Chapter 43

The imperial examinations proceed as follows: the county child examination in August, the prefecture scholar examination in February of the following year, the state examination in August, and the palace examination in February of the third year.

After this cycle is completed, there is a three-year break before it starts again.

The prefecture scholar examination in February is held in the prefecture city. After the New Year, the child scholars from the seven counties within the prefecture head to the city. The prefecture has a large river to the south, the Bei Bei mountain range to the north, and the Taiping Lake to the east. The land is divided into plains, mountains, and water, with the southern part being relatively flat and fertile.

Pingshou County is located in the northeast corner of the prefecture, with more mountains than fields. Only a tributary flows into the river, promoting the trade of mountain goods. The journey to the prefecture city is not too far, but without the benefit of the river, it takes two days even on the official road. Considering the need for rest, they set out ten days in advance.

The clan sent a recommendation, taking into account the impact of the snow, and provided a cart pulled by oxen, giving them ample time. Ye Qing set out early with Qianqian.

A cold wind blew, and the driver shouted, and the ox cart started moving. In the cold of February, there were hardly any pedestrians on the road. The two of them sat in the warm, covered cart, feeling quite cozy.

The ox cart moved slowly, and the only sound was the hooves on the road. Ye Qing turned his head and saw someone still watching from a distance. The entire Ye residence was enveloped in a mist, with a faint red glow at its core, indicating the presence of a red mansion.

The Ye family was considered a large household in the county, with three scholars in the family in the past. They had a bit of a reputation in the prefecture, but without any graduates from the same examination, their influence had gradually waned over two hundred years.

In the prefecture, they were now a third-rate family, with few connections to leverage. What they could do was all they had...

Understanding this, Ye Qing realized that although Ye Zifan was a scholar, he was content to manage the family. While his achievements were commendable, the family's internal strength was the foundation.

Thinking about this, Ye Qing sighed, "What remains is up to me."

"What is Young Master muttering about?"

"Nothing, girl."

With this journey, they arrived at the prefecture city by the third day's dusk, eight days before the spring examination.

The snow had stopped, and the ground was covered in white. The city walls stretched for thirty miles. Upon entering the city, they saw that the main street had been cleared of snow, revealing the cobblestone road.

The prefecture city had deep streets and alleys, with houses arranged like a chessboard, home to a hundred thousand households.

With his spiritual eyes, he saw thousands of wisps of smoke rising, the aura a yellowish hue, with a few times more red aura beneath it.

This scene in the human world was no less impressive than the Dragon Palace.

"Go to the government office!" Ye Qing instructed directly. The driver responded and slowly moved through the cold wind. After half an hour, they reached the prefecture governor's office. Seeing some scholars queuing at the side gate and soldiers guarding it, the ox cart stopped. The driver said, "I'll leave you here, Young Master Ye. Go register quickly; you might be able to get your examination token before the office closes."

Ye Qing got off the ox cart and scanned the government office, sighing inwardly. He felt the golden aura pulsing, and the stone lions at the gate had a faint spiritual glow, indeed different from the county office.

Qianqian also jumped off the cart, wrapped in a thick cloak, and handed him a small package.

Ye Qing took the package containing the necessary documents, nodded to the driver, and looked at Qianqian. Her thick cloak made it hard to see her figure, and her hood covered her beautiful eyes, making her less noticeable. He still instructed her to wait in the cart, a precaution for safety. Ye Qing preferred to be cautious, even if it meant more trouble.

At this time, the government office exuded a golden aura, majestic and imposing, suppressing evil spirits. Even outstanding scholars had to queue obediently. The prefecture office was the safest place in the city, and even the governor could not act recklessly.

Ye Qing joined the queue, noticing the soldiers at the gate, all clad in heavy armor, with stern faces and a killing aura, indicating they had seen battle.

Ye Qing kept his gaze low, entered the government office, and reached the registration area within a quarter of an hour.

The registration officials wore dark red robes, indicating they were formal civil servants of a certain rank, with sharp minds and quick thinking.

The official receiving Ye Qing was a middle-aged, slender man. Without looking up, he quickly wrote on the paper, "Name, place of origin, household registration, child scholar seal, and recommendation letter."

"Ye Qing, from Pingshou County, Nanchang Prefecture. Here are my household registration, child scholar seal, and recommendation letter." Ye Qing handed over the documents.

A faint golden light flashed as the golden rooster talisman pecked the seal.

The middle-aged official's facial muscles twitched slightly, and he looked up, seeing a golden aura surrounding Ye Qing. He composed himself and saw a young man with a slightly thin face but a golden aura.

"He is a descendant of the Ye clan!" The official's face remained expressionless as he registered the family name and lineage, then handed Ye Qing a light golden examination token. "The usual rules apply. Keep this token for future examinations and don't lose it."

"Thank you!" Ye Qing respectfully took the token and bowed.

The middle-aged official narrowed his eyes. There were fewer than ten families in the prefecture with such a golden aura. He had not heard of the Ye family, so he wondered, "Who is this person, and who has favored him?"

But now was not the time to ponder, so he said, "Next!"

The process continued, and the thought was temporarily set aside.

The night deepened, and the city was lit by thousands of lights.

The middle-aged official stayed in the government office, finishing the last document, and sighed deeply, putting down his pen under the oil lamp.

A young man in casual clothes entered with a lantern, laughing, "Lord Lan is truly diligent, still working so late."

