The Wang Family had deep local roots, so on the day of Mrs. Wang’s birthday, the County Magistrate discreetly accepted an invitation to attend.

The three masters of the Wang family personally welcomed him. The banquet was a joyous affair, and afterward, it was only natural that he meet the two young men of the family who were there for the examination, and perhaps test their knowledge. It went without saying that he would also look at the essays the two young men had written.

The eldest son of the Wang family had injured his arm when a lantern display collapsed on him during the Lantern Festival, leaving him unable to wield a brush for three months. Therefore, the only one left to take the examination was the family’s second son.

The second son of the Wang family was arrogant, with a wild pride that made him look down on everyone. His essays, however, were surprisingly grounded and showed some real skill.

Mr. Cheng gave a slight nod and circled the paper. Barring any surprises, this young master of the Wang family would likely take first place this time.

He was from the Prefecture, after all. His family cultivated a strong scholarly tradition, and the tutors they hired were renowned masters. It was the only way a young man like him could have built such a strong foundation at such a tender age.

In comparison, Qingshui County not only lacked any notable individuals, but it also wanted for a strong academic culture. It was no disgrace for the local students to lose to the young master of the Wang family.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Mr. Cheng’s hand suddenly froze mid-circle.

’Wait!’

’What about Chen Song’s son-in-law, Zhao Jing?’

’Why haven’t I seen his paper yet?’

Of everyone in Qingshui County, from the youngest pupils to the oldest scholars, Zhao Jing was the only one whose essays, in their depth and breadth, had made Mr. Cheng repeatedly slap his desk in admiration and hail the author as a kindred spirit.

The young man was Chen Song’s son-in-law, and Chen Song was currently the Vice-Magistrate of Qingshui County. No one should be trying to cause trouble for Zhao Jing.

Furthermore, the incidents involving Zhao Jing and the eldest son of the Wang family before the Child Examination had been so malicious in nature that Mr. Cheng had flown into a thunderous rage. He had strictly ordered the constables to patrol day and night, forbidding even one more incident targeting scholars before the examination.

’Could it be? Did those villains in the shadows not dare to play their tricks before the exam, only to seize the opportunity afterward to steal the papers of the most promising candidates?’

’The sheer gall of them!’

Mr. Cheng abandoned any thought of continuing his review, frantically flipping through the papers before him one by one.

He flipped through booklet after booklet but couldn’t find Zhao Jing’s paper. Just as he was beginning to believe there truly was a mole among the constables, one who would dare do something that would cost them their head, he spotted Zhao Jing’s handwriting in the very last stack.

The current imperial court placed a high value on the calligraphy of scholars.

This was because in his early years, the current emperor had become renowned for his cursive script, a fact well known among the literati.

It had served him well in the struggle for succession, right up until he finally ascended the throne.

As the saying goes, what those above cherish, those below will surely emulate. Because of the sovereign’s preference, the scholars of the realm practiced diligently.

They practiced through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, tirelessly, as if trying to empty an entire ink pond over the decades, all in the hope of constant improvement.

But some things simply came down to talent.

One person could practice for decades, only to produce calligraphy that was technically proficient but utterly mechanical. They could never compare to those blessed by the heavens, who could, with just a few casual strokes, create a work with its own spirit and flair, exuding the air of a master.

Zhao Jing was clearly one of the latter.

It was because of his excellent calligraphy that he had been able to earn a steady income during his three years of mourning, ensuring his family never had to worry about money. It was also how he had made a name for himself, with people constantly showing up at his door with requests.

Of course, Mr. Cheng knew nothing of these matters.

What he did know was that, even more so than the young man’s essays, his calligraphy was what first caught the eye. At a single glance, one couldn’t help but exclaim, "Superb!"

With calligraphy this fine, who wouldn’t have the patience to read the accompanying essay with care?

And yet, the young man was also incredibly well-read, blessed with a brilliant and resourceful mind and a profoundly perceptive heart. For him to write an essay that would please the examiners was child’s play.

When Mr. Cheng saw Zhao Jing’s paper, he unsurprisingly found himself first praising the calligraphy.

Compared to the manuscript Chen Song had brought him before, the standard script on this examination paper was even more vigorous and powerful. Beyond its simple elegance, it was also perfectly balanced, with a strength that seemed to penetrate the very paper it was written on. Mr. Cheng found himself staring at it for a good long while.

When he came back to his senses, he couldn’t help but slap his forehead.

’What am I doing? People are outside waiting for the results to be posted, and I haven’t even finished grading, yet here I am, leisurely admiring calligraphy.’

’If I really like it that much, I can just use the pretext of offering pointers on his essay to have him send over a few more pieces later. Why waste time on it now?’