Literary Palace

Afterward, passersby kept congratulating Fang Yun, leaving him helpless; he could only return each salute in turn.

Whenever no one was congratulating him, several classmates asked Fang Yun about last night's licentiate literary assembly, and Fang Yun picked out a few things to tell them.

The group chatted as they walked. Finding an opportunity, Fang Yun pulled Liang Yuan aside and said, "My uncle in Dayuan Prefecture is funding me to open a bookshop. I happen to need a trustworthy shopkeeper, so I thought of you. You have experience with a rice shop. As long as you hire a few old scholars, you'll be able to keep the bookshop running. The salary will be the same as a lecturer's at the County Academy, and you can study in your spare time. What do you think?"

"A bookshop?" Liang Yuan's breathing quickened. A bookshop was business just like a rice shop, but working at a rice shop was exhausting. A bookshop was different—and he would be the shopkeeper, with much more time to study every day.

"That's right. I'll give you two days to think it over. If you refuse, I'll find someone else as soon as possible. For now, I'll pay you five taels of silver a month. Once the business grows, you'll also get a share of the profits," Fang Yun said.

"Let me think about it. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

"Good."

At the entrance of the Literary Academy, Fang Yun and Lu Lin bade their classmates farewell, then entered the academy together and followed someone inside to a side room.

There were already many licentiates in the side room. The moment Fang Yun entered, those who knew him immediately clasped their hands and bowed.

Some called him Case First Fang, while others called him Fang Double-A. One licentiate in his thirties was especially enthusiastic, deeply admiring the line, "How many fallen flowers did it know?"

Fang Zhongyong was among them as well, honestly stepping forward to salute Fang Yun.

Even if some people felt unconvinced or doubted Fang Yun, they did not dare provoke him upon seeing this scene. If County Magistrate Cai found out, a reprimand would be the least of their worries; being expelled from the Literary Academy would be truly unfortunate.

After the greetings, a yamen runner approached carrying several items. With great respect, he told Fang Yun and Lu Lin to change into Scholarly Robes and wear Scholarly Swords.

Fang Yun and Lu Lin thanked the yamen runner, changed into pale-blue Scholarly Robes, and examined themselves in the mirror.

The Scholarly Robe differed slightly from an ordinary long robe. Its collar and cuffs bore willow-leaf patterns. Only licentiates could wear it; those without a Literary Rank were forbidden from doing so, or else they would receive eighty strokes of the cane.

There was an ornament at the side of the Scholarly Robe's waist for hanging a Scholarly Sword.

After Fang Yun hung his sword properly, he gently drew it. A flash of cold light entered his eyes. The blade had already been sharpened. Though it was inferior to spears and broadswords on the battlefield, it was more than enough for self-defense.

Next, the licentiates helped one another straighten their clothing, lest they show disrespect toward the sages.

When the auspicious hour arrived, the licentiates filed out of the side room, while the local officials were already waiting outside.

With County Magistrate Cai and Academy Director Wang at the head, fifty newly certified licentiates entered the Temple of Sages, where the sages were enshrined. Each person stood behind a prayer cushion.

County Magistrate Cai recited the Ritual for All Sages once more, expressing gratitude toward the sages. At last, he said, "Cai He, County Magistrate of Ji County, leads fifty licentiates in worshipping the sages. May the sages bestow Literary Qi and strengthen our Human Race!" With that, he knelt.

The others also knelt on their prayer cushions.

Fang Yun felt the entire Temple of Sages—even the space they occupied—suddenly shudder with tremendous force. Then an invisible power descended. Though it could not be touched, it reached straight into the soul, vast and majestic, making people unable to resist prostrating themselves in worship.

Streams of orange Literary Qi descended and fell upon the crown of every licentiate's head.

Others could not see it, but as a Sage-front Tongsheng, Fang Yun saw scene after scene.

One person wore animal hides and fought Demon Barbarians to the death with the crudest stone spear, ultimately founding a nation for the Human Race. He was the Human Race's first ancestor.

One person tasted every kind of herb, exchanging his own death for the lives of the myriad people.

One person threw himself into a breached dike, using flesh and blood to hold back the towering floodwaters, ultimately taming the floods.

