Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 24 A Twenty-Year-Old Rank Seven!
After presenting them with their official robes and reminding them of the reporting date, the scholars from the Imperial Academy left for their next assignment.

Standing still, Song Jing's expression was stiff, and he was so conflicted that he had a headache.

Reporting to the Ministry of Personnel was no small matter, and even though Madam Cui was extremely jealous, she dared not speak out of turn at this time.

"master."

Jiang approached, holding the official robes and black gauze in her hands, and said softly, "Shi'an is just scared, he doesn't think he's done anything wrong. I will bring him back to kneel down and admit his mistake to the master. But please don't hit him for now... It wouldn't be dignified for him to arrive at the Ministry of Personnel with injuries."

Song Jing did not respond to Jiang's words.

The official hat, embroidered with copper wire, gleamed brightly.

A twenty-year-old official of the seventh rank...

Jiang realized that her husband had room to maneuver.

Now, he just needs a way to back down.

If he agrees directly, it will naturally damage his authority.

After all, they'd already gone to such lengths with their insults...

“Father.” Just then, Song Qin, whose hands had been bruised and battered that morning, whispered, “I know where he’s hiding… Take some servants over there, and we’ll definitely be able to bring him back.”

"Hmph." Upon hearing this, Song Jing immediately said viciously, "Tell him that if he dares to come back, he'll be punished according to family rules!"

Song Jing spoke very firmly, showing no respect whatsoever to the top scholar.

But everyone knows that this is a way of taking the easy way out.

Who deserves to be disciplined by family rules?
Of course, it's family.

"Master, he will never dare to do it again, he will never dare to do it again!"

After expressing her gratitude with a beaming smile, Jiang walked to Song Qin's side and asked excitedly, "Does Miss know where he is?"

"I should have known..."

After muttering to herself, Song Qin glanced at her father.

Since I wasn't hit, I must not have said anything wrong.

However, my mother's expression didn't look so good.

Stop hitting me, stop hitting me, boohoo...

With the atmosphere slightly awkward, Song Ce went home.

"Ce'er, you passed the exam!"

Madam Cui gripped his arms with both hands, her eyes shining with pride as she spoke.

Other people's sons' affairs don't affect her love for her son.

"Hmm." Song Ce nodded, then bowed to Song Jing and said somewhat apologetically, "Father, I only passed the imperial examination as a regular scholar."

Looking at the well-behaved child, Song Jing patted his head and said with a smile, "It's alright, he's just a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination). Passing the exam is enough."

"My child wants to take the imperial examination next year."

Song Ce said with a firm look in his eyes.

“Then I’ll arrange for you to work at the Imperial Academy, in a sinecure, so it won’t interfere with your exam preparation,” Song Jing decided.

Ordinary graduates could also enter the Imperial Academy; no special arrangements were needed.

But once inside, one is merely a minor official.

With the influence of his father, the magistrate of Sheng'an, Song Ce could directly become an official, starting from the ninth rank.

As long as one is not an official, the workload is greatly reduced.

Why would someone who is only a low-ranking official take a job instead of focusing entirely on preparing for the exam at home?

Years of work experience.

Song Ce went in this year, and even if he doesn't do anything, he can still accumulate a year's worth of experience for nothing.

It can be said that as the eldest son of a prominent family, as long as you strive to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, your father can arrange everything perfectly for you.

This was also tacitly approved by the imperial court.

After all, the introduction of the imperial examination system had already hurt the feelings of powerful and influential families.

"Father, I will definitely pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi!"

Song Ce, with his strong sense of self-respect, swept away the gloom from before and knelt down to his parents with utmost seriousness, determined not to disgrace the family.

"Son, you will definitely pass the exam."

Madam Cui helped Song Ce up, and as she spoke, she glanced at Madam Jiang with considerable arrogance.

He was only a top scholar in the provincial examination, not a successful candidate in the imperial examination.

Once someone reaches the Jinshi level, their ranking is reset.

Even if he passes all the exams, my son will still be a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) at less than seventeen years old, and he's a child prodigy!
"Ah."

Song Jing nodded, his expression full of approval.

At this moment, another marriage proposal team arrived at the gate of the Song residence, accompanied by gongs and drums.

"Song Gan, ask about the other party's family background. If you think it's not suitable, then refuse."

“Yes, sir,” Song Gan replied with a smile.

Song Jing added casually, "Before they left, give each person a small tip."

The fact that the master would give a reward to the person who asked for the prize clearly made him happy!
Jiang realized it.

