Chapter 299: Rank Difficult to Determine
“Wen Xuanning.”
In the Wenyuan Pavilion within the Imperial Palace, this name was repeatedly mentioned.
It was June 28th, two days before the results were to be posted.
However, the debate over Wen Xuanning's ranking had been ongoing for two days, and a decision remained elusive.
“This official believes that Wen Xuanning should be the Examination Champion,” Li Shangshu stated righteously.
“This official believes that Wen Xuanning’s performance was not as good as Xuezis Liu Sheng, and therefore he cannot be the Examination Champion,” Ling Shangshu retorted stiffly.
The two argued vehemently, drawing glances from everyone, whose eyes subtly drifted towards Wen Shoufu Wen Siyuan, who sat at the head of the table, drinking tea from a large bowl.
Also present as examiners were Mei Yuanzheng of the National Academy, Yan Xueshi, and Hanshan Jun.
Being well-informed individuals, they had naturally heard the rumors circulating in the capital these past few days—talk of wife-snatching and cuckolding. Especially seeing Ling Shangshu's current strong stance, their gazes became even more profound.
Wen Shoufu felt these gazes, wiped a tea-soaked beard, and said in a booming voice, “What are you looking at me for? Just pretend I’m not here.”
Although his words were a bit crude, everyone was already used to it.
Yes, although Wen Siyuan’s name sounded refined and scholarly, he was actually a burly, seven-foot-tall man.
It was unknown why so many women liked him.
Not only women, but even Your Majesty favored him, promoting him directly from Taichang Temple Shaoqing to Cabinet Shoufu, instantly elevating him from Li Shangshu’s subordinate to his Manager.
Fortunately, Li Shangshu had a good mindset and seemed completely unconcerned by this matter, immediately addressing him as “this official,” with no psychological barrier to respecting Wen Siyuan as his superior.
Everyone was deeply impressed by this.
At this moment, the good-minded Li Shangshu was clearly clashing with Ling Shangshu, saying, “Liu Sheng did not even receive the Grand Divine Official's approval, which indicates she is not a person chosen by divine will, and is unworthy of being the top scholar.”
“I disagree. Divine will is unfathomable; how can you and I presume to guess it? If you ask me, the Examination rules were set by the Supreme God. Since she ultimately won by obtaining so much faith value, doesn't that precisely indicate divine will is with her?” Ling Shangshu said expressionlessly.
“Ling Fu, I see you’re being stubborn.”
“Indeed, my stomach has been upset recently, and I can’t eat greasy food,” Ling Shangshu coldly replied.
Everyone who heard it knew the words had a hidden meaning, implying that Li Shangshu was glib and only knew how to flatter Wen Shoufu.
But Wen Shoufu showed no reaction, as if it truly had nothing to do with him.
Mei Yuanzheng had been less talkative since participating in this Examination. At this moment, he sat quietly, observing the quarrel.
Yan Xueshi followed Mei Yuanzheng's lead, and besides, she disliked interfering in court affairs, preferring to focus on scholarship, so she also remained silent.
Now, everyone already knew that what appeared to be a struggle for the Examination Champion actually represented different ideological currents behind the scenes.
But who dared to speak such a thing aloud?
Hanshan Jun dared.
His status was special; some things others dared not say, he could.
“I don’t understand. Originally, according to the Examination rules, it should be ranked by faith value, so just rank by the peak value. How simple a matter is that?” Hanshan Jun said directly. “By that calculation, Liu Sheng is the highest, indisputably.”
“But she did not participate in the battle of faith for a long time in the middle, and even won by trickery at the end,” Li Shangshu reminded him.
“It was always about using one's own abilities; there were no requirements for methods. If there were requirements for winning methods, the illusion would have already stated them,” Yan Xueshi retorted.
In her view, it was clearly a very simple matter, so why was it so complicated now?
She continued, “If we were still grading papers, needing to divide them into upper, middle, and lower tiers, and needing to consider whether there was subjective bias from the examiners, the current Examination method can directly output values, and these values are what we have been monitoring. They cannot be faked, so why not adopt them directly?”
“Moreover, if adjustments are truly to be made, then what standard will be used? How will the rankings be determined? This is not a matter of just the first or second place, but involves thousands of Xuezis!”
Yan Xueshi frowned tightly, finding the thought of the subsequent workload unimaginable.
Upon hearing this, Ling Shangshu nodded in agreement and said coldly, “Yan Xueshi is absolutely right. Does Li Shangshu perhaps think that I, Ling, would tamper with the values? Do you not trust them?”
