Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 322 Lu Shengyuan's Prestige
When Lu Beigu arrived at East Street with his emotions still not fully calmed, the scene before him made him freeze in place.

The scene here is completely different from when he left home before dawn.

The usually empty courtyard behind the main gate was now bustling with activity. A dozen or so academic officials, dozens of students, and nearly a hundred clerks and servants—the entire Imperial Academy had gathered here, their faces beaming with the joy of a New Year celebration.

For the Imperial College, which actually had a small number of students, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they "moved in full force."

Clearly, the Imperial Academy had sent someone specifically to check the list, and upon seeing that Lu Beigu had achieved the highest score in the provincial examination, they immediately rushed back to report.

The man surrounded by several doctors, including Zhou Dunyi, at the gate was Yang Anguo, a scholar who served as the supervisor of the Imperial Academy and a lecturer at the Tianzhang Pavilion.

This high-ranking official in purple robes, renowned for his knowledge of the classics, had abandoned his usual solemnity and was now grinning from ear to ear, his snow-white beard trembling slightly as he spoke to Zhou Dunyi.

"He's here! Sheng Yuanlang is back! He's right across the street!"

Someone with sharp eyes suddenly shouted, breaking the noise.

In an instant, all eyes were drawn to Lu Beigu, who was standing across the street, as if by a magnet!

"It's Young Master Lu! Light the firecrackers! What are you standing there for?"

After confirmation, the clerks of the Imperial Academy hurriedly lit the firecrackers that had just been brought out. These were leftovers from the New Year's feast, hastily taken out of the warehouse, and it was unknown whether they had gotten damp.

"Crack!"

In an instant, dozens of strings of firecrackers were successfully lit.

The firecrackers exploded, scattering countless tiny red paper scraps, like a festive rain, and the unique smell of burning gunpowder immediately filled the air.

Then, freshly broken thorn branches were thrown into the newly lit fire.

This is a grand ceremony held by the Imperial College to celebrate the top student who has achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations.

——"Burning Thorns".

Unfortunately, due to the rise of the Imperial Academy and the decline of the Imperial College, this ceremony has not been held for many years.

Congratulations, Brother Lu, on achieving the highest provincial score!

"Young Master Lu has brought fame to our Imperial Academy!"

"Sheng Yuan Lang! Sho Yuan Lang!"

Without a word, the crowd surrounded Lu Beigu, countless arms patting his shoulders and back, and different voices making his eardrums buzz, almost making him lose his balance.

The surprise brought by the ritual was instantly overwhelmed by the overwhelming, almost suffocating frenzy, leaving only a dizzying sense of bewilderment.

Yang Anguo personally stepped forward, took Lu Beigu's hand, and loudly announced to the crowd.

"Lu Beigu, a student of the Guangwen Academy, achieved the highest score in the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites in the second year of the Jiayou era! This is a great achievement that our Imperial Academy has not seen in nearly twenty years!"

His voice trembled with excitement, and it didn't sound like he was faking it.

It's true that Yang Anguo led the Imperial Academy to a state of disarray, but it's also true that he wanted to recreate the glory his father had when he was in charge of the Imperial Academy.

Decades ago, the Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning in the Song Dynasty. How glorious it was! Even a mere extra-official student position in the Guangwen Academy required a high-ranking official to personally plead for it. But now? How has it declined?

The Imperial College's previous prosperity stemmed from the fact that the best resources for the imperial examinations were not directly open to ordinary people. With the rise of the Imperial Academy after the Qingli Reforms, the decline of the Imperial College became inevitable.

Because talent in the imperial examinations is not passed down through bloodlines, this means that the Imperial Academy, which recruits talented individuals from among the common people, will inevitably replace the Imperial College, which primarily recruits the sons of officials.

Therefore, the Imperial Academy gradually declined, and Yang Anguo couldn't do anything about it. But frankly speaking, if one had the ability to strive for excellence, who would want to stagnate?

