USWHC -Chapter 399 Openly Copying (Part 9)

The registrar had clearly come prepared. He picked up the exam paper from the table and handed it to the county magistrate. But just then, the magistrate leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Are you certain?”

“Rest assured, sir—this essay is definitely copied,” the registrar replied in a low voice.

So it turned out the magistrate himself wasn’t completely confident. He had only gone by what the registrar said, and seeing Ji Yi standing there looking so upright and composed, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uncertain.

But the moment he unfolded the exam paper, he froze.

His eyes widened… wider and wider… until they looked like they were about to pop out.

Zhu Jie, seeing this, was baffled. What was going on now? Was the essay incredibly brilliant—or unbelievably terrible? Well, considering it ranked last, it probably wasn’t anything exquisite.

But in the next moment, the magistrate muttered under his breath, “That damned Drunkard Liu—what kind of candidate did he select? I’ll report him for this!”

Though his voice was low, Zhu Jie heard it clearly and felt a jolt in her heart. Could it really be that bad?

She had already started drafting her argument in her mind—fine, if the essay was that terrible, then it definitely couldn’t have been copied!

But then the magistrate suddenly snapped, “Even copying—I’ve never seen someone do it this brazenly! I truly underestimated you. Speak! How much did you bribe that Drunkard Liu?”

“Drunkard Liu?” Ji Yi looked utterly confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir.”

“Don’t play dumb! How much did you spend to buy off Academic Commissioner Liu? He even dared to pass an essay like this?” the magistrate fumed. That Drunkard Liu—taking bribes again, and not even sharing half?

Ji Yi replied righteously, “I do not know any Commissioner Liu, nor have I given him a single coin!”

“No money? Then did he lose his mind again?” the magistrate exploded. “Do you think anyone would believe that?”

Hearing this, everyone was stunned. What kind of essay could make the magistrate so certain it was obtained through fraud?

From outside the yamen, someone immediately called out, “Your Honor, we are all scholars here—some even juren. What sort of essay has angered you so? Could you read it aloud for us to hear?”

Yes, they were truly curious. Not just curious—many wanted to hear it for themselves and perhaps take it as a cautionary example.

Seeing everyone staring at him with bright, eager eyes, the magistrate rolled his eyes dramatically and casually tossed the paper back to the registrar. “You read it to them.”

He couldn’t even be bothered to read it himself!

Zhu Jie watched his reaction, her heart rising into her throat. What on earth had been written? Could it be something politically dangerous?

The registrar took the paper, glanced at it sideways—and didn’t even bother reading it. Instead, he recited it straight from memory.

Yes—recited it!

Heavens! Could he be some kind of genius too, memorizing Ji Yi’s essay after just one glance?

Everyone immediately pricked up their ears as he began in a loud voice:

“Confucius said: ‘To learn and practice what is learned in due time, is that not a pleasure? To have friends come from afar, is that not a joy? To remain unresentful when others do not understand you, is that not the mark of a gentleman?’…”

As the registrar recited fluently and smoothly, everyone’s mouths slowly fell open.

This essay… sounded awfully familiar.

Zhu Jie’s face darkened more and more. Familiar? Anyone who had studied even a little would know it!

And the registrar showed no sign of stopping—he looked ready to recite the entire thing. Was he trying to prove he was cultured too?

“Enough! It’s just the Analects—no need to recite the whole thing!” the magistrate interrupted impatiently.

That’s right—what Ji Yi had written was the entire Analects.

Zhu Jie nearly burst into tears on the spot. This was copying on a truly grand and shameless scale!

“Well? What do you have to say now?” the magistrate shot Ji Yi a fierce glare, his face full of disgust.

Yet Ji Yi still looked completely unconcerned. With a faint smile, he said, “Yes, this essay is indeed what I submitted in the county exam.”

The crowd was stunned. He actually admitted it?!

Their eyes widened even more.

Seriously—even if you have no learning, you don’t just copy down a textbook word for word, do you?!