In this prefecture examination, three people from Ziyang Academy participated, and all three of them passed.

Sun Yue held no hope at all but when he saw his name at the last spot on the list, the little fatty was so excited that he clamored that it was his treat.

“Tomorrow at noon, Qianqiu Tower! All classmates are invited!”

Tang Shen gave him a thumbs up: “Rich!”

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Sun Yue said with a smile: “Tang an shou, what are you talking about? I have been very happy these past two days. I actually became a xiucai. I, Sun Yue, was actually able to become a xiucai at the age of fifteen. Sure enough, I am a genius.”

Tang Shen thought to himself that these words sounded familiar.

Tang Shen: “Are you going to invite all your classmates to eat at Qianqiu Tower tomorrow?”

“That’s right, you have to come too and build a good relationship with your classmates. Let me tell you, you are a thorn in the eyes of many people now. If you want to study comfortably in Ziyang Academy for the next two months, you must come tomorrow at noon.”

Tang Shen said in amusement: “Why am I a thorn in other people’s eyes? What have I done?”

Sun Yue’s eyes widened: “What did you do? Do you know that you are the an shou twice in a row? What does this mean?”

“What?”

“It means that in the academy examination in two months, you will most likely still be the an shou!”

“You have so much confidence in me?”

“Heh, what confidence do I have in you? The academy exam is not a county or prefecture exam. Half of the students in our Ziyang Academy will take part. Although you, Tang Shen, are talented, you have only been studying for a few years, so how could you compare with these old scholars. It’s just that you have already obtained the an shou twice. As long as you perform well and there are no outstanding candidates this time, Magistrate Jia will definitely give you the position of an shou and achieve your three in a row top spot in the tongshi.”

“It can be like this?” Tang Shen didn’t know that there were such unspoken rules in the ancient imperial examination.

Sun Yue said with emotion: “I am satisfied. I am a xiucai now, and my mother will not bother me in five years. I am not sure about the academy examination, and I am just going to give it a try. Unlike you, you have to work hard. Tang sanyuan!” (TN: candidate who gets the top spot three times in a row)

Tang Shen actually had no interest in the title of an shou, and he did not have obsessive-compulsive collecting disorder. He was not expecting to get the top spot twice. Tang Shen actually didn’t attach much importance to the last of the three tongshi examinations, the academy examination. Even if he took the top spot again this time, he would still have to sit in the exam booth out in the great examination hall and take the exam with all the candidates the next time he took the xiangshi.

There were no extra rewards, so why bother trying to pass the exam as high as you can, the most important thing was as long as you could pass it!

On the second day, Tang Shen came to Qianqiu Tower. Sun Yue said that he would invite all the classmates to eat, but not everyone came.

Students from poor families account for the majority in Ziyang Academy, and those from rich families were half their numbers. This time, several young masters from wealthy families who played well with Sun Yue came to support him. The students from poor families who came only filled two tables and sat separately from them without much interaction.

After they had had enough wine and food, these scholars from the government school were no different from ordinary people and began to make bluffs.

A scholar from a wealthy family said: “Tang Shen, you are the an shou twice in a row now. Congratulations! Gusu Prefecture is not one of those remote places. We have a strong reputation for academics and many scholars of poor families have become the zhuangyuan. In our Ziyang Academy, it has been three years in a row in which the an shou of the tongshi comes from poor families. You have to get back our dignity in the academy exam in two months.”

Tang Shen smiled and said: “Although it is not decided by me, all of us here, classmates, will give our best in the academy examination. At that time, I can only say, do the best I can and listen to fate.”

“What a good saying to do your best and obey fate!” said the young master of the Wang family in the east of the city, “Tang Shen, I heard that you are a student of Liang Bowen, Liang daren?”

This matter spread throughout Gusu City at some point. Tang Shen felt that he did not spread it intentionally, so he wondered why did everyone know about it.

If Liang Song knew of his confusion, he would definitely kick this scoundrel out of his study.

But thinking about it. Every time he did marketing and promotion, Tang Shen never failed to use Liang Song’s name. He must squeeze a pot of oil out of Liang Song everytime. It was already like this, even a blind person could see that Tang Shen and Liang Song had an unusual relationship!

Tang Shen: “Yes, I am his student.”

Wang xiucai raised his cupped hands and said, “I am so envious of you!”

Someone said: “I heard from my cousin who works in the government office that Liang daren has been away from Gusu City in recent months and often goes to Jinling to do business. I wonder what he is doing. Is there something that would make Liang daren leave our Gusu City?”

