Chapter 68: Eh, I've Done It!

Bells and drums, mountain forests—all are dreams; let not the world's favor or disgrace disturb you. Simply pass your life in leisure.

Now that the three rounds of the Fucheng examination are over, Xu Qing leaves the exam hall, intending to return to the teahouse to listen to storytelling.

It has been three days since he told Guo Dongyang the tales from the Liaozhai collection; after these days of polishing and refining, the other party must surely be ready to sit at the desk and critique the stories.

As for the results of the Fucheng examination, Xu Qing did not pay much attention.

Before he saw death and lived, he had already experienced several examination hurdles.

Nine years of examinations, twelve years of examinations, sixteen years of defense...

For these critical exams, wasn't there every time, after finishing, that he completely let himself go?

Now that he participates in the county examination and the Fucheng examination, naturally there will be no exception.

It is the other examinees of this year who are full of worries; although the exam hall has already dispersed, many examinees still linger before the government office, constantly reviewing their gains and losses.

"I see two brothers riding the spring breeze in triumph; it seems that when the list is revealed tomorrow, you will surely rank among the top three."

"This truly makes one deeply envious; with you two here, I fear this spring examination will leave me lost among the common crowd!"

Zhuang Zijun, known as the number one talent of Jinmen, stepped forward to praise the Wu brothers, who had just emerged together.

But does this number one talent, who has always been proud and high-minded, really admit so easily that others are superior to himself?

The next moment, Zhuang Zijun's followers, some examinees who clung to the famous, could not help but burst out laughing.

"Brother Zhuang is too modest; the Wu brothers' poetry and lyrics are passable, but as for the policy essay, I heard that Brother Zhiyuan's family runs a paper-mache shop."

Someone flattered, raising one and lowering another, just to curry favor with this number one talent of Fucheng.

"Forgive my ignorance; what is this paper-mache shop, this new trade?"

"Sweeping graves during Qingming, worshipping ancestors during Chongyang; you have surely heard of the paper money and paper effigies burned? The paper-mache shop sells exactly these items."

"That is truly a pity; with such a background, one's vision must surely not be as profound as Brother Zhuang's; to write an excellent policy essay, I fear it is impossible!"

Zhuang Zijun, who had lost face at the Jade Shadow Pavilion, let the few of them comment; when he felt it was about right, he turned his head and said, "Do not judge by appearances; even if Zhiyuan and Wencai's policy essays are not as good as yours, in terms of poetic talent and classical texts, you are far behind, even if you chase after them."

Wu Wencai, seeing Zhuang Zijun who appeared humble but hid sharpness in his words, felt a wave of irritation in his heart; he stepped forward to refute, but was pulled back by Wu Zhiyuan beside him.

"Everyone, today Wencai and I have an appointment, so we must take our leave first."

On the spot, some scholars with mediocre learning but high self-regard continued to entertain themselves in their own circle.

Wu Wencai had not walked a few steps before he could not help but ask, "Brother, why do we retreat? Uncle's paper-mache shop has not paid one less coin in taxes; if not for Uncle's day and night hard work cutting paper to supply our studies, how would we have our current knowledge..."

"Why, in their eyes, are we considered inferior?"

Hearing these words, Wu Zhiyuan stopped and looked at Wu Wencai, shaking his head slightly.

"Wencai, do you still remember Master Guo's golden words from before?" He smiled freely and sighed, "In this world, when people are rich and noble, the crowd surrounds them; when they are poor and lowly, only then does true character appear."

"Rather than arguing endlessly with irrelevant people, it is better to spend a moment with those who get along."

As Wu Zhiyuan's words fell, the stuffiness in Wu Wencai's heart was instantly swept away.

"I was too petty." Wu Wencai exhaled the depression in his heart and sighed, "No wonder Brother Xu could befriend Master Guo; look at him, after every exam, not a single person is seen, nor does he ever compete for fame and profit or gains and losses..."

Wu Zhiyuan felt the same: "Their realm, I fear you and I will never reach in our lifetime."

How could the two of them know that the people they spoke of were one who wandered the Jianghu, a character from books with a naturally romantic nature, and the other who had broken free from the cage of the living, a deathless one drifting between the immortal and mortal realms.

Such a chasm cannot be crossed by ordinary people.

However, they were also happy to be ordinary people.

Mortals live for a few decades; even the old man Tai Gong at seventy still fishes.

Now that the Wu brothers have chosen their own path, it is also the right way.

