Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 253 The Ultimate Examination of the Palace - The Common People as the Subject!

The Marquis of Jiangyin's residence was quiet and still at night.

The moonlight disappeared into the layers of clouds, leaving only a few lonely, lifeless lamps under the eaves of the Marquis's mansion, swaying in the cool night breeze and casting swaying tree shadows onto the cold, high walls.

All was quiet, except for the warm yellow light shining through the study window, which was the only warm and persistent presence in this deep night.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered on the rosewood desk, illuminating Jiang Xingzhou's lean profile.

He was intently reviewing the documents submitted from various places, his red brush held high, his strokes steady and deliberate.

Suddenly, a very soft knock broke the silence, like a pebble thrown into an ancient well.

The old butler, Jiang Fu, appeared through the crack in the door, his voice low and hesitant:

“My lord, a man dressed in black and wearing a bamboo hat has arrived outside the manor. He refuses to give his name, only saying that he is an old friend and has important business to discuss with you.”

Jiang Xingzhou paused slightly in mid-air, and a drop of rich ink silently fell onto the rice paper, slowly spreading.

He did not look up, but pondered for a moment, his voice flat and emotionless:

“Take him to the flower hall.”

A moment later, in the flower hall.

The butler led a dark figure in silently.

The newcomer was completely shrouded in a dark night-clothes, with a veil hanging from the edge of a wide bamboo hat, and covered by a wet, old raincoat. His face was also covered by a crudely made bronze mask that gleamed with a cold, bluish light, completely concealing his appearance.

Only at the eye openings of the mask, a pair of eyes flickered uncertainly in the dim light, weaving together indescribable complex emotions—resentment, scrutiny, and even a hint of almost desperate expectation.

He stood there, his weary and gloomy aura clashing with the elegant and refined rosewood furniture and the delicate landscape paintings hanging on the walls of the flower hall. He was like a piece of cold iron that had suddenly appeared, bringing with it the chill of the outside world.

Jiang Xingzhou waved for Jiang Fu to step down.

The hall door closed gently, leaving only the two people standing silently in the large space.

Jiang Xingzhou did not get up to greet him. His gaze calmly fell on the man in black, his eyes deep, as if they had already penetrated the layers of disguise and looked directly into his heart.

The man in black stood in the hall, silent as iron.

The gaze behind the bronze mask was fixed on Jiang Xingzhou, who sat upright, as if it were a physical object, and his chest rose and fell slightly.

The silence was oppressive and suffocating.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. His voice, muffled and hoarse due to the mask, was like a long-suppressed volcano, carrying undisguised excitement and sharp doubt:
"Lord Jiang!"

He deliberately used respectful terms from official circles, each word conveying a cold and distant feeling.

"Your poem 'My Thatched Hut Is Broken by the Autumn Wind' has now spread throughout the world and is known to everyone, young and old!"
"If only I had ten thousand mansions, I could shelter all the poor and needy and make them smile!" — Well written!

That was a beautiful song!

He took a sudden step forward, the blue bricks beneath his feet seeming to tremble slightly, and his tone abruptly became urgent and sharp, like a dagger drawn from its sheath:
"But today, I only want to ask you one question!"
This utopian world, this eternal dream of joy for the poor… in your hands, Jiang Xingzhou, within the high walls of your noble mansion, can it truly… can it truly be realized?!

He roared out the last sentence with almost all his might, carrying a desperate, all-or-nothing interrogation, and also revealing a deep-seated despair.

Jiang Xingzhou watched his agitated expression silently, his face remaining completely calm. Instead, he let out a very soft sigh, a sigh that carried a hint of understanding and an indescribable weariness.

"Brother Huang Chao..."

These three words, though spoken softly, struck the man in black like a sudden bolt of lightning!

The man in black shuddered violently and instinctively took a half step back. A sudden, rapid, hissing sound came from beneath his bronze mask.

He never expected that his carefully prepared disguise would be nothing to the other party.

Jiang Xingzhou slowly rose, walked steadily to the carved wooden window, put his hands behind his back, and looked out at the thick, impenetrable night. With his back to the trembling figure, his voice was calm, yet every word was as heavy as a thousand hammer blows:

"If others harbor such thoughts, they can be described as naive and innocent."

But Brother Huang Chao... we both studied hard for years. You failed the imperial examinations three times, witnessing the coldness and warmth of the examination system and the fickleness of human nature.

