Chapter 86

Before lunch, Lou Buyu returned with Wei Shu.

Wei Shu was completely relaxed this time, casually ate a few bites of food, and went to bed.

Shen Cui was somewhat surprised. She didn’t expect Ling Qingming to release Wei Shu so smoothly.

After all, Song Yao had a serious performance problem due to a small fire.

Plus, his arrogant nature once he gained power, even though Shen Cui had not participated in the imperial examinations, she also knew that this person was not suitable for important tasks.

Ling Qingming was so calculating, he should have brought up what Lou Buyu had guessed he would say earlier today, and stabilize Wei Shu at the Qingzhu Academy.

She didn’t need to ask about this. Lou Buyu settled Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi, letting them try to do the exam questions and then explaining them together with Wei Shu.

“It’s also lucky. Shu came back early, and Song Yao hasn’t returned to Qingzhu yet! So, without any effort, my senior brother let me bring Shu back. Now that he knows the truth, he’s probably sulking.” Lou Buyu couldn’t help but smile when he mentioned this, “Shu is indeed very good. I originally thought that my senior brother would definitely ask about Song Yao. If he directly said Song Yao’s ranking, my senior brother would definitely change his mind… It would take some effort then.”

“Didn’t you give testimony with Shu?”

“I didn’t. He is straightforward and upright. I don’t want him to deliberately do things against his will. But I think he won’t backstab others. And even if he said it, it wouldn’t matter. After all, my senior brother personally promised that as long as he passed the mansion exam, he could follow him back to Qingzhu or stay in Cuiwei with me. He cares so much about his face, would he still go back on his word?”

Shen Cui laughed. Ling Qingming had thought that Wei Shu’s heart was leaning towards Cuiwei, and without the high learning of the legitimate heir Song Yao, he tried to use Lou Buyu to teach him.

In fact, where did he know that although Wei Shu had indeed had a lot of contact with their Academy before, he was not a three-year-old child who could be fooled by a little sweetness and led away by someone, not until the point of turning his coat.

But now that he will stay in Cuiwei for a long time, there is no more intrigue here. The academy treats each other sincerely, exchanging genuine feelings. Wei Shu’s heart is naturally leaning more and more towards Cuiwei. Even if his origins are mentioned in the future, with Qingzhu in front and Cuiwei behind, as long as you’re not blind, you can see which side he favors more.

The head of Qingzhu Mountain is completely shooting himself in the foot!

While Wei Shu was asleep, Shen Cui didn’t have time to gain more benefits.

He probably slept for about two hours before getting up and coming out of the dormitory.

At that time, Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi had also finished writing the part about the “tie jing” for the exam.

The so-called “tie jing,” explained with the content of “Tong Dian · Xuan Ju San,” is “using the classics one has studied to cover both ends, leaving only one line in the middle, and cutting the paper into a tie. The word ‘tie’ can increase or decrease at any time. It may not be the same. Those who can get four, five, or six are considered excellent.”

When Shen Cui was eavesdropping in the classroom, he took a glance and knew that this question was similar to the fill-in-the-blank questions in later Chinese language exams.

This tests the examinee’s memory, which is the most basic thing in the imperial examinations.

Both Wei Shu and Wei Xi answered correctly. Mu Er Pang had only studied for a short time, and there were some books he hadn’t learned yet, so he could probably only write eighty percent of the answer.

He felt a little embarrassed, but Lou Buyu said, “It’s nothing. What you didn’t answer is what you haven’t learned yet. What you have learned, you answered all correctly!”

Wei Shu and Wei Xi nodded along. Wei Xi said, “My memory is slightly better than my elder brother’s, but when I was just learning for a year like Senior Brother, I couldn’t memorize as many books as he did.”

Everyone saw the hard work Mu Er Pang had put in.

Who, at the beginning of their education, could sit still and study as diligently as he did?

Many people say they have been studying hard for ten years, but in fact, the first few years are just tempering their character and cultivating good study habits.

Mu Er Pang started late, but he was born with a single-minded determination and perseverance. Wei Xi and Wei Shu, who came later, have never underestimated him.

After finishing the part about “tie jing,” Lou Buyu began to talk about miscellaneous essays, which include essays, speeches, and other styles, mainly testing calligraphy and composition skills.

Mu Er Pang has now practiced enough to write a passable Guange style, although his essays are far from good, his handwriting is not bad.

Shen Cui didn’t quite understand this part, and seeing her focus dropping rapidly, she didn’t dare to continue listening. She quickly took out the calligraphy model she usually practiced and started practicing.

The final policy essay question tests the examinee’s understanding and opinions on law, current affairs, and governance.

This is the most difficult and important part of the three sessions, with many intricacies.

By now, it was twilight, and the two hours before were completely insufficient for Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi to complete the questions.

Lou Buyu decided to hold off on discussing this part for now, letting them finish writing after dinner. Wei Shu, on the other hand, needed to rewrite from a different perspective based on Ling Qingming’s instructions today, and Lou Buyu would discuss it with him tomorrow morning.

At the dinner table, the three young men didn’t chat much, obviously still thinking about the exam questions.

This is the valuable educational resource Wei Shu brought. Although Shen Cui had prepared some questions for them, they knew these were mock questions, and the mindset for mock questions and real questions is naturally different.

After dinner, the children had to write the exam, so Shen Cui couldn’t use time dilation anymore – she couldn’t let them get used to using twice the time to solve the questions.

Shen Cui casually took a book and went home to read. She had just read two pages when Zhou Shi came over.

After she came over, she sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), silent for a while without speaking.

