The sky was about to darken, and the sun was like a dark red egg yolk hanging in the gray-blue sky, lazily emitting its last rays of light. Jiang Changyi walked out of the Du mansion with a gloomy mood, and the gatekeeper carefully led his horse over, smiling and saying: "Young Master, take care on your way."

  Jiang Changyi's face immediately reflexively burst out a smile, and with a pleasant expression he ordered his personal attendant Xiao Ba to reward the gatekeeper. He turned his horse around, but as soon as he did, his face fell again. Seeing that his expression was not good, Xiao Ba hastily asked in a low voice: "Sir, are you upset?"

  Jiang Changyi said calmly, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm their nephew, and my aunt personally brought me to pay respects to the master. My uncle entrusted me to her care, and she took good care of me. Who dares to make me suffer? Everyone in this mansion, from top to bottom, is extremely kind to me."

  The teacher is a good teacher, and he didn't separate him for teaching, it's just that the teaching method doesn't suit him.

  In this dynasty, the imperial examination places the most emphasis on the jinshi degree, followed by the mingjing degree. The jinshi degree emphasizes poetry and rhapsody, while the mingjing degree emphasizes the classics and annotations. As the saying goes, "Ten old men can become mingjing scholars, but only five out of a hundred young men can become jinshi scholars." To pass the mingjing examination, one only needs to be familiar with the classics and their annotations, whereas the path to becoming a jinshi scholar is extremely difficult, requiring not only a solid foundation in poetry and rhapsody but also innate talent. Of course, after passing the jinshi examination, it's a completely different story - just look at the fact that most of this dynasty's chancellors are jinshi scholars.

  Originally, the northern aristocratic families mostly took the Mingjing exam, while the poor students from the south loved to take the Jinshi exam. However, the Du family had a long history of meritorious service and was also related to the imperial family by marriage, so they didn't have to worry about their future careers. Instead, they insisted that their sons study poetry and take the Jinshi exam, just to add glory to their already illustrious name. Therefore, Mr. Jiang had been teaching the Du brothers since they were young, mainly focusing on poetry and literature. Although he may have taught them classics and history in the past, recently he had been concentrating on poetry and literature, giving them assignments and having them compose poems every day, both in class and at home. The Du brothers took to it like fish to water, but Mr. Jiang was secretly suffering.

  Zhu Guogong's mansion emphasizes martial arts over literature, and he himself has a weak foundation since childhood. He relies solely on rote memorization, so how can he be compared to the Du brothers? He has some self-awareness and doesn't dare hope for jinshi, thinking it would be good enough to pass the mingjing exam. He grasped this rare opportunity to make a name for himself, but at this time, he couldn't get guidance from a master, and even the time spent on rote memorization was taken up by Mr. Bu's poetry assignments.

  If he can't make progress in this short period of time, even if he uses every trick in the book and borrows someone's reputation to deceive that one person and seize this precious opportunity, it will all be for nothing... Being ridiculed by others is a small matter, what's most hateful is that the opportunity will slip away in an instant... What a great teacher, what a wonderful method... Thinking of this, Jiang Changyi's heart suddenly became a tangled mess, his mouth also dry and bitter.

  Xiao Ba had been following Jiang Changyi since he was a child, and just by looking at his expression and listening to this faint sentence, he knew that he was now distressed. He wanted to comfort him with a few words, but as a lowly servant, he couldn't think of anything that could provide substantial comfort, so he fell silent.

  The two men each had their own thoughts, and they walked on in silence for a while. Soon, Xiao Ba pointed excitedly at the front and said, "Sir, isn't that Liu Si?

  Jiang Changyi looked up and saw that there was indeed a person in front, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, wearing a silver-blue round-necked robe with a high collar, riding on a magnificent horse with golden and jade decorations, looking very proud and luxurious, standing out particularly in the bustling streets, who else could it be if not Liu Can?

  Xiao Ba asked: "Sir, should we go forward and greet them?"

  Jiang Changyi was just hesitating and didn't open his mouth, Xiao Ba said: "Or, you go up and greet him? Last time I saw him treating you quite kindly. He knows a lot of people..." Before the words fell, someone behind him said: "Isn't this Mr. Jiang? Autumn Shi asks for your well-being." It was Liu Chong's servant Autumn Shi who smiled and rushed up from the side, not waiting for Jiang Changyi to react, and loudly shouted at the front of Liu Chong: "Sir! It's Mr. Jiang!"

  Jiang Changyi saw no way to avoid it and lightly kicked his horse's belly to hurry up and catch Liu Chong.

  Liu Chong heard the sound in front of him, immediately pulled the reins to stop his horse, turned around and smiled slightly at Jiang Changyi: "Jiang Lang, what a coincidence? I just mentioned you to one of my friends today, and coincidentally, here you are."

  Jiang Changyi laughed brightly like a pink trumpet flower: "That's quite a coincidence, Liu Si Cheng, what brings you here?"

  Liu Chang smiled and said: "I'm on holiday today, so I came here to visit an elder. Where are you headed?"

  Jiang Changyi was silent for a moment before saying, "I just came out of the Du manor. Now I'm studying with my cousins there, preparing for next year's imperial examination."

  Liu Chong nodded: "If I'm not mistaken, Du's family's Xi Shi is best at poetry and rhapsody? It seems that next year at the Qujiang banquet you will be in the limelight, and who knows how many people will envy you." The tone was as if he had already determined that Jiang Changyi would definitely pass the imperial examination.

