Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 146, "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River," was performed, and everyone was impressed.
The prison officer also noticed Song Shi'an's awkwardness.

I was happy when we first met, but suddenly I showed my dissatisfaction.

Elegant and charming.

"Zhu Amang, come here for a moment."

At this moment, the prison official summoned the jailer Zhu Amang, then bowed to Song Shi'an and said, "Young Master Song, just tell him what you need. I'll take my leave now."

"Well, you go."

Song Shi'an said to him quite calmly.

Then, the other party left, leaving behind only this person whom Song Shi'an could trust.

Since the two court assemblies, everyone knows perfectly well that Song Shi'an will be fine. Now, it's no problem to open the prison gates and let him move freely in the Dali Temple, but we still have to go through the formalities.

Since this woman is the Sixth Prince's person, she must have something to convey.

Is this something he can hear?
slipped.

After he walked away, Xin Yue glanced at Zhu Amang beside her.

“One of our own,” Song Shi’an said casually.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Amang, who had been shrinking back just moments before, suddenly became full of energy and spirit.

To be recognized by Lord Song and become a member of the Song faction is an unparalleled honor!

Xin Yue lowered her guard and entered with a food box after the jailer opened the door, then half-squatted down.

Just as Song Shi'an was about to enjoy the delicious food, Xin Yue placed a hand on his hand and asked, "What did you mean just now?"

"What do you mean?" Song Shi'an asked.

Xin Yue looked at him, gave a simple smile, and then suddenly turned her face to the side and said, "Heh."

You're copying your dad.

"I didn't do anything to you, did I?" Xinyue asked.

Speaking of this, Song Shi'an got angry and questioned, "Is this your first time here?"

"Yes," Xin Yue replied. "How?"

"You still have the nerve to say that? Visiting is allowed here. You've never been here even once before." Song Shi'an was genuinely a little heartbroken.

"I'm sad because of this."

Xinyue understood, and then asked, "Has anyone else come here?"

"No, I've been in prison for so long, and not a single person has come to visit me!"

"Then you're a pretty failure as a person."

"..."

“Besides, nobody else came to see you except me,” Xin Yue retorted. “Shouldn’t you be more grateful to me?”

Song Shi'an: "..."

Damn it, this guy doesn't fight internally at all!

It seems to make sense, like saying 'good people should be held at gunpoint.' But it depends on the relationship. Two people went through hell together, couldn't they even develop that much affection?

"Go away, go away." Song Shi'an waved his hand, telling her to open the food box a moment later.

It's a hot meal.

Xin Yue helped him take out each layer, and then Song Shi'an picked up the bowl, finally able to enjoy a delicious meal of three dishes and a soup.

He had only taken one bite when he forgave Xinyue: "I forgive you because you cooked for me yourself."

"I got the food at Cui Youcheng's house."

“…” Song Shi’an pursed his lips subtly. “You can tell a lie.”

"Okay, I'll remember that next time."

Xin Yue didn't expect that Song Shi'an would actually fall for this.

If he knew that Sun Jinhua still wanted to bring him food, perhaps she would truly become a ray of light in his despairing prison.

A single meal can build a lot of goodwill.

Forget it, it's a waste of time to tell him about such trivial matters.

"Have you been discussing matters with Right Chancellor Cui these past few days?" Song Shi'an asked.

“He’s a high-ranking official of the second rank, and also a member of the Cui family. He’s deeply entrenched in Sheng’an. I learned a lot of information from him,” Xin Yue said. “What do you know?”

"I know almost everything about how Lord Cui got his head slapped in the imperial court and how he secured the imperial examination registration for me and Song Ce," Song Shi'an said.

"Alright, then I'll tell you some things you need to know." After a moment of preparation, Xin Yue said, "The urgent message will arrive in Sheng'an around the time the results are announced. If you pass the exam with top honors, you will definitely be released from prison during the street parade on the day of the results announcement."

