Chapter 67

After Yang Ji agreed to Shi Shi, the atmosphere in the room instantly became much more relaxed.

"Hehe, being able to entrust this Wen Sheng's writing to someone else can also be considered a relief for me. As for this literary examination, the rankings have already been predetermined by Meng Xun and the others. It's you three, and if there are no unexpected events, you will be the top candidate this time."

Shi Shi smiled as he spoke, took out a letter with the imperial seal from his sleeve, and quickly signed his name while lowering his head.

"If there are no issues, this result will be announced tomorrow."

"Teacher, if possible, could the announcement of the results be delayed for some time?"

Yang Ji was taken aback and suddenly said.

"Oh, why?"

Shi Shi was startled by the words, stopped his brush, and looked up in surprise.

The top candidate of the child examination had never before requested a delay in the announcement of the results, which was a very strange thing.

"This... it involves some family matters of the student."

Yang Ji hesitated for a moment but still said.

"Oh."

Shi Shi smiled, did not press for details, and said:

"This has never happened before, but as long as it does not violate the imperial regulations, it is not a problem. The child examination only selects the top three, which is essentially your three people. If you can get the other two to agree, I can make a decision and give you some leeway."

The literary examination did not specify a time for the announcement of results, but there was a customary practice to announce the results as soon as possible once they were determined.

Although Yang Ji's request was somewhat strange, as long as the examination results were fair and just, the other details were not a big deal.

"Thank you, teacher."

Yang Ji bowed and quickly left the room.

In the courtyard, Lu Lin Song and Du Wen were also intelligent people. Upon hearing Yang Ji's request, they immediately understood that this person was likely the top candidate this time.

"Congratulations, Brother Yang!"

The two bowed and said in unison, "As for the matter you mentioned, it's a piece of cake. We have no issues with it."

The two had already confirmed their names on the list, and the timing of the announcement made no difference. If they could use this to befriend the top candidate of the literary examination, it would be a great deal.

With the two's agreement, the matter was settled.

"I will send this letter to the city lord shortly. Once the city lord confirms, I can request that the rewards for the child examination be sent to you in advance, which should help your performance in the martial examination."

Shi Shi stroked his beard and said.

Although the announcement of the literary examination results was delayed, the rewards would still be distributed normally. Although Shi Shi also hoped that Yang Ji would not be selected in the martial examination so that Yang Ji could smoothly follow him to study literature, he would not interfere in such matters.

With the matter settled, Yang Ji left Shi Shi, but his heart remained unsettled for a long time. Eight years of hard work, day and night, had finally paid off, but he couldn't quite describe how he felt.

"Finally succeeded!"

Yang Ji looked at the sky, sighed, and took a deep breath.

He had prepared for this day for too long. When he heard Shi Shi say he was the top candidate of this literary examination, Yang Ji felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if all the burdens he had carried were released.

However, after the relief, Yang Ji felt an indescribable sense of melancholy.

Literature was destined to be just a fleeting landscape in his life, a product of difficult circumstances.

From the beginning, what Yang Ji wanted was clear: powerful strength. And all of this, the weak path of literature, could never provide.

Eight years, just for a fleeting fame, Yang Ji didn't know if it was worth it.

"Yi yi! ——"

Just as Yang Ji was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a horse's neigh, mixed with the chaotic screams of the crowd.

Before Yang Ji could react, he felt a strong gust of wind and the sound of hooves coming from his side.

"Ah! ——"

Suddenly, a scream rang out. In front of Yang Ji, a six- or seven-year-old girl with pigtails suddenly opened her eyes wide, her face pale, and screamed in terror.

Yang Ji saw her whole body trembling, her face full of fear.

"Oh no!"

Yang Ji suddenly woke up. Without turning around, he knew that the wild horse had already rushed over. In a critical moment, Yang Ji didn't have time to think and quickly used the "Grass Flying" technique, leaping forward several yards, and scooped up the little girl, rushing toward her.

"Xiao Ji!"

Yang Ji whispered.

The wild horse had immense strength, far exceeding that of a normal horse. To control such a mad horse, only "Xiao Ji," a creature, could do it.

"Si!"

