Crisis

Today was the day Ji County selected Licentiates through the County Examination. Fang Yun was one of the candidates, yet he was filled with despair for his future.

Fang Yun was a typical Cold Gate student.

The scions of prominent clans, illustrious families, wealthy houses, Saint-enfeoffed lineages, and even the supremely exalted Confucius Mansion never had to worry about food and drink, nor let livelihood and family distract them. But Fang Yun could not.

They could attend the finest schools and academies directly, but Fang Yun could not.

They could hire whatever teacher they wanted and seek their guidance whenever they pleased, but Fang Yun could not.

They could buy whatever classics, annotations, commentaries, expositions, and collections they desired—or need not buy them at all, because their homes already had them. But Fang Yun could not.

For Cold Gate students like Fang Yun, merely staying alive was already difficult enough. Being able to read a few books was the very limit. As for earning a place on the golden list, a soaring youth, or a brilliant life—every last one of those lay beyond the reach of Cold Gate children.

Fang Yun's fists clenched of their own accord.

Then Fang Yun realized he was in a desperate situation. The most pressing issue was not how his family would react after his death, but survival.

Just last night, the original Fang Yun had been surrounded and beaten to death by four masked men on his way home.

"Who wanted to kill that Fang Yun?"

Fang Yun quickly thought of the only possibility.

Before Qingming Festival, Fang Yun had taken his child bride, Yuhuan, fifty li away to the Marquis Wu Shrine to burn incense and pray that Marquis Wu, Zhuge Liang, would bless him in passing the County Examination and becoming a Licentiate.

On their way back, the two encountered someone riding in a carriage.

The man smilingly asked for directions to the Marquis Wu Shrine, and Fang Yun politely pointed him the way.

Who could have known that after thanking Fang Yun, the man would strike up a conversation and introduce himself as Liu Zicheng? He had passed the Academy Student examination three years ago and was from the main branch of the illustrious Liu Family of Dayuan Prefecture. His elder brother was even more extraordinary: last year's top Provincial Graduate of Jiangzhou, the Jieyuan.

Liu Zicheng being from an illustrious family was nothing by itself, but every scholar in Dayuan Prefecture knew that the Dayuan Liu Family had a distant relative in the capital whose power reached the heavens: Liu Shan, the Left Prime Minister, head of the four ministers of Jing Kingdom's Grand Secretariat, a senior minister entrusted by the late emperor with his orphaned heir. Some even said that half of Jing Kingdom's officials were Liu Shan's former students or old associates.

Fang Yun's greatest wish was no more than to pass the County Examination and become a Licentiate. Passing the Prefectural Examination to become an Academy Student was an unreachable dream to him. Liu Zicheng, meanwhile, was courteous and refined, bore himself with exceptional grace, and was an Academy Student whom others envied. Thus Fang Yun had no guard up at all; whatever Liu Zicheng asked, he answered.

Afterward, Fang Yun asked Liu Zicheng for advice on passing the County Examination. Liu Zicheng held nothing back, and Fang Yun was immensely grateful.

When he learned that Liu Zicheng had once climbed Book Mountain, one of the three great sacred lands, and had even reached the Second Pavilion, Fang Yun respected him all the more.

Later, Liu Zicheng had his carriage take Fang Yun and Yuhuan home. Along the way, the two scholars spoke most congenially, and by the end, they were even calling each other brothers.

That night, Liu Zicheng stayed at the Fang Household, and they talked by candlelight deep into the night, making Fang Yun still more grateful.

The next day, Liu Zicheng left behind a twenty-tael banknote and a letter before departing. The letter said that he and Fang Yun had felt like old friends at first sight and hoped Fang Yun would accept the banknote. If Fang Yun truly did not wish to take it, he could return it after earning a place on the golden list.

After reading it, Fang Yun thought, Liu Zicheng truly is a gentleman. Still, he gave the banknote to Yuhuan for safekeeping, resolutely refusing to use another person's money.

Yet Yuhuan said that Liu Zicheng seemed to have ulterior motives. The original Fang Yun flew into a rage and rebuked her for measuring a gentleman's heart with a petty man's yardstick.

Later, Liu Zicheng came several more times and gradually gave Fang Yun a number of books. Their friendship deepened.

