The Imperial Examination Crown

Yang Yuhuan had always believed that if her father had not taken Fang Yun's family's money to gamble, Fang Yun's parents would not have had to travel far and wide, only to encounter demon beasts. She had always felt that she owed Fang Yun.

To atone for it, Yang Yuhuan had piled burden upon burden onto her own shoulders, until they pressed down so heavily that she could barely breathe. Her emotional world had been utterly blank.

Now Fang Yun had finally become a Licentiate, and even taken Case First with Double-A Honor. More than half the weight in her heart had finally lifted.

She had originally been happily preparing a banquet with the relatives today, waiting for Fang Yun to return from the Literary Assembly. But with the arrival of the matchmakers, all her good mood had vanished.

Yang Yuhuan was afraid.

She had never been afraid before, because she had held a steadfast goal in her heart. But now that goal had been fulfilled, her heart seemed to have been hollowed out.

She realized that Fang Yun was now the only person she could rely on, yet those matchmakers and great households seemed determined to snatch Fang Yun away from her.

Just when she was most worried, Fang Yun returned—and proposed to her before everyone.

Yang Yuhuan finally understood that no one could take Fang Yun away.

Yang Yuhuan could not help smiling sweetly. Then she reached up to touch her face, which was burning hot with embarrassment.

Little Yun really has changed. As Yang Yuhuan thought this, her once-empty heart gradually filled, and her face grew redder and redder.

Before, Yang Yuhuan's goal had been to see Fang Yun grow into an adult. Now, her goal was to become Fang Yun's good wife.

Fang Yun opened his eyes and saw Yang Yuhuan's shy, smiling face. Like a peach blossom blooming beneath moonlight, she was simply a fairy descended to earth, and his heart could not help stirring.

Yang Yuhuan had not expected Fang Yun to suddenly open his eyes. Startled and embarrassed, she instinctively tried to flee.

But Fang Yun reached out and caught her wrist. "I was pretending to be drunk. I just wanted to find a chance to talk to you."

Yang Yuhuan's face was flushed crimson. Her usual air of an elder sister had vanished without a trace. Lowering her head, she gave a soft hum and let Fang Yun hold her hand.

"There are one hundred taels' worth of banknotes in my outer robe. Su Provincial Graduate gave them to me. Take them and put them away properly. From now on, don't work for anyone else, and you're not allowed to do any rough or tiring work either. Do you hear me?"

"But..."

"No buts. You've worn yourself out for this household for so many years. It's time for you to rest. From now on, I'll hold up this family!"

Yang Yuhuan slowly lifted her head. There was less shyness in her eyes now, and more emotion. "All right. I'll listen to Little Yun."

"With the gift money others sent, we have enough to last us a long time. Hire a maidservant or buy a servant girl to help with the housework. What you need to do now is rest, play, and eat. Build up your health, understand?"

"Mhm." Yang Yuhuan's eyes reddened. She had never imagined that happiness would come so quickly—and be countless times better than she had imagined.

"These years have been hard on you." Fang Yun sighed softly.

To his surprise, Yang Yuhuan did not continue crying. Instead, she said in an unusually resolute voice, "I used to think it was hard, but now that I see you've made something of yourself, I don't think it was hard at all! Right now, I feel so sweet!"

Fang Yun's gaze softened further.

"Sister Yuhuan, starting tomorrow, I'll teach you to read."

"Really?" Yang Yuhuan asked delightedly.

"Of course. I'll teach you ten characters a day. Within a year, you'll be able to read and write. Oh, and I'll teach you arithmetic too."

"No. You need to spend your time studying. You still have to take the Academy Student examination. You can't waste your time on me," Yang Yuhuan said.

"I can't study all the time. There'll always be times when I get tired of reading. I can use that time to teach you literacy and arithmetic. How about it?"

"Then... all right." Yang Yuhuan did not know how to refute him.

The two chatted for a while longer. Then Fang Yun's drunkenness caught up with him, and he slowly fell asleep.

The next day, Fang Yun slept until the sun was high in the sky. After getting dressed and walking out, he found Yang Yuhuan feeding the chickens, while the three horses had already been unharnessed and tied beside the chicken coop.

"Sister Yuhuan, morning."

"Morning." Yang Yuhuan straightened up and looked at Fang Yun, her face filled with a brilliant smile. "I'll heat up your meal. You still need to go to the Temple of Sages to pay respects to the sages. After eating, take the carriage there."