For anyone else it was a great joy to become the governor of Gusu Prefecture. But with Liang Song’s literary reputation and status, he could become a powerful official in the capital, Shengjing, and coming to Gusu Prefecture was instead a sense of demotion.

Tang Shen didn’t want to reveal his teacher’s thoughts. Of course, he didn’t talk with Liang Song about these things either. He remained silent and ate his food with his head down.

Wang xiucai said: “Ai, don’t make wild guesses. Gusu City is the hometown of Liang daren. How could Liang daren leave so casually? I also heard from my family that Liang daren went to Jinling not for other reasons but for the great scholar Mr. Zhong who had been in prison for twenty-five years!”

The customs of the Song Dynasty were open and generous to scholars. Taizu once made a special law: Do not kill scholars! (TN: founding emperor of a dynasty)

When Wang xiucai talked about current affairs in the country, no one stopped him, in fact everyone participated in it.

“Mr. Zhong has been in prison for twenty-five years. I was only five years old at that time, and now I have passed thirty. Time has really flown.”

“Twenty-five years of ups and downs, yet Mr. Liang has never forgotten his friend. He attaches great importance to love and righteousness. He is indeed a role model for scholars of our generation.”

After Tang Shen traveled to this era, the people he came into contact with were not only Tang Huang and Yao San, but also Madam Tang and Liang Song. Liang Song never talked about political affairs with him. When the teacher and student got together, he was like an ordinary teacher, teaching Tang Shen knowledge. Anything else he would not say to Tang Shen.

Tang Shen ate the food in silence while listening to these scholars talk. It was a pity that these scholars, even though they were from wealthy families, did not know much. After a few words, they started talking about the academy examination in two months.

Back home, Tang Shen came to Accountant Lin and asked, “Mr. Liang has been going to Jinling City to do work recently. As his student, I didn’t even know about it. I have really neglected my responsibility. Accountant Lin, have you ever heard of this person?”

“Who?”

“Mr. Zhong, the great scholar.”

Accountant Lin’s eyes dilated sharply, and he said: “Little boss, be careful what you say!”

Tang Shen noticed something was wrong: “Who is this Mr. Zhong?”

Accountant Lin sighed: “Actually, it doesn’t matter. The Song Dynasty never restrict the words of scholars. Mr. Zhong’s full name is Zhong Wei, and his courtesy name isa Tai Sheng. When the late emperor was alive, he was the left minister of the political affairs hall, and he was known as Zhong xianggong.” (TN: old form of access for prime ministers, can be translated as lord, similar to daren but daren is used for all officials)

Tang Shen was shocked.

The official system of the Song Dynasty followed the previous dynasty and was divided into three departments and six ministries. Among them, the Central Secretariat, also known as the Palace Secretariat, was one of the three departments and made up of the emperor’s trusted. In the Song Dynasty, the left was the most noble, and the left prime minister of the Central Secretariat was worthy of being known as being inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people.

Accountant Lin: “When Zhong xianggong was in power, he pacified the northlands and conquered the southern barbarians. He is a hero of our Song Dynasty. It’s a pity that there was a coup in the palace twenty-five years ago. Zhong xianggong in a muddle-headed moment broke into the palace with the crown prince, intending to force a coup. The crown prince was shot to death by an arrow from the current emperor outside the palace gate, and Zhong xianggong was captured alive and has been imprisoned until now.”

Tang Shen immediately said: “Then what does this have to do with Mr. Liang?”

“Little boss should know that Liang daren is one of the four great Confucian scholars in the world, but I’m afraid you don’t know who the other three are. The other three are Zhong xianggong, Fu xianggong and Chen xianggong. Among them, Zhong xianggong can be said to be the head of the four great scholars! Alas, among the four, I don’t know much about Chen xianggong. But everyone knows that Liang daren, your teacher, has been a close friend with Zhong xianggong for many years. If it is true as the little boss said, Liang daren often goes to Jinling City for Zhong xianggong, then I am afraid that Liang daren’s efforts will be in vain.”

Tang Shen thought for a long time and asked, “Why did the crown prince want to force a coup?”

Accountant Lin was shocked and said: “Little boss, although the Song Dynasty is generous to scholars and does not kill them, and they are allowed to discuss government affairs. But after all, this is the emperor’s family matter, so you’d better not discuss it outside.”

