Commoner Hero

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The resistance from the students of Lingbei County annoyed Wei Yun, but he didn’t do anything outrageous. He clenched his fists, sat still for a long time, and then snorted coldly, pretending as if nothing had happened.

In his eyes, Su Qi’an was the only thorn in his side from beginning to end. As for the others, they were nothing more than a disorganized mob.

As long as Su Qi’an was dealt with, the rest were of no concern.

On the main road, guarded by soldiers and constables, a luxurious carriage suddenly appeared, drawing everyone’s attention.

It occupied the very center of the road, a move that irked many, but no one dared to speak up.

The owner of the carriage was none other than Wei Yun of the Wei Family, a prominent noble family. Naturally, such a family demanded a grand presence wherever they went.

As long as they didn’t disrupt the county exam, the soldiers were willing to turn a blind eye and show some respect.

The luxurious carriage sped up, heading straight for Su Qi’an. The students surrounding Su Qi’an tensed up, pulling him aside, fearing that the young noble might do something reckless.

Although Su Qi’an had the county magistrate’s backing, today was the day of the county exam. If anything happened to him, it could affect his performance.

The carriage continued to accelerate, closing in on Su Qi’an. Su Qi’an, however, showed no fear. His pace remained steady, neither speeding up nor slowing down.

When the carriage was just four or five meters away from Su Qi’an, the horse reared up, its front hooves lifting high before slamming down heavily beside Su Qi’an.

Though Su Qi’an wasn’t hurt, the sheer force of the horse’s presence would have made an ordinary person tremble.

But Su Qi’an remained calm. He turned his head slightly, locking eyes with Wei Yun in the carriage. Neither of them showed any fear.

After a moment, Wei Yun snorted coldly. The carriage, which had paused briefly, sped up again, rushing past Su Qi’an and kicking up a gust of wind.

The wind blew past, and the students around Su Qi’an breathed a sigh of relief, quickly asking if he was alright.

“Brother Su, are you okay?”

“Brother Su, don’t pay attention to that spoiled brat. With us here, he wouldn’t dare cause trouble on such an important occasion.”

Su Qi’an nodded, clasping his hands in gratitude to each of them.

These students, like Su Qi’an, came from humble backgrounds. While they weren’t fanatical followers of Su Qi’an, they held him in high regard.

This was a gesture of goodwill from his fellow county students, and Su Qi’an wasn’t about to reject it. Though they were all from humble origins and might not seem particularly valuable, Su Qi’an didn’t see it that way.

In times when noble families held sway, it was often from these humble beginnings that remarkable individuals emerged.

Throughout history, there had been no shortage of such individuals. With proper guidance, these people could one day become Su Qi’an’s greatest allies.

Even if they didn’t, at the very least, they wouldn’t be the kind to stab him in the back.

Not long after Wei Yun left, Captain Wang hurried over, looking flustered.

The students gathered around Su Qi’an quickly took their leave, not wanting to intrude.

“Brother Su, we won’t trouble you any further. Since you have matters to attend to, we’ll see you at the county exam.”

Su Qi’an clasped his hands in farewell, watching as the students dispersed.

Seeing that Su Qi’an was unharmed, Captain Wang breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Thank goodness you’re alright, sir. If anything had happened to you, I would’ve been in deep trouble.”

“That Wei Yun, taking advantage of my absence to pull such a stunt! He’s just a spoiled brat. Now that he’s in Lingbei County, I’ll make sure he learns a lesson he won’t forget.”

Su Qi’an smiled, reassuring Captain Wang, “It’s fine. He was just trying to intimidate me, but it didn’t work. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Captain Wang, don’t waste your energy on someone like him. Don’t worry, I’ll remember your kindness. After the county exam, I’ll put in a good word for you with the county magistrate.”

Captain Wang’s face, usually stern and tough, couldn’t hide his delight. He loved dealing with someone as sharp as Su Qi’an, who understood things with just a hint.

Su Qi’an’s promise wasn’t empty words—he had the ability to back it up.

If nothing else, Su Qi’an’s “Four Lines of the Moon” poem alone was enough to impress Fang Jingzhi, the county magistrate. Even if Su Qi’an failed the exam, Fang Jingzhi

Some people, once they began to shine, couldn’t hide their brilliance even if they tried.

The remaining distance wasn’t far—only about two or three miles—but Captain Wang insisted on escorting Su Qi’an the entire way, diligently guarding him and keeping a close eye on anyone who approached.

His loyalty was so intense that even Su Qi’an found it a bit overwhelming.

Fortunately, after about half an hour, Su Qi’an finally arrived at the exam site.

The Seven-County Exam was held in a large open area to the east of Lingbei County.

This open space could easily accommodate over a thousand people, making it the perfect location for the exam.

To prepare for this event, Lingbei County had spared no expense, constructing exam cubicles in the eastern area over a month in advance.

