Chapter 609: The Scholar

Blue‑robed official led Song Tingwu and three others through the Blue Bricks passage of the Imperial Academy.

The early‑summer sun was at its height, making the ancient locust trees' leaves beside the path gleam, cicadas chattered noisily, yet they did not disturb the nervous excitement the four felt in their chests.

Turning a moon‑shaped doorway, a graceful pavilion suddenly appeared before them, with up‑curving eaves, dark‑gray tiles and pink walls.

Under the eave hung a black plaque with gold characters, bearing the three bold letters "Star‑Gazing Pavilion".

The pavilion was surrounded by verdant bamboo; when the wind passed, the leaves rustled, adding a touch of serene freshness.

The blue‑robed official halted, stepped aside at the pavilion entrance, a gentle smile on his face, gestured a respectful welcome to the four, and said in a perfectly measured tone, "Sacrificial Wine is inside; please hurry in!"

The four, including Song Tingwu, quickly composed themselves, bowed to the official in thanks, exchanged a glance, lightened their steps, and walked toward the slightly ajar wooden door.

With a soft creak, the wooden door was slowly pushed open, and a faint scent of ink mixed with sandalwood drifted in.

The four looked up and saw, at the second‑floor window, a tall figure in a purple official robe, upright posture, black hair tied with a jade crown, a jade belt at the waist—Lord Chen Yan, the Sacrificial Wine they had just seen on Gaotai.

Behind him stood a guard clad in Xuanse Jinshen, towering and stern‑faced, arms crossed over a sword, eyes sharp as a hawk—Zhu Yi.

"Lord Chen, Sacrificial Wine?!"

"It really is Lord Chen, Sacrificial Wine!"

The four almost simultaneously exclaimed inwardly, their eyes trembling with excitement.

Song Tingwu felt his heart pound, as if it would leap out of his throat, and his steps became light.

Lou Guanshuo's eyes flickered, his clenched fist tightened, yet his face remained composed.

Shen Zaizhou and Lin Wuke even held their breath, daring not to draw a single breath.

They feared disturbing those inside, tiptoeing up the wooden stairs, each step placed cautiously.

The stairs creaked softly, sounding especially clear in the silent pavilion.

Chen Yan had already heard the sounds below, yet did not turn; he stood by the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the Imperial Academy courtyard in the distance, watching groups of students disperse, a faint smile on his lips.

Only when the four's footsteps halted behind him did he slowly turn.

The morning sun filtered through the carved window lattice, falling on Chen Yan's face, softening the sharpness of his brows.

His deep eyes held warm smiles, like spring sunshine, instantly dispelling the four's tension.

"You've arrived?"

His voice was gentle and mellow, like a greeting between old friends, without any official authority.

The four, hearing him, quickly composed themselves, bowed together, and announced brightly, "Students have seen the Sacrificial Wine!"

Chen Yan lifted his hand in a mock support, smiling more, "No need for formalities."

Then, pointing to an Eight Immortals table before him, where five blue‑glazed porcelain teacups were already set, he said, "Come, sit."

As the words ended, he was the first to sit at the head seat, posture relaxed, showing no air of superiority.

The four exchanged uneasy glances, faces full of awkwardness.

Song Tingwu stole a glance at Chen Yan, then quickly lowered his head, his mind a whirlwind.

Shen Zaizhou furrowed his brows, feeling that with his status he dared not sit beside Lord Chen Yan.

After a moment, the four clasped their fists in unison, speaking with utmost respect, "Students dare not!"

Lin Wuke took a deep breath, mustered courage, looked at Chen Yan, and said cautiously, "The Sacrificial Wine is a duke's honor; before you, a student should simply stand and answer."

Chen Yan took in their reactions, watching each tense body like a trained beast, and couldn't help but let out a light laugh.

He lifted the teacup on the table, lifted its lid and took a sip, then set it down, scanning the four with a calm yet compelling tone, "No need to be nervous!"

He paused, his gaze landing on their youthful faces, and said slowly, "Today I have summoned you not in my capacity as Sacrificial Wine, but simply to chat casually, like friends…"

Then, gesturing toward them, he added with gentle urging, "Sit quickly; would you expect me to invite you personally otherwise?"

