northernbook Chapter 23: Verbal and written criticism
Chapter 23: Verbal and written criticism
Chapter Twenty-Three: Verbal and Written Criticism
The words echoed in the examination room, undoubtedly dropping a bombshell and causing the room to boil over once again.
"A saint descended to become a child scholar? Ye Ru is actually a child scholar."
"No wonder he can utter such profound words. He is truly a genius and a polymath. We scholars can only look up to him in awe."
"I'm so ashamed."
Upon hearing that Ye Ru was a student who had passed the preliminary examination, the examination room erupted as if hot oil had been poured into boiling water.
Master Sun collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling. He had framed a mere child prodigy.
"No...impossible! How could this be!"
Wang Xiaoyang's face turned pale, and he took two steps back, pointing at Ye Ru and muttering to himself.
He had tried to undermine Ye Ru's literary reputation time and again, but his efforts backfired, making Ye Ru's literary fame known throughout Qingyun County and the world!
"This exhortation to study is practically tailor-made for you. You will surely surpass your teacher in the future. The only ones who can be your teachers are probably great Confucian scholars or semi-saints."
Chen Sijun sighed, then said:
"In my entire life, I have only comprehended one sentence from the Book of Changes. Today, I bestow it upon you to help you on your path to sainthood. Listen carefully."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ru was overjoyed, for the Book of Changes was the most wondrous pre-Qin classic in ancient China.
Even in modern times, the Book of Changes remains extremely obscure and difficult to understand.
The sentence that the other party had spent half his life trying to understand would definitely benefit him greatly.
Everyone present stared wide-eyed. Although these words were addressed to Ye Ru, they believed that hearing them would be of great use in refining one's talent and solidifying one's literary resolve.
"The sky is moving vigorously, and a gentleman strives to constantly strive for self-improvement. The terrain is prosperous, and a gentleman carries things with great virtue."
boom!
At this moment, the Temple of All Saints suddenly emitted a surge of brilliant talent, soaring straight into the sky and directly dispelling the dark clouds and thunder.
Immediately afterwards, a sacred voice descended from heaven and began reciting this sentence:
"As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement; as earth's nature is receptive, a gentleman should cultivate virtue and bear all things with magnanimity!"
The divine words descended from heaven and could be heard throughout a radius of a hundred miles.
"Who consulted the Arbitration Institute of All Saints and actually got the arbitration approved? This is something that happens only once in a century."
"It seems to be from Wenxing Private School."
"No way, has Wenxing Private School been blessed by the God of Literature? It's only been a few years, and it has already produced two geniuses."
The county magistrate said jokingly.
"Impossible! The Wenqu Star shines only once every hundred years. If the Wenqu Star were to shine on our Qingyun County, I would run naked around Qingyun County ten times right here and now!"
Magistrate Zhang seemed to have drunk too much. He shook his head and laughed loudly as he spoke. However, the words coming from outside the door almost made him fall off his chair.
"Report! Your Excellency, the star of literature has appeared at the examination hall of Wenxing Private School, and a divine voice has been heard!"
A soldier stumbled in, his face beaming with excitement.
These words caused the expressions on the three people's faces to freeze instantly.
The three looked at each other, their throats bobbing, and a look of horror crept onto their faces.
The cup in his hand also crashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.
"Go quickly, go quickly!"
The three magistrates, Zhang and his companions, didn't even bother with their wine and hurriedly led the two towards Wenxing Private School.
Not only the government office, but also the other two major private schools and every household were filled with the lingering sound, and people looked up at the sky.
The twenty characters of the Book of Changes descended from the sky, transforming into a series of characters that surrounded Ye Ru like runes. Then, one character at a time, they were poured directly into Ye Ru's brow.
boom!
Each character became a brick, building Ye Ru's library, which eventually grew larger and larger.
At the same time, Ye Ru's talent gradually increased.
Under the same literary rank, the higher one's talent and the stronger one's abilities, the more talent one can mobilize.
The Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) automatically turned to the Book of Changes, and these twenty characters were marked in red.