Of course, these cubicles were far from luxurious. Each was only about ten square meters in size, with minimal furnishings: a desk, a chair, and a small partition for answering nature’s call. That was it.

The cubicles didn’t even have doors. The front was completely open, with only a desk to shield the examinee from the elements.

This wasn’t meant to inconvenience the candidates but was a long-standing tradition of the exam.

The completely exposed environment made it nearly impossible to cheat.

Surrounding the rows of cubicles were rows of black-armored soldiers, forming a tight perimeter.

Each cubicle was periodically patrolled by soldiers, and at the front was a high platform where the three chief examiners sat.

From this vantage point, they could oversee everything below. Under such strict surveillance, cheating was virtually impossible.

And if anyone was caught cheating, the consequences were severe enough to make anyone think twice.

Not only would the cheater be disqualified from the exam, but they would also lose their scholarly status. In severe cases, they could face imprisonment, and their family might even be implicated.

As a result, cheating was extremely rare.

Looking at the heavily guarded exam site, Su Qi’an couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

“No matter the dynasty, the imperial examination remains the fairest system of advancement and one of the most important matters for the court.”

“No wonder the old saying goes, ‘All occupations are inferior, only studying is exalted.’”

After a moment of reflection, Su Qi’an bid farewell to Captain Wang and strode confidently into the exam site.

After collecting his exam number and being led by a constable through several rows of cubicles, Su Qi’an finally reached his assigned cubicle.

His position wasn’t in a remote corner but rather in a highly visible spot, almost right in the center.

From any angle, Su Qi’an’s every move would be under close scrutiny by countless eyes.

Su Qi’an sat down, glanced around, and couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, “This has to be intentional.”

Though slightly annoyed, Su Qi’an quickly adjusted his mindset and began preparing his ink.

The county exam, though consisting of only one subject, lasted an entire day—from morning until night.

This single subject covered a vast amount of material, far more extensive than even the college entrance exams Su Qi’an had taken in his previous life.

The exam papers alone numbered around seventy or eighty sheets. This was why each cubicle had a small partition for answering nature’s call.

The last thing anyone wanted was news of a candidate being “killed by a full bladder,” which would surely invite ridicule from other counties.

As Su Qi’an sat down and began grinding his ink, his initially distracted thoughts gradually focused.

Grinding ink, though seemingly tedious, helped calm the mind.

With a calm mind, everything else fell into place.

The inkstone turned a deep black as Su Qi’an took a deep breath. He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began answering the questions.

The county exam covered a wide range of topics: the Four Books and Five Classics, the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Zuo Commentary, the Book of Rites, and many other philosophical texts from ancient sages.

But that wasn’t the hardest part. The real challenge came later, when candidates were asked to apply the teachings of these sages to specific scenarios.

For Su Qi’an, with his prodigious memory and over a decade of rigorous study, none of these texts posed a significant challenge.

Even if he couldn’t answer every question perfectly, he could at least tackle the majority of them.

Over six hundred candidates simultaneously picking up their brushes to begin the exam was a sight to behold.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of ink through the air, mingling with the stern presence of the patrolling soldiers. The combination created a unique atmosphere.

While this might have felt novel to first-time examinees, it was business as usual for the three chief examiners on the high platform.

Among the three, aside from Wei Yun’s uncle, Wei Zhentang, the two elderly men seated beside him were particularly noteworthy.

Both were in their sixties or seventies, with white hair and beards, their faces lined with wrinkles, showing their advanced age.

At their age, most people would be retired and enjoying their golden years. The fact that they were here spoke volumes about their importance.

These two elders were no ordinary men. The one on the left was Lin Yuanzhi, a renowned scholar from Chuandu County, known for his prestige and vast knowledge.

The one on the right, slightly younger but still in his sixties, was Zheng Yanming, also a great scholar. However, he held a position in the Hanlin Academy.

The Hanlin Academy was responsible for compiling and revising various books, historical records, and manuscripts for the Great Liang Dynasty.

While most scholars in the academy didn’t hold official titles or ranks, it was considered the holy land for scholars across the empire.

From the Grand Preceptor and the Three Dukes at the top to the local officials in various counties, almost all had either studied at the Hanlin Academy or received guidance from its scholars.

It was no exaggeration to say that the Hanlin Academy was the teacher of the entire imperial court and the think tank of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Gaining entry into the Hanlin Academy was the dream of countless scholars.

Even a retired scholar like Lin Yuanzhi commanded such respect that the governor of Chuandu County would treat him with utmost courtesy.

As for Zheng Yanming, who was still active in the academy, his presence at a county exam was a testament to the importance Chuandu County placed on this event.

It was also a great honor for Lingbei County.

In the past, a county exam of this scale would typically have only one great scholar as an examiner. Having two, including one still in office, was a rare privilege.

While it might have seemed like a great honor to outsiders, Fang Jingzhi, the county magistrate sitting in his office, wasn’t exactly thrilled.

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