Chapter 140: Song Estate Unsealed, Provincial Graduates from Across the Land Arrive in the Capital |
At the Song Estate, the family remained as they had been, gathered in the main hall, obediently doing nothing at all.
After all, Song Jing had already given his instructions—before he emerged, they were not to cause any trouble whatsoever.
Now that Song Shi'an had already established such tremendous merit, all they needed to do was wait for the rewards to be calculated.
"Father, about how much longer before he can come out?" Song Qin asked wearily.
"The Court of Judicial Review's case adjudication process needs to be completed, which requires some time," Song Ce answered. "Especially for a major case like this—it can't possibly be that simple."
"But isn't the examination coming up soon?" Song Qin asked. "Can't they release us all before then?"
"Registration for the examination closed long ago," Song Ce said.
"Then Ce-er, doesn't that mean you won't be able to take it this time?" Madam Cui said, feeling extremely regretful and somewhat anxious.
After all, he hadn't performed well in the previous provincial examination and hadn't even achieved sub-yuan status. Song Ce had been quite dejected ever since.
Although not long after Song Shi'an went to Shuofeng, the entire Song family had been arrested with essentially no time to study, he had always aimed to surpass his father...
However, just when everyone expected him to be quite upset, Song Ce said in a voice devoid of any emotion: "It's just one examination. Compared to the safety of our clan, it counts for nothing."
All at once, he had become so mature.
This child was only sixteen years old...
"I used to think you were rather dull, but now it seems you have quite a manly bearing," Song Qin also rarely praised him.
"How rude! You mustn't speak to your elder brother that way," Madam Cui scolded.
"What elder brother? He was only born a little while before me..." Song Qin muttered under her breath.
"Well, you're also sixteen this year."
Madam Cui suddenly realized something and immediately looked toward Song Qin, who quickly shrank her head: "Goodness, you've aged another year. We need to hurry and marry you off."
Before they were imprisoned, Song Qin had been fifteen—already of marriageable age.
Who could have imagined that the entire family would suddenly be arrested, delaying things for more than half a year, forcing her to reach sixteen.
She had become an older unmarried maiden.
"Has Mother thought about whom to marry Qin-mei to?" Song Ce asked, showing rare curiosity.
"Usually so silent, but you become interested when this topic comes up?" Song Qin complained with displeasure.
After these days of close contact, Jiang-shi had also discovered that aside from Madam Cui, the two children here were good people.
Song Ce's two older married sisters had been somewhat arrogant.
But these dragon-phoenix twins were much kinder.
Especially Song Ce—he had always been very family-oriented.
So when discussing his sister's marriage, rather than gossip, it was more like concern.
"Once we're released, Qin-er can marry into a marquis household," Jiang-shi said with a smile.
The words "Qin-er" came out.
Everyone was visibly uncomfortable.
This wasn't an ordinary minor wife—this was a concubine of maid origin, whose status was extremely lowly. In the past, she would never dare address the legitimate daughter this way...
But her son was about to return!
A mother's status rises with her son!
Madam Cui instinctively wanted to show disdain, but she also realized that she couldn't afford to offend her now, so she said nothing. Moreover, the corners of her mouth involuntarily formed a smile.
If nothing else, as long as she bore no grudges, that was enough!
Furthermore, if she really could marry into a marquis household, that would be adding nobility upon nobility!
Her own maternal Cui clan was one of the Five Prestigious Families of the Capital. Because they had no merit from following the founding emperor or joining his cause, they had never produced a single marquis—not even the kind of village marquis title that couldn't be inherited.
"Ah, well..." After thinking it over, Song Qin said, "Wouldn't that just be the sons of those meritorious noble families?"
"What, do you look down on them?" Madam Cui asked.
"Not really, it's just that those military generals are all..." Song Qin struggled to find the right word before settling on that plain expression: "Not good-looking."