Shen Cui thought Zhou Shi had encountered some problems with making clothes and wanted to discuss with her. Without looking up from her book, she said, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Zhou Shi had been doing small business for a few months. At first, she only took orders from Song Li, but later, many scholars came to her for custom-made clothes. With more people contact, she no longer showed the timidity she had before. She spoke directly, albeit a little embarrassed, “Young Master Wei has returned from the capital, but I don’t know about my husband side…”

It turned out she was asking about Mu Yunchuan. No wonder she was so hesitant today.

Shen Cui didn’t ask further, but found it strange. Yes, Wei Shu had returned from the capital, but why didn’t he mention Mu Yunchuan at all?

He used to even send people to the capital to look for him when buying things. It’s unreasonable to say that he went there in person and had no contact with Mu Yunchuan at all.

Shen Cui said she understood and would ask about it later. Zhou Shi then went back to attend to her own affairs.

Later in the evening, Shen Cui went to pick up her chubby son from school.

At that time, Lou Buyu hadn’t finished class yet, and Wei Shu wasn’t in the hall either. Shen Cui guessed that Lou Buyu had let Wei Shu rest first, so she went to the dormitory to find him.

In the dormitory, Wei Shu was making the bed.

When he heard the knock on the door, he opened it and let her in.

Shen Cui stood at the door and didn’t enter, saying, “Zhou Shi’s child is worried about Yunchuan. It’s strange that you didn’t mention him at all when you came back. She asked me to inquire about it.”

“This matter… is a bit long to explain. I was actually planning to tell the head privately, let’s talk inside.”

It turned out that Wei Shu did go to look for Mu Yunchuan after arriving in the capital. However, Mu Yunchuan was not at the Prefectural School.

He was unfamiliar with the area around the Prefectural School and it took him quite some effort to find out that Mu Yunchuan had gained the appreciation of the Prefectural Education Supervisor and was being personally guided by him.

The county exam was presided over by the Prefectural Education Supervisor, and those who passed the exam would still have to participate in the annual exam, which was also presided over by him, to determine the top three.

Mu Yunchuan, who passed the exam, achieved the highest rank in the annual exam.

The Prefectural Education Supervisor taking him under his wing and planning to recommend Mu Yunchuan as a tribute student to enter the National Academy was a rumor circulating in the Prefectural School. This experience might seem unimaginable on others, but it seemed quite reasonable for Mu Yunchuan.

“Since this matter is not yet settled, I was planning to tell the head privately. There were many things today, and I forgot about it. Yunchuan is knowledgeable and now appreciated by the Prefectural Education Supervisor. If he can become a tribute student and enter the National Academy, theoretically, he can directly become an official.”

When he inquired about this matter at the Prefectural School, the person who gave him the information was almost sour with envy. But Wei Shu was not jealous. Although he now understood that Mu Yunchuan was a friend who should be treated with the indifference of a gentleman, he sincerely hoped for his success.

But Shen Cui knew that Mu Yunchuan wouldn’t do it.

Becoming a tribute student and entering the National Academy was indeed a rare opportunity. Regardless of the original plot development, Mu Yunchuan had grand ambitions and lofty goals. He wouldn’t care about such preferential treatment, which was similar to a special admission. Moreover, by doing so, the Prefectural Education Supervisor would become his benefactor and mentor.

The court struggles were as intricate as the roots of an old tree. How could he, without setting foot in the court and knowing the whole picture, directly tie himself and the Prefectural Education Supervisor together?

“You’re right. Since it’s not settled, let’s pretend we don’t know for now. I’ll just tell Zhou Shi that he is busy at the Prefectural School, and you guys didn’t get to meet him.”

Wei Shu nodded in agreement. It just so happened that Lou Buyu’s class had ended, so Shen Cui asked Wei Shu to rest, and then she took her chubby son home.

Mu Er Pang washed up when he got home, but he didn’t rest. Just as he took out the book he had secretly brought back, Shen Cui knocked on his door.

“Do you have something to do, Mom? I was about to go to bed!”

Shen Cui said, “Don’t give me that. I saw you specifically brought back the candlestick from the academy. What are you planning to do tonight?”

Unable to hide it, Mu Er Pang got off the kang and opened the door.

Seeing the books spread out on the table, Shen Cui asked, “Aren’t you tired?”

Mu Er Pang had been studying with Lou Buyu, with classes lasting from day to half the night. At first, he was exhausted and would fall asleep right after washing up.

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After getting used to it, Shen Cui managed to use time dilation, extending the daily study time to two days and one night.

Despite his naturally high constitution, this intensity of study made him tired every day.

“I am a bit tired,” he admitted, unable to stifle a yawn, “but… well, I just want to try a bit harder.”

Shen Cui understood. He had realized today, while doing the same exercises as his classmates, that there was a gap between him and them, and he wanted to catch up.

Today’s lesson was about tie jing (quoting classics), and the teacher said he answered all the questions correctly, which was already good.

But he felt it wasn’t enough. It was natural to remember what he had studied. For what he hadn’t studied, he could preview it first.

Although it might be harder to memorize while not understanding the meaning during reading, after previewing and then listening to the explanation, he could grasp it better.

He thought of this himself, without anyone teaching him.

Shen Cui confirmed once again that his constitution hadn’t decreased, so she didn’t stop him. She just said, “Then read for another half an hour. I’ll stay with you, and after you finish reading, you can sleep.”

Mu Er Pang nodded repeatedly, and he made space in the bed for her to sit.

Shen Cui sat in the bed, leaning against the wall, listening to him read and recite.

“As the will of heaven changes, so does the rise and fall of all things. The power of the covenant with the earth shall be accomplished…”

Mu Er Pang had just recited for about fifteen minutes when he heard his mother’s steady breathing.

He couldn’t help but smile, tucking her in with the blanket, and then continued to recite quietly.

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