Chapter 990

Northern scholars have run all the way to this remote southern commandery to take part in an imperial examination organized by rebels who, while not yet openly declared, have essentially become independent. There's a lot to be said about this situation.

Translation: Northern scholars have run to this remote place like Nan Jun to take part in an imperial examination organized by rebels who, while not yet openly established, have in fact become basically independent; there's a lot to be said about this.

We need to keep meaning. Let's produce concise but faithful.

"Northern scholars have come to this remote place like Nan Jun to sit for an examination organized by rebels who, while not yet openly established, have in fact become basically independent; there is much to be said about this."

Make sure to keep all info: Northern scholars, ran to Nan Jun this remote border place, to participate in an exam organized by rebels that on surface not yet but actually basically independent, this matter has many interpretations.

We'll output: 【1】 Northern scholars have run to this remote place like Nan Jun to take part in an examination organized by rebels who, while not yet openly established, have in fact become basically independent; there is a great deal to be said about this.

In the eyes of the people of the six Lingnan commanderies, crossing that Divine Immortal Ridge means you're in the Central Plains.

Translation: In the eyes of the people of the Lingnan Six Commanderies, crossing that Shenxian Ling means you are in Zhongyuan.

But the people of the Central Plains don't see it that way.

But the people of Zhongyuan do not think so.

To them, the Central Plains consists only of the metropolitan commanderies; everything else is just relegated to the sidelines.

Zhongyuan is merely the capital region's commanderies; the others all have to stand aside.

In the view of true Central Plains people, the northwest is barbaric wilderness, the northeast is desolate wasteland, and the lands south of the great river, though scenic, lack outstanding talent and are essentially uncultured.

In the eyes of true Zhongyuan people, the northwest is barbaric wilderness, the northeast is desolate waste, and south of the great river, although the scenery is beautiful, the land lacks outstanding talent; basically everyone is uncultured.

The hierarchy of contempt is starkly clear.

The contempt hierarchy is extremely clear.

And the six Lingnan commanderies, which lie even farther south, are seen by Central Plains people as practically uncivilized lands.

And the Lingnan Six Commanderies, which lie even farther south, are in the eyes of Zhongyuan people roughly equivalent to uncivilized lands.

They are equated with barbarians.

They are equated with barbarism.

If we rank these regions, the top tier is naturally the genuine Central Plains, followed by the north, then the south, and finally Lingnan.

If we rank these places, the top tier is naturally genuine Zhongyuan, then the north, then the south, and finally Lingnan.

This contempt hierarchy isn't obvious to peasants scratching a living from the soil; it's mainly evident among the scholar-official class.

This contempt hierarchy is not obvious to those who scrape a living from the soil, but it is prominent among scholars.

Yet now, northern scholars actually run to Lingnan—a place where even birds won't defecate—to sit for an examination set up by a regional lord.

But now, northern scholars actually run to Lingnan, a place where birds don't even defecate, to take an examination set up by a feudal lord.

That… really is a bit of an exaggeration.

This... is indeed a bit exaggerated.

Given these circumstances, when Chen Wujie heard that northern scholars had indeed run all the way to Southern Commandery, how could he not be startled?

Given this premise, Chen Wuji hearing that northern scholars have actually run to Nan Jun, how could he not be astonished?

But surprise aside, he still believed what Zhang Xue'er told him.

But astonishment aside, he certainly still believes what Zhang Xiuer said.

In the Misty Willow region, contact with those scholars is indeed frequent, and her assessment basically reflects the true state of the city.

In the misty willow lands, contact with those scholars is indeed frequent; her judgment can basically be taken as the true state of the city.

"Brother Wujie." Zhang Xue'er waved her hand in front of Chen Wujie.

"Wuji Ge." Zhang Xiuer waved her hand in front of Chen Wuji.

"Oh." Chen Wujie came to his senses, "Do you know why those scholars have come to Southern Commandery?"

"Oh." Chen Wuji came to his senses, "Do you know why those scholars have come to Nan Jun?"

"I actually heard a bit about this; it seems they think that the Yu dynasty has ceased to be a state, that court ministers dare to put even the emperor under house arrest, that Yu is already a spent force, and that division and chaos are inevitable." Zhang Xue'er said.

"I have indeed heard some of this; it seems they think Da Yu is no longer a state, the court's powerful ministers dare to put even the emperor under house arrest, Da Yu is already a spent force, and division and chaos are inevitable." Zhang Xiuer said.

