No one cared about my hard study for ten years, but I became famous overnight.

After the test, Chen Ge passed the provincial test organized by the Ministry of Rites smoothly and obtained the title of Juren. He only had to participate in the palace test for Juren presided over by the emperor himself.

…

Two completely different memories kept intertwining in Chen Ge's mind. The complex emotional impact gave him a splitting headache, and a tear slipped uncontrollably from the corner of Chen Ge's eye.

Before Chen Ge could check more memories, his body was suddenly shaken, and then Wang Rong's voice rang in his ears.

"Be a real man, it's just that you fell off the roof while watching the moon last night, there's no need to cry! When you're healed, I'll be the banker and we'll go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to have some fun. Just consider it an apology to Brother Zizheng..."

Zi is Chen Ge's courtesy name.

Zi Zheng comes from The Analects of Confucius. Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics, and Confucius replied, "Politics means justice. If you lead with justice, who would dare not be just?" The implication is: be strict with yourself and set an example.

The noise in his ears was too loud, making Chen Ge annoyed. He opened his eyes with difficulty, and what came into view was Wang Rong who kept chattering. The memories of him suddenly came to his mind.

Wang Rong, courtesy name Yuanze, was a native of Linchuan County, Fuzhou (now Linchuan District, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province). He passed the imperial examination at the age of 23 and ranked second in the provincial examination not long ago, only behind the provincial champion Xu Anshi.

Chen and Wang were classmates and of the same year, and their relationship was very close. More importantly, Wang Anshi, Wang Rong's father, was Chen Ge's idol.

"Brother Yuanze!" Chen Ge forced himself to sit up and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm fine now, but my throat is so dry it's almost smoking. Can you pour me a glass of water?"

"Okay, okay!" Wang Rong responded while pouring a bowl of warm water from the teapot on the table and handing it to Chen Ge.

Chen Ge drank it all in one gulp and felt much better. He raised three fingers to Wang Rong and said calmly, "Xiaoxiang Pavilion, three times, and Li Xingshou must accompany me personally."

"Three times?" Wang Rong said angrily, "Do you really think I'm rich? Miss Niannu is the top performer from Hangzhou. Even in the prosperous city of Bianliang, she'd be ranked in the top five. She gets a hundred strings of cash for each appearance."

Chen Ge remained unmoved. He looked at Wang Rong with a smile and said, "Do you want me to repeat what happened last night?"

"You're so cruel! Three times is three times!" Wang Rong gritted his teeth and agreed, "Don't forget to keep my secret."

"Okay, okay, I don't know anything."