A snake-like hiss instantly spread a chilling and terrifying sensation like a flood. The crowd in the vicinity suddenly felt as if they were in an ice cellar, experiencing an inexplicable sense of terror.

"Yi yi! ——"

The wild horse suddenly reined in, its hooves, which had been raised high, suddenly pulled back. It stood there, eyes wide open, motionless, and even its dense mane was sweating, as if it had been frightened to death.

"Xiao Ji's" presence came and went quickly. The people around didn't even realize what had happened before it disappeared, so fast that they thought it was just an illusion.

"Xiao Yan! ——"

A woman rushed out from the crowd, her face pale, and tears streaming down her cheeks as she hugged the little girl.

The crowd also reacted, bursting into enthusiastic applause. The girl's mother repeatedly thanked Yang Ji.

"It's nothing, not worth mentioning. Just be careful with your child."

Yang Ji smiled and said.

For him, this was just a trivial matter. The sudden commotion had already attracted more and more people to gather. Yang Ji glanced around and saw a slightly overweight merchant, sweating profusely, running over, knowing he was the owner of the horse. He pushed through the crowd and walked out.

"Move, move..."

Amidst the harsh shouts, Yang Ji saw more and more patrolling soldiers being attracted by the commotion and rushing over.

During the special period of the imperial examinations, any commotion could attract the attention of these powerful imperial soldiers.

Yang Ji was about to return to the inn when his gaze suddenly caught two figures rushing over, and his eyebrows twitched.

"It's them!"

Recognizing the two figures, Yang Ji's pupils constricted. His worst fear was realized. These were the last people he wanted to encounter before the martial examination.

"I hope they didn't notice me."

Yang Ji thought to himself, knowing that his rescue of the little girl had drawn attention.

The more he worried, the more it happened.

"Hehe, Yang Ji? ——"

A cold laugh echoed from a distance, followed by quick footsteps.

"I thought I was mistaken, Yang Ji. You have some nerve to show up here! What, are you in a hurry to run away?"

Another mocking voice said.

Hearing these familiar voices, Yang Ji knew he couldn't escape. He stopped and coldly watched the two familiar figures push through the crowd and quickly approach.

These were two young men around twenty-three or twenty-four, with broad backs and strong builds, but they exuded a knife-like aura, as if they could stab someone in the back at any moment.

They wore black and red attire, with the words "Pingchuan" and a powerful "Li" character on their chests.

In the Han Dynasty, only one type of person could wear such attire: the "Wu Li" (military officials). Wu Li were always selected from the best disciples of the major local clans, serving as a local auxiliary force to the imperial army, mainly responsible for maintaining order in the counties and districts using force.

Wu Li were not selected through the regular imperial examination system, so no matter how high they achieved, they could never hold a position like a general.

However, if they performed outstandingly, they could be transferred to the army and serve as commandants or colonels.

For many "Wu Zhe" (martial practitioners) who disliked literary pursuits, this was a second excellent path to success.

Wen Li and Wu Li complemented each other and were indispensable in any city of the Han Dynasty.

However, for Yang Ji, these two had another identity.

"Yang Wen, Yang Wu, you're overstepping your bounds. What I do is none of your business."

Yang Ji raised his head, not hiding his disgust.

If there were any other members of the Yang clan, besides Yang Yong, that Yang Ji hated the most, it was these two, Yang Wen and Yang Wu.

Yang Ji's启蒙 teacher (启蒙 means "enlightenment" or "education," so "启蒙 teacher" can be translated as "tutor" or "teacher") was driven away by them when he was eight. And when he was young, he had suffered a lot from their bullying.

Unlike Yang Yong, Yang Wen and Yang Wu did not act on the orders of the matriarch. They naturally enjoyed bullying those weaker than themselves to show off their strength.

Even when Yang Ji's mother was still alive, these two found ways to torment him, simply because he was the youngest and the weakest.

Although other members of the Yang clan also suffered from their bullying, Yang Ji was the one they tormented the most. This continued until they were selected by the clan to become the "Wu Li" of Pingchuan City.

However, Yang Ji had heard privately that Yang Wen and Yang Wu had actually taken the position of "Wu Li" in Pingchuan City because of their close relationship with the eldest son, Yang Xuanlan.