Amid the noise, Lu Beigu spoke loudly to Yang Anguo.

"Thank you, Scholar Yang. As a student of the Guangwen Academy of the Imperial Academy, it is an honor for me to bring glory to the Imperial Academy. I am truly humbled by your kindness."

Yang Anguo stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell: "Why be afraid? This is the honor you deserve!"

With a wave of his hand, the clerk behind him quickly came forward with a tray covered with red silk.

Yang Anguo personally unveiled the red silk.

Lu Beigu looked closely and saw that it was actually a gold medal made of pure gold!

The gold medal gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, and words were engraved on it.

—"Top scholar in the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites in the second year of Jiayou".

In the Song Dynasty, engraving characters on precious metals like gold required annealing first, followed by meticulous chiseling. The process was complex and time-consuming, making it impossible to complete on short notice.

Yang Anguo obviously didn't have the ability to accurately predict the rankings, so this gold medal was clearly prepared in advance. It was also deliberately not engraved with anyone's name. Whoever passed the provincial exam would have it taken out, and if they didn't pass, it would be treated as if it never happened and melted down. Apart from the craftsman's labor fee, there was no loss.

But Lu Beigu didn't care about any of that, because Yang Anguo really wasn't playing any tricks!

According to the "Collected Drafts of the Song Dynasty Administrative Regulations", during the reign of Emperor Renzong, one tael of top-quality gold was equivalent to five strings of cash. He noticed that even the clerks struggled to carry this gold plaque on the tray. Judging by his estimation, the weight of this plaque, converted into copper coins, would be at least several hundred strings, and possibly even over a thousand strings.

What does this mean? It's like giving Lu Beigu a house in Kaifeng!

Then, amidst the envious glances of the crowd, Yang Anguo personally handed over the gold medal with both hands, his movements even appearing somewhat labored.

Lu Beigu stepped forward, bowed, and took it with both hands. It was indeed very heavy.

"My success in achieving the highest provincial rank is inseparable from the teachings of the teachers at the Imperial Academy. I will never forget the kindness of the Imperial Academy."

Lu Beigu spoke these words with utmost sincerity.

Although it was a fair exchange, after the battle with the Imperial Academy, the Imperial Academy did provide him with extremely favorable living conditions, and opened up all its teachers and books to him. This was very important for Lu Beigu to have a stable and comfortable environment to prepare for the exam and to improve his academic performance.

Besides, with such a heavy gold medal as a reward, who wouldn't be grateful?
After all, there are many people in this world who are willing to say a lot of nice but empty words, but there are very few who are willing to give you gold that can be exchanged for a house in Beijing.

It may be a bit materialistic, but isn't that what sincerity is all about?
Lu Beigu's words were very sincere, and Yang Anguo's smile widened upon hearing them.

He patted Lu Beigu's arm heavily: "Don't be so modest! Your writing is as brilliant as a painting, and your pen can sweep away thousands of troops. This is something you have earned through your own true abilities! Our Imperial Academy is proud to hear this good news, and I am also very pleased!"

The reason why Yang Anguo invested so much was not only because the Imperial Academy was indeed well-funded, but also because he had his own plans.

Originally, the Imperial Academy had no hope of competing with the increasingly powerful Imperial College.

However, at this time of year, the second year of Jiayou, Yang Anguo saw hope. The emperor did not want the Imperial Academy to be too dominant, so he would inevitably support other academies to compete with the Imperial Academy. At present, which other academy could be supported immediately besides the Imperial Academy?
For Yang Anguo, Lu Beigu, who defeated Liu Ji in the battle against the Imperial Academy and won the provincial top score in the Ministry of Rites examination, became the talent he needed to promote the most.

He was very clear about the principle of "spending a fortune to buy bones". As long as Lu Beigu was associated with the Imperial Academy, then the reform of the Imperial Academy and the expansion of enrollment would have a golden brand.