I've also heard that you've long been lurking in the dark corners of Chang'an, witnessing the struggles for survival at the very bottom of society, and the naked brutality of the law of the jungle.

Having witnessed those things... you should know the stark reality of this place better than anyone else.

Why... even today, do we still harbor such unrealistic fantasies?

"Innocent?
fantasy?"

Huang Chao's voice suddenly rose in pitch, filled with sharp sarcasm, as if he had been stung by a poisonous bee.
"yes!
I was stupid!

I was so naive!

I still harbor a sliver of illusions about someone like you, a close advisor to the emperor and a rising star in the court!
"I thought you were in such a high position that you could still remember a few words spoken during the imperial examinations back then. You really... you really have the ability to turn the tide..."

"Because I see things more clearly than you do!"

Jiang Xingzhou turned around abruptly, his gaze like two beams of cold lightning piercing through the air, directly targeting the panicked eyes behind the bronze mask, and interrupted him sharply.

"Thousands of mansions?"

Yes, that's an ideal!

But most of the grand mansions in this nine-fold realm are firmly controlled by those powerful clans that have held official positions for generations, local gentry families, and wealthy and powerful figures!

Their entrenched connections and intertwined interests have long since woven a vast network that covers the entire world!

How many poor scholars and displaced people in the world have no place to stand!

This is not a problem that has arisen overnight, but rather a long-standing problem that has persisted for thousands of years!

It is a colossal entity rooted in land, wealth, and power!

His words were like ice water in the dead of winter, pouring down on the faint, flickering flame of hope in Huang Chao's heart.

"How could I, Jiang Xingzhou, alone, with just a surge of passion and a few literary poems and essays, easily shake and completely change this?!"

The light in Huang Chao's eyes, like a candle flickering in the wind, dimmed rapidly at a visible speed and eventually went out completely.

He staggered, his body swaying, and a hoarse, bitter laugh, like that of a broken bellows, emanated from beneath his bronze mask, filled with self-mockery and despair:

"As expected... just as I thought... hehe...!"
You know perfectly well that all of this is just a mirage... a castle in the air... yet you still give hope to the poor and needy!
It's all a lie... a complete lie!

He stopped looking at Jiang Xingzhou, as if all the bones in his body had been removed at that moment, leaving only endless exhaustion and emptiness.

Huang Chao turned away dejectedly, his steps faltering as he shuffled toward the door leading to darkness. His desolate figure was filled with a utterly hopeless despair.

He came here hoping to find an answer, a confirmation, by drawing on the last glimmer of light from "The Song of the Thatched Hut".

Now, the answer is so cruel.

That glimmer of light has been completely extinguished beneath the icy walls of reality.

Just as his right foot was about to step over the high threshold of the flower hall, and his figure was about to be swallowed by the boundless darkness outside the door.

Jiang Xingzhou's clear, cool, and penetrating voice came steadily from behind him. It wasn't loud, but every word struck his eardrums clearly, reaching deep into his soul:
"Brother Huang Chao."

Huang Chao's steps suddenly froze on the spot, stiff as iron, but he did not turn around.

"If you truly harbor a grand ambition to save the world, and truly pity the suffering of the poor and needy..."

Jiang Xingzhou's voice carried a strange, soul-stirring power: "Why do we always place this heavy hope on others?"

Why never turn around and ask yourself—

He paused, then spoke each word with the force of a thunderclap that resounded through the silent night:
Why don't you go and make it happen yourself?

"boom!"

These words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding violently in the depths of Huang Chao's almost lifeless mind!

Personally...realize...?

Each of those four words was as heavy as a mountain, striking his soul with tremendous force!

He trembled violently, his fists clenched tightly beneath his wide black robe, his nails digging deep into his palms, but the piercing pain paled in comparison to the overwhelming shock he felt.

Beneath the bronze mask, a fierce light suddenly burst forth from those eyes that had been lifeless, a light that was extremely chaotic, insane, yet rekindled amidst the ruins, carrying a resolute intent!
Yes, why can't it be myself?

Why should we only look up to others?
He didn't answer, nor did he even turn around.

There was only a brief, almost imperceptible pause at that threshold.

