“What are you doing? Tickling me?”
Han Mo looked at Liu Jinfu kneeling before him with a half-smile. Although he was no longer the same Han Mo as before, he felt he should reclaim some of what his predecessor had suffered.
“Mo... Brother Mo…”
Seeing Han Mo’s expression, which seemed like he was watching a show, Liu Jinfu gritted his teeth and slapped himself hard.
“Look at you, all this sweat. Why don’t I help you out a bit?”
As Han Mo spoke, he flashed a brilliant smile and then, with a flick of his wrist, slapped Liu Jinfu across the face.
“Steward Liu, as I said before, fortune turns like a wheel. What happened in the past is in the past, but how things proceed from here depends on whether you know how to play the game!”
Han Mo said, rubbing his wrist with his left hand. This was the first time he had slapped someone since arriving in the Song Dynasty.
Come to think of it, slapping someone in the face like this felt quite good!
“Brother Mo, the master said to see him in the warm chamber in the backyard after you woke up!”
Not long after Han Mo walked away, a young maidservant from the manor hurried after him.
“Thank you, sister!”
He hadn’t eaten anything yesterday, only drinking sweet water and then a whole jar of wine. Now that the wine had worn off, he was truly starving, his stomach pressed against his back.
He had originally planned to get some food and drink by pretending to be in a bad state, but looking at the situation now, it seemed that plan wouldn’t work.
For now, he could only go and see what Han Jiayan wanted with him.
“I drank too much yesterday, I must have made my granduncle laugh.”
After arriving at the warm chamber in the backyard, Han Mo was delighted to see Han Jiayan eating.
This was truly a case of arriving at the right time!
“What’s there to laugh about among family? You didn’t eat much yesterday, are you hungry now?”
Seeing Han Mo arrive, Han Jiayan smiled and beckoned him to sit beside him, then ordered someone to bring him a bowl of congee made from polished round-grained rice.
“Heh heh, thank you, granduncle. To tell you the truth, granduncle, I’m starving, my stomach’s sticking to my back!”
Han Mo chuckled as he agreed, then began to eat with great gusto.
“Since you’re hungry, eat your fill first before we talk. Try these four-color steamed buns, sweet potato dumplings, and lamb fat pancakes with leeks! You can’t get these outside!”
Han Jiayan spoke while specially having the pastries moved closer to him.
“Then this young one will not be polite!”
Han Mo apologized and then began to feast. Even the best hotel chefs of later generations could not replicate this taste.
After eating two large bowls of congee, finishing more than half a plate of four-color steamed buns, and three lamb fat pancakes with leeks, Han Mo patted his belly with satisfaction.
He had to admit, his current body was much stronger than his body in his previous life.
But with a better body came a larger appetite, which was unavoidable.
Fortunately, he was a junior in front of Han Jiayan, so he didn’t need to worry about any impolite behavior.
“I’ve copied down the poem you wrote yesterday. See if there are any mistakes or omissions!”
After Han Mo had eaten his fill, a servant brought wet hand towels. Han Jiayan took one, wiped his hands, and then said.
“It was just a moment of youthful arrogance, I’ve made my granduncle laugh.”
Although he spoke politely, Han Mo’s expression showed no politeness at all.
Having transmigrated after all this effort, he could now fully enjoy the benefits of transmigration.
Han Jiayan’s mouth twitched. If this was the work of youthful arrogance, wouldn’t this young man reach the heavens if he were serious!
He had originally intended to praise the young man, but seeing his expression that clearly conveyed “I am excellent, praise me quickly,” the words that were already at the tip of his tongue were suddenly retracted by Han Jiayan.
“What you said isn’t entirely wrong. Poetry and literature are ultimately minor arts. The court still relies on classics and policy essays for selecting officials. The Imperial Academy will reopen after the fifteenth, do you have any plans?”
After reviewing Han Jiayan’s copied "Poem of Breaking the Formation," the household servants brought pear-perilla drinks. The two sat down again, talking as they drank.
“I was too reckless before and wasted a lot of time. I should naturally seize this opportunity to study diligently and prepare for this year’s imperial examinations!”
Time was becoming increasingly pressing. Han Mo needed Han Jiayan’s connections to advance his career, so he stated his intentions directly.
“It would be best if you were willing to study properly, but the path of learning relies on accumulation over time, you…”
Hearing him say this, Han Jiayan was taken aback.
After all, the court selected officials through the three-tier system. Although he had entered the Imperial Academy six years ago, he was still only an inner-tier student.
If it weren’t for Han Jiayan’s connections, he would have been expelled long ago.
Although the imperial examinations were in March this year, as an inner-tier student, he could at most participate in the selection of outer-tier students, let alone have the qualifications to participate in the main examination.
“I request my granduncle’s assistance with this.”
If he wanted to use backdoor connections, Han Mo could only turn to Han Jiayan now.
“This…”
Han Jiayan was stunned, then let out a wry smile. Wasn’t this young man making a fuss?
The court used the three-tier system to select officials: three thousand outer-tier students, three hundred inner-tier students, and one hundred upper-tier students.
Outer-tier students took an examination every three years and could enter the inner tier upon passing.
Inner-tier students took an examination every two years, with the outstanding ones entering the upper tier. Those who failed, without connections, could only return to the outer tier. Upper-tier students could only be appointed as officials after passing the examination.
Of course, there were always exceptions. During Emperor Shenzong’s reign, there was no possibility of favoritism or fraud. But Emperor Huizong was an emperor who excelled in painting and calligraphy.
By the current reign, as long as one had connections, even if they failed, they would not be expelled from the inner tier, like Han Mo.
However, to enter the upper tier, one still had to find their own way…
Han Mo didn’t even have the qualifications to participate in the upper-tier examination. His desire to participate in the main examination was simply wishful thinking.
“Nonsense! So many people have failed the upper-tier examinations over the years. Even if the Emperor himself granted you the qualification to participate in the main examination, do you think you could pass?”
“Everything is achievable through human effort. This young one wishes to try, and I ask for my uncle’s assistance!”
Han Jiayan did not expect that after he had spoken to this extent, Han Mo would still be so stubborn.
“How about this: if you can pass this upper-tier promotion examination, I will help you figure out how to proceed.”
After pondering for a moment, Han Jiayan finally came up with a compromise.
The law was not without human consideration. If Han Mo were to directly participate in the final examination for upper-tier students, he might not be able to do it.
But if he could enter the upper tier, using his old connections, it might not be too difficult to obtain a special exemption from the Emperor…
“Thank you, granduncle!”
Upon hearing Han Jiayan agree, Han Mo became instantly excited.
“Don’t thank me just yet. You need to think clearly. If the Emperor grants you a special exemption, and you pass, it will be a beautiful story. But if you fail, have you considered the consequences?”
Seeing Han Mo’s excited expression, Han Jiayan said with a wry smile.