The person dragged up wore a furious expression. Even with his neck gripped in the Imperial Guards' hand, he struggled fiercely, his face full of unyielding resolve even in death.
Pan Yun felt around inside her sleeve and pulled out a string of Qian, dangling it before him. "Want to be a guide?"
The man being held froze. After a full three-second pause, he reached out and tucked the money into his clothes.
Only then did the Imperial Guards release him.
He carefully felt his way along the roof ridge and sat down beside Pan Yun. Seeing that there was no danger, he finally introduced himself. "I am Luo Yu."
Pan Yun glanced at his features. "You don't look like a Han person."
"I am one of the Jurchen people. Luo Yu is the Han name I chose for myself." Luo Yu looked proud. "I have already passed the child scholar examination and am about to sit for the Xiucai scholar examination."
Pan Yun immediately cupped her fists. "Congratulations, congratulations. I heard the Imperial Court opened a separate special examination for you, and the papers are easier than those for Han people."
"Only a little easier," Luo Yu said. "And those selected through the special examination can only serve as officials locally. I still want to enter officialdom by passing the major examinations, just like Han people."
His face filled with anticipation. "If I am fortunate enough to enter the palace and meet His Majesty, I will have no regrets in this life. And if I can meet the Imperial Preceptor, I will have no regrets for three lifetimes."
"You can only decide for this lifetime. You have no right to decide the next two for them as well." Pan Yun lifted her chin and gestured below. "What is going