One person recited the Book of Changes outside Chaoge City and annihilated countless Demon Barbarians.

One person established academies, Enlightening the Myriad People, battling Demon Barbarians, and winning a thousand years of peace for the Human Race.

One person established laws and championed reform, making the Human Race more orderly.

One person...

The images of sage after sage flashed through Fang Yun's mind, causing the "Literary Palace" between his brows to ascend.

Fang Yun had only just become a licentiate. His Literary Palace had originally been nothing but a patch of Void, perceptible yet formless.

Now, Fang Yun "saw" a great hall built of rough square stones appear deep between his brows. The hall was desolate and ancient, and its interior held mural after mural, carved with the contributions the sages had made to the Human Race.

Within the hall stood a statue of Fang Yun himself, likewise dressed in a Scholarly Robe.

At first glance, the statue seemed unremarkable. But upon closer inspection, a faint glow shone in its eyes, gentle and warm, carrying a power that made one tranquil and detached.

Fang Yun vaguely guessed something, yet could not be sure whether he was right.

"So worshipping the sages means worshipping oneself? Then..."

Then, a wisp of orange, mist-like Literary Qi appeared above the statue's head. It was currently three inches long. Like silk spun by a spring silkworm, it was extraordinarily fine.

"Licentiate Literary Qi is like silk, while academy student Literary Qi is like a needle. This refers to the Literary Qi within the Literary Palace, as well as the Literary Qi one can command."

Fang Yun "looked around" the four walls of the Literary Palace. There were only murals and the statue, but the roof of the Literary Palace was rather strange. It seemed to be an Infinite Void, with only four stars of varying sizes within it. One was pitifully small.

The four stars emitted faint light that shone upon Fang Yun's statue, nourishing that silkworm-thread-like Literary Qi and allowing it to grow stronger without end.

"Those four stars represent the four poems, including Spring Dawn? I wonder how long it will take to reach the realm of the sages, where the stars sway wherever one passes."

As Fang Yun pondered this, the Literary Palace trembled lightly. Then the statue's left hand changed, and a peculiar book appeared within it.

Fang Yun could not describe the book's size, color, thickness, or thinness. It kept changing, and no word Fang Yun knew could describe it.

Only the four words upon the book remained unchanged.

Strange Book World.

The world spun, darkness fell before his eyes, and Fang Yun's consciousness left the Literary Palace.

Fang Yun discovered in surprise that everyone was looking at him with envy, even County Magistrate Cai.

Only then did Fang Yun realize that he differed from the others. Their Literary Talent Infusion had likely only opened their Literary Palaces without giving them form, while he had taken one step ahead and would remain step after step ahead.

Fang Yun even suspected that even if the other licentiates' Literary Palaces took shape, they would likely not compare to his, much less possess murals of the sages and ancient worthies.

"The worship is over. Let us leave," County Magistrate Cai said.

After leaving the Temple of Sages, County Magistrate Cai called Fang Yun aside and asked, "What are your plans?"

"This student wishes to remain in Ji County first to consolidate my Literary Palace. In ten days, I will set out for Dayuan Prefecture and enter the Prefectural Academy to study," Fang Yun replied.

County Magistrate Cai said, "Going to Dayuan Prefecture now may not be appropriate."

"Thank you for your concern, County Magistrate. Uncle Fang of Dayuan Prefecture has just left; he will resolve this matter," Fang Yun said.

After thinking briefly, County Magistrate Cai asked, "Lord Fang Shouye?"

"Precisely."

County Magistrate Cai gazed toward Dayuan Prefecture and said, "Then the Liu Household will be in for trouble. I am relieved as well."

Fang Yun said, "This student has two matters to request."

County Magistrate Cai smiled. "You certainly do not stand on ceremony. Go on."

"I wish to take the academy student examination this year, but I have never taken a Classic Interpretation examination. Thus, before going to Dayuan Prefecture, I hope to receive your guidance," Fang Yun said respectfully.

County Magistrate Cai did not immediately agree. Instead, he carefully studied Fang Yun and found neither the timidity one showed before a superior nor the arrogant swagger of a Double-A Honor Case First and a general's nephew. There was only respect for a teacher. He could not help inwardly praising him as a fine youth who was neither obsequious nor overbearing.