"Amid the utter chaos both at court and in the countryside, Brother Wujie raised his own funds, led troops to repel the Qiang invasion, even counterattacked onto Qiang territory and seized more than half of it. Those scholars apparently think that following Brother Wujie will secure them a future, so they come in groups, calling on friends to join them."

"When the court and countryside are in utter chaos, Wuji Ge personally raised funds and grain, led troops to repel the Qiang people's invasion, even counterattacked onto Qiang land, seizing more than half of Qiang territory. Those scholars seem to think that following Wuji Ge can secure a future, and so they come in groups."

Chen Wujie's mouth twitched; indeed, some laws really do hold true.

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched; indeed some laws really do hold true.

Time will not shortchange anyone who works earnestly!

Time will not shortchange anyone who works earnestly!

His earlier desperate efforts and hard work finally seem to be paying off.

His earlier desperate efforts and hard work finally seem to have borne fruit.

He also hasn't let down Xu Zengyi's constant reminders in his ear…

He also can be said not to have let down Xu Zengyi's constant whispering in his ear…

"Brother Wujie, the arrival of northern scholars should be a good thing, right?" Zhang Xue'er asked.

"Wuji Ge, the arrival of northern scholars should be considered a good thing, right?" Zhang Xiuer asked.

Chen Wujie nodded, "Naturally it's good—having northern scholars lower themselves and come all the way to our Lingnan to seek a future is no easy feat. Especially since you know what this Southern Commandery land used to be used for."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Naturally it's a good thing; having northern scholars lower themselves and come to our Lingnan to seek a future is no easy matter. Especially our Nan Jun land—what it used to be used for, you know very well."

"Although this happened years ago and the court rarely sends convicts to Southern Commandery these days, the historical stigma remains. Scholars well-versed in ancient and modern affairs instantly associate Southern Commandery with exile; think about it, what kind of place could it be in their minds?"

"Although this happened years ago, and in recent years the court rarely sends convicts to Nan Jun, the historical stigma remains there. Scholars, versed in ancient and modern, when they mention Nan Jun, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely a place of exile; think about it, what could Nan Jun possibly be in their hearts?"

Zhang Xue'er nodded silently.

Zhang Xiuer nodded silently.

Our family came to Southern Commandery in exactly that way, so we know this all too well.

Their family came to Nan Jun in just this way; they are fully aware of this matter.

Seeing Zhang Xue'er's reaction, Chen Wujie suddenly wanted to slap himself a few times.

Seeing Zhang Xiuer's reaction, Chen Wuji suddenly wanted to give himself a few slaps.

This foul mouth of mine had just reminded me to watch out for this matter, then I turned around and gave an example, saying it out loud.

This lousy mouth, just a moment ago reminding himself to pay attention to this matter, then turned around and gave an example by saying it out loud.

Really, it's the pot that won't boil that you end up mentioning.

Really, it's the case of "touching the pot that shouldn't be touched."

"Let me first see what the emperor wrote." Chen Wujie abruptly changed the subject.

"Let me first see what the emperor wrote." Chen Wuji abruptly changed the topic.

He oddly brought up the exile issue; he could say it, but didn't know how to smooth it over.

He oddly brought up the matter of exile; he could say it, but didn't know how to smooth it over.

He couldn't think of a single comforting word.

He couldn't think of a single word of comfort.

He couldn't tell Zhang Xue'er that his dead relatives are already gone and that he should move on, could he?

He couldn't tell Zhang Xiuer, "Those family members who deserved to die are already dead; people should look forward, right?"

That would be stabbing someone in the lung, wouldn't it!

That's practically stabbing someone in the lung!

Glancing at Zhang Xue'er's reaction, Chen Wujie opened the emperor's letter.

Stealing a glance at Zhang Xiuer's reaction, Chen Wuji opened the emperor's letter.

He had expected the emperor, after being placed under house arrest, to be furious and extremely volatile, but he wasn't.

He had thought that after being placed under house arrest, the emperor would be furious and extremely irritable, but that was not the case.

The emperor's brushwork remained steady, horizontal, vertical, and dot strokes neat as if printed.

The emperor's brushwork remained steady, horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling strokes neat as if printed.

His tone lacked any agitation or anger; in fact, it seemed even calmer than before.

His tone not only lacked agitation and anger, but seemed even calmer than before.