Yuhuan said twice that she disliked Liu Zicheng, but Fang Yun rebuked her both times, and she never spoke of it again.

Until one day, when Yuhuan encountered hooligans while out buying vegetables. Liu Zicheng happened to pass by, so he activated the power of the Literary Treasure, the Mountain-Peak Brush, drew his sword, and drove back more than ten hooligans, saving Yuhuan and moving Fang Yun to tears of gratitude.

Half a month ago, Liu Zicheng brought up Fang Yun's treatment of Yuhuan and even pointed out that a household like Fang Yun's would only ruin her.

Fang Yun also felt that he had wronged Yuhuan. He said he was sorry to her, which was why, despite his relatives' constant urging, he had never married Yuhuan or consummated the marriage. He had sworn that once he earned a place on the golden list, he would marry Yuhuan in magnificent splendor.

Liu Zicheng asked Fang Yun how confident he was of becoming a Licentiate. If he wanted splendor, he would have to become at least a Provincial Graduate—so how confident was he of becoming one?

Fang Yun fell silent.

Then Liu Zicheng said he was willing to take Yuhuan as a concubine and offer two thousand taels of silver as bride price.

Fang Yun stared at Liu Zicheng in astonishment, yet still failed to realize Liu Zicheng's true purpose.

At that moment, Yuhuan came out and explained what had happened.

It turned out that whenever Liu Zicheng came, he deliberately fawned over and approached Yuhuan. Yuhuan had told Fang Yun, but he refused to believe her. So she devised a scheme to deceive Liu Zicheng, saying that if he could persuade Fang Yun, she would marry him as a concubine.

Liu Zicheng took the bait, and Fang Yun suddenly saw the light. He cursed Liu Zicheng furiously and threw the banknote and all the other things Liu Zicheng had given him out the door.

Liu Zicheng flew into a rage out of humiliation and threatened Fang Yun. If Fang Yun did not sell Yuhuan to him as a concubine before the County Examination, he would ensure Fang Yun could never become a Licentiate for the rest of his life.

Fang Yun recalled Liu Zicheng's words.

"Don't be shameless when I've given you face! I intended to make a fine tale by taking Yuhuan as my concubine: Liu Zicheng aids a Cold Gate student, while a poor scholar entrusts him with his beautiful child bride! I've already told my brother I would marry a beautiful concubine. If he takes a liking to her, I can give her to him. If you refuse now, how am I supposed to show my face before him? If Yuhuan does not submit to me before the County Examination, don't blame me for playing dirty! In Jing Kingdom, our Liu Family has the final word!"

After Liu Zicheng finished speaking, he strode away. Even now, Fang Yun could not forget Liu Zicheng's laughter, nor could he forget Yuhuan's words.

"I, Yang Yuhuan, belong to the Fang Household in life and shall be its soul in death!"

Yet deep helplessness and desolation hid in Yang Yuhuan's eyes, along with even a trace of despair.

The original Fang Yun had only felt shame and gratitude, but now that Fang Yun recalled that scene, Yang Yuhuan had possessed the tragic grandeur of someone marching toward death!

The back of Fang Yun's head hurt. When he reached up to touch it, he hissed softly—his head had actually been split open.

Since I'm alive, Liu Zicheng will certainly continue retaliating! I can't escape now no matter what. The only way is to pass the County Examination and become a Licentiate. With official honors and a Literary Rank, he would never dare kill me in Ji County! A Licentiate is only equivalent to "reserve talent," while an Academy Student is foundational talent, so the County Examination is the easiest. It tests only two subjects: Appeal to the Sage's Words and poetry. Classic Interpretation and policy essays come later.

The imperial examination system of Saint Origin Continent differs somewhat from ancient China's, but since I'm here, I might as well settle in.

Thinking this, Fang Yun headed out of the alley. His injuries were severe; his whole body ached, and his soaking wet clothes clung to him in unbearable discomfort. Still, he gritted his teeth and persevered.

As he stepped out of the alley, Fang Yun came face-to-face with an acquaintance: Duan Hu, a waiter at the restaurant where he worked, four or five years older than him.

Fang Yun was about to greet him with a bitter smile when Duan Hu froze for a moment, then showed hesitation. Lowering his voice, he said, "Hurry home and take a look. Something happened at your house."

