As evening approached, the sun hung like a dark red yolk on the gray-blue horizon, lazily casting its final rays. Jiang Changyi hurried out of the Du mansion in a gloomy mood. The gatekeeper eagerly brought his horse over, smiling, “Young Master, please take care on your way.”
Jiang Changyi’s face automatically broke into a smile. He pleasantly instructed his servant, Little Eight, to reward the gatekeeper. As he mounted his horse and turned its head, his face immediately darkened again. Seeing his master’s poor expression, Little Eight quietly asked, “Young Master, were you mistreated?”
Jiang Changyi replied flatly, “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m their cousin, with the madam personally taking me to pay respects to the tutor, my uncle’s instructions, and my aunt’s attentive care. Who would dare mistreat me? Everyone in that household, from top to bottom, treats me with great enthusiasm.”
The tutor was indeed good and didn’t segregate him in his teaching. It was just that what was being taught simply didn’t suit him.
In the current dynasty, the imperial examinations valued the jinshi degree most, followed by the mingjing. The jinshi emphasized poetry and prose, while the mingjing focused on classical texts and annotations. As the saying goes, “Ten old mingjing, fifty young jinshi.” One could pass the mingjing exam by thoroughly studying the classics and their commentaries, but the jinshi path was exceedingly difficult. Poetry and prose not only required a solid foundation but also innate talent. Of course, those who passed the jinshi exam enjoyed a different level of glory and prospects. Not to mention, most of the dynasty’s prime ministers were jinshi graduates.
Typically, northern scholars often took the mingjing exam, while scholars from humble backgrounds in the south preferred the jinshi. However, the Du family, with their generations of meritorious service and royal connections, had no worries about their children’s futures. They refused to follow the trend, insisting that their children study poetry and prose to take the jinshi exam, adding glory to their already illustrious name. Thus, the tutor had been teaching the Du brothers since childhood, focusing mainly on poetry and prose. While they might have studied classics and history earlier, as the exam approached, they primarily focused on poetry and prose composition. They were assigned multiple poems and essays daily, both in class and as homework. The Du brothers thrived in this environment, but Jiang Changyi suffered in silence.
The Zhu Duke’s household emphasized martial arts over scholarly pursuits. Jiang Changyi’s foundation had never been solid, and mere rote memorization could hardly compare to the Du brothers’ prowess. He was self-aware enough not to aspire to the jinshi; he had long planned to take the mingjing exam, seizing this rare opportunity to forge a path for himself. Yet now, at this crucial moment, he couldn’t receive expert guidance and even the time for rote memorization was occupied by the tutor’s poetry and prose assignments.
If he couldn’t improve his mingjing studies in these short few months, then all his scheming and efforts, borrowing that person’s name to deceive that other person and secure this precious opportunity, would be in vain. He would inevitably face ridicule afterward… But ridicule was a minor concern; what was truly hateful was that opportunities were fleeting… What a fine tutor indeed, what clever tactics… Thinking of this, Jiang Changyi’s heart twisted into a crumpled mess, and his mouth turned bitter with dryness.
Little Eight had followed Jiang Changyi since childhood. Just by observing his expression and hearing that single flat sentence, he knew his master was deeply troubled. He wanted to offer some words of comfort but, as a mere servant, found himself unable to say anything of substantial consolation. So he fell silent.
Master and servant continued, each lost in their thoughts. After a while, Little Eight pointed ahead with some excitement, “Young Master, isn’t that Vice Director Liu?”
Jiang Changyi looked up and indeed saw a man ahead. With broad shoulders and narrow hips, he wore a silver-blue round-collared robe with side slits. He sat proudly on a large horse with an ornate saddle, adorned with gold and jade decorations. He looked arrogant and luxurious, standing out prominently in the bustling street. Who else could it be but Liu Chang?
Little Eight asked, “Young Master, shall we go greet him?”
Jiang Changyi remained silent, pondering. Little Eight continued, “Why don’t you go say hello? The last time I saw him, he seemed quite friendly towards you. He knows many people…” Before he could finish, they heard someone behind them say, “Isn’t this Young Master Jiang? This humble servant Qiushi greets you.” It was Liu Chang’s servant Qiushi, who had ridden up from behind with a smile. Without waiting for Jiang Changyi to react, he called out loudly to Liu Chang ahead, “Master! It’s Young Master Jiang!”
Seeing no way to avoid the encounter, Jiang Changyi lightly kicked his horse to catch up with Liu Chang.
Hearing the commotion, Liu Chang immediately reined in his horse and turned back to look at Jiang Changyi with a slight smile. “Young Jiang, what a coincidence! I was just mentioning you to a friend of mine today, and here you are.”
Jiang Changyi smiled as brightly as a pink morning glory, “That is indeed quite a coincidence, Vice Director Liu. What brings you here?”
Liu Chang smiled, “I have the day off, so I came to visit an elder. Where are you headed?”
Jiang Changyi paused for a moment before replying, “I’ve just come from the Du mansion. I’m studying there with my cousins now, preparing for next year’s imperial examinations.”
Liu Chang nodded, “If I remember correctly, the Du family’s tutor specializes in poetry and prose, doesn’t he? It seems you’ll be making quite a splash at next year’s Qujiang Banquet. I’m sure many will be envious.” His tone suggested he was already certain Jiang Changyi would pass the jinshi exam.
