Chapter 311: The Top Ranker Is Not Good

Gu Kang saw Gu Jiu Ling off, then turned back and returned to Nan Shan Shu Yuan.

He first went to Mr. Wen's courtyard, and through the window saw that Mr. Wen had not yet fully fallen asleep, so Gu Kang gently knocked on the door.

Since the last time two servants of Nan Shan Shu Yuan betrayed their master and set fire to the Cang Shu Ge, Gu Kang has personally attended to Mr. Wen's meals and daily life.

He allowed no one to approach, leaving only a few servants outside to do rough work.

Daily meals, living arrangements, washing up, changing clothes, making the bed—all were personally handled by Gu Kang.

"Teacher, have you gone to sleep?" Gu Kang gently knocked on the door.

"Come in, I'm not asleep yet," came the teacher's affectionate voice from inside.

Gu Kang gently pushed the door open, carried a basin of hot water that had been heated, and placed it beside Mr. Wen's bed.

At that moment, Mr. Wen had just sat up on the couch, still holding a volume in his hand.

Gu Kang first moved another palace lamp to Mr. Wen's side; Mr. Wen was old, his eyesight somewhat blurred.

He brightened the room's light a bit, then knelt before Mr. Wen, gently lifted Mr. Wen's leg, removed his shoes and socks, and put them into the basin.

The foot‑washing water was just right—neither too hot nor too cold—and Gu Kang wiped Mr. Wen's feet with a cloth.

He always did things conscientiously; in caring for Mr. Wen he gave his utmost effort, as if he were Mr. Wen's own grandson.

Mr. Wen lowered his gaze at the youth before him, recalling how, in that fire, the boy had rushed in, carried him on his back, and jumped downstairs, saving both their lives—one old, one young.

In that instant his decisiveness and courage were deeply etched in Mr. Wen's mind.

But this time's provincial examination…

Mr. Wen sighed, raised his hand, and gently stroked Gu Kang's head.

Gu Kang's motion paused; he took a clean cloth and dried Mr. Wen's feet.

He then brought over a foot‑warming charcoal brazier, cleared out the ashes inside, which still retained residual heat.

He carefully placed Mr. Wen's feet on the brazier and covered them with a piece of leather for warmth.

It's cold on the mountain; although the Origin Festival has passed, there is still a late‑spring chill that leaves people shivering.

He would rather be cold himself than let the teacher catch a chill.

Mr. Wen said gently, "Kang'er, don't be upset; in my heart your essay is first‑rate."

"Although your awakening came a little late, writing still depends on disposition and talent."

"You were born to eat this bowl of rice, but for the past ten‑odd years you've been ruined and crippled by others, your eyes blinded."

"Now that you've come to your senses, you're improving quickly, so don't sell yourself short."

"The old Second Master Gu is gone; the present Second Master Gu is, in my eyes, one of a kind."

"Teacher…"

Gu Kang raised his head, about to say something, but tears instantly welled up at the corners of his eyes.

Since the last mishap when his family drove him out, he has never cried, no matter how much hardship he endured.

But this time, just a few simple words from the teacher he respected were enough to unleash the sorrow he could no longer hold back.

This time he became the laughingstock of everyone in Shang Jing, even though he studies under Mr. Wen—so what?

"A good‑for‑nothing noble remains a good‑for‑nothing noble; the former Second Master Gu who couldn't hold his own still can't."

But Mr. Wen said that in his heart he is one of a kind.

These days of repressed grievance and sorrow, all the anguish poured out.

Gu Kang leaned forward and lay across Mr. Wen's legs, bursting into loud sobs.

No matter how strong he is, how hard he works, or how much he wants to enter the court and fulfill Mr. Wen's dream of abolishing corrupt policies,

he is, after all, just a teenager in his early teens.

After Gu Kang's bout of crying, he quietly stayed by Mr. Wen's side to study, paying attention to nothing else.

Yet within just a few days, a piece of astonishing news spread throughout Shang Jing without anyone knowing how.

This time the provincial examination surprisingly failed to produce a top scholar.

The runner‑up and third place were decided, the jinshi ranking list had long been posted, but there was no zhuangyuan.

For a while everyone speculated, no one knowing what was going on.

The imperial examination system had been in place in Southern Qi for several decades, and every year had produced a zhuangyuan, bangyan, and tanhua—never before had there been only a bangyan and tanhua with no zhuangyuan.

For a while the offspring of aristocratic families flocked to the palace to inquire, and a vague rumor emerged that the controversy over this year's zhuangyuan's exam paper was considerable.

Those Southern Qi chief examiners and great scholars, whoever had seen this paper, were utterly astonished.

The essay had no flaws, because this year's examination topic was "good governance and harmony among the people."

What was valued was reform, so the essay was exceptionally well written; yet because it was too good, some officials denounced it as grossly treasonous.

If such a person were made zhuangyuan, wouldn't that throw the entire intellectual world of Southern Qi into chaos?

But some said those criticizing the essay were all members of the Eight Great Families, who opposed reform and merely wanted to preserve the status quo and their own interests—an approach tantamount to clinging to old ways.

And the writer of the essay boldly pointed out all of Southern Qi's corrupt policies, and moreover proposed corresponding reform measures.

Such a daring, presumptuous essay naturally attracted the attention of Emperor Longqing.

Emperor Longqing had long been at odds with the Eight Great Families; although they had briefly allied against Xiao Yin, the conflict between imperial power and the aristocracy was already irreconcilable.

This time, Emperor Longqing took a liking to the essay at first glance; regardless of the writer's somewhat immature brushwork, the content was simply superb.

It was written so well that every point of reform resonated deeply with Emperor Longqing's heart.

These years Emperor Longqing has been muddle‑headed and inept, yet he also wants to reform; but the Eight Great Families dominate the court, and he can find no breakthrough.

Now, at last, there is this greenhorn who has written so many reformist arguments; he happily pulled the paper out directly.

He had originally intended to appoint the zhuangyuan, but the pressure from the Eight Great Families was also great, leaving Emperor Longqing unable to decide.

The common folk outside Shang Jing, because of this strange affair, chattered endlessly; even the storytellers wove it into a tale, saying it was utter nonsense.

No one knows which examinee's paper the emperor in the palace has held back; the emperor has already been arguing with the Eight Great Families over it to the point of no compromise.

The supplies at Nan Shan Shu Yuan would eventually run out; these days Gu Kang didn't really want to go down the mountain, he just wanted to live in seclusion here with his master. He even had the ridiculous thought that it would be fine to let him spend his whole life living here.

But his master's medicine had run out, so he needed to go down the mountain to get some ointment from his elder sister to apply to his master's wound.

Having just come down the mountain, he headed toward his elder sister's clinic; this place was the busiest spot in Shang Jing.

Just as he was about to reach the clinic, he was suddenly surrounded by a group of richly dressed young nobles wearing fine silks.

Yo! Isn't that Mr. Wen's eldest disciple? Where have you been hiding these days? Acting like a scared turtle?

You're just a spoiled rich kid, yet you're pretending to be a scholar taking the spring exams—ridiculous! Hey, I'm talking to you, where are you running off to?

The leader, a flamboyantly dressed young lord, suddenly lifted his foot onto a wooden post nearby, blocking Gu Kang's way.

His expression was unfriendly, and he coldly chuckled, "Why are you in such a hurry? Are you rushing to be reborn?"

If you want to go, crawl under my crotch!