Chapter 2

Today is the day of the county examination for the child scholars, and Fang Yun is one of the candidates, but he feels utterly hopeless about his future.

Fang Yun is a typical student from a poor family.

Those from noble families, prestigious clans, wealthy families, and even the revered Confucian Academy can afford not to worry about food and drink, and do not have to be distracted by their family's livelihood, but Fang Yun cannot.

They can directly attend the best schools and academies, but Fang Yun cannot.

They can hire any teacher they want and seek advice whenever they please, but Fang Yun cannot.

They can buy any classics, commentaries, transmissions, interpretations, and collections of books they want, and some even have them at home, but Fang Yun cannot.

For students like Fang Yun from poor families, just surviving is already very difficult. Being able to read some books is already the limit. As for passing the imperial examinations, having a brilliant youth, or living a wonderful life, these are all beyond the reach of children from poor families.

Fang Yun involuntarily clenched his fists.

Then, Fang Yun realized he was in a dire situation. The most critical issue now is not worrying about his family's reaction after his death, but survival.

Last night, the original Fang Yun was beaten to death by four masked men on his way home.

"Who wanted to kill that Fang Yun?"

Fang Yun quickly thought of the only possibility.

Before the Qingming Festival, Fang Yun had taken his foster sister, Yu Huan, to the Wu Hou Temple, fifty miles away, to pray for Wu Hou Zhuge Liang to bless him to pass the county examination and become a child scholar.

On the way back, the two encountered a man in a carriage.

The man smiled and asked for directions to the Wu Hou Temple, and Fang Yun politely pointed the way.

Little did he know that after thanking Fang Yun, the man struck up a conversation and introduced himself as Liu Zicheng, who had passed the prefectural examination three years ago and was from the prestigious Liu family of Dayuan Prefecture. His brother was very outstanding, being the top scholar of Jiangzhou last year, known as the Jieyuan.

Liu Zicheng being from a prestigious family was not the main issue, but everyone in Dayuan Prefecture knew that the Liu family in the capital had a powerful relative, the Left Chancellor Liu Shan, who was the head of the four chancellors of the Jing State and a trusted minister of the late emperor. Some even said that half of the officials in the Jing State were his students or former subordinates.

Fang Yun's greatest wish was to pass the county examination and become a child scholar. Passing the prefectural examination and becoming a scholar was a distant dream for him. Liu Zicheng was courteous and had a noble demeanor, and being a scholar himself, Fang Yun was completely unguarded. He answered all of Liu Zicheng's questions without hesitation.

Later, Fang Yun sought advice from Liu Zicheng on how to pass the county examination, and Liu Zicheng shared all his knowledge. Fang Yun was extremely grateful.

When he learned that Liu Zicheng had attended one of the three holy places, "Book Mountain," and even reached the second pavilion, Fang Yun respected Liu Zicheng even more.

After that, Liu Zicheng had his carriage take Fang Yun and Yu Huan home. The two scholars talked happily along the way and eventually called each other brothers.

That night, Liu Zicheng stayed at Fang Yun's house, talking late into the night, which made Fang Yun even more grateful.

The next day, Liu Zicheng left, leaving behind a twenty-tael silver note and a letter. The letter said that he felt an instant connection with Fang Yun and hoped Fang Yun would accept the silver note. If he really didn't want to accept it, he could return it after passing the imperial examinations.

Fang Yun thought Liu Zicheng was a true gentleman. However, he gave the silver note to Yu Huan, telling her to keep it and insisting on not using someone else's money.

Yu Huan, however, said that Liu Zicheng seemed to have ulterior motives, but the original Fang Yun was furious, accusing Yu Huan of judging a gentleman by a small person's standards.

Later, Liu Zicheng visited several times, gradually giving Fang Yun some books, and their friendship deepened.

Yu Huan mentioned twice that she didn't like Liu Zicheng, but each time she was scolded by Fang Yun, so she stopped saying anything.

One day, while Yu Huan was out buying vegetables, she encountered some ruffians. Liu Zicheng happened to pass by and used the power of his literary treasure, the "Mountain Peak Pen," to wield a sword and drive away over ten ruffians, saving Yu Huan. This made Fang Yun extremely grateful.

Half a month ago, Liu Zicheng mentioned Fang Yun's attitude toward Yu Huan, even pointing out that Fang Yun's family situation would only harm Yu Huan.

Fang Yun felt he owed Yu Huan and said he was not worthy of her, so even though his relatives had been urging him, he had not married Yu Huan. He had sworn to marry her with great pomp and ceremony after passing the imperial examinations.

Liu Zicheng asked Fang Yun how confident he was about passing the child scholar examination and becoming a scholar, and how confident he was about becoming a top scholar.

Fang Yun was silent.

Then, Liu Zicheng said he was willing to take Yu Huan as a concubine and offer two thousand taels of silver as a dowry.

Fang Yun was stunned, but still did not realize Liu Zicheng's true intentions.

At that moment, Yu Huan came out and revealed the truth.

It turned out that every time Liu Zicheng visited, he would deliberately try to get close to Yu Huan. Yu Huan had told Fang Yun, but he didn't believe her. So, Yu Huan set up a trap, saying that if Liu Zicheng could persuade Fang Yun, she would marry him as a concubine.

Liu Zicheng fell for the trap, and Fang Yun suddenly realized the truth, scolding Liu Zicheng and throwing out the silver note and all the gifts Liu Zicheng had given him.

Liu Zicheng, enraged, threatened Fang Yun, saying that if he did not sell Yu Huan to him as a concubine before the county examination, he would ensure that Fang Yun would never pass the child scholar examination.

Fang Yun recalled Liu Zicheng's words.