Immediately, as if severing all his hesitation, confusion, and even his past self, he used all the remaining strength in his body to take that step!
His figure resolutely and without hesitation disappeared into the thick darkness outside the door, leaving behind only a hoarse, almost distorted farewell, which drifted and vanished in the night wind that swept through the hall:
Brother Jiang!
Farewell!
"If Brother Jiang can't accomplish this great undertaking, I, Huang Chao, will!"

Silence returned to the flower hall.

Jiang Xingzhou stood alone in the center of the hall, like a statue, gazing in the direction where the figure had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

Outside the window, the night wind howled past, swirling up a few fallen leaves that pattered against the window paper, adding to the desolate atmosphere.

He knew all too well that tonight's words and guidance were like opening a Pandora's box.

From this point on, though mountains and rivers separate us, the friendship we shared as classmates may eventually fade away as we choose different paths.

Different road non-phase plan.

He awakened a heart frozen by despair, but he may also have... unleashed a long-dormant beast that was destined to stir up a storm.

The passion of ideals versus the coldness of reality, personal choices versus the torrent of the times—in this deep, unsettling night, a clear and irreversible boundary has been drawn.

The turbulence of the future is already quietly brewing in this silent farewell.

...

The night was as dark as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to see through.

Jiang Xingzhou stood alone by the window of the quiet living room, his gaze seemingly piercing through the high walls of the courtyard, locked on the direction where Huang Chao's figure blended into the darkness.

The night wind swept through the corridors, bringing with it the distant and indistinct hustle and bustle of Luoyang, but this only served to highlight the stagnant silence of the Marquis's mansion. A sense of impending doom permeated the air in the stillness.

"Owner."

A soft call, like a leaf falling to the ground.

Qingfei had silently stood three feet behind him, her beautiful face etched with a deep, unyielding worry.

"This person exudes a sinister and chaotic aura, acts suspiciously, and has deep ties with the outlaws of Guanzhong. He is likely a wanted criminal with a name on the Ministry of Justice's wanted list."

Tonight you not only saw him, but also... and even offered him advice. Isn't that going too far...?

She stopped speaking at the right moment, but her deep concern was already evident—getting too involved with such a person who walked on the edge of the shadows and harbored resentment towards the court was tantamount to playing with fire.

Jiang Xingzhou slowly turned around, the candlelight casting a play of light and shadow on his face. His expression remained largely unchanged, but a complex glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, a look that seemed to hold pity, resolve, or perhaps the weight of a gamble.

He did not answer directly, but instead strolled to the towering rosewood bookshelf.

Long, slender fingers brushed across the spines of rows of books, some new and some old.

Ultimately, it all came down to an unremarkable blue ledger.

The account book had a plain cover without any titles or decorations, making it easy to overlook among many other books.

"A wanted criminal by the imperial court?"

Jiang Xingzhou gently pulled out the ledger, his fingertips brushing against the cool cover, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"maybe.

But many people in this world become 'criminals' not because they are inherently bad, but because this glorious world has never left them a way to survive peacefully by following the rules.

"I had someone add the document approving Huang Chao's arrest to the Ministry of Justice!"

He casually flipped open the ledger, which was filled with dense yet well-organized records, all written in simplified language only understood within the Ministry of Revenue.

The document details the core secrets of dozens of powerful and deeply entrenched aristocratic families in Guanzhong:
The names and whereabouts of the core members, the location of the hidden manor, the location of the underground vault, and even the estimates of many shady and highly profitable businesses and astonishing wealth... the level of detail is enough to make one's heart pound!
These secrets are completely unknown to ordinary people.

However, the Ministry of Revenue could track the flow of money and grain throughout the country, while the Censorate could access all sorts of confidential documents from the imperial court.

These were the very tough nuts to crack that he had instructed Zhang Ji, the Imperial Censor, to investigate for a long time, but which, due to their immense involvement and numerous obstacles, had prevented him from actually taking action against—the malignant tumors on the body of the Holy Dynasty.

"He just questioned me about whether the utopian world where 'the poor and needy are all smiling' could ever be realized..."

Jiang Xingzhou slammed the ledger shut, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "I told him that it was not something I could accomplish on my own."

The obstacle ahead is not a mere illusion, but these colossal entities—those that occupy countless mansions, possess mountains of gold and silver, yet have long forgotten the hunger and poverty of the world's poor.