Tang Shen smiled and said, “As you know, I just care about my teacher. And we are talking in private after all.”

“That’s fine too.”

Tang Shen: “Since the crown prince is already the heir, it makes no sense for him to force a coup. Or could it be that the late emperor’s life span is very long?”

Accountant Lin: “The late emperor was fifty-six years old when he passed away.”

Tang Shen frowned: “It’s not very long, not very short either.” It didn’t reach the point of forcing a coup, did it?

Accountant Lin: “Little boss, I am just an ordinary scholar. I only know a few things from listening to people discussing in teahouses. If you really want to know, why don’t you ask Liang daren?”

Tang Shen said: “My teacher has been very preoccupied in recent days. Since I got the top spot in the county examination, we have only met twice. I don’t want to bother him with this kind of thing.”

After Accountant Lin left, Tang Shen took a piece of rice paper and sketched on it.

According to Accountant Lin, the late emperor was fifty-six years old when he died. No matter how you calculate it, the crown prince would have been in his early forties at most. He was already the crown prince, and unless the late emperor showed signs of deposing the crown prince, he would not take the risk of forcing a coup.

Unless the forced coup was fake and there was something else hidden behind it.

Tang Shen didn’t know the truth of what happened back then, but he believed Mr. Liang. Since Mr. Liang was willing to go to Jinling Citu many times for Zhong xianggong, his choice was to believe Zhong xianggong, and Tang Shen also chose to believe that Zhong xianggong had not forced a coup.

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However, no matter what the secret behind it was, there was a saying in the modern world. If you want to know the truth about anything, you only need to look at the person who benefits from it. After the coup incident, the crown prince died, and the current emperor ascended the throne, he was the biggest beneficiary. Zhong xianggong was thrown into a prison and Mr. Liang wanting to save him was tantamount to going against the current emperor Zhao Fu.

How could Zhao Fu accept this?

Mr. Liang could not succeed.

Tang Shen sighed. Legitimacy belongs to the victor; might makes right. He just hoped that Mr. Liang would see through this soon and not fall into the danger.

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After a long time, Tang Shen lowered his head and said, “This student realizes my mistake.” His voice was muffled, and there was still a trace of dissatisfaction deep in his heart.

“You think this is taken out of context. You clearly don’t mean that way, and the content of your essay is not about that.”

Tang Shen said nothing.

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Liang Song looked at Tang Shen and shook his head helplessly. He stepped forward and pulled him, his student, over. Tang Shen raised his head and saw Liang Song looking at him quietly. As people age, their eyes become cloudy. Tang Shen knew that this was due to the accumulation of time. The old man’s eyes were never as bright as the young man’s. This was the case for everyone.

However, at this moment, looking at Liang Song’s cloudy and aged eyes, Tang Shen felt that perhaps some things might be more than just a physical change. These eyes were full of aged and weathered, hiding something that was subtle and silent. He couldn’t understand it at this time, but he knew that every word the elder in front of him said was for his own good.

Liang Song stared at his last and only student in this life and said: “People’s hearts are unpredictable. When you are at the height of power, even if you walked through the city with a knife and acted domineering, it is not a problem. But when you are downtrodden, everything you said and did, will be used as evidence when you are convicted. You have to remember, you can’t trust anyone. The boundary between a gentleman and a villain is just a thought. But before that, Tang Shen, you must be clear-minded and not leave behind any weakness for others to grasp.”

“I know that even if Jia Liangsheng is not the examiner, you should still be able to take the top spot. This essay you wrote is indeed stunning. It is the best essay you have written in these months. However, if someone wants to slander you in the future, just this sentence ‘I don’t believe it’ will be your fatal blow. They could take it out of context and deceive the emperor. This is officialdom.”

“I know, you were never fond of the imperial examination.”

Tang Shen was stunned for a moment and defended: “Sir, that’s not it.”

Liang Song: “We are the only ones in this study, so what can’t you say? Not to mention you, there are so many scholars in the world who don’t like imperial examination, so how do you matter?”

Tang Shen said no more.

The imperial examination and the eight-legged essay were criticized in later generations as feudal dross with no merit whatsoever. Tang Shen really didn’t like it. Putting him aside, how many future generations would like and approve of the imperial examination? But since he traveled through time, he had no choice but to take the exam.