"Showing you respect, but you don't know your place! I wanted to marry Yu Huan as a concubine to create a beautiful story: Liu Zicheng helping a poor student, a poor scholar entrusting his beautiful foster sister! I've already told my brother that I will take a beautiful concubine, and if he likes her, I can give her to him. If you don't agree now, how can I face him? If Yu Huan doesn't agree before the county examination, don't blame me for taking drastic measures! In this Jing State, the Liu family has the final say!"

Liu Zicheng left with a long laugh, which Fang Yun could not forget, nor could he forget Yu Huan's words.

"I, Yang Yuhuan, am a member of the Fang family in life and a spirit of the Fang family in death!"

However, Yang Yuhuan's eyes were filled with deep helplessness and sorrow, and even a hint of despair.

The original Fang Yun felt only shame and gratitude, but now, as Fang Yun recalled the scene, he realized that Yang Yuhuan had a sense of tragic determination!

Fang Yun felt a pain at the back of his head, touched it, and winced, finding that his head had been broken.

"Since I am alive, Liu Zicheng will certainly continue to seek revenge! I can't escape now, so the only way is to pass the county examination and become a child scholar. With a title and a literary position, he won't dare to kill me in Jixian! A child scholar is just a 'reserve talent,' while a scholar is a basic talent, so the county examination is the easiest, only testing 'Invoking the Sage's Words' and 'Poetry and Prose.' The 'Classics' and 'Policy Essays' will be tested later."

"The imperial examination system in the Holy Yuan Continent is different from that of ancient China, but since I'm here, I'll make the best of it."

Fang Yun thought to himself as he walked out of the alley. His body was severely injured, and he was in pain all over. His clothes were wet and uncomfortable, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

As he walked out of the alley, he saw a familiar face, Duan Hu, who was a few years older and worked as a waiter at the same tavern.

Fang Yun was about to greet him with a bitter smile, but Duan Hu hesitated, then lowered his voice and said, "Go home quickly and see what's happened. Something's wrong at your place."

Duan Hu wanted to say more, but from five paces away, the tavern owner, Mr. Zhen, shouted, "Little Hu, are you itching for a beating? Go buy vegetables quickly, or I'll break your legs!"

Duan Hu sighed and gave Fang Yun a warning look, then turned and left.

Fang Yun didn't expect something to have happened at home. He ignored Mr. Zhen and quickened his pace.

Mr. Zhen, however, gloated, "I told you three years ago that I could buy your family's 'Jiangzhou Beauty' to support your studies. Now, the Liu family of Dayuan Prefecture has their eyes on you, and you won't get a single coin! Our county only has two noble families, no prestigious clans, and the Liu family is one of them, ruthless and heartless. Look at your injuries; were they done by the Liu family?"

Mr. Zhen wore a green mandarin robe and a black melon-shaped hat, was in his early forties, and had one wife and two concubines. He was known for his meanness. Because his surname sounded like the word for "needle," the waiters privately called him "Needle Eye."

Once, Fang Yun saw that Yang Yuhuan was too thin, so he stole some leftover meat from a guest to give to her, but Mr. Zhen caught him, took the meat, threw it on the ground, and kicked it to the dogs.

"Not even the dogs will give it to you!"

Fang Yun still remembered the contemptuous look in Mr. Zhen's eyes when he said that.

Fang Yun suppressed his anger and continued walking.

Mr. Zhen, smug, said, "Do you think I hired you because you were capable? I did it to get close to Yuhuan. Unfortunately, Yuhuan was bewitched and always kept her distance from me, so I took it out on you. Since you've offended the prestigious Liu family, I can't risk getting involved. You're fired!"

Fang Yun stopped, turned, and looked at Mr. Zhen coldly, saying, "Then please settle my remaining wages, Mr. Zhen."

"You've offended the prestigious Liu family, and my tavern might be targeted by them. I'm not making you pay for damages, and you still want wages? Get lost! If you dare to come to my Lucky Tavern again, I'll break your legs!" Mr. Zhen glared at Fang Yun.

Fang Yun glared back at Mr. Zhen and said, "I'll remember your words. If you don't pay me what you owe me today, I'll make you pay a thousandfold in the future!" Then he left.

"Poor and arrogant, don't you fear breaking your tongue with such big talk!" Mr. Zhen sneered and entered the tavern.

Fang Yun clenched his teeth and hurried home to see what had happened, then planned to take his writing materials to the examination. If he didn't pass the child scholar examination, Liu Zicheng would make his second move within three days, and he would surely die!

If he passed the child scholar examination, Fang Yun would be temporarily safe. Even if Liu Zicheng was from a prestigious family, he wouldn't dare to kill a child scholar with a literary position in Jixian.

Fang Yun didn't care about the passersby's gazes. As he walked, he digested the new memories, realizing that the Holy Yuan Continent was very different from ancient China. The emergence of talent and the ten warring states and the threat of demons and barbarians had made practicality the dominant force.

For example, scholars here usually write in regular and running script, but on the battlefield, where situations change rapidly, they use simpler cursive script to complete tasks quickly, leading to the continuous simplification of cursive script over several hundred years.

The imperial examination system here is also very different. In ancient China, it started in the Sui Dynasty, but here it began in the Han Dynasty, about seven or eight hundred years earlier, and it is held annually rather than every three years.

The Holy Yuan Continent is also much larger than China, with ninety states, each equivalent to a province.

Fang Yun soon realized that his additional memories not only included those of the Holy Yuan Continent but also included books he had never read, such as "Comprehensive Imperial Examination Papers of Ancient Top Scholars," "The Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals," "The Southern Expedition," "The Five Classics of Zhu Xi," "The Three-Character Classic," "The Complete Tang Poems," and more.

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Fang Yun continued to walk, determined to get home and then go to the examination. If he didn't pass, he would be dead within three days. But if he passed, he would be safe for the time being.