The messenger arrived beaming with joy: “Congratulations to Scholar Gu for placing first in the exam! Your name shines on the Golden List—just as everyone hoped! Congratulations to Scholar Gu on achieving the Minor Three Yuan!”

It turned out to be someone delivering good news.

Gu Qingyan stood in a daze for a moment before remembering—it was the day of the exam results.

No wonder he’d forgotten. Zhang Nian had suddenly fallen ill, and he’d been busy taking care of him, letting the matter slip his mind entirely.

Zhang Nian reacted faster than him, quickly running into the house to bring out money to reward the bearer of good news.

Seeing Gu Qingyan’s lukewarm response, the runner thought he might not be getting any reward. But once he felt the heavy pouch and realized it was filled with silver, his face lit up in delight.

He began spouting auspicious words freely, showering Gu Qingyan with compliments, praising him as someone unmatched under heaven and on earth.

Neighbors who heard the commotion came over to offer their congratulations, each bringing words of blessing, hoping to catch a bit of good fortune for themselves.

Soon, the entrance was packed tight. Zhang Nian welcomed everyone without discrimination and handed out celebratory sweets to each guest.

It was quite a while before the crowd slowly dispersed.

Gu Qingyan looked on in confusion. “When did you prepare all this?”

“I bought them when you went to take the county exam,” Zhang Nian said with a wide grin. “I just knew you would pass. I only didn’t tell you because I was afraid it might stress you out.”

Gu Qingyan teased, “Or were you afraid I might not pass and would be heartbroken, so you kept quiet?”

“How could that be? You were bound to pass, Brother Gu!” Zhang Nian said proudly. “And not only did you pass, you came first! That’s a Minor Three Yuan!”

Gu Qingyan smiled. “A Minor Three Yuan isn’t that rare. One appears every two or three years. With so many prefectures in Great Zhou, there are probably seventeen or eighteen of them each year.”

“But it’s still impressive!” Zhang Nian said at once. “I’ve never heard of anyone from Lingchuan County achieving the Minor Three Yuan before.”

Having passed the county-level exam, Gu Qingyan was also in a good mood. “I wonder if Zhang Cheng passed too?”

“I’ll go check the list. Since you placed first, I want to see it with my own eyes. That way, when I get back, I can report to Madam Liu and the others properly!” Zhang Nian replied, then immediately dashed out. “Brother Gu, I’ll be right back after checking!”

“Don’t forget to see if Zhang Cheng’s name is on the list,” Gu Qingyan called after him.

Before the county exam, Zhang Cheng had been very anxious. He’d told Gu Qingyan several times that he wasn’t confident. After all, in the last prefectural exam, Gu Qingyan had come first, while Zhang Cheng was at the bottom—they were the head and the tail of the list.

This time, Zhang Cheng had only joined the county exam with a “let’s see how it goes” attitude.

Looking outside, Gu Qingyan saw that Zhang Nian was already out of sight.

He smiled helplessly but was in great spirits.

Now that the exam was over, he could finally go home. Every time he came to Qingzhou Prefecture, something always happened. Gu Qingyan couldn’t help but feel he was somehow cursed when it came to this place.

Otherwise, why did he always feel so uneasy every time he came here?

Compared to that, he much preferred the serene mountains and rivers of Lingchuan County.

“Congratulations to Scholar Gu on your success.”

Gu Qingyan hadn’t even gone back into the house when another bearer of good news arrived at the door.

He was surprised. This was just the county exam—why were there so many rounds of people coming to deliver the news?

He stepped out and saw that the newcomer wore regular clothes, not an official’s uniform.

“An old friend heard of your success and sent me to offer congratulations,” the man said, handing over a gift box.

Gu Qingyan frowned. “May I ask who this ‘old friend’ is?”

“You’ll know when you open it,” the man replied with a cryptic smile.

Gu Qingyan’s expression turned cold. “I’m but a modest scholar and dare not accept gifts from unknown sources.”

“There’s no need to keep people at arm’s length, Scholar Gu.”

The man raised his head slightly. “The Left Guardian says you’ve turned him down repeatedly. If this keeps up, he might get upset.”