Hearing this, the four dared not refuse, bowed again in thanks, and carefully pulled out their chairs to sit.

Their bodies remained rigid, only daring to touch the edge of the chair, hands properly placed on their knees.

Song Tingwu glanced up secretly, seeing his gentle face and scholarly air, lacking any haughty arrogance of high rank, and thought inwardly, "So the Sacrificial Wine is such a kind, easy‑going person, with no airs at all—truly a man of substance behind the great reputation!"

Lou Guanshuo also stared at Chen Yan with burning eyes, his heart stirring, "The Sacrificial Wine possesses the refined elegance of a scholar and the boldness of a general; truly Great Zhou's top‑ranked handsome man!"

With such thoughts, his gaze at Chen Yan added a few more pure admiration.

Such looks compared to the Gao clan imperial house are likely on par…

Moreover, it's a more heroic beauty, without any trace of femininity!

Chen Yan's smile deepened, he cleared his throat, and shouted toward the doorway, "Come! Bring tea!"

The officer stationed outside heard and promptly replied, "Yes!"

In a moment, the officer returned carrying a tray with a steaming pot of tea.

He deftly poured tea into the cups before the four and Chen Yan, the fragrant steam instantly filling the air.

The four quickly lifted their cups, bowed to Chen Yan, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Sacrificial Wine!"

Shen Zaizhou held the warm cup, feeling warmth spread from his fingertips to his heart, and an indescribable surge of excitement and honor rose within him.

He lowered his gaze to the emerald tea, eyes full of amazement, thinking, "I never imagined I, Shen Zaizhou, would be so fortunate to sit opposite the Sacrificial Wine and drink a cup of tea personally instructed by him!"

"If this got out, the other students at the Imperial Academy would be insanely jealous!"

Chen Yan looked at the four, his fingertips grazing the warm porcelain cup, a smile still on his lips.

He tilted slightly, brought the cup to his lips, took a shallow sip, the clear tea scent sweeping over his tongue, then deliberately set the cup down, his bone‑structured fingers lightly tapping the table, the sound as gentle as an afternoon breeze through the window lattice: "No need to be restrained!"

"Today in the Star‑Gazing Pavilion, there is no Duke of Wei, no Imperial Academy Sacrificial Wine, only Chen Yan who wishes to talk with you…"

He then looked at the four, his eyes filled with warm laughter, his tone lightening a bit: "First, let me introduce myself, so I can get to know you talented youths better, okay?"

Song Tingwu, who had been holding back words, immediately set his cup down, straightened his back with a "whoosh", clasped his fists, and loudly declared, "Student Song Tingwu!"

"My father is a minor clerk in Jing Zhao Fu; I have loved books since childhood, especially historical essays and strategies!"

As soon as he finished, Shen Zaizhou also rose, clasped his fists, standing tall, and said steadily, "Student Shen Zaizhou!"

"Born of a humble farming family with a few hundred acres of thin fields, I entered the Imperial Academy through county recommendation!"

Lou Guanshu Xue followed closely behind, her blue robe highlighting her clear features; she clasped her fists and saluted with crisp movements, her voice bright: "Student Lou Guanshu Xue!"

"My ancestral home is He Dong; my father once served in the army, then resigned his post to return home, and I have studied literature and practiced martial arts with him since childhood!"

Lin Wu Ke, though introverted by nature, also rose, clasped his fists, and said evenly: "Student Lin Jingshu!"

"My family's scholarly tradition runs deep; my grandfather was a great Confucian scholar of the Longyou region, and I have been immersed in the classics since childhood!"

When the four finished speaking, the attic fell silent for a moment.

Chen Yan gave a slight nod, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and laughed lightly: "All good names, they exude youthful vigor and are easy on the ear!"

He said, his fingers still lightly tapping the table, his gaze slowly sweeping over the four, his brows slightly raised, his tone suddenly shifting with added solemnity: "This Duke has summoned you today; besides wanting to get to know you, there is another matter—I wish to hear your opinions..."

