Chapter 172: Finally Done (1/2)

Chapter 172: Finally Done

Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations

The first question was on the subject of I Ching.

More specifically, the Bo Zixia’s ”Zixia Anthology”.

Of course, such titles were not in the script. In this world, there was no Bo Zixia or Zixia Anthology. They did not exist.

There was only the ”Law of Dao”.

Fang Zhengzhi’s pen scratched the paper as he began work.

”The hexagram predicates that there is the right time for every action. Softness belies toughness. By closing oneself off of outside influence, one can achieve growth of character.”

”Humility comes with satisfaction, such is the law of the world…”

The question was referring to the balance of your inner and outer spirit. The answer to this was in the original scriptures. Although these were testing on I Ching, it was not hard to answer them.

After finishing the first question, he quickly jumped to the next.

The second question immediately delved into ” The Works of the Sage of Ghost Valley” and it was on one of the articles stated within. The question asking about the Three Rites and required students to provide their own interpretation of the Three Rites.

It was hard to admit but the Imperial Examinations were indeed demanding.

Without studying ”The Works of the Sage of Ghost Valley”, and without knowing the articles within, they required candidates to determine the origins of the Three Rites and provide their own interpretations. It was indeed something beyond the understanding of an average person.

However, this did not pose a difficulty to Fang Zhengzhi. His mind contained the modern interpretations, and also included the most in-depth and elegant analysis of the texts.

Interpretation?

The best interpretation would the conclusion arrived after thousands of years and generations of work.

The second question was quickly dealt with. He continued onwards to the next question…

…

Fang Zhengzhi wrote at top speed. The scratching sound between the pen tip and the paper surface could be heard by the whole room because everyone was looking at him.

Those eyes looked like they saw a ghost.

Even Ping Yang could only stare dumbly at the unstoppable Fang Zhengzhi.

After that, she rubbed her eyes hard. She could not believe that one person could blast through the rigorous examination script at such incredible speeds.

Last night, she saw with her own eyes the few palace officials wrecking their brains and scratching their heads as they tried to finish the paper.

Every single one of them was scrunching their eyebrows that they were going white.

However, why is it that the same paper, in front of Fang Zhengzhi, looked like a child’s play. There was no pause at all.

Ping Yang sat on Fang Zhengzhi’s left. Therefore, she could clearly see his actions. After a single look at the script, he would immediately take his pen and start writing.

Then, he would move on to the next question.

In no time at all, the first page was almost filled.

”Is this copied?” Ping Yang really wanted to stand up and report Fang Zhengzhi. However, she remembered she had answers on her too so she suppressed the thought of exposing him.

This was the first time Yan Xiu took part in the Imperial Examinations together with Fang Zhengzhi, therefore he did not know the state of Fang Zhengzhi when he took the Imperial Examinations. He was briefly taken aback by Fang Zhengzhi’s ridiculous speed.

A thought unconsciously surfaced in his mind. Did he do the script before?

On second thoughts, that couldn’t be right…

If Fang Zhengzhi really did the same script before, he would not have kept it from him. Furthermore, the probability of this happening was infinitesimal.

Then, was he messing around?

The thought was popped by Yan Xiu as soon as it bubbled up.

He got the Roll Champion title for both the theory examinations at county and province level. There was no way Yan Xiu could believe that Fang Zhengzhi was simply doodling on his papers.

”He could do it so fast?” Yan Xiu looked at the examination script on the table. He took a deep breath and gradually exhaled. After that, he calmly began answering.

However, Yan Xiu did not start from the first question. Instead, he flipped to the back and started from there.

Currently, Fang Zhengzhi was burying his head in the script, scribbling away. He did not notice the actions of Yan Xiu.

In fact…

It was not only Yan Xiu, the other candidates were also carefully choosing which questions to answer. In the whole room, there was no one like Fang Zhengzhi who could tackle all the questions in order.

Even Ping Yang, who possessed the answers, was no exception.

Eventually, the room was filled with the sounds of pen scratching paper. This indicated that all the candidates had begun to answer their questions. No one had time to bother with Fang Zhengzhi.