The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 42 - 38: Renowned

Chapter 42: Chapter 38: Renowned

"You shall one day be a scholar for the world."

This exclamation from the Academic Supervisor sent shockwaves through the examination hall.

A child does not speak of the strange and supernatural.

The last time Xu Qing shocked the Saint’s Image, it was certainly astonishing, but afterward, many people would consider it a coincidence or the like.

Of course, official articles would definitely report it as an auspicious omen.

But in people’s hearts, there’s still something lacking.

Academician Zhou’s phrase "scholar for the world" is even more valuable than this examination’s top scorer.

There’s no other reason for this than Xu Qing being handpicked by Magistrate He for the top position in the prefectural examination.

Belonging to a political foe’s nomination.

Regardless of whether Academician Zhou recognized Xu Qing, it was enough to show that Xu Qing’s talent truly moved him.

Moreover, it’s an extraordinary talent to deserve the evaluation of "scholar for the world" from a provincial Academic Administrator.

Throughout history, those who have merited such high praise as "scholar for the world" from an Academic Administrator are recorded in the annals of history.

Although Xu Qing’s evaluation uses the words "one day" rather than "today," it is still remarkable.

For there are similar assessments in our dynasty too, like when the Grand Secretary, at the age of thirteen attending the regional examinations, was appraised by the governor as, "This child will one day surpass me in rank."

However, the story did not end well, as the governor felt his age was too young, and a thirteen-year-old Scholar would be too shocking to the norms, and thus, did not pass him.

And that same governor, who had the chance for reinstatement after the Grand Secretary entered the cabinet, ended up being flatly opposed by the youngest Elder in history.

The reasoning was straightforward: the man was too old, and it would be cruel to make him suffer through the bureaucracy again.

Pitying me for my youth back then, today pitying you for your age.

Both examples of the paradigm of respecting the old and loving the young.

The rank of a governor is higher than that of an Academic Administrator, and the regional examination is more significant than the provincial examination.

But the outcomes are different.

Therefore, Xu Qing’s status today also stands fully upright.

Of course, he is still only a "scholar for the world" in prospect. In the eyes of scholars, there are still many rungs to climb. For instance, the crown jewel of South Zhili scholars is one, followed by "scholar for the world" and other kinds, with the highest scholar distinction being "Exemplar for the World."

Typically, to receive that "distinction," one must at least have a family background of four generations of high officials.

Naturally, there are lower statuses within scholar circles as well, many of which are group debuts. Such as the Four Gentlemen from Jiangzuo or the Eight Eccentrics of Jiangning...

The somewhat more impressive accolades among the locals include titles like "Four Great Talents of South Zhili," but being dubbed a "talent" usually implies a literary background, which doesn’t carry as much weight in the officialdom.

To play the role of a guest would be demeaning oneself; overall, it could lead to some awkwardness.

Among the examinees, beyond the shock, there were quite a few lamentations.

The Great Grandmaster is muddled.

Some even suspected, what sort of flattery did Xu Qing write that made the Great Grandmaster so comfortable he gave such an appraisal?

By this time, Yan Shan had already approached the Academic Supervisor and saw the content in the middle to the latter part of the exam paper.

"To speak of laws as new or old, one must first discuss people as young or old. The old often ponder the past; the young invariably envision the future..."

"Extraordinary achievements, arduous tasks, lie with the youth."

Yan Shan couldn’t help but read it aloud.

How could Yan Shan, also a young man, not be moved by this spirit of "if not me, then who" in the young? His morale was lifted by their boldness.

It was after reciting, he realized Xu Qing’s essay also implicitly praised the Grand Secretary and himself.

Years ago, as a thirteen-year-old sitting the regional exam, the Grand Secretary was not selected due to his youth.

Now, Xu Qing promotes "youth," praising the Grand Secretary, and also suggesting to the Academic Supervisor not to underestimate him because of his age but to recognize the vital fresh blood that the youth bring to the court.

For a young Scholar title is not easily granted.

To be a three-time top scorer as a teenager is even rarer in this world.