  Jiang Changyi smiled wryly: "Liu Si, don't mock me, someone like me who's just a mediocre person, how dare I have any expectations? It's just a small stir, to serve as a foil for all of you talents."

  Liu Chang said calmly: "Lang, you're being too modest. We all know that you've loved books since childhood. My elder even said it's a pity."

  He mentioned this "senior" of his twice today, Jiang Changyi's heart moved, and he looked up at Liu Chong, saying with a blush: "I dare to ask Temple Liu, do I know this senior of yours? How did he know me? I've never been out much since I was young, and it's only in recent years that I've come to know a few bookish friends, which can't be considered anything, and I'm afraid I've made fools of you all."

  Liu Chuan chuckled and said: "This elder of mine, you might know him too, his surname is Zhang, and his name is Fengju..."

  Jiang Changyi's eyes suddenly lit up: "Is it really Mr. Zhang Fengju?" Zhang Fengju, a famous scholar of the current dynasty, came from an official family and was well-versed in the classics. He himself was a man who had suffered hardships and was not stupid. If he could get his guidance, he could see that his future would be bright. He had long wanted to worship Zhang Fengju as his teacher, but had never been able to enter his door. Today, he suddenly heard Liu Can mention this person, and seemed to have intentionally introduced him to get to know him, pointing out the way to ask, which was exactly what he needed, so how could he not be surprised, with a heart full of longing?

  Liu Chang observed Jiang Changyi's expression without changing his tone, smiling sincerely: "As genuine as can be."

  "How could he know me?" said Jiang Changyi.

  Liu Chang said slowly and clearly, "It was I who mentioned you to him. I told him that you are a talented person, but unfortunately, you were delayed, it's really, really regrettable."

  Jiang Changyi was overjoyed, but he quickly regained his composure. Suddenly, a thought popped into his head: "Why should I be kind to pigs? Because I want to eat their meat." However, it also depends on the ratio of input and output, whether it's worth it or not. Just like this time, if he hadn't met Liu Chong that day and heard his casual reminder, he might not have even had the chance to take this exam... Jiang Changyi quickly looked up at Liu Chong, smiling at those slightly sinister eyes: "I'm truly ashamed, I don't know what virtue or ability I possess that makes Liu Temple Lord concern himself with me?"

  Liu Chang's face revealed a desolate expression, and he looked at the trembling branches of the locust tree in the cold wind. In a low, ambiguous tone, he said: "A few days ago, I had drinks with your brother Cheng Feng and Chu Zhou Hou Shi together. Your brother mentioned some things to us. When I was young, my parents' stubbornness delayed me for many years, and every time I woke up at midnight, I couldn't help but sigh. I can understand your pain, loss, and injustice, yet I don't know how to find a way out of that kind of sorrow."

  Liu Chuan's face was filled with a desolate and uncertain expression, his eyes revealing a hint of resentment and injustice. In an instant, Jiang Changyi believed him. He believed that Liu Chuan could understand the emotions he had been feeling - the unwillingness to accept defeat, the fear of loss, the anxiety and worry, the uncertainty of tomorrow. But Jiang Changyi was a cautious person from a young age, and although he was moved to sorrow, he didn't hesitate to keep his mouth shut, only furrowing his brow in distress and letting out a long sigh: "Alas..."

  Liu Chuan stole a glance at Jiang Changyi from the corner of his eye, and his expression became even more sorrowful: "Speaking of this, my heart is really sad again... I just want to drink. Why don't we turn back and go to Mr. Feng's place to drink?" He pointed diagonally at Jiang Changyi with his whip: "You're not allowed to spoil the mood."

  Having had the opportunity to take the exam, and with another famous teacher guiding him, what could stop his progress? Jiang Changyi's heart was filled with joy, but he said embarrassingly: "I don't know how to drink."

  Liu Chang saw that he had taken the bait, and smiled lightly: "You don't need to be good at drinking, we're just drinking for the atmosphere, let's get straight to the point, give me a definite answer, are you going or not?"

  "Go!" Jiang Changyi hastily said.

  Liu Chang curled up the corner of his mouth: "That's right, a big man should not be confined to that small piece of land. He should know more people and travel all over the world. Look at your brother, he knows people from all over the world, from west to east, men and women, old and young, everything is there, that's really impressive."

  "Really, I have always admired my elder brother..."

  Liu Chang replied, "That's natural. Looking around the capital, how many people can view the position of the Duke of State as worthless like him? It's really hard to find someone like that."

  Jiang Changyi remained silent for a long time before speaking softly: "That's because he has everything, so he doesn't care."

  Liu Chong burst out laughing and patted his shoulder: "You're absolutely right! So you have to work hard. I'll take you to meet Mr. Feng, you must succeed in becoming his apprentice! Next spring will be even more disappointing for us!"

  Jiang Changyi smiled silently, without Liu Chuan saying a word, he naturally knew what to do. If he didn't move forward, he would be forever trampled underfoot... He didn't want to live this kind of life, where people kill each other and Buddhas kill Buddhas!

  Liu Chuan coldly gazed at Jiang Changyi, whose young eyes couldn't help but reveal a mixture of ambition and ruthlessness. He thought to himself in a detached tone, "What's mine is mine, Jiang Changyang. As long as I still have breath in me, you can forget about getting anything!"