Chapter 3, Cui Huanzhi

The current issue is how to allow Cui Huanzhi to see his examination paper

As a chief official, if the other party truly appreciates you, you have the authority to directly recommend someone for an official position

Yet within these few pages of memory lies the key to breaking the deadlock

Chu Xian smiled and returned the gesture

If it were someone else, reaching this point would undoubtedly be a struggle, leaving them at a loss on how to resolve this difficult problem. However, for Chu Xian, there is indeed a way to address this matter

As he left the gate of the examination hall, Chu Xian was still thinking that this Fu Yao was indeed ugly

The issue is that one's own examination paper may not necessarily be reviewed by Cui Huan, as there is not just one examiner in the imperial examination hall

Fu Yao, in Chu Xian's dream, is the top scholar of this provincial examination, ranking first. Such a person generally has no issues entering officialdom due to their high literary talent and favorable conditions in various aspects, thus attracting considerable attention. However, although Fu Yao was promoted quickly, he later encountered trouble. Chu Xian is unaware of the specific circumstances, only knowing that Fu Yao was eventually dismissed from his official position and imprisoned, meeting an unfortunate end

The national examination presided over by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites is merely the first step towards officialdom. Therefore, the positions of the examiners here are not significant; apart from the chief examiner who holds the rank of a fifth-grade official, the rest are all below the sixth grade. For instance, the position of the examiner is that of a sixth-grade official. Such officials are numerous in the examination halls, as they are merely civil servants and are even less significant than local minor officials, thus attracting little attention.

Chu Xian is merely a commoner, while the other party is an official appointed by the court, whose name is recorded in the official annals. Not to mention Chu Xian, even the county magistrate of his own county must respectfully address Cui Huanzhi as 'Sir' upon meeting him

What Chu Xian needs to do is to take advantage of the current situation before that person rises to prominence, finding a way to connect with this opportunity. In this way, he can also ride the wave of success and rise together.

As long as one finds Fu Yao and then submits their papers in close succession, with their papers adjacent to each other, the likelihood that Cui Huanzhi, who is destined to grade Fu Yao's paper, will also grade their own paper significantly increases

This is a clue sufficient to break the deadlock

Who would have thought that such a minor official, holding a sixth rank position with little real power, could rise to prominence in just a few years, eventually attaining the position of a deputy minister, a second-rank official? Had anyone known this in advance, they would surely have sought ways to ingratiate themselves with him before his rise to power

But now, without any cultivation, it is useless to say anything, and this path is unfeasible; Chu Xian is not anxious either

There is a character "cloud" written above.

In addition to the provincial examination, Chu Xian has other more important matters to attend to

However, these events in the dream occurred several years later. In summary, they are fragmented memories from several years, which are difficult for an ordinary person to connect. Yet for Chu Xian, who possesses the Sea of Divine Books at this moment, it is quite easy to piece them together.

Unfortunately, after the door of the examination room was closed, there was only a palm-sized window for passing the exam papers. It was evident that one could not see much through such a small opening, let alone the proctoring soldiers standing outside.

In other words, the possibility of Cui Huanzhi seeing this remarkable answer sheet of mine is only one in ten

However, after something happened to Fu Yao, Cui Huanzhi began to mention it less, probably out of fear of being implicated.

Since the experiences in dreams are destined to happen again, there are countless things that Chu Xian must do

The examination hall has a thousand rooms, arranged according to the Thousand Character Classic. Naturally, the room corresponding to the character 'Tian' is Room 1, which corresponds to 'Heaven and Earth, Mysterious and Yellow, Universe and Vastness.' The room corresponding to the character 'Run' is Room 25. As long as one finds the room with the character 'Run,' one can know where Fu Yao is. At this moment, Chu Xian suddenly realized something and hurriedly looked up at the new room number he had just changed to.

This is clearly not acceptable

Upon recalling Fu Yao, Chu Xian immediately began to sift through the volumes of memories concerning this individual

The sound of the gong rang out, the door to the examination room opened, and this year's provincial examination has concluded

I actually live in a Yunhao room

In the civil service examination, even after submitting the paper, one must not leave immediately; it is necessary to wait until the examination concludes, at which point the military personnel will unlock the door, allowing all the candidates to exit together

In the dream, when Chu Xian served as an official under Cui Huan, the latter, upon learning the year in which he participated in the provincial examination, mentioned that he was one of the examiners for that examination and had even graded the paper of the top candidate, Fu Yao, from that provincial examination.

The second-rank official title, how noble it is

Moreover, it is said that this person has a peculiar appearance, different from that of ordinary people; to put it simply, they are extremely unattractive

Half an hour later, as the bell of the opposite room rang, Chu Xian almost simultaneously shook her own copper bell

This Cui Juan judge will be promoted in two months. Although there is no change in rank, the official position will change to that of an Inspector of the Supervisory Office. Like the pen-holding judge of the Tribute Institute, both are of the sixth rank, but one is a chief official of a lower department, and the difference in power is as vast as heaven and earth

This is power

But Cui Huanzhi can.