Liang Song said: “However, the imperial examination is the only way for scholars in the world to change their situation. I don’t ask you to score the top spot and become a zhuangyuan. I had one top student who became a zhuangyuan. He died on the wall of Zhuozhou City in the 19th year. He was shot through the heart by random arrows from the Liao people and died. Shen’er, you are talented and intelligent, but you don’t have a world embracing aspiration. This is not a bad thing. But the imperial examination is also officialdom. As long as you participate in the imperial examination and get involved in officialdom, I must require you to be moderate. Even if you cannot win first place, protecting your life and surviving in this world is the most important thing.”

Tang Shen understood what Liang Song meant. After all, Tang Shen was not an ancient person, and he had traveled through time less than a year ago. When he wrote the “I don’t believe it” eight-legged essay, at most he thought that the examiner might feel that what he wrote was wrong and would not agree with his point of view, which was what later generations called off-topic writing. He didn’t expect that someone could use it to hinder him and slander him.

Officialdom was like a battlefield, perhaps even more cold-blooded and ruthless than the battlefield.

Tang Shen: “This student understands, I will definitely think twice before writing or speaking in the future.”

Liang Song: “I suppressed this essay of yours. Are you sure about the prefecture examination in two months?”

Tang Shen: “…Yes?”

“En?”

“Yes!”

Liang Song smiled.

In the study room, the teacher and student carefully read Tang Shen’s test paper again, and Liang Song pointed out several areas that could be improved. After dark, Tang Shen had dinner at Liang Manor. When he returned home, he bumped into someone before leaving the gate of Liang Manor.

When the two saw each other, they were both stunned.

Tang Shen cupped his hands and said, “Cousin Xu, long time no see.”

This person was none other than Xu Hui, Xu Yuzhi.

The first time Tang Shen met Xu Hui met was at a tea shop outside Zhao Family Village, and the second time they met was at Zeng fuzi‘s home. There was some unpleasantness that time. Now more than half a year had passed, Xu Hui looked at Tang Shen steadily, and bowed: “Long time no see, congratulations to the new an shou.”

“Cousin Xu is joking.”

“You are daren‘s student, just call me Yu Zhi.”

“Yu Zhi.”

After a back and forth exchange, the relationship between the two eased. Tang Shen asked: “You seem to be in a hurry, I haven’t seen you in the past few days either, are you very busy?”

Xu Hui nodded and said: “I just came back from Jinling and dealt with some affairs for daren.” After saying that, he thought for a while and took out a rabbit brush from his sleeve: “I got this from Wuxin Stationary in Jinling City when I happened to pass by a few days ago, congratulations on your success.”

Tang Shen accepted it: “Thank you so much, Yu Zhi.”

The two said goodbye.

When Tang Shen returned home, Aunt Yao cooked a table of delicious food and invited Lin Accountant and his family over as well to celebrate happily.

Tang Huang and Yao San were overjoyed, as if they were the an shou themselves.

After Tang Shen was advised by Liang Song, he was no longer so excited. He said: “It’s just a county exam an shou. Your brother hasn’t even become a xiucai yet. Once I do, it won’t be too late for you to be happy then.”

Tang Huang: “No way, my brother is the most amazing anyway. Brother Yao, you were not here this afternoon and didn’t see when that Tang Yun came to apologize, his face looked like he had just eaten a big lump of poop! He seemed a little dazed when he left, and seemed to not understand how my brother got the top spot in the examination, it was so funny.”

Yao San: “It’s not surprising that the little boss passed the examination on the first try. I think it’s not a big deal for the little boss to pass the exam and become a juren!”

Tang Shen thought to himself: Although I feel the same way, we should still be low-key, low-key.

He coughed: “Eat, eat.”

After all, Ziyang Academy was a government school in Gusu City. Of the four students who took the county exam this time, only one failed. Fatty Sun also passed the county exam, but he was not calm and still panicked. As soon as he arrived at the academy in the morning, he pulled Tang Shen and said, “Tang Shen, you are Liang daren‘s student. Did Liang daren tell you any exam secrets? We are good buddies, if you have something good, don’t forget me.”

Tang Shen laughed and scolded: “If I have any good thing, why would I still study? Why don’t I just sleep at home every day and go to the examination hall to use the exam secrets during the exam?”

Sun Yue suddenly wilted: “There are still two months until the prefecture exam. What would I do if I fail to pass the exam?”

Tang Shen waved his hand: “I’ll tell you a way.”

Sun Yue’s eyes lit up and he immediately perked his ears.