He handed the ledger to Qingfei, his tone calm and even, yet conveying an undeniable resolve:
“Go and catch up with him, and hand this item to him.”

No need for further explanation; he will understand the meaning himself.

Qingfei took the account book, which looked thin but was actually as heavy as a mountain, and her heart was instantly filled with shock!
She instantly understood her master's hidden intentions!
This is no ordinary ledger.

This is clearly a well-marked kill list, a shortcut straight to the heart of the enemy!

The master, residing in a high position, faces too many constraints and is unable to take action personally.

The intention behind handing this item to Huang Chao, who had clearly decided to betray the court's rules, was simply...

"Owner!
This...this is..."

Qingfei's voice trembled slightly with shock. This action was too shocking and too risky!

This is tantamount to...!
"Isn't this like using someone else to do the dirty work?"
Or, even further... is it like igniting dry wood to create a raging fire for cooking oil?

Jiang Xingzhou uttered those horrifying words for her.

He turned and looked again at the boundless darkness outside the window, standing with his hands behind his back, his voice low and ethereal, as if conversing with the deep night:
"Qingfei, you should think about it. If you want to dismantle this edifice of powerful aristocratic families that has long been rotten to the core, you should start from the inside out, carefully repair and slowly dismantle it."
Or... what is needed is a powerful, even violent, force from the outside to completely shatter it before a new foundation of order can be rebuilt on the ruins?
His Majesty cannot make this decision!

I'll help her!

The wall of powerful clans that even His Majesty cannot dismantle.

I'll help her push!

Qingfei's pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran down her spine to the top of her head.

The master's plans are grand and far-reaching, and his methods are... truly ruthless!
He knew perfectly well that Huang Chao was a wildfire full of destructive desires, but instead of stopping him, he personally handed him the most flammable fuel!
This is to use the tiger to devour the wolf, to use the Huang Dynasty as a sharp blade full of resentment to cut down those thousand-year-old barriers that even the imperial court could not shake for a while!
Regardless of ultimate success or failure, this force will inevitably stir up Guanzhong and greatly weaken the foundation of those old powers!

"Go."

Jiang Xingzhou waved his hand, his tone resolute.

"...Yes, Master."

Qingfei took a deep breath of the crisp night air, carefully hid the ledger close to her body, and her figure, like a wisp of pale blue smoke, suddenly disappeared into the night, chasing after Huang Chao in the direction he had left.

……

Outside Luoyang, in the desolate wilderness, the moon was dim and the stars were few.

Huang Chao stumbled along the rugged mountain path, his heart burning with despair, resentment, and unwillingness like poisonous flames.

Jiang Xingzhou's words, "Why don't you go and make it happen yourself?" echoed wildly in his mind like a vicious curse, piercing every nerve in his body.

To do it personally?

That's easy for you to say!
He was a down-on-his-luck scholar, now even associating with bandits. He had nothing of value, so how could he possibly realize his unattainable dream?

Is it filled with resentment?
Just as his mind was in turmoil, he was on the verge of madness and at his wit's end.

A green shadow landed silently in front of him like a ghost, blocking his way. It was Qing Fei, who had returned.

Qingfei's face was as cold as frost. She didn't say a word, but simply handed the blue ledger directly to his eyes.

Huang Chao was startled and subconsciously took half a step back, scrutinizing Qing Fei and the inconspicuous booklet in her hand with vigilance, without immediately taking it.

"My master ordered me to hand him over to you."

Qingfei's voice was icy as she shoved the ledger into his hand, leaving no room for refusal. Then, she vanished into the darkness of the night as if she had never been there.

Huang Chao gripped the account book, still slightly warm, and hesitantly turned to the first page by the dim moonlight. The next moment, his breathing abruptly stopped, then became heavy and rapid, like that of a broken bellows!

His eyes widened, his pupils reflecting the breathtaking words and numbers on the pages, and his body trembled uncontrollably with extreme excitement!

This...this is not an account book.
This is clearly a windfall bestowed by heaven!
It is a lever powerful enough to move the world!

It was the source of power he had always dreamed of!
On the booklet, the lifeblood, the wealth, and the weaknesses of those once high and mighty families who had treated him, a poor boy from a humble background, were laid out so clearly before his eyes!

"Heh...hehe...hahaha..."

Huang Chao first let out a suppressed chuckle, then could no longer hold back, looked up at the dark night sky, and let out a twisted yet exhilarating low roar, "Jiang Xingzhou... my Lord Jiang!"

