Seeing Lin Shu’s appearance, Shang Zhuo shook his head with a smile.

“What are you worried about? As long as you don’t make mistakes, don’t speak recklessly, don’t act recklessly, your head naturally won’t fall off.”

Lin Shu glanced at him sideways. “Where am I worried? Which eye of yours saw me worried?”

Still being stubborn!

“Anyway, you need to remember what the teacher said, and also remember what I just said.”

Lin Shu let out a breath, impatiently. “I know, I know. All along this journey you’ve said this countless times. Your mouth hasn’t worn blisters yet, but my ears are about to grow calluses.”

“I’m worried you’ll forget, and besides, the teacher also told me to remind you constantly. What the teacher instructed, I naturally must complete.”

Everyone look, this is the type of student teachers like best!

Listens to the teacher.

Lin Shu, belonging to the “poor student” type, just happened to look down on this type of person most. He glanced at Shang Zhuo sideways. “Fine, fine, you paint your painting.”

Waving his hand, he lifted his bottom and went out.

Behind him, Shang Zhuo shook his head helplessly.

Holding his brush, he continued copying.

Lin Shu had just returned to his own room when he found someone standing inside.

He got a huge fright!

“Who are you? Why are you standing here without making a sound?”

Dou Quan looked him up and down with an investigative gaze. “You’re Minister Lin, aren’t you?”

Minister?

He hasn’t even become an official yet!

But when this tall hat was tossed over, Lin Shu was struck dizzy, having a feeling of being flattered to the heavens, though he didn’t dare directly accept this hat.

So he quickly said, “My surname is Lin, but I’m not called Minister. Single character Shu—Lin Shu.”

Cleverly evading.

Dou Quan had no time to play word games with him and got straight to the point. “Prince Yi wants to see you.”

“Prince Yi?”

“Please accompany me, Minister Lin.”

Lin Shu was bewildered. He had just been discussing that prince’s affairs with Shang Zhuo, and how could it be that as soon as he turned around, the man himself came looking for him?

Before he could collect himself, he had already been “stuffed” into a carriage by Dou Quan and transported all the way to Prince Yi’s manor.

Getting off the carriage, he was still somewhat dazed, following Dou Quan into the manor, arriving at a side hall in the rear courtyard.

Jing Yi had already brewed a pot of superior tea and was waiting for him.

When Lin Shu saw Jing Yi, he was somewhat at a loss, trembling in place for a moment before bowing low.

“Greetings to Prince Yi.”

His voice trembled slightly.

Jing Yi was very polite to him. “Minister Lin need not perform such grand ceremony. This prince commanded someone to invite you over—it was somewhat abrupt. You need not be nervous either. This prince only wants to taste tea with Minister Lin.”

Who would believe that!

Lin Shu wasn’t stupid either, but still responded, “Yes!”

“Minister Lin, please sit.”

Lin Shu sat down cross-legged opposite him like a robot.

Jing Yi also pushed the poured tea in front of him. “Come, Minister Lin, taste it and see if you like the tea from this prince’s manor.”

He nodded with a smile, picked up the tea, took a sip, and praised, “The tea from Your Highness’s manor is very good, very good, very good.”

Saying “very good” three times in succession.

Jing Yi poured him another cup.

He took another sip.

Like this, he drank three cups continuously, until the ink in his belly was all diluted.

To avoid continuing to drink, he looked for a topic to use as cover, saying, “Your Highness had a grand wedding, Lin has not yet congratulated Your Highness.”

“It’s merely taking Princess Yi as a wife, not any great matter.”

In his eyes, becoming Crown Prince and ascending to the throne—that was truly a great matter.

A Princess Yi was nothing but a chess piece!

Lin Shu felt very awkward. This topic was clearly killed off.

He really couldn’t think of any other topics either.

Jing Yi secretly observed him and got to the point. “After this palace examination concluded, the Emperor has not yet determined the top scholar and second-place scholar. I wonder what thoughts Minister Lin has in his heart?”

As expected, it’s about this matter!

Lin Shu, on the road coming here, had actually already thought of this point.

Although he had just entered the capital and his feet had only just stepped into the court, he still knew more or less about those court matters. Sometimes, Master Yu would say more or less something in class, and through constant exposure, he could figure out some things.

Now being asked about it, he remembered Shang Zhuo’s earlier reminder, so he didn’t dare say anything recklessly.

After organizing his words in his mind for a moment, he said, “Lin dares not have any thoughts. Everything is decided by the Emperor.”

“Could it be that Minister Lin doesn’t want to become top scholar?”

He pulled at his lips. “It’s not that I don’t want to—I don’t dare.”

“As long as you want to, that’s enough.”

“What does Your Highness mean?” Lin Shu was puzzled.

Jing Yi smiled meaningfully. “As long as this prince speaks up and takes one step for Minister Lin, Minister Lin’s official career will be smooth sailing from now on.”

Lin Shu understood.

This fellow wants to win me over!

If the recruitment succeeds, he would have to work for Prince Yi.

Hehe.

He thought Prince Yi wouldn’t think much of a newcomer like himself. He didn’t expect that so quickly he would throw an olive branch his way.

He became alarmed and quickly said, “Your Highness, what virtue or ability does Lin have to receive Your Highness’s appreciation? I fear… my abilities are insufficient.”

A tactful refusal.

Jing Yi: “Why must Minister Lin be so nervous?”

“I’m… not.”

“This prince asks you, what did you study diligently in cold windows for? And what did you come to the capital to take the examination for?”

For… fame and position.

Lin Shu knew this was a pit that Jing Yi had dug and of course wouldn’t jump down.

Instead, he said against his heart, “After years of hard study, first it was to complete my learning and become a scholar. Second, although I wanted to enter government service, it wasn’t to become some high official or reach the sky in one step—just to dutifully perform my duties, serve the court and the common people.”

Mm, truly a wonderful speech.

Brother, doesn’t your heart hurt at all?

Jing Yi continued throwing olive branches at him. “How many scholars, when entering the court, hold the same attitude as you. But circumstances change ten thousand-fold. No matter how lofty one’s principles, once you enter deeply into the court, there’s no return. People in the court either die or get injured. Everyone climbs desperately for high positions. To achieve their goals, they spare no cost, even risking their lives. This process is far more vicious than you imagine. This is the court—a place where everyone can live, but where everyone might also die. If you want to live, if you want to rise step by step, you can only grasp a reliable backing to stand firm.”

“…”

“Minister Lin, this prince has already explained this matter so clearly. Could it be you’re still unwilling to accept this prince’s olive branch?”

“Your Highness, Lin…”

“As long as you nod, the top scholar title will be presented. This is this prince’s sincerity.”

Lin Shu wavered!

He participated in the imperial examinations precisely to achieve the top scholar position!

What Jing Yi said was also right. People in the court, if they fight alone without backing, are equivalent to having their wings clipped, their hands shackled in chains, at the mercy of others.

And now, Jing Yi had thrown him an olive branch and even promised the top scholar title would be his. With such a great opportunity placed before him, how could he refuse?

Unless he was a fool.

After hesitating for a long time, Lin Shu finally nodded, stood up, and cupped his hands. “From now on, as long as Your Highness has use for me, I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

He agreed!

And picked a side!