Chapter 177: Prelude to the Imperial Examination (Part 3)
Jiang Cai Zhi returned to the Ministry of Rites, and naturally, the first thing he did was report the completion of his work to He Shilang.
“Alright, I understand.” He Shilang listened to Jiang Cai Zhi’s slightly aggrieved account of Mei Yuanzheng’s reaction and how he had bullied him, but only said this indifferently.
Jiang Cai Zhi was still expecting He Shilang to say something more, preferably to finalize his promotion, but what he got was just another sentence: “You may go back.”
Jiang Cai Zhi cursed under his breath but could only smile respectfully and exit the room.
However, just as he was about to thoughtfully close the door for He Shilang, He Shilang’s voice suddenly came from the crack in the door: “Go back and read more books about the Supreme God.”
Jiang Cai Zhi was instantly overjoyed and said excitedly, “Yes! Thank you, He Shilang, for the reminder!”
But He Shilang did not reply to him again.
However, this was enough for Jiang Cai Zhi; combined with what that little girl Ling Yuke said, it was estimated that the Ministry of Rites would have a big move next.
Moreover, it was related to the Supreme God.
By then, Jiang Cai Zhi’s opportunity would come…
…
Jiang Cai Zhi did not know that He Shilang was not speaking much because he was constantly thinking about how to report to his superior, Li Shangshu.
But after much deliberation, a heavy downpour began outside, and the sound of thunder grew louder and louder.
He Shilang sighed, the road was now difficult to travel.
He simply stopped thinking so much; after all, he was just a mere fourth-rank Shilang who followed orders.
…
Outside Li Shangshu’s office, He Shilang shook his soaked umbrella and leaned against the wall.
All the way there, he had been drenched by the pervasive strong winds and heavy rain.
He Shilang had no choice but to painstakingly take out a drying talisman, dry himself thoroughly, tidy his clothes, and then knock on the main door.
When meeting a superior, one still had to pay attention to one’s appearance and demeanor.
“Please come in.” A dignified voice sounded.
He Shilang’s heart pounded, and he took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
“Lord Shangshu…”
“No small talk, how was it?” Li Shangshu immediately stood up and asked with concern when he saw He Shilang enter.
He Shilang hesitated, not knowing where to start, constantly watching Li Shangshu’s expression.
Seeing this, Li Shangshu sighed and invited him to sit by the tea table, pouring him a cup of hot tea.
He Shilang took a sip of tea before slowly recounting what Jiang Cai Zhi had said.
“Indeed.” Li Shangshu sighed even more heavily after listening.
He had long expected this situation: “After all, in the past, the examination questions were mainly drafted by the various Fuzis of the National Academy, and then finalized after discussion between the Yuan Zheng and the Emperor.”
“Now, after the discussion is directly finished, and then informed, what do you think Old Mei will think?”
He Shilang asked nervously, “Indeed, since Mingyuan Emperor reformed the imperial examination, although the Ministry of Rites still presides over the major affairs of the imperial examination, from the drafting of examination questions to the grading of examination papers, it has all been undertaken by the National Academy… Now that the Emperor is doing this, I am afraid it will stir up a dispute between the National Academy and us…”
“Not only that, the Emperor has ordered that I and Old Mei will jointly serve as the chief examiners this time.” Li Shangshu sneered.
He Shilang gasped, “In the past, the chief examiner was definitely the Yuan Zheng of the National Academy, to show the National Academy’s orthodox position in the Dao of scholarship.”
“It seems the Emperor is determined to reform this time.”
A rumble of thunder made Li Shangshu turn his gaze to the window, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“This way, our Ministry of Rites will be pushed to the forefront…” He Shilang followed Li Shangshu’s gaze to the continuous curtain of rain outside the window.
“The Emperor has been on the throne for nine years; it is time for him to fully exert his power. As his subjects, we can only closely follow the Emperor’s footsteps…”
He Shilang listened to Li Shangshu’s words and nodded in agreement, “Yes, and everyone knows that things are not good now. If we don’t do something, I’m afraid the world will fall into chaos.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, how could the world fall into chaos?” A pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes glared at He Shilang, “At most, it will just rain heavily. Just remember to find a place to shelter from the rain.”