“You…” Gu Qingyan’s expression changed.

But the man quickly dropped the gift box and disappeared into the nearby alleyway before Gu Qingyan could react.

Gu Qingyan frowned deeply. He had just placed first, and yet here the Left Guardian’s gift had already arrived at his doorstep. Could that man still be in Qingzhou Prefecture?

No—Pei Xuan had locked down the entire city and searched every corner. That man must’ve escaped long ago.

His gaze shifted to the gift box, and another possibility crossed his mind.

Perhaps the Left Guardian had already left, but had planted spies who left the box behind earlier. Now and then, they’d show up just to remind him of their presence—an intimidation tactic.

This would make the Left Guardian seem even more elusive and ever-present, as if he were haunting him from the shadows. A clear psychological ploy.

Gu Qingyan looked at the box and frowned. Suddenly, a short flute appeared in his hand.

The peachwood flute sounded again. Unlike last time on the mountain, this time the sharp sound circled the gift box.

After a while, Gu Qingyan put the flute away.

“Seems I was overthinking.”

The Left Guardian had likely long since fled. There were no strange Gu worms in the box after all. It made sense—according to Pei Xuan, Gu worms were very rare and precious.

He was just a small figure, not worth the Left Guardian’s repeated efforts.

Gu Qingyan bent down and used a twig to lift the lid.

Clack—the box opened, revealing its contents.

What he saw inside made his expression change.

Inside was a round, lustrous bead. It looked old, blackened with age, yet faintly glowed with a warm sheen.

To someone who didn’t know better, it would appear to be just an oddly colored bead.

But Gu Qingyan recognized it instantly.

It was the Gu family heirloom.

He had seen it in Scholar Gu’s obsession. Scholar Gu had once given the heirloom to Li Jingting, and from then on, Li Jingting’s studies took off—he gained photographic memory and read with extraordinary comprehension.

Gu Qingyan’s expression turned strange. The string of heirloom beads that Li Jingting had taken from the Gu family had been reduced to ashes, completely destroyed.

So how had another one appeared here?

Gu Qingyan picked up the bead with his fingertips and examined it.

Where had the Left Guardian found this bead? And why had he given it to him?

He couldn’t help but recall a line from the letter the Left Guardian once sent:

“The eldest son of the Hua family and your father were the closest of friends.”

Closest of friends?

Several vague thoughts flashed through Gu Qingyan’s mind, but he couldn’t grasp any of them.

He once again opened Gu Tongsheng’s obsession and read through it meticulously from beginning to end, only to sigh in disappointment.

The obsession contained a condensed version of Gu Tongsheng’s life, especially sparse in details about his time in Qingzhou Prefecture. Most of it focused on his failure to pass the exams, his return home in disappointment, and his hopes for Li Jingting.

“What exactly does that guy know?”

Gu Qingyan felt an itch in his heart, like it was being clawed at by a cat. But he knew he shouldn’t think about it, let alone ask. Otherwise, he would fall right into the Left Protector’s trap and end up being led by the nose.

Resolutely, he put the bead back.

“Since you like to be mysterious so much, then I’ll wait.”

He tossed the box into the Traveling Mountain Device, sealed it off in the system, and decided to keep it out of sight and mind.

All the people who knew the truth back then were already dead. Perhaps the old Daoist from Qingcheng Temple knew something, but he had vanished before Gu Qingyan could find him. Everything about it was shrouded in strangeness.

Gu Qingyan feared that in his pursuit of the truth, he might instead walk into a trap.

Zhang Nian returned in a rush, beaming with excitement as he shouted, “Brother Gu! Your name was right at the top, bigger than everyone else’s. It was so grand!”

“Everyone’s praising your talent, saying your future is limitless. It’s a pity you weren’t there, otherwise you could’ve heard them with your own ears.”

“This is great! Mama Liu and the others will be so happy when we get back.”

Gu Qingyan was helpless, thinking to himself that Zhang Nian was imagining things. The names on the exam list were all printed in the same size—there was no difference.

“Did you pass, Brother Zhang?” Gu Qingyan asked.

