Participating in the Academy Examination

Willow Town, private school.

Today is the day of the academy entrance examination.

In the outer hall of the school, the youths have gathered, standing in twos and threes, whispering to one another.

Tucked away in a corner, Chu Ming stands alone, calmly observing his surroundings.

The outer hall is not large, arranged much like a classroom from his past life: a lecture desk at the front, rows of low desks below, and cushions for sitting cross-legged.

The spot where he stands is effectively the back corner of the room; it is inconspicuous and draws little attention, with only a few fleeting glances sweeping his way.

However, he soon senses an unusual gaze. Following it, he spots a familiar figure in the crowd.

The man nods and bows to those around him before trotting over. "Brother Chu, you really came! I thought I was seeing things."

The person who arrived is Huang Lu, whom Chu Ming met on the road a few days ago.

Huang Lu's face is plastered with a wide grin, his eyes gleaming as he stares at Chu Ming. He even hooks his arm around Chu Ming's shoulder, as if afraid he might bolt.

"I'm relieved you came to take the academy exam, Brother Chu."

So there's someone to anchor the bottom of the rankings, is that it?

Chu Ming tries to push Huang Lu's arm away, but the other man clings even tighter.

"Brother Chu, you can't leave. I went through so much trouble to trick you into... I mean, the silver we paid isn't refundable..." Huang Lu's eyes dart around. "Right, Brother Chu, you don't know any of these people, do you? Let me introduce them to you."

Did I ask?

Chu Ming glances sideways slightly.

Whatever. I have to wait a while anyway, might as well listen.

"See that group of seven or eight people over there? The one wearing the scholar's cap is Chi Lin. He's been studying at this school for three years; he can recite the poems from the General Theory of the Book of Songs without a second thought."

"Look to the left, Brother Chu. That's Guan Chong. He's been here for two and a half years. Ask him anything from the Collection of Classics and Histories, and he can rattle off a thing or two. He and Chi Lin are rivals."

"And that one in the clean Confucian robe? His background is even more impressive. You know Master Lu, the teacher at this school? He's the proctor for this exam. That guy shares his surname—Lu Xian. He has an incredible memory, get it? If only my name were Lu Huang..."

"As for the others... they don't compare to them." Huang Lu lowers his voice to a whisper. "And they certainly don't compare to me, hehe."

However, the outer hall is only so large; no matter how much he lowers his voice, he is still overheard.

"Huang Lu, what are you muttering about? Are you trying to scam people into buying your father's herbs again?" A youth half a head taller than Huang Lu walks over, grabs him by the collar, and turns to Chu Ming. "Kid, don't take this guy's father's medicine. If you do, you'll end up just like him. Hahaha."

Huang Lu is lifted until his feet dangle off the ground, but the moment he hears the other boy disparage his father's medicine, he becomes indignant.

"My father is the only physician in Willow Town! Who among you hasn't been cured by him when you were sick?"

"Brother Chu used to spend his days listening to music in the pleasure houses, so weak a gust of wind could knock him over. After taking my father's medicine, he's even able to come take the academy exam now!"

"Right, Brother Chu?" Huang Lu casts a pleading look for agreement.

"..." Chu Ming looks at him indifferently, saying nothing.

Seeing that he won't speak, Huang Lu grows more anxious. "Brother Chu, help me explain! It was my father's medicine that cured you, wasn't it?"

His voice is loud, but his next sentence is deliberately hushed: "Brother Chu, I know you like reading travelogues. I have a few here that are even better than Sword Gourd Travels. If you put in a good word for me, I'll lend them to you for a few days..."

Yet, no matter how he tries, it feels like he is trying to steal a bell while covering his own ears.

Who in the room couldn't hear him?

The tall youth holding Huang Lu can't help but scoff. "Pfft, no wonder you're buddy-buddy with Huang Lu. So you're just a pleasure-house-frequenting, travelogue-reading loafer."

At this age, not studying at the school but instead favoring travelogues and pleasure houses—it's clear he is not a man of ambition.

Chi Lin, wearing his scholar's cap, shakes his head, losing interest in the spectacle.

Guan Chong turns away in disgust and picks up the Collection of Classics and Histories to study.

As for Lu Xian in his Confucian robe, he never once looked up from start to finish.

Meanwhile, in the center of the small courtyard outside the outer hall, two men sit facing each other.

On the left is a middle-aged man with features somewhat similar to Lu Xian, also dressed in a Confucian robe.

Opposite him sits a man with a stern expression and an extraordinary presence.

The middle-aged man in the Confucian robe picks up a teapot, respectfully pours two cups of tea, and bows with his hands cupped. "Lord Feng, I did not expect you to come in person."

"Heh heh, I heard that Master Lu Hong's eldest son was taking this year's academy exam, and since I happened to be passing through Willow Town, I thought I would come and see."

"If Xian'er knew you came here for his sake, he would be overjoyed." Lu Hong bows respectfully once more.

Feng Yuan's gaze passes through the courtyard to the outer hall. "Master Lu Hong, who do you think will take first place?"

"This..." Lu Hong hesitates for a moment. "My son Lu Xian, Chi Lin, and Guan Chong are all possibilities."

"And the others?" Feng Yuan asks, sipping his tea.

"They still need to work harder," Lu Hong replies.

"Oh? That youth with the pale complexion—do you happen to know him, Master Lu Hong?" Feng Yuan asks again.

"Him?" Lu Hong follows his gaze and shakes his head lightly. "I do not know that youth, but Lord Feng should have just heard—he is a man of no learning or skill."

"Is that so?" Feng Yuan smiles, saying nothing more.

In the outer hall stood over thirty youths about to participate in the academy examination; in his eyes, every single one of them was, to a greater or lesser extent, nervous.

The somewhat manic youth and the taller youth could be seen at a glance to have no ink in their bellies.

The others were slightly better, but they were all much of a muchness.

Even the three mentioned by Lu Hong were all using their own methods to mask their nervousness, clearly lacking in self-confidence.

A lack of confidence is synonymous with insufficient strength.

Only one person—the youth who looked somewhat frail and pale—remained calm and composed, as if he were not here for an examination at all.

Even when disturbed by others, he maintained a rare indifference.

This temperament alone was extremely rare for someone in their teens.

Was such a person truly, as that manic youth claimed, one who frequented brothels to listen to music and enjoyed reading travelogues?

Or perhaps... was his expression merely vacant?

Feng Yuan's gaze flickered; he had seen vacant expressions before, and they did indeed mask one's emotions better, but the eyes could never be hidden.

That youth's eyes... were very clear!

"Master Lu Hong, since you believe there are three candidates capable of vying for first place, I might as well add another question to the original academy examination."

Feng Yuan withdrew his gaze and gestured, prompting the attendant waiting nearby to immediately walk over and hand him a parcel.

He took out a thick, exquisitely bound book and placed it on the stone table.

"Lord Feng..." Lu Hong's expression shifted slightly, though he was grumbling inwardly.

This Lord Feng was the Registrar of Baiyuan County, a Principal Eighth Rank official; let alone adding one question, even if he added ten, a small-town private tutor like him would not dare to say a word.

"Let us take three pages from this newly compiled Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy as the examination content. Give them one hour to read it, and we shall see who remembers the most. What does Master Lu Hong think?"

A test of memory?

Lu Hong had initially been worried that Lord Feng might set a question too difficult, putting his son Lu Xian at a disadvantage.

But upon hearing it was a test of memory, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Memory is a gift. A scholar must be diligent, but talent is indispensable as well. Lord Feng, this examination content is excellent."