bookrebus Chapter 449 The Entrance Exam Ends
Chapter 449 The Entrance Exam Ends
Crown Prince Wei sat before the examination table, dressed in a long black robe with delicate embroidery on the collar and cuffs, highlighting his noble status. Faced with the questions, he frowned slightly, lost in thought. After a moment, he picked up a brush and quickly wrote on bamboo slips, outlining his views. He believed that a neutral institution should be established in the court to balance the old and new forces and ensure the steady progress of the reforms; as for dealing with the drought, the people could be organized to repair water conservancy projects and develop new water sources, while merchants should be encouraged to sell grain at fair prices, with the government providing certain subsidies.
The IQ test questions were full of fun and challenge. One question was: "There are three boxes, one containing millet, one containing rice, and one containing both. Each box has a label on the outside, but all the labels are wrong. You can only open one box and take out one type of rice to determine what kind of rice is actually in each box. Which box should you open?" Test takers needed to unravel the clues to find the answer.
The legal questions on conviction present a series of complex cases. For example, "A and B had an argument in a market. B struck A first, and A retaliated, injuring B severely and rendering him unconscious. A later voluntarily surrendered to the police. According to the laws of the Qin Dynasty, what should be the sentence?"
Inside the examination hall of Daqin Women's Academy, Li Yanran looked at the law question and quickly recalled the legal provisions she had studied. After a moment's thought, she picked up her pen and wrote: "B attacked first, and A's actions constituted legitimate self-defense. However, the self-defense was excessive, resulting in serious injury to B. A should be given a lighter punishment. Given that A voluntarily surrendered himself to the police, the punishment may be further reduced at the discretion of the court."
In the examination hall of Daqin Medical College, candidates are focused on identifying various herbs, drawing human meridian diagrams, and answering questions about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Xu Zhizhou, a young man from a remote mountain village, has a fervent passion for medical knowledge in his eyes. Having witnessed the suffering of his fellow villagers from illness since childhood, he aspires to become a good doctor. At this moment, he carefully identifies the herbs before him, writing down their names, effects, and uses. Although his writing is somewhat immature, it is filled with his dedication and love for medicine.
Outside the examination hall, Ying Wuyou and Lü Zhi patrolled between the various examination rooms. Ying Wuyou, with her keen eyes, carefully observed the condition of each examinee. She noticed that a poor scholar's hand was trembling with nervousness, so she nodded slightly and gestured for the tutor to bring him a cup of warm water to ease his tension. When she saw a noble young man answering the questions smoothly, his eyes sparkling with confidence, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, revealing a smile of satisfaction.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and before we knew it, the sun was setting, bathing the entire college in a golden glow. With the crisp sound of the closing bell, this momentous entrance exam came to a close. The candidates emerged from the examination hall one after another; some looked relaxed, their faces beaming with confident smiles; others, however, had furrowed brows and worried expressions, seemingly dissatisfied with their performance.
Ying Wuyou stood before the academy gates, watching the departing examinees, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She knew that regardless of the exam results, these examinees would become a part of the future of Qin. And these three academies would leave a significant mark on the history of Qin.
After all the examinees had left, the afterglow of the setting sun gradually faded, and night, like a huge black silk ribbon, slowly covered the entire city of Xianyang. Ying Wuyou and Lü Zhi still stood on the high platform of the academy, their gazes lingering on the rows of empty examination rooms, which still seemed to echo with the rustling sound of writing.
"Princess, observing these candidates' answers today, there are many who are quick-witted and insightful. The future of Qin is certainly full of hope." Lü Zhi broke the silence softly, her voice carrying a hint of relief after exhaustion.
Ying Wuyou nodded slightly, but a hint of worry remained in his expression: "Yes, what we saw today was indeed delightful, but with so many participants, the number of those selected is limited, and it's inevitable that some outstanding individuals will be overlooked. Moreover, Crown Prince Ji of Wei is also involved; we need to observe carefully what his true purpose is."
Meanwhile, in a tavern in Xianyang, a group of candidates who had just finished their exams were sitting together, enthusiastically discussing today's exam questions.
"That question about court intrigue was really difficult. I racked my brains, but I don't know if my answer will meet the teacher's approval," a young scholar dressed in coarse cloth said with a worried look on his face.
A wealthy young man in a brocade robe waved his hand dismissively: "What's there to be afraid of? I think today's questions are difficult, but as long as you apply what you've learned, you can still get some points. It's the questions about criminalizing crimes that are easy to get wrong if you're not careful."
At this moment, a middle-aged man who had been silently drinking slowly spoke up: "Gentlemen, do not be careless. The selection process for the Great Qin Academy is rigorous. The questions for this exam are all related to the rise and fall of the nation and the suffering of the people. If one only talks the talk, even if one is lucky enough to be admitted, it will be difficult to achieve anything in the future." Everyone seemed to be thinking about this, and the atmosphere in the tavern became somewhat heavy.
Inside the post station, Prince Wei Ji was pacing alone in the courtyard. His personal guard cautiously approached him: "Your Highness, did the exam go well today?"
Crown Prince Ji of Wei stopped and looked up at the night sky, his expression complex: "The topics are extremely broad. Qin's move is intended to select truly capable and virtuous talents. This study will likely be more difficult than I imagined." He knew that every step on the land of Qin required caution; the slightest mistake could not only prevent him from completing his mission but also endanger the state of Wei.
Li Yanran was sitting at home, her heart filled with anxiety. She paced back and forth in her room, restless and uneasy, as if time had stood still. She knew that this exam was of extraordinary significance to her; it was not only an opportunity to enter Daqin Women's Academy, but also the only way for her to achieve her goals and persevere.
If she fails this exam, she will lose her eligibility to enter the college, which means she may never be able to realize her deepest dreams and aspirations. The thought filled Li Yanran with anxiety and unease.
However, she was not defeated by these emotions. Instead, she clenched her fists and told herself she had to calm down. She knew this was a crucial turning point in her life, and no matter the outcome, she couldn't give up easily.
A few days later, the grading work began in earnest. The scholars in the academy divided into several groups to carefully review the mountain of bamboo slips containing the answer sheets. Sometimes they frowned, shaking their heads and sighing at some of the biased answers; other times they showed surprise and applauded the novel and unique insights.