Striving in the Red Mansion.

Summary

In the Ming Dynasty, a scandal arose during the imperial examination involving Tang Bohu when Chief Examiner Cheng Min Zheng mistakenly identified his paper. Amidst the confusion, Grand Academician Xie Xuan questioned potential top scholars among the officials present. The atmosphere was tense as Grand Academician He Shuo refused to engage. Liu Fei Bai and Han provided their insights on the candidates, with He asserting Jia Huan was unworthy of the top position due to unresolved suspicions of cheating. Meanwhile, Jia Huan, outside the examination hall, focused on his essay about strategies for controlling the Western Regions, emphasizing a dual approach of immediate military action followed by long-term cultural integration. After submitting his paper, he awaited results with friends, feeling uncertain about his chances due to perceived biases against him. The chapter concludes with Jia Huan's interactions with peers, hinting at the competitive nature of the examination process.

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