Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 172 Qionglin Banquet

After passing the imperial examination, Wang Shuishan sent a letter to his family, but soon returned to his post as a household registration official. It wasn't that he was just putting on an act or continuing to serve in that position; people in ancient times didn't engage in mindless competition or hypocrisy. Studying was for the purpose of becoming an official. Having already passed the imperial examination, why would he still be licking the boots of his superiors?

However, he needed to hand over some things to the next person and clean up the mess.

"Shuishan, with your serious work ethic, what can't you accomplish?" His immediate superior, the household registration officer, patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile as he was talking to someone.

"You flatter me, sir. I just want to handle things properly here and not cause any trouble for the visitors," Wang Shuishan said.

"Why do you insist on doing it properly?" the other person asked jokingly. "What, are you sure you're not going to stay in the Household Registration Department?"

“This…” Wang Shuishan did not want to flatter, and said truthfully, “If the court needs me, I would prefer to start as a county magistrate.”

“A county magistrate does indeed wield considerable power.” The other person nodded, then said in a guiding tone, “He serves as a stepping stone for advancement and is also capable of achieving political success. But this requires some networking. You know, many people, even if they do a good job, remain county magistrates for life.”

“You’ve done a great job, haven’t you?” Wang Shuishan asked.

"Very good? Who said it's good?" He smiled mysteriously. "Did the common people say it, or the prefect? ​​Or perhaps, does someone in Shuishan's family have something to say?"

"My father was only a county lieutenant of the eighth rank..."

"Then your father has no say. What the common people say is useless. The prefect, on the other hand, has some influence. But with so many county magistrates under him, why would he speak on your behalf?"

"Then, in your opinion, what should Shuishan do?" Wang Shuishan asked.

At this point, the other person adopted a senior's demeanor and asked, "I initially took a liking to your writing and brought you here. Now that you've passed the imperial examination, doesn't that prove my judgment was correct?"

"Your Excellency is wise."

“If Shui Shan doesn’t have any connections, he’ll eventually find a way out if he stays in one place for a long time.” His tone was quite suggestive.

"Shuishan, remember my teachings."

Wang Shuishan treated him seriously and bowed.

After exchanging pleasantries, he left the Household Registration Office.

The official's smile gradually faded, and he said with a hint of sarcasm, "This imperial examination is truly remarkable, enabling the son of an eighth-rank official to become a seventh-rank official in his early twenties."

At the same time, it has also made some people less grateful.

You got in because you earned it through your own ability.

They completely forgot the advice their benefactor had given them.

This is where the emperor's brilliance lies.

That privately granted power became a power granted by the emperor.

Without this imperial examination system, some officials of the fifth and seventh ranks would be tyrannical and omnipotent.

But now, someone who was doing well under you has suddenly become a promising young official of the seventh rank. Isn't that absurd?

The older generation of Dayu people all fondly remember the recommendation system.

"Sir," the clerk whispered to him at that moment, "Although Wang Shuishan's family doesn't have much power, he has a very powerful backer."

"Who?"

He was puzzled.

"Song Shi'an".

"?!" He didn't know much about these household registration officials, and they wouldn't even talk to him unless Wang Shuishan passed the imperial examination. So he was definitely shocked by such a secret. "Why haven't I heard him mention it before?"

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell anyone about his relationship with Song Shi’an,” the clerk said. “Or someone saw them before; they were extremely close and even lived in the same room.”

"No wonder he said he wanted to be a county magistrate; it turns out he has a powerful backer. I thought this kid was just a greenhorn." He suddenly realized, and with a sigh of regret, slammed his fist into his palm. "Sigh, if I had known about this connection, I should have associated with this kid more!"

……

After leaving the Household Registration Office, Wang Shuishan returned to the house he had rented in Sheng'an.

When he was on duty, he would usually spend the night at the office. Because the office was in the capital city, while his rented house was in the outer city, it would take him an hour or two to travel back and forth each time. He didn't have a carriage, which was very inconvenient.

Now that I've left my old job, I naturally have to go home and wait.

However, as soon as he returned to his neighborhood, he saw several old men waiting for him at his doorstep.

Many locals watched curiously from the surrounding area.

Upon seeing this, Wang Shuishan quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, esteemed gentlemen."

“Scholar Wang.” An eunuch also bowed, then smiled and picked up a gold invitation card that resembled a congratulatory letter. “This is the letter for the Imperial Palace’s Qionglin Banquet. With this letter, you can enter the palace.”

Upon seeing this item, Wang Shuishan immediately stood up formally and prepared to kneel and receive the gift.

“Scholar Wang, this is not an imperial edict, so there is no need for you to perform the proper etiquette,” the eunuch reminded him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, this is my first time passing the imperial examination, I'm not very familiar with the rules."

This remark immediately amused the several fathers-in-law.

He accepted the gold invitation with both hands, feeling embarrassed.

At the moment I received it, it felt as if something very abstract had been injected into my chest...

It is enthusiasm.

In the morning he was Tian Shelang, and in the evening he ascended to the Hall of the Son of Heaven.