You have such ruthless methods!

What a vicious plan!
Is there anyone in this world more ruthless than you?
"Very good...very good!"

He gripped the ledger tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, as if he had already seized the throats of those wealthy and powerful families.

The last trace of hesitation and innocence in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by a wolf-like ruthlessness and determination.

"You hold a high position and are unwilling to get your hands dirty... then I will be the one to stain them with blood!"

I will bear this eternal infamy!

A cold, cruel smile appeared on his face, like a poisoned blade:
"I was just worried about not being able to find enough provisions to strengthen my forces... Now, all the fat sheep in Guanzhong are in this book!"

With this immense wealth, what great things can't we accomplish?!

Without the slightest hesitation, he carefully kept the account book close to his body, and like a night owl that had spotted its prey, he nimbly and swiftly plunged into the vast, dark depths of the mountains and forests, heading straight for the prosperous yet perilous Guanzhong Plain.

This time, he will no longer be a petty bandit.

With this "generous gift" in his hands, he was going to turn the world upside down and smash those powerful families that had imprisoned him for life and countless poor scholars!

With their blood and the wealth accumulated over thousands of years, they paved their own path to the so-called "Great Harmony," a path inevitably filled with bloodshed and war!
The night is getting darker.

Jiang Xingzhou remained standing quietly by the window of his study, his gaze seemingly able to traverse mountains and rivers, to see the road to which he had ignited, a road destined to be strewn with thorns and corpses.

What he gave away was not just an account book of powerful clans and aristocratic families in Guanzhong, but a spark that could start a prairie fire, and a ferocious beast whose chains he had personally unlocked.

Where will this fire ultimately burn, and how will this beast tear the world apart?

No one can predict it.

Even he didn't know.

But he knew that if he didn't first completely remove these deeply entrenched, cancerous clans and powerful families that were draining the nation's fortune from the body of the Great Zhou Dynasty, then he would be in serious trouble.

Even if he were to rise to the highest ranks of officialdom and become prime minister, he would still be constrained and unable to achieve much within the vast web woven by the old forces.

The empress wanted to accomplish great things, but she was destined to be shackled by powerful clans.

He had no choice but to play this game of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he had to resort to some extraordinary measures.

...

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the smoke from the sandalwood incense rose straight up, yet silently dissipated beneath the beams, as if even the smoke feared the almost tangible solemnity.

A peculiar pressure permeated the air, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts, as if it could actually wring out icy water droplets.

Jiang Xingzhou stood solemnly in his blue robe, his figure like a solitary peak.

Having successfully passed the tests of "calligraphy," "painting," and "poetry," each test being groundbreaking, his reputation has reached its peak.

At this moment, he was only two steps away from the ultimate honor of becoming a Grand Secretary in the Imperial Academy.

The unprecedented completion of the "Five Halls and Five Pavilions" project, a legendary achievement that will shine through the ages, seems within reach.

On her throne, Empress Wu Mingyue lowered her phoenix eyes slightly. Beneath her calm and majestic demeanor lay turmoil known only to herself.

It reflects a deep expectation for the nation to acquire great talent, and also a sense of tension regarding the fate of the country.

Inside the hall, the officials in their crimson and purple robes stood even straighter than usual, creating a solemn atmosphere.

What's even more striking is that many figures dressed in simple Confucian robes and wearing heirloom jade pendants at their waists are also quietly among them.

These scions of sage families, who usually live in seclusion, have all come together today, drawn by the news, just to witness this moment that may reshape the landscape of literature and morality.

All was silent; you could hear a pin drop.

The chief examiner, the Confucian scholar Zhou Pu, and Dong Xian met in the air. Without a word, their eyes reflected their final decision.

Zhou Pu stroked his long beard, his clear voice like jade striking jade, breaking the silence:
"Jiang Hanlin has broken through three levels in succession, and his skills have reached a state of perfection. We old men have nothing to criticize."

However,

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Xingzhou and then over the entire court of emperors and ministers. “Grand Secretaries of the Hall of Imperial Secretaries, who hold positions in the central government and assist the emperor, are not ministers who merely show off their skills and tricks. They must also have the common people in their hearts, understand the ways of the world, and have the world in their hearts.”

