A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Vice Dean Li said in a deep voice, "Alright, I'll let you answer this last question on the spot."

Vice Dean Li agreed, and Gu Xiao lowered his head to review the question, quickly skimming through its contents.

The incident happened so suddenly that he didn't even finish reading the last question.

The last question was very broad, discussing the principles of governing a country and ensuring its stability.

In previous years, the provincial examinations often focused on one aspect such as regional military governors, pacification of barbarians, reforms, and the selection of virtuous officials. However, the last question in this year's academy examination could actually cover all of the above.

This last question was set by Dean Qiu. The purpose was to create a relatively open-ended question so that students could approach it from their own strengths, exchange ideas, and learn from each other's strengths to make up for their weaknesses.

Such a topic is difficult to discuss completely. If all aspects are involved, it will be difficult to analyze in depth. The cheat sheet in Vice Dean Li's hand selected three aspects to start with.

After reading the question, Gu Xiao remained calm, pondered for a moment, and then slowly picked up the calligraphy brush.

There were about twenty students in the erudite class. Some of them were curious about what Gu Xiao could write, so they and Vice Dean Li surrounded Gu Xiao to proctor the exam. Others were not very concerned and felt that they were wasting their time, so they stayed in their seats to read or do the last question.

Gu Xiao picked up his pen and began to answer the questions on the exam paper. To everyone's surprise, Gu Xiao answered very quickly. He would pause occasionally, think for only a few seconds, and then continue answering. His pen moved like a dragon and a snake, his thoughts flowed like a spring, as if he were divinely inspired.

"Putting aside the content of Gu Xiao's writing, how come his handwriting is so good?" A student standing next to Gu Xiao was so fascinated that he murmured to himself.

Gu Xiao's calligraphy is steady and powerful, with strokes that seem to penetrate the paper. Although it consists of lines of characters, they evoke the image of a winding, majestic mountain range, conveying a sense of awe and grandeur.

Looking at Gu Xiao's exam paper is like looking at a work of calligraphy. Such beautiful handwriting will be an advantage in the future provincial examination. The examiners will give him a few points higher just by looking at the pleasing characters.

"He wrote this with his left hand. I heard he has an injury to his right hand, so he practiced writing with his left..."

"Oh? Then the characters he writes with his right hand must be even more exquisite."

Nie Wenye felt as if he had been punched in the heart. He had also been shocked by Gu Xiao's calligraphy back then.

The group sincerely admired Gu Xiao's calligraphy. Scholars valued calligraphy, especially in larger places. In the capital, there was a saying: "Those with good handwriting are respected, while those with bad handwriting are despised." The headmaster of an academy in the capital once said, "For scholars, writing is the most important thing."

Another student retorted sarcastically, "So what if you have good handwriting? You can't write a good essay just because you have good calligraphy skills."

Hearing the discussion, Vice Dean Li frowned in displeasure and gave them a cold look, signaling them to be quiet.

Several students obediently shut up upon hearing the discussion; they were somewhat intimidated by this stern and strict vice dean.

Although Vice Dean Li told them to shut up, she actually shared the same thoughts as them.

He is passionate about calligraphy, practicing diligently for many years without interruption, and also enjoys buying and studying the calligraphy of famous masters. However, compared to Gu Xiao's work...

There are still shortcomings...

Vice Dean Li clenched his fist under his sleeve. Could someone who could write such handwriting really cheat?

He calmed himself down and focused on reading what Gu Xiao had written.

Other students, besides being amazed by Gu Xiao's calligraphy, also began to pay attention to what he had written.

In a short time, Gu Xiao had already written several lines, and it was possible to make out what he was trying to say.

"The state is the foundation of the nation; the world is the basis of the people..."

"The rise of a government depends on conforming to the will of the people; the downfall of a government depends on going against the will of the people..."

Gu Xiao's initial approach was completely different from the content of the cheat sheet in Vice Dean Li's hand; it was about following the will of the people.

The perspective of "the way of the people's hearts" wasn't particularly unusual, but the students watching became increasingly engrossed as they continued to look down. They unconsciously furrowed their brows, pursed their lips, and began to think along with Gu Xiao's train of thought. They would occasionally move forward a few steps and squint their eyes to try and see more clearly.

Gu Xiao's analysis of the way of public sentiment is unique, insightful, and thought-provoking, reaching a depth that students have never reached before.

The students watching either pursed their lips in thought, looked up at the sky in contemplation, or shook their heads and muttered to themselves. Gradually, they forgot that their original purpose was to proctor Gu Xiao's exam, and instead seemed to be reading a masterpiece.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating how Gu Xiao would write next and what insightful observations he would offer.

The more Vice Dean Li read, the more alarmed he became. He couldn't help but ask himself if he could write an article with such depth.

Nie Wenye originally thought that Gu Xiao would surely be exposed today, but he did not expect that Gu Xiao would write with divine inspiration, writing faster and faster, and his article had already exceeded the level that an ordinary student should have.

He bit his lip hard to keep himself from losing his composure, but the crimson glint in his eyes betrayed his jealousy.

He was known as the hope of the Nie family and the genius of Qinghe Village. He was highly valued by his teachers in the academy and was surrounded by countless accolades. He considered himself a genius, but all his pride crumbled under the weight of this article.

Soon, Gu Xiao finished writing on one sheet of paper, and he switched to another sheet to continue writing.

In a normal exam, he wouldn't go all out, but now that he needs to clear his name of any suspicion of cheating, he can't hold back too much.

After finishing the exam, Gu Xiao casually placed it on the side of his desk. Vice Dean Li couldn't help but reach out and pick it up, carefully reading it from beginning to end.

The other students hurriedly crowded around Vice Dean Li, craning their necks to get a closer look. Although they knew they were in the examination room and shouldn't make noise to disturb Gu Xiao's answers, they couldn't help but tsk-tsk in admiration.

Qinghe County is just a county town. Although Dean Qiu is well-read, the overall teaching level of the academy is quite different from that of the provincial capital and Beijing. Unlike students in the provincial capital who can be taught by great scholars, the students of Tiande Academy are confined to a remote corner and have less exposure to the world. Gu Xiao's article had a great impact on them.

Some students looked at Gu Xiao's article and began to silently memorize it in their minds. Such an article was enough to serve as a model, and if a similar question appeared in this year's autumn examination, they could learn from it.

As they recited, a sense of shame arose in their hearts. They lowered their heads, their cheeks flushed. They had previously suspected Gu Xiao of cheating and prepared cheat sheets to cope with the exam, but now they were secretly memorizing Gu Xiao's article as their own cheat sheets.

How ironic!

After the incense stick had burned down to almost half its length, Gu Xiao stopped writing, casually placed the brush on the brush rest, and gently shook his hand.

The second exam paper was picked up by Vice Dean Jiang, and everyone gathered around to look at it. Originally, there was no proctor, but the students sitting in their seats all came over to read Gu Xiao's essay because of everyone's reaction.

The entire room was silent, with only occasional soft gasps.

After a while, Vice Dean Li finished reading, looked up at Gu Xiao, and had an extremely complicated expression in her eyes.