shouted the news repeatedly, not stopping, his voice cracking with emotion.
He took the official results and ran to every single house in the village, showing everyone he met the notice and telling them the incredible news.
For so many years, the villagers had actually held him in quiet contempt. They sent their children to him to teach, but without any real hope. They just needed basic literacy.
This attitude had resulted in the children who came to study not taking it seriously. They never studied diligently, and none had ever succeeded.
Now, however, he had finally produced a scholar who passed the imperial examinations. And not just any scholar—the top scholar in the entire metropolitan examination.
His lifelong dream, the dream that had sustained him through decades of disappointment and ridicule, had finally, miraculously, come true.
---
In distant Nanling,
Xia Yun also learned of the results of the metropolitan examination through his own swift intelligence network. At this moment, he and his sister, Princess Xia Li, stood atop the high city gate, both gazing silently towards the far-off capital city of Mingdu.
"He did it, sister," Xia Yun said softly, a smile playing on his lips. "The Huiyuan. Our Mr. Xu Ning is now the Huiyuan."
Princess Xia Li said nothing, but her eyes held a light of their own as she stared towards the capital.