Chapter 129
After the discovery of the advisor Zhou Wenquan's corpse, despite his fingertip being severed by a sharp blade, Steward Liu had already been taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guards. It was only a matter of time before he confessed.
Liu Jian rushed back to the capital, but he was targeted by the Forbidden Dragon Guards. This time, it wasn't him impeaching Yin Wuyan, but the Forbidden Dragon Guards were set to unearth Liu Jian's entire past.
Prince Yu and his entourage also departed from Shangsi County. Gu Qingzhou left a letter and the deed to the farm for Zhan Feiyu before returning to the capital. Shangsi County once again returned to its peaceful state.
Zhan Feiyu took a carriage to the county school every day. A brother and sister, He Sheng and He Nuan, were now by her side. He Sheng was responsible for driving the carriage and picking up Zhan Feiyu, while He Nuan took care of her daily life.
In the blink of an eye, summer turned into the depths of winter. The county examination was scheduled for the sixteenth of February. Although the north wind was biting, the streets were bustling with activity due to the examination. Especially in the inns, teahouses, and taverns, scholars could often be seen gathered.
In the San Sheng Hall, Instructor Zhao put down the essay in his hand and looked at Zhan Feiyu, who had grown a year older but still appeared as childlike as ever.
Perhaps due to good nourishment during the new year, the young girl had grown a bit taller, but her cheeks were still round and plump. The round collar trimmed with rabbit fur made her appear rosy-cheeked and white-toothed. Her scholarly aura made her look nothing like a child from the countryside, but rather like a young lady meticulously raised in a scholarly family.
"With the current quality of your essays, participating in the county examination should be no problem," Instructor Zhao genuinely thought highly of Zhan Feiyu. He had taught many students in his life, and while some were exceptionally talented, few were as diligent and self-disciplined as Zhan Feiyu.
"This student will do her best," Zhan Feiyu said modestly, but a smile bloomed on her bun-like face.
Instructor Zhao was amused by her subtle delight. He then explained in detail the points to be mindful of during the examination. Although the county examination was held within the county and the chief examiner was Magistrate Chen himself, the memory of the Wan Yunhao poisoning case from the previous summer made Instructor Zhao's expression turn solemn.
"Xiao Yu, Liu Jian has been exiled to the frontier, and Tong Tongzhi has been dismissed from his post. The Qin family has also been implicated. However, Jiangnan Circuit is, after all, Chen family's territory. You must be extra careful," Instructor Zhao was not being overly worried. The more peaceful it had been for the past six months, the more it instilled a sense of unease, like the calm before a storm.
Jiangnan Circuit was originally a solid bloc, controlled by several prominent families. However, a crack had now been opened from Xuancheng Prefecture. Coupled with the reform of salt taxes, the situation in Jiangnan Circuit was unpredictable.
Although Zhan Feiyu was just an insignificant little fish, she could easily be swallowed by the surging waves, especially since she had once been a fuse.
"I understand," Zhan Feiyu nodded obediently. However, her clear eyes showed no fear, but rather a burning fighting spirit. If it were a straightforward confrontation, it would be one thing. But if any underhanded tactics were employed, she would eliminate one for every one that came, and a pair for every pair!
As she exited the county school, snowflakes began to fall. In the vast white expanse, Zhan Feiyu pulled her thick cloak tighter and quickened her pace towards the carriage not far away.
"Miss," He Sheng jumped down from the carriage and hurried forward with an umbrella, taking the schoolbag from Zhan Feiyu's back. "The ground is slippery, Miss, please walk slowly."
"It's fine. Let's go to Wen Xing Bookstore." Zhan Feiyu got into the carriage and hugged the hand warmer.
Although she exercised daily, most of her time was spent studying. Her martial arts skills were only enough for self-preservation. Fortunately, her health was good, and she didn't feel too cold even in snowy weather.
The portly shopkeeper, who had bundled himself up like a ball as soon as the weather turned cold, was surprised to see Zhan Feiyu entering in the wind and snow and hurried to greet her. "Why have you come out on such a snowy day?"
"I need to buy some brushes and ink." Zhan Feiyu shook the snow off her body at the entrance, and it was no surprise to see many scholars reading here.
Looking at the serene and dignified young girl, the portly shopkeeper recalled two years ago when the young girl was poor and bought the cheapest yellow hemp paper for practicing calligraphy. At that time, the shopkeeper wondered how long this young girl could persist.
In a poor farming family, supporting even one son to study required the entire family of more than ten people to tighten their belts. Yet, even so, many people gave up after three to five years of study. The imperial examinations were too difficult, and after repeated failures, their family fortune was exhausted.