Therefore, Yang Anguo had even made up his mind to do his best to say good things about Lu Beigu to the emperor, so that Lu Beigu could get some good impression points in the palace examination in advance.

After all, the palace examination is different from the provincial examination. It is true that the emperor cannot control the ranking of the provincial examination, but the ranking of the palace examination is done by the emperor himself.

The emperor's impression of a candidate can greatly influence the final ranking in the palace examination.

Meanwhile, just as the Imperial College was holding a grand celebration for Lu Beigu, the clerks of the Imperial College also carried heavy baskets to East Street.

The baskets contained loose copper coins whose ropes had been cut. They walked west along East Street toward South Xunmen Inner Street and West Street, and then generously grabbed handfuls of copper coins and threw them at pedestrians, rickshaw pullers, vendors, and even shop assistants in nearby shops!

The clanging sound of copper coins falling to the ground, accompanied by the proud announcements of the clerks, echoed throughout the southern city of Kaifeng.

"Lu Beigu, a student of the Guangwen Academy of the Imperial Academy, was the top scholar in the provincial examination in the second year of the Jiayou era!"

Congratulations! Young Master Lu Beigu of the Imperial Academy has achieved the highest rank in the provincial examination!

"Lucky money! Let's share in the provincial governor's good fortune!"

The gleaming copper coins bounced and rolled on the bluestone pavement, attracting passersby to bend down and scramble for them, making the scene even more festive.

This area is the most commercially developed part of the outer city, so the news that Lu Beigu has become the provincial champion will likely spread throughout Kaifeng soon, along with the Imperial Academy's money-giving spree.

After the provincial governor's celebration ceremony ended, it was already noon. A grand banquet was held at the Imperial College, and everyone enjoyed a good meal.

After resting for a while at the Imperial Academy, Lu Beigu chose to take a mule cart from the academy to Song Xiang's residence.

Because the imperial students were knocking on the emperor's door at Xuande Gate at the end of the Imperial Street, the mule carts did not take the route "Longjin Bridge-Zhuque Gate-Zhou Bridge" through Nanxun Gate Inner Street to the Imperial Street, but instead chose to go west and take a slight detour.

Walking to the end of West Street, passing Ma Jiliang Garden, turning north from under the high wall of the Ordination Hall, crossing two stone bridges in succession, and then walking east to Jinliang Bridge, the majestic inner city wall suddenly comes into view.

Entering the inner city through the Lühe Gate, the hustle and bustle immediately subsides, and the imposing atmosphere of this place where the powerful and wealthy gather is immediately apparent.

Before long, the mule cart stopped in front of the familiar gate of Song Xiang's residence.

The gatekeeper and the steward of the mansion all recognized him and did not neglect him.

After waiting for a short while, Lu Beigu followed the steward into the Song residence. This time, instead of being led to the study, he went directly to Song Xiang's bedroom.

In the bedroom, Song Xiang, wrapped in a worn robe, was leaning against a soft couch by the window, reading a book in the afternoon light. His graying temples were quite noticeable.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly raised his eyes.

The steward just told him that it was Lu Beigu who came to visit, and without a doubt, it was because the provincial examination results were out.

"gentlemen!"

Upon entering, Lu Beigu bowed deeply and said, "This student is fortunate to be the top scholar in this provincial examination!"

Subsequently, Lu Beigu truthfully reported his grades in all subjects, as well as the grades of Li Shi, Zeng Gong, Su Shi, and others, to Song Xiang.

"Very good. Your months of hard work have not been in vain. My efforts have not been wasted."

Upon hearing this, Song Xiang tapped his withered fingers lightly on the page, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

However, Song Xiang did not show his inner joy too obviously, but instead said...

"The position of provincial governor is certainly something to be pleased about."