Jiang Changyi smiled bitterly, “Vice Director Liu, please don’t tease me. How could someone like me, barely half-trained, dare to hope for such things? I’m merely there to make up the numbers, a foil for the true talents.”
Liu Chang remarked casually, “Young Jiang, you’re being too modest. We all know you’ve loved books since childhood. That elder I mentioned even said it was a pity about you.”
This was the second time he had mentioned this “elder” today. Jiang Changyi’s interest was piqued. He looked up at Liu Chang and asked shyly, “May I ask, Vice Director Liu, do I know this elder of yours? How does he know of me? I rarely went out as a child, and it’s only in recent years that I’ve made a few scholarly friends. They’re nothing special, just enough to make you all laugh at me.”
Liu Chang chuckled, “This elder of mine, well, you might know him. His surname is Zhang, given the name Fengju…”
Jiang Changyi’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Is it Master Fengju?” Zhang Fengju was a renowned scholar of the current dynasty, born into an official family, and an expert in the mingjing classics. Jiang Changyi, being a hardworking and intelligent person, knew that if he could receive guidance from such a master, his future would surely be bright. He had long wanted to become Zhang Fengju’s disciple but had never found a way to approach him. Hearing Liu Chang suddenly mention this person, and seemingly intending to introduce them, was exactly what he had been hoping for. How could he not be excited and full of anticipation?
Liu Chang carefully observed Jiang Changyi’s expression and smiled with utmost sincerity, “The very same.”
Jiang Changyi asked, “How does he know of me?”
Liu Chang spoke slowly and clearly, “I mentioned you to him. I told him you were a talented individual, but unfortunately, your talents had been wasted. It’s truly, truly a shame.”
While Jiang Changyi was overjoyed, he also reined in his excitement. A thought suddenly occurred to him: “Why would I be kind to a pig? Because I want to eat its meat.” However, it also depended on the ratio of investment to return, whether it was worth it or not. For instance, this opportunity – if he hadn’t met Liu Chang that day and heard his casual reminder, he might not even have had this chance to take the exam… Jiang Changyi quickly glanced at Liu Chang, meeting those slightly sinister eyes with a chuckle, “I’m truly embarrassed. I wonder what virtues or abilities I possess that make Vice Director Liu so concerned about me?”
A desolate expression appeared on Liu Chang’s face. He looked at the quivering locust tree branches in the cold wind and said ambiguously in a low voice, “Some days ago, I was drinking with your brother Chengfeng and Marquis Chuzhou. Your brother mentioned some things to us. In my youth, I was held back for many years by my parents’ stubbornness. Whenever I recall this in the dead of night, I can’t help but sigh. I can understand your pain, disappointment, and sense of injustice, and that feeling of not knowing how to find a way out.”
The expression on Liu Chang’s face was so desolate and melancholic, with just the right hint of hatred and indignation in his eyes, that Jiang Changyi believed him almost instantly. He believed that Liu Chang could truly understand his feelings of discontent, disappointment, fear, hesitation, worry, and uncertainty about the future. But Jiang Changyi was, after all, a person who had been cautious since childhood. Although he was moved to anxiety and sorrow, he unhesitatingly kept his mouth shut, only furrowing his brow in sadness and letting out a long sigh, “Ah…”
Liu Chang secretly glanced at Jiang Changyi from the corner of his eye, his expression becoming even more sorrowful. “Speaking of this, I feel truly upset again… I feel like drinking. Why don’t we turn back and go to Master Fengju’s place for some drinks? How about it?” He pointed his whip obliquely at Jiang Changyi, “You’re not allowed to spoil the fun.”
With the opportunity to take the exam already secured, and now the prospect of guidance from a famous teacher, what could hold him back? Jiang Changyi was overjoyed inside, but he hesitated, “I don’t know how to drink.”
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Liu Chang smiled lightly, “You don’t need to be good at drinking. We’re just drinking for the atmosphere. Come on, give me a straight answer, are you coming or not?”
Jiang Changyi quickly replied, “I’ll go!”
Liu Chang curled his lip, “That’s more like it. A real man shouldn’t always be confined to such a small world. You should get to know more people, and make friends all over the world. Look at your brother, he knows people from north to south, east to west, men and women, old and young, all kinds. That’s truly impressive.”
Jiang Changyi said admiringly, “I truly respect my elder brother…”
Liu Chang interjected, “Naturally. Looking around the capital, how many people can you find who, like him, view the Duke’s hereditary position as worthless? You simply can’t find any.”
Jiang Changyi was silent for a long while before saying softly, “That’s because he has everything, so he doesn’t care.”
Liu Chang laughed heartily and reached over to pat Jiang Changyi’s shoulder hard, “Well said! That’s why you need to work hard. When I take you to Master Fengju, you must succeed in becoming his disciple! Don’t disappoint us next spring!”
Jiang Changyi smiled without saying anything. He didn’t need Liu Chang to tell him what to do. He knew that if he didn’t move forward, he would forever be trampled in the dust… He didn’t want to live such a life. He would kill anyone who stood in his way, be they man or Buddha!
Liu Chang coldly observed the ambition and ruthlessness that Jiang Changyi couldn’t help but reveal in his young eyes. He thought calmly, “What’s mine is mine, Jiang Changyang. As long as I have breath in my body, you won’t get anything!”