Chapter 37: Come and Take a Look

“How did you end up becoming a guard?”

This was perhaps the longest Ling Yu had kept his eyes away from his books. Ever since he started speaking to this youth, he hadn't looked at a book once.

Mo Zheng said, “Just trying to earn a living.”

Ling Yu frowned. “Is your elder cousin unwilling to support you?”

As he spoke, his hand moved toward his waist, as if searching for something.

Mo Zheng smiled and reached out to press down on his hand. “Senior Brother, why are you still like this? I do love reading, but if I can only read by relying on others for support, then there is no point in reading at all.”

Years ago, Ling Yu used to see that child hiding under the window to listen to lessons, using a branch to write characters on the ground. He listened with such earnestness, writing everything neatly and precisely, and remained so quiet that Ling Yu had invited him inside to listen and study.

The child had shaken his head. “My family has no money.”

The academy required tuition, and even brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones cost money.

To a wealthy young master like Ling Yu, studying was the most important thing; money did not matter. He had untied his money pouch, intending to hand it to the child.

The child had taken a step back to avoid it, his eyes wide with surprise. “How can one use someone else's money to study? That would be a disgrace to learning.”

The teenage wealthy master Ling Yu did not understand those words, but the twenty-year-old Ling Yu, who was still a wealthy master, understood.

Not everyone was like him, born for the sole purpose of studying.

Most people were born to survive.

“I am not trying to support you so you can study,” he said. “Aren't you a guard? I will hire you as my guard.”

He looked down at the hands of the youth pressing against his own.

The youth's hands looked fair and felt soft, yet he could sense the roughness of the fingertips—the marks of hardship left by the struggle for survival. These hands were not meant only for writing and turning pages.

Mo Zheng smiled again, lightly patted Ling Yu’s long, smooth hand, and withdrew.

“In the capital, at the feet of the Emperor, what use does a Doctor of the Five Classics have for a guard?” He said, then added with a smile, “This young lady has done me a favor. I am merely repaying her by guarding her for a while.”

Ling Yu gave an "oh," glancing at him with wandering eyes. “How is this young lady's scholarship?”

Mo Zheng rubbed his chin. “Hmm...”

...

...

“You ladies have worked hard.”

The completed papers were collected one by one by the palace maids, as the instructor standing at the front spoke with a solemn expression.

“Next, we will test your insights regarding the classics.”

As they spoke, the five instructors walked into the hall, raising papers in their hands, each containing a single principle from the classics.

“These are drawn from the Five Classics respectively. Ladies, please choose your topic.”

The women in the hall looked toward the papers in the instructors' hands, nervously deliberating to choose a subject they were proficient in.

Yang Luo didn't actually need to look; she already knew which one Yang Hui would choose. Thinking of this, she glanced at Yang Hui, only to see that she hadn't even looked up. Instead, she had already spread out her paper and picked up her brush, ready to write...

Eh? Doesn't she need to choose? Why does it look like she already knew what she was going to write?

Sensing the gaze, Yang Hui looked over with a defensive air, using her sleeve to shield her paper.

“Miss Fuzhou, please write your own,” she whispered.

Yang Luo smiled. “Miss Yang is overthinking it.” Having said that, she withdrew her gaze.

She had already copied it—and she had copied it even better, even more exquisitely.

As everyone finished choosing their topics, the noise gradually subsided. The girls either fell into thought or began to write.

The princesses at the front also had to write.

Princess Pingcheng was as before, writing steadily; Princess Wuyang bit her lip in resentment; Princess Nangong looked distressed and aggrieved; and Princess Shengping had teary eyes. “I don't understand any of this!”

An instructor handed over a scroll. “Princess, you may simply transcribe an essay.”

Princess Shengping rubbed her wrist reluctantly. “Being a princess is far too much work.”

...

...

Passing through the wind-and-rain corridor, one arrived at a palace adorned with the words "Han Yan" in flowing calligraphy.

This was where the disciples of the Imperial Academy attended classes.