The Qionglin Banquet, where the emperor personally hosts a feast for scholars, was the ultimate goal for ancient scholars and the highest-level meal they would ever have in their lives!
Shi An, I'm coming.

.........

"Young Master, do you think the gold powder on this is real gold?"

Holding the invitation carefully, Yun'er looked it over with great curiosity.

"How much can this little bit of gold sell for?" Song Shi'an asked with a smile as he lay lazily on the bed.

"Is this thing valuable?" Yun'er asked, her big, bright eyes wide.

“The imperial examination is held every two years, and only thirty papers are awarded each time. The number of these papers in existence is too large. Besides, these papers are useless to people of other social statuses.” Song Shi’an suddenly had a whimsical idea. “But if they are passed down to future generations, a thousand years from now, they will be extremely valuable.”

It'll definitely sell for tens of millions at auction. "A thousand years from now... that seems irrelevant to Yun'er."

“How could it be unrelated?” Song Shi’an said. “After the Qionglin Banquet, I will give this thing to you. When you get old, you can pass it on to your descendants, and then it will be passed down from generation to generation until it becomes a family heirloom.”

"Yun'er's descendants..."

Yun'er's face gradually flushed, and she looked at Song Shi'an somewhat shyly: "If Yun'er has any offspring, they will be the offspring of the young master."

Hmm...that makes sense.

This is the role of a maidservant.

A young maidservant, after absorbing the uniqueness she expelled, will either be lucky enough to give birth to a son born out of wedlock, or unlucky enough to give birth to a daughter born out of wedlock.

But at least I can become a member of the family now.

"Okay, I'll give it to you then."

"Although I don't know how to use it..." Holding the congratulatory letter carefully, Yun'er said, feeling quite flattered, "but I will always cherish anything that the young master has given me."

This child is going to great lengths to absorb their uniqueness.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, the frequency was quite steady and the knock was soft.

"Who?" Song Shi'an asked.

“I am your elder brother, Jingming,” Song Ce said.

Yun'er quickly put down the invitation and turned to open the door for him.

"Young Master," Yun'er greeted him.

Song Ce nodded slightly and walked in.

Yun'er was quite sensible and left at this time, closing the door behind her.

Looking at the invitation on the table, he then looked at Song Shi'an and asked, "Are you going?"

"What kind of talk is this? The emperor himself is hosting a banquet, how could I not go?" Song Shi'an thought this was outrageous.

"Because my older brother... is rather unconventional."

"That's not enough to be so outrageous."

"Will there be any sensitive undercurrents at that time?" This was what Song Ce was concerned about.

You mean Sun Qian, right?

"Not only that, but also our Song family."

Song Ce mainly wanted to know if Song Shi'an had any plans, like the big one that came out during Sun Situ's birthday celebration.

The Song family is already showing signs of Song Shi'an's PTSD.

"His Majesty is hosting, who would dare to be presumptuous?" Song Shi'an joked, while also promising, "I'll just go over for a few drinks and watch the beautiful women dance."

Song Ce breathed a sigh of relief.

You brat, are you trying to protect yourself from your brother?
"However, I still have some things to ask my brother."

As a sixteen-year-old young man, the youngest Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of this year's Da Yu, Song Ce was somewhat nervous about the upcoming grand occasion: "What should I do then?"

"Just prepare a stylish robe."

"What is the meaning of this action?" Song Ce asked, puzzled.

"When you enter the palace, you might meet your future wife. Of course, you have to make a good first impression on her."

"..." Song Ce pursed his lips slightly, "Brother, I am earnestly asking for your guidance."

"This is the most I can teach you," Song Shi'an said solemnly, sitting on the bed. "Women have a deep memory of their first meeting. Even if they quarrel later, they will be unable to help but forgive you when they think of your handsome and wonderful appearance."

"Brother..."

"Don't drink too much, or you'll make a fool of yourself."

"I said……"

"Of course, you can pretend to be drunk. As the saying goes, a man's drunkenness is only partly true, and you can make it look convincing..."

Song Ce, who had been repeatedly interrupted, finally could not bear it any longer. Suddenly, he spoke up: "The Soul Maiden is Xin Yue."

"..."

Song Shi'an was stunned.

"The place where the moon is without light is called the soul."

Song Ce stared into Song Shi'an's eyes and said seriously.

Sitting on the bed with his arms crossed, looking at his younger brother, Song Shi'an remained silent for a long time before raising his finger: "You can't afford to play this game."

.........

Royal palace, back garden.

The emperor walked ahead, with Chen Bao bowing beside him. He smiled and said, "The official appointment certificates for all the successful candidates have been issued, and their places of origin, family backgrounds, marriages, and official positions have all been compiled. When would Your Majesty like to see them…?"

Suddenly, the emperor stopped in his tracks.

Chen Bao also stopped immediately.

"I don't want to go to the Qionglin Banquet."

These few words completely baffled Chen Bao.

That's too willful!
"I don't want to see that Song Shi'an."

After saying this, the emperor casually said, "Let the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Wu preside over the Qionglin Banquet for me."

(End of this chapter)