Yuan Shuzhi
Yuan Shuzhi is Yuan Shuzhi is a pivotal figure in the narrative who emerges as a sharp-witted and strategically minded candidate navigating the rigid yet transformative realm of the civil service examinations. Initially drawn into the political intrigues surrounding Mo Rongxin’s trial—where he observes the brutalities of state-sanctioned executions, including the infamous "eighteenth level of hell" punishment—a defining moment that shapes his moral and intellectual perspective. His keen intellect is highlighted through his unconventional approach to the examinations, blending traditional scholarly rigor with progressive, almost avant-garde perspectives, as evidenced by his deep engagement with topics like factions, governance philosophy, and cultural evolution (e.g., referencing "Australian studies"). Though his early essays are marked by original
Context from Novel
"Chapter 1904 - The Verdict Excavated mass burial pits; half-decomposed corpses stacked in neat rows; children's bodies with eyes, facial features, and organs carved out; mud and sand mixed with bone fragments; the cauldron used for boiling bones... Though all were limited-clarity black-and-white glass plate photographs, the vivid details still made many spectators unable to look directly at the screen. "This is Physical Evidence Number 291: a 'Life-Capturing Gourd.'" Shen Ruiming's voice accompa"
"Chapter 1906 - Public Trial Continued One He Xi raised the spirit tablet high, staring directly into Mo Rongxin's dead-fish-like eyes, and said through gritted teeth: "Go down to the eighteenth level of hell!" At that very moment, the trapdoor opened and Mo Rongxin's body dropped down. The venue immediately erupted in thunderous cheers. Even Zeng Juan, who had no connection to Mo Rongxin, couldn't help but join in the cheering. Bi Defan was on guard duty before the gallows. Taking advantage of h"
"Chapter 1907 - Public Trial Continued Two He Xi raised the spirit tablet high, staring directly into Mo Rongxin's dead-fish-like eyes, and said through gritted teeth: "Go down to the eighteenth level of hell!" At that very moment, the trapdoor opened and Mo Rongxin's body dropped down. The venue immediately erupted in thunderous cheers. Even Zeng Juan, who had no connection to Mo Rongxin, couldn't help but join in the cheering. Bi Defan was on guard duty before the gallows. Taking advantage of h"
"Chapter 1908 - Civil Service Examination (Part One) He Xi raised the spirit tablet high, staring directly into Mo Rongxin's dead-fish-like eyes, and said through gritted teeth: "Go down to the eighteenth level of hell!" At that very moment, the trapdoor opened and Mo Rongxin's body dropped down. The venue immediately erupted in thunderous cheers. Even Zeng Juan, who had no connection to Mo Rongxin, couldn't help but join in the cheering. So Zeng Juan told Yuan Shuzhi: "Old Yuan, since that's the"
"Chapter 1909 - Civil Service Examination (Part Two) That evening, Yuan Shuzhi and Zeng Juan studied the newspaper carefully, looking for positions that met their qualifications. There were quite a few vacancies this time. Zeng Juan first looked at the police recruitment: the requirements were still low, but he felt that competing physically with those "crude embryos" would be a disadvantage. After looking through everything, he felt the Taxation Bureau positions suited him best: he had grown up"
Appearances
Appears in chapters: 1905, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 2583, 2584, 2585, 2586, 2587, 2588, 2589, 2590, 2591, 2592, 2593, 2595, 2596, 2598, 2600, 2601, 2605, 2606, 2607, 2608.