“Yes, you are right. Then, your subordinate will follow you to take shelter from the rain.”
Then, He Shilang worried again, “It’s just that this time’s examination questions, if not handled well, might provoke the indignation of Xuezis across the land. The Ministry of Rites will be the first to bear the brunt…”
“Your concerns are also reasonable. We can do things for the Emperor, but we must do them beautifully and cleanly.” Li Shangshu nodded, “I will enter the palace shortly to report to the Emperor about Old Mei’s matter, and I can mention this as well.”
“The rain is heavy, and there’s thunder. Be careful when you take the cloud sedan, my lord.”
“Understood, understood.”
…
Rarely did the rain in Chang’an continue all day today, accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Although Yunxian Residence was an excellent inn, filled with Immortal Qi and located high in the sky, once it was thunderstorm weather, it became a rootless duckweed swaying in the strong winds and heavy rain. Coupled with the occasional lightning strike near the building, it made people feel uneasy.
When they had dinner together, Wang Dongdong said that this was also a major feature experience of Yunxian Residence, and many thrill-seekers would specifically choose to stay during thunderstorm weather. Anyway, with protective formations and stabilizing formations, nothing bad would happen.
Liu Sheng was speechless: “Although nothing bad will happen, dizziness and a headache are certainly present.”
“Didn’t you take the ‘Dizziness Soother’ I gave you? It has a miraculous effect on this!” Wang Dongdong asked in surprise.
“I took it, and then I just wanted to sleep.”
Fortunately, Liu Sheng had the habit of studying after sleeping, otherwise, how much time would be delayed!
However, Wang Dongdong smiled intoxicatedly: “Sleeping is right! This weather is perfect for sleep.”
“Then have you finished reviewing? Have you finished ‘Ten Years of Imperial Examinations, Seven Years of Simulation’? How many policy essays have you practiced?” Liu Sheng’s questions, one by one, deeply pierced Wang Dongdong’s heart.
“Sheng Sheng, my head hurts, I’m dizzy.” Wang Dongdong complained bitterly.
“If you’re dizzy, take ‘Dizziness Soother’.” Liu Sheng said expressionlessly.
“Sheng Sheng, there are only four days left, I really can’t study anymore! Please let me go!”
“You don’t want to pass?”
“Isn’t your father still hoping you become a Beijing officials and bring him honor?” Liu Sheng reminded her.
“He himself became a Beijing officials and was demoted to the south, then couldn’t endure the hardship and resigned to go back to his hometown. What right does he have to demand anything of me!” Speaking of this, Wang Dongdong got angry.
When she was little, she lived in Chang’an with her parents, but when her father was demoted, her mother, who couldn’t leave her father, followed him, leaving Wang Dongdong to live in the Wang family in the capital, without parents and helpless.
But after a few years, her parents just went back to their hometown in Xichuan.
This also cultivated Wang Dongdong’s carefree personality, where she had no sense of belonging and didn’t mind even going to Li County.
“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about your father.”
“Then don’t you want to be an official with a chivalrous spirit, benefiting the common people? Think about local officials like Zhang Yuanzheng back then, were they good? Don’t you want to pull them down and do something practical for the common people?”
Liu Sheng understood Wang Dongdong best. As expected, saying this ignited Wang Dongdong’s raging anger—no, fighting spirit.
“Zhang Yuanzheng! Right! Just thinking about it makes me angry!”
“I want to be a good official and kick all these old farts out!”
Saying that, Wang Dongdong got up and returned to her room.
“Hey, hey, aren’t you eating?” Liu Sheng looked at the pile of food left on the table.
“No, reviewing is more important. What if it happens to be on something I’ve read these past few days?”
Wang Dongdong acted immediately and ran extremely fast.
Thank you to the darlings who voted for me with monthly tickets! I’ll save up drafts and add more chapters!
