Top Scholar

Chapter 468: The episode that shows the utmost respect for Grand Secretary Jiao (Seeking monthly votes)
"Why?!" Yang Tingyi exclaimed in surprise, startling the crows perched on the eaves.

"Why?" Yang Tinghe sighed softly, put the soybeans back in the dish, leaned back in his chair, and gently wiped the sparse soybean skins off his hands.

"Of course, man proposes, God disposes. Given the previous situation, even if I had succeeded, it would have been a stain on my reputation. Why should I, with my talent as a top scholar, associate with the likes of Liu Ren from Jiaohuangzhong?" He then chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Who could have predicted that it would end like this? Almost all the candidates who used connections failed, and the imperial examination actually became fair again?"

"That's true. Things have changed drastically in just a few days, catching everyone off guard." Yang Tingyi nodded and muttered, "Scholar Liang is right. Since that's the case, let's just take it and use it for cultivation."

"Does he deserve it?" Yang Tinghe said coldly.

"Sigh, this has really backfired..." Yang Tingyi sighed in frustration, then couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Brother, do you perhaps also intend to punish Xiu?"

Yang Tinghe said in a deep voice, "Am I such an impulsive person? How could I joke about the future of the Yang family?"

He paused, then snorted coldly, "However, it's only right to teach him a lesson. Look at what he's been doing these past two years!"

"Sigh..." Yang Tingyi said dejectedly, "Everyone at home is hoping to use Xiuzhong High School, Father must be very disappointed..."

"..." Mentioning his father, Yang Tinghe could no longer remain cold-hearted. He sighed and said, "It's nothing to fail this time. We can take the exam again in three years."

He paused, then added almost imperceptibly in a low voice, "At least next time, there won't be that kid surnamed Su..."

Upon hearing this, Yang Tingyi couldn't help but click his tongue in surprise—was his elder brother admitting defeat? Did he actually think that his genius son might not be able to defeat Su Hongzhi?

Yang Tinghe ignored his fuss and simply ordered in a deep voice, "Since that beast doesn't want to go home, let him go back to Sichuan. Get the marriage done first, let him calm down and reflect for three years, and then it won't be too late for him to return to the capital to take the exam."

Yang Tingyi looked troubled: "Brother, you know how stubborn that kid is. I'm afraid he won't listen to me."

Yang Tinghe snorted: "You're his uncle!"

Yang Tingyi shrugged and said, "You're still his father."

~~
At the same time, Jiao Fang, the second-in-command of the cabinet, stormed into Liu Jin's residence in a rage.

As mentioned before, ever since Eunuch Liu gained power, his father and brothers all came to join him, and without any shame, they changed their surname to Liu.

The whole family currently lives in a mansion inside Xizhimen, living an extremely luxurious life, with their food, clothing, and daily necessities on par with those of the imperial palace.

Actually, that's an understatement. It should be said that everything in the palace had, Eunuch Liu had too. But even if the palace had had something like that, it's not necessarily something that can be found now.

Because Grandpa Liu has already moved them into his house...

Take the main hall for example. Anyone who steps inside will be awestruck by the enormous coral tree that serves as a screen. Its entire body is fiery red, with its branches spreading out in layers like auspicious clouds supporting the sun. It is even larger than the one in the Qianqing Palace.

Looking up again, a nine-dragon-holding-pearl lamp hangs from the beam. Nine pure gold dragons coil and intertwine, their scales and claws clearly visible. Each dragon holds a luminous pearl the size of a pigeon egg in its mouth, its shimmering light illuminating the hall as bright as day.

As for the other furnishings, each piece was priceless. Such extravagance and style were beyond the reach of even the mansions of dukes and marquises, and it would be difficult to find a second one among the princely residences.

Jiao Fang showed no appreciation whatsoever, and paced restlessly back and forth on the expensive Persian carpet.

His precious son, Jiao Huangzhong, had been crying and making a scene ever since he returned home, saying that he had lost all face this time.

Jiao Huangzhong was Jiao Fang's only son, born in his old age. He was determined to get his son the title of top scholar in the provincial and imperial examinations. This way, after his own death, Jiao Huangzhong would have someone to rely on, ensuring the continuation of the Jiao family's glory…

Some people asked, wasn't Jiao Fang afraid that the fame and fortune he obtained in this way might have hidden dangers?

He was afraid, but not too afraid, because he himself had risen to his position in such an inglorious way—whether he was selected as a probationary scholar to become an academician or became a minister and entered the cabinet, when was it ever glorious?
What about wives sleeping with men, death threats, groveling to eunuchs, and fatal backstabbing? Was there ever a clean break? They all still rose to the highest ranks of officialdom!

On the contrary, those self-proclaimed virtuous gentlemen have been stripped of everything by him, reduced to commoners, soldiers, or even skeletons. It is clear who won and who lost!
His past experiences convinced him that history is written by the victors, and as long as he kept winning, there would be no problem.

If we lose, we lose...

But the problem is, he hasn't lost yet. On the contrary, Grand Secretary Jiao's career is flourishing like a brocade of flowers and a blazing fire; he's never been so glorious in his life!
Moreover, he sacrificed a great deal for his son's future. He endured an entire winter without openly opposing Li Dongyang and his gang, and even took the initiative to mediate, secretly helping the civil officials a lot.

But in the end, this is the result! How could he possibly bear it?!
This is absolutely unacceptable!
He had already spent half the afternoon giving Li Dongyang a good dressing down at the Wenyuan Pavilion. Unfortunately, Wang Ao had just left the examination hall and was resting at home, so he hadn't had a chance to give that guy a good beating yet…

But that guy surnamed Wang won't escape a beating sooner or later! That's what Grand Secretary Jiao said, even the Three Pure Ones couldn't stop him!

