Liu Wenji came looking for Yan Erlang.

Both being from Lingnan and Yan Shang being particularly skilled at making friends, even though Liu Wenji was known for his arrogance about his talents, he felt excited when reuniting with Yan Shang in Chang’an.

Liu Wenji smiled, “After receiving your letter about coming here, I’ve been looking for housing in Chang’an according to your requirements…”

Yan Shang immediately bowed: “Thank you for your trouble, Brother Liu…”

Liu Wenji grabbed his hand and waved it off, indicating such formality wasn’t necessary.

Liu Wenji’s face reddened slightly: “However, I haven’t found any particularly good residences. Currently, I’ve only found Yongshou Temple in Yongle Ward. While it’s slightly far from the bustling areas, it’s not in an impoverished location. Living in the temple would be convenient for your studies…”

Yan Shang thanked him again.

In truth, the residence Liu Wenji found fell far short of Yan Shang’s requirements – he even considered Yongshou Temple too lively.

However, Yan Shang naturally wouldn’t disappoint Liu Wenji’s good intentions.

Speaking of this, Yan Shang remembered something and said, “My teacher, Master Dou, upon learning of my arrival in Chang’an, pulled some strings to let me temporarily study at the Imperial Academy for a couple of days.”

Liu Wenji froze, then said somewhat sourly: “Having an Imperial Academy professor as your teacher – you’re fortunate.”

In this era, books were incredibly precious, and the Imperial Academy’s collection was one of the few that was as vast as smoke and clouds.

Even with the imperial examinations approaching, Yan Shang’s teacher could arrange for him to temporarily study at the Imperial Academy… this notably caught Liu Wenji’s attention.

Because his father had served as an Imperial Censor in Chang’an, a position known for offending numerous officials. Liu Wenji’s father hadn’t left many resources in Chang’an for his son.

Yan Shang glanced at Liu Wenji.

He smiled: “I asked my teacher, and he has permitted Brother Liu to accompany me to the Imperial Academy.”

Liu Wenji: “…!”

He suddenly stopped in the middle of the street, looking at Yan Shang with disbelief.

Yan Shang’s consistently amiable and approachable nature was incredibly precious to Liu Wenji, who had experienced the coldness of human relationships in Chang’an. His eyes grew slightly moist.

Liu Wenji gripped Yan Shang’s hand and shook it vigorously. He tried to speak several times but couldn’t express his gratitude adequately. Finally, he said: “Suchen, you help me like this – I, Liu, will never let you down in the future.”

Yan Shang said: “It’s just a matter of making a simple request, why make such a big deal of it?”

Liu Wenji shook his head: “Only after coming to Chang’an did I realize that many times, even for matters that others could help with just a casual word, why would they speak up for you? Only you would do something like this.”

Yan Shang remained silent.

After a while, he said: “I’m not entirely selfless either. We both hail from Lingnan and when we become officials in the future, others will inevitably view us as one entity. So naturally, we should support each other and face adversity together. Just as Brother Liu helps me find housing, I naturally would help Brother Liu enter the Imperial Academy.”

Liu Wenji smiled.

He said: “Alright. No more words – let me treat you to wine!”

Yan Shang refused: “Brother Liu knows me – I’ve never drunk alcohol.”

Liu Wenji was surprised: “Really, Yan Erlang? Even now you don’t drink? Not even a single sip? Haven’t you ever made an exception…”

The two scholars’ figures blended into the crowd, their voices gradually fading.

Behind them, far in the distance, Mu Wanyao and her group rode horses out of the city – just nobles out for a spring excursion.

Their paths were unrelated—

The next day, Yan Shang and Liu Wenji went to the Imperial Academy together. After presenting their tokens for entry at the gate, they exchanged glances, both seeing in each other’s eyes much-suppressed excitement and emotion.

An elder student’s brother came to lead them in. He spoke several extra courteous words to Yan Shang but merely nodded perfunctorily at Liu Wenji.