Dong Xian immediately replied, his voice deep and heavy, like a mountain pressing down:

"The ultimate goal of literature is not to compose poems about the wind and moon, nor to write books and establish theories, but to govern the world and benefit all living beings."

Therefore,

He exchanged a glance with Zhou Pu and said loudly, "In my opinion, the questions for the fourth and fifth levels can be summed up in two words: simplifying the complex!"

"Excellent! If you can answer this question, there's no need to answer the others!"

Zhou Pu nodded.

"Brother Zhou, since we have this tacit understanding, why don't we set a question together?"

"it is good!"

Before the words were even finished, the two great scholars simultaneously extended their right palms, using their fingers as pens to write rapidly in their palms!
Immediately, the two of them opened their palms and showed them to everyone!
On Zhou Pu's palm was a "hundred" character with force penetrating through the palm lines!

On Dong Xian's palm, a "surname" character with its bones and muscles clearly visible was displayed!

The people!

The two characters combined form the word "百姓" (bǎixìng).
"Hahahahaha!"

"Having this question is enough!"

Upon seeing this, the two great scholars were slightly taken aback at first, then clapped their hands and laughed loudly, their laughter so loud that it shook the dust off the palace beams.

"We are of one mind!"

"Truly, we are of such perfect understanding!"

The entire hall was astonished, and an uncontrollable commotion erupted from it!

This is by no means a coincidence, but the highest realm of mutual understanding and spiritual resonance when one's literary and moral cultivation is profound!

This means that in the minds of these two great Confucian scholars who led the literary world, the word "common people" encompassed the last and most essential essence that Grand Secretaries of the Hall of Fame should uphold!
There is no topic above it.

As the laughter subsided, Dong Xian's gaze, like two bolts of lightning, pierced Jiang Xingzhou, who stood silently in the hall like an ancient pine tree. His voice boomed like a bell:
"Jiang Hanlin, the fourth and fifth rounds can be combined into one question, which is the word 'common people'!"
You've put the people's lives first!

No restrictions on genre—poetry, prose, essays, or policy papers are all welcome!

"Students receive the questions."

Jiang Xingzhou cupped his hands, his expression remaining calm as still water, as if those two words, which seemed to weigh a ton, had not brought him the slightest pressure.

He hesitated for a moment, then looked up and asked:
"I don't know the answer to this question. What is the standard for judging whether a answer is passed?"

Zhou Pu and Dong Xian looked at each other again and nodded slightly, their hearts already in sync.

Zhou Pu took a step forward, his gaze slowly sweeping over all the officials present, finally landing on the majestic palace gate, as if piercing through the layers of palace walls to see the sea of ​​people gathered in Luoyang.

He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, drawing upon his powerful aura, vast and clear, resounding not only throughout every corner of the Wenhua Hall, but also seemingly possessing a spirit that penetrated the palace walls and echoed across the entire imperial city:
"standard?
Extremely simple!

"The matter concerns all scholars in the land, and scholars from all directions have been appointed as judges!"

"Now that this concerns the lives of all people, it should be decided by these trillions of people!"

He suddenly flicked his sleeve, pointing directly outside the hall, the sound like a thunderclap:
"Let us take the hearts of the countless ordinary people gathered here, outside the imperial city and inside Luoyang, as our measure!"

"If your work can resonate with the people of Luoyang, make them empathize, be moved, and nod in agreement, then it will be approved!"

"on the contrary……"

Dong Xian immediately took over the conversation, his tone resolute, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if to cut through all pretense, "If your answer cannot touch the hearts of the people, cannot gain their approval, then even if your literary talent is unparalleled throughout history and your skills are exquisite and extraordinary, it is still not enough!"

This hurdle means failure!

"Wow——!"

These words were truly astonishing!

Not only were the officials in the Wenhua Hall horrified, but the people outside the imperial city who had vaguely heard the sounds from inside the hall through the mysterious array of the Imperial Observatory also erupted in a tsunami-like uproar!
The judgment shall be made by all the people of Luoyang!
This is hundreds or thousands of times stricter than yesterday's standard of "satisfying the scholars"!
Although scholars may have differences in their schools of thought and ideologies, they ultimately study the classics together and share a common foundation in literature and morality as well as aesthetic standards.

