Many people passed the imperial exams, but calligraphy masters were rare. If Xu Huaiqian could refine his writing to perfection, he might become a great calligrapher.
As a great calligrapher, he could gain the Emperor's favor and be directly appointed as an official without passing the exams.
Of course, taking the exams was still better; after all, the imperial exam was the orthodox path. Even as a last-place passer, having that status would make his official career smoother.
Hearing this, the Xiucai who had previously been envious of Xu Huaiqian looked extremely displeased. Could someone really gain extra favor from officials just for good handwriting?
They didn't know there was a type of official called a drafting official. Xu Huaiqian's knowledge might be lacking, but if his handwriting was excellent, he could become a Hanlin Bachelor to draft edicts for the emperor after passing the Jinshi exam and entering the Hanlin Academy.
As a close minister of the Son of Heaven, the Emperor would also train him to become Grand Secretary.
For others, becoming Grand Secretary required untold hardships, but for Xu Huaiqian, entering the Hanlin Academy after passing the Jinshi exam meant he was halfway there. Didn't that deserve special treatment?
"I understand." No matter how shocked the other Xiucai and students were, Xu Huaiqian, who was almost sick of studying, finally smiled when he received the books and the handwritten letter.
With Lord Song's letter, his husband A-Jiu wouldn't have to worry about selling charcoal this winter.
But that wasn't all. Next, Zuo Zhengjian dropped another bombshell in the class.
"His Majesty has decreed that henceforth, the imperial exams will emphasize current affairs over literary composition. All Xiucai must be prepared to change their study direction."
"Ah—???"
If Xu Huaiqian gaining the Education Intendant's favor was a small shock, the news of the exam reform was a huge shock.
They had studied for over ten years!
Over ten years of effort, and now it wouldn't be tested?!
"This isn't fair!" a student immediately shouted. "I've studied poetry and songs for over ten years! I've finally reached an above-average level, and now you say it won't be tested?! Why?!"
"Because he's the Emperor!" Zuo Zhengjian retorted directly. "You think it's unfair? Is it fair for others?!"
"Did you study for over ten years while others didn't?!"
"You should feel fortunate! You're in the first group taking the reformed exams. Those who studied just as long and are far more talented than you will have to start from scratch with current affairs, just like you. If it were still literary skills, how could your above-average level compete with their lifelong excellence?"
"But now it's different. There's a chance for you to be on the same level as those outstanding students. If you seize the opportunity, you can score higher than those with better literary skills. Why do you feel it's unfair? The ones who should feel unfair are those more talented than you."
Zuo Zhengjian didn't say it outright, but this reform was most unfair to Meng Fangxun in their class. He was the most promising to pass the next Juren exam. With the Emperor's reform, could he still handle it?
Everyone looked at Meng Fangxun. His face was indeed somewhat pale, but he remained calm.
"It's fine; we're all in the same boat." Meng Fangxun shook his head. He had felt a moment of distress, but then he thought—what's done is done. Being upset was useless and a waste of time. As the academy head said, if he seized the chance, he might not fall behind others.
It's just...
"It's just, what does current affairs test?" Zhang Bingwen voiced his confusion.
"It tests the country's political measures at the time. Like last year's provincial exam, which tested the Huayin flood from the year before." Xu Huaiqian, who had just received Lord Song's letter and was ready to go home and make plans with his husband, was snapped out of his joy by an even bigger surprise. He hurriedly explained for them.
"But Yong'an is isolated; it's hard to know what's happening outside." Duan Youyan frowned.
Then Xu Huaiqian, Zhang Bingwen, and Meng Fangxun all stared straight at him.
Duan Youyan was puzzled: "Why are you looking at me?"
"Go back and serve your husband better?" Xu Huaiqian suggested.
Duan Youyan's usually serious face flushed slightly: "I already serve my husband well."
"Even better." Zhang Bingwen leaned in. "So Magistrate Sheng can gather more news for us."
Among them, only Duan Youyan had connections.
"Well, I don't need to serve my husband for that." Duan Youyan thought for a moment. "My father-in-law will probably tell me anyway."
No one in his family wanted him to pass the Jinshi exam more than his father-in-law. Hadn't he noticed how his father-in-law grilled him on his studies every time he came to teach?
With the shift to current affairs, his father-in-law would surely send people to gather news and report back to him.
For some reason, everyone felt the urge to hit him.
What was this called?
!Called good fortune!
They all wished they had a father-in-law like that.
"I'll share any news I get." Duan Youyan wasn't stingy. The news would be the same for everyone anyway; it would come out eventually. The test was about everyone's individual insights.
"I have an idea too." Seeing this, Xu Huaiqian decided not to hide his abilities anymore. "Current affairs are nothing more than testing livelihood, policies, and discourse. We can list them all out and tackle them one by one."
As he spoke, Xu Huaiqian dipped his brush in ink and began writing on paper: "For example, the Huayin flood tested epidemic prevention, but it must also involve flood control, governance measures, and so on."
Then Xu Huaiqian continued writing: "By extension, there are also droughts, snow disasters, earthquakes, tsunamis, locust plagues..."
"These are all natural disasters. What about man-made ones?" Xu Huaiqian changed to a new sheet and kept writing: "Plagues, fires, rebellions, wars..."
"Besides these negative events, there are also positive ones." Xu Huaiqian thought as he wrote: "Such as governing the country, improving people's livelihoods, promoting education, expanding healthcare, and a whole series of measures..."
"Any of these could be tested in current affairs." Xu Huaiqian wrote down a great many topics in one go. "As long as we practice all these topics thoroughly over the next two and a half years, we won't be afraid even if the exam covers current affairs we haven't heard about."
When he finished and looked up, he saw the other three staring at him with incredible and extremely astonished expressions.
Xu Huaiqian was full of question marks: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
What Xu Huaiqian had done was essentially list out all possible current affairs topics that could be tested. They just needed to practice according to these topics.
Duan Youyan and Meng Fangxun exchanged a look, then shook their heads simultaneously, saying with complex tones: "It's nothing. We just suddenly realized you seem to have quite a talent for being an official."
Xu Huaiqian raised his chin: "Of course!"
Wuwuwuwu, he didn't know which god or Buddha heard his plea and moved the Emperor to reform the imperial exams—no more testing poetry, songs, or essays, but current affairs instead. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how long he'd be stuck struggling as a poor student!
"But we can't just use standard answers," Xu Huaiqian also advised them. "We must go to the countryside ourselves to see. Current affairs are all tied to the people's lives at the time. Only by listening to their needs can we write the most ideal current affairs responses that truly reflect our own views."
With a clear study direction, Xu Huaiqian finally broke free from the endless torture of memorization and could catch his breath.
Time flies when you're studying effectively. It felt like no time had passed before it was already the golden autumn of August.
Time for the annual academy exams again.
After cheering on Pei Wangshu, who was still in Qinglian Court, wishing him success in passing the Xiucai exam this year and joining them in Class B, Xu Huaiqian returned to his dormitory, packed his luggage, slung his small bag across his shoulder, and couldn't wait to rush home.
Wondering if his A-Jiu misses him?!
And have the ginger plants at home matured? This season is exactly when young ginger is unearthed. If they've all matured, he can invite his friends to taste his delicious ginger!