bestfiction Chapter 173 The Exam Paper Isn't Mine
Chapter 173 The Exam Paper Isn't Mine
Yun Shang's gaze lingered on Yu Wan, his dark eyes concealing an unfathomable depth.
He lowered his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then looked up at Zhou Wang and Xie Yuanxiu again.
His voice was clear, cool, and steady. "Candidate Yun Shang hopes that the Hanlin Academy can review my exam paper. If there are no problems with the paper, I am willing to bear all the consequences."
This means that if there are no problems with the exam paper, then he should bear the consequences himself.
Yu Wan's eyes flickered slightly. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve, whispering, "Don't worry, neither of us can take fifty lashes."
Zhou Wang frowned, his face full of reluctance, but given Yu Wan's status, he couldn't say anything more.
He gave Yun Shang a cold snort without any attempt to hide it, then turned and walked away.
Xie Yuanxiu nodded slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
“Miss Yu, Young Master Yun, the review is no small matter. Once it begins, there is no turning back. If the final result is the same as the original score, then we must proceed according to the rules.”
"I'd like to confirm with you two one last time whether you've decided to request the Hanlin Academy to review the examination papers?" Xie Yuanxiu reminded you solemnly.
Yu Wan pursed her lips, but her eyes remained resolute. "Interrogate."
Yun Shang glanced at her, her voice calm, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Xie."
Xie Yuanxiu looked at Yun Shang, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
He was a member of the Xie family; Xie Qizheng, the dean of Bailu Academy, was his uncle.
So he had heard about his uncle's prized disciple before.
To be honest, he didn't believe that his uncle, who had such high hopes for him, would get such poor grades, but the problem was...
After Yun Shang's results came out, he checked his exam paper privately and found no signs of tampering.
Xie Yuanxiu glanced at Zhou Wang, who was standing not far away, and lowered his voice to remind them, "It's not uncommon for someone to underperform. There might not be anything wrong with the exam paper. I still advise you to think twice before you act."
Yu Wan stood side by side with Yun Shang, tilted her head slightly to look at Yun Shang's profile, and said firmly, "Thank you for reminding us, sir. We have already given it a lot of thought. We would be grateful if you would review our case."
Seeing that the two were so insistent, Xie Yuanxiu had no choice but to give up.
He sighed almost imperceptibly.
The process of reviewing exam papers was complicated, and it was necessary to first consult the highest-ranking official in the Hanlin Academy, the Hanlin Academy Academician. Xie Yuanxiu sent someone to consult the Hanlin Academy Academician, and while the group was waiting, news had already spread that some students were requesting a review of their exam results.
For many years, no students had requested a review of their exam papers. The students who had gathered in front of the list of successful candidates all flocked to the office of the Hanlin Academy to watch the spectacle, blocking the entrance completely.
Do you know who requested a review from the Hanlin Academy?
"I heard he was a poor scholar from a remote county."
"Tch, another country bumpkin. People like this think they're superior just because they're ranked at the top in some remote, impoverished area. Little do they know, they're like frogs in a well, only able to see their own little world, unaware that there's always something better out there."
"With their limited talent, if they came to our Shengjing, they would probably be kicked out of the academy!"
The crowd discussed it and burst into laughter.
These students, born and raised in Shengjing City, have always had a natural sense of superiority.
They lived in the most prosperous part of Dazhao and received the most complete and best education. To them, others were like frogs in a well.
Zhou Yizhi also joined the crowd to watch the spectacle.
Upon hearing the name "Yun Shang," his eyes flickered, and he quietly left the crowd with his servant.
The reply from the Hanlin Academy scholar came quickly; he ordered Xie Yuanxiu to act according to the rules.
That means to agree.
It was fortunate that Yu Wan and Yun Shang arrived quickly; the exam papers for this test are still stored in a special warehouse at the Hanlin Academy.
Zhou Wang and Xie Yuanxiu led Yu Wan and Yun Shang to the room where the exam papers were stored.
The room was filled with the faint scent of ink, and stacks of exam papers were neatly arranged.
With an impatient look on his face, Zhou Wang pointed to the exam papers and said, "These are all the exam papers for this imperial examination, including Young Master Yun's. They will be reviewed later by me, Lord Xie, and three other senior scholars to ensure the fairness of the results."
Yu Wan looked at the exam papers, her face calm, but a hint of nervousness still arose in her heart.
The male lead's protagonist halo shouldn't be wrong, right?
Yun Shang stood quietly to the side, his expression indifferent. He only glanced at the exam paper once, and the rest of the time he kept a close eye on Yu Wan.
He seemed to pay more attention to Yu Wan than to the exam paper.
Xie Yuanxiu retrieved Yun Shang's exam paper, and the five attending scholars sat around the table, carefully reviewing Yun Shang's exam paper.
The review of exam papers usually begins with the candidate's personal information, followed by handwriting verification to confirm that the paper is indeed the candidate's own.
Xie Yuanxiu placed the exam paper on the table and gestured for Yun Shang to come forward personally.
"Take a look, is this your exam paper?"
Yu Wan urged softly, "Go and take a look quickly."
Yun Shang stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the exam paper, his eyes darkening slightly.
Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Wang said, "If this exam paper isn't his, whose could it be? The candidate's information and handwriting match. What could be wrong with it?"
Xie Yuanxiu looked up at Zhou Wang, whose face was full of displeasure.
Zhou Wang was in charge of this handwriting identification.
Yun Shang ignored Zhou Wang's words, his gaze fixed on the exam paper. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "This is not my exam paper."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.
Zhou Wang stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.
"How is that possible? The candidate information and handwriting match perfectly, how could it not be your exam paper?"
His face instantly turned extremely ugly, and he glared angrily at Yun Shang.
"These exam papers have been compared and contrasted by me one by one, and there are absolutely no problems!"
In Daisho, to prevent cheating, candidates were required to submit their practice manuscripts to the Imperial Academy before the exam.
The Hanlin Academy had officials specifically responsible for identifying handwriting; they could spot even the slightest differences.
Zhou Wang was able to become a lecturer because of his abilities.
Now that Yun Shang is questioning him, how can he not be angry?
"This exam paper is absolutely flawless; it's yours!" Zhou Wang shouted, his eyes filled with coldness. "I can tell you're just trying to use this opportunity to escape punishment!"
"Xie Yuanxiu, are you just going to let him cause trouble here?!"
Xie Yuanxiu was about to say something when Zhou Wang coldly said, "Don't think I don't know. This person is your uncle's disciple, Xie Yuanxiu. When we are officials in the court, the most taboo thing is to be biased and siding with one side. I advise you not to ruin your future because of that little bit of affection."
These words were practically a direct statement implying that Xie Yuanxiu was deliberately trying to give Yun Shang preferential treatment.
Sure enough, his words reached the ears of the students outside, arousing their anger.
"I knew it! How could a scholar from some backwater have the guts to report this to the Hanlin Academy? This isn't some problem with the exam papers; it's clearly a case of trying to cheat by switching the papers under everyone's noses after failing to achieve his goal!"