Supporting Prince Yi
At the inn.
This was the residence of the scholars who had participated in this year's examinations. After the court examinations, some of the scholars who had made it into the Golden Roll returned to their hometowns to report the good news. Those who had failed packed up and returned to where they came from.
By now, all the students who had entered the court examinations had been crowned with titles. Even the Tanhua had been announced. Only the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan had not been decided.
In previous years, the results would have been released by this time, but this year was an exception. The results should have been announced a few days ago, but due to a lot of things happening at the same time, including Prince Yi's marriage, it had been delayed for a few days.
In the eyes of outsiders, it was really unusual!
There were still many people in the inn who hadn't left. They all wanted to stay and see who would be the champion. They would join in the festivities and wait for the final battle three years later.
At this time, everyone was sitting around a table in groups of two or three, discussing who would be the top scholar.
Someone said, "I think it must be Shang Zhuo."
"Why?"
"He has the ability! I have faith in him. "
"I don't think so. On the contrary, I think Lin Shu can do it. Last time when we compared notes on poems, he won against all of us."
"But this time, the test was completely different from composing a poem. He might not be slightly better. Besides, look, at this time in previous years, the list of top scorers would have been out long ago. Presumably, both of them answered the questions well, so it's been so long since it was decided who would be the winner! Therefore, at this time, the Ministry of Appointments and Hanlin Academy will definitely choose the best of the two based on their moral character, and then push them to His Majesty. But when it comes to moral character, Shang Zhuo will definitely become the Zhuangyuan. "
This kind of situation was not unheard of. A few years ago, the emperor felt that the essays of the zhuangyuan and bangyan were very good, so he finally judged them based on their moral character.
It would probably be the same this year.
Everyone stuck to their own opinions and formed their own teams. However, none of them dared to speak carelessly outside. They were afraid that after they formed their own teams, the top scholar might not be the person they thought he was. If they offended him, wouldn't they be unable to bear the consequences?
Moreover, these people who failed the exam still planned to take the exam three years later. So if they could curry favor with the top scholar now, it would be convenient for them to fight again in the future.
The discussion went on for several days, but the two people involved acted as if it had nothing to do with them.
It was time to eat.
It was time to drink.
It was time to sleep.
In any case, not a single one was left behind.
Shang Zhuo had borrowed an authentic piece of calligraphy from the antique shop and was currently copying it in his room.
He had not painted for a long time. Now that the court examinations were over, he was free. He began to paint in his room.
Lin Shu pushed the door open and sat down at the table. He began to say shabbily, "I say, Shang Zhuo, for the past few days, you've been drawing in your room without going out. What's the point?"
"What? Don't tell me I want to be like you, idling around all day? "
"Which eye of yours saw that I was idle? While I was waiting for the results, I walked around the entire capital city. "
"Oh."
"Do you know which mountain is the most famous in the capital?"
"I do not know."
"Do you know which pavilion is the largest?"
"I do not know."
"Do you know which restaurant has the best Drunken Duck?"
"I do not know."
…
Lin Shu nagged at the side for a long time, and Shang Zhuo patiently responded to him.
In the end, he smiled and said nothing!
Lin Shu pondered for a moment and suddenly thought of something. He leaned forward and said, "Everyone is talking about your ranking. What do you think?"
Shang Zhuo was still painting carefully. He did not even look in Lin Shu's direction. He said lightly, "It is already an honor to be in the first rank. You and I are both students of Mingshan Academy. Who is the top scorer? Who is the second rank? It's all the same. "
It was obvious that he did not care about these things.
To him, it was already an honor to be in the first rank. He came from a poor family, and it was already a glorious thing for him to enter the imperial court.
However, Lin Shu said, "You are quite open-minded, but my thoughts are different from yours. Didn't we study hard for so many years just to become the top scorer? In the future, to establish a foothold in the imperial court and assist the emperor, this is our goal. You, who are indifferent to fame and fortune, should not have participated in the imperial examinations. Don't take the title for granted. "
"Your words are really fresh."
"I just learned it not long ago."
"Lin Shu, if you become an official in the imperial court in the future, you should pay more attention to your words and actions," Shang Zhuo reminded him.
Lin Shu looked indifferent and casually said, "I know, I don't need you to remind me." He let out another long sigh and propped his chin on his hand. "It's just that this long wait is a little unbearable. What do you think the emperor is thinking? Now that Prince Yi's wedding is over, why hasn't he decided yet? "
"There's no hurry. Wait patiently. When I finish copying this painting, the results will probably be out." Shang Zhuo's tone was indifferent.
Lin Shu stretched his neck to take a few glances at the painting.
He did not even manage to copy half of it.
How long would he have to wait for?!
Lin Shu's attention shifted away from the matter of the rankings and he began to mutter, "Say, now that Prince Yi is the only one in the imperial court, doesn't that mean that Prince Rong will never return?"
Shang Zhuo's hand suddenly paused. "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"
"It's not sudden. I've been thinking about it since the day I entered the capital. Say, when we become officials in the future and enter the Hanlin Academy, won't we have to learn from those ministers and support Prince Yi?" He frowned, seemingly unwilling.
Shang Zhuo did not think as much as he did. He continued to draw as he replied, "Lin Shu, who says that we have to support someone once we become an official? We haven't even entered the imperial court yet, so why are you worrying about this? Besides, even if we enter the Hanlin Academy, we won't be able to get any high positions without at least a year and a half. Who do you think Prince Yi is? Does he still need us to support him? "
Dream on!
The people that Prince Yi wants to rope in are all important figures, such as Ji Li and Ji Huan.
Moreover, the two of them have just dabbled in the officialdom and are inexperienced. Why would Prince Yi rope them in? It would already be very kind of him not to kill them.
Lin Shu pondered over Shang Zhuo's words and felt that it made sense.
Then, Shang Zhuo reminded him again, "Your impulsiveness is not a good thing. You must restrain yourself. When we entered the capital from the academy, Teacher repeatedly reminded us that we must be careful when we become officials in the future. Some things should be tolerated if possible, and we must not act rashly. After all, the capital is not like the academy. If you make a mistake, it's fine if Teacher hits you with a ruler. But this is the capital, deep in the tiger's den.
Shang Zhuo had just finished speaking when Lin Shu covered his neck with his hand. He gulped and sucked in a breath of cold air.
Phew!
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