Zhang Nian shook his head. “I ran into my cousin. He said it’s understandable that I didn’t pass, and that I should go home, lock myself in, and study hard for the next two years. He also said you should be happy and not feel bad for him.”

Hearing this, Gu Qingyan felt a pang of regret.

“Brother Gu, when are we going home?”

Gu Qingyan was also eager to return, but unlike the county or prefecture exams, passing the yuan exam required registering and receiving the xiucai credential. The Great Zhou also issued each xiucai a scholar’s robe.

These were symbols of one’s new status. Of course, the robe wasn’t durable—once it wore out, it had to be replaced at one’s own expense. The court only issued it once.

“We’ll head back tomorrow, after we’ve collected the credential and robe.”

Zhang Nian couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t we attending the Qionglin Banquet? I’ve seen it in the plays—with flower pins and everything!”

Gu Qingyan explained, “In Great Zhou, only the provincial exam and palace exam are followed by the Luming and Qionglin banquets. The yuan exam doesn’t have one.”

“I see. That’s fine too—means we can go home sooner.”

Upon hearing that, Zhang Nian immediately began packing, muttering to himself, “Everyone back home must be anxious. If we delay like last time, they’ll be worried sick.”

The two agreed without hesitation—Gu Qingyan didn’t want to linger in Qingzhou Prefecture any longer either.

News that Gu Qingyan had taken the top spot and earned the title of Xiao Sanyuan spread quickly. Some rejoiced, while others grieved.

Zhang Cheng, though he hadn’t passed himself, was genuinely happy for Gu Qingyan.

But others, upon hearing the news, flew into a rage.

Within the funeral procession escorting the coffin home, a woman’s shrill curses rang out constantly, hurling invective at Bu Xiu.

Lu Yanchi couldn’t help but try to rush in but was held back by his mother.

“Where do you think you’re going? No matter what happens, stay out of it. Your father and brother will handle it.”

“But…”

“No buts.” Lady Lu the Second was unshakable. “Chi’er, listen to your mother. There are some things you mustn’t interfere with.”

Lu Yanchi lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Inside the carriage, the First Lady of the Lu family wore a twisted expression, venomous words spewing from her mouth, all directed at her once-beloved eldest son.

In stark contrast to her hysteria, Lu Yanjun’s expression remained unchanged—he simply listened quietly.

“I’m talking to you. Are you even listening?”

“Your father is dead. Your brother is dead. Two lives! A father murdered, a brother killed—have you forgotten all of that?”

“They died with grievances unresolved, while Gu Qingyan rises higher and higher! I can’t accept it! Lu Yanjun, are you even a man? If you still bear the Lu name, if you still recognize me as your mother, then you should avenge them!”

No matter how much she cursed, Lu Yanjun remained silent.

Only when the woman lunged forward and started tearing at him did he react—by letting her. He didn’t resist until she collapsed from exhaustion.

“I won’t let him go. I’ll never let him go.”

Lu Yanjun exhaled and finally spoke. “Mother, don’t you understand yet? No matter what you want to do now, it won’t succeed.”

“All the tricks you used, all the money you spent, none of it could even get close to him.”

“The scholars who once praised and revered the Lu family now can’t wait to trample it underfoot, to sever all ties with us.”

“Wen Ruliang was like that back then. Lü Hanlin is the same now.”

With the last shred of hope shattered, the First Lady of the Lu family let out a wail. “Why? Why is he the one who gets to remain unscathed?”

Lu Yanjun ignored her breakdown and left the suffocating carriage.

“Second Uncle, I’m leaving.”

Second Master Lu was shocked. “Leaving? Where are you going?”

“To where I belong.” Lu Yanjun handed everything over to his uncle. “Second Uncle, I know what I’m doing. The next time we meet, I’ll make sure the Lu family rises to prominence again.”

Second Master Lu tried to stop him but saw Lu Yanjun ride off without looking back.

—

Early the next morning, Gu Qingyan took Zhang Nian to the magistrate’s office and received his credential and scholar’s robe.

The xiucai credential was a small wooden plaque, made of rather ordinary material.

