Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 267 I've been waiting for this for so long, and this is what you're telling me?
Wen He narrowed her eyes as she looked at Ma Zhou, who was bowing in front of her.

He was right; this was someone who knew how to seize opportunities.

"Let's talk in another place."

Wen He didn't ask immediately, but pointed to the carriage that had already arrived at the alley entrance.

Ma Zhou looked up, somewhat embarrassed, realizing he had been a little too hasty.

Even though there was only a child standing in front of him, he didn't know why, but he had a strange feeling.

It seems that missing this opportunity would mean losing something.

Upon reaching the carriage, Wen He whispered something to Li Tai, then had a Xuanjia guard lead him away first.

Then he called Li Yifu over and whispered something to him.

The latter was somewhat puzzled, but still nodded and replied, "Yes."

"Would the Prince Bin be willing to share a carriage with me?" Wen He asked Ma Zhou with a smile.

The latter was somewhat apprehensive and quickly agreed.

Even when getting into the carriage, his movements seemed somewhat stiff.

After getting into the carriage, Ma Zhou thought Wen He would ask him something, but the latter just closed her eyes and leaned there as if she were asleep.

This made Ma Zhou somewhat reserved; he sat upright, not daring to move an inch.

Along the way, he wondered if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that the carriage was moving very slowly.

Li Yifu's voice could be heard outside after the carriage stopped.

"Sir, we've arrived."

"Ah."

Wen He responded lightly, opened her eyes and looked at Ma Zhou, then smiled and said, "Then let's get off the carriage."

"Yes."

Ma Zhou was taken aback. He bowed and got out of the car first, then stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Wen He.

"This is the restaurant I'm opening soon, but we haven't fully staffed it yet. I apologize for the inconvenience, Your Highness," Wen He said casually as she got out of the carriage.

Ma Zhou turned around and noticed the restaurant behind him.

The exterior of the restaurant has been renovated, and the doors are wide open. At a glance, the inside is empty.

There's no signboard outside the main gate yet, so it looks like it will be a long time before it opens.

"I dare not presume to say that; it is already an honor for me to have the pleasure of meeting the county magistrate."

Ma Zhou dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction.

He is now not only penniless, but also completely destitute.

To be treated this way by Wen He is already a sign of exceptional importance.

If you go to another house, you might not even get to see the host and will be chased away by the doorman.

Not to mention sharing a carriage with them.

"In the future, it's best not to say such flattering things. Although they sound nice, they can easily make people feel arrogant."

In the past, when he watched TV, he thought Ma Zhou was the kind of upright official.

This person doesn't match the person in front of me at all.

Indeed, life forces people to bend over.

Ma Zhou was somewhat taken aback. He looked at Wen He smiling and patting his arm, and subconsciously nodded.

But he still followed Wen He respectfully.

Even Li Yifu, who was standing to the side, felt that he did a better job than he did.

'Who is this person? Could he also be here to pledge allegiance?'

Li Yifu narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering to himself.

But he was mostly curious.

My master just instructed me to make the carriage travel slowly, preferably for half an hour.

He didn't understand before, but now it seems it must be because of this person named Ma Zhou.

Judging from his clothes and appearance, he doesn't seem like anyone special.

"Greetings, young master."

Seeing Li Yifu looking at him like that, Ma Zhou smiled and bowed.

The latter was taken aback, and returned the greeting dryly.

The group followed Wen He up to the second floor.

Although the first floor of the restaurant is not under renovation, one of the private rooms on the second floor has been renovated.

There were already people waiting inside.

As the door opened, Li Yifu followed Wen He inside and heard a familiar voice.

"We await your arrival, Magistrate." A middle-aged man dressed in gray cloth and an old man bowed to Wen He.

When Wen He saw the older man among the two, she was somewhat surprised and cast an inquiring glance at the middle-aged man.

The latter gave a wink, and although Wen He didn't understand what he meant, she held back and nodded.

"Yes, no need for formalities."

The middle-aged man and the old man got up and saw that Wen He's mouth was almost splitting to her ears.

'That brat!'