And the common people?
People from all walks of life, from peddlers and laborers to the elderly, women and children, woodcutters and fishermen, all have different thoughts and demands. To expect almost all of the millions of people in Luoyang to be "satisfied" and "nod in agreement" is simply defying the heavens and is almost a myth!
"How...how is this even possible?"

"The people's thoughts are as numerous as the sea and as many as the stars; how can they be unified?"

Even if ancient sages were reborn, and Confucius and Mencius were to rise again, their words and deeds would hardly be praised by all the people!

"It's too difficult!"

This is not a test of literary talent, but a true interrogation of the sacred principles!

Exclamations, doubts, and gasps of surprise rose and fell inside and outside the hall.

On the throne, Empress Wu Mingyue's slender, jade-like fingers tightened subtly, gripping the cold armrests of the dragon throne, a deep worry flashing in the depths of her phoenix eyes.

She knew that this question had transcended the level of skill and was almost an ultimate inquiry into the "Tao," pointing directly to the fundamental principles of governance and literature.

Jiang Xingzhou stood in the center of the hall, enduring gazes from all directions, gazes that were a mixture of astonishment, doubt, disbelief, eager expectation, and cold scrutiny... like countless invisible mountains crashing down on him.

However, his body remained ramrod straight, his face expressionless, as calm and serene as a deep pool unmoved by wind or rain.

Jiang Xingzhou did not rush to speak, nor did he appear flustered. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes.

He seemed to be concentrating, listening intently to the deep pulse of the vast ocean called "the people's hearts," faintly transmitted through the thick palace walls, a pulse formed by countless lives, joys and sorrows, hopes and sighs.

A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes. His eyes were still clear, but if you looked closely, you could see the flickering lights of thousands of homes and the changing joys and sorrows of the people.

He straightened his clothes, bowed deeply to the Empress on the throne, and then to the two great Confucian scholars, Zhou Pu and Dong Xian. His voice was not loud, but it carried a strange, calming power that could penetrate all noise and clamor and reach the heart.

"Your Majesty, please open the palace gates."

"The student is willing to go to the ten-mile-long Heavenly Street outside the palace and answer this question on the spot in front of all the people."

He must face the most honest, genuine, and severe judge in the world—the people of the Great Zhou!
"allow!"

Empress Wu Mingyue did not hesitate and issued a decree in a loud voice. Her clear and melodious voice contained an unquestionable determination: "Open the central gate!"
Jiang Aiqing, proceed to Shili Tianjie immediately to answer the questions!
The Imperial Observatory has ordered the full deployment of the Myriad Resonance Array, to display this sound and imagery throughout every corner of the Imperial City, so that all people under Heaven may witness this sentiment!

"Boom--!"

The heavy palace gates, under the intense gaze of hundreds of thousands of people, slowly opened to both sides with a tremendous roar!

The dazzling sunlight, like a golden waterfall, surged in instantly, illuminating the deep palace passageway.

Inside the gate is a solemn hall symbolizing supreme imperial authority and the pinnacle of literature and art;
Outside the door lies a surging, powerful microcosm of trillions of ordinary people, representing the true foundation of the nation!

Jiang Xingzhou's blue robe fluttered slightly as he walked with composure and calmness. He resolutely strode forward again, alone, towards the dazzling light and the vast sea of ​​people.

The fourth and fifth stages, the final assessment for university students, with "the common people" as the theme and the will of the people as the yardstick, officially begin here!
A grand chapter concerning the essence of literature and morality, and striking a chord with the world and people's hearts, is about to be written on the streets of Luoyang, witnessed by heaven and earth and all people!

...

The ten-mile-long street was teeming with people, a sea of ​​heads.

The earth-shattering news—that the final exam for the Grand Secretary was about "the common people," and that success or failure would be decided by the hearts of the entire city's populace—had already spread like wildfire throughout every corner of Luoyang.

This unprecedented event ignited an unprecedented frenzy throughout the city.

Scholars put down their books, farmers laid down their hoes and plows, craftsmen packed up their tools, and merchants ceased their business. Even young ladies who usually stayed at home flocked to the area in carriages, accompanied by their families.

The ten-mile-long Imperial Street in front of the Imperial City and the adjacent vast square were packed with surging crowds, shoulder to shoulder, sweating profusely.

The windows of all the private rooms in the restaurants and inns along the street had already been booked at great expense, and now the windows were wide open, crowded with figures dressed in brocade; some daring young men even climbed onto nearby rooftops, walls, and even tall tree branches, craning their necks in anticipation.

