ebookland Chapter 331 The Imperial Examination Ends
Chapter 331 The Imperial Examination Ends
That night, Chen Xuan surprisingly didn't dream like he had the night before and fell asleep peacefully. Wang Feng and Jiang Yuan, however, tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. As for their other roommate, Deng Zhou, he lay quietly in bed, making it unclear whether he was sound asleep or deep in thought about something important.
Soon, the dawn broke on the third day, and a new day of exams followed. The morning's exam was on mathematics, and the afternoon on law. For Chen Xuan, compared to traditional subjects like classics, history, philosophy, and literature, mathematics and law had always been his relatively weaker areas. However, as the saying goes, diligence can make up for lack of talent. Over the past two months, Chen Xuan had focused intently on these two areas through tireless effort and diligent study. Coupled with his powerful memory, he wasn't too worried about these two exams.
After receiving the exam papers, Chen Xuan quickly glanced through the questions, then picked up his pen without hesitation and began calculating and answering rapidly. Time ticked by with each stroke of his pen on the paper, and before he knew it, the morning math exam was nearing its end. With the last question completed, Chen Xuan let out a long sigh of relief, calmly put down his pen, and waited to hand in his paper.
In the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the windows, warming the seats and adding a touch of warmth to the examination room. The law exam officially began. With the experience of the previous two days, Chen Xuan found himself increasingly adept at answering the questions. The complex and intricate legal provisions flowed clearly into his mind, allowing him to answer each question accurately.
Finally, in a tense yet orderly atmosphere, the afternoon law exam came to a successful conclusion. As the invigilator announced that the papers had been collected, many candidates stood up with a sigh of relief, gathered their belongings, and slowly left the examination room.
As the gates of the examination hall slowly opened, it marked the successful conclusion of the first-ever imperial examination in history.
While waiting for the exam results, Chen Xuan continued to live in the dormitory arranged by Princess Jiayang. Every day, he would discuss the exam questions with the other candidates and speculate about his scores. Although his heart was filled with anticipation, he remained remarkably calm.
Next, Ying Wuyou's most important task was to hand over these mountains of exam papers to the examiners. She had someone carefully fold up each exam paper, covering the candidates' names, hometowns, and other personal information with paper. This way, when the examiners reviewed the papers, they couldn't use this personal information to influence their judgments, ensuring the exam was conducted fairly and impartially.
In fact, besides anonymizing names, there was a complementary measure called transcription. Transcription involved having a specialist meticulously rewrite the candidates' original exam papers. The purpose was to prevent identification of candidates by handwriting during later grading, thus eliminating potential cheating. However, Ying Wuyou did not adopt this measure this time. The main reason was that the entire process was too complicated and tedious. After all, thousands of people participated in this imperial examination, and the number of papers they completed in just three days was enormous. Simply having someone transcribe the papers would likely consume a great deal of time and manpower. Moreover, this was the first imperial examination held in the Qin Dynasty, and there was no need to set such stringent requirements.
Once everything was ready, Ying Wuyou personally escorted the examination papers into the closed courtyard. Afterwards, she had an in-depth discussion with the officials in charge of grading the papers, repeatedly emphasizing the principles of fairness and impartiality. "This imperial examination concerns the future and destiny of many students, and also the future of the Qin Dynasty. Every pen in your hands carries a heavy responsibility; you must not let personal feelings jeopardize matters of national importance."
As Ying Wuyou finished speaking, the examiners all expressed their determination to strictly adhere to their duties and live up to the trust placed in them.
Immediately afterward, Ying Wuyou threw herself into preparations for the medical exchange conference that would begin in six days. Taking advantage of any spare moments, she quickly met with Imperial Physician Li to discuss the details. The two meticulously studied every aspect of the conference, from determining the exchange process to venue setup and logistical support, carefully considering and finalizing each detail. Only after everything was properly arranged did Ying Wuyou finally begin to relax a little.
Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, the venue for the medical exchange meeting was successfully completed as planned. On this day, the sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze blew, and Ying Wuyou, filled with anticipation, personally went to inspect the venue.
As she stepped into the area, the sight before her astonished her. The entire site was vast and open, like a huge plain unfolding before one's eyes. Tall wooden signs stood all around, inscribed with various medical terms.
The meeting room was clean and spacious. In the center of the room, rows of low tables were neatly arranged, with paper, pens, and ink on them for the medical staff to record their thoughts at any time. The tables were divided into different areas by silk ropes, and the seating was arranged in an orderly manner.
At the entrance to the venue, two soldiers stood ramrod straight, their expressions solemn, maintaining order. Next to them was a registration desk, staffed by an elderly clerk who recorded the names, origins, and areas of expertise of the attending physicians.
On one side of the courtyard, several simple sheds were set up. Inside the sheds were various herbal specimens, with detailed descriptions of the herbs' names, origins, and effects.
At the back of the venue stood a raised platform. A large table sat on it, behind which was the main seat for the moderator of the conference. A large wooden frame also adorned the platform, displaying exquisitely drawn diagrams of the human meridian system, providing a clear and intuitive reference for the upcoming academic discussions. The entire venue was arranged with both solemnity and practicality, imbued with a strong academic atmosphere, awaiting the physicians to embark on a splendid feast of medical exchange.
The venue was also carefully arranged with rows of neat seats and display stands, making it convenient for participants to exchange and share their experiences and achievements.
As the date of the medical exchange conference approached, medical professionals from all over the country flocked to Xianyang like a tidal wave. Some carried their luggage, weary from their journey; some rode on fine horses, looking dashing; and others traveled leisurely in carriages.
In an instant, the already bustling city of Xianyang became even more vibrant and lively. Everywhere, in the streets and alleys, one could see doctors, some engaged in lively discussions about medical matters in small groups, others quietly contemplating solutions to difficult ailments. A rich academic atmosphere permeated the air, giving a sense of the boundless possibilities that this grand medical event was about to bring.