"You jest, Master. Are you planning to stay in the study tonight? I shall prepare bedding and a brazier for you!"
Regardless of the young man's true intentions, Han Mo found his attentiveness very pleasing.
"If that's the case, then come over early tomorrow morning!"
Han Mo smiled, not saying much more.
Xu Sanbao sending his son to his side, the meaning was quite clear. It seemed he wished to mend their relationship. On the other hand, seeing Han Mo poised for success, he wanted to place his son by his side before then, thus securing a future for the boy.
After all, they were all servants of the Princess's Mansion, and they were all descendants of officials.
He himself had no hope in this life; dying in this estate would be the best outcome for him.
As for Xu Fengnian, it depended entirely on the boy's own fortune.
"Many thanks, young master!"
Seeing that Han Mo had agreed to take him in, Xu Fengnian immediately began to express his gratitude profusely.
"Alright, alright, you go attend to your duties!"
Han Mo smiled and continued his way towards the study.
It had to be said that this young man, Xu Fengnian, truly possessed a certain sharpness.
Coupled with his father being the head steward of the mansion, it was naturally convenient to procure any necessary supplies.
In less than half an hour, the worn wooden bed in the study had been layered with three sheepskins.
He also managed to find several hand warmers and placed them in the quilt for Han Mo to warm himself.
Before Han Mo slept, Xu Fengnian specially brought him a bowl of warm milk.
"Alright, it's getting late. You should go rest as well. Tomorrow morning, you'll accompany me to the Imperial Academy!"
Being able to drink a bowl of warm milk before sleeping was a long-lost luxury for Han Mo.
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Xu Fengnian's joy was palpable, almost leaping three feet high.
However, he quickly calmed himself, carefully covering the brazier, checking the lamps, and then closing the doors and windows before leaving.
After yesterday's events, Han Mo's mood had greatly improved.
Rising early and having breakfast, he then took Xu Fengnian and drove the carriage all the way to the Imperial Academy.
However, the moment he entered, he immediately sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat amiss.
But he had only just entered the upper dormitory, and the only person he knew there was Cai Shu. Even if he wanted to inquire, there was no one to ask.
After settling Xu Fengnian, he hurried directly to the study hall.
"Esteemed senior student, why is the atmosphere so solemn today? Is something the matter?"
Although this was the upper dormitory of the Imperial Academy, from the moment Han Mo stepped into the compound today, he noticed that everyone in the entire courtyard spoke in unusually hushed tones.
He really couldn't hold back any longer, so he casually asked someone.
"Don't you know? The Crown Prince is personally here today, bearing an imperial decree from His Majesty, to examine our knowledge!"
"The Crown Prince?"
Upon hearing this, Han Mo's mouth twitched uncontrollably. What a joke! On the second day of school, they were already having an examination?
This was too sudden...
Although he had been cramming diligently in the past few days, knowledge was ultimately accumulated over time. In just a few days, at most he had only memorized a few essays and skimmed through a few books.
If he performed poorly and was singled out as an example, then not only would he fail to pass at the Imperial Academy, but he would also be unable to account for himself to the Emperor...
"Alright, you'd better study more. If you don't perform well today, it could affect your official career!"
Although the Prince of Yun and the Crown Prince were vying for the throne, and the Prince of Yun seemed to have the upper hand, at least the current Crown Prince was still on the throne.
Moreover, he occupied the moral high ground. As long as he did not make any mistakes himself, even the Emperor could not depose him at will.
Therefore, in the eyes of these scholars, this Crown Prince was the future emperor.
Whoever disgraced themselves before the Emperor, would they still have a chance to rise in the future?
Upon receiving this news, Han Mo no longer had the mood to spar with Cai Shu and could only cram on the spot, taking out a few books from his drawer and carefully flipping through them.
"Talented scholar Han, I hear your poetry and prose are quite good. I wonder if you can impress everyone again today before the Crown Prince..."
Seeing Han Mo's nervous demeanor, Cai Shu said sarcastically from the side.
"Whether I can impress or not is not important. What's important is what magnificent prose, Brother Cai, can produce today. If the Crown Prince discovers that there's suddenly a rat dropping in this pot of soup, what do you think he'll do?"
Towards this fellow, Han Mo was too lazy to be polite. Without even looking back, he retorted.
"Who are you calling a rat dropping?"
"No, no, no, I misspoke. Someone like you should be considered quail droppings!"
"Pfft—"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, everyone in the classroom burst into laughter.
"Han Mo!"
Cai Shu's face turned extremely ugly, his entire body trembling with anger.
"What? Are you unhappy and want to fight me?"
Han Mo spoke, putting down his book, and then raised his head.
Seeing the half-smile on Han Mo's face, Cai Shu's imposing manner immediately vanished.
The memory of being beaten last time was still vivid. This was the Imperial Academy, and he didn't have many servants to help him around. If they were to fight, looking at the surrounding students, they would at best cheer him on, not come to his aid.
Prudence is the better part of valor. Cai Shu was not foolish enough to fight him here...
"We'll see!"
Cai Shu finally suppressed his anger and resentfully sat back in his seat.
"That's more like it. People who eat too many quails are different; even their courage is as small as a quail's!"
Han Mo hadn't expected this fellow to back down so easily. He had thought this fellow would angrily try to fight him or make a bet.
But he hadn't expected him to simply back down when the moment came, which made Han Mo feel a bit awkward.
"Hmph!"
Cai Shu let out a cold snort and sulked to himself.
However, at that moment, a noisy sound of horse hooves suddenly came from outside the door.
Han Mo's mouth twitched. This Crown Prince was truly impatient; he had arrived too quickly...
PS: The book "Da Zheng Zang" once recorded such an event:
"Song Dynasty, Grand Tutor Duke of Chu, Cai Jing, was fond of eating quails. He kept them in cages and cooked them. He once dreamed that thousands of quails were pleading with him. One of their pleas stated: 'We ate the millet you provided, became the meat on your chopsticks, hundreds of lives in a single soup. Life and death are as fleeting as a turning wheel. You will live for a thousand years, yet misfortune and fortune lie intertwined.' Jing was greatly fearful. In the autumn of the Song Dynasty, September. The official titles were changed from Grand Minister to Junior Minister, namely Left and Right Ministers of State."
Cai Jing lived a life of extravagance, spending hundreds of guan on a single meal, hence this incident became widely circulated and even a joke.