Chapter 873 - 875 Unfair Competition Results_1
Everyone was delighted to see that Bai Zepei’s complexion had much improved. They offered words of encouragement, hoping he would be able to perform to the best of his abilities in the afternoon showdown with Tang Feng.
When everyone arrived at the Testing ground, they saw the results of yesterday’s policy discussions posted, with some excellent essays also on display.
Speaking of the policy discussion results, they were supposed to be announced early this morning, but the organizing committee made an announcement at daybreak, saying that the rankings of the essays were still under discussion and would not be published until the afternoon. Many people were abuzz with speculation at the time, an occurrence not seen in previous Competitions, leading many to guess that there must have been two essays of such exceptional quality that the judges could not immediately determine which one was better.
Now, seeing the results, Bai Ruozhu’s eyes widened in shock. She yanked on Jiang Yichun’s sleeve and asked, "Is that not my second brother’s name? I’m not seeing things, am I?"
Jiang Yichun looked over and said with a smile, "It is your second brother, he’s in second place. Your second brother really is talented."
Bai Ruozhu almost jumped with joy. With so many people participating in the policy discussion, all elite scholars selected from Study Palaces across the land, her second brother making it into the top five would have already been impressive, yet he managed to score second place.
"The results not coming out this morning probably means that the judges thought your second brother’s essay was on par with that of Tang Feng’s," Jiang Yichun said, pointing to the first-place name. Bai Ruozhu looked over, and sure enough, it was Tang Feng.
Bai Ruozhu suddenly felt a twinge of regret, "Come on, let’s go look at the essays of second brother and Tang Feng."
As soon as she said this, the members of the delegation agreed, all rushing to see the essays. However, the area was already crowded with people, and Bai Ruozhu and her group couldn’t get anywhere close.
Jiang Yichun, carrying a child and protecting Bai Ruozhu on one side, while radiating an icy aura on the other, managed to squeeze in with her.
Bai Ruozhu first looked at her second brother’s essay, and to be honest, she didn’t like classical Chinese, so she never paid attention to her second brother’s articles or poems. Her interests were focused on making money and raising children. However, now she discovered that her second brother’s essay was written brilliantly. Not only did it integrate the theme, but it also presented his viewpoints clearly and then vividly demonstrated them with examples, captivating even someone like Bai Ruozhu who didn’t enjoy ’zhi hu zhe ye’. In the end, she couldn’t help but praise the work out loud.
Then she looked at Tang Feng’s essay, acknowledging that it was equally expressive, with strong and powerful sentences. If Bai Ruozhu had to judge, it would be difficult for her to say which was better. Of course, in her heart, she still felt her second brother was the more outstanding one.
Tang Feng grew up in Xuanlang City, a place prosperous in Literature, with a mother who was a female Scholar, and his family owned a Tea House where poetry conferences were often held. He was nurtured in a literary environment; in contrast, Bai Zepei grew up in the countryside, reading and learning characters from his Scholar grandpa in his youth, and only later did he come to know Mr. Xie, from whom he learned a wealth of knowledge. However, when comparing their backgrounds to Tang Feng’s, there was quite a gap.
So, for her second brother to achieve today’s results, Bai Ruozhu believed his comprehension was indeed very high.
Once, her second brother’s strategies were inadequate because of the isolation of Mountain Village, but after moving to Beiyu City, he frequently interacted with Mr. Xie and Meng Liangshen, among others, and his understanding had completely changed, endowing him with his own thoughts and insights.
Bai Ruozhu then examined the essays of the third and fourth place winners, feeling even more certain that the top two must have been too close to call previously.
Jiang Yichun, with a solemn face, looked over the essays for a long while before suddenly saying in a low voice, "The judging is unfair; Tang Feng’s piece cannot beat your second brother’s."
Bai Ruozhu looked at him in surprise and saw his lips pursed tightly, his facial lines taut with tension, clearly angry.
He was someone who often defended his own, and he regarded Bai Zepei as family, which is why he was upset.
"Are you suggesting someone cheated, or that the judges were inept?" Bai Ruozhu asked quietly.
Jiang Yichun snorted coldly, "No matter the case, the organizing committee is far from qualified. These two articles should be presented to His Majesty for review."
After saying this, he didn’t wait for Bai Ruozhu’s response; he pulled her out of the crowd and then instructed his subordinates to secretly copy the articles and send them to the Capital City.
Bai Ruozhu knew he was fighting for justice for her second brother, and she felt glad. She tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Then why do you think Tang Feng’s article is inferior to my second brother’s?"
"Policy essays are policy essays. They are naturally a critique of the current affairs. No matter how well it’s written, what’s the use if it deviates from current affairs?" said Jiang Yichun indifferently.
Bai Ruozhu’s
eyes widened, "How could Tang Feng make such a mistake?"
"I’m afraid the error lies in the assumptions made here in Jiangnan. After all, Tang Feng is just a scholar, and he can only hear such information from officers, so there’s bound to be deviation," explained Jiang Yichun.
Bai Ruozhu nodded, feeling unjustified for Tang Feng, but that’s the nature of policy essays. Just like how her second brother used to perform poorly in policy essays, who would take into account that he lived in Mountain Village where information was scarce? Even if Tang Feng had heard the wrong information, it could only mean he had bad luck or that he failed to confirm and clarify things further.
As the couple spoke, others naturally did not join in to become the third wheel, so the delegation was not aware of what Jiang Yichun had said. Many people lamented that it was a pity; Bai Zepei was so close to being first. Of course, there were also some who cried injustice on Bai Zepei’s behalf, saying he deserved to be the first, and that Tang Feng had merely taken advantage of the host’s favoritism.
Bai Zepei just smiled lightly and said, "There’s still much for me to learn. Losing a competition is also a motivation for me."
The head of the Literature Institute looked at Tang Feng’s article with a frown, seeming to share Jiang Yichun’s opinion, but he just sighed, shook his head, and said no more.
The time for the competition was drawing near, and everyone headed towards the arena. At that moment, they saw Xu Panrui again, with the two young ladies that Bai Ruozhu had seen before. This time, Xu Panrui did not take the initiative to greet Bai Ruozhu; it was as if she did not see them at all, but she deliberately said to her companions in a feigned surprise, "Wow, as expected, Brother Tang Feng ranked first. I told you those cats and dogs are no match for Brother Tang Feng."
The other two covered their mouths and laughed, echoing the sentiment.
Tu Ying was so infuriated that she wanted to argue with them, but was swiftly held back by Bai Ruozhu, who whispered, "Don’t bother with them. Insulting my second brother is like insulting everyone ranked behind him. Only someone with a pig’s brain would say something like that."
Although Bai Ruozhu spoke softly, it wasn’t beyond earshot of others. Xu Panrui’s face changed color, and the Miss Sun beside her immediately glared at Bai Ruozhu, saying sharply, "What are you saying? You really are a barbarian from the Northland with no manners at all, speaking with such vulgarity."
The group was outraged. What did she mean by barbarians from the Northland? As if she herself had any manners?
Bai Ruozhu laughed and said, "Jiangnan women are known for their etiquette. How can Miss Sun shriek like this? Besides, who would drag a chamber pot onto their own head? I just mentioned those who insult all the participants in the policy essay contest. Did Miss Sun say such a thing?"
"You think I can’t tell you’re upset on behalf of your second brother? Who do you think you are, daring to insult us officials’ daughters?" Miss Sun yelled.