Song Xiang slowly sat up straight and placed the book on the table: "However, you should know that this victory was seven parts due to your strength and three parts due to the circumstances. If it weren't for that heavy snow and bitter cold that dampened the sharpness of the southern scholars, and your youth and good health, which allowed you to withstand the cold and your writing to flow smoothly, and the fact that your essay received the 'top-class' rating, which perfectly suited the examiners' wishes, then who would have won the provincial title is still unknown."

Lu Beigu suppressed his joy and listened attentively.

Although it's unpleasant to hear, it's the truth: his pure strength hasn't yet reached the level where he can easily overpower all the talents in the world.

Ultimately, the reason he was able to win the provincial top prize this time was because Song Xiang had predicted many of the questions correctly for him in advance, and he was also young and relatively resistant to the cold, plus a bit of luck. All of these factors were indispensable.

Of course, all the top-ranked candidates in this provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites, without exception, all possessed the characteristic of "performing normally or exceptionally well in frigid conditions".

It can only be said that the times create heroes.

"The imperial examination is imminent. At that time, the spring breeze will be gentle and there will be no more worries about wind and snow. The talents from Fujian, Hubei, Sichuan and Zhejiang, who have been dormant all winter, will surely be like insects awakening from hibernation, displaying their full potential."

Seeing that he had taken it to heart, Song Xiang nodded slightly and continued, "At that time, heroes will rise up and each will show their skills. That will be the time to truly see who is the best and who is the best. If you become arrogant and complacent because of being the top scholar in the province, then you will probably miss the chance to be named the top scholar outside Donghua Gate."

"The student dares not be arrogant and will keep in mind the teacher's teachings."

Lu Beigu felt a slight chill and bowed respectfully.

Song Xiang suddenly sighed, his tone becoming calm and slow: "Do you know why I insist that you strive to be the top scholar? Perhaps you think that the glory of passing the imperial examination is almost the same for everyone. Today, I will explain to you clearly what the difference between the two words 'top scholar' and 'top scholar' really means in terms of one's career."

His next words were truly a familiar and detailed account.

"Wang Yaochen, the top scholar of the Dingmao year, was appointed as the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops and then as the Prefect of Huzhou; Feng Jing, the top scholar of the Jichou year, was appointed as the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops and then as the Prefect of Jingnan Military Prefecture. Starting as a top scholar, one could hold a position of the sixth rank or lower! And the posting was that of a Prefect of a prefecture, whose power and responsibilities were second only to the Prefect. He was in charge of grain transport, family farms, water conservancy, and litigation, and supervised officials. He could even report directly to the Emperor!"

"And what about the others, those in the first rank, and even those below that rank?"

Song Xiang stated directly: "Those who pass the imperial examination in the first class are only granted junior official positions, mostly as county magistrates; those who pass the imperial examination in the second class are granted the title of registrar or lieutenant in a large county; the same applies to those who pass the imperial examination in the third and fourth classes, and they must wait for vacancy; as for those who pass the imperial examination in the fifth class and other subjects, they are exiled to remote border towns, or given honorary titles."

"What does this mean? It means that if one is a fifth-ranked scholar in the imperial examination, without the right opportunities, one might have to waste decades in insignificant positions like judge or clerk before even reaching the rank of prefect! But the top scholar, upon passing the examination, immediately stands in a high position that the other might spend half a lifetime trying to reach! The difference between them is beyond measure! This is the court's way of rewarding the top scholar, setting an example for all scholars in the world!"

In Lu Beigu's mind, the image of Li Pan, the judge of Luzhou, who was busy and hardworking with his temples already frosted with age, flashed by almost instantly. He also thought of Wang Tao, the judge of Yuezhou, who, although a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), was still struggling to rise through the ranks as a judge in various prefectures.

The path to officialdom, with its long and arduous journey, strict hierarchical structure, and arduous promotions, was now being presented to him by Song Xiang in the most straightforward way.

