Chapter 167: Palace Examination

Wang Hua was taken aback for a moment. He raised his eyes and saw that Wang Shouren was still sitting there rigidly, staring blankly at these four words.

Unity of Knowledge and Action…

What did it mean?

Wang Hua began to search through all the knowledge he had acquired in his life, trying to find any Policy Essay topics related to these four words.

He pondered for a long time and then coughed lightly.

Only then did the bleary-eyed Wang Shouren realize something. He looked up gently, his bloodshot eyes meeting Wang Hua’s gaze, which made Wang Hua’s heart ache a little.

“Are you reviewing your lessons?” Wang Hua forced a smile.

“No.”

Clearly, Wang Shouren was not good at lying.

Wang Hua’s expression began to stiffen, and his breathing became rushed. Tomorrow…

Yes, tomorrow was the Palace Examination. So… what did this mean?

Fortunately, as a Zhuangyuan, after all, and the currently highly reputed Junior Supervisor of the Household in the court, Wang Hua took a deep breath and his face lit up with a smile again. “Then, what does this Unity of Knowledge and Action mean?”

“Your son only half-understands it now, so these past few days, I have been pondering and carefully considering it,” Wang Shouren said very seriously. “However, these four words were given by Young Lord Fang of Nanhe Bo Mansion. The more I think about them, the more I feel that what they contain is not just a simple principle. It truly feels terrifying upon deeper thought. Although Confucius and Master Zhu of the Cheng-Zhu School had their points, I believe that they…”

Wang Hua trembled.

This was rebellion…

He dared to criticize the Sages!

The Wang family had passed down literature and scholarship for generations, relying entirely on the Four Books and Five Classics. It was thanks to the foresight of sages like Confucius and Mencius, and the Cheng-Zhu School, that they had a livelihood. And you… at such a young age, you actually dare to be so unorthodox.

So all these days, you shut yourself in the study, not reviewing your lessons at all, but pondering over these four words: Unity of Knowledge and Action.

Wang Hua’s face turned sallow with anger, his eyes as red as blood.

Seeing his father’s fury, Wang Shouren simply fell silent and did not continue.

But he was a stubborn person. Once he had made up his mind, even nine oxen couldn’t pull him back.

So, though his eyes were bloodshot, they shone with a clear light as he met his father’s gaze.

Sigh…

Wang Hua decided not to hit this good-for-nothing. After all, he was a Zhuangyuan; he needed to have self-restraint and use Virtue Persuasion Cannon.

Wang Hua tried his best to speak in a calm tone: “In ancient times, those who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the world first governed their states well. Wishing to govern their states well, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their personal lives. Wishing to cultivate their personal lives, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended their knowledge. The extension of knowledge lay in the Investigation of Things. Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their personal lives were cultivated. Their personal lives being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole world was made peaceful…”

He continued at a very fast pace: “Thus, we have Investigation of Things, Extension of Knowledge, Rectification of the Heart, Sincerity of Thought, Cultivation of Personal Life, Regulation of the Family, Governance of the State, and Pacification of the World! Now, your future is right before you. Tomorrow’s Palace Examination concerns your destiny and even your desire to govern the state and pacify the world. Do you not care about these things?”

Wang Shouren’s face stiffened, as if he was thinking.

In fact, he was thinking all the time. Thinking was something that varied from person to person. For an ordinary person, it was called idle pondering, but for a great thinker in history, it was called reflection.

Of course, Wang Shouren was not yet a great thinker, so naturally, he was just idle pondering.

After idle pondering for a moment, Wang Shouren raised his eyes, his gaze even more resolute. He said solemnly, “Father, the Investigation of Things to Extend Knowledge has been proven wrong. I once investigated bamboo for three days but gained no understanding at all. I also went to investigate the farmland in Western Hills and still gained nothing.”

“You… you…” This time, Wang Hua was so angry that his beard trembled wildly, and a raging fire burned in his chest.

“However… regarding the Palace Examination, I am quite confident,” Wang Shouren said with a smile, looking rather proud.

Wang Hua almost couldn’t catch his breath, but after hearing this, his expression softened a little. “Hmm?”

Wang Shouren said lightly, “Fang Jifan’s several disciples, in terms of the Eight-Legged Essay, I am not as good as them. But when it comes to Policy Essays, they… are not worth mentioning. Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen are too rigid in their thinking. Xu Jing is quite flexible in mind, but his knowledge is somewhat lacking. As for Tang Yin, his talent is excellent, but unfortunately… he comes from a Merchant family, so he likely won’t achieve much in Policy Essays either.”

This was truly not humble at all.

Wang Hua was a bit annoyed. In fact, he thought the same way, but… his years of life experience told him to be modest.

He glared at Wang Shouren and said, “So, you think you can still achieve the Zhuangyuan?”

Wang Shouren smiled faintly, pursed his lips, and said, “I… am determined to win!”

…

During his leisure time, Fang Jifan sat in the hall, which was his happiest moment. His five disciples surrounded him, attending to his needs, all with lowered eyebrows and obedient expressions, trying in various ways to please him. It was a rare entertainment in life.