Xu Qing’s essay exudes an unmistaken determination, a charisma that screams "if not me, then who."

As a core supporter of the Grand Secretary’s faction, Academician Zhou could not possibly say "the young are inadequate." Should this viewpoint leak, it might even prompt the Grand Secretary to question if Academician Zhou harbors any resentments towards him?

Which could impact his career!

Yan Shan’s mind buzzed. He couldn’t remember Xu Qing’s essay anymore. The words seemed to ultimately boil down to one sentence,

"I am determined to claim this young top scorer, even the Hao Tian God can do nothing about it."

Academician Zhou didn’t fuss over Yan Shan’s lapse in decorum, but instead continued to speak to Xu Qing, "You must be Xu Qing, the top scorer this time is you."

Initially, Academician Zhou didn’t recognize Xu Qing by face, but he knew this session’s top scorer from Jiangning Prefecture was just a teenager, and combining this with the quality of the present essay, with Academician Zhou’s intelligence and experience, how could he fail to recognize the individual?

After Academician Zhou spoke, he unsealed the name label, and indeed, it was Xu Qing. Without waiting for Xu Qing’s gratitude, he directly said, "You may withdraw now."

He then meticulously scrutinized Xu Qing’s essay once again.

Well done!

The key to governing a country lies in nurturing people.

This essay is precisely in line with his Heart Intent.

Because nurturing is the duty of the Academic Administrator.

He was just worried about the positioning issue within his own Reform Faction, but with this essay, he can sufficiently persuade the Grand Secretary to bolster the Academic Administrator’s authority.

Moreover, Xu Qing’s original position meant that selecting him would prove Academician Zhou’s integrity, beneficial for his reputation.

Thus, whether Xu Qing was chosen by a political adversary, or even a mortal enemy, Academician Zhou would not fault this essay on any account.

In Academician Zhou’s eyes, the essay summed up to one phrase, "It assists my progress."

He gained many insights from Xu Qing’s essay, with many grand schemes forming in his mind. Hence, he quickly glanced through the rest of the exam papers.

For efficiency’s sake, he decided to begin straight from Yan Shan, passing or failing each one in turn.

Anyway, being eligible for the provincial exam meant the essays were definitely up to standard, good or bad, it’s a matter of personal judgment.

Typically, the provincial examination would pass about forty percent.

It can be said that today, because of Xu Qing, it nearly reached fifty percent, which for the examinees present, is actually a good thing.

However, the number of scholar quotas for Jiangning Prefecture had increased this year, adding to the government’s financial burden.

Firstly, Scholar students enjoy the privilege of being exempt from corvée labor and taxes, and secondly, scholars with excellent grades could receive government stipends, a doubtlessly increasing expenditure for the government.

This also represents Academician Zhou’s deliberate irritation of Magistrate He.

...

Xu Qing walked out of the examination hall, and the examinees from Qingshui County, including Yan Shan, hurried out to surround him.

An examinee said, "Congratulations brother, for becoming the first junior top scorer in our prefecture for thirty years."

"Academic Supervisor’s ’scholar for the world,’ brother’s name will surely resonate throughout South Zhili." This examinee had higher emotional intelligence, directly omitting any prefix.

Regardless, in this period, until the regional examination, Xu Qing will definitely be the "man of the hour."

As they are from the same county and the same examination cohort, they naturally belong to their own kind.

Yan Shan couldn’t help feeling dejected; after all, he was Xu Qing’s good friend. You bunch of flirtatious harlots, have you no shame!

But these persistently shameless men managed to push Yan Shan to the perimeter.

The examinees from Qingshui County couldn’t care less about him.

Now it was clear that Xu Qing had won the favor of the Great Grandmaster.

For these scholars, wasn’t their fate held in the Great Grandmaster’s hands?

Plus, with Xu Qing’s youth and good looks, who knows if he might become the Great Grandmaster’s son-in-law in the future!

If not currying favor now, when the man ascends to the sky, trying to catch up will be as futile as trying to warm cold excrement.