“Ling Shangshu is mistaken. I, Li, know that Ling Shangshu is most upright and would never falsify anything here,” Li Shangshu said with a smile. “I, Li, just feel that your ideas are probably still stuck in the past.”
“Yan Xueshi has probably been in the National Academy for too long and doesn’t know,” Li Shangshu said with a smile, his hawk-like eyes narrowing, a hint of mockery in them. “But Hanshan Jun, Ling Shangshu, Your Majesty’s intentions now… how could you not know?”
Upon hearing this, Hanshan Jun and Ling Shangshu’s expressions subtly stiffened.
Mei Yuanzheng spoke coldly, “Please enlighten us, Li Shangshu.”
“Old Mei is truly too polite, and truly feigning ignorance,” Li Shangshu’s eyes drifted indifferently towards Wen Shoufu, then returned.
“It seems this old man is too old to distinguish what is clear and what is muddled,” Mei Yuanzheng said coldly. “Fine, tomorrow I will submit my resignation and retire to my hometown.”
At this moment, Wen Shoufu slowly began to speak.
“Mei Yuanzheng, don’t say such angry words. The National Academy cannot do without you, and Tang Country cannot do without you. You know that.”
“Don’t even write that resignation letter; even if it reaches Your Majesty, Your Majesty will not approve it.”
Then, he said to Li Shangshu, “Speak clearly. You always beat around the bush.”
Wen Shoufu was also impolite to his former superior, not bothering to consider Li Shangshu’s reaction, and turned to the others, saying:
“Your Majesty’s meaning is already very clear. He said that now is a time of trouble, and internal division is unacceptable.”
“Especially this imperial Examination, which is the beginning of everything, must not cause more trouble.”
“The court is in need of talent, and it intends to use this imperial Examination to screen for capable individuals. We must not give up eating for fear of choking, and thereby dishearten the Xuezis of the world.”
Li Shangshu immediately cupped his hands and said, “Wen Shoufu’s teaching is right. This official has learned.”
Wen Shoufu then said to everyone, “Li Shangshu also has a point. Your Majesty now values the ability to connect with the Supreme God the most, and the battle of faith is the most important test.”
“Only those who receive the Supreme God’s blessing can truly become His agents in the human world; otherwise, they can only rely on cunning methods…”
Ling Shangshu directly interrupted Wen Shoufu, “What do you mean by cunning methods? Are Liu Sheng’s skills not divinely bestowed?”
“Moreover, isn't divine protection for humanity precisely for the people to live in peace and prosperity?” Hanshan Jun also said, frowning. “In my opinion, among all those cities, the one truly loved by the common people and with the best livelihood development is Liu Sheng’s.”
Mei Yuanzheng gave a cold smile, saying nothing.
“Have you all forgotten?” Li Shangshu said with a smile.
“Our Examination tests one’s ability to become a Divine Official, not how to be a good City Lord. Governing the country and bringing peace to the land, that is the content Your Majesty examines in the Hall Examination.”
He paused, then continued, “So now, what must first be obtained is the recognition of the divine, which here means the Grand Divine Official's recognition, not the recognition of the common people.”
Hanshan Jun, however, could not agree with Li Shangshu’s words: “Isn’t the source of faith value the common people? How can you say that the common people’s recognition is not important?”
“Hanshan Jun did not come from the lower strata, so perhaps he is unaware.” Li Shangshu’s long beard concealed a faint, mocking smile at the corner of his mouth, his expression inscrutable. “As officials, what we must first do is pass the imperial Examination, and layer by layer gain the recognition of the examiners, and then Your Majesty, not the common people.”
“From top to bottom, it has always been so.”
After Li Shangshu finished speaking, he remained silent, regardless of the complex and unspoken expressions on everyone’s faces.
Wen Shoufu nodded, indicating: “Li Shangshu’s words are a bit crude, not pleasant to hear, but they are reasonable.”
“Of course, these words, we just say them among ourselves here; don’t shout them outside. You also know, the common people don’t like to hear them.”
His face still held a hearty smile, but the gloom in his eyes revealed a warning.
Subsequently, Wen Shoufu changed the subject.
“However, since you all keep arguing incessantly, why not leave it to Your Majesty to decide?”
“Wen Shoufu is right; let’s leave it to Your Majesty’s judgment,” Li Shangshu immediately echoed.
Once these words were uttered, who dared to deny them?
The results of the Examination naturally required Your Majesty’s final judgment, and seeking Your Majesty’s opinion in advance was normal.
What could they say?
They could only say: “Wen Shoufu is absolutely right.”
Yesterday’s chapter just happened to take place on June 27th, what a coincidence!
Continuing today!