"Great, a grand celebration."

Song Shi'an likes this sense of ritual.

“If you don’t become the top scholar, and the top scholar is none other than Sun Qian,” Xin Yue said in a low voice, “why don’t you consider staggering your release from prison?”

This involves a matter of face.

Since the two are enemies, when the other is showing off and overshadowing him, should he avoid the situation?
"No need, I will definitely become the top scholar in the exam."

Song Shi'an raised his hand, speaking casually.

“We’re talking about this, don’t be stubborn,” Xin Yue said seriously.

"No need."

Song Shi'an didn't care about these so-called face-saving issues at all, and said, "I have never regarded Sun Qian as my destined rival."

These words convinced Xinyue: "That's right, we returned from the north wind, and no one can compare to us. I also think that Sun Qian is not important."

Ultimately, he was just a pawn, someone anyone could replace.

Song Shi'an also appears to be a pawn.

But everyone knows that he is both a pawn and a player.

"Anything else?" Song Shi'an asked.

“You know who helped you, but do you know who harmed you?” Xin Yue asked.

"Aren't there countless people who have harmed me and those who want to harm me?" Song Shi'an retorted.

“Chen Kefu, the deputy general of Sizhou, is a second-rank official,” Xinyue said. “As early as when we went to Shuofeng, he had been following the civil officials in impeaching you. Moreover, according to Cui Youcheng’s information, some civil officials instigated him to submit a very insidious memorial, asking General Xiao Qun to lead troops to Shuofeng and replace you.”

Upon hearing this, Song Shi'an's expression immediately darkened.

Xin Yue was also somewhat frightened. If the emperor had really listened to this plan, the outcome of Shuo Feng's battle would have been uncertain.

But it has absolutely nothing to do with Song Shi'an anymore.

However, Song Shi'an coldly retorted, "If you really want to issue such an order, I'll tie up Xiao Qun too."

Both she and Zhu Amang were startled when they heard these terrifying words.

But Xin Yue knew that he was truly angry.

Just like that day with Zhang Gong.

He killed someone last time he got angry.

What about this time?
He is a second-rank official, so we must be cautious.

“I’ve got it,” Song Shi’an said solemnly.

It seems he doesn't want to be cautious.

"As long as you have an idea."

Xin Yue was willing to support whatever Song Shi'an wanted to do. "Oh, by the way, have you eaten?" Song Shi'an suddenly looked up and asked with a smile.

"I've already eaten," Xinyue said.

Song Shi'an nodded, then suddenly had an idea and said, "My father is in the imperial prison, so the food is only slightly better. Could you bring him some food while you're there?"

"Me?" Xin Yue pointed to herself, somewhat hesitant. "It's possible."

"No, no, then forget it."

After thinking for a moment, Song Shi'an waved his hand and said, "I feel something's off."

Although I don't know exactly what's wrong with it.

"Where is Your Highness? How has Your Highness been lately?" Song Shi'an asked.

“He went to the Imperial Clan Court. I don’t know what will happen when he returns to the palace. I’m afraid his freedom will be restricted, so I’ve been staying in the Imperial City and the outer city.” Xin Yue said, “But he should be fine.”

Hearing her say that, Song Shi'an felt relieved.

Then, looking at the girl who had held his hand the whole time when they entered the city, willing to share joys and sorrows, he gave her a grateful smile.

Xin Yue also gave him a friendly look.

"Lord Song, shall I excuse myself for a moment..."

Zhu Amang muttered to himself.

"Stop."

Then Song Shi'an immediately called a halt to it.

Who are you trying to smear in a quarter of an hour?

No, what I mean is, we must not stigmatize our revolutionary friendship!
.........

The following day, the massive grading of papers began.

Nearly fifty academics who were grading the papers began making extensive revisions.

Furthermore, to avoid a situation where a good article is overlooked because only one person cannot understand it, cross-marking was adopted.