As for whether Zhuang Zijun, who coveted empty fame after the Fucheng examination, and the Wu brothers who have realized the path ahead, will meet, and what the scene will be then, it is not yet known.

On the road, just as the two Wu brothers were talking about Xu Qing, someone's voice came from behind.

"Walk together; I'll treat you to tea at the teahouse. Just these days Old Guo has a new story to tell; if we go early, maybe we can still hear two sessions."

Wu Wencai asked in surprise, "Why did Brother Xu just come out of the exam hall? I thought Brother Xu would leave early, just like during the county examination."

Xu Qing wore an expression of helplessness: "That is what I thought, but I met an acquaintance in the exam hall midway and chatted with him for a while, so this delayed me."

The acquaintance he spoke of was Zhang Jun, who had once served as a government office constable at the Linhe government office.

The two had another encounter later under the pavilion of Miss Shuyu at the Shuhuang Pavilion.

This ordinary constable, who once decided to sacrifice himself for love in a gamble for wealth and rank, because he protected the Crown Prince and fought bravely and bloodily against the Tianxin cult bandits, was noticed by the eunuch beside the Crown Prince, who gave him a chance to ride the dragon.

Facing this infatuated fool whose head was turned by a woman, Xu Qing wanted to say something several times, but in the end could not open his mouth.

Zhang Jun looked delicate yet had a ruthless edge; the old eunuch beside the Crown Prince also took a liking to this point.

Xu Qing still remembers when that eunuch called him away, Zhang Jun addressed the other as Godfather.

If nothing unexpected happens, when the Crown Prince returns to the capital, this Zhang Jun will probably lose at least a few taels of flesh.

Perhaps when he truly cuts off the root of trouble, he will not be so slavish to women anymore?

Xu Qing thought this in his heart, and in the end did not speak to advise the other party.

It is just unknown how this young man, in the few days since leaving Linhe, managed to win the favor of the Crown Prince's close attendant.

But thinking about it, Xu Qing felt relieved; the other party rushed to pursue Miss Shuyu, pursuing her for so many years, following Miss Shuyu from a place thousands of li away all the way to Linhe; with all this accumulated experience, winning the old eunuch's favor does not seem difficult.

On the way back from the exam, the three walked together; when they arrived at the teahouse, Guo Dongyang was telling a new story titled "Xiangyu".

This is also a ghost story from Liaozhai, telling of the romantic entanglements between the scholar Huang Sheng and the two flower demons Xiangyu and Jiangxue.

The three walked into the teahouse; as soon as Xu Qing entered, he spotted many familiar faces.

A lean man with a sword at his waist, leaning against the door; a woman in martial attire on the second-floor corridor, arms crossed over her chest, her sharp phoenix eyes scanning everywhere...

As soon as Xu Qing saw these people, he knew who had arrived.

Inside the teahouse, Zhu Huaian saw the three at the door and waved at them enthusiastically.

Afterwards, Xu Qing and the others saw this little fat boy arrogantly shove the fellow tea guests out of their seats, instantly causing a chorus of scolding and commotion.

But when a rough man over nine feet tall, whose head could touch the roof beam, stood up behind the little fat boy, the tea guests fell silent again.

Xu Qing and the other two stepped forward; Zhu Huai'an invited everyone to take their seats, then pressed his palm to signal silence, indicating they should finish listening to the story before exchanging pleasantries.

"Infinite longing brings bitter pain,

With affection, I face the short window.

I fear returning to Sha Zha Li,

Where can I find Wushuang?"

Guo Dongyang tapped the table, using a set-piece poem to unfurl a wondrous scroll from the book.

As dusk fell, the crowd dispersed.

Only then did Xu Qing learn from Guo Dongyang that while he was frantically writing in the exam hall, Zhu Huai'an had come daily to listen to the storytelling for three consecutive days.

As a result, this little Fatty could now occasionally improvise a passage himself.

Guo Dongyang even joked that Zhu Huai'an possessed great talent for storytelling and had a distinctive appearance; if he could settle down and study with him for a while, he might one day inherit his mantle.

But when he learned this idle Young Master was the only son of Changting Wang, he immediately stopped speaking.

Asking the heir of a non-royal king to become a storyteller of the lowest nine ranks?

What difference was there between that and forcing a royal prince to bend over and pick up dung? Guo Dongyang admitted he lacked the ability to do so.

Zhu Huai'an, however, seemed truly moved and nearly bowed to Guo Dongyang as his master.