At the opening of the letter, he put on a show of courtesy with Chen Wujie, exchanged a few pleasantries, then shifted the topic to Yu Yanzhi.

At the beginning of the letter, he put on a show of exchanging pleasantries with Chen Wuji, chatted a few formalities, then turned the subject to Yu Yan Chu.

At that moment he seemed less like an emperor and more like a father who had married off his daughter, his words filled with criticism of her temperament, analysis of her character, and then mention of some of Yu Yanzhi's strengths.

At this moment, he seemed less like an emperor and more like a father who has married off his daughter; his words are all about criticizing his daughter's temperament, analyzing her character, and then mentioning some of Yu Yan Chu's strengths.

The meaning behind his words was simply: I hope you will live well thereafter and not disappoint my intentions.

The meaning between the lines is entirely: "I hope you will henceforth live well and not disappoint my intentions."

Seeing this, Chen Wujie felt a sudden heaviness in his chest.

Seeing this, Chen Wuji felt his chest suddenly tighten.

The emperor really is old!

The emperor is truly old!

Not old in body, but old in spirit.

It's not that he's aged in body, but his spirit has aged.

He has resigned himself to his fate.

He has resigned himself to fate, accepting his outcome.

Chen Wujie has never met the old emperor face to face, but he must admit that the emperor has actually been quite good to him.

Chen Wuji has never met the old emperor face to face, but he cannot deny that the emperor has actually been quite good to him.

The grudges between the Chen clan and the imperial house, Chen Wujie cannot ignore, nor can he pretend they don't matter.

The grudges between the Chen clan and the imperial house, Chen Wuji cannot ignore, nor can he treat them as nothing.

But personally speaking, the emperor has acted as a protector for his rebellion.

But as for him personally, the emperor can be considered to have provided escort for his rebellion.

Without this legitimate guise, he couldn't have done so much.

Without this legitimate guise, he could not have done so much.

He let out a soft sigh and continued reading.

He let out a light sigh, and Chen Wuji continued reading downward.

"I placed Yanzhi at the forefront because I harbor great private feelings. Perhaps this is the last letter I will ever write to you, kid; even if you have objections, keep them to yourself. In fact, there is another matter I wanted to raise with you, but I lack sufficient leverage now, so I'll hold off for the time being—if an opportunity arises later I'll bring it up; if not, then it is simply the fate of the Yu family."

" I placed this child Yanchu at the forefront out of great selfishness. Perhaps this is the last time I will write to you, kid; even if you have opinions, keep them to yourself for me. Actually, I still have something I want to mention to you, but I don't have many chips right now, so I'll hold off for now; if I get a chance later I'll bring it up, and if not, then it's just the fate of the Yu family."

Chen Wujie's expression turned odd; hearing the emperor's tone, it almost sounded like he wanted him to keep the Yu line alive.

Chen Wuji's expression suddenly turned odd; hearing the emperor's tone, it almost seemed as if he wanted him to leave an incense line for the Yu family.

Surely not!

Surely not!

The princes are all lively and active; would they really need to use an outsider's grandson to perpetuate the Yu lineage?

The princes are all lively and jumping about; why would they need to use an outsider's grandson to continue the Yu family's incense?

The emperor's idea truly leaves Chen Wujie puzzled.

The emperor's idea, Chen Wuji really can't quite grasp.

If you just look at what the emperor said, it really does seem more and more like that.

If one only looks at what the emperor said, it really does seem more and more like that.

But even if the emperor stated it plainly, Chen Wujie would not agree.

But even if the emperor stated it plainly, Chen Wuji would not agree.

He himself still doesn't even have a child yet, it's absolutely impossible for him to agree to the Emperor so early that his and Yu Yan Chu's child would take the surname Yu, in order for the royal clan to recognize their ancestry and return to the fold.

Chen Wuji shook the letter and continued reading.

Next, let's say a few trivial matters.

Not long ago, this emperor, who was imprisoned in a cage, met with that old thing from the Qin Family; they brought some outside food, wanting to share it with me. Do you know what I was thinking at that time?

I thought the Qin Family and that dog‑thing Yan Yan were colluding, preparing to poison me with that meal!

Having been emperor for over ten years, when Yan Yan led troops to block the palace gates, I wasn't afraid, but that day… I really was afraid. Saying it out loud, I'm not afraid you kid will laugh, but at that time my legs cramped badly, I almost pissed myself.