Duan Hu wanted to say more, but Zhen Shopkeeper shouted from the entrance of the Auspicious Restaurant five zhang away, "Little Tiger, are you itching for a beating? Go buy vegetables, now! If you're late, I'll break your legs!"

Duan Hu sighed helplessly, gave Fang Yun a warning look telling him to be careful, then turned and left.

Fang Yun had not expected trouble at home as well. He could not be bothered to quarrel with Zhen Shopkeeper and quickened his pace.

But Zhen Shopkeeper called out gloatingly, "I told you three years ago that I could buy the Xishi of Jiang Prefecture from your household and support your studies. See where that got you? The Liu Family of Dayuan Prefecture has set its sights on her, and you won't get a single copper coin! Our whole county has only two prominent clans and not one illustrious family. The Liu Family is an illustrious family—they eat people without spitting out the bones. Look at you, covered in wounds. Liu Family people did that, didn't they?"

Zhen Shopkeeper wore a green wealthy gentleman's robe and a black skullcap. He was just over forty, had one wife and two concubines, and was a harsh, mean-spirited man. Because his surname sounded like the word for "needle," the restaurant workers privately called him "Needle Eye."

Once, Fang Yun saw that Yang Yuhuan was too frail and secretly took some leftover meat that customers had intended to throw away, wanting to give it to her. But Zhen Shopkeeper discovered him, seized the meat, threw it on the ground, stepped on it, and kicked it to the dogs in the courtyard.

"I'd give it to dogs before I'd give it to you!"

Even now, Fang Yun remembered the contemptuous look in Zhen Shopkeeper's eyes when he said it.

Fang Yun forcibly suppressed his anger and continued walking.

Zhen Shopkeeper said smugly, "Did you think I hired you as a waiter because you were capable? I did it to get close to Yuhuan. Unfortunately, Yuhuan was blind to reason and always kept away from me, so I took it out on you. Since you've offended the illustrious Liu Family, I can't let the flames spread to me. You're fired!"

Fang Yun stopped, turned around, and looked coldly at Zhen Shopkeeper. "Then please settle the rest of my wages."

"You've offended the illustrious Liu Family. My restaurant may well suffer their wrath, and it's already generous of me not to demand compensation from you. You still want wages? Get lost! If you dare come to my Auspicious Restaurant again, watch out—I'll break your dog legs!" Zhen Shopkeeper glared viciously at Fang Yun.

Fang Yun glared back. "I'll remember your words. If you refuse to pay the wages you owe me today, one day I'll make you repay them a thousandfold!" With that, he left.

"You poor sourpuss, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue when you boast?" Zhen Shopkeeper sneered, then went into the restaurant.

Fang Yun gritted his teeth and hurried all the way home to see what had happened. Then he would take his brush and ink to the examination. If he failed to become a Licentiate, Liu Zicheng would strike a second time within three days at most, and then he would surely die!

As long as he became a Licentiate, Fang Yun would be safe for the time being. Even if Liu Zicheng came from an illustrious and powerful family, he would not dare kill a Licentiate with a Literary Rank in Ji County.

Fang Yun paid no attention whatsoever to the gazes of passersby. As he walked, he digested the newly acquired memories and discovered that Saint Origin Continent differed greatly from ancient China. With the emergence of Literary Qi, coupled with the rivalry among the Ten Kingdoms and Demon Barbarians eyeing them like tigers, practicality clearly held the upper hand.

For instance, scholars here normally wrote in Regular Script or semi-cursive script. But battlefields changed in the blink of an eye, and when using War on Paper, they used the simpler cursive script to finish as quickly as possible, causing cursive script to become increasingly simplified over several centuries.

The imperial examination system here also differed greatly. Ancient Earth's imperial examinations began in the Sui Dynasty, but here they had begun in the Han Dynasty, seven or eight hundred years earlier. Moreover, the examinations were not held once every three years, but every year.

Saint Origin Continent was also far larger than China, with a full ninety provinces, each equivalent to a province in China.

Fang Yun soon discovered that his additional memories contained not only memories of Saint Origin Continent, but also portions of books he had never read, including such works as <Complete Collection of Ancient Zhuangyuan Palace Examination Papers>, Guliang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Guide to the South, Zhu Xi's Categorized Sayings on the Five Classics, Three Character Classic, and Complete Tang Poetry.