"This Duke wishes to implement a reward system at the Imperial Academy!"

When those words were spoken, the four were taken aback, their faces simultaneously showing curiosity.

Seeing this, Chen Yan's smile deepened, his eyes burning as he stared at the four, saying word by word: "Using gold, silver, brocade, and grain as incentives for those of outstanding character and learning, what do you think?"

Boom— the words struck like a thunderclap, instantly exploding in the four's hearts.

Shen Zai Zhou, who came from a humble background, felt the meaning of this reward most directly; almost involuntarily, his voice brimming with uncontainable excitement, he said: "The Sacrificial Wine's method is excellent!"

Song Tingwu's eyes also lit up, as if he had thought of a key point, and he quickly agreed: "Exactly!"

"Once this method is introduced, the academic atmosphere of the Imperial Academy will surely reach a higher level!"

Chen Yan, seeing the two's enthusiastic reactions, already had a plan in mind; he set down his tea cup, raised his hand and gestured vaguely at Shen Zai Zhou, smiling: "Oh?"

"Then you tell me, what's good about this method?"

As the words fell, the attic fell silent at once.

Lou Guanshu Xue and Lin Wu Ke's gazes both fixed on Shen Zai Zhou, and Song Tingwu turned his head as well, looking at him with full expectation.

Shen Zai Zhou took a deep breath, steadied himself, and the cheeks that had flushed slightly from excitement now shone with added vigor.

He straightened his back and said loudly: "The Sacrificial Wine may not know, this reward has never been merely material assistance; it is also a genuine honor!"

"The scholars of the Imperial Academy are all proud and ambitious; who does not wish to earn recognition through one's own abilities?"

"With this reward, diligent students can receive the rightful return, and it can further spur everyone to strive ahead in their studies; this is the best recognition of their hard work!"

His words were clear and logical, each sentence hitting the crux.

Song Tingwu listened, nodding repeatedly, and could not wait to take the floor, adding brightly: "Brother Shen's words are absolutely correct!"

"Furthermore, this reward is determined by character and learning; you have it, I do not—such a stark contrast can most stimulate those who are clever but not diligent to strive hard!"

"When the time comes, the Imperial Academy will surely have everyone competing to study, each scrambling to delve into the classics; that is the true flourishing of academic atmosphere!"

Lou Guanshu Xue, hearing this, also nodded in agreement, pondered briefly, and in a deep voice continued: "The Sacrificial Wine's foresight is remarkable; I think the deeper benefit of this method lies in its ability to aid more humble families..."

"Now in the Imperial Academy, although there are many students from humble backgrounds, most come from reasonably well‑off families..."

"When recruitment expands fully in the future, a flood of humble‑family students will pour into the Imperial Academy, and this gold, silver, and grain can greatly lessen their daily burdens!"

"Allowing them to devote more energy to their studies!"

"In this way, we can truly recruit talent without regard to background!"

Lin Wu Ke, listening beside them, also nodded repeatedly, adding: "Indeed, this move not only can stimulate the academic atmosphere but also break the aristocratic monopoly on learning, giving more talented humble‑family youths a chance to shine!"

"This is a great boon for the nation and the people!"

The four took turns speaking, dissecting the benefits of this reward method in vivid detail.

Between their words lay the sincere earnestness and foresight of youth.

Chen Yan listened quietly, his smile growing richer, and when the four finished speaking, he could not help but clap his hands, loudly praising: "Well said! Well said indeed!"

"Your words happen to align perfectly with this Duke's thoughts!"

He said, his gaze falling on the four, his eyes full of admiration, his tone growing more earnest: "You truly are among the finest of the Imperial Academy; despite your youth, you already possess such insight and magnanimity, and one day you will surely become pillars of the nation!"

The four, hearing this, felt a surge of warmth, quickly rose and clasped their fists, their faces full of humility: "The Sacrificial Wine's praise is excessive!"

"We are merely frogs at the bottom of a well; our words are but shallow opinions—how could we deserve the title 'the finest'?"