“If you don’t pass the exam, take off your clothes, find some brambles and carry it on your back to find your mother. In ancient times, Lian Po bore the bramble to plead guilty, and today Sun Yue pleads with his mother Madam Sun to be soft-hearted on him.”

“…”

“Tang Shen, are you looking for a fight!”

“Ha ha ha ha.”

After half a day, the two reconciled as before and went to the entrance of the academy to eat big meat buns together.

Two months passed quickly, and in April, many candidates who had passed the county exam took the prefecture exam. Not only those who passed the county exam this year took part in the exam, but also all those who had passed the county exam but failed the prefecture exam in previous years. Among them, Tang Shen saw Tang Yun. The two looked at each other from a distance, and Tang Yun depressedly raised his cupped hands to Tang Shen.

After entering the examination hall, under the envious eyes of Fatty Sun and Tang Yun, Tang Shen and nine other people entered a room and took the exam indoors.

Tang Shen held the test paper, feeling very energized, and took a deep breath.

Ah, the air was so good.

Now this was the proper way to take an exam. Next time he must also be in the top ten!

Opening the test paper, it was still the same two eight-legged essays and one test poem structure.

The first question was “A gentleman appreciates the virtuous and loves his family”, which comes from the third chapter of “The Great Learning”. The original sentence was “The superior man treats the worthy as worthy and loves his family. The inferior man enjoys his enjoyment and grabs profit whenever he has a chance. It is in this way that they are not forgotten after their death.” It means that a virtuous monarch had high moral character and cared for his people and relatives. When future generations of monarchs feel the benevolence of the late emperor, they would follow suit and carry forward the benevolence of the late emperor. Then the people could also receive blessings, be happier, and gain benefits.

This sentence referred to a phenomenon in which subordinates followed the example of their superiors, thus the country was peaceful and the people were happy.

Liang Song asked Tang Shen to be cautious in his words and deeds, not to curb his rich imagination or restrict his visual thinking, but to ask him to think twice before acting. Tang Shen thought about it for a while, with countless ideas flashing through his mind, and finally wrote: “With the respect of the forefathers, and the eternal happiness of the future generations, a gentleman would be virtuous and close to the nine-story pagoda.” He broke the topic, and then eloquently wrote the rest of the essay parts.

The second question was a little more difficult. It was an intersecting question, and the title was “As for governing the country, it will be advantageous to be a guest of the king”. The first half comes from “Mencius·King Hui of Liang”, and the second half comes from “Book of Changes·Guan”. Tang Shen thought for a long time and began to write.

After writing two eight-legged essays and a test poem, Tang Shen looked at the other nine people in the room. He took a deep breath and let it out happily.

So refreshing!

After checking the test paper and mistakes, Tang Shen handed in the paper and waited for ten people to gather together and leave the examination hall.

When Tang Huang and Yao San saw him coming out, they immediately ran forward. The little girl said cautiously: “Brother, are you okay?”

Tang Shen raised his eyebrows and said, “Of course your brother is okay. Your brother also wants to get into the top ten!”

Tang Huang beamed with joy.

Tang Shen felt that his performance this time was pretty good, not much different from last time. This time, ten people took the exam indoors. Although the exam lasted a whole day, they were not attacked by biochemical weapons. Tang Shen felt refreshed, had a full meal and went to bed, preparing for the second session tomorrow. Of course he didn’t know that in the Wu County government office, Jia Liangsheng had just finished overseeing the prefecture examination and picked his out of the many candidates’ papers.

“With the respect of the forefathers, and the eternal happiness of the future generations, a gentleman would be virtuous and close to the nine-story pagoda…”

Jia Liangsheng and the academician officials gathered around to read Tang Shen’s exam paper. After reading the two eight-legged essays and a test poem, Jia Liangsheng said: “Using quotations from classics and putting forth unique thoughts, the essay seems to be conciliatory, but it gradually has its roots. It is excellent work. The test poem is not bad either, this Tang Shen wrote an eight-legged poem without any flaws today, but the literary quality of it is not as good as his county examination work.”

An academician official said: “Excellent indeed, but not as unexpected as during the county exam.”

Jia Liangsheng nodded in agreement.

After the marking was over, everyone put together the best test papers. Jia Liangsheng commented: “This time, one first rank essay for Tang Shen of Gusu City and one for Yang Zhifan of Wu County. And as for the test poem Liu Yong of Wu County wrote the best poem, and he deserves the first rank. As for the an shou…”

The first session was also the most important in the prefecture examination. The next four sessions were just extras. Basically, the first day determined the exam results.