Ye Ru looked inside the library and saw twelve new characters on its walls.
"Strive for self-improvement, cultivate virtue and be a sage within and a king without."
"Profound meaning in concise words?"
Ye Ru was overjoyed. With these profound words, he could eliminate the treacherous officials who were lazy, narrow-minded, and lacked self-respect.
"Li Chong, you can't distinguish right from wrong, you framed others, and you even formed a clique for private gain. You've committed heinous crimes. What should your punishment be?"
Seeing Ye Ru illuminated by the God of Literature, his name resounding like thunder, his body cleansed by divine words, Chen Sijun looked at Li Chong and said coldly.
“My lord, I was merely testing whether Ye Ru possessed exceptional talent. He is a student of my Wenxing Private School. As the sage said, ‘Only in the cold of winter do we know that the pine and cypress remain evergreen.’ Isn’t it through experiencing setbacks that one can achieve sainthood?”
"Now I have confirmed that Ye Ru's talent is indeed unparalleled in the world, and he is a model for our human race."
Master Li forced a fawning smile and pleaded hastily.
Ye Ru looked coldly at Master Li, who, even as his scheme was exposed, still did not forget to frame him.
These words are outwardly flattering but inwardly derogatory. If Ye Ru accepts this title of "unparalleled in the world, a model for humanity," he will inevitably be perceived as arrogant and conceited by others, thus facing public condemnation.
"Stubborn to the end, today our Arbitration Court declares that Ye Ru is talented, while you, Li Chong, lack the spirit of Huaizhou. You are hereby stripped of your scholar's rank and sentenced to immediate execution! As a warning to others!"
Chen Sijun's face also darkened. The scholar, enraged, uttered sacred words, launching a verbal and written attack, deserving death for every single word!
A huge character for "execute" was uttered, transforming into a sword of talent that directly severed Li Chong's head.
Blood splattered, startling Wang Xiaoyang so much that he collapsed onto his backside.
"The exam continues, and no one may interfere with the order of the examination room."
Chen Sijun casually uttered a sentence and once again used the Holy Eye of Heaven to monitor everyone.
"That old scholar is really muddle-headed, so muddle-headed!"
Upon receiving news of Sun Chong's death, Fang Zifeng sighed and cursed.
Because of such a major change, many people have lost the will to take the exam.
"What just happened? Who triggered the auspicious star of literature and the sacred sound that pierced our ears?"
When Wen Zhubu and the others arrived at the Wenxing Private School Examination Hall, they immediately asked.
"It was Ye Ru. Master Li framed Ye Ru, making Ye Ru seek the approval of the public arbitrators, which was successfully passed. Now Master Li is guilty of a crime punishable by death and has been executed."
Fang Zifeng shook his head and said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing that it was still Ye Ru, the three of them showed a look of shock once again.
Ye Ru, however, showed no signs of fluctuation. On the contrary, after being illuminated by the Wenqu Star, his thoughts became even more agile.
In less than half a day, Ye Ru finished the poems and the history of great Confucian scholars. After finishing the last word, Ye Ru breathed a sigh of relief, handed in the paper ahead of schedule, and left.
"So what if he's arrogant and conceited, blessed by the God of Literature! His interpretation of the classics is far inferior to that of the Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) on the notice board! As long as I concentrate on solving the problem, I'll definitely be the top scholar this time!"
Liu Zhi watched Ye Ru leave, his anger burning. "He has such talent, yet he's so careless. He's utterly hopeless."
Wang Xiaoyang was completely flustered and only wanted to go back to his father as soon as possible to discuss a solution.
Even if their family were prime ministers, they wouldn't be able to protect themselves once they were under the scrutiny of the Arbitration Council.
"How did the test go?"
When Chief Clerk Wen saw Ye Ru come out, he said...
"Ye Ru is a genius, and he should be able to easily become the top scholar this time."
The county magistrate also said with a smile.
However, what Ye Ru said next made everyone frown.
"Is it permissible to use the words of sages in the interpretation of scriptures? Would this be considered plagiarism or a conflict with the sacred doctrine?"