Fortunately, Liu Wenji was too absorbed in admiring the Academy’s grandeur to notice much.

The senior student led them to a study hall: “Master Dou instructed that until the examinations, you may come and go from this study hall as you please. You’re also free to access any books from the Academy’s library.”

Yan Shang expressed his thanks, and as the senior student was hurriedly about to leave, he quickly added: “May I ask, senior brother, when might the teacher have time for me to pay my respects?”

The senior student turned back to look at this newly accepted disciple of his teacher. Seeing his refined and courteous manner, he had a good impression and answered: “The teacher has recently been borrowed by his old friend to compile historical records, so he likely won’t have time to see you.”

Yan Shang politely said: “Then I shall visit the teacher after the examinations.”

The senior student gave him a surprised look, knowing he had understood the teacher’s meaning – without examination results, there was no need for a meeting.

After the senior student left, Liu Wenji quietly said to Yan Shang: “Did you see? Everyone here looks down on others. Even your teacher…”

Yan Shang interrupted: “Brother Liu, mind your words.”

Liu Wenji raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.

Taking a deep breath, the two entered the study hall. They saw it sparsely populated, with just a few people sitting before rows of small tables, browsing through books.

Liu Wenji was naturally indifferent, but Yan Shang properly stood at the doorway and bowed to the students inside: “This junior has just arrived, paying respects to the senior brothers.”

No one looked up.

The room was awkwardly silent.

Seeing no response, Yan Shang withdrew his courtesy.

Suddenly, a young gentleman who had been casually sitting sideways using the small table as an armrest while reading, looked up at the doorway and casually asked: “Where are you from?”

Yan Shang looked at this gentleman who had helped ease the awkward situation and replied gently: “Lingnan, Yan Suchen.”

The questioning gentleman said nothing, but others in the study hall snickered: “Isn’t Lingnan a barbaric place? Do they have people who study? I heard you eat raw meat and drink blood daily – what use is studying to you?”

Liu Wenji’s face immediately turned ashen.

But knowing it wasn’t good to make enemies upon first arrival, he tried to suppress his anger: “Lingnan is just remote, but it’s still Great Wei territory – how could we not study?”

Several people in the study hall exchanged glances, smiling more maliciously. One stood up and said: “Then tell me, what books have you read? Have you seen the book Master Zhang compiled for children last year?”

To insult someone with a children’s book!

Liu Wenji’s face flushed red with fury. He stepped forward with clenched fists, throwing a punch. The other person stepped back startled, putting on a show of bravado: “You dare to hit someone?!”

As Liu Wenji was about to land his punch, a hand came from the side to stop him. Yan Shang blocked Liu Wenji while turning to address the provocative student: “May I ask where senior brother is from?”

The other proclaimed loudly: “I am from the direct line of the Guan clan of Longxi!”

Yan Shang said mildly: “The Guan clan of Longxi is certainly a great family. I’ve heard the Guan clan practically monopolizes all official positions in Longxi, and your lineage has been there for generations. Even court-appointed officials must consider the Guan clan’s face when they arrive in Longxi. With such heroic spirit, a small person from Lingnan like me naturally admires you.”

The other’s eyes showed pride, his expression softening: “You flatter me. I didn’t expect even you to have heard of my Guan clan’s name.”

The young gentleman who had initially asked where Yan Shang and Liu Wenji were from hadn’t involved himself in their matter but now watched with interest.

Sure enough, Yan Shang’s next words were: “Then does Brother Guan know that here, the Guan clan of Longxi is looked down upon by the true noble families of Chang’an, Luoyang, Jinling, and other places? When the imperial examinations were first established and they were discussing proper pronunciation, they directly excluded Longxi from the noble families, saying you were crude barbarians who only knew how to fight, without heritage.

“As far as I know, the Guan clan hasn’t fared well in Chang’an these years. While you dominate Longxi, without classical learning passed down through generations, you’re ultimately not part of the mainstream. The people of Chang’an look down on you just as you look down on someone like me from Lingnan.”

