Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 37 - Someone Comes to Challenge

The County Magistrate of Nanyang County was named Ye Huaifeng.

At 27, he was an Imperial Scholar, assigned by the Ministry of Personnel to Nanyang at the beginning of the year to serve as the County Magistrate.

He was undoubtedly young and promising.

But a bit unlucky.

Because he was an “Attached-County Magistrate,” a position notoriously known as a tough job in the officialdom.

Ye Huaifeng, as the Attached-County Magistrate of Nanyang, was like a phoenix trapped in a cage, full of talent but unable to display it. Every morning, the first thing he did wasn’t handling government affairs, but figuring out which superior’s note he had to deal with that day.

As the saying goes: “Three lifetimes of misfortune, to be an Attached-County Magistrate.”

Magistrate Ye felt bitter.

So, at a young age, he lost his fighting spirit and spent his idle time in the County Yamen reading storybooks.

As for the reason-

Other County Magistrates ruled their regions with authority and prestige.

But Nanyang was both a County Town and a Prefecture City.

The County Yamen and the Prefectural government office were right next to each other!

The Prefectural government office was grand and imposing, while the County magistrate’s office was small and shabby in comparison.

Magistrate Ye worked under the direct scrutiny of his superiors, with limited power but heavy responsibilities, lacking any dignity.

If he did his job well, it was expected, with no credit.

But if he didn’t-

He could be summoned to the Prefectural government office next door and severely reprimanded by his superiors.

He felt as aggrieved as a bullied young wife.

However, today, Magistrate Ye saw hope-a prodigy in education, that would surely be a great achievement!

But the question was, how to meet this young prodigy named Cui Xian?

Magistrate Ye was troubled again.

After all, he was a County Magistrate. If he eagerly summoned Cui Xian, it wouldn’t be appropriate.

He would be laughed at for being too opportunistic.

Magistrate Ye pondered deeply, but couldn’t find a solution, so he decided to go out for some fresh air.

As he stepped out, he ran into the Vice Magistrate, Zhao Zhi.

But Zhao Zhi, relying on his seniority, pretended not to see Magistrate Ye and walked away.

Magistrate Ye gritted his teeth in frustration but was helpless.

After all, he was just an Attached-County Magistrate with no power!

Moreover, Zhao’s family was wealthy and influential, being the “leading gentry” of Nanyang. Zhao Zhi had been the Vice Magistrate of Nanyang for thirty years, with significant prestige and influence.

Naturally, he didn’t regard Magistrate Ye, the “young newcomer,” with any respect.

“This position as County Magistrate is truly stifling!” Magistrate Ye lamented.

After a moment, he sighed again, happily saying, “Forget it, I won’t bother with that nuisance. I’ll continue reading about Hero Rainbow Cat! The Rainbow Sword is truly magnificent!”

Meanwhile.

Vice Magistrate Zhao Zhi returned home to find his twelve-year-old grandson, Zhao Yaozu, throwing a tantrum and smashing things.

The servants were trembling with fear.

Zhao Zhi hurriedly approached, soothingly saying, “Oh dear, who has upset my precious grandson?”

Zhao Yaozu was stomping on a storybook, kicking it furiously, and said irritably, “It’s nothing, just an eight-year-old brat who wrote some mediocre storybook, and now everyone is calling him a genius.”

Oh?

Zhao Zhi scoffed, “A storybook, such a trivial thing! Don’t worry, my dear grandson, you are the true prodigy of Nanyang. You’ll take the imperial examination and become the Top Imperial Scholar!”

Zhao Zhi wasn’t a product of the orthodox imperial examination system. He climbed his way up from a minor official to the position of Vice Magistrate. His reputation in the County Yamen was formidable, having outlasted several County Magistrates, and naturally, he didn’t regard Magistrate Ye with much respect. Yet, despite his efforts to oust multiple magistrates, Zhao Zhi couldn’t ascend to the position himself. The reason? He hadn’t studied The Four Books and Five Classics and wasn’t an imperial examination graduate.

With a lingering resentment in his heart, Zhao Zhi paved the way for his grandson from a young age, proclaiming Zhao Yaozu as a genius prodigy. He was determined to nurture a legitimate provincial graduate within Zhao’s family, to soothe the pain of his own unfulfilled ambition to become County Magistrate.