The ranking in the palace examination is the starting point of this long journey, and it is also the only key for him to rely on his own talent and hard work to achieve success and rise to the top in one step!

Lu Beigu bowed deeply again: "This student would never dare to slacken in the slightest because of the honor of being the provincial champion. I will do my utmost to prepare for the palace examination!"

"Good that you understand." Seeing his solemn expression, Song Xiang knew that he had made his point completely clear to him.

If you don't even value your own future, then you're truly beyond help.

"However, the preparation for the palace examination is different from that for the provincial examination. While knowledge of all subjects is still fundamental and requires diligent study, the final ranking depends entirely on the Emperor's will, provided the levels are similar. Therefore, understanding the Emperor's intentions and comprehending his mind is of paramount importance."

"As for how much influence the emperor's will can have, let me give you an extreme example."

Just now, Song Xiang was warning Lu Beigu not to get carried away. Now, Song Xiang's expression had relaxed a lot, and he even told him a rather unofficial historical story.

"For example, in the imperial examination of the eighth year of the Kaibao era (1365), the rule at the time was that if a candidate was the first to submit his paper without making any mistakes, the emperor would designate him as the top scholar. The candidate, Wang Sizong, was quick-witted and wrote swiftly. However, another candidate, Chen Shi, submitted his paper at the same time. Both of their essays had their merits, and the emperor could not decide which was better. So, he simply let Wang and Chen compete for the top scholar title in front of the emperor. As a result, Wang Sizong won, and the emperor immediately fulfilled his promise and designated Wang Sizong as the top scholar. Chen Shi was relegated to second place. From then on, Wang Sizong had the nickname 'the one who fought for the top scholar with his bare hands.' Can you believe how ridiculous this was? But this was the real imperial examination."

Seeing that Lu Beigu was about to speak, Song Xiang waved his hand.

"I know what you're trying to say, that the Taizu era was different from now. But in reality, what difference is there? In the imperial examination of the eighth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era, Xiao Guan from Jiangxi and Cai Qi from Shandong were equally talented. When Emperor Zhenzong was selecting the top scholar, he chose Cai Qi because of his handsome appearance. In the imperial examination of the second year of the Tiansheng era, the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites originally ranked my younger brother Song Qi as the top scholar. However, Empress Dowager Liu did not want the younger brother to precede the elder brother, so she chose me as the top scholar. Song Qi was clearly ranked first, but he was placed tenth."

Song Xiang cited examples from the reign of Emperor Taizong to the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, and then to the present day, making his meaning crystal clear.

For the official in charge of the palace examination, it didn't matter whether you came in first or tenth place.

If the government wants, the first place can become the tenth place, and the tenth place can become the first place.

Of course, first of all, you have to have the ability to be ranked tenth. If you are ranked in the dozens or more than a hundred, you are the emperor's favorite son, and the emperor would be embarrassed to appoint you as the top scholar.

The Song Dynasty selected officials through an extremely fair civil service examination system, and those selected shared the governance of the country with the government. This was the foundation of the Song Dynasty.

As the rule-makers, the government can certainly operate within the scope permitted by the rules, but it will not blatantly break the rules.

If no one knows the official, there are only two ways to get the official to appoint you as the top scholar.

The first type is someone who is exceptionally handsome. An example is Cai Qi, the top scholar of the Yimao year, who was so handsome that Emperor Zhenzong "sent seven Imperial Guards to the front of the Qing Road to call out his name to show his favor." The tradition of the top scholar riding a horse through the streets began with him. The second type is someone who understands what the emperor likes to read and then caters to his tastes by writing in that direction. If the emperor finds the writing delightful, and the scholar is already among the top students, he will naturally be chosen as the top scholar.

While the first method is particularly demanding in terms of modeling, the second method is actually no simpler than the first.

There's a saying, "The emperor's heart is hard to fathom." The thoughts of the emperor are not something that candidates for the imperial examinations can guess. If you write based on the idea that "I think the emperor will like it," you'll often end up flattering him in the wrong way. It's better to write normally.