But this small plaque signified a change in identity. From this day on, Gu Qingyan belonged to the scholar class and would enjoy Great Zhou’s privileges—such as exemption from taxes and levies.

In court, even without a patron, Gu Qingyan could no longer be subjected to arbitrary punishment.

Even if they made mistakes, they could be treated leniently—this was the first “immunity token” of ancient times. Although its actual value wasn’t that great, it was indeed useful.

Only after learning about the privileges granted to a xiucai (county-level scholar) did Gu Qingyan begin to understand Gu Tongsheng’s obsession.

On the surface, tongsheng and xiucai seemed to be separated by just one exam, but in truth, the difference between them was vast—they were not even on the same level.

Gu Qingyan carefully stored the certificate; if it was lost, it would be very troublesome to replace.

The xiucai robe issued by Great Zhou was blue—a buttoned inner garment with a long robe over it, refined and scholarly, clearly unsuited for manual labor.

Likewise, the change in clothing symbolized a shift for the wearer—from “laborer” to “scholar,” meaning they could now make a living without engaging in physical work.

In ancient times, the imperial examination was virtually the only path to upward mobility.

Gu Qingyan saw some scholars eagerly put on their xiucai robes as soon as they received them.

He could understand their excitement. After all, from this day onward, they belonged to a different social class.

Zhang Nian was even more excited. He whispered, “Brother Gu, when we get back, let’s try on our robes too. You’ll definitely look even more handsome and impressive than them.”

Gu Qingyan couldn’t help but laugh. He had just seen the robes—they were all the same style, loose at the waist, wide enough to fit someone over two hundred pounds.

He wasn’t short, but he was skinny. It would be a miracle if he looked good in it.

Still, seeing the eager look in Zhang Nian’s eyes, he nodded and indulged him, “Alright, I’ll wear it for you when we get back.”

“When we return to Lingchuan County, and Brother Gu walks into Meiling Village in that robe, everyone will definitely be envious.”

Gu Qingyan was helpless.

Just the thought of strutting around in the xiucai robe made him want to laugh.

“Scholar Gu, the Provincial Director would like to meet with you. Please come up to the teahouse.”

Gu Qingyan’s brows lifted slightly.

Director Lü Hanlin? What could he want with him at this time?

Lü Hanlin was a student of Hongshan Academy and a disciple of Dean Lu. Although Pei Xuan said Lü Hanlin was “a man who understands the times,” Gu Qingyan still remained cautious.

“This way, Scholar Gu.”

Since Lü Hanlin had sent for him, Gu Qingyan had to go despite his wariness.

As they entered the restaurant, Zhang Nian tensed up.

He still remembered the last time the Lu family hosted a banquet—Brother Gu had been poisoned during the meal. Fortunately, he had detox pills on him; otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous.

Although it was later revealed that the Lu family wasn’t behind it, the whole thing started because of them. His Brother Gu had been dragged into it by association.

As they climbed the stairs, Zhang Nian couldn’t help but whisper, “Brother Gu, be careful. Don’t eat anything.”

“Don’t worry,” Gu Qingyan reassured him.

But Zhang Nian couldn’t relax, especially when he was stopped outside the private room.

Gu Qingyan gave him a nod before stepping inside.

Lü Hanlin was standing by the window. From where he stood, he could see the comings and goings of people below.

“Student greets Lord Lü,” Gu Qingyan said, bowing in respect.

Lü Hanlin turned around. He looked like a typical scholar—refined in appearance, with a gentle demeanor.

Only the crease between his brows made him seem a little stern.

“So you’re Gu Qingyan. Indeed, a fine young man. To place first in all three levels of the county exam at such a young age—you’re quite the promising talent.”

Gu Qingyan’s brows twitched slightly. “Thank you for the praise, my lord. I was merely lucky. I still have much to learn.”

Lü Hanlin chuckled. “You’re a bit green, but clearly gifted. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been chosen as the top scorer in this exam.”

Then his tone shifted. “I heard you studied at Lingchuan County School?”

“That’s correct.”

“I know your instructor, Master Ma. How is he doing these days?”

