Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 5 Entering the examination room
"Shi An, are you alright?!"

As the group was walking, two of Song Shi'an's acquaintances came towards them.

The one who greeted them was the youngest son of Sheng Anbei, a kind and honest man.

The other one is Zhang Ji, the eldest son of a clerk in the army, who is also an illegitimate son.

After the two arrived, they first bowed to Song Ce and the others.

The Lu brothers, Qingyan and Mingbo, glanced at the two men but didn't pay them any attention before preparing to leave. Only Song Ce nodded to them before leaving, as a form of response.

It makes sense, given the vast differences between the two circles.

Although Chunhou was not an illegitimate son, the Northern Commandant was a powerful position, equivalent to the head of the capital's public security bureau. However, Song Ce and his fathers were able to attend court and meet the emperor, so naturally they would not look down on him.

Even without receiving any respect, the two behaved very well.

Only after the group had gone far away did Chunhou pat Song Shi'an on the shoulder and say, "You really scared us to death! You fell into the water with a splash!"

“We were planning to visit you, but your servants chased us away,” Zhang Ji said. “That skinny, short guy is such a snobbish scoundrel.”

“That’s not my servant’s fault, it was my father’s idea,” Song Shi’an said.

“…” Zhang Ji was taken aback by what he was told.

I don't blame the servant, but you want me to go and curse your father?
"You only drank a little, how could you fall into the water? My dad almost beat me to death when I got home that day," Chunhou scolded.

See? There's a reason why this circle is so low-class.

When other people meet, they talk about exams; when these two meet, they're like brothers under pressure.

"I shouldn't have listened to that scoundrel Shi Li and gone drinking. He's already passed the exam, and he's just trying to drag us new candidates down with him."

After Zhang Ji finished speaking, the two of them burst into laughter.

The phrase "newly appointed scholar" is indeed humorous.

In other words, if you can't check your score, you can use the excuse of "failing the imperial examination" to defend yourself, making it seem like you almost passed.

However, there are reasons for their "retreating".

The number of candidates who pass the imperial examinations in Sizhou each year may seem large, but the number of officials in Sizhou is even greater, and they also have a lot of sons. For some students who are not good at taking the exams, a five percent chance is basically impossible.

"Because of the imperial examination, those despicable people actually had the opportunity to become officials."

Chunhou looked towards Sheng'an City and saw the sons of several merchants gathered together, chatting and laughing. He then cursed them with disdain.

"They look all high and mighty, even trying to imitate us by wearing robes and crowns." Zhang Ji was also full of disdain.

Because of the division of the era, talent was not limited by origin, and the imperial examinations of Dayu did not restrict household registration; merchants could also take the exams.

Some of the second-generation businessmen of Sheng'an have also entered high society.

But no matter what, a strict hierarchy of contempt still exists.

Song Ce, the eldest son of a high-ranking official, is undoubtedly at the top, one of the people in the tower.

Chunhou, the legitimate son of a mid-level official, is far inferior to Song Shi'an, the illegitimate son of a high-ranking official, but both are considered powerful figures to outsiders.

Below them were lower-ranking officials and clerks in the capital. Their sons had to work hard to curry favor with honest and kind people in order to be introduced to the world.

Finally, there are the rich kids from wealthy families.

They were completely excluded.

Even if they imitate the clothes and preferences of young masters from aristocratic families and frequent high-end places, it is still not respectable.

In conclusion, we can draw a conclusion.

If I keep messing around with these idiots, I'll be ruined.

"What are your plans if you don't pass the exam this time?" Zhang Ji asked.

Chunhou replied casually, "My father plans to assign me to the state army in Huaizhou. My uncle is a captain there, starting as a squad leader."

"Just to be a lowly soldier, you need your uncle to arrange things for you?" Zhang Ji was speechless.

"You know shit."

