The Blank-Sheet Scholar

A humble scholar of common birth travels a thousand miles to the capital to sit the imperial examinations. He hands in three blank papers in a row, yet is personally named top candidate in the provincial exam. Then he feigns illness and skips the palace examination, only to be bestowed the title of “Blank-Paper Zhuangyuan” by imperial decree. For the rest of his life, he is barred from taking the examinations and can never enter government service…