For example, most people think that Emperor Zhenzong was cowardly and afraid of war, but contrary to popular belief, Emperor Zhenzong was actually a man who knew about military affairs and was quite temperamental.

For example... never mind, let's not give any more examples.

In short, the preferences that an official displays to the outside world are often different from his true preferences.

These subtle differences are completely incomprehensible to outsiders except for those who have dealt with him for many years. If one tries to take shortcuts, it will only backfire.

At this moment, Song Xiang suddenly spoke.

"From tomorrow until the eve of the palace examination, I will personally explain to you the Emperor's thoughts and considerations in recent years, as well as the political views and writing styles he has valued. You should still come at 1-3 PM and leave at 5-7 PM every day without interruption."

Upon hearing this, Lu Beigu was shocked, finding it hard to believe.

You have to understand, this is not the same as simply teaching knowledge for the imperial examinations; it's actually taboo! Song Xiang did this because he was truly treating him as a disciple.

"Your kindness in nurturing me is as high as the heavens and as deep as the earth! I, your student, can never repay you!"

Lu Beigu bowed solemnly, utterly at a loss for words or actions.

"okay."

Song Xiang waved his hand, seemingly not taking it seriously at all. He leaned back on the soft couch, resuming his calm and weary demeanor: "Your mind is in turmoil today, so it's not advisable to discuss scholarship. Go back and calm your mind. Don't be late tomorrow at 1-3 PM."

"Yes! This student takes his leave!"

Lu Beigu suppressed his excitement and respectfully withdrew.

Afterwards, he made a detour to Zhang Fangping's residence.

The gatekeeper of the Zhang residence had been reprimanded by Zhang Fangping last time, and since then he has been very respectful to Lu Beigu. Even when Zhang Fangping was not in the residence, he did not dare to neglect him.

The gatekeeper, fearing that Lu Beigu might think he was lying, simply brought out the steward of the mansion to speak with Lu Beigu.

"Young Master Lu, Master Zhang is not at home. Why don't you leave a letter for me to pass on?"

"It's nothing. I just came here today because I was grateful for Lord Zhang's appreciation of my provincial achievements. There's nothing else."

Upon hearing this, the steward and the gatekeeper were both taken aback, but then became even more enthusiastic.

After declining their invitation to have tea, Lu Beigu took his leave.

He had long known that Minister Zhang would be busy at the Three Departments at this hour, so this trip to the deserter was to be expected. However, the fact that he had "come" was itself a gesture.

As for leaving letters or anything like that, he was afraid that someone would tamper with them, and even more afraid that it would bring unnecessary trouble to Zhang Fangping at this critical juncture, so he did not leave anything on paper.

The steward of the Zhang residence understood the purpose of his visit and would certainly inform Zhang Fangping of this news after he finished his shift. A man like Zhang Fangping would naturally understand the hidden meaning behind this brief visit.

In early spring, it still gets dark very early. Lu Beigu had been busy for most of the day and didn't plan to go back to the Imperial College. He simply asked the driver to take him to Hongqiao Bridge, and then the driver could go back to the Imperial College on his own.

The mule cart weaved through the crowd, its hooves clattering as it rolled over the bluestone road, carrying him to his sister's house by the Rainbow Bridge.

Before the mule cart had even come to a complete stop, a sharp-eyed neighbor at the alley entrance spotted him and immediately shouted, "He's back! Sheng Yuanlang is back!"

Lu Beigu was taken aback. Had the news grown wings?! It had spread from the South City to Hongqiao in less than half a day.

It can only be said that he underestimated the power of Scholar Yang's generous spending.

His "horse bone," which was bought for a fortune, truly made his name known to most of the people in Kaifeng and even outside Kaifeng within a single day.

After this incident, if Lu Beigu's fame was previously limited to scholars, then after passing the provincial examination with top honors, and with the vigorous promotion from the Imperial Academy, he has become famous even among ordinary people.