Gu Qingyan grew even more puzzled. Lü Hanlin’s words sounded like he was trying to build rapport.

But trying to do so through Master Ma didn’t make Gu Qingyan feel closer—in fact, it only made him more guarded.

“Master Ma has taught at the county school for many years, always diligently and conscientiously. Thanks to his careful guidance, I was able to pass the exam.”

Lü Hanlin, being a shrewd man, immediately picked up on the subtext. Gu Qingyan clearly didn’t have much of a relationship with Master Ma.

It made sense—having ties to the Pei family, why would he care about a rural instructor?

Lü Hanlin changed the subject. “Look at me, I was so happy to meet a bright young man that I forgot to invite you to sit.”

“Please, have some tea.”

Gu Qingyan sat down a bit stiffly.

Lü Hanlin noticed and was mildly surprised. Given Gu Qingyan’s extraordinary experience, he had expected more composure. He deliberately said, “By the way, I was in the same examination cohort as your foster father, Minister Li. We’ve had some private interactions.”

“Although you’re not his biological son, you were raised by the Li family for fifteen years. That bond is not easily severed. If you wish, I could formally adopt you as my godson. Wouldn’t that be beneficial for both of us?”

Gu Qingyan was internally alarmed. He quickly stood and said, “Thank you for your great kindness, my lord. It’s not that I’m ungrateful, but due to the child-swap situation, it’s difficult for Madam Xu to accept me. Just seeing me causes her displeasure.”

“Thankfully, Prefect Ding mediated, allowing me to repay the kindness of being raised. Now, the bridge is the bridge, the road is the road—we’re better off going our separate ways.”

Lü Hanlin’s gaze darkened slightly.

He had extended the olive branch several times, but Gu Qingyan either didn’t understand or had no intention of accepting it.

What did the Gu family have? They were just poor villagers from the countryside, parents deceased, no resources—what help could they possibly offer?

But the Li family was different. After fifteen years in their household, if Gu Qingyan returned and made something of himself, Minister Li would surely not be stingy in his support.

And yet, Gu Qingyan had flatly rejected such a good opportunity.

Lu Hanlin narrowed his eyes. “Oh, so that’s how it is. Seems I’ve meddled unnecessarily.”

He took a sip of tea and chuckled. “Now that you’ve passed the county-level exam and become a xiucai, have you thought about what comes next?”

Gu Qingyan replied, “Naturally, I plan to shut myself away and study hard, and take the provincial exam next year—hopefully to succeed in one go.”

Lu Hanlin laughed heartily. “I was the chief examiner this time, so I suppose I’m half your mentor. Let me tell you something plainly—there are many who pass the county exam, but few who pass the provincial one. To pass the national exam and become a jinshi? That’s harder still.”

It was a frank and fair statement.

Gu Qingyan agreed readily. “Indeed, scholars endure ten years of hardship—it’s not easy.”

Still, to be honest, Gu Qingyan felt that studying was already the easiest kind of work. In Meiling Village, most children didn’t even have the opportunity to study.

Lu Hanlin looked at him with a smile. “For most, it’s indeed difficult. But with a good teacher, one achieves twice the result with half the effort.”

“You’ve now passed as a xiucai, just barely meeting the admission requirements for Hongshan Academy. In all of Qingzhou Prefecture, what academy is better than Hongshan? Why not give it a try?”

Gu Qingyan was stunned—he hadn’t expected Lu Hanlin to summon him in order to recommend him to Hongshan Academy.

Everyone knew about his past conflicts with Hongshan Academy.

Not to mention Dean Lu—back at Qingzhou Pavilion, four people had died, three of them students from Hongshan.

Though he wasn’t the killer, his reputation at the academy was terrible. Most students there were openly hostile toward him.

In such circumstances, no matter how good the academy was, Gu Qingyan wouldn’t willingly subject himself to that kind of treatment.

“Thank you for your guidance, sir. Hongshan Academy is indeed the pinnacle of scholarship in Qingzhou and a place all scholars aspire to, but I am unambitious and prefer not to leave home to study.”

Lu Hanlin frowned.