But the portly shopkeeper had not expected Zhan Feiyu not only to study at the county school but also to be accepted as a disciple by Scholar Gu. Although Scholar Gu had returned to the capital, Xiao Yu had remained in Shangsi County to study. There were rumors that her discipleship was merely an empty title. If Scholar Gu truly intended to take her as a disciple, why not bring her to the capital?
However, regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, Zhan Feiyu had registered at the county yamen's ritual department last month and was waiting to participate in the county examination ten days later.
"Little Scholar Zhan?" Suddenly, a young man reading came over. Compared to Zhan Feiyu, who was wearing a padded skirt and a rabbit-fur cloak, this person was only wearing a washed-out cotton jacket. His face was thin, indicating a humble background.
After exchanging greetings, Qian Pingchao asked, "'Hold the guiding rope, and the net's mesh will naturally open; grasp the root, and the branches will naturally follow.' What is the meaning of this sentence? Please enlighten me, Little Scholar Zhan."
As he finished speaking, Qian Pingchao bowed again, truly not ashamed to ask.
The seven or eight other people in the study, who had been looking at Zhan Feiyu since she entered, were drawn to her. The poisoning case of Scholar Wan last year had caused a great stir, attracting not only scholars from Shangsi County but also scholars from the entire Xuancheng Prefecture and even neighboring prefectures to come to Shangsi County.
Zhan Feiyu had also achieved fame. She had defeated Wan Yunhao, a provincial examination graduate, and Tong Xu, a xiucai (scholar), as a commoner child. Since then, scholars throughout Xuancheng Prefecture had recognized Zhan Feiyu as a prodigy. Even though there were later rumors that Scholar Gu had not accepted her as a disciple, it had not shaken Zhan Feiyu's standing among scholars.
"Have you seen this sentence before?" the man nearby asked his classmate in a low voice. He considered himself well-read, but he still did not know.
After thinking for a moment, his classmate shook his head, "I don't know."
Regardless of whether the other party was genuinely seeking advice or had ulterior motives, Zhan Feiyu pondered for a moment before speaking, "This sentence is from 'Fu Zi.' The ancient sages praised this book: 'Its words are rich in governance, its principles are in order, it preserves the importance of Confucianism, and it is sufficient to block the aberrations of Yang Zhu and Mozi, and to equate Sun Tzu and Mencius with the past.'"
The meaning of this sentence is that if you grasp the main rope of the net, the mesh of the fishing net will naturally open; if you grasp the root, the rest of the details will naturally follow.
Qian Pingchao expressed his sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Little Scholar Zhan, for clarifying my confusion. I saw this sentence before and could not decipher it."
"Among three people walking, there must be one who can be my teacher. Brother, there is no need for formality," Zhan Feiyu's expression was calm and serene, without any smugness or the arrogant aloofness of a prodigy.
Taking two reams of paper from the portly shopkeeper, Zhan Feiyu paused as she was about to leave and said with a smile, "'Fu Zi' is all about governance and enlightenment of Confucianism, with profound famous sayings. Brother, you can read it more. Goodbye."
The scholars in the study looked at the young girl walking away into the snow with immense admiration. When a person's height far surpasses theirs, jealousy no longer arises; there is only admiration.
Qian Pingchao returned to his seat and continued reading, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Zhan Feiyu was too self-disciplined. She went from home to the county school every day, and occasionally, when she studied late at the county school, she would stay at the farm by the official road. Not only could he not find fault with Zhan Feiyu, but he couldn't even see her.
Fortunately, Zhan Feiyu came to Wen Xing Bookstore every ten days to buy brushes and ink. Qian Pingchao had been coming to Wen Xing Bookstore every few days for the past few months to read and occasionally buy something. He had met Zhan Feiyu five or six times before, but he had never made a move. Recognized and praised by the scholars of the county school, Zhan Feiyu indeed possessed true talent.
It was not until today that Qian Pingchao found a sentence from an obscure ancient book. He had originally intended to tarnish Zhan Feiyu's reputation before the county examination, but he never expected Zhan Feiyu to answer it so readily.
"Miss, is something wrong?" He Sheng, in his twenties, had ordinary features and looked honest and reliable. He would not attract attention in a crowd, but he was a guard sent by Yin Wuyan to protect Zhan Feiyu.
"Although 'Fu Zi' has not been lost, it would not be found in Shangsi County." Getting into the carriage, Zhan Feiyu smiled, hooking the corners of her lips. "Dressed as a scholar from a poor family, where could he have seen this ancient book? Furthermore, as a diligent and eager student, if he had doubts, he would have asked at the time, why wait for me to come to the bookstore."