Jia Liangsheng looked at the three examination papers, thought for a long time, and said: “These three people have their own merits and it is difficult to distinguish them. However, if Tang Shen wins three top spots in a row for the tongshi this year, it would be this year’s sensation.”

With a stroke of his pen, Jia Liangsheng wrote the words “Tang Shen of Gusu City”.

At this time, Tang Shen didn’t know that he had just taken the first test session and had already won the title of this year’s an shou.

Tang Shen took the exam for four days, and the results were released after seven days. He originally just wanted to be in the top ten, but unexpectedly he saw that he was the an shou again.

This was not the an shou of the county examination. Once you passed the prefecture examination, you would gain the scholar rank of xiucai. This was a xiucai’s an shou!

Tang Shen stared blankly at his name while Tang Huang pulled at him excitedly. Tang Shen asked, “Am I really a genius? What I was best at before was obviously math, physics, and chemistry, while language and literature always pulled me down. Now I can score the top spot after a year of study?” He automatically ignored his golden finger of photographic memory.

Yao San and Tang Huang didn’t understand what mathematics, physics and chemistry referred to. In their minds…

“My brother is indeed the best!”

“The little boss really got the title of an shou!”

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Tang Shen even began to suspect whether he was an all-around genius in arts and sciences hidden in the secular world.

“Ai, Heaven has made us talents; we’re not made in vain. A thousand gold coins spent, more will turn up again! I am already a talent, and it’s time to get my money back. Accountant Lin, let’s talk about the logistics price increase reform.” (TN: “Drink Wine”, by Li Bai, a famous poet in Tang Dynasty)

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Tang Yun wore rich and brocade clothes, his head downcast. His mouth opened and closed again, embarrassed and unable to speak.

Seeing this, Madam Tang sighed: “How useless!” She ordered the maid Haitang to bring someone over. This was a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old, also wearing brocade clothes. But his behavior was timid and his expression was uneasy. From time to time, he cautiously glanced at Madam Tang from the corner of his eye. Just a look from Madam Tang and he was so frightened that he almost sat down on the ground.

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Madam Tang said: “Shen’er, this is the son of your uncle’s concubine and your second elder cousin.”

Then, Tang Shen finally understood why Tang Yun was so crazy for no reason three months ago and smashed up his courtyard.

Every family had their troubles. Madam Tang was a well-known virtuous lady in Gusu City. She was knowledgeable and courteous, Jiangnan’s famous beauty when she was young. Unfortunately, her family had declined. Although she was from a scholarly family, underneath the dazzling surface they had difficulty making ends meet. But Madam Tang was fortunate. After marrying into the Tang family, she gave birth to a son and a daughter for the Tang family. Her husband also managed to live up to expectations and passed the imperial examination to become a juren.

Madam Tang managed the household well, and the several shops belonging to the family were well maintained. However, she was only one person, and this time it was her family that caused the trouble. Tang Yun was secretly instigated by the concubine’s son and misunderstood Tang Shen, which led to Tang Yun’s angry attack on Tang Shen’s property three months ago.

Tang Shen knew that Tang juren had a son from a concubine who was the same age as himself. He looked simple and honest, and was even a little plumpee than him, but no one could have imagined that he would be the one causing trouble behind the scenes.

This concubine’s son must have been taught a lesson by Madam Tang before he came here. He shrank into himself and did not dare to speak.

Madam Tang spoke again and Tang Yun finally gritted his teeth and apologized to Tang Shen: “I was ignorant and was provoked by others, so I misunderstood you. Tang… Cousin, we are originally blood related, could you forgive me.”

Tang Shen smiled and said, “I forgave you three months ago. Eldest Aunt had already sent someone to compensate me for the things you broke.”

Tang Shen acted generously, but Tang Yun felt bad.

He never expected that Tang Shen’s lame idea would actually make the Tang Family Zhenbao Pavilion a lot of money. During this period, Tang Shen also started a strange logistics business. No one was optimistic about this thing at first, even Madam Tang felt unsure, so she just suggested Tang Shen to give it a try, as they wouldn’t lose much money after all. Unexpectedly, this logistics thing was actually a success!

Everyone Tang juren was surprised. During mealtime, he once said: “That half brother of mine has a dumb head. He only knows how to study and doesn’t know how to change and adapt. I wonder how he gave birth to a son who is completely different from him.”