The air was thick with the smells of sweat and dust, and even more so with an almost tangible, boiling anticipation and tension, as if a single spark could ignite the entire scene.

When the figure in the green robe calmly appeared from inside the huge palace gate and slowly walked towards the lonely desk in the center of the Imperial Street, the long-suppressed sound erupted like a flood bursting its banks!

"Jiang Hanlin!"

It's Jiang Hanlin!

Cheers, shouts, and discussions merged into a deafening torrent that soared into the sky.

However, just as the uproar reached its peak, Jiang Xingzhou simply raised his hand slightly and pressed down in the air.

Without a word, just a simple gesture, an invisible, gentle yet undeniable power spread out.

The thunderous sound seemed to be stroked by an invisible giant hand, quickly subsiding and calming down, eventually transforming into an extreme silence that suppressed excitement and curiosity!
At this moment, the wind could be heard rustling the banners on the street where hundreds of thousands of people had gathered!
Hundreds of thousands of gazes, burning with curiosity, anticipation, scrutiny, and doubt... were like countless invisible arrows, focused on that figure in green robes.

Sunlight poured down, gilding his tall figure with a dazzling golden edge, as if he were not walking in the mortal world, but walking out of the light.

The eunuchs set up a desk in front of Jiang Xingzhou.

Empress Wu Mingyue, the five great Confucian scholars, and officials from the three provinces and six ministries couldn't help but gather around to watch. They wanted to be the first to see Jiang Xingzhou's magnificent work, "To Be Passed Down Through the World!"

On the desk, the Xuan paper was snow-white, and the brush and ink were ready, awaiting the chapter destined to be recorded in the annals of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Jiang Xingzhou stood quietly at the table, not in a hurry to touch the pen.

He closed his eyes again, his chest rising and falling slightly, and took a deep breath.

This time, he was not looking inward at the literary palace, nor was he drawing upon the literary energy of heaven and earth. Instead, he was completely opening himself up and listening with his whole being.

Listen to the long, drawn-out breath of this ten-mile-long street, listen to the chaotic yet powerful heartbeats of countless people.

His extraordinary perception captured countless subtle sounds: the giggles of children with their mouths covered, the suppressed coughs of the elderly, the lingering echoes of vendors' shouts, the distant, faint sound of craftsmen's hammers, the soft humming of a woman holding an infant, the heavy breathing of a strong man in the crowd... These countless trivial, real sounds intertwined and converged into a vast, magnificent, and vibrant torrent of life.

It contains the hardships of life, the simple joys, the worries about tomorrow, and the most basic desire for a peaceful and prosperous life with enough food and clothing.

His mind seemed to have completely merged with the mortal world, deeply resonating with the joys and sorrows of trillions of people.

A profound feeling of compassion for all living beings and empathy surged within him.

After a long while, he suddenly opened his eyes.

At this moment, his eyes no longer held the aloofness and detachment often seen in literati, but were filled with a deep sorrow and warmth connected to this land and its people.

He stretched out his right hand and firmly grasped the purple-tipped brush, which was soaked in thick ink.

The brush tip hovered above the snow-white Xuan paper, trembling slightly, not because of cowardice, but because of the immense weight of the matter concerning all living beings that was about to be expressed on the brush!

What he wants to write has gone beyond a display of personal talent, and even beyond simple literary creation.

He is speaking out for the common people of this world!

Finally, the pen, imbued with immense power, resolutely fell to the ground!
There is no piling up of ornate language, no creation of extraordinary artistic conception, and not even the choice of any traditional poetic or song genre.

He began his most direct and poignant statement with the simplest and most unadorned words, yet every stroke seemed to draw upon the full power of his life.

This story depicts the most authentic living conditions of an ordinary person living under the emperor's nose during this glorious and prosperous era.

His calligraphy is no longer the elegant and ethereal style of the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" or the "Peach Blossom Spring". Instead, it has become a profound, forceful, and powerful style.

Each horizontal line seems to resemble the bent back of a coachman.

Each vertical line resembles the hunched back of an old man;
Every stroke of the pen seems to embody the silent blood, sweat, and sighs of the people.

The ink meanders silently across the paper, yet it is like a thunderclap, exploding in the hearts of the people.

(End of this chapter)