County Magistrate Cai nodded. "Good. The path of the Sacred Way requires one to hack through thorns and brambles. It is not about contending with others, but contending with time and with oneself! Since you have the heart to strive across the river, I will send you a favorable east wind. What a pity those people do not understand this principle."

County Magistrate Cai looked regretfully at the licentiates walking out. He would not take the initiative to teach licentiates, but if a licentiate came to seek instruction, whether through fawning flattery or openheartedly seeking help as Fang Yun had, he would lend a hand.

Fang Yun looked strangely at those licentiates who had entered a treasure mountain only to return empty-handed. He could not understand why they ignored County Magistrate Cai, such a "great treasure trove of the Imperial Examination." The examination experience of a Metropolitan Graduate was immensely valuable. Not only in Ji County—even in all of Dayuan Prefecture—few people could receive a Metropolitan Graduate's guidance.

But Fang Yun quickly understood. After all, he was not born and raised here, so he lacked such a deeply ingrained sense of hierarchy. At his core, he was still influenced by the belief that all people were equal. He did not see a Metropolitan Graduate as someone impossibly distant. Moreover, he was Case First and had received the county magistrate's praise, which was why he dared directly ask a county magistrate who was a Metropolitan Graduate to be his teacher.

"Tell me the second matter," County Magistrate Cai said, his attitude noticeably warmer than before.

"Before I leave for Dayuan Prefecture, I would like to come to the Literary Academy more often to study," Fang Yun said.

"Of course."

The two agreed that, beginning today, County Magistrate Cai would teach Fang Yun for one hour each evening after dinner.

After leaving the Literary Academy, Fang Yun and Lu Lin bought some fruit and two chickens, then went to Mr. Sun's home to thank him for his instruction.

Afterward, Fang Yun parted from Lu Lin and returned home. He saw Zhen Shopkeeper standing in the courtyard with a cloth bundle in hand, while Yang Yuhuan sat on a stool doing needlework.

The moment Fang Yun entered, Zhen Shopkeeper hurriedly forced out an ugly smile and trotted over. Carefully, he said, "Case First Fang, I've come to compensate you. I weighed it myself—exactly one hundred taels of silver, two hundred times the compensation. You kept your word, and I am willing to accept it."

Fang Yun took the silver and walked inside without saying a word.

Yang Yuhuan stood and carefully examined Fang Yun's Scholarly Robe. Her eyes were filled with joy, along with a faint trace of admiration.

Zhen Shopkeeper grew anxious and hurried after him. Bent at the waist and bowed in the back, he pleaded pitifully, "Case First Fang, I've admitted my mistake and accepted my punishment. Please give me a clear answer. I've been on tenterhooks all day."

Fang Yun nodded and smiled. "I understand. You only set your mind at ease after learning that I had completed the worship and officially been granted the rank of licentiate, so you brought the silver over. Thank you for being so concerned about me."

Zhen Shopkeeper's face turned deathly pale. He had not expected Fang Yun to see through him. He had originally wanted to come compensate Fang Yun and apologize yesterday, but he could not bear to part with one hundred taels of silver, so he kept waiting and hoping that Fang Yun would meet with an accident. Yet everything had gone smoothly for Fang Yun, leaving him no choice but to bring the silver.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuhuan said angrily, "No wonder Zhen Shopkeeper kept pretending to be pitiful just now. So he was plotting against me!"

Fang Yun said coldly, "Zhen Shopkeeper, you and I are even. You may leave."

"I..."

"There were some things I originally wanted to say to you yesterday, but I forgot them today." Fang Yun turned to look at Zhen Shopkeeper, his eyes ice-cold.

"I..." Zhen Shopkeeper wanted to say something else, but Fang Yun's gaze frightened him into shivering. He involuntarily walked outside.

After leaving the Fang Household, sorrow rose in Zhen Shopkeeper's heart. He cursed himself under his breath, "How could I be so stupid? How could I have drilled into the eye of money? Auspicious Restaurant can earn at least five hundred taels of silver in net profit each year, yet because of a few hundred copper coins in wages, I lost one hundred taels of silver and offended Case First Fang. How could I be so stupid? So stupid..."