After directly retorting, Chunhou explained, "Isn't there a bandit problem in Huaizhou right now? My uncle sent people to suppress the bandits, and then casually gave me a few merits. In two years, I can become a centurion. Even if you pass the imperial examination, you won't be able to become a ninth-rank official in two years. If I go to the state army for two years, I'll at least be an eighth-rank official!"

At this point, Chunhou exuded a strong sense of superiority.

Indeed, for the children of officials who failed the imperial examinations, serving in the military was a viable path to advancement.

But not everyone has such conditions.

Chunhou is so arrogant because he has a powerful military officer uncle.

of course.

If you want to suppress someone, you can always find a way to do it.

"Huaizhou?"

Upon hearing those two words, Zhang Ji immediately showed his disgust and said with nausea, "Even if I never pass the imperial examination, I will never leave Sheng'an and go to a place like Huaizhou."

Regional Discrimination

"Shi'an, what are your plans after this exam?" Chunhou rolled his eyes at Zhang Ji, then turned to ask.

Zhang Ji also looked at him, with a meaningful expression.

Of the three, Song Shi'an was actually the one with the worst conditions. Although Zhang Ji was also a son of a concubine and his father's official position was only average, his mother's side was a powerful clan with hundreds of acres of fertile land and considerable wealth. Even the eldest wife of the Zhang family had to defer to his mother.

Only Song Shi'an couldn't boast about "if you don't pass the exam, just use connections."

Therefore, his answer was of particular interest to both of them.

Faced with the two people's gazes, Song Shi'an stopped and said calmly, "After this exam, let's take the imperial examination again to become a Jinshi."

"..."

As soon as the words were spoken, both of their expressions froze.

"Go in."

After making a casual remark, Song Shi'an entered the gate of the examination hall.

The two looked at each other in bewilderment until they realized what was happening, then pointed at Song Shi'an who was going inside and burst into laughter.

"Why is Shi An being so funny?"

Chunhou was laughing so hard he almost cried.

"Let's have a drink together after the exam tonight!" Zhang Ji shouted to Song Shi'an, who seemed to have gone mad. "It's on me, it's on me!"

Those two idiots, sigh.

Therefore, good friends really can influence people.

Although Song Ce and his group were also loading cargo, at least they would chat about studying together.

It'll be fine once the exam is over.

After entering the examination hall, it was divided into many sections.

Because there were so many candidates for the provincial examination, many examination rooms were set up in different courtyards.

At the entrance of each examination room, someone checks identification documents, and once inside the examination room, one is not allowed to move around freely.

While passing through a hospital area, Song Shi'an saw Song Ce.

So as I passed by, I gently patted him on the waist and casually advised him like an elder brother: "Relax and focus on the exam."

"..." Upon hearing his voice, Song Ce turned around, but Song Shi'an had already walked away.

"Is your illegitimate son so unruly?"

He hadn't gone far when Lu Mingbo said disdainfully, "People like this who don't know their place will probably get away with anything in the future..."

"Do your best on the exam."

Song Ce interrupted him calmly before he could finish speaking, leaving Lu Mingbo speechless and embarrassed.

……

Although Song Jing was ruthless to himself, he was not an enemy.

The same applies to Song Ce.

Song Shi'an was very clear about this.

From now on, these will all be his political resources.

Or, political partners.

Once I recover, I'll be surrounded by kind people.

Song Ce would also treat himself as his own brother.

"Name."

As I approached the examination hall and was about to enter, the guards on duty at the entrance solemnly greeted me according to procedure.

"Song Shi'an".

After Song Shi'an answered, the other party checked the information against the records.

In ancient times, there were many people who took exams for others.

Therefore, some measures are needed to reduce the chances of someone taking the exam for you.

For example, before the exam, each state and county submits the candidate's personal information.

Name, age, height, build, and certain facial features.

The guard kept an eye on Song Shi'an while comparing his records with the case file.

Song Shi'an.

Twenty years old.

Approximately eight feet.

Symmetrical.

He is handsome.

After confirming, the guard opened the gate: "Go in."
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(End of this chapter)