The Qin Prefecture meritorious nobility were currently the highest aristocracy in Great Yu.
But Qin Prefecture was a place of fierce folk customs, and it had always been impoverished. Among those who followed the founding emperor into battle, only some were from minor gentry families—for instance, Zhao Xiang's ancestors had been good brothers who enjoyed wine, women, and song with the founding emperor.
The rest, aside from a few small landlord families, were mostly local toughs who could rally several hundred village militia—with a touch of gang nature.
Several young masters from Qin Prefecture, a few rich sons from small landlord families, and some gangsters who raised over ten thousand soldiers became the founding emperor's foundation.
With just these ten-thousand-plus men from Qin Prefecture, they campaigned north and south, laying the foundation for Great Yu's realm.
In ancient times, one important standard for being an official was good looks.
But not for being a general.
Gangsters certainly wouldn't be handsome either.
Moreover, to consolidate their power base, the meritorious nobility intermarried with each other, making it difficult to improve their genetic appearance...
In the capital, among the eligible young men considered handsome, hardly any were meritorious nobility.
They were basically all sons of civil official gentry families.
"Child, how can you be so superficial?" Madam Cui criticized.
"I'm just saying," Song Qin complained with dissatisfaction. "Besides, it's not like I get to choose anyway."
"Since you want handsome and from a marquis household..."
After thinking, Song Ce raised his head: "Then there's only Minister Sun's family."
"..........."
After the legitimate young master innocently said this, the entire room fell silent.
For a long, long time.
"If it weren't for Minister Sun, we might have gotten out earlier," Song Qin gave him a blank look.
"True enough."
Song Ce knew that given the current conflict between the two families, marriage alliance was impossible.
And a mere marriage alliance couldn't resolve the conflict either.
Unless Song Shi'an married Sun Jinhu and Song Qin married Sun Qian—a complete reconciliation through handshake.
Then the realm would be at peace.
Of course, after experiencing the last provincial examination's policy essay, Song Ce had become quite politically savvy.
He deeply understood one principle—Great Yu had no true leader.
The Emperor wasn't one, the head of the meritorious nobility wasn't one, and the head of the scholar-gentry wasn't one either.
Everyone was pushed into those positions.
The Emperor, the Duke of Li, and Minister Sun all had to answer to the interest groups behind them.
If they couldn't fulfill their responsibilities, they would be replaced.
Just as this family was chatting, Shen Kang entered.
"Lord Shen."
Song Ce quickly stood and bowed.
"Young Master, Madam, Miss." Shen Kang stood with upright posture, casually returning the greeting, then said, "Orders from above—Song Ce will take the examination at home, with joint supervision by the Jinyiwei and Imperial Academy scholars."
Hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded.
"Lord Shen, did someone register for my son?" Madam Cui quickly stood and asked. "Was it my father who did this?"
"Lord Shen, what about my son?" Jiang-shi asked.
"Song Shi'an will take the examination in prison."
After answering Jiang-shi, he turned to Madam Cui and Song Ce and replied: "As for the rest, you'll all know in due time."
Since he said this, everyone knew better than to press further.
After all, the Jinyiwei were not to be trifled with.
"Starting today, the Jinyiwei in the outer hall and all other bailiffs stationed in the estate will completely withdraw." Shen Kang said. "Of course, there will still be people on duty outside the estate gates. But within the estate, you may move and travel freely, including servants making purchases—they just need to apply first."
The restrictions were lifted.
This meant essentially acquittal without charge.
"Then Lord Shen, what should I do?"
Song Ce felt somewhat lost.
Slowly, Shen Kang placed his large, rough hand—with calluses sharp as knife edges—on his shoulder, patted it gently, and smiled kindly: "Young Master, study well for the examination."
………
The capital once again welcomed an unprecedented wave of scholars.
Previously, it had been all the xiucai from across Si Prefecture coming to take the juren examination.