By evening, not long after the young heir returned home, a group of old and young suddenly arrived at the tea house where guests were thinning.

The leading old man was helped to his seat by a middle-aged man and a youth.

Upon seeing this person, Guo Dongyang immediately stopped speaking and personally stepped forward to greet him.

"Tian She Gong, long time no see, I trust you are well."

"This old man is still safe; I can still trek a hundred li to come for the exam."

The old man, honored as Tian She Gong, wore a smiling face, yet could not hide the weariness between his brows.

Seeing this person, the Wu brothers' expressions likewise became respectful.

Xu Qing also recognized him; among those taking the prefectural exam this time, he was the oldest, said to be seventy years of age.

Accompanying him to take the exam was his great-grandson, who had just reached adulthood.

"Dongyang, I became a Tongsheng at twenty-nine; since then, I have taken the prefectural exam every three years, yet I have failed repeatedly. This is my fourteenth attempt; if I fail again, I fear I will never have the chance to come to Jinmen."

"I truly envy you; at seventeen you passed and became a Shengyuan, a Linsheng. I have spent my whole life yet could not fulfill my wish."

Hearing this, Guo Dongyang shook his head and laughed.

The world is unpredictable; nothing is entirely up to human will. Though he possessed the talent to achieve fame, he had no heart for the imperial examinations.

Conversely, some who longed for fame did not necessarily possess the corresponding talent.

"Tian She Gong, you!" Guo Dongyang seemed very familiar with Tian She, his tone sounding like that of an old friend, or perhaps a teacher and student of vastly different ages.

"Tell me, is it not better to rest and enjoy your twilight years at home? You are already over seventy; this is heaven's favor, and you ought to enjoy your twilight years, the joy of your descendants, and the blessing of generations under one roof."

"Why persist so stubbornly in seeking fame?"

Hearing this, Tian She Gong likewise shook his head and laughed.

"Dongyang, you are mocking a hundred steps while you have only taken fifty. If I asked you to give up storytelling and retake the exams for fame, what choice would you make?"

"Everyone has their own aspirations; one cannot force them."

Hearing this, Guo Dongyang did not agree. "When you were fifty, I told you the tale of the Yellow Millet Dream; have you forgotten? Even if you now manage to become a Shengyuan, what good will it do?"

Tian She Gong laughed heartily and said, "To leave one's name in the annals of history!"

Guo Dongyang paused for a moment, then pointed at the old man before him and laughed loudly: "How many talented and capable people long to leave their names in history yet cannot; I never expected you to have found the path."

"Alas, only if you pass this time is there any chance to become famous." Tian She Gong sighed softly, then looked at Xu Qing and the other two.

"Youth is good after all. Are these your newly made friends?"

Guo Dongyang nodded. Looking at the gathering of old, middle-aged, and young, he suddenly wore a playful smile and said, "Tian She Gong, I shall introduce them to you."

"Zhiyuan may take the top spot in this prefectural exam. Wenke may become a Jingkui or a Yakui; as for Brother Xu..."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, looking at Guo Dongyang who was commenting on feet and predicting the prefectural exam rankings, and waited for what came next.

"Brother Xu is just like I was back then: a loafer who seeks only the conveniences of being a Shengyuan and a Licentiate, not fame!"

Xu Qing's eyelid twitched; could Ning also possess the art of discerning people?

As thin mist spread and the sky hovered between night and dawn, a slender figure appeared in Baishui Hutong, Jinmen.

Miss Shuyu, who had once taken Qin Xiangzhu of the Tianxin Sect as her sworn father, was seeing her 'lover' off.

Warm fragrance and soft jade entered his embrace, then parted at a touch.

Even so, Zhang Jun, who had come for a secret meeting, wore a face full of contentment.

After seeing Zhang Jun off, Shuyu's smile vanished; her pretty face seemed as if frost had condensed on the thin mist, cold and merciless.

Returning to the residence within the alley, Tianxin Sect demons hidden inside filed out one by one.

The leader was Bai Luo, the White Robe Dharma Protector clad in plain white clothes; beside him stood a woman in green tight-fitting attire, none other than Qing Luo, one of the Five Luo Protectors of the Tianxin Sect.

"Reporting to the Protector, I have sprinkled tracking powder on him; once he returns, we can trace the Crown Prince's whereabouts."

Bai Luo glanced at Miss Shuyu, whose eyes held affection for him, then turned and ordered, "The Crown Prince is old and fond of women; last time, due to an unexpected incident, he could not spend a spring night with Miss Han Meng."