Song Tingwu scratched his head, laughing innocently: "The Sacrificial Wine overpraises us; we students merely speak whatever comes to mind…"

"Nothing compares to the Sacrificial Wine's foresight!"

Chen Yan, seeing this, couldn't help but wave his hand, raised his hand to press down, signaling the four to sit, his brows curved, a slight smile at his mouth, his tone both teasing and serious: "Hey, excessive modesty isn't good!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four, and slowly said: "This Duke has learned from the doctoral instructors who teach you that the four of you, in your daily studies, are not only diligent, studying day and night without cease, but also stand out in the Imperial Academy; in every evaluation you rank among the foremost!"

"With such talent and temperament, if you still aren't considered the finest, then there are few in the Imperial Academy who could bear that title!"

When these words were spoken, the four were stunned, then their faces showed a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

They thought themselves an unnoticed member of the Imperial Academy, never imagining that their diligence and talent had already been noted and remembered by Lord Chen Yan.

Song Tingwu, hearing this, first let out a low sigh, then straightened his back, clasped his fists, and said loudly: "Our family background is ordinary, far less profound than that of aristocratic youths; we must therefore exert more effort than others, studying day and night with relentless dedication…"

"Only then can we live up to the Court's careful cultivation and our parents' earnest expectations!"

His words rang out, his brows and eyes full of youthful sincerity and stubbornness, causing Chen Yan to nod inwardly.

Shen Zai Zhou nodded heavily, his eyes flashing bright light, his tone earnest and somewhat uplifting: "Indeed! In the past, humble‑origin students, even after decades of arduous study, often could not see a day of advancement...."

"Now, with the Grand Preceptor and the Sacrificial Wine implementing the examination‑based appointment system, breaking the aristocratic monopoly on officialdom, we humble‑origin youths are even more motivated to learn!"

Every word came from the heart, voicing the sentiments of countless humble‑origin scholars.

Lou Guanshu Xue and Lin Wu Ke also nodded repeatedly, their eyes full of agreement.

Chen Yan lifted his tea cup, took a shallow sip, a gentle smile at his lips, his gaze slowly sweeping over the four, and asked with interest: "Since you all have such ambitions, this Duke would like to ask: what plans do you have for entering official service in the future?"

"Or, is there any position you wish to pursue?"

When these words were spoken, the attic fell a few moments quieter.

The four all murmured softly, their expressions taking on a more solemn air.

Song Tingwu thought briefly, his gaze turning outward to the window as if already seeing distant prefectures, and said deliberately, each word measured, "I wish to go to a remote prefecture, to be a genuine magistrate and bring blessings to the local people!"

"To practice today's morning training maxim 'Establish the destiny of the people'!"

Having finished speaking, he opened the conversation, speaking freely, laying out his ambitions and policy guidelines one by one: "Students think that remote prefectures are barren because, first, transportation is blocked; second, the people do not know how to farm; third, the administration is not reformed."

"If students can go there, they should first build roads and bridges to connect with the outside…"

"Then teach the people to reclaim wasteland, expand territory, and introduce high‑yield grain varieties…"

"After that, straighten out the administration, severely punish corruption, so the people can live peacefully and prosper, with no worries about food and clothing!"

His words were clear and logical, each sentence hitting the crux.

Idealistic light flashed in his eyes, showing no hint of empty talk.

Shen Zaizhou, after listening, immediately rose to echo, his voice bright: "Students as well!"

He paused, then continued: "Students come from farming families, deeply know the hardships of crops and the people's difficulties; if they obtain even a minor office, they must go to the poorest places, seek welfare for the people, so that the displaced can have fields to till and rice to eat!"

Lin Wuke also nodded, his tone steady: "Students as well! Applying learning to the world is the foundation of study…"

"Students willing to go to borderlands must not only teach farming but also transmit culture, so that even the wilderness can bathe in sage teachings, and throughout Great Zhou's realm, everywhere resounds with bright scholarly voices, and everyone has a heart toward goodness!"

When the three finished speaking, the attic was filled with youthful ambition, and even the wind outside the window seemed to grow fervent.

