Top Scholar

Chapter 381 White Horse Parade
The official boat sailed down the Minjiang River, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way, as if traveling through a painting.

“We don’t have the abilities of Headmaster Zhu, so let’s set off at the end of October. That way we’ll have more time on the road. Once we get to the capital, we’ll also have time to hold a few literary gatherings and get used to the northern climate,” Su Man suggested.

“Of course we have no problem,” the crowd said with a smile to the three Su brothers. “The key is that you three are newlyweds and are willing to leave your brides behind.”

"Don't worry, there's no problem." Su Man said confidently, "The women of our Su family won't hold us back."

Li Qiyu, however, didn't understand: "I said, you've all passed the imperial examination, why are you still working so hard? If I had passed the imperial examination, I wouldn't have gone to the capital to take the exam, I would have stayed at home."

"What are you doing just sitting there?" everyone asked with a laugh.

"There are so many things I can do: buy land, handle lawsuits, keep servants, build gardens, take wives and concubines, travel and enjoy nature, raise hawks and hunt dogs... In short, do whatever makes you comfortable," Li Qiyu said with a look of longing.
"Seriously, the most comfortable life in the world is that of a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination). Why bother traveling thousands of miles to the capital and then enduring nine days of torture in the examination hall? Besides, the metropolitan examination is in February, and how cold is Beijing in February? Staying in the examination hall for nine days will kill you half."

He paused for a moment, then added, "If you fail the exam, you have to travel thousands of miles back. What's the difference between that and being exiled?"

“That’s true,” Bai Yunshan said in deep agreement. “I also think that being a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) is the most comfortable. Even if you pass the imperial examination, you’ll still have a hard time and won’t be able to get ahead for at least ten years.”

"Moreover, with Liu Jin in power now, the court is corrupt, and it's too dangerous to be an official," Xu Chengye added.

"If I fail the exam this time, I'll go home and study for a few years until Liu Jin steps down, then I'll take the exam again."

This is what they mean by "everyone has their own aspirations." No matter how much one has read in classical texts, not everyone dreams of cultivating themselves, regulating their families, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world...

In fact, Su Lu also understood Xu Chengye, Bai Yunshan and Li Qiyu's thoughts very well, because when he studied to become a scholar, he did it just so that he could eat rice and noodles and not have to work in the fields anymore. He had no thought of serving the country or the people at all.

Regardless of his motivation for studying, he was ultimately influenced by the subtle teachings of Confucius and Mencius. His teachers poured all their efforts into him, nurturing him into the top scholar in Sichuan, not letting him rest on his laurels.

He couldn't lie still any longer. As a representative of the scholars of Sichuan, with the entire province watching him, how could he possibly tarnish the reputation of the title of Jieyuan (top scholar in the provincial examination)?
The title of Jieyuan (top scholar in the provincial examination) is the highest honor, but it is also a heavy burden...

Alas, every gift that fate bestows comes with a hidden price tag.

~~
Two days later, the official ship arrived in Luzhou.

The autumn sun shone brightly that day, and a refreshing breeze blew. Flags fluttered and drums and music resounded at the Guanyizui Wharf.

Lu Zhaoye, the prefect of Luzhou, personally led the prefectural judge, the judge, and other officials, as well as local gentry and elders, to solemnly welcome the newly returned scholars who had passed the imperial examinations with great honors!

The official boat slowly approached the shore, the gangplank was secured, and the master of ceremonies announced: "Please welcome the newly appointed top scholar to disembark!"

Su Lu then stepped steadily off the boat. Everyone saw that he wore a black gauze hat, a blue round-necked robe for a scholar, and a snow-white undershirt. He was tall and slender, with sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards into his temples, and bright eyes like an autumn river. He possessed both the refined elegance of a scholar and the youthful vigor of a young man.

All who saw it exclaimed in admiration, "He is truly a born scholar!"
After Su Lu went ashore, he bowed deeply to Prefect Lu and said respectfully, "This disciple has not disgraced you, sir."

"Hahaha, Hongzhi..." Prefect Lu was becoming increasingly official-like, but Su Lu's words shattered his composure, making him grin from ear to ear. He stepped forward, grabbed Su Lu's shoulders, and excitedly looked him up and down, repeatedly saying:

"Good, good, good, you are such a good student, I am so proud of you..."

He never imagined that his impulsive visit to the military household school in the mountains would bring back the first ever top scholar in Luzhou.

All we can say is that Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Three Pure Ones, and Zhenwu the Great all manifested their power together!

Steward Tian watched from afar, secretly wiping away tears. He knew that this father and son would never recognize each other again in this lifetime...

After the prefect had calmed down, the clerk offered him a wine cup, which Prefect Lu personally served to Su Jieyuan.

Su Lu hurriedly took it with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.

Then a clerk presented a red silk brooch, which Prefect Lu personally tied onto Su Lu's collar.

The clerk then called out loudly, "Please invite the newly appointed martial arts champion to disembark!"

Su Tai was stunned for a moment, not expecting to be the second one. It was only after his brothers gave him a push that he got off the boat in a daze and accepted the toast and flowers from Prefect Lu.

Prefect Lu handed Su Tai a bowl of wine, pressed his arm and laughed at the crowd, "You all know that this prefect brought the civil scholar out of the mountains, but you don't know that the military scholar was also brought out by this prefect, do you?"

"Really? I really didn't know that." The officials and gentry naturally had to play along with the prefect's self-aggrandizing performance.

"Back when I was the magistrate of Hejiang County, I brought Anshang to Luzhou to pay respects to Military Commissioner Huang during the New Year so that he could study martial arts," Magistrate Lu said with a smug look. "I knew then that this child would amount to something, but I never expected him to become a top scholar in the provincial examination!"