"Qing Luo, disguise yourself as a maid and find a way to accompany Miss Han Meng to approach the Crown Prince. Remember to stay safe."

Qing Luo glanced at Bai Luo, whose gaze had suddenly softened, said nothing, turned, and left the residence.

Jinmen Prefect's government office.

The Prefect, together with the chief official of Baisha County, the deputy official of Quyang Commandery, and other great figures, were inside the government office preparing the announcement of results alongside the Crown Prince.

At the third quarter of the Chen hour, the red list of Shengyuan for the prefectural exam was posted.

Xu Qing and the others went together; hundreds of examinees stood on tiptoe before the government office, straining their necks, their eyes burning with anticipation.

The supervising official held the register; while allowing government office runners to post the list outside, he announced the names of the top three examinees in the order listed in the book.

"The eightieth-third year of Qianyuan, the year of Xuji, the top three of the Jinmen Prefecture Examination: the head, Wu Zhiyuan."

"The Jingui, Wu Wencai."

"The Yaqiu, Li Ke."

Before the prefectural government office, the crowd erupted in a clamor.

Zhuang Zijun, who considered himself the number one talented scholar of Jinmen, was as grief-stricken as if his parents had died, wishing he could cover his face and vanish.

Hearing that he had secured the top spot, Wu Zhiyuan was stunned for quite a while.

After ten years of studying by the cold window, his two elderly parents had turned their temples white supporting his studies; now hearing the joyful news, he felt only an indescribable surge of emotion in his heart.

He truly wanted his two elderly parents, who were waiting for news at home, to know this news quickly.

Beside him, Wu Wencai clapped his hands with a smile, unable to hide the joy in his heart.

"Eh, I passed! Becoming a Licentiate isn't that hard!"

Xu Qing looked at his proud demeanor and thought to himself: If I hadn't passed, the taxes due in a few months would be on you to pay.

Guo Dongyang, who had come with the three of them, coughed; it was an offhand remark by Wu Wencai that had touched a sore spot of an old man.

Tian Shegong waited anxiously; his great-grandson squeezed into the crowd and only returned to report after a long while.

"Congratulations, Brother Xu. Brother Xu is ranked fourth, one spot higher than Zhuang Zijun, the number one talented scholar of Jinmen."

Hearing this, Tian Shegong leaned on his cane and asked anxiously, "What about me, your grandfather?"

The Tian family grandson fell silent for a moment, then said, "I passed as a Licentiate this time as well."

Tian Shegong's breath hitched; he temporarily suppressed his emotions, praised his grandson a few times, then spoke with a hint of meaning: "If the two of us, grandfather and grandson, had passed in the same session, it would count as a fine story."

The Tian family grandson's scalp tightened, his face turned bitter, and only after a long while did he stammer out a reply: "Grandfather, your name is not on the list."

"Heh~"

The old master Tian nearly choked on his breath, his expression visibly dimming.

Just at this moment, the supervising official who had previously announced the top three list hurriedly arrived at the government office entrance; ignoring the sweat, he raised his voice and spoke:

"By special permission of the Crown Prince and with the guarantee of the Prefect, because Tian She has studied diligently and taken the exam year after year without ceasing, though he did not pass the examination, considering his heart to serve the nation is very firm, he is specially granted the status of a Linsheng. He may receive eight dou of Lin rice monthly to supplement his diet, and ten taels of Lin silver annually to serve as tuition."

A Linsheng must be a Tongsheng taking the exam, and simultaneously possess a guarantee from others, with no unclear family background or impersonation, to obtain this status.

It is similar to a special recruitment.

After these words fell, the supervising official added another sentence: "In view of Tian She being seventy-one years old, past the age of seventy, and unable to perform official duties, he is permitted to retire and suspend his carriage to enjoy his remaining years."

Officials generally resign and return home at seventy, abandoning the carriage; thus there is the saying of living in seclusion and not serving, of suspending the carriage and not using it.

The Crown Prince's move warmed the hearts of all scholars in the world, and prevented those failed candidates who did not enjoy special treatment from developing prejudice; it could be said to achieve multiple goals with one stroke.

Outside the government office, Tian Shegong, who had been standing with Xu Qing and others in a daze, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

In this moment, he seemed to see the scenery of heaven.

"I passed?"

"I passed!"

As soon as these words fell, Tian Shegong went dark before his eyes and completely lost consciousness.

Double chapter combined.

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(End of this chapter)