Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

Ji Jiahui's face turned pale. If what Chen Lang said was true, then it was not an exaggeration for him to be able to write such immortal poems at such a young age and call himself a genius.

As the head of Guangling Prefecture, when such a talent appears under his rule, he should cherish and protect it with all his might. Because the more talented people under his rule, the more chips he will have for promotion.

The imperial court’s requirement for counties is that they must produce a Juren within a few years, and the requirement for prefectures is that they must produce several Jinshi within a few years!

If a top three Jinshi, that is, the top three in the imperial examination, emerges, the highest administrative chief of the state will most likely be able to enter the cabinet.

Although it is not realistic for Chen Lang to pass the imperial examination and become a top-three Jinshi with his current level, there is at least a 30% to 40% chance of passing the imperial examination and becoming a top-three Jinshi.

As long as it is properly cultivated, it is no exaggeration to say that the probability will increase to more than 70%.

Such a talented person was brutally suppressed. If the news gets out, his reputation will be damaged.

As an old bureaucrat, Ji Jiahui realized that he could no longer torture Chen Lang with the question of "talent and learning." So he changed his approach and asked, "Chen Lang, even if you didn't lie and you wrote the Peach Blossom Cottage song, that only proves that you have talent and learning, not that you didn't cheat!"

"I have reviewed your exam paper. Your policy essay questions, from every angle, are very similar to Nie Xuezheng's views. Furthermore, your handwriting is also deliberately imitating Nie Xuezheng's."

"Nie Xuezheng's appointment as the chief examiner is a top secret. It's impossible for a mere student like you to know about it."

"There's only one answer. Nie Xuezheng has a vested interest in you and told you in advance that he would be the chief examiner."

Chen Lang smiled calmly and said, "Master Prefect, there's no need to change the subject. You keep on saying that I'm not talented enough, so I resort to these crooked ways, right?"

Ji Jiahui didn't say anything and just agreed.

Chen Lang said, "Your Excellency the Prefect should know that I have been staying at the Xiao family for the past few days."

Ji Jiahui nodded: "You had a conflict with the Xiao family's servants and were placed under house arrest by the Xiao Mansion. This matter has spread among the candidates in Guangling Mansion, so this mansion naturally knows about it."

Chen Lang said: "Your Excellency only knows one side of the story. I am not under house arrest in the Xiao family. Instead, I am discussing scriptures and doctrines with Scholar Xiao Yuxiao."

"Master Xiao was very impressed by my talent. Upon learning that I only ranked eighth in the provincial exam, he even questioned whether the chief examiner had deliberately lowered my score when grading the paper."

"Now that the adults have said that my handwriting and writing style are very similar to Nie Xuezheng's, I feel more and more that what Master Xiao said is right. Nie Xuezheng deliberately lowered my score for the sake of fairness in the examination."

These words confused Nie Ziru.

I had clearly given some extra points on purpose, but he managed to turn it into suppressing the points!

This young man...his mind works really quickly.

"Hey, I didn't want to say this originally, but since it's been mentioned, I'll say a few more words."

"Chen Lang's writing style is indeed similar to mine. I once suspected that he had learned about my appointment as the chief examiner through some other channel and wrote this way on purpose."

"So when I was evaluating him, I didn't give him the rating he deserved out of my heart."

Nie Ziru sighed and said, "Now that I think about it, I was probably judging others by my own standards. After all, Chen Lang's talent and knowledge have reached the point where he can discuss Confucian classics with Scholar Xiao."

"With my limited knowledge, I am not worthy of being compared with Scholar Xiao."

The two of them sang in unison and completely turned the situation around.

I can only say that Xiao Yu’s reputation is too useful.

He was the top scorer in the imperial examination, a veteran of three dynasties, and a pillar of the court. He had served as the Prince's Grand Tutor, Shangshu Zuo Pushe, and Wenyuan Pavilion Grand Secretary. He had outstanding political achievements and his students were all over the world.

Although he has been depressed in recent years, no one can deny the glory he once achieved. Looking across the entire Qinzhou Road, no one else can compare with Xiao Yu in this regard.

During the years he lived in Guangling Prefecture, officials from both Guangling Prefecture and Qinzhou Prefecture would visit him every New Year to listen to his teachings. Officials passing by and imperial envoys appointed by the court would also pay him a visit, even if they were turned away, because it was a matter of attitude.

Now that the Shilin Party is gradually taking control of the cabinet, it is only a matter of time before His Majesty re-employs him as a banner figure of the Shilin Party.

This guy Chen Lang was able to discuss scriptures and philosophy with Xiao Yu and even receive praise from the other party?

Ji Jiahui once thought that he was hallucinating.

The examinee at the government office gate looked exactly like Ji Jiahui.

They were unwilling to believe Chen Lang's words, because for students all over the world, discussing scriptures and philosophy with Xiao Yu was an honor comparable to becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination.

But they had to believe it.

Because such words cannot be false, as long as Ji Jiahui sends someone to the Xiao family to inquire, the truth will be revealed.

Since Chen Lang dared to say this, he must not be afraid of Ji Jiahui sending people to investigate.

"When the Xiao family servant arrested Chen Lang, his attitude was so rude. I didn't expect that it would actually help him."

"It makes me want to repeat Chen Lang's behavior. Once I am captured and taken to the Xiao family, maybe I can discuss scriptures with Master Xiao."

"Come on, with your blockhead, you can't even pass the provincial examination, and you still want to discuss Confucian classics with Scholar Xiao? If you do that, you'll probably get beaten out by the Xiao family's servants."

"With Scholar Xiao's seal of approval, the turmoil surrounding Chen Lang can finally be put to rest. Those three poems were all written by him. From now on, the title of Guangling Prefecture's genius will be transferred from Ke Jin to Chen Lang."

"But he could still cheat."

"Fuck, brother, can you be any more stupid? Chen Lang is so talented, why would he need to cheat? And Nie Xuezheng even said that because Chen Lang's handwriting is somewhat similar to his, he deliberately suppressed Chen Lang. Otherwise, Chen Lang's results might have made it into the top five."

"I've also seen Chen Lang's paper. It's not that impressive."

"If he's not powerful, then you are? Then go discuss the Confucian classics with Scholar Xiao."

Ji Jiahui took a deep breath, trying to put on a smile, and his voice became extremely amiable: "Since you have been recognized by Master Xiao, it shows that your talent is indeed extraordinary."

"How about this? I'll give you a question. Write a poem based on it. If your writing is as good as the three previous ones, all the doubts about you will be misunderstandings."

"With your talent, it shouldn't be difficult for you to compose a poem on the spot."

Chen Lang smiled contemptuously.

If Ji Jiahui had this attitude from the beginning, he wouldn't mind "reciting" a poem on the spot to clear his name.

But I have just said that this interrogation is a life-and-death situation, but Ji Jiahui still wants to let it go lightly and use "misunderstanding" to cover up all the previous events.

If I agree to this, won't I appear to be a complete soft persimmon, someone who can be exploited by anyone?

So, no!