Chapter 496: If You Don

【Another three days passed!】

【You continued reading and writing as usual; Xie Yuan's figure never reappeared, and days flowed like water, serene and uneventful, continuing the same calm as these past years.】

【Today, the heavens smiled—sunshine bright, dispelling the faint chill of autumn.】

【Sunlight dappled the corners of the walls and window frames, its glittering glow warming the heart.】

【Today, a familiar guest arrived at the small courtyard: Zhang Yuanlai, a scholar-retainer of the Xie household.】

【Since their first meeting over books, Zhang Yuanlai and this Xie family's illegitimate son, Xie Guan, had frequently interacted.】

【In contrast, He Xiao had never returned to the courtyard since he began studying.】

【Zhang Yuanlai came from poverty; his parents died early, and he was cast out by his elder brother and sister-in-law. After enduring hardship, he studied diligently to reach today—but at over thirty, he still felt he had accomplished nothing, and could not help but sigh.】

【Though Xie Guan was born into a prestigious clan, he had always been treated differently from the young masters and ladies of the household; his childhood mirrored Zhang Yuanlai's in many ways.】

【Xie Guan studied with grit, never discouraged—this tenacity earned Zhang Yuanlai's deep respect.】

【The two sat in the courtyard.】

【Zhang Yuanlai asked with concern: "Young Master Guan, you are already twelve—has the Xie household arranged your formal studies yet?"】

【"That Dong Shao hasn't shown up these past few months. I thought he had decent learning, if a bit rigid—but turns out he's just another sycophant."】

【He immediately answered himself: "Still, with your current knowledge, you truly don't need formal initiation."】

【You smiled faintly and said: "For me, studying at home is no different from studying in a school."】

【Zhang Yuanlai, hearing this, asked with concern: "Young Master Guan, do you plan to take the annual examination next February?"】

The annual examination, also called the Tongshi, is the preparatory test for the imperial examination, consisting of three stages: county, prefectural, and provincial exams; passing all three grants the title of Licentiate.

【Zhang Yuanlai, himself a Licentiate, knew the annual examination tested the Four Books and Five Classics and Confucian texts.】

Becoming a Licentiate, also called a Shengyuan, granted eligibility to take the provincial examination every three years.

The provincial examination, held in autumn, was also called the Qiuyu; though named "provincial," it was not held in the countryside but at each circuit's prefectural seat, designed to select the finest talent from the entire province.

【Passing the provincial examination meant becoming a Provincial Graduate.】

【Becoming a Provincial Graduate conferred scholar status, granting a status in Great Qi vastly different from that of commoners.】

【Zhang Yuanlai passed the Licentiate exam at nineteen; since then, he has taken the provincial exam every three years—five attempts so far—and still has not earned the title of Provincial Graduate.】

【Now thirty-seven, time has slipped by, yet he has never given up, preparing year after year.】

【He Xiao had long abandoned his studies, lingering in brothels and entertainment quarters—mainly because in Great Qi, Confucian learning was the norm, and teaching children to read was the most important duty among commoners.】

【Especially in today's Jingcheng Circuit, where powerful clans abound, each provincial examination draws a flood of talent, yet only a few are selected.】

【You smiled at Zhang Yuanlai and said: "I recall, Master Zhang, you haven't returned home in several years."】

【Zhang Yuanlai chuckled bitterly: "When I left home, I swore—if I didn't return as a Provincial Graduate riding a red steed, I would die alone in a foreign land."】

【Wealth unshared with one's homeland is like wearing brocade in the dark. Without wealth, one dies a stranger's death.】

【You smiled lightly and teased: "Master Zhang, why cling so tightly to one path in life? Why not find a kindred soul, marry, have children, and enjoy the warmth of family? In this bustling Bianjing, living alone lacks the scent of ordinary life."】

【Zhang Yuanlai sighed: "I have no house, no land, no future in sight."】

【"How can a man with nothing dare to mislead a fine woman? How can a man with empty sleeves dare enter the glittering world?"】

【He paused, his tone laced with self-mockery and helplessness: "It may amuse Young Master Guan, but I was born unable to flatter, unable to read faces, unable to speak pretty words. My path of learning has been fraught with hardship—I lack talent and learning, and still accomplish nothing."】

【"Back then, when I passed the Licentiate exam, I left home full of ambition, entering this glittering Bianjing, convinced that passing the provincial exam would launch me onto the path of glory, convinced I was gold in the furnace. But along the way, I faced failure after failure, heartbreak after heartbreak. In Bianjing's academies, I met too many brilliant scholars—I finally realized: in the capital of Great Qi, gold is everywhere."】

【Just as you were about to offer words of comfort, a sound came from outside the courtyard.】

【Wutong returned from the market, laden with goods, her face beaming.】

【You set down your book and stepped outside, taking the heavy bundle from Wutong's hands, curious:】

【"Why did you buy so much today?"】

【Wutong laughed: "Good news from Fourth Miss. The Military Governor of Jiannan Circuit came to Jingcheng for his official report and detoured to visit Fourth Miss."】

【"The Xie household is bustling today—banquets one after another; all the young masters have been summoned by Old Lady Xie."】

【Wutong entered the courtyard.】

【"Master Zhang is here too!"】

【Zhang Yuanlai greeted with a smile: "Miss Wutong."】

【He was long accustomed to this master-servant pair who behaved nothing like master and servant.】

【Wutong gently opened the small bamboo basket she carried; inside were delicate, delicious pastries. She smiled: "These were given to me just now by Luya in the main courtyard."】

【Luya was Fourth Miss's personal maid.】

【You knew well: two years ago, rumors spread that the engagement would be formalized at the start of the year—but due to constant warfare between Great Qi and Great Sui, and a demon clan rebellion in Jiannan Circuit, the marriage was delayed—and now two years had passed.】

【Military Governor Sima Ting of Jiannan Circuit, facing unrest in his region, came to the Xie household during his official visit to the capital.】

【Zhang Yuanlai was aware of this; otherwise, he wouldn't be idle today—the favored ladies and young mistresses of the main courtyard had all been summoned to the banquet, leaving the scholar-retainers with nothing to do. He Jin had already happily gone to Xifeng Pavilion.】

【He added: "Not only the Sima Military Governor—also the Zhao family's young master and Li family members have arrived. The household is hosting a grand banquet."】

【The Sima family is one of the Nine Great Surnames; this marriage is clearly a political move.】

【Of the Nine Great Surnames, five openly support Su Jing, nearly following the Su family's lead.】

【The other four remain neutral—or, some say, closer to the academies. What lies beneath, of course, is unknown.】

【Zhang Yuanlai pondered: Zhao and Li are both among the Nine Great Surnames. Their joint arrival at the Xie household, amid rising tensions between Jiannan and the western frontiers, cannot be mere social gathering.】

【Just then, footsteps sounded outside.】

【Wutong looked—and was surprised: it was Gan Zhi, the senior maid of the Second Courtyard.】

【Gan Zhi did not bow.】

【"Young Master Guan, Lady instructed that today's main courtyard is busy and short-handed—Wutong is to go assist."】

【(End of Chapter)】