After having her maid take off her official robes and hat, she quickly stepped forward with a smile and said to Song Gan, "I'll also take some money for the servants who came to propose marriage. Also, Steward Song, you must make sure you ask around and don't miss any good girls!" "Don't worry, Second Madam, I won't, I won't..."

No longer wanting to get involved, Song Jing turned around and walked towards the main house.

My steps didn't feel lighter.

.........

The inner chambers of the Situ residence.

Sitting in the grand chair, Sun Yan's face was ashen.

Sun Qian, standing to the side, also looked astonished, never expecting that he, who had been recognized by his father as the top scholar in the imperial examination, would fail to achieve his goal.

The key issue is that he still came in second in both subjects.

It's one thing for policy essays to be bad, but Sun Qian, who is famous for his beautiful prose, is not even first place.

Moreover, Song Shi'an was first in both subjects, which was right above his own!
A while later, a man in his forties with a robust build walked in quickly, carrying two sample papers in his hands: "Father, as soon as the results were announced, book stalls on the streets and alleys began selling the top-scoring essays."

"Give me the poem." Sun Yan stretched out his hand, still somewhat rational despite his anger.

He picked up the model essay and prepared to browse it.

But after blinking for a moment, he felt strained and handed the test paper to Sun Qian: "You read it."

Helpless, Sun Qian felt like he had swallowed a fly; though uncomfortable, he had no choice but to recite it.

As Sun Yan read, his expression became increasingly absorbed.

After reading it, he sighed and said, "Good article, you deserve to be second."

"..." Holding the article in his hands, Sun Qian was extremely dissatisfied, but he had no choice but to agree.

The writing is concise, the metaphors are apt, and the theme is profound.

If it were done on the spot, that would be truly remarkable.

"Do you know this Song Shi'an?" Sun Yan asked Sun Qian.

"I heard he's the illegitimate son of the Sheng'an Ling family, and he's frivolous and hasn't shown any talent before," Sun Qian said.

"Could it be that his father wrote it for him?"

At this point, Sun Heng guessed.

Then, the next moment, Sun Yan roared, "Foolish! His father wrote it, why give it to a son born of a concubine?"

Sun Heng lowered his head silently: "Father is right."

Indeed, since it's a ghostwriter, then it should be given to Song Ce.

“Study this carefully.” Then, Sun Situ attacked Sun Qian indiscriminately and lectured him, “I’ve told you before that the key to writing is the content, not the fancy writing style, especially in exams.”

“Son understands.” Sun Qian lowered his head.

“A policy discussion,” Sun Yan said.

Then, Sun Qian began to read aloud Song Shi'an's policy essay: "The strategy of military colonization states that the key to stabilizing a country lies in having a strong army and sufficient food..."

Sun Yan listened attentively throughout.

He stroked his beard with his hand.

After reading it, Sun Qian didn't stop for a moment and immediately looked up and asked, "Father, is this the general direction of the court's future?"

"never heard of that."

Sun Yan had never heard of any discussion about military settlements.

There is only one possibility: someone submitted a memorial to the emperor regarding the establishment of military farms.

The emperor, however, was interested and wanted to use this imperial examination as an opportunity to release it.

The fact that one could buy the top scholar's essay as soon as the results were announced is enough to prove this.

But right now, none of these things matter to Sun Yan.

After rubbing the armrest with his palm in contemplation, Sun Yan slowly said, "Your Majesty, this means the bloodshed of the aristocratic families is about to begin."

Upon hearing this, Sun Heng asked in confusion, "Father, doesn't this policy essay talk about gathering displaced people for land reclamation?"

Sun Yan remained silent.

Then, Sun Qian explained to his elder brother, "The essence of this move is to compete with the aristocratic families for tenants."

Frowning, Sun Situ looked at Sun Heng and sneered, "Where are you going to find so many refugees to cultivate the land for you?"

Sun Heng lowered his head again and honestly said, "Father is absolutely right..."

The eldest son being incompetent is a very troublesome thing.

But teaching children is no longer the most important thing.

Sun Situ sensed that His Majesty was paving the way for his son.

Moreover, it's quite radical.

So radical that it can lead to violent conflict.

There are clearly gentler methods available, but His Majesty is unwilling to use them.

So, he was a little angry.

He gently patted the armrest with his palm, then clenched it tightly, as if communicating with him in spirit in the distant palace. Sun Situ solemnly said, "Your Majesty, it's not that easy."

(End of this chapter)