But before he could even think about it, the shout was like a pebble thrown into still water, instantly creating ripples.

The neighbors who had been setting up stalls or looking around in front of the door all came out, their faces full of eager smiles, and gathered around, chattering away.

"Lord Lu! Congratulations on passing the exam!"

"Provincial champion! Incredible! Truly incredible!"

"Come, young master Lu, let this old woman touch you and absorb some of your scholarly aura!"

The commotion instantly startled Lu Nanzhi. She leaned out and saw her younger brother surrounded by neighbors. A joyful smile instantly spread across her face.

She hurriedly squeezed through the crowd, grabbed Lu Beigu's arm, and said repeatedly, "Good brother! Come in quickly, it's cold outside!"

As she spoke, she practically half-pushed and half-dragged Lu Beigu into the tofu shop.

He then turned around and smiled apologetically yet proudly at the neighbors still congratulating him outside the door: "Thank you all, dear neighbors! Thank you! It's too rushed today, I'll treat you all to drinks another day!"

Before he could finish speaking, he quickly closed the door and bolted it shut, slightly blocking out the boisterous cries of congratulations.

"Oh dear, you don't know, if we hadn't brought you in, they would have kept talking and touching you endlessly, and they would have covered your nice clothes in dust."

Lu Nanzhi's joy was palpable. She rubbed her hands, momentarily at a loss for words: "There's still some soup warming on the stove. Are you hungry? Are you tired? I never even dared to dream of such a thing!"

Looking at his sister, Lu Beigu pondered that Lu Nanzhi and Pei Yan were actually about the same age and both managed their households on their own, but their behavior and tone of voice were completely different.

Perhaps this is indeed closely related to their family environment and education when they were young.

Of course, her upbringing also played a role. As Lu Nanzhi worked her way up in the streets of Hongqiao, she inevitably picked up some of the habits of women from the streets.

However, whether it's his sister-in-law or his older sister, they are both incredibly good to Lu Beigu.

Lu Nanzhi was happy and didn't notice that Lu Beigu hadn't said anything. She muttered a few more words to herself before serving Lu Beigu a bowl of vegetarian soup.

Lu Beigu did not eat a proper meal today. At noon, he was constantly being toasted at the Imperial College. At this moment, he picked up a spoon and started drinking in silence.

Lu Nanzhi continued to chatter for a while, but then suddenly said with concern, "Bei Gu, you've made great strides now, and your older sister is happier than anything. But, but you must not let this give rise to any other thoughts! Especially not the thought of revenge!"

She glanced around, then stared intently at Lu Beigu, her voice lowered to almost a whisper: "That's the Privy Councilor! Jia Changchao is equivalent to the Prime Minister, his power is immense! How can we, from a humble family, afford to offend him? You've finally achieved such a promising future, you must cherish it and live a peaceful life. Bringing honor to your ancestors is the right thing to do. Let bygones be bygones!"

Lu Beigu looked at the genuine fear in his sister's eyes and knew that she was worried about him.

However, the Lu family's past definitely needs to be addressed.

Although Jia Changchao holds a high position and wields great power, he is not as powerful as he appears on the surface.

"Don't worry, elder sister, I know." He nodded calmly and replied, "Now I only hope that the palace examination will go well and that my years of hard study will not be in vain. As for the past, I know what I'm doing."

Seeing that he readily agreed, Lu Nanzhi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Just as I was about to give a few more instructions, there was another knock on the shop door. It was my brother-in-law, Jia Yan, who had returned.

"Why are you back today?"

"Of course I asked for leave."

Lu Nanzhi looked at her husband suspiciously and asked, "Don't you usually have a hard time granting leave?"

In that instant, Lu Nanzhi even suspected that her husband was lying to her, saying that he was not allowed to come home from the military camp, but in fact he was out fooling around every day.