Tang Shen came up with the idea of soap, and Tang Yun knew clearly how much money the Tang family made; Tang Shen started a logistics business, and maybe he didn’t make much profit, but his name was very resounding in Gusu City, and even Madam Tang felt that this logistics business may have other potential, and the future was unpredictable.

What was even more amazing was that Tang Shen’s teacher was actually Liang Bowen!

Tang Yun took a serious look at his younger cousin for the first time. He looked quite handsome, but no matter how he looked at him, he could not tell that he was as amazing a person as his mother said.

Was this Tang Shen really that amazing?

Madam Tang said: “Shen’er, your elder cousin had been spoiled by me since he was a child. I will watch over him from now on and not let him do such stupid things again.”

Tang Shen: “Eldest Aunt’s words are too serious.”

Tang Yun didn’t live with him, so what did he care about Tang Yun? 

Madam Tang asked after Tang Shen’s county exam two days ago, and ordered the maid to hand over some food supplements: “That exam is too harmful to the body. Your elder cousin took the county exam and the prefecture exam last year, and he fell seriously ill after the exam.”

Aunt Yao accepted the food supplements.

Tang Huang said: “Since it was someone else who caused the trouble,” when he heard this, the concubine’s son trembled, and the little girl continued: “Then Eldest Aunt, Tang Yun… hai, the bet between elder cousin and my brother… Does it still count?”

Madam Tang was stunned, and then she remembered this matter.

Tang Yun was also stunned, a little unhappy: “Of course it counts. How could I, Tang Yun, be that kind of petty person who doesn’t mean what he says! But who said I will lose? The county exam results haven’t come out yet, how do you know Tang Shen will definitely be able to pass? If you want me to call him big brother, he must first pass the exam and become a tongsheng!”

Madam Tang sighed and took her simple-minded son home.

After they left, Tang Shen looked at his sister and saw Tang Huang hug his arm with a smile and said: “Brother, aren’t I very smart. Look at that Tang Yun, he doesn’t even act like he is here to apologize. He is clearly unwillingly pushed over by Eldest Aunt! I want to see what he looks like when he calls you big brother three days later!”

Tang Shen: “So you deliberately provoked him?”

Tang Huang let go of his arm: “I didn’t.”

“You little girl, you’re quite the schemer.”

Tang Huang ran away quickly: “I’m not, Tang Shen is talking nonsense!”

Tang Shen laughed.

Although she had a tough attitude, in fact, the one who was most worried in the entire Tang family was Tang Huang.

There were three exams for the tongshi, and results would be released seven days after each exam. Every morning, Tang Huang would get up early and go to the temple with Aunt Yao. The little girl knelt on the mat and kept chanting, “Bless my brother to pass the exam.” The day before the results were released, even Tang Shen became nervous.

Accountant Lin: “Little boss would be afraid too? I remember when I was waiting for the results to be released every year, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep or even close my eyes. But the little boss is not like me. You are very smart and you will definitely pass the county exam.”

Tang Shen: “You don’t understand.”

Accountant Lin: “Don’t understand?”

Tang Shen let out a long sigh.

Not only was he worried about whether he would pass the exam, he was also worried that he would not be among the top ten!

The day for the results came, and early in the morning, Tang Huang dragged Tang Shen to the gate of the school. It was still dark, but many people had already gathered in front of Ziyang Academy. There were young adolescents like Tang Shen, and there were also octogenarians with gray hair. All the scholars stretched their necks and looked nervously and expectantly at the gate of the academy.

As soon as mao shi (5-7 am (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times) arrived, the door of the government school slowly opened, and two government workers and an academician official walked out. The government workers walked through the crowd holding the red list, and the two of them posted the red list on the wall together. A large red paper scroll unfolded in front of everyone, rapid breathing could be heard, and cries of joy and pain came one after another.

Tang Huang grabbed Yao San’s arm and was so anxious that she forgot to breathe.

Tang Shen was not much better than her. He craned his neck and carefully looked from the last place to the eleventh place.

“I don’t see my name!”

Tang Shen was immediately relieved, and then became a little worried again. He looked up the list again, and when he saw his name, he froze in place.

Tang Huang turned to look at him in astonishment: “Brother?!”

Yao San: “Little boss?!”

Tang Shen looked at the first name on the red list in dumbfoundment and asked, “Am I Tang Shen from Gusu City?”

At the same time, a servant boy quickly ran to the west of Gusu City and knocked anxiously on the door. Tang Yun was sleeping when he was awakened by the banging on the door. He said angrily: “Come in!” The servant boy ran in stumbling, because he ran in a hurry and was panting, unable to say a word.

