CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 64 TITLES

"Li Ang?"

To the south of Great Ming Palace, in Changle Square, stood Chang’an City’s most famous and esteemed establishment—the Red House of An Country Temple.

The top floor, offering a view of the starry sky, the Imperial Palace, and the myriad lights of Chang’an City, was completely reserved. The materials for the rooftop fence, the floor, and the walls were all white sandalwood, sourced from an island nation south of Tianzhu and transported by fleets braving treacherous seas. This type of sandalwood possessed a fine grain and contained oils that emitted a fragrant scent, capable of preventing insects and decay. At the base of the animal-headed statues on the railing, Wind-protecting Talismans were placed. These talismans, personally scripted by Cloud Patrol Realm cultivators, could isolate fierce winds. This ensured that the noble guests on the top floor of the Red House weren’t chilled by the cold night air while enjoying the nightscape.

Tonight, the top floor of the Red House was booked by a group of young nobles.

"Li Ang..."

Chou Jinghuan, the eldest son of Chou Wenhan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, twirled his jade cup and said to his companions, "I don’t recall anyone by that name in the Imperial Family, right?"

"No, I’ve had someone check. He’s just a small-time Doctor from Yizhou."

The sixth son of the Assistant of the Ministry of Supervision laughed casually. "What a pity. It would have been easier to deal with him if he were from a family of officials."

The prestigious youths from Five Tombs, known for their profligacy, penchant for heroics, and unrestrained behavior, along with their extensive connections, didn’t necessarily have good tempers.

"He once treated military horses in Yizhou, so he could easily summon that Red Horse during the day. Fourth son, you’ve been outmaneuvered by him," one of the young nobles said gravely, and everyone’s gaze shifted to the center of the banquet, where Pei Jing, the fourth son of the Pei family, leaned against the window, quietly drinking.

Chou Jinghuan frowned and said, "Although he’s not the son of an official, and we cannot handle this with our usual methods, Fourth Brother, you’ve been schemed against. This debt must be repaid."

"No need."

Pei Jing took a sip of wine and calmly said, "During the Academic Palace examinations, let’s not stir up trouble. Besides, I also tried some tricks, using methods taught by our family’s stableman to attract the horse. His tactics were simply better than mine."

"But..."

One of the young nobles wanted to argue further, but a faint look from Pei Jing silenced him.

Pei Jing said, "Set your sights further."

He hopped down from the window ledge and continued nonchalantly, "The prosperity of a noble family rarely lasts beyond five generations.

"In noble families, only the legitimate eldest sons can inherit their fathers’ titles; other sons must find their own way.

"Among us, there are both legitimate eldest sons and younger sons.

"But even among the legitimate eldest sons of noble families, after inheriting titles, many prove mediocre and are incapable of managing their households. Haven’t there been plenty of noble descendants these past years who had to sell off properties just to maintain a facade of nobility?

"It’s only by entering the Academic Palace that you can have a future.

"Otherwise, all the luxury and ease of the moment is fleeting."

He looked around at his companions and stated calmly, "And to enter the Academic Palace, we can’t act capriciously or show off our cleverness as before."

"We understand, Fourth Brother."

The group of young nobles sincerely accepted Pei Jing’s instruction.

Chou Jinghuan smacked his lips and said, "Fourth Brother, you’re definitely going to get into the Academic Palace. Didn’t the newly appointed Academic Palace Director, Xi Yangyu, say so? Your Spiritual Vein Talent is exceptional. Plus, during today’s preliminary tests, in addition to the compulsory subjects, you also took optional subjects like Mathematics, Yu Law, national history, phonetics, painting, Military Attack, Chess, and Engineering. You shone in each one, comparable to Su Zi from two hundred years ago. You’ll be the top candidate from the preliminary exams, through the secondary exams, and even the final exams."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile finally appeared on Pei Jing’s face. "Being first... isn’t that to be expected?"

His father was the Minister of the Left, the Prime Minister; his mother was the legitimate daughter of a thousand-year-old noble family. For Pei Jing, the praise and amazement from others felt entirely natural. It was only to be expected.

DANG DANG DANG—

Twenty-four bell chimes echoed throughout the city. With a THUD, the wooden door to the top floor was pushed open forcefully.

"Fourth Brother!" a noble youth, gasping for breath from running all the way up, shouted. "The results! The results of the Academic Palace’s initial exam have been posted at the Vermilion Bird Gate!"

"So soon?" Pei Jing raised an eyebrow in some surprise, then turned to look at the night view of Chang’an outside the railing. Many carriages were leaving the market districts in a rush, hurriedly heading towards the Vermilion Bird Gate, evidently all among the first to receive the news and eager to see the preliminary exam results.

"Let’s go as well."

Pei Jing took the lead, descended from the Red House, mounted the renowned horse of Kang Country he’d ridden earlier, and sped towards the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The closer he got to the Vermilion Bird Gate, the more carriages there were. Pei Jing dismounted, casually tossed the reins to a guard, and pushed his way into the crowd with his companions. Candidates, their families, and onlookers there purely for the excitement blocked the Vermilion Bird Gate so tightly that not even water could seep through. Fortunately, the fox fur white robe Pei Jing wore, along with his companions and guards, highlighted his noble status. This allowed them to smoothly squeeze to the front row of the crowd.

On eight large notice boards, the names of five thousand people were posted, arranged in order from top to bottom. Many students leaned over the notice boards, desperately searching for their place of origin and names. Continual cheers erupted from those who found their names, hugging their friends and laughing, some even crying with joy. Others, after repeatedly searching the list, dejectedly pushed people aside and quietly walked away to the side of the road alone. Joy and sadness, pride and frustration—all arose from this single list.

Pei Jing skipped the last seven notice boards, looking only at the front section of the first one.

"Fiftieth place, Luo Zhiyuan from Jizhou: Scriptures Lower Class A, Poetry Lower Class A, strategies Upper Class B, Horse Riding and Shooting Class B..."

"Forty-ninth place, Wei Xuefeng from Kuozhou: Scriptures Lower Class A, Poetry Lower Class A, strategies Lower Class A..."

Pei Jing quickly scanned the top rankings, while his companions shouted and cheered around him.

"Found it! Chou Jinghuan from Chang’an, ranked five hundred and ten! Congratulations, Jinghuan Brother!"

"Haha, thank you, thank you."

Chou Jinghuan bowed to his friends with a proud expression, then turned his head only to see Pei Jing with a deep frown, squinting and staring at the list.

Following Pei Jing’s gaze, Chou Jinghuan saw Pei Jing’s name written in vermillion at the very top of the list.

Chang’an Pei Jing: Scriptures Class A, Poetry Class A, strategies Upper Class A, Horse Riding and Shooting Class A; and for other subjects such as Mathematics, Yu Law, national history, and phonetics, excluding Military Attack, all were either Lower Class A or Class A.

Thirteen Class A results!

Such comprehensive results were extremely rare, even in the history of the Academic Palace. To be so broadly and profoundly versed in various subjects in one’s youth required not only exceptional talent but also rigorous and excellent home tutoring.

However...

"Chang’an Pei Jing, third."

Pei Jing’s voice remained calm. Only a friend like Chou Jinghuan, who had grown up with him, could detect the barely perceptible emotional fluctuation in his flat tone.

"First place, He Fanshuang from Youzhou."

Under the cold moonlight, Pei Jing, wrapped in his fox fur white robe, looked at the two names above his own, his gaze deep, and murmured to himself,

"Second place, Li Ang from Yizhou."