Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Chapter 258: Brother, Youre Wrong! (1 / 2)

To ensure a relatively fair imperial examination and to prevent candidates from deliberately approaching examiners, the identities of the examiners were not disclosed before the exam. Especially the chief examiner—except for court officials, no one knew who it was.

Of course, if someone randomly visited an official after arriving in the capital and that official happened to be an examiner, as long as there was no evidence of cheating, it would be considered a coincidence and not an issue.

Therefore, many candidates who came to the capital were eager to bring their essays and visit officials everywhere, hoping to gamble on their luck and gain the favor of an examiner.

Gao He had also done the same before, even spending all the silver he had obtained from selling out his ancestors to bribe the gatekeepers of various officials, begging them to place his visiting card and essay in front of the master of the house.

And now, you’re telling me that I actually knew an examiner all along?!

Gao He’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

My money!!!

After verifying his identity, Xu Yanmiao smiled and said, “Go on in. Don’t forget to check the seating chart on the main gate and find your assigned seat.”

Gao He cupped his hands in gratitude. “Many thanks, sir.”

As he walked through the gates of the examination hall, he kept turning back, shaking his head repeatedly.

“So young… and already an examiner…”

People really can’t be compared to each other.

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Xu Yanmiao diligently called out names, carefully verifying each candidate. After checking one, he would patiently remind them to look at the seating chart.

Dozens of armed guards stood on either side of him, their hawk-like eyes scanning the examinees’ attire. If they noticed anything suspicious, they would immediately pounce and conduct a thorough search.

Slowly, dawn approached.

“There shouldn’t be anyone else coming.”

It was time to lock the examination hall.

Xu Yanmiao stood up, picked up the small oil lamp in his hand, and was about to blow out its flickering flame.

“Wait! Wait!”

An urgent voice called out.

Xu Yanmiao looked over and saw a yellow-faced man wearing a square scarf rushing over, his face flushed red from exertion. “Sir, I… I am also a candidate here for the exam!”

The torches on the examination hall’s walls illuminated the wind and salt stains on the man’s face—it was clear he had just finished a long journey.

Xu Yanmiao frowned slightly. “But… the seating chart has already been finalized. Your name isn’t on it, which means there is no assigned seat for you.”

—Candidates needed to register in advance at the Ministry of Rites. After the registration deadline, the ministry arranged the seating chart and sent it to the examination hall. If a name wasn’t on the list, it meant the candidate had not registered and thus had no seat.

— Previously, many candidates caught cheating had been expelled from the examination hall. However, their assigned seats in the exam hall remained, as their disqualification did not affect the seating arrangement.

The yellow-faced man’s eyes were bloodshot with anxiety as he pleaded desperately, “I arrived late because I was ambushed by bandits on the way! They took all my travel money and even dragged me up the mountain as a laborer. Later, they robbed some wealthy households, but when they couldn’t agree on how to split the loot, they started fighting among themselves. Several of them died, which finally gave me the chance to escape. Sir, please, I beg you, let me in! I’ve taken the exam five times before finally passing as a juren and qualifying for the spring imperial examination. I beg you!”

Xu Yanmiao checked the system.

[It’s true…]

[This man really is unlucky.]

The yellow-faced man couldn’t hear Xu Yanmiao’s thoughts and continued pleading. “I was delayed and missed the deadline to register at the Ministry of Rites—that is entirely my fault. I have no excuse. Now, I can only shamelessly beg for your mercy. I feel utterly ashamed.”

“But this exam means everything to me! I come from a poor mountain village. If I don’t take the hui shi this time, I will have to return home. My father is a gambler—he plans to sell my mother and sister. The only reason he hasn’t done it yet is because I convinced him that if he supported me in becoming an official, he’d have a better life. But lately, he’s grown impatient. If he finds out that I lost all my money and couldn’t even enter the examination hall… Sir, I beg you! I’ll kneel right here! Please, just give me a chance! I promise to cherish this opportunity and do my best to write a great policy essay to repay your kindness!”

By the end of his plea, his voice was choked with sobs.

Xu Yanmiao lowered his gaze and noticed a long red mark on the man’s palm—right where he had been gripping the reins. It looked like a thin, wriggling red worm. Some fibers from the rope were still embedded in the cut, evidence of his desperate journey.

Seeing his wretched state, Xu Yanmiao felt a pang of sympathy. He glanced at the time—there was still about one cup of tea’s time left before the examination hall would be locked.

“Go check the seating chart. If there’s still an empty spot, I’ll add you in.”

“Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!”

The yellow-faced man, like a starving person who had just seen food, rushed to the gate and clung to the seating chart, scanning it carefully. Finally, he found an empty spot—it wasn’t in a great location, right next to the latrines, but he didn’t care. He hurried back to inform Xu Yanmiao.

With the remaining time, Xu Yanmiao quickly added his name to the registry and conducted a last-minute inspection to ensure the man wasn’t carrying any hidden materials. Only then did he allow him inside.

“Do your best on the exam.”

Tears welled up in the man’s fierce-looking eyes. “Thank you, sir!” He bowed deeply before dashing into the examination hall.

Xu Yanmiao then made his way up to the Zhi Gong Tower.

The Minister of War smiled. “I saw a candidate enter just now. Which juren was so lazy that he arrived just before the gates were locked?”

Xu Yanmiao glanced around at the elegantly furnished Zhi Gong Tower, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He then recounted the yellow-faced man’s story to the Minister of War.

The Minister sighed in amazement. “He was lucky to run into you, Xu Lang. You have a kind heart. If it were me, I might not have let him in.”

Xu Yanmiao responded casually, “He’s taken the exam five times—it hasn’t been easy for him. If I can help, I will.”

Then, he opened a window and looked down at the rows of examination rooms.