Fang Jifan did not like to toy with women, but playing with his disciples was quite amusing.

Tang Yin presented his thirteenth painting since becoming Fang Jifan’s disciple.

As usual, it was a painting of beauties. It had to be said that Tang Yin’s paintings of beauties were truly exceptional in history. Fang Jifan’s appreciation level rose straight as he looked at them.

But after looking at these paintings of beauties for a while, he grew tired of them.

Seeing his Mentor frown slightly, Tang Yin couldn’t help but feel a pang of panic. He asked very cautiously, “Does Mentor not like it?”

Fang Jifan sighed and said, “Little Tang, the painting is fine, but I have a small question that I can’t figure out.”

Tang Yin hurriedly said, “Please enlighten me, Mentor.”

Fang Jifan sighed with emotion and said, “Why are the women in these paintings always dressed so conservatively? Why do you always make them wear so many clothes?”

Something wasn’t right. Fang Jifan was puzzled.

Tang Yin’s paintings of beauties were indeed exceptional, but if he remembered correctly, Tang Yin’s erotic paintings were also quite remarkable. How could you only paint beauties and not erotic scenes? What, do you think I don’t know how to appreciate them?

“…” Tang Yin’s face flushed bright red.

Sitting below, Ouyang Zhi remained expressionless, his eyes fixed blankly on the ceiling as he daydreamed.

Jiang Chen and Liu Wenshan bowed their heads low, showing no emotional reaction.

Xu Jing, however, was shocked. He seemed not quite used to it yet, staring straight at his Mentor, wondering: Does Mentor like… this…? Aren’t we like-minded? Should I invite Mentor along next time I go to that place…? Would that be inappropriate? Mentor and disciple visiting prostitutes together—would that be a fine tale or…?

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then his face turned even redder. He hesitated and said, “Men… Mentor… this… this… I am a Tribute Scholar, how… how could I paint such pictures?”

Fang Jifan looked at him disdainfully and said, “Filthy-minded! Is it indecent just because they wear fewer clothes?”

“…” Tang Yin wished he could bury his head in the sand.

Fang Jifan sighed inwardly. Indeed… he had changed many people’s destinies. For example, Tang Yin: if it were in history, he would have fallen into poverty due to a scandal and eventually been forced to paint erotic scenes to make a living in his hometown. But now, as a Tribute Scholar, Tang Yin had begun to look down upon the craft that historically supported him. This showed how easily people forgot their roots.

Fang Jifan sat down, his expression turning serious. “Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Tomorrow is the Palace Examination. I have nothing more to teach you all. In the Palace Examination, you must work hard. Don’t all end up like Jiang Chen and Xu Jing, bringing shame to me.”

Jiang Chen and Xu Jing immediately looked ashamed. It was indeed quite embarrassing.

After giving them some serious instructions, he sent the five off to bed early.

As for this Palace Examination, Fang Jifan actually wasn’t very sure. He did know the topic for the Palace Examination in the twelfth year of Hongzhi, but the Palace Examination was not like the Metropolitan Examination or the Provincial Examination. For the latter two, the topics were already set in the minds of the chief examiners and generally wouldn’t change, since Eight-Legged Essay topics were less influenced by external factors.

The Palace Examination, however, primarily tested Policy Essays, which made it quite different.

Policy Essays were essentially about current affairs, and current affairs could change at any time. Therefore, the Emperor’s choice of topic could be quite arbitrary.

Regarding this, Fang Jifan did not reveal the historical Policy Essay topics, to avoid influencing his five disciples.

Rather than that, it was better to cultivate in them a composure that remained unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before them. Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen were excellent examples. Look, under his guidance, hadn’t they become the type who wouldn’t bat an eye even if the sky fell?

This showed that his education was extremely successful.

As for whether they could achieve good results, that would depend entirely on their own fortunes.

That night passed quietly. The next morning, as dawn was just breaking, Fang Jifan got up.

While Xiaoxiangxiang helped Fang Jifan get dressed, she said, “Young Lord, Tang and the others have been ready since early morning, waiting for you to rise.”

“Oh,” Fang Jifan looked at the sky outside and couldn’t help but say, “Being someone’s father… ah, no, being someone’s Mentor is truly difficult. But I have gained some experience now. How about it, Xiaoxiangxiang, let’s make a person to play with. I now have experience in raising children.”

Xiaoxiangxiang immediately blushed, her pretty face flushing crimson as she shyly bowed her head. Although Young Lord would say a few strange things and act frisky every day, she had gradually gotten used to it and no longer resisted. But today, his words were even more direct. She carefully fastened the Golden Belt around Fang Jifan and said in a crisp voice, “Young Lord, you’re bullying me again…” With that, she covered her face and left.

Fang Jifan was amused. In truth, he didn’t really mean to bully Xiaoxiangxiang; it was just a habit of teasing her. But as soon as he turned around, he saw Deng Jian standing at the door, grinning foolishly.

“What are you laughing at? Get lost,” Fang Jifan snorted coldly, raised his fan, and tapped Deng Jian on the forehead.

He hadn’t hit Deng Jian much recently, and it really felt unfamiliar.