"Mother!" came a cry of alarm.

Everyone turned around and saw Li Yifu sitting on the ground, his face pale with fright.

"Ahem, is Yifu feeling unwell?" Wen He walked over and gave him a wink.

Upon seeing this, Li Yifu quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, I'm not feeling well, hehe, I'm not feeling well."

"Did I just see His Majesty and Lord Li bowing to you, sir?!"

'Am I seeing things, or am I dreaming?'

Li Yifu was neither seeing things nor dreaming.

The two men dressed like servants were Li Shimin and Li Jing.

Wen He sent Li Tai to deliver a message, asking Li Shimin to come over, but unexpectedly, Li Jing was also included as a bonus.

They must have been discussing some official business, and Li Jing probably just came to join in.

"My student is not used to exercise and is rather weak. Please don't take offense, Your Highness. Come, please have a seat."

Wen He said with a smile, and gave Li Yifu a barely perceptible kick.

The latter came to his senses and chuckled dryly, "Yes, yes, I am physically weak."

Although Ma Zhou found it strange, he didn't take it to heart.

All he could think about now was sharing his strategies with Wen He. If this magistrate of Gaoyang could present them to His Majesty, he was sure to win His Majesty's favor.

After they were seated, Wen He coughed lightly and said in a deliberately calm voice, "Someone, bring tea."

"promise."

Seeing his deliberate posture, Li Shimin wished he could kick his butt.

But he held back.

He knew that Wen He wouldn't have made him dress like this for no reason.

It must be for this young man.

I wonder what's so special about this young man that made Wen He go to such lengths.

To avoid being exposed, he personally brewed the tea, but Li Jing and Li Yifu, who were standing nearby, dared not actually let him serve it.

When Li Jing was about to take it, Li Yifu quickly went to take over, smiling and flattering the two of them.

Fortunately, Ma Zhou had his back to them, so he didn't notice anything amiss.

Wen He pretended not to see it and said to Ma Zhou, "Just now, Prince Bin said that he would offer me a plan. I wonder what the plan is?"

Ma Zhou glanced at the tea in front of him, somewhat disinterested.

Wen He knew he liked to drink, and historically he had set a precedent for "offering advice while drunk."

Li Shimin never blamed him for the wine stains on his memorials, but instead said with admiration, "This is him speaking the truth after drinking."

However, since this was their first meeting, Wen He naturally couldn't reveal that he knew Ma Zhou's identity, so he didn't have anyone prepare wine.

Ma Zhou didn't seem to mind, he just didn't drink the tea.

He cleared his throat, bowed to Wen He, and said, "The county magistrate has opened a bookstore and is buying books at low prices to compile primers and music. I dare to guess that this is to break the monopoly of knowledge by the gentry. I admire him greatly."

"However, the Tang Dynasty now implements the Nine-Rank System, and the power to select officials is monopolized by the aristocratic families, making it difficult for children from poor families to enter officialdom. Even if you, sir, do this great thing, I'm afraid it will take more than ten years to severely damage the aristocratic families. Therefore, I would like to ask you, sir, to make a suggestion to His Majesty."

"The method of examination for children shall be adopted, and all those who have not reached the age of twenty may participate."

He looked serious, and after he finished speaking, he reflected on whether he had said anything wrong.

After waiting for a while, there was still no movement. When he looked up, he saw Wen He staring at him with a surprised expression.

Isn't this the children's examination?
The later children's examination was the county examination of the Tang Dynasty!

Although the names are different and there are some additional exam procedures, the basic process is the same.

However, after passing the preliminary examination, one becomes a scholar, qualified to enter the prefectural or county school to study and become a Xiucai (a scholar who has passed the county-level imperial examination).

In the Tang Dynasty, the title of Xiucai (秀才) was awarded only after passing the Spring Examination for Xiucai.

It was far more valuable than the later title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination).

What Ma Zhou described was more like the county examination method used in the later Song Dynasty.

This method isn't ineffective, but it left Wen He somewhat disappointed.

I've been waiting for this for so long, and this is what you tell me?!

(End of this chapter)