An article requires at least two people to work on it.

Therefore, on average, each person has to review more than 250 policy essays and prose poems.

The workload is enormous.

The first thing to be done was poetry and prose.

Unlike the essays written by scholars taking the imperial examinations, the quality of those essays is quite obvious.

All the exam papers here were written by officials, officials in reserve, or at least clerks with the potential to be in important departments.

There's no problem with the quality.

I heard that there was a high-ranking official from the capital city, a fourth-rank official, in this exam.

Actually, at this point, they've already reached the ruling class, which is pretty impressive.

However, people in ancient times placed great importance on status.

Even those who have already attained high positions of power still desire to obtain such a robe.

For example, Zeng Guofan, who was considered a "half-step true dragon," regretted most in his life that his academic qualifications were lacking.

Moreover, it's not that he failed the imperial examination, nor that he failed it later.

What his pride could hardly bear was that in his first imperial examination, he only ranked third, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

Therefore, this level of exam is entirely about selecting the best of the best.

It's enough to trigger decision paralysis.

The kind of articles that everyone most wants to see revised are those that are good at first glance and don't require any further consideration.

A scholar is grading papers.

Then, one was approved.

His eyes immediately lit up, and a smile appeared on his face.

interesting.

The writing is excellent, the words are vivid, and the imagery leaps off the page; there is not a single superfluous word...

As he read, he became increasingly engrossed.

I told it: Its form is as graceful as a startled swan, as lithe as a swimming dragon. It shines like autumn chrysanthemums, and flourishes like spring pines. It seems as if light clouds veil the moon, and drifts like swirling snow in a gentle breeze…

While reading, the scholar felt completely immersed in the story.

He slowly lowered his head and looked at his palm.

The hairs on my forearms stood on end.

"A masterpiece, a masterpiece indeed."

After reading this, he couldn't help but blurt it out.

Everyone around was very surprised.

When grading papers, praising a good article is enough. What kind of poetry can be called a "masterpiece"?
"Come and see!" the scholar invited.

Then the group gathered around and read it together.

Everyone's eyes were filled with light, completely absorbed.

No one thought he was talking nonsense.

"But the topic is about a river, while this is about a goddess. Isn't that a bit off-topic?"

"The prompt asks you to compose a poem about the river to showcase the magnificence of the mountains and rivers of the Holy Dynasty... Is this about love?"

"This is no ordinary love. Who could possibly fall in love with a goddess?"

Is there such a story on the other side of the Luo River?

“Every river has its stories, and it’s normal for it to be blessed by a sage. But the Luo River shouldn’t have such a myth, since I grew up in Luo City.”

"Then this goddess is the goddess of the Luo River that he created. Or rather, she is the Luo River itself. This is using a person to represent an object."

"The gods protect our land, and the beauty of the goddess is also the beauty of our land; this is not far-fetched."

The reason for this disagreement is that this article is exceptionally well-written, beautifully written, and extremely elegant; it should absolutely not be vulgarized into a story of romantic love.

If it were a noble declaration about the Luo River, wouldn't that be the perfect way to highlight the magnificence of the mountains and rivers of the Holy Dynasty?
Before we knew it, more and more people were gathering here.

Sun Kangquan and the others gathered together, then walked over, puzzled, and asked, "What's going on here?"

“Master Sun.” At this moment, the scholar who was the first to read the article and was very excited turned around and said, “The Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River is absolutely a masterpiece.”

Sun Kang walked over and presented the article.

After reading it, the veteran comrade also expressed amazement and admiration.

This is so beautiful.

In terms of literary talent and artistry, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the most beautiful poem of all time!

Furthermore, it's not something an old, decrepit person could write.

For example, Sun Kang is someone you can only worship.

Such writing skills are rare among today's students; only Sun Qian possesses them.

No, this is not his handwriting.

But this handwriting looks so familiar, like I've seen it before.

(End of this chapter)