The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 55: Examination

Chapter 55: Examination

“I’ve reviewed your coursework, and it’s been completed quite well.”

The news of Zhao Yingzhong being carried to Jiahe spread like wildfire across the regions. It hadn’t been long since he left Youzhou, and already word came that he had fallen ill from exhaustion. Many trembled in fear, keeping their mouths tightly shut and watching their words and actions carefully, lest they end up like Zhao Yingzhong.

The Ministry of Rites was preparing for the Spring Examination. Xu Ying glanced over the preparations and, finding no issues, assigned Liu Xu and Tian An to oversee it. Zhang Yu seemed to want to say something but ultimately lowered his head and didn’t dare speak up.

The Spring Examination reminded Xu Ying of the imperial clan members at the Imperial Academy. Since their arrival in Youzhou, she hadn’t found a good opportunity to formally meet them. Seizing the moment while she had time, she decided to check on their situation.

Xu Ying brought Xu Lang along to visit the imperial relatives who had traveled from afar. Standing outside the window, she suddenly felt like a head teacher peeking through the window to observe the students’ classroom behavior.

It was quite a scene: the back row was completely asleep, the second and third rows from the back were drifting in and out of consciousness, and the middle rows were holding brushes but clearly not paying attention to the lecture. Only the children in the front three rows were bright-eyed and focused, nodding along intently to the teacher’s voice.

Xu Ying listened for a short while. The low, steady voice stirred her drowsiness, and she couldn’t help but yawn. She glanced at Xu Lang, who was listening with great interest.

“Who’s sneaking around out there?”

Road repairs were underway outside the academy, creating a clattering noise that disturbed the academician. He had gone out earlier to ask the workers to keep it down. The noise had stopped, but now he suspected someone was eavesdropping outsidedespite being driven away several times.

Hearing movement outside the door, the academician thought the eavesdroppers had grown bold enough to enter the courtyard. Furious, he halted his lecture, stormed over, and yanked the door open.

“I’ve told you not to come back”

The back door swung open abruptly, revealing two faces. The academician immediately bit his tongue, cutting off his words. His face pale, he bowed in salute: “Your Majesty! Your Highness the Grand Princess!”

The children in the room turned their attention to the back door. Hearing the academician’s address, they were startled but quickly realized what was happening. They turned and knelt toward the woman standing at the door, exclaiming, “Your Majesty!”

Caught off guard, Xu Ying quickly masked her embarrassment, uttered “Rise,” and strode inside.

“Who were you referring to earlier when you said ‘you people’?” Xu Ying asked, taking the academician’s seat and making conversation.

The academician’s aged face flushed with shame. He shuffled to the front row of desks, hunched over with his sleeves draped over the back of his hands, palms pressed together. Swallowing hard, he blinked uncomfortably and said, “Your Majesty, it is often women laborers who come here to eavesdrop. I mistook you for them and offended Your Majesty. I beg for your forgiveness.”

“Women laborers? Are you referring to the students from the Female Medical Academy?” Xu Lang frowned, studying the old academician, her brow furrowing deeper.

Xu Lang’s sudden identification of the individuals exposed the academician’s attempt to obscure the truth. Humiliated and annoyed, the academician shot a cold glare at Xu Lang, but with the emperor present, he had to focus all his energy on responding to her.

“As the Grand Princess said, they are indeed students from the Female Medical Academy. However, they were assigned to repair the road outside the academy but neglect their duties, instead engaging in improper activities…”

Just as the old professor’s emotions were about to flare up, a dry cough suddenly sounded outside the door. All eyes turned to see Liu Xu, who had arrived just in time to prevent the professor from continuing his words.

Upon hearing that Xu Ying had come to the Imperial Academy, Liu Xu had sensed trouble. Fortunately, he arrived promptly before the professor could provoke her anger, as no one could predict what Xu Ying might do in a fit of rage.

“Your Majesty’s presencehave you come to examine the heirs’ studies?” Liu Xu smoothly changed the subject.

Xu Ying’s face darkened as she fixed a cold stare on the old professor. “I am here to address matters concerning the Female Medical Academy. Professor, continue.”

Liu Xu clasped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, I have some knowledge of this matter. Originally, it was Gao Yun who led others to neglect their duties by attending the professor’s lecture outside, which displeased certain professors. I beg Your Majesty to investigate fairly.”

“Summon Gao Yun here.”

A palace maid beside Xu Ying acknowledged the order and departed. Liu Xu shot a warning glance at the old professor, urging him to choose his words carefully. Swallowing his indignation, the professor adopted a respectful posture.

Bold children secretly glanced up at Xu Ying, then at Liu Xu. Liu Xu stood casually, still observing the professor while ignoring the emperoryet Xu Ying said nothing, her temper remarkably patient.

During the summons’ interlude, Liu Xu diverted Xu Ying’s attention by discussing the children’s academic achievements. He began by highlighting Prince Yong’s Heir, of whom he was most satisfied: “The heir has thoroughly studied the ‘Book of Songs’ and can now identify the original passage from any excerpt while understanding the meaning of each phrase. I find this quite remarkable.”

When Prince Yong’s Heir was named, he showed no surprise, considering all praise and admiration his due. He stepped forward arrogantly to pay respects to Xu Ying.

Xu Ying gave the heir a indifferent glance without speaking, instead scanning the crowd. Her gaze swept over young faces until settling on a child with a stray hair sticking up from his forehead. Drowsy-eyed and standing dazedly, he appeared somewhat simple-minded.

“You, explain the meaning of this line: ‘Before dawn in the east, clothes are donned upside down, topsy-turvy, summoned by the lord’s call.'” Xu Ying randomly picked up a copy of the “Book of Songs” from the desk, flipped it open, and pointed at the child with the unruly hair.