Now, it was juren from across the entire realm coming to take the jinshi examination—truly literary stars everywhere.
Many of these people knew each other.
They traveled in groups, primarily divided by region.
The more precise smaller circles were formed by "same-year juren."
This kind of bond was extremely deep.
In the Scholar's Inn, Gao Yunyi, Fan Wuji, and two others sat at one table.
After their various appointments, these people had gone to serve as officials in different places, so now that they could gather together, naturally they had endless things to talk about.
And endless gossip to share.
"What about Han Zhongchen?" Gao Yunyi asked with interest.
At the mention of this person, the others laughed: "As soon as he returned to Sheng'an, he ran to Minister Sun's house to deliver gifts. Now he's probably running errands for Sun Qian."
Hearing this, everyone pursed their lips and shook their heads without commenting.
Truly shameless.
"He's hoping to rely on the Sun family to get promoted to full Rank 7," Gao Yunyi said.
"Are you two still at Rank 8?"
Because Fan Wuji and Gao Yunyi had placed third and fourth, one went to the military and one became a county magistrate—considered quite high starting positions among this batch of juren.
"You think you can rise a full rank in one year? Reach ministerial position in eight years?" Gao Yunyi laughed.
Normally, the fastest would still need some justification, some achievements, before being promoted one rank every two years.
"Young Master Sun Qian is now one of only two from our batch at full Rank 7. Now that he's collected so much tax, and if he passes the jinshi examination this time, won't he fly straight to Rank 5?"
Comparing oneself to others can be infuriating.
Actually, everyone was doing quite well, but compared to the top aristocratic families, they were still as insignificant as dust.
Barring any accidents, Sun Qian would be the next Minister Sun.
Of course, if Sun Qian entered the game, then Sun Heng would lose the possibility of becoming one of the Nine Ministers.
One family would not have two people in the game simultaneously.
"Speaking of the only two at full Rank 7..."
Fan Wuji looked toward the plaque hanging in the tavern—Grand Ambitions Displayed.
………
"Since they can let Young Master Song take the examination in prison, doesn't that mean they could let him read books in prison too?"
"Right, other people preparing for examinations have to study hard through cold windows, but he's been back so long and hasn't touched a writing brush once."
As the two prison guards chatted, Sun Heng happened to pass by and immediately rebuked them: "Just do your assigned duties. The Court of Judicial Review serves only the Emperor, not to curry favor with the powerful."
"Yes, sir."
The two quickly lowered their heads in acknowledgment of their error.
Although Sun Heng also found Sun Qian annoying, right now they had only one enemy—Song Shi'an.
If Song Shi'an prospered, they would suffer.
At this moment in Song Shi'an's cell, Zhu Amang delivered food as usual and quietly inquired: "The magistrate will take the examination in a few days—is there anything you need?"
"What do you mean?" Song Shi'an asked.
"For instance, any books you need, or paper, ink, brush, and inkstone?"
This wasn't something a mere prison guard could arrange on his own.
Zhu Amang had someone above him—Warden Liu—who had told him to ask.
Warden Liu presumably also had someone he wanted to curry favor with.
"What would I need those for?"
"Don't you need to review?"
Even a prison guard knew that the imperial examination required beautiful prose, needed citations of classics, needed profound ideas.
Having neglected his studies for so long, surely he needed to catch up?
"No need."
However, Song Shi'an directly refused, leaning casually against the wall, holding his steamed bun in hand, and saying offhandedly: "Of all the talent in Great Yu combined—one shi total—this old master has eight dou of it."
Note on the final line: Song Shi'an is making an extremely arrogant classical reference. The original saying attributed to Cao Zhi was "若天下才共一石，曹子建独得八斗" (If all the talent in the world equals one shi, Cao Zijian alone possesses eight dou). Song Shi'an is claiming to possess 80% of all literary talent in Great Yu—an audacious boast, especially considering he's making it while imprisoned and about to take an examination without any preparation.