“Young Master, Young Master…”

Tang Yun said impatiently: “If you have anything to say, just say it. If you disturbed my sweet dreams for no reason, you will not be allowed to eat today.”

The servant boy cried out in his heart and finally came to his senses: “Young Master, then Tang Shen is on the list!”

Tang Yun was startled. After a while, he murmured to himself: “He was so confident, it is natural that he would definitely pass. The county exam is not difficult. Just like my mother said, I fell into his trap. If he wins, I have to call him big brother. But if he doesn’t win, I won’t get anything. Forget it, after all, it was me who was wrong, and I was provoked. My mother is right, one learns from every experience, and I, Tang Yun, am not a sore loser, it doesn’t matter if I call him big brother!”

The servant boy said again: “Young Master, he is not only on the list, he is at the top of the list, the an shou!”

Tang Yun raised his head suddenly, thinking he heard wrongly: “What did you say?”

“Tang Shen from Gusu City is the an shou in this year’s county exam!”

Tang Yun: “…”

Go to hell Tang Shen! ! !

Towards Tang Shen passing the county exam, Tang Yun could still be calm and admit his mistake. But Tang Shen was actually the an shou, and Tang Yun felt awful all over. After wallowing in pain d r a day, he came to Tang Shen’s house obediently.

Tang Yun said awkwardly: “I, Tang Yun, keep my word. Tang Shen, I call you big brother. I was wrong before.”

Tang Shen: “Did you call me big brother?”

Tang Yun: “…”

“Big brother!”

Tang Shen smiled: “Young Master Tang, please walk slowly.”

Tang Yun was so ashamed and angry that he ran home crying.

As the sun set, Tang Shen came to Liang Manor after sending off classmates and friends who came to congratulate him. As soon as he came to the door, the steward said: “Congratulations Tang an shou.”

After entering the study, Liang Song glanced at him and said, “Tang an shou has arrived?”

Tang Shen was originally very gleeful. He got first place in the exam, who would not be full of glee. But when he saw Liang Song’s expression and heard his tone, Tang Shen suddenly felt something was wrong. He walked over obediently and said, “Sir, I just came in and didn’t say a word. I just came to tell you the good news. I passed the county examination and I can now be regarded as having made some achievements.”

Liang Song put a piece of paper on the desk and said, “’I don’t believe it’?”

Tang Shen was stunned, and soon he remembered: “Sir, you read the essay I wrote?”

“Did I read it, come and see for yourself.”

Only then did Tang Shen realize that the pieces of paper on Liang Song’s desk were the copies of his two eight-legged essays and one test poem.

“Sir, I got two first ranks and one second rank. I got first rank in both essays.”

“In ‘the marriage of Wu’, your writing is quite conservative. Among the students taking the county examination in Gusu City and Wu County, no one had written well enough to be eye-catching. It is normal to give you this first rank.” Liang Song said, “And this first essay ‘when a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens’… Hmmph, Tang Shen, do you know what mistake you made!”

Tang Shen was confused. He was clearly here to announce the good news to his teacher, but he actually scolded him? He even got first place in the exam!

“This student doesn’t know.”

“When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens. This sentence comes from “The Doctrine of the Mean”. “The Doctrine of the Mean” was written by Confucius, but now you actually say, ‘I don’t believe it’?”

Tang Shen suddenly understood. Liang Song was calling out on the arrogance of uttering “I don’t believe it” to “The Doctrine of the Mean”.

Tang Shen explained: “Sir, I don’t mean that I really don’t believe it. Please read on. I have demonstrated the relationship between auspicious signs and the rise and fall of a country. I have demonstrated why I sometimes believe it and why sometimes I don’t believe it.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Liang Song: “Yes, you wrote it, but so what? For this county examination, the examiner is Jia Liangsheng, the magistrate of Wu County. He is a young scholar, and he gave you a first-rank rating. He has been strongly recommending you in academic and political circles these days, saying this essay is a stunning work. However, this is because he is young, quick in thought, and eclectic. If he were a pedantic county magistrate, after just seeing this “I don’t believe it” he won’t even finish reading the rest of it, and you would be punished for disrespecting the sage’s words. Not only won’t you not pass the county examination, you could even forget about taking the imperial examination from now on!”

These words were nothing short of thunder, and Tang Shen was stunned.

There was a long silence in the study.

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