Chen Yan listened, nodding repeatedly, couldn't help but clap his hands and loudly praised: "Good! Ambitious! Responsible!"

"Truly worthy of being scholars of the Imperial Academy, what they hold in their hearts is the livelihood of the people and the state!"

After praising the three, his gaze fell on the silent Lou Guanshu, raising an eyebrow with a smile: "And you?"

Lou Guanshu took a deep breath, stood up, his expression solemn, eyes burning at Chen Yan, and said gravely: "If possible, the student does not wish to go to prefectures nor to the borders; the student wishes to become your subordinate, Sacrificial Wine, stay by your side, serve you, and share the mundane duties!"

Before the words finished, he bowed deeply to Chen Yan, clasping his fists, his tone exceedingly sincere: "Sacrificial Wine, with the world in your heart, all your deeds are great undertakings that benefit the nation and its people!"

"The unworthy student wishes to be at your saddle and horse, to run errands, so that Sacrificial Wine can devote more energy to great affairs, creating everlasting peace for Great Zhou!"

Lou Guanshu knew well that Lord Chen Yan must not be tripped up by trivial worldly matters…

He must let this astonishing talent's energy be applied to the cutting edge!

When those words were spoken, Song Tingwu and the others were stunned, then their gazes toward Lou Guanshu gained a few more degrees of respect.

They only thought of benefiting a region, never considering that staying by Lord Chen Yan's side to assist his reforms is also a great matter benefiting the nation and its people.

Chen Yan's expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing a bit, his gaze landing on Lou Guanshu with a hint of depth; he spoke slowly, his tone inquisitive: "This Duke remembers you are called Lou Guanshu, right?"

Lou Guanshu lifted his head, meeting Chen Yan's gaze, his expression calm, solemnly nodding: "Indeed, the student!"

Chen Yan stared at him for a while, then his mouth twitched into a subtle, meaningful smile, and said slowly: "Good, this Duke has noted you!"

Having said that, his gaze swept over Song Tingwu, Shen Zaizhou, and Lin Wuke, his tone carrying some expectation: "All four of you are among the best in the Imperial Academy, ranking at the top academically; I hope you can achieve good results in the graduation exam…"

"Do not betray your years of diligent study, and even more, do not betray the lofty aspirations you set today!"

Song Tingwu and the others, hearing the words, stood side by side with Lou Guanshu; the four together bowed and clasped fists, their bright voices full of resolve: "Thank you, Sacrificial Wine, for your auspicious words!"

"The student will certainly not disappoint expectations!"

Chen Yan, looking at the four's vigorous demeanor, his smile deepened, and suddenly he said: "Remember, you are all this Duke's students; everything you said today in this Stargazing Pavilion is recorded in my heart…"

"When you later enter officialdom, if you encounter any difficulties, this Duke will also look after you!"

"These words may seem ordinary, yet they carry a heavy weight."

All four were perceptive; how could they not hear the deep meaning? Clearly, Sacrificial Wine regarded them as confidants, intending to nurture them carefully…

A shock ran through their hearts; they quickly bowed again, their voices full of gratitude: "Thank you, Sacrificial Wine!"

Chen Yan waved his hand, his tone a bit lighter: "Alright, it's getting late, you may return; do not let your studies be delayed."

The four answered in unison: "Students take their leave!"

Having said that, they bowed deeply to Chen Yan once more, then turned and carefully walked toward the staircase.

Their footsteps gradually faded, finally disappearing beyond the attic.

Chen Yan, holding a teacup, slowly walked to the window, watching the four's departing silhouettes as they passed through the Moon Gate and vanished into the lush locust‑tree grove.

He gently rubbed the cup's rim, murmuring softly, his brows and eyes showing a hint of appreciation and amusement: "Lou Guanshu…"

"Indeed, a rather interesting young man!"

Then, as if recalling something, he let out a long sigh and, moved, suddenly recited: "Ah, youthful scholars, in their prime, with literary vigor, wielding bold ambition…"

"Pointing to the realm, stirring the prose, the humble soil of today once bore a marquis of ten thousand households!"