"It's not like I'm traveling far. I can just walk," Fang Yun said.

Before long, the food was heated. Fang Yun ate while Yang Yuhuan sat opposite him and spoke of the congratulatory gifts they had received yesterday.

"There was a lot of food, meat, wine, and so on sent over yesterday, but there were also many guests, and most of it got eaten. There was a lot of money too. I had Little Mao help record it all. Not counting Su Provincial Graduate's gift, there were two hundred and twenty-four taels and five hundred copper coins in total."

"That much?" Fang Yun said.

"You took Case First with Double-A Honor, so all the great households in the county sent money. Last night, I heard Teacher Fang, who teaches at the County Academy, say that he had already passed word of your Double-A Honor to the Fang Household in Dayuan Prefecture. The Fang Household in Dayuan Prefecture will certainly send you a generous gift."

Fang Yun nodded. Those with the surname Fang had spread branches and leaves across every region. Some had declined, while others had risen. The Fang Household of Dayuan Prefecture was the most prosperous branch and had already become a distinguished clan.

According to the clan genealogy, Fang Yun was related to the Fang Household of Dayuan Prefecture within nine generations. Moreover, now that he had a Literary Rank, the Fang Household of Dayuan Prefecture would certainly send congratulations.

If his family were poor, the Fang Household of Dayuan Prefecture would even provide financial support.

Mutual aid among clansmen was commonplace, just as struggles between the direct line and collateral branches were commonplace. Such was the nature of profit.

To the Fang Household of Dayuan Prefecture, Fang Yun did not even count as a collateral branch, so he would not be drawn into any struggle at all. For now, he would merely accept aid from those sharing his surname, then repay other clansmen in turn if he had the chance in the future.

"The County Examination, Prefectural Examination, Provincial Examination, and Capital Examination are held in spring, summer, autumn, and winter respectively. Three months from now, I'll take the Prefectural Examination for Academy Student," Fang Yun said.

"Aren't you going to review for another year? Though the Imperial Examination is held every year, most people study for another two or three years after passing before continuing. You didn't just take Double-A Honor and decide to contend for that 'Same-Year Distinction,' did you?" Yang Yuhuan asked curiously.

Same-Year Distinction meant passing as a Licentiate, Academy Student, Provincial Graduate, and Metropolitan Graduate in succession within a single year. Like Before the Sages, Double-A Honor, and Triple Laureate, it was an exceedingly lofty honor. Yet though many had tried, not a single person had ever succeeded. It was an Imperial Examination crown that had never been plucked.

"I haven't thought that far ahead. Ordinary Licentiates need to study at the County Academy, but as Case First, I'm qualified to study directly at the Prefectural Academy. That is a rare opportunity, and I can't give it up. Since I'm going to study at the Prefectural Academy anyway, I might as well take this summer's Prefectural Examination. But the Liu Household has great influence in Dayuan Prefecture. If I don't eliminate that hidden danger, I can't rashly go to Dayuan Prefecture."

Just then, a carriage stopped outside the door, and Fang Yun saw an acquaintance step down from it.

Academy Student Fang Yusheng had come yesterday. He was an instructor at the County Academy, equivalent to a teacher. Though he held no official rank, he received a salary and could participate in the Imperial Examination.

The main gate stood open. After Fang Yusheng got down from the carriage, he first nodded to Fang Yun, then respectfully lowered his head and waited beside the carriage door.

A large man around forty stepped down. He was tall and powerfully built, with a stern face. His eyes were so large that they seemed slightly out of proportion, yet this only made them appear exceptionally spirited.

His footsteps were extraordinarily heavy, kicking up clouds of dust whenever his feet struck the ground.

He did not wear the robes of a scholar, but instead wore boots and short, fitted clothing. He looked exceptionally capable, much like a soldier.

Fang Yun vaguely guessed the man's identity. He immediately rose with Yang Yuhuan and cupped his hands as they walked over. "Your nephew did not know Uncle was coming and failed to welcome you from afar. I hope Uncle will forgive me."

"You've seen me before?" The man's voice was thunderously loud, making the roof tiles tremble.

"Never, but aside from Fang Shouye, 'Fang Big-Eyes,' who else in Jiangzhou could possess such bearing?" Fang Yun said with a smile.