However, since it was not currently class time, the students were either in their quarters or the library. The place appeared quite empty, with only seven or eight people engaged in heated discussion.

Ling Yu stood before the palace doors and gave a light cough.

The people inside looked over, and the discussion ceased instantly. The two men who were sitting stood up.

“Third Senior Brother.” They bowed respectfully.

Although some among them were older and some younger, seniority in the sect was not determined by age.

The Chancellor, Wang Zaitian, had taken six disciples in total. Ling Yu had studied under Wang Zaitian since childhood and ranked third among the disciples.

Ling Yu nodded and walked in, looking at the two men in their thirties. “Fifth and Sixth Junior Brothers, are you judging the selection of the princesses' companions today?”

The two disciples nodded.

As the Chancellor, Wang Zaitian only taught once a month; he would not bother with such trivial matters.

Of the six disciples, the others were either officials or teaching elsewhere; only these three were currently in the Imperial Academy. Ling Yu was a bookworm, so naturally, no one could ever make him do anything.

“Does Third Senior Brother have any instructions?” the two asked.

Ling Yu sat down on a prayer mat nearby. “I am idle with nothing to do, so I came to take a look.”

Idle with nothing to do? The two disciples exchanged surprised looks. Did Ling Yu ever have idle time? Wasn't he famous for spending all his time reading?

Ling Yu offered no further explanation, and a youth silently appeared behind him.

Only then did the people in the room notice him. Seeing the youth with his head slightly lowered, they could only see a small, slender face.

Was he a student?

The Imperial Academy had many students; it was impossible to know them all.

However, what kind of student could follow the always-solitary Ling Yu?

...

...

A loud drumbeat broke the silence of the room, followed by a clamor.

“Ah, why so fast!”

“I haven't finished writing yet!”

The instructors simply said, “Do not worry, ladies. Submit whatever you have completed.” They moved through the room, collecting the papers one by one.

Some lingered, reluctant to hand them in, but fearing that the watchful eyes of the palace matrons would mark them as having poor character, they had no choice but to submit.

Yang Luo looked at the essay that filled her page and exhaled softly.

Through her memories of the past few days, she had written out the best essay from her previous life.

“You’ve written quite a lot,” Yang Hui remarked from beside her.

Yang Luo glanced at her and lifted her sleeve to cover it.

Yang Hui’s face flushed with annoyance. “Who wants to see yours anyway?” She spread her own paper with both hands and handed it to the approaching instructor.

Yang Luo followed suit and handed hers in.

The instructors quickly collected everything.

“You ladies have worked hard,” the matron said with a smile. “Please take a moment to rest.”

Palace maids entered in a line to serve snacks and tea, along with chessboards, pitch-pot games, shuttlecocks, and other items.

“You may enjoy yourselves.”

While it was framed as leisure, it was actually the matrons' way of observing the ladies' speech, manners, temperament, and character.

The women in the hall did not relax; they began to present their best selves.

Yang Luo was not worried. She was not a newcomer from the countryside; having been nurtured in the Duke of Ding'an's manor for five years, she was already a standard lady of high standing. Furthermore, these observations were merely supplementary to the selection made by the Imperial Academy; the Academy's judgment was the most crucial factor.

Her gaze followed the instructors as they carried the answer sheets out, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

In truth, she did not know how the results would turn out, but she had done her best.

The rest was up to luck.

She hoped her luck would be better this time.

...

...

Inside the Han Yan Hall, the instructors placed two stacks of papers on the table.

In addition to the two disciples, Ling Yu also sat down.

As he sat, the two disciples politely gestured, “Please, Senior Brother, review them.”

Ling Yu did not stand on ceremony and reached out to take the papers for the Art of Calligraphy first.

However, instead of bowing his head to read them, he turned and handed them to the youth behind him. “You take a look.”

The two disciples once again looked at the youth in astonishment.

Was he being asked to judge?

***

(Note: Since I am traveling, I cannot guarantee the update schedule. Please do not wait for me these next few days.)

(End of Chapter)