Among the six subjects of the Dayan, mathematics was an independent subject. Only those who were ranked on the roll could be promoted to a master of mathematics.
Although the Dayan Examination was held once every three years, it didn't mean that there would be a master of mathematics every time. In history, there had been a desolate situation where no new master of mathematics appeared for ten years in a row.
A female master of mathematics like Yu Shu who was in her teens was even rarer since the beginning of the Dayan Examination.
Thus, within a day, the Celestial Commissioner had spread the news that there was a female master of mathematics this year.
Yu Shu was brought to the Dayan Bureau by the guide. Every time the Dayan Examination released the results, the Dayan Bureau was always very busy. The small hall was crowded with more than a dozen people.
As soon as she was introduced, she was immediately 'surrounded' by the officials who were working.
Yu Shu felt it was funny to be watched like a gorilla. After greeting them one by one, she followed the chief into the back courtyard. Her unintentional action left a good impression on the people present.
"Miss Yu, please wait here for a moment. I will go get the seal and the flower book."
Last time, when Yu Shu came back to choose the personal seal of the master of mathematics, she didn't see this chief. She was puzzled, so she stopped him and asked,
"Sir, I just had the personal seal of the master of mathematics engraved not long ago. Now I'm here to collect my seal again. Is there any problem?"
The chief smiled and explained to her, "There's no problem. The seal that you collected previously represents your identity as a master of mathematics. The masters of mathematics who passed the Dayan Examination all need to have their seals engraved. Your master of mathematics is four levels higher than the normal master of mathematics, so it can't be confused with the previous seal. "
Yu Shu asked, "Why is it four levels higher? Please enlighten me."
The chief didn't think that she was a busybody and patiently explained to her, "When the Dayan Examination releases the results, the Celestial Commissioner will divide the examinees into nine ranks and enter them. The ninth rank, which is also the lowest rank, is the master of mathematics on the first rank. After that, it's the top three of the first rank and the first rank. The second rank is a dividing line. There aren't many above — — the sixth rank is the master of mathematics on the second rank. The fifth grade is the Great Yi Master with two rankings and three ranks, and the fourth grade is the Fortune Teller with two rankings and three ranks. "
Hearing that she was one level higher than Ji Xingxuan, who was ranked third in the Double Ranking List, Yu Shu was delighted. She asked with interest,
"What about the next level? What are the other three levels? "
The manager shook his head and sighed. "The first, second and third ranks are almost gone. It had been twenty years since there had been a third class champion of two rankings. A second-class Great Yi Master, who ranked third in the Three Rankings, had not appeared in thirty years. I haven't seen a single first-rate fortune-teller in fifty years. "
"Eh? Isn't there still Yi Zi who's ranked third in the Three Rankings? "Yu Shu was puzzled.
"Almighty Master Yi," the manager said with a look of reverence. Zhao Shu gave Yu Shu a thumbs-up. "That's a supreme one. It's not in the ninth class."
"Oh." Yu Shu still looked doubtful.
The manager said, "Miss must be wondering why there aren't any Top Three Ranks of the Fourth, Top Three Ranks of the Fifth, or even Top Three Ranks of the Sixth."
Yu Shu nodded in embarrassment. "Yes. Why? "
The chief official shook his head with a smile: "This is a rule set by the ancestors, this lowly official can't explain it clearly. Since the start of the Great Yan Imperial Examinations, Since the beginning of the Dayan Examination, everyone has followed the rules. In any case, there hasn't been anyone who's ranked third in the Four Rankings. "
"… If that's the case, I've learned something." Yu Shu was about to bow and thank the manager, but the manager dodged to the side and waved at her.
"Fortune Teller, you can't do that. I'm a Secondary Class Sixth Rank official, not even a Fifth Rank official. According to the rules of the Celestial Commissioner, I can't accept your bow. I'll remind Miss, in the future, whenever you meet officials below the Fifth Rank, or Great Yi Masters, you don't have to bow to them. You don't have to pay your respects to anyone who is a lower rank than you. If the other party has an official title, it's fine. If they don't, they still have to pay their respects to you. "
Yu Shu raised her eyebrows. When he heard this, he felt good because he finally got rid of the fate of being a nobody who had to lower his head in front of everyone. In the future, he would be able to raise his head and be a man.
After talking about ranks, the manager left for a while to get the seal. Not long after, he came back with three brocade boxes and a thin flower book.
"Miss, you can choose the seal first. You can use your own handwriting or you can ask a famous calligraphy master in this flower book."
There were three semi-finished silver ingots in the brocade box. They were much better than the ones she picked with Wen Shao 'an last time. They would be treasures if they were sold.
There was a Yellow Field Stone as thick as two fingers, a bright and glistening agate jade, and a material made from animal horn and bone. It was lustrous and white, but it felt warm to the touch. It was extremely rare.
Seeing Yu Shu was fondling the last piece of scrap, he laughed and said, "Miss really has good eyesight. This piece is a precious elephant tusk from a foreign country. It is said that it was plucked from the mouth of an elephant king at the end of its lifespan. The local lamas worshiped it for a hundred days, so it is a treasure in itself. His Majesty had people divide it into several pieces, one of them was bestowed to the Grand Secretary, the Grand Secretary asked a great master to carve it into two seals, one was given away, the remaining one was kept in the seal bureau. "
Yu Shu was hesitant to take this elephant tusk because there was a saying in the Book of Changes. It was not easy to wear ivory, which was obtained from fierce beasts. Otherwise, it would attract blood. However, after listening to the manager's recommendation, she was reluctant to put it down. Finally, she decided to believe in fate.
