CHAPTER 61: 61. STORED OFFICIAL DESTINY (REQUEST FOR FURTHER READING)

「Instance World.」

The August of the 24th year of Guangxu quickly arrived. The Academy Exam passed by in a flurry.

Benefiting from Xu Xing’s status as the Top Scholar in the Prefecture Exam, he did not fail the Academy Exam. However, unlike before, he didn’t strive to be the top scholar in the Academy Exam; instead, he only secured third place, barely obtaining the rank of "Flower Explorer."

"Being a Flower Explorer is already quite good, Brother Xu. You needn’t be disheartened."

After the results were announced, upon returning to Weijing Academy, Qin Scholar, a student with government financial aid who had previously vouched for Xu Xing, along with others, arranged a banquet to welcome Xu Xing. During the meal, he offered this comfort.

"How can everything in the world go as one wishes?" Xu Xing, seated in the main seat facing south, had clearly become the core figure of their small group, a stark contrast to the insignificant underling he had been the previous year, relegated to a lesser seat. He raised his wine cup, clinking it successively with Qin Scholar and the others. After they drank, he smiled and said, "If I were the Top Scholar in the County Exam and then lost the chance to be the Top Scholar in the Academy Exam, I would feel disappointed; after all, the prestige of the Little Three Elements is significant. But I am not the Top Scholar in the County Exam... so, if I attain it, it’s my fortune; if I lose it, it’s my fate."

Achieving the Little Three Elements might have a positive impact on his Destiny.In the Instance World, it could also bring widespread fame.Without the prospect of the Little Three Elements, whether he secured the top spot or any other rank in the Academy Exam wouldn’t significantly affect Xu Xing.He just needed to ensure he ranked within the top ten. This was because typically only about ten individuals were selected as first-class students with government financial aid in each Academy Exam. As for state and county official learning, although there appeared to be many students, this number represented an accumulation over decades.

Scholars were also ranked. First-class Scholars were students with government financial aid, equivalent to an official appointment, receiving monthly grain stipends. Second-class Scholars were "supernumerary students." Although they received some benefits, these were far inferior to those of students with government financial aid. Their full title was "Born to Enhance," implying the Imperial Court had graciously admitted these less-qualified individuals as Scholars. The third and lowest class consisted of "Attached Student Members," whose benefits were pitifully meager. The term "poor Scholar" typically referred to these attached students. Possessing merely the title of Scholar, if they performed poorly in the annual examinations, they were highly likely to be stripped of their status by the government under the Six-Tier Demotion System. They could only scrape by to make a living. The other two classes of Scholars could hardly be described by the word "poor."

The third-place rank in the Academy Exam, while not sounding as impressive as Top Scholar, came with identical actual benefits. As for the future Township test... Xu Xing didn’t believe the upcoming Township test would feature the Eight-legged Essay. According to the Reform School’s proposals, future provincial and metropolitan examinations would focus on current affairs and practical knowledge. The advantages for a Top Scholar entering the Township test would also vanish with the reforms to the Imperial Examination system.

Of course, his initial reason for participating in the Imperial Examination was to alter his Destiny and acquire a certain status.

Later... it was due to the opportunity Master Ma had mentioned.Now that he had become a Scholar, he had little desire to compete for higher titles like Juren or scholar. These titles were useless to him; after all... his Destiny was that of a Righteous Thief.He was destined not to enter the Imperial Court and serve as an Official.

Having spoken, Xu Xing stared at the Mirror Surface.

[Stored official (red): A talented individual selected by the Imperial Court, favored by the Court’s luck, possessing an official aura and inspiring awe, such that commoners dare not look directly upon them. Upon entering an official career, their path will be smooth and prosperous.]

"Your Red Fate [Official Storage] and Red Fate [Righteous Thief] are in conflict. Do you choose to dissolve the Red Fate [Official Storage], or replace the Red Fate [Righteous Thief]?"

Lines of text materialized on the Gold clear mirror surface.

