“After investigation by the Ministry of Rites, it was confirmed that certain students had indeed obtained the exam questions for the Imperial Examination’s essay and policy discussion sections beforehand. The Minister and Vice Minister were greatly disappointed by this and ordered the annulment of all results for these sections, requiring all students to retake the exams. Considering that the cheating students were first-time offenders, the Ministry has decided not to pursue further punishment for now. However, they warned all candidates to maintain integrity. Should any future incidents of cheating occur, regardless of the individuals involved or their reasons, the culprits will be disqualified and banned from taking the Imperial Examinations for life.”
The Ministry’s proclamation hit the scholarly community like a stone thrown into boiling water, instantly causing a massive uproar.
Leaving aside the panic of Dong Peng and Wu Tai, Xiao Jingduo felt a great sense of relief upon seeing the announcement.
He had already prepared himself for the worst, but the outcome turned out to be much better than expected. A simple retake? No problem. He would prove with his own strength that he had no need to cheat.
The other candidates were abuzz with speculation about the cheating scandal. Who were the culprits? How had they managed to get their hands on the questions? While some were dissatisfied with the Ministry’s leniency, most welcomed the opportunity for a second chance.
After all, who wouldn’t want to retake that devilishly difficult essay question?
However, on the day of the retake, as the test papers were distributed, the entire room collectively gasped.
Even Xiao Jingduo raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The essay topic was, once again, “Tian Wen”.
The exact same passage. The exact same theme. Even the phrasing of the question was identical—completely unchanged.
Xiao Jingduo looked at the topic and couldn’t help but chuckle. The examiners were bold, perhaps even arrogant, to reuse the same question for both exams. Many had complained about the essay’s obscure subject, especially with the prior scandal. But the examiners simply reissued the original question, daring anyone to voice further complaints.
When exam content is leaked by officials, it’s devastating.
The examination hall erupted in groans of despair. Many candidates regretted not studying the original question more thoroughly. Who could have predicted that the retake would feature the exact same topic?
Yet, among the candidates, there were a select few who remained calm—or even elated—and quickly began writing.
After the first exam, most students had relaxed and indulged in leisure activities. Only a small number had continued to study the previous questions diligently. Naturally, this group now reaped significant rewards. Although the Ministry’s decision seemed unconventional, it was undeniably brilliant.
Those who continued to study even after the exam demonstrated exceptional diligence and perseverance—qualities highly valued in government service. For those who had neglected the question, their only chance to stand out among the diligent was to be extraordinarily intelligent and talented, capable of outshining their peers even under such extraordinary circumstances. This exam now served as a test of either relentless hard work or exceptional brilliance—qualities the court sought in its officials.
Unfortunately for them, Xiao Jingduo had thoroughly reviewed the essay topic beforehand. As a result, he wrote swiftly, and the quality of his essay surpassed that of the previous attempt.
However, his streak of good fortune ended when the policy discussion portion began in the afternoon.
Due to the earlier leak, the difficulty of the policy topics had increased significantly. The questions were obscure and challenging to tackle. Xiao Jingduo sighed—he had expected that the retake wouldn’t be so straightforward.
When the exam concluded, Xiao Jingduo personally witnessed a young official enter and seal the names on all the papers in front of everyone. Seeing Xiao Jingduo’s surprised expression, the official explained, “The previous leak had severe consequences. To ensure fairness, this time all exam papers will be anonymized. Whether one succeeds or not will depend entirely on their own ability.”
Upon hearing this, students from humble backgrounds were overjoyed, while those from more privileged families looked despondent.
Anonymous grading was a bold move, nearly eliminating the influence of family background.
After the exam, Bai Jiayi specifically sought out Xiao Jingduo and asked, “Xiao Jingduo, how confident are you this time?”
Hearing such a question, Xiao Jingduo raised an amused eyebrow and looked at Bai Jiayi with a hint of teasing. “What’s this? Are you worried?”
Bai Jiayi, who originally had about 60% confidence in passing, now felt a little uneasy without the added advantage of his family name. He sighed deeply and said, “Nothing more to say. This is good too. Let skill decide the victor—I’ll admit defeat willingly.”
Xiao Jingduo said nothing, simply clapping Bai Jiayi firmly on the shoulder. Bai Jiayi returned the gesture with a punch.
No more words were needed.
After parting ways with Bai Jiayi, Xiao Jingduo headed toward the Marquis of Dingyong’s residence. As he mounted his horse, he caught a glimpse of Dong Peng and Wu Tai slipping through the crowd.
Sitting atop his horse, Xiao Jingduo adjusted his reins while discreetly observing the two.
The retake arrangement greatly favored Xiao Jingduo. With everyone permitted to take the exam, the cheaters were not exposed but instead blended seamlessly with the rest of the candidates.
This was ideal. As long as Dong Peng and Wu Tai’s identities remained hidden, Xiao Jingduo’s involvement in the leak would never come to light.
Yet Xiao Jingduo had to consider the possibility: what if Dong Peng and Wu Tai failed the exam and, out of spite, decided to drag someone else down with them?
Dong Peng suddenly felt a scrutinizing gaze upon him. His hair stood on end as he turned around, only to see a sea of people and an opulent noble’s carriage.
Was he imagining things? Dong Peng shook his head. The past few days of anxiety must have been playing tricks on his mind.
Ministry of Rites.
A reviewing official picked up a test paper and immediately showed a look of surprise and delight. He quickly called over his colleagues: “Come and see, this essay is simply outstanding!”
The paper soon circulated around the room, and eventually, it reached the chief examiner’s hands.
Unlike the others, the Chief Examiner—Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites—knew much more. As soon as he read the essay, his heart skipped a beat.