The other person was now trembling with rage, glaring furiously.

Yan Shang smiled, bowed, and concluded: “…So it seems that where one is from perhaps doesn’t make such a great difference.”

Under everyone’s gaze, the student, having been outargued by a newcomer, was naturally unwilling to accept it. His expression changed repeatedly, and just as he opened his mouth to curse, someone entered the study hall.

A youth’s voice, cold and detached: “What are you all arguing about? If you don’t want to study, go fight outside. Don’t disturb others.”

Everyone looked over to see a young gentleman with snow-like features entering. Their expressions changed slightly, angry but not daring to speak, and they sat back down.

Yan Shang, however, stared thoughtfully at this indifferent youth of clear radiance as he walked past them—

That evening, Yan Shang invited the young gentleman who had initially helped them and later hadn’t joined the others in giving them trouble, to drink.

He also invited the youth who had come last and indirectly helped him by rebuking everyone.

The former, grinning, agreed as soon as he heard about the drinking. The latter, however, ignored them completely, and it was only through Yan Shang’s eloquent and persuasive words that this youth was convinced.

Liu Wenji, Yan Shang’s fellow townsman, naturally joined them.

Yan Shang invited them to a Famous Flower Banquet in the North District, reportedly the most expensive feast in all of Chang’an – just the opening course cost 300 wens. Liu Wenji’s heart ached at hearing this, but Yan Shang’s expression didn’t change.

This made both the invited young gentleman and the youth look at Yan Shang differently.

After taking their seats and pouring wine themselves, the young gentleman introduced himself as Feng Xianyu. He said carelessly: “My grandfather was a merchant, so those people usually look down on me too. Yan Suchen, your rebuke to them today was truly satisfying.”

Liu Wenji, knowing Yan Shang didn’t drink alcohol, automatically replaced the wine in front of Yan Shang with tea, then turned to look at him: “To be honest with everyone, I’ve known Yan Erlang for many years, but this is the first time I’ve seen him argue with anyone. Our Yan Erlang is like a descended Bodhisattva who never gets angry!”

Yan Shang replied: “Being easily bullied is just foolishness, not the absence of temper.”

He then said to the youth: “Seeing that you’re still young, you should drink less alcohol.”

The other glanced at him without speaking.

Feng Xianyu laughed beside them: “You don’t know who this is? His name is Wei Shu, and thanks to his presence today, those people stopped talking…”

Yan Shang: “Could you be from the Wei clan of Luoyang?”

Wei Shu looked at him coldly: “You seem well-versed in noble families. However, if you’re trying to curry favor, you’re mistaken. I’m a son of a concubine, and the Wei family resources don’t favor me.”

Yan Shang spoke evenly: “If I only sought friendship for utility, you would be underestimating me.”

Such breadth of mind.

Wei Shu looked at him once, then said nothing more.

Afterward, they naturally ate, drank, and chatted about various topics. Wei Shu didn’t talk much, while Feng Xianyu knew about Wei Shu’s affairs, giving him seemingly meaningful looks every time he glanced at him, making Yan Shang thoughtful.

Midway through, Liu Wenji went to relieve himself, and Wei Shu, unable to bear Feng Xianyu’s constant glances, put down his chopsticks: “I know why you keep staring at me – isn’t it because I’m suspected of involvement with Princess Shang? If you’re so disgusted, why bother associating?”

Feng Xianyu was startled, then loudly proclaimed his innocence: “You’ve got it wrong! I envy you! I wish some princess would take a fancy to me, then my official career would soar…”

Wei Shu was stunned, clearly not expecting such a lack of ambition from the other.

Yan Shang mediated, pouring tea for both parties, and asked: “Princess Shang that Juyuan mentions is indeed one path to officialdom. But which princess might this be?”

Wei Shu answered: “Princess Danyang.”

Yan Shang immediately spat out his tea, coughing until his face turned red.