"Then I'll take this."
Yu Shu then looked through the list and asked the manager to give advice. She decided to ask an old calligrapher to write.
***
When Yu Shu came out of the Celestial Commissioner's Office, it was already noon. She went home for lunch and waited for the sun to set before going to Liu Tan's guesthouse.
Yu Shu came at the right time. Liu Tan's sedan chair had just arrived in front of the door. Helanchou was with him.
Liu Tan was a little surprised to see Yu Shu so soon and invited her inside to talk.
After sitting down in the reception hall and having tea served, Yu Shu began to state her purpose of coming. She said,
"To be honest, Your Highness, after the strange technique was released, I saw Wen Xianglang outside the guesthouse. From what he said, it seemed that he yearned for the Taishi Library but could not get in. But Your Highness had already given me the place, so I did not humbly give it to him. Today, when I met with the Great Advisor, I was fortunate to get another place to enter. So may I ask Your Highness to give the previous place to Wen Xianglang. "
Liu Tan won the Double Suns Meeting this time and got the Double Chief and Third Rank. Logically, even if Yu Shu did not want the place to enter, she would have to wait for another Fengshui master first. It would not be Wen Shaoan's turn.
But the reason was not like this. First of all, this place was promised by Liu Tan to Yu Shu. Now she was giving it away. Since she spoke for Wen Shaoan, Liu Tan had to consider it.
Helanchou looked at Liu Tan's expression and asked, "Since Suanzi is so considerate of Wen Xianglang, it seems that you have a friendship before?"
Yu Shu nodded and did not hide it from them, "When Brother Wen was still in Peiren Hall, I got to know him. Our friendship is not deep, but we helped each other."
Yu Shu was a sentimental person. At that time, Wen Shaoan solved the word "worry" of Prince Xiang for her, so that she could finally see the clues and judge right from wrong. So this time, she was so nosy.
Since it had come to this, Liu Tan had no reason not to agree,
"In this case, the Lotus Room is righteous. I will arrange for Wen Xianglang to enter the Taishi Library as soon as possible."
Since yesterday, Liu Tan had naturally changed the way he addressed Yu Shu directly as "Lotus Room". He regarded this as an elegant title and became closer to her.
Yu Shu stood up happily and bowed to Liu Tan, "Then I thank Your Highness on behalf of Wen Xianglang."
Liu Tan was willing to do Yu Shu a favor, so he thought for a while and said, "Wen Xianglang is temporarily living in Thousand Cranes Tower in the north of the city. Lotus Room can go and tell him the good news, so that he will not run around in vain."
Yu Shu once again secretly exclaimed that Liu Tan knew how to conduct himself. So, she nodded, and left.
***
Yu Shu did not like to procrastinate, so she left the guesthouse. Although it was late, she still rushed to Thousand Cranes Tower.
Moreover, with a carriage, it was convenient to go anywhere. She did not have to worry about returning late at night.
Yu Shu inquired about Wen Shaoan's room at the counter in front of Thousand Cranes Tower. She entered the backyard and knocked on the door on the second floor.
"Brother Wen, is Brother Wen in?"
Yu Shu saw the light in the window and shouted several times before someone answered the door.
"Who is it?" Wen Shaoan frowned. When he opened the door and saw Yu Shu, he was stunned. He must have heard the news that she won the first prize. His expression was a little strange. He left the door open and turned to enter the room, but he did not refuse her.
Yu Shu smelled a trace of alcohol and guessed that he was worried about not being able to enter Taishi Shuyuan, so she did not care that a Grade Eight like him was rude in front of a Grade Four like her. She followed him in with a smile. Seeing wine and dishes on the table, she secretly thought that he was living a good life. She tried to find something to talk about,
"Did I come at the wrong time to disturb Brother Wen's meal?"
Wen Shaoan glanced at her and said in a stiff tone, "What are you doing here?"
Yu Shu sat down opposite him. She wanted to tease him, so she asked knowingly, "Are you worried about how to enter Taishi Shuyuan?"
"… It's none of your business." Wen Shaoan had run into a wall these days. When it came to this matter, he pulled a long face.
Yu Shu looked at his long face with a smile and said, "How is it none of my business? If I said that I came here today to help you solve your problem, would you believe it?"
Wen Shaoan immediately sat up straight and stared at Yu Shu doubtfully, "What do you mean?"
Seeing that he was nervous, Yu Shu no longer had bad intentions. She said seriously, "Today, I asked for another admission place. Before I came here, I went to visit the Ninth Prince and gave the extra place to you. The Ninth Prince promised to arrange for you to study in Taishi Shuyuan in a few days."
Wen Shaoan was stunned for a moment. The next moment, he knocked down the chair and stood up, "Are you serious!?"
Yu Shu nodded, "Why would I coax you?"
Wen Shaoan was pleasantly surprised. The gloominess on his face was gone. He rubbed his palms and walked back and forth. He was so excited as if he had won the top three again. He could not even speak clearly,
"This, this … thank you, Miss Yu. Please forgive me if I have offended you before."
Yu Shu waved her hand casually and said, "You don't have to be so polite. How are you going to thank me?"
It was a joke, but Wen Shaoan took it seriously. He said seriously, "If you need me in the future, please order me."
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