Upon becoming a first-class student with government financial aid, Xu Xing had acquired the Red Fate [Official Storage].

Although common sense dictated that only a Juren was qualified to fill vacancies and be appointed to official posts through the Ministry of Personnel.But things were different in the late Qing Dynasty... After becoming a first-class student with government financial aid and having studied practical knowledge at Weijing Academy, he had already become a sought-after talent in the eyes of many officials in Qin Province. Numerous officials had extended olive branches, inviting him to serve under their command. Among them was Fang Yun, the Governor of Qin Province. Serving under these ministers would grant him not just a clerical position, but a genuine official rank.

Let’s wait a bit...I’ll decide whether to dissolve the [Stored Official] Destiny after some time has passed.

Xu Xing composed himself. He feared that destroying this [Stored Official] Destiny might trigger a cascade of undesirable consequences.Prudence should be the foremost consideration in his actions.He absolutely wouldn’t dare to act rashly, at least not before securing the aforementioned opportunity.

"Brother Xu is right..." Qin Scholar laughed heartily, sharing his examination experiences with the juniors present. "This Eight-legged Essay... the reason it’s called that is because you have to guess the supervising officials’ intentions. If you guess correctly, your rank is high; if you guess wrong, your rank is low. It’s not determined by talent..."

The examination experience of a student with government financial aid was no small matter. Everyone present nodded and recited his words, apparently memorizing them deeply. Some with poorer memories immediately called the proprietor of Anran Residence, requested pen, ink, and paper, wrote down the advice on a plain sheet, and then treasured it in their robes as if it were a precious artifact. This little piece of inside information wasn’t significant enough to risk literary persecution.

Xu Xing wasn’t one to jealously hoard his own insights either and also shared some of his experiences.

By the time the gathering concluded, it was already late at night. The men, having drunk their fill of wine, summoned their favorite courtesans and departed for their pleasures.

"Brother Xu, this Lady Ying’er comes from a background of high-ranking madams..." Qin Scholar pushed the woman in his embrace towards Xu Xing with a magnanimous laugh. "She’s exceptionally voluptuous... a truly unique flavor."

One of the four great bonds of brotherhood in life: having studied together, fought together, shared spoils together, and frequented brothels together. No matter how cherished Lady Ying’er was to him, she was merely a plaything. He felt no reluctance in parting with her.

A fragrant breeze wafted over. Xu Xing, finding it awkward to refuse in this situation, caught Lady Ying’er by the waist, instantly feeling her soft, jade-like form in his arms. He shook his head and said, "Brother Qin, I’ve been feeling a bit unwell lately. Perhaps it’s best I decline."

Practicing Quanzhen Internal Power required abstinence.He didn’t want the duck, already practically in his grasp, to suddenly fly away over such a trivial matter.

"Brother Xu, why be such a stranger?" Qin Scholar shook his head, refilled a wine cup, and then gestured to Lady Ying’er with his eyes. He surmised Xu Xing had never indulged in such pleasures before and was therefore acting with reservation.

"My lord?" Lady Ying’er giggled charmingly, about to flirt with Xu Xing. "Could you be..."

The next moment, however, she was dumbfounded, her face betraying fear. Although she lay in Xu Xing’s arms, his embrace suddenly felt like an intangible bed of needles, every point of contact pricking her intensely.

"OUCH..." Lady Ying’er scrambled back into Qin Scholar’s arms.

"Brother Qin, you see, Lady Ying’er still longs for you," Xu Xing said, glancing around the private Box before cupping his hands in a farewell gesture. "I should return to the Academy to study."

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the importance of fitting in, but having reached a certain status, he no longer needed to yield at every turn.Constant forbearance would, conversely, make him seem spineless.Of course, Qin Scholar’s action was a ’kind gesture’ by the standards of their current environment, and Xu Xing had no intention of criticizing him for it.

"Forget it..." Indeed, Qin Scholar did not take offense. He laughed it off. "Ying’er, you stay and accompany me. Brother Xu doesn’t appreciate such refined pleasures." And the episode was thus concluded.