All eyes followed Xu Ying’s finger to identify the childhe was Xu Chong, son of the Hengjiang Prince.

Xu Chong’s jaw dropped in astonishment, never expecting to be chosen. He shuffled forward slowly, scratching his head and ears, before finally stammering after a long pause, “Your Majesty, could you repeat that? I didn’t quite catch it…”

Prince Yong’s Heir confidently puffed out his chest, awaiting Xu Ying’s turn to question him.

Instead, sharp clapping echoed through the room as the emperor applauded and declared, “To know what you know and know what you do not knowthis is true knowledge. Excellent! That one so young understands this principle shows innate wisdom. With dedicated study, you are sure to achieve great things in time.”

Xu Chong, who had been anxiously bracing for humiliation, found himself inexplicably praised. Surprised and delighted, his drooping head snapped up, his dark eyes gleaming like freshly washed purple grapes.

“Your Majesty, is that true?” Xu Chong had never been called clever before; his presence in Youzhou was entirely due to Xu Lian’s influence. Yet the emperor had praised his intelligence!

Xu Ying smiled. “The word of a ruler is not given in jest.”

Everyone looked at Xu Chong with envy, while the overlooked Prince Yong’s Heir bit his lip secretly. It was then that Xu Ying turned her gaze to him and said, “So you are Prince Yong’s Heir? I’ve reviewed your courseworkit’s quite well done, but remember to guard against arrogance and impatience. There’s no need for everything to be perfect.”

Prince Yong’s Heir felt the peculiar glances directed at him from all around. It was as if he had been publicly slapped, making him wish he could dig a hole and disappear underground. He couldn’t bear to have even the slightest flaw.

Seeing Prince Yong’s Heir lower his head, Liu Xu grew anxious, making a mental note to stay behind after the session to comfort him.

Prince Yong’s Heir was indeed outstanding, but precisely because he had always succeeded too smoothly and perfectly, he couldn’t withstand the slightest setback. Perhaps as he grew older, this sensitivity would resolve itself.

But Liu Xu also feared that he might become disheartened and unable to recover, so he had specifically instructed the academic officials to look after him.

Unexpectedly, Xu Ying saw right through this and deliberately brought his issue to light. Liu Xu was furious, hoping only that Prince Yong’s Heir wouldn’t obsess over it.

In the time it took for this exchange, Gao Yun was summoned. On her way, she had already guessed what it was about, so she immediately presented the hempen cloth embroidered with ballads by the women.

“Your Majesty, these are ballads composed and embroidered by the women. Please take a look.”

Xu Ying took it curiously, only to be astonished upon seeing the embroidered characters. “They composed these themselves?”

Gao Yun nodded. “After I taught them the Thousand Character Classic, they cross-referenced the characters they had learned and embroidered this ballad.”

“The Thousand Character Classic?”

Was Gao Yun teaching literacy to the commoners?

And those women were learning so quickly!

Xu Ying was genuinely impressed.

Gao Yun glanced gratefully at the old academic official. “This is thanks to the academic official. The women were originally repairing the road outside the Imperial Academy when they accidentally overheard the young masters reciting lessons. They became so engrossed that it caused a misunderstanding with the academic official, and I never had the chance to explain. However, this incident sparked their interest in learning characters. I also believe that studying medicine requires literacy, so I decided to try teaching them the Thousand Character Classic.”

“This is excellent work. Are there enough books and paper? If not, you can take some from my stores.” Xu Ying was enthusiastic.

“Your Majesty, I borrowed some books from relatives and friends, which are sufficient for now. However, we are still short on brushes, ink, and paper.”

“Take some from the storeroom for use.” She remembered packing several large crates before leaving Chang’an and continuing to procure supplies after arriving in Youzhou. Paper was not in short supply here.

The old academic official, who had intended to accuse Gao Yun of misconduct, never expected her to be not only innocent but also meritorious. His lips twitched, and his face turned ashen.

Liu Xu held back the old academic official, who was leaning forward as if ready to step out at any moment, and shook his head slightly while meeting his gaze.

After resolving Gao Yun’s matter, Xu Ying encouraged a few average-performing children before departing under their excited gazes.

Once the session ended, the children gathered to chat, each sharing their thoughts on meeting the Emperor.

After being comforted by Liu Xu, Prince Yong’s Heir returned in low spirits. The others, seeing him, immediately asked, “What did Old Man Liu want with you?”

“Nothing important.” Just a bunch of useless words.

“Don’t be upset. His Majesty only said that today because Old Man Liu praised you. It wasn’t meant seriously.”

“Of course I know.” Prince Yong’s Heir lifted his chin, having realized this when he discovered His Majesty only praised mediocrities. Among those who performed well, His Majesty had singled him out alonethis was proof enough of his excellence.

Prince Yong’s Heir clenched his fist, “But His Majesty could still find flaws in me, which shows I’m truly not yet perfect. I must strive even harderthe day I earn His Majesty’s recognition will be the day of my fulfillment!”

Everyone present stared at Prince Yong’s Heir in astonishmentto think there would come a day when they witnessed him humbly lowering his head!

The others whom Xu Ying had praised blushed faintly. If Prince Yong’s Heir, so outstanding already, still studied diligently, how could those personally praised by His Majesty fall behind!

Since His Majesty had chosen them from among so many, they must possess some talentthey must not disappoint His Majesty’s expectations.

When family letters inquired whom His Majesty valued, all who were praised today picked up their brushes and wrote down their own names.

Author’s Note:

“Before the east grows bright, clothes are donned in disarray; Topsy-turvy, inside out, for the duke’s summons they obey.” Book of Songs · Odes of Qi · Before the East Grows Bright

“To know what you know and know what you don’t know is true knowledge.” The Analects

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