Jia Yan took off his hat and laughed, "This morning, the brothers from the next camp were in charge of guarding the Imperial Examination Hall of the Ministry of Rites. At noon, I heard them come back and say that the top scholar in this year's examination was named Lu Beigu, and he was from Luzhou. I immediately told the camp commander that he was my wife's younger brother, and the camp commander let me go home for a day off. He even brought you a bolt of silk!"

"It wasn't taken from you, was it?"

Lu Nanzhi rolled her eyes. The benefits for junior officers in the Imperial Guard were actually quite good on paper, but in reality, they were not implemented properly and were deducted at every level.

The battalion commander thought that Jia Yan's brother-in-law had won the provincial championship and was likely to become a high-ranking official in the future. Therefore, he quickly sent the withheld items to Jia Yan as a gesture of goodwill. Even if he could not get anything from Lu Beigu, at least he would not offend anyone. Granting an extra day off would also be a favor, so that Jia Yan would not hold a grudge against him.

Lu Beigu sat to the side drinking his soup, and inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement at the fickleness of human relationships.
His identity hasn't actually changed, but unknowingly, even those around him have benefited from it.

Brother-in-law Jia Yan's attitude towards Lu Beigu was noticeably warmer than before, even revealing a subtle, almost imperceptible, respect.

After all, as the top scholar in this provincial examination, as long as he doesn't make any major mistakes in the palace examination, his status as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) is already a certainty, and his future prospects are limitless, far surpassing those of an ordinary imperial guard officer like himself.

After chatting for a while, Jia Yan sighed, "Good! Very good! Studying is the right path! Even if we warriors are fortunate enough to reach the high positions of ministers like Di Qing and Wang Deyong, what good will it do? In the end, we still can't escape suspicion, and our fate is chilling."

"Brother-in-law's words are somewhat biased."

Upon hearing this, Lu Beigu shook his head slightly and said softly, "When the world is at peace, civil officials are needed to govern the country; however, when the borders are not yet pacified, brave warriors are needed to defend them. Both civil and military affairs have their uses and neither should be abandoned."

Jia Yan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Lu Beigu to refute him, then gave an awkward smile: "Ah, yes, that's true."

"Unfortunately, the lessons of the Five Dynasties are still fresh in our minds, and we must go to extremes to correct our mistakes," Lu Beigu sighed.

Jia Yan did not respond or delve deeper into the matter, clearly still clinging to that view deep down.

However, to be fair, the successive downfall of Di Qing and Wang Deyong, both military men who served as Privy Councilors, did indeed set a very bad example for other military men.

No matter how hard you fight and climb the ranks of military officers, what good will it do?
It ultimately ended in a dismal failure.

At this moment, Jia An also woke up. He was very happy to see his uncle.

"An'er, do you see that? You must learn from your uncle! Study hard in the future!"

Jia Yan sighed, his mood unclear, and said, "You must know that 'Only those who emerge as top scholars outside Donghua Gate are true men!' Do you remember that?"

Xiao Jia'an seemed to understand but not quite, yet still obediently nodded.

Seeing this, Lu Nanzhi quickly changed the subject and said to her younger brother, "By the way, Bei Gu, now that you've passed the provincial examination with top honors, this is a great joy. You should find a way to let the family know. Your sister-in-law has been in Luzhou these days, and I don't know how she misses you."

“What my sister says is true, I’ve been thinking about that too.”

After finishing his soup, Lu Beigu put down his bowl and nodded, saying, "There will be a gathering of fellow townsmen from Sichuan. I will ask a fellow townsman who failed the provincial examination to bring a letter back with him on his way back, so that my sister-in-law can know as soon as possible and be happy."

Thinking of this, Lu Beigu seemed to see the gentle and gratified smile on his sister-in-law Pei Yan's face when she heard the news, and his heart warmed.

She would be overjoyed if she knew.

(End of this chapter)