Wasn’t this the same essay written on that note? Could someone have dared to cheat?
However, he quickly dismissed this suspicion. After reading the entire piece, even the seasoned Vice Minister could not hide his astonishment.
It seemed far more plausible that the essay on the note was a poor imitation of this one. The real essay was leagues ahead in quality.
The Vice Minister read through it carefully again, each reading only deepening his amazement. Remarkable! He had been frustrated by the disjointed and clumsy imitation on the note, but now, seeing the original, he felt a sense of clarity and satisfaction.
A genius, indeed! Clearly, this essay wasn’t composed hastily during the exam. The candidate must have spent considerable time refining it after the initial exam. Who could have predicted that the topic would remain unchanged in the retake, allowing this person to shine?
The Vice Minister gazed at the bold title “Tian Wen” at the top of the page. Far from finding it arrogant, he admired the candidate’s straightforward confidence.
Seeing the Vice Minister’s expression, the other officials quickly understood. One of them suggested, “This essay is exceptional. Why don’t we rank it first?”
The comment pulled the Vice Minister back to reality. His smile faded, and after a moment of contemplation, he decisively shook his head. “Inappropriate.”
The other reviewers were puzzled. “Why?”
The Vice Minister remained silent. He couldn’t reveal his concerns about the potential connection between this essay and the suspicious note. Although he couldn’t piece together the exact relationship, he felt it was better to avoid unnecessary complications.
Stroking his beard, the Vice Minister finally spoke with an air of mystery, “This essay is indeed excellent. However, ranking it first would draw too much attention. Let’s place it second instead.”
And so, the brilliant “Heaven’s Question” was ranked second—not for any flaw in its content, but precisely because it was too perfect.
The events of the past life unfolded once again as expected.
Once all the exam papers were reviewed, the pasted names were ready to be revealed. Everyone eagerly unsealed the paper for “Tian Wen”, only to find it belonged to a little-known newcomer, Xi Wenji.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn’t Dong Peng, Wu Tai, or even Xiao Jingduo. He had initially refrained from placing Xi Wenji first due to suspicions of cheating, but now it seemed he had unfairly wronged him.
The Vice Minister flipped through the rest of the successful candidates’ papers and soon came across Xiao Jingduo’s name.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. At least this one had real talent, making the Crown Prince’s efforts to protect him worthwhile.
As for the suspected cheaters, Dong Peng and Wu Tai, they had faded into obscurity, failing to make the list.
The rankings for this round of the jinshi exams were finalized. Officials from the Ministry of Rites eagerly gathered to review the papers of the newly minted scholars. The Vice Minister didn’t stop them; after watching for a while, he finally instructed, “That’s enough. The papers can be read later. For now, summon the person with the best handwriting to transcribe the official ranking list.”
“Exactly, Minister. The rankings will be announced in two days. We can’t afford any delays.”
The release of the *jinshi* rankings was a major event in Chang’an. Early in the morning, the eastern wall of the Ministry of Rites was surrounded by several dense layers of people, packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through. Among them were anxious examinees and curious onlookers.
“Why are there so many people?”
Xiao Jingduo had come to see the rankings but was soon blocked by the crowd. Hearing Bai Jiayi muttering in complaint, Xiao Jingduo shared his helplessness. “It seems the locals have all come to watch the spectacle. I never knew the release of the *jinshi* rankings could attract so much attention.”
“The jinshi exam had its share of drama—first, the controversial exam topics, then the cheating scandal. After all that turmoil, it’s only natural that the entire city wants to see the outcome. Honestly, if I weren’t a candidate myself this year, I’d want to join the crowd too,” Bai Jiayi said with a hint of grievance.
But now, they were the ones being watched.
Just as Xiao Jingduo was about to respond, his eyes suddenly sharpened. “The Ministry of Rites staff is here.”
The crowd instantly erupted into excitement. Those at the back, impatient to catch a glimpse, began pushing forward, while those at the front, caught off guard, were shoved toward the wall.
Complaints, shouts, and general chaos ensued. Xiao Jingduo and Bai Jiayi, standing further back, quickly reacted and managed to avoid being trampled. Bai Jiayi, itching with curiosity, was about to squeeze his way to the front when Xiao Jingduo firmly pulled him back.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Jiayi turned around, puzzled.
“There’s something off about the ranking announcement,” Xiao Jingduo replied. Although he couldn’t see what was happening up front, his instincts told him something was amiss. “The jinshi ranking release should be accompanied by bell ringing and drum beating. Why would they just walk out with the list?”
“Huh?” Bai Jiayi’s eyes widened in surprise. Moments later, those who had pushed their way to the front let out groans of disappointment. Many began to shout, “Why is it just a blank sheet with names on it?”
As expected, Xiao Jingduo’s expression remained calm, as if he had predicted this outcome. Bai Jiayi finally gave in, thoroughly impressed.
“What is the Ministry of Rites up to?”
The officials of the Ministry of Rites, watching from behind the door, waited until the students outside had calmed down and ensured no further disruptions would occur. Then, they lit firecrackers and struck the red drum. “Jinshi rankings—released!”
This time, the true list was posted on the eastern wall. Four sheets of yellow paper were affixed to the tall wall, with the words “Ministry of Rites Examination Hall” written in light ink at the top. Below, in bold black characters, were the neatly transcribed names of the successful candidates.
The top spot, the zhuangyuan (top scholar), was someone unfamiliar. In second place was Xi Wenji, and just a few names down, Xiao Jingduo found his own.
Xiao Jingduo, native of Chang’an, ranked fourth in the jinshi examination.
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