Elsewhere, Fan Wujiu was holding a copy of the Essentials of Strategy, reading with relish, seemingly not the least affected by his outburst.
"Fan Wujiu!"
Li Chengze could not help raising his voice.
"I've been humiliated and am practically dying of anger, and you still have the leisure to read? Since when have you taken it this far?"
Fan Wujiu slowly closed the book and looked up, his face woeful.
"Your Highness, Prince Cheng is your brother. If you want to vent your anger, you'll have to do it yourself. There's nothing I can do."
He waved the book in his hand.
"As for this... the spring examinations are almost here. All the major academies in the capital are holding hundred-day oath rallies, rubbing their fists and flexing their palms. Someone like me, without a proper scholarly background, is under a lot of pressure! Unless I cling to the Buddha's feet at the last minute, I really have no confidence."
Li Chengze choked on his words at first, then glared.
"What? Are you really planning to sit the imperial examinations?"
Fan Wujiu looked as though it went without saying. "What are you saying, Your Highness? What scholar doesn't dream of seeing his name on the golden list and bringing glory to his ancestors?"
The Second Prince looked speechless. He stepped forward and patted the saber at Fan Wujiu's waist. "A scholar? I've never seen you bother with 'Confucius said' or 'the Odes declare' when you're hacking people down."
Fan Wujiu scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I had no choice but to practice martial arts. Deep down, I'm actually a man of letters. You don't know this, Your Highness, but whenever I get carried away killing, poetic feeling surges in my chest, and I long to recite a poem!"
Fan