Pei Zi Yun kept the flute and boarded the ox-cart. The official followed closely behind, his face was filled with anxiety. The moment he boarded the cart, he ordered, "Give me the report."
"What happened, why did the Crown Prince summon me to the capital?" Pei Zi Yun sat down and asked.
The official hurriedly reported, "Dao Master, King Lu has been reinstated and is in control of three prefectures. Several military towns seem to have relations with King Lu."
Pei Zi Yun frowned, "I tried to persuade the Crown Prince to stop King Lu from leaving the capital. What happened?"
Hearing Pei Zi Yun's words, the official didn't speak.
Pei Zi Yun raised an eyebrow and didn't pursue the matter. After some time, he spoke, "The Crown Prince doesn't wish to see King Lu in the capital. That's a good thing. But how did King Lu reinstate his title so quickly and take control of three prefectures?"
The official heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly reported. Hearing that the fish wasn't fresh, Pei Zi Yun rubbed his temples, "King Lu has people!"
Actually, from the Crown Prince's point of view, it wasn't wrong for King Lu to leave the capital. In fact, it was the right thing to do. King Lu leaving the capital was equivalent to leaving the capital.
If he stayed in the capital, the Emperor might be confused and send King Lu to the throne.
Pei Zi Yun knew that the Emperor didn't have long to live. Previously, he had plotted to destroy King Lu's influence in the capital. He wouldn't be able to recover within a year. When the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, King Lu would have no chance. But the Crown Prince didn't know that.
Pei Zi Yun couldn't stop him either. Could it be that the Emperor was dying, or that King Lu would rebel?
Pei Zi Yun was speechless when he asked how he knew.
"Is there anything else?" Pei Zi Yun thought for some time before asking.
"The Emperor's health is getting worse and worse. When someone tries to persuade him, he gets angry. It's been said that several officials have been punished. This is the first time this has happened since the start of the dynasty. The Crown Prince has also been reprimanded. His highness wishes for you to return to the capital immediately." The official didn't hold back and spoke more fluently. He wiped his forehead and noticed that his hair was wet with sweat.
Pei Zi Yun held his forehead and frowned.
The official saw Pei Zi Yun's expression and hurriedly said, "Dao Master, you have collected more than a hundred items. The Crown Prince heard that you're searching and ordered us to help. That's why you have so many items."
As he spoke, Pei Zi Yun nodded his head, "I shall head to the capital now. But I need to take a detour.
"Who?"
Just as he asked the question, the official reacted and hurriedly replied, "If the Enlightened Master wishes to bring someone along, we can change direction at any time."
Prefecture City, Tribute Courtyard
The soldiers were stationed outside the Academic Courtyard. Under the bright sunlight, rows of Elementary Scholars arrived in front of the courtyard. The 43 year old Ren Wei stopped in front of the Academic Courtyard and looked down. The walls were painted red, and the roof tiles were yellow. Every now and then, there were many trees extending their branches out of the walls.
Ren Wei suddenly thought of his wife who had been sent to Wu Tou Ferry. At that time, he sighed, "If I don't pass this time, I will not take the examinations. Young master Pei is a Top Scorer, and is very generous. I shall seek refuge with him. A hundred taels of silver a year should be enough for you and your son to live a happy life."
His wife was a little haggard, and her complexion was a little sallow. Not much of her former beauty remained.
Thinking up to this point, Ren Wei took a deep breath and entered the examination hall. Following the sound of drums, the doors were closed. This was the place where the fate of thousands of Elementary Scholars would be decided.
By the time Pei Zi Yun reached the city, it was already autumn. It was different from the last time he was here. This time, it was early in the morning. He could see the city gates standing tall and straight. The sky was not bright yet, but the docks were lit up. He could see many boats docked in the water. Pei Zi Yun laughed, "Today is the day the results are released. Let's go, let's go take a look."
He hired a carriage and headed straight for the Academic Courtyard. At this point, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Dark clouds gathered, and the doors to the Academic Courtyard were tightly shut. Two large red lanterns were hung above the doors, illuminating the steps.
This place was usually quiet, but today it was bustling with noise and excitement. Not far away, the inns and restaurants had all opened their doors. Red lanterns were lit and flags fluttered in the wind. The rain fell from the sky, hitting the tree branches, tiles, and dripping onto the bluestone tiles along the eaves.
It started to drizzle, and was slightly chilly. All the Elementary Scholars had put on extra layers of clothing and were looking for a tavern near the Academic Courtyard to wait.
The tavern and the tavern were filled with an oppressive atmosphere.
An Elementary Scholar was dressed in a green robe that had been washed many times. At this point, he threw out a string of money and said, "Boss, give me a bowl of wine."
"Coming." The boss was all smiles as he handed the wine over. He could not afford to be negligent at this point. Who knows, he might even become a High Scholar.
At this point, the sound of a gong being struck could be heard, "The results are out."
Crowds of scholars rushed out of the taverns and taverns. People were crowding around each other, and some of them even dropped the lanterns in their hands.
There were two bailiffs standing in front of the Academic Courtyard, preparing to paste the results. According to the rules, they had to paste the Second Roll first, then the First Roll. Amidst the clamor of the crowd, three cannons were fired.
An official walked out to retrieve the results and read it aloud.
"Li Zhi Da, Second Roll 30th!"
"Congratulations!" This person was in a daze as he was congratulated by the crowd. He was happy, but at the same time, lost. This was the last place. As long as he passed, there was not much of a difference. He would be rewarded with twenty taels of silver and a High Scholar's robe. However, his reputation would be different.
As the names were read out one by one, the scholars would shout out, "I've passed", "I've passed".
"Hu Yuanan, First Roll 11th!"
When someone heard this, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. He knelt down on the ground and cried out, "Father, mother, mother, I've passed. I've really passed."
