amaotonovel Chapter 326 Setting the Topic
Chapter 326 Setting the Topic
The question setters reside in various rooms within the courtyard. To ensure their daily needs are met, Ying Wuyou specially arranged for someone to be responsible for purchasing all kinds of fresh ingredients. Every morning, the purchasing person would take a list and ride a horse to the Xianyang market to select the freshest vegetables, meats, and fruits. Upon their return, a skilled chef would prepare three meals a day for everyone.
Aside from providing for their meals, the officials who set the questions were responsible for handling other personal matters such as tidying their rooms and washing their clothes. Initially, some officials were quite dissatisfied with this, feeling it was beneath their dignity. However, with Ying Wuyou showing no signs of incompetence, they gradually became accustomed to doing things for themselves.
As the days passed, life in the courtyard gradually settled into a routine. In this relatively secluded environment, the examiners devoted themselves to researching the exam questions, striving to select the most outstanding talents for the court. Meanwhile, Ying Wuyou would occasionally patrol the courtyard, checking the security measures and inquiring about the progress of the exam questions.
On this sunny day, with a gentle breeze, Ying Wuyou arrived at the courtyard with light steps. When she arrived, she found several examiners sitting around a spacious, brightly lit room, intently discussing the questions for the imperial examination. The entire room was unusually quiet; it was as if you could hear a pin drop.
Just then, an elderly man with a kind face broke the silence. He coughed lightly and then slowly spoke: "My lords, this imperial examination is of extraordinary significance to our Great Qin, a crucial moment for selecting pillars of the state. Therefore, the questions must not only comprehensively assess the students' profound knowledge but also deeply understand their unique insights and thinking abilities regarding governance. Only in this way can we ensure that we select truly outstanding individuals with exceptional talents."
After listening to the old man's words, the other examiners nodded in agreement. One of the younger examiners pondered for a moment before offering his opinion: "I think it would be appropriate to use 'The current difficulties faced by the people and their solutions' as the examination question for this year's imperial examination. This question can guide students to express their understanding of the predicaments faced by the people in contemporary society and require them to propose corresponding and effective solutions. In this way, we can not only test whether they pay close attention to real-world problems, but also see each person's strategic wisdom and ability to cope with practical difficulties."
However, just as everyone seemed to approve of the suggestion, another examiner frowned slightly, looking troubled, and offered a different opinion: "While the idea behind this question is excellent, it seems a bit too straightforward and simplistic. Many students might have already prepared for it, making it difficult to effectively select the most outstanding talents. In my personal opinion, it would be better to set the question as 'The Inspiration of Ancient Governance for the Present.' This way, students would have to have a broad knowledge of history, both ancient and modern, to accurately grasp the meaning of the question and provide a satisfactory answer. Only in this way can we more accurately identify those who are learned, quick-witted, and possess a long-term vision."
An elderly man with gray hair slowly reached out and gently stroked his white beard. He cleared his throat and said, “Both of you have your own unique insights, and it’s truly difficult to say which is better. However, in my opinion, we might as well combine these two topics and give them a new title—'Looking at the Current Difficulties and Solutions of People’s Livelihoods from the Perspective of Governance in Ancient and Modern Times.' In this way, we can not only cover the experiences and lessons of governance in ancient and modern times, but also allow students to explore in depth the current livelihood problems facing society and their solutions.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the others present were initially taken aback, but then their faces lit up with sudden realization, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They whispered among themselves, nodding repeatedly in praise of the ingenious suggestion. One of them even slammed his hand on the table in exclamation: "Excellent! What a wonderful topic, 'Looking at the current difficulties and solutions of people's livelihoods from the perspective of governance throughout history'! This topic is not only far-sighted and broad in its vision, but also closely aligned with the pulse of the times; it is truly a top choice!" In an instant, the entire room was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
While everyone was engaged in a heated discussion, Ying Wuyou, who had been sitting quietly in the corner listening intently, remained silent. Only when everyone finally reached a consensus and turned their attention to her did Ying Wuyou raise her head and calmly reply, "I have no objection." Her voice was soft, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. Having received Ying Wuyou's confirmation, everyone exchanged smiles, and thus, the topic for the imperial examination was decided.
As the imperial examinations drew nearer, the venue for the grand medical exchange event was also nearing completion. At this moment, the entire city of Xianyang was like a pot of boiling water, overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement.
When she heard from the officials who came to report that students from all over the country had arrived in Xianyang one after another, Ying Wuyou's eyes were filled with anticipation. She hoped that this imperial examination would discover truly talented people and contribute to the prosperity of the Qin Dynasty.
After some thought, Ying Wuyou decided to go and see for herself. She climbed the city wall and gazed into the distance. She saw the bustling city of Xianyang, teeming with people and carriages, a vibrant scene of activity. In the streets and alleys, vendors called out their wares; in the workshops, artisans toiled diligently, their sweat pouring down their faces. In the distant fields, farmers were busy with spring planting, sowing seeds of hope.
Ying Wuyou parted her lips slightly, taking a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling the gradually warming temperature, as if she could smell the breath of spring. A gentle breeze caressed her, lightly ruffling her hair, bringing a touch of coolness. Ying Wuyou narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze falling on the students who were flocking to Xianyang City from all directions. Some were alone, carrying their bags and dreams; others were in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing, full of youthful vigor. These young faces filled Ying Wuyou with emotion; all of this was something she had single-handedly brought about.
"Princess, these students are the treasures of our Great Qin!" Zhou Xun said, unable to hide his excitement.
Ying Wuyou nodded slightly and said softly, "Yes, they will be the backbone of Qin in the future. I look forward to them bringing a brand new look to Qin."