The middle-aged official, Lan Chongwen, the most experienced examiner, though not a superior, was familiar with the young man. He smiled, "It has been snowing these past few days, and things have been busy, so I worked late. Lord Zeng, you are here to tease me, but this concerns the future pillars of the state, so I cannot be careless."

Zeng Lian's expression turned serious. He was also an examiner, and they had a good relationship despite their age difference and some differing views, but they respected each other.

He gently advised, "The affairs of the state cannot be taken lightly, Lord Lan. You should also take care of your health. Your home is far from the office, and it is snowing again. How will you get back?"

"I'll stay at your place!" Lan Chongwen said nonchalantly, "I'll just stay the night."

Zeng Lian was taken aback but smiled, "If that's the case, it's getting late. Come with me."

The two walked together, holding the lantern, and reached Zeng Lian's home in less than a quarter of an hour.

They entered the house, and a young woman saw Zeng Lian and called a maid to prepare dinner. Zeng Lian stopped her, "Madam, prepare a few dishes and warm some wine. I'll sit with Lord Lan."

Lan Chongwen looked embarrassed, "I'm a drunkard, troubling you."

"Not at all, Lord," Zeng Lian's wife smiled, "It's a pleasure." She went to the kitchen to warm the wine and prepare the dishes.

In a short while, a pot of warm wine, a few dishes, and a bowl of rice were brought out, steaming and fragrant, making the guests' mouths water.

"The winter is harsh, and fresh vegetables are scarce. Please make do with what we have. If you need more, just let me know, and I'll send a maid to buy some," Zeng Lian's wife said, removing her white apron, her face slightly apologetic.

Lan Chongwen started eating without hesitation, and Zeng Lian's wife withdrew.

After a few rounds of drinks, the two men's eyes were blurry, and their conversation became more open. They were close friends, and Zeng Lian would not have invited him over or introduced him to his wife otherwise.

Lan Chongwen mentioned Ye Qing from the afternoon, sighing, "This young man came to register with a recommendation letter from the Pingshou County office. He is a child scholar, and I vaguely remember the Ye clan, but they are just a large family in the county. Where did he get this golden aura?"

"I only glanced quickly, but he seemed somewhat thin. I wonder who favored him and bestowed such an aura..."

"Child scholar, golden aura..." Zeng Lian pondered for a moment, his expression serious, and asked, "What is his name?"

Lan Chongwen recalled and clearly remembered, "Ye Qing."

"Ah, I see!" Zeng Lian clapped his hands, "Do you know who he is?"

"You are well-informed but like to tease. Tell me quickly!"

Zeng Lian smiled, "Do you remember the poem 'Observing Peace' I wrote the other day?"

"Of course, I remember. 'The sun and moon rise and set within it; the stars and rivers shine brightly within it. How fortunate, I sing to express my aspirations'—this poem has a noble aura!" Lan Chongwen nodded, suddenly realizing, "Could he be the one who outshone the scholars in the Dragon Palace and took the top spot?"

"What do you think? His family is mediocre, and in this prefecture, who else could have such influence?" Zeng Lian slowly sipped his wine, his gaze focused, "This young man, a child scholar, receiving such an aura, will likely become a scholar. I heard he is only fifteen, truly..."

In his murmurs, he thought of his own fortune and raised his wine glass, finishing it in one gulp.

A shadow moved behind the curtain, and a woman's voice lightly coughed, "Husband, remember you have to supervise the examination tomorrow. Don't disturb Lord Lan too much."

This reminder made Zeng Lian pause his wine bottle and put down his cup.

Lan Chongwen sighed, thinking of this man, who was once the most talented in the prefecture, praised by thousands, but failed the examinations multiple times due to his aura. He became a scholar and worked in a low position, often visiting brothels and acting wildly after drinking, hiding his inner pain.

Fortunately, he found love and married a virtuous woman who helped correct his behavior.

"A virtuous wife is the best," he thought, changing the topic, "No wonder I saw this young man with a thin aura but blessed by external fortune."

At this, Lan Chongwen's chopsticks trembled, and a thought struck him, "I come from a humble background in the capital. Though I have some talent, accumulating aura took too long, and I failed the examinations multiple times."

"Thanks to Grand Secretary Tong's recommendation, I finally passed and became an official in this prefecture. Though my position is ordinary, my mission is to gather and recruit talented people for our faction!"

"Zeng Lian, also from a humble background, was suppressed by local aristocrats, with limited aura. He performed averagely in the examinations and started at a low position, but after many years, he reached the eighth rank. Whether it's his natural talent, accumulated effort, or his wife's good fortune, his overall aura is worth recruiting."

Hearing Zeng Lian's words, Lan Chongwen thought, "This Ye Qing is also a hidden talent. Should I try to contact him? If I can, it would be a gain for our faction!"

"But having aura without the ability to handle it can lead to failure in the examination, and I've seen many such cases..."

"The Dragon Palace bestows golden aura, but he is only a child scholar. Can he really handle it? Scholars who have studied for years and have a broad vision can bear it, but this young man is only fifteen!"

"Without seeing his examination performance, it's too early to judge based on aura alone. We'll see after the prefecture examination..."

He calmed himself and smiled, snatching the wine glass from Zeng Lian, "Don't drink too much. You have to go to the office tomorrow."

He stood up, "Let's sleep. I'll go to the west wing!"

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