As the number of names decreased, some people started crying. Others started tearing their clothes apart, and even threw their umbrellas onto the ground.
Ren Wei was so nervous that his heart was pounding. Once the names were read out, the red results were pasted. He first looked at the Second Roll, and there was nothing there. He then looked at the First Roll, and there was nothing there as well. At this point, he felt dizzy and broke out in cold sweat. He calmed himself down and looked again, and there was nothing there as well. Both his legs turned to jelly as he looked up into the sky.
Some raindrops fell onto his face, causing his clothes to be wet, and his hair to stick together. Ren Wei looked up at the sky, and tears started rolling down his cheeks.
The lights were dim, and the rain was drizzling. The oxcart stopped by the side. At this point, the crowd started to disperse. A young master alighted from the oxcart, holding a black umbrella in his hands.
Pei Zi Yun gestured for the official to return to the oxcart. He didn't follow them. He looked around and saw Ren Wei. From afar, it was clear that he had failed the examinations.
Ren Wei's eyes were blank, and he didn't know what to do. He mumbled, "In the end, I didn't have the fate of becoming a High Scholar."
His body was drained of all energy, and he swayed as he walked. He didn't know when he dropped his umbrella. Raindrops dripped onto his face, and he couldn't tell if they were raindrops or tears.
"Clear Breeze Wine House, where one gets drunk to solve a thousand worries." The owner of the wine house shouted out.
Several frustrated Elementary Scholars entered the wine house and started drinking. They came in groups of three to five. They came in a hurry, and were now returning in low spirits.
Ren Wei didn't know how to enter the wine house. He sat down in a daze. Someone next door shouted, "Come, serve me wine. How hateful. I've studied for twenty years, but what's the use? What's the use?"
As he said this, he started to cry.
"I hate it, I hate it." Someone cursed and tore his books apart. The waiter in the wine house didn't even bother to serve the wine and food. He had received instructions from the boss to ignore the frustrated scholar, and focus on selling wine and food.
At this point, the waiter brought the wine and food up to Ren Wei's table. He then whispered, "Young master, your wine and food are here."
There was a plate of chicken, a plate of peanuts, and a flask of wine. Ren Wei laughed bitterly and was about to reach out his hand when a familiar voice rang out, "Come, let me drink with you!"
Ren Wei raised his head and saw a familiar face. Pei Zi Yun was dressed in white, and held a black umbrella in his hands. At this point, he placed the umbrella by his side. He looked very elegant, and looked very envious.
"So it's Young Master. Waiter, get me another pair of chopsticks and a wine cup." Ren Wei shouted out to the waiter. Pei Zi Yun didn't speak, and just poured wine for him. Ren Wei's hair was still wet. When he saw the waiter serving him wine, he raised his cup and said to Pei Zi Yun, "A toast to Young Master."
He raised his cup with both hands and downed the wine in one gulp. He drank too quickly, and tears rolled down his cheeks.
Pei Zi Yun didn't speak, and just poured wine for him as well. After drinking three cups, Ren Wei's face turned red and he started crying. Big drops of tears rolled down his cheeks.
"A man doesn't cry easily, because his heart isn't broken." Pei Zi Yun sighed.
Ren Wei's tears flowed down his sleeves as he raised his cup and downed it in one gulp, "Young Master, please don't blame me for being crazy. Thirty years of hard work has gone down the drain!"
"Speaking of which, my grandfather was a High Scholar, and was an official in the previous dynasty. My father was a High Scholar, and his name spread far and wide. Unfortunately, he was accused of disrespecting the law, and was stripped of his title. He could no longer take the Imperial Examinations, and died with regrets."
"Who would have thought that I would end up like my father. Although he was not stripped of his title, he failed many times. Now, I'm old and frail!"
Pei Zi Yun sighed and wanted to pour another cup of wine, but realized it was empty. He then shouted, "Waiter, bring me another jug of wine."
"What's the point of studying? Studying is worse than farming. I'm not studying anymore, I'm not studying anymore. Ahhh!" At this point, a drunken Elementary Scholar threw the jug of wine onto the ground and started crying.
The rain fell, some people were happy, while others were sad.
Ren Wei glanced at him, smiled bitterly and pointed at him, "Another scholar with a bitter life."
"Young Master, the wine is here." The waiter said.
"Good wine!" Ren Wei poured the wine and smelled it. He then smiled and finished the wine. He then looked up at the roof, "Actually, I don't like stereotyped writing. I only like to learn how to govern the world. If I don't learn stereotyped writing, I won't be able to pass the Imperial Examinations."
"I became an Elementary Scholar when I was twenty-eight years old. After that, I didn't manage to pass the examinations. I went to King Lu and was rejected by him. I didn't have much hope. But after Young Master gave me some pointers and gave me some silver, I had hope again. After half a year of studying, I felt like I was enlightened and that it wouldn't be difficult for me to pass the Imperial Examinations. Who would have thought that I would fail again."
As he spoke, tears and snot rolled down his cheeks. After some time, he wiped his tears and stood up, "Since that's the case, I have received Young Master's kindness and have no way to repay you. I can only repay you with my own body."
Pei Zi Yun hurriedly helped him up. By the time he did, Ren Wei had already fainted. He then tossed some silver to Pei Zi Yun and helped him back to his carriage.
When the official saw Pei Zi Yun carrying an Elementary Scholar onto the carriage, he asked, "Dao Master, why did you bring this drunken Elementary Scholar up here?"
"This person is the friend I've been looking for. Now that there's nothing else, let's return to the capital." Pei Zi Yun instructed. When the coachman heard this, he whipped his whip and the oxcart turned around.
"Bad fate!" Pei Zi Yun looked at Ren Wei and shook his head.
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