Unable to vent his anger, he could only settle accounts with Liu Jin first… As soon as Eunuch Liu appeared, Grand Secretary Jiao slammed his fist on the table and demanded, “What’s going on?! Didn’t we agree that only fifty links would be opened? Why did you sell more than five hundred copies? Are you crazy for money?!”

Contrary to popular belief, Liu Jin was the person who respected Grand Secretary Jiao the most in the world. He was deeply grateful for Jiao Fang's life-saving grace, and Jiao Fang had been the one devising strategies for all the reforms and major decisions.

It can be said that without Grand Secretary Jiao, there would be no Liu Jin today, let alone Liu Jin's New Policies!
The people of Qin were known for their gratitude, so Liu Jin sat down in his armchair without getting angry, and simply asked in return:
“We were thinking of asking you, the fortune teller, for advice. Who told your good-for-nothing son to go around spreading rumors that he'd pass the imperial examination? He's made such a mess of things! Can't you, as his father, control his mouth?!”

"My son didn't go around yelling about it!" Jiao Fang retorted, sticking her neck out.

"Haven't told the whole world yet?" Liu Jin sneered. "With his temperament of blowing trumpets and banging drums, he would have already spread the word throughout the capital!"

Jiao Fang was speechless. The eunuch Liu's certainty clearly indicated that the Imperial Guard had a record. After a long pause, he finally managed to stammer out:
"Even if you wanted to back out, you should have at least reminded me!"

"If I were to remind you that the Emperor doesn't have enough fun, he'd punish my family later." Eunuch Liu was an honest man who always spoke his mind.

"At least don't embarrass my son in public!" Jiao Fang patted her heart and said, "That child has never been dropped on the ground since birth, how can you let him be embarrassed?"

"So what if he makes a fool of himself?" Liu Jin couldn't help but sneer. "With your son's limited knowledge, it's better if he doesn't pass the exam. It would be embarrassing if he did!"

"My son isn't that bad!" Jiao Fang fully embodied the idea that "other people's wives are always better, but your own children are always the best."

"Before the imperial examination, I asked your son to compose a poem about pomegranates. Guess what he wrote?" Liu Jin sneered.

Having said that, he shook his head and recited in the tone of someone who was burning yellow:
"Green branches and leaves with red flowers,"

"What wonderful lines of poetry! It has the style of Bai Juyi!" Jiao Fang exclaimed.

"We have it in our home too."

“That’s right, we have one at home.” Jiao Fang nodded. “It’s very practical…”

"I haven't seen it for two or three days, and a big lump has formed on the branch!" Liu Jin finished reading and burst into laughter with his brother.

Even the eunuchs laughed at Jiao Huangzhong. Jiao Fang's old face turned red and white in turns, but she forced herself to speak to her son, saying, "Tell me, isn't this poem lively and engaging? Doesn't it connect with the people?"

"Alright, alright!" Liu Jin was too lazy to argue with him, and waved his hand, saying, "In my opinion, your son is simply not cut out for studying. Why insist on wasting his life on the imperial examinations?"

He paused for a moment and then said, "Later, we'll appoint him as a commander of the Imperial Guard, where he'll live a life of luxury and comfort. Wouldn't that be wonderful?!"

"Alas, this is indeed a way out..." Jiao Fang sighed deeply, her face full of bitterness, "But my son is a scholar who has passed the imperial examination; he can't possibly agree to abandon his pen for the sword!"

"Don't you know how he got his degree? What makes his military rank unworthy of him?" Liu Jin suggested.
"Why don't we wait until April and let him participate in the martial arts examination? If he can't get the top score in the civil service examination, he can get the top score in the martial arts examination!"

"Sigh, I'll go back and ask him first..." Jiao Fang didn't dare to say anything definitively. But this topic ultimately made him feel awkward, so he could only change the subject: "This time, our fellow villagers from Henan and Shaanxi have been ripped off, while Shandong and Shanxi, especially those people from Beizhili, have benefited!"

Liu Jin picked up his teacup and took a slow sip: "Don't get agitated. This incident clearly shows that the Emperor has grown up and has his own ideas... We didn't realize it before and went too far. The Emperor is giving us a warning!"

Jiao Fang shuddered, opened her mouth, and said in a hoarse voice, "So fast?"

“No, that’s too late. The Emperor is eighteen already, quite late for maturity,” Liu Jin said worriedly. “I’m afraid we’ll have to be more restrained from now on…”

"Understood." Jiao Fang nodded.

~~
The Sichuan Provincial Examination Hall was brightly lit, bustling with activity, and filled with guests.

The celebratory banquet stretched from the courtyard all the way to Sichuan Camp Alley, where people clinked glasses, laughed and chatted, and drank all night long.

The Chinese scholars, having completely shed their shackles, drank heartily, accepting all who came.

Although there is a crucial palace examination in half a month, the palace examination only ranks candidates and does not eliminate them, so everyone's pressure is much less.

Besides, the palace examination only tests one policy essay, so no matter how much you cram at the last minute, it's hard to improve. It would be better to take advantage of these few days to visit your teachers, mentors, and senior figures in the capital, listen to their discussions on current affairs and political insights, broaden your horizons, and improve your understanding. This might actually be more helpful in developing your policy essay.

P.S. I dare not leave any hooks here. I'll start the rest tomorrow... Posting first, revising later. Please vote with monthly tickets!!!

(End of this chapter)