Whether it was Zhan Feiyu or the scholars of the county school, whenever they encountered something they didn't understand, they would ask their classmates, their instructors, or other learned individuals. Would they really save their questions for the New Year?
As He Sheng drove the carriage, he spoke after leaving the county town, "A'Nuan also noticed someone lingering outside the manor these past few days."
A centipede is dead but not stiff! The Tong family had fallen, and the Qin family had been implicated. However, Zhan Feiyu was a disciple of Gu Qingzhou. The two families had been dormant for more than half a year, and they were likely planning to tamper with things during the county examination to utterly ruin Zhan Feiyu.
When the carriage stopped at the farm, as soon as Zhan Feiyu alighted, a maid in a dark blue padded skirt hurried over. The snow made the ground slippery, but her steps were swift and exceptionally steady.
"Miss, hurry inside to warm up." He Nuan took the umbrella handed by He Sheng and quickly shielded Zhan Feiyu, while she herself was completely exposed to the wind and snow.
Inside the house, the warmth of the charcoal fire made her body feel comfortable. Looking at the relaxed Zhan Feiyu, He Nuan said, "The county school has been suspended for several days, yet Miss departed before dawn. You must have suffered greatly on the way." After the old servant brought in hot water, Qian Pingchao drank two cups of tea to warm his body. The door was left open, ostensibly to enjoy the snow view, but also to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
Taking two sips of hot water from the teacup, Zhan Feiyu smiled and said, "Let alone snow, even if knives were falling from the sky, I would still have to go to school. If I fail the provincial examination, I fear my teacher would kill me to avoid ruining his reputation."
He Nuan hung up the unbuttoned rabbit-fur cloak and glanced around the room. In the corner, a vase held a blooming plum blossom, its faint fragrance filling the room. A landscape screen divided the room into two. Every piece of furniture in the room was exquisite. These were nominally arranged by Scholar Gu, but in reality, they were all at Yin Wuyan's command.
Only the boxes of books and stationery sent from the capital every half month truly came from the scholar's mansion. Zhan Feiyu, in turn, packed her essays and poems and sent them back to the capital every half month for Gu Qingzhou to review.
"They say strict teachers produce outstanding students. Scholar Gu is indeed a bit strict," He Nuan was a martial maid. She had seen many young ladies from noble families when she was in the Forbidden Dragon Guards. Although they also had to study and learn calligraphy, music, chess, and painting, and even domestic arts, it was ultimately easier than men studying for the imperial examinations.
In the past six months, He Nuan, while taking care of Zhan Feiyu's daily life, truly understood what it meant to study diligently! Even if her hands were frozen, she would rub them and then pick up the brush to write. An essay could be revised five, six, or seven or eight times, and practicing calligraphy could truly turn a pool of water black.
At this moment, Qian Pingchao, who had left Wen Xing Bookstore, bought a few steamed buns from a street stall and then went home. He had rented a house in the county during this period.
After the old servant brought in hot water, Qian Pingchao drank two cups of tea to warm his body. The door was left open, ostensibly to enjoy the snow view, but also to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
"Uncle Huang, our previous plan might not work," Qian Pingchao gnawed on a steamed bun, his brows filled with disdain. However, to avoid suspicion, he had to pretend to be a poor scholar, wearing a patched cotton jacket and eating steamed buns, pickles, and plain congee.
His back was slightly hunched. Old Man Huang was wiping tables and chairs with a rag. He glanced out the window and said in a low voice that did not sound like a sixty-year-old man, "Is she really that intelligent?"
"The examination papers from last year were posted outside the county yamen. Scholars from Xuancheng Prefecture all witnessed it. Moreover, with the verification of the Forbidden Dragon Guards, who would suspect that Zhan Feiyu's policy questions were ghostwritten?" Qian Pingchao's voice was filled with discernible jealousy. If such talent were his own, why would he worry about not achieving fame?
Qian Pingchao was indeed from a poor family and had some talent for studying. He started his education at the age of eight. When he was ten, he met Old Man Huang and received his sponsorship. However, Qian Pingchao was a typical child prodigy who had achieved little by the time he was twenty, and he had not yet passed the imperial examinations.
After careful consideration, Old Man Huang's hoarse voice sounded again, "Since that is the case, let's wait until the county examination. This time, if you fail again, then in the future..."
Old Man Huang did not finish the remaining words, but Qian Pingchao understood the threat. If he failed to become a xiucai again, then Old Man Huang would no longer provide him with money for his studies, and he would lose access to the precious books he had been reading, and no one would review his essays anymore.
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