“If it’s because of Dean Lu, you needn’t worry. Hongshan Academy has the capacity to be magnanimous.”

For reasons unknown, Lu Hanlin revealed a piece of information: “It’s true that someone from the Lu family had malicious intent and tried to frame you during the exam. But I had already prepared for it, which is why you were able to complete it smoothly.”

Gu Qingyan was taken aback.

He recalled how, outside the exam venue, he had sensed malice more than once.

Later, everything had gone smoothly—he’d thought he was just being paranoid and had dismissed it.

Seeing his surprise, Lu Hanlin smiled smugly. “I’ve always been fair and strict. I wouldn’t allow anyone to tamper with the examination.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Gu Qingyan thanked him first, then was about to decline again—but suddenly stopped.

Hongshan Academy, the Hua family, the Gu family—was there a connection among them?

That letter from the Left Guardian resurfaced in his mind.

Perhaps he did need to go to Hongshan Academy. Even if he didn’t enroll, he could scout the place, see if he could uncover the truth.

Just like when he joined the escort agency and discovered the account books.

If he could sign in at Hongshan Academy and learn the truth from back then, many of his questions would be answered.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Qingyan immediately cupped his hands and said, “Since you’ve shown me such great kindness, I would be remiss to refuse.”

Hearing this, Lu Hanlin burst out laughing and patted his shoulder affectionately. “That’s the spirit. Joining Hongshan Academy will only benefit you. If you one day pass the imperial exam and enter court, you’ll have fellow students to watch your back.”

His stance was clear—he wanted to turn past enmity into friendship.

He even implied that if Gu Qingyan made it into the court, the Hongshan Academy faction would support him.

Gu Qingyan couldn’t help but wonder—was this Lu Hanlin’s personal decision, or did it come from Hongshan Academy itself? Did he really have that much influence?

He didn’t have to wonder long.

After chatting a little more, Lu Hanlin said, “You passed all three exams with top honors. If Young Lord Pei knew, he’d be thrilled. Before leaving, he came to me specifically to make sure you wouldn’t be mistreated.”

“I’ve often heard people say Young Lord Pei is cold and unfeeling, but when I met him, I found he wasn’t quite as the rumors claim.”

Now Gu Qingyan understood.

No wonder such a high-ranking official like the education commissioner would take notice of a mere student like him.

Not only had he not been troubled, doors were being opened for him—because of Pei Xuan.

Was this what it meant to have backing?

Thinking of Pei Xuan, Gu Qingyan couldn’t help but recall that bizarre, miscommunicated confession. His feelings were very complicated.

He couldn’t help but wonder—Pei Xuan had surely read the letter by now, and realized their misunderstanding.

Would he be happy to hear of Gu Qingyan’s news? More likely, he’d be annoyed, maybe even angry enough to not want to see him.

Gu Qingyan could only smile awkwardly.

Lu Hanlin didn’t say much more. As the education commissioner, if he seemed too accommodating, it might look like he was currying favor with the Pei family—which would be unseemly.

He stopped at the right moment—having extended goodwill and earned favor with the Pei family—then gave Gu Qingyan a few final words of advice before letting him go.

As Gu Qingyan stepped out of the private room, he couldn’t help but exhale deeply.

Dealing with someone like Lu Hanlin—going in circles with words—was truly exhausting.

Zhang Nian hurried to catch up with him, asking nervously in a low voice, “Brother Gu, are you alright? Do you feel unwell? Should we stop by the clinic just to be sure?”

Gu Qingyan reassured him helplessly, “I’m really fine this time. I can’t be so unlucky as to get poisoned every time, right?”

Zhang Nian quickly spat three times for luck. “Don’t say such unlucky things!”

“But we can’t go straight home. There’s somewhere we need to stop first.” Gu Qingyan changed the subject.

Zhang Nian asked anxiously, “Where?”

“Hongshan Academy,” Gu Qingyan replied. He had to go and see for himself—what secrets were buried inside the academy?

Secrets so dark the Lu family had been willing to kill to hide them—even if it meant slaughtering all thirty-two members of the Hua family.

Zhang Nian’s face instantly fell, looking more worried than ever.