Fang Shouye laughed loudly. "Are you Fang Yun, who wrote Spring Dawn and Year's End?"

"I am."

"Are you Fang Yun who said, 'When the realm rises or falls, every common man bears responsibility'?"

"That is also your nephew," Fang Yun said.

Fang Shouye carefully examined Fang Yun, then said, "Fine literary talent. What a pity you're too thin. Eat more meat from now on—how can a man go without meat? Yusheng, you two carry the things inside." With that, he entered the house with Fang Yun.

Fang Shouye walked like a tiger charging through the wind and sat on the long bench with the commanding poise of a great general. Yet this rough, imposing figure was a Metropolitan Graduate and the Principal Fifth Rank Prefectural General of Jade Sea Prefecture.

On Saint Origin Continent, there was no military Imperial Examination. Officials of the Literary Academy, civil officials, and military officers all came from scholars who had passed the Imperial Examination.

Fang Yusheng and the carriage driver each carried in a large chest. At Fang Shouye's signal, they opened them.

One chest was filled with gleaming silver ingots. Every one was a large twenty-tael ingot, and there were no fewer than fifty at a glance. A thick stack of banknotes lay in the very center.

The bottom of the second chest held fine silks and satins, while the top was covered with countless pieces of jewelry: gold hairpins, silver bracelets, jade pendants, gemstone necklaces, and every sort of treasure imaginable. There were even gold bars and gold leaves.

Yang Yuhuan gave a soft cry, then covered her mouth. She stared at the two chests in disbelief. It took nearly all her strength to tear her gaze away from that pile of jewelry. Lowering her head, she said nothing.

"What is Uncle doing?" Fang Yun deliberately feigned ignorance. Since he had been prepared, he was not the least bit shocked by the two chests of gold and silver treasures. Such was the side effect of having watched too many movies and played too many games.

Fang Shouye appeared equally composed on the surface, but inwardly he was secretly astonished. A mere Cold Gate Licentiate facing such wealth remained completely unmoved. Even children of distinguished and wealthy clans could not manage that.

"These two chests are in exchange for one promise from you: if you pass as a Metropolitan Graduate or Provincial Graduate with high honors, join my military."

Fang Yun's expression did not change. "Too little."

Fang Yusheng and the carriage driver looked at Fang Yun as though he were something bizarre, both thinking, Has this kid gone mad?

"Ten thousand taels of silver is not little," Fang Shouye said, his expression equally unchanged.

"Ten thousand taels is not enough to decide my future," Fang Yun said. He still lacked a clear understanding of this world and would never agree so rashly.

Fang Shouye's expression finally changed slightly. He gave an unhappy snort and asked, "Then what would make you agree to join my military?"

"It is too early to say anything now. I may not even pass as a Provincial Graduate, let alone a Metropolitan Graduate," Fang Yun said calmly.

Fang Shouye suddenly lost all his imposing presence and wore a defeated look. "Were your wits truly opened? Why couldn't I produce such a fine son? You became Case First with Double-A Honor and received ten thousand taels of silver as a gift, yet you are neither arrogant nor wild. When I was twenty, I picked up my life again from a battlefield and became much more sensible, but I still might not have been as steady as you."

"I, too, only just picked my life back up," Fang Yun said slowly.

Yang Yuhuan looked at Fang Yun with heartache in her eyes.

Fang Shouye immediately cursed, "There isn't a single good thing in the Liu Household, from top to bottom! Liu Zicheng is famous in Dayuan Prefecture as a playboy. He spends his days drunk on flowers and drowned in wine with a pack of young masters, and who knows how many innocent young girls he has ruined. Liu Zicheng is ruthless and black-hearted. He won't let this go. But he may dare touch a Licentiate—he would never dare touch my nephew, Fang Shouye's nephew! Tonight, I'll burn down the Liu Household's largest pawnshop, then tell Liu Zicheng that if he dares trouble you again, I'll flay him alive!"

"Uncle, you jest," Fang Yun said. He had not expected Fang Shouye to know about this. Fang Yusheng had most likely told him.

"Jest? I even dared burn the tent of a Barbarian Marquis Chanyu. Would I care about a mere pawnshop? Old Yuan, go back and prepare the fire oil at once."

"Yes, General." The carriage driver surnamed Yuan immediately agreed.