However, Chu Xian remembered that there was a memory of this person in the Divine Sea Library. This was partly because, after nine years in the dream, he had once served as a minor official under this person for a period of time, so they were quite familiar with each other. It was also by chance in the dream that he discovered that this superior of his was actually one of the judges of the provincial examination back then

Next, Chu Xian is just waiting

In the realm of dreams, the great cultivator known as the Lord of Dongyue surely possesses methods to unravel the mysteries

His only reliance now is that thirty-year-long dream of his, and everything within that dream is recorded clearly in the Divine Sea Library

This truly is a case of finding something without any effort after searching everywhere. Thus, all that is needed is to submit the documents in succession with the other party.

In other words, the person in the opposite room at this moment is the exceedingly unattractive yet exceptionally talented scholar, Fu, who is the top candidate in this provincial examination.

One page of memory recounts that Cui Huanzhi, when mentioning Fu Yao's literary talent, once remarked to others that Fu Yao's examination number was in the "Run" room. At that time, Chu Xian merely heard it and had already recorded it in the Divine Sea Library.

This future second-rank assistant minister, surnamed Cui and named Huan Zhi, is over ten years older than Chu Xian. Currently, he holds the position of a sixth-rank clerk and concurrently serves as a scribe in the examination hall. However, his status is significantly higher than that of Chu Xian. At such a young age, being a sixth-rank official is already considered a remarkable achievement.

Chu Xian stared at the character for cloud, and smiled

As she stepped out, Chu Xian glanced at the person emerging from the room marked with the character "Run." The other party seemed to notice Chu Xian's gaze, turned their head, and nodded slightly in her direction

Meanwhile, Chu Xian found a way to allow Cui Huanzhi to see his exam paper

In the sea of gods, Chu Xian held a book about Fu Yao's memories, consisting of only a few thin pages

Next, Chu Xian relaxed his mindset. He had done everything he needed to do. This time, he was gambling with fate. If he won, he would enter the officialdom earlier than in his dreams; if he lost, he could always try again next year. Moreover, with the literary talent and knowledge he had accumulated in his dreams, this provincial examination for entering officialdom would pose no difficulty for him.

The provincial examination, which serves as the entry-level national examination for official positions, has more than a thousand candidates from Ancheng alone, and with one hundred candidates per examination paper, it also requires ten papers to be graded

The answer sheet of "One Subject and Five Techniques" serves as a stepping stone

After completing the provincial examination and ensuring that everything is correct, one may simply ring the copper bell hanging at the door, and the soldiers will notify the proctor in charge of collecting the papers to come and retrieve them

Thinking of this, Chu Xian began to lean out and look towards the outside of the examination room. At this moment, there was still half the time left until the end of the last subject exam, and Chu Xian still had time

It is a pity that I currently only possess the Divine Sea, and I have not retained the cultivation of the Immortal Path; otherwise, even if it were merely the Out-of-Body Realm, I could use my divine consciousness to probe and locate that Fu Yao.

Perhaps this is fate, who would have thought that the room of Fu Yao would be right across from one's own

Let other examiners review it; even if they recognize the value of this answer sheet, it may not necessarily bring any change to the current situation of Chu Xian

Although there are restrictions in this examination hall to prevent the soul from leaving the body, who is Chu Xian

The leap year completes the cycle, and the musical notes adjust the yang. Clouds rise to bring rain, and dew forms into frost

To establish a connection, one must first be known; to be known, one must attract the attention of the other party

Cui Huanzhi greatly admired the talent of Fu Yao; otherwise, he would not frequently mention that he judged papers for him, even boasting of being a Bole.

The examination papers from previous provincial examinations are to be collected in their entirety, then divided into ten portions, which are submitted to ten examiners in the imperial examination hall, who will evaluate the papers in a closed room. Chu Xian carefully read the memory books about Cui Huanzhi in the Sea of Spirits, and he found a crucial clue

Chu Xian had never seen Fu Yao's true appearance, so even if he were to see her, he would not recognize her. What other clues are there regarding Fu Yao?

In addition to examinations, there is also the path of recommendation by superiors for entering officialdom. With Cui Huan's insight and knowledge, he will undoubtedly be able to discern the intricacies of his own discipline and the five arts.

At this moment, what Chu Xian was thinking about was another matter. He knew that in the dream there was someone who would achieve greatness in the future and ultimately hold the position of a second-rank official. At this very moment, this person had not yet attained success. Coincidentally, this individual was currently in Ancheng and was one of the examiners for this year's provincial examination.

Such an extremely unattractive person possesses extraordinary talent and strategy; it must be said that heaven is fair