"It's true that talented horses are common, but discerning judges of horses are rare."

"Others have the discerning eye to recognize talent, but my great-grandfather had the discerning eye to recognize two talents at once, and he immediately discovered two top scholars!"

"What a touching story..." The officials and gentry all offered their flattery.

Then, the other ten scholars, both civil and military, disembarked in turn and received wine and flowers from their ancestor.

After all the scholars had disembarked, officials dressed in bright red uniforms led in twelve white horses. The twelve tall horses were all pure white, with neatly combed manes and bright red silk flowers hanging from their heads.

"Gentlemen of the virtuous and incorruptible, please mount your horses and parade through the streets to receive the congratulations of the entire city!" Lu Zhaoye announced loudly.

Su Lu and the other scholars thanked the prefect for his kindness and then mounted their horses together.

The sound of drums and music rang out again, and hundreds of officials and guards, carrying various colorful banners and ceremonial guards, led the way with music and drums.

Twelve white horses were lined up in two neat rows, with the two brothers who had both passed the imperial examinations leading the way, followed closely by the others, and they filed into the city through the Jiangdong Gate.

In Luzhou, the city was deserted as people of all ages lined both sides of the street, some standing on tiptoe to look out, others cheering loudly, all eager to witness this unprecedented spectacle!
The children waved small red flags and chased after the horse team, cheering.

"The top scholar! The top scholar!"

The windows on the second floor of the shops along the street were all open, and young women and wives looked out at the young and handsome candidates for the imperial examinations, shouting their names. They also threw confetti and flower petals as if they didn't care about the cost, tossing whole hydrangeas at the new candidates on horseback.

Surprisingly, the person who was hit the most by the embroidered ball was not Jie Yuanlang, but Su Yingzhi, who was several horses away from him.

Clumps of pink, red, blue, and white hydrangeas fell one after another onto Su Man's head. As the petals fluttered down, they tilted his official hat to one side.

Su Man remained completely oblivious, his eyes fixed ahead as he steadily moved forward, as if the swirling petals and the screams of the women around him had nothing to do with him.

The flowers clinging to his clothes and the crooked hat and hairpin not only did not detract from his beauty, but also made his originally overly dignified image suddenly lively and dashing.

The women watching became even more excited, their screams rising in waves as they tossed all the hydrangeas in their hands to Su Man, allowing him to enjoy a shower of petals that made all the men in the city envious.

"Brother Yingzhi, wave to them! Respond to them!" Baiyunshan, who was riding alongside him, reminded Su Man with envy.

"Why?" Su Man asked, puzzled. "They're not anyone to me."

"Isn't the purpose of a man's life to enjoy the adoration of women?" Bai Yunshan said matter-of-factly.

“That’s you…” Su Man was also helpless. He was clearly the most orthodox Taoist teacher, but he had the most attractive appearance.

"Sigh, what a waste." Bai Yunshan sighed, wishing he could take the place of the waste.

~~
The procession passed Baolai Bridge and the Bell and Drum Towers, finally arriving at the gate of the Confucian Temple. Only then did the scholars dismount and enter to pay their respects to Confucius and the God of Literature for their blessings.

Afterwards, the prefect held a celebratory banquet at the academy to welcome the candidates back.

It was at the celebration banquet that Su Lu and his brother saw Su Youcai for the first time.

Brother Youcai actually arrived quite early, but he didn't want to steal the limelight from his grandfather, so he only showed up now.

"Father!" The two brothers greeted Su Youcai with a bow as soon as they saw him.

"Good, good, good, my sons, well done!" Su Youcai hugged one son in each arm, feeling as if he were holding the whole world in his arms. He laughed heartily, tears streaming down his face. "As a father, I have no regrets in this life!"

"Dad..." The two brothers hugged Su Youcai tightly. Only the three of them knew how difficult it had been to get to this point.

"Get up quickly, we're having a celebration banquet for you!" Su Youcai quickly pulled his two sons up. He suddenly realized that not only his eldest son, but even his youngest son was half a head taller than him.

"Quickly, my brother, please take a seat." Prefect Lu personally invited the father and his two sons to sit down.

"No, no, no!" Su Youcai quickly waved his hand and declined.

"Yes, absolutely!" Prefect Lu insisted on giving the main seat to Su Youcai. "My worthy brother, you have raised two top scholars in the imperial examinations. Your merit is higher than the heavens! I can't concern myself with other matters, but in Luzhou City, you must take the seat of honor!"

“That’s right.” Zhu Jie and the others also laughed and said, “Brother, please don’t refuse our grandfather’s kindness anymore. Set an example for all fathers in the world.”

"Well, if that's the case, then I can only obey in fear and trepidation." Only then did Su Youcai reluctantly take a seat.

"Second Master Zhu, sit next to Brother Su," the old grandfather added. "You have two and a half sons who have passed the imperial examinations; you've also made great contributions!"

"Hehe, then this old man will respectfully accept your offer." Zhu Jie gladly took his seat.

Lu Zhaoye then arranged for the other candidates' fathers to take their seats in order of merit, and took the seat of the host himself. Only then did he raise his cup and loudly proclaim:

"Come, everyone, let's offer our first toast to our benefactors, thanking them for nurturing twelve new scholars for Luzhou!"

"Homage to our virtuous parents!" Inside and outside the Minglun Hall, guests raised their glasses and responded loudly.

Outside the academy, a continuous banquet was also set up, where Prefect Lu hosted a feast for all the people of the city!
Of course, the expenses were sponsored by the big spenders...

P.S. This is a post to be edited later. My wedding is tomorrow, please vote for me!
(End of this chapter)