Originally, Zhao Zhi and Cui Xian had no reason to cross paths. But an upcoming event would draw the attention of Zhao’s family to Cui Xian, with less than noble intentions.

At the Pei Family clan school, a student who had raised doubts hurriedly went to fetch Teacher Wu Qinglan. Cui Xian’s expression was peculiar. If things went as expected, Teacher Wu was likely searching for the ‘calligraphy prodigy’ practicing in the Inner Room.

Previously, Cui Xian had been inconspicuous among the four Young Masters. Today, he had stolen the spotlight, and the absent-minded Teacher Wu would inevitably suspect Cui Xian.

Earlier, Pei Jian had praised Cui Xian extensively. Now, as the moment of truth approached, he felt a bit anxious and quietly asked Cui Xian, “Xian, you’re sure there’s no problem, right?”

The other three Young Masters also looked at Cui Xian intently.

Cui Xian coughed lightly and said vaguely, “It should be fine.”

If nothing unexpected happened, not only would there be no problem, but there might even be a dramatic scene where Teacher Wu publicly exclaimed, “Finally found you, Nanyang’s greatest prodigy!”

Seeing his confidence, Pei Jian and the others felt more assured.

But then, something unexpected did happen.

Teacher Wu had taken a leave of absence and wasn’t at the clan school today, leaving the student who raised doubts empty-handed.

Upon hearing the news, Gao Qi grumbled, “He’s so unreliable! He stays at the school every day, but when it matters, he’s nowhere to be found.”

Pei Jian was also displeased and glared at the student who raised doubts, “Just wait, it’s only a day! When Wu Qinglan returns, we’ll settle this in front of everyone!”

The student who raised doubts scoffed, “You got lucky today, but when Teacher returns, he’ll expose you!”

Both sides exchanged harsh words.

But with Wu Qinglan absent, the spectacle fizzled out.

The students engaged in heated discussions about whether Cui Xian was truly a ‘super genius who memorized Dragon Script Whip Shadow in an afternoon.’

Some believed it was impossible.

Others thought Pei Jian and his friends wouldn’t boast so boldly without reason-perhaps it was true?

Regardless, The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit was undeniably impressive!

Thus, throughout the day, Cui Xian basked in the admiration and awe of his classmates.

Yet, Pei Jian and the others were still dissatisfied, grumbling about Wu Qinglan’s absence at such a crucial moment.

Cui Xian simply smiled and said, “No worries, Teacher will return eventually.”

His rise to fame in Nanyang was just a matter of time. No need to rush it.

Cui Xian never expected that while he planned to remain a “hidden gem” for a few more days, someone would rush forward to become his stepping stone!

It turned out that the student from the Pei Family clan school who publicly questioned Cui Xian was actually acquainted with Zhao Yaozu, and was even one of Zhao Yaozu’s “lackeys.”

This student knew that Zhao Yaozu always prided himself as a Prodigy. After school, he went to the Zhao Mansion and recounted the day’s events at the Pei Family clan school to Zhao Zhi and Zhao Yaozu.

Zhao Yaozu was already displeased that Cui Xian had written “Rainbow Cat” and was being hailed as a Prodigy, stealing the spotlight. He scoffed, “Bragging like that, aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue?”

“How could anyone possibly memorize ‘Dragon Script Whip Shadow’ in a single afternoon!”

Vice Magistrate Zhao Zhi’s eyes gleamed with a cunning light, “My dear grandson, this is a great opportunity! Since this person has gained fame with a Storybook and is boasting recklessly, it shows he not only lacks talent but also brains.”

“Here’s the plan: I’ll find someone to ghostwrite a poem for you. Tomorrow, you take the poem and visit the Pei Family clan school to challenge Cui Xian!”

Zhao Yaozu was taken aback, “But Cui Xian hasn’t even begun formal studies; how could he write poetry?”

Zhao Zhi chuckled slyly, “That’s not important! What’s important is that you compose a poem in public, and you’ll surely ride on the fame of the ‘Rainbow Cat’ author, making a grand impression in Nanyang and securing your reputation as a Prodigy!”

Zhao Yaozu’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Yes, let’s do it! Just wait and see how I perform tomorrow, showcasing the elegant demeanor of Zhao’s family sons!”

The mere thought of that scene made him tremble with anticipation, eager for tomorrow to arrive!