On the day of the Palace Examination, the dawn broke, and golden light gently shone across the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, illuminating it with a radiant splendor. The Throne Hall was solemn and awe-inspiring. Outside, guards stood in a line, their expressions stern, like silent statues, embodying the majesty of the imperial family. Today, this place would become the pinnacle of competition for the world's most talented individuals, determining the course of their lives.
Si Yan, clutching a specially crafted miniature abacus, walked with steady steps into the throne room, a symbol of supreme glory and power. Despite his short stature, he exuded a confident and composed demeanor, standing out among the taller candidates. The emperor sat high atop the dragon throne, his gaze piercing as he scrutinized each candidate with dignity. When his gaze fell on Si Yan, he paused for a moment, then curled his lips in a smile of interest: "Are you Jiang Xiaoyu?"
Si Yan quickly straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully. The beads in his sleeve tinkled with each movement, as if preluding the brilliant performance he was about to unfold. "Your Majesty, I, Jiang Xiaoyu, pay my respects." His voice was clear and resounding, echoing through the empty throne room, carrying a hint of the youthful vigor and resolve.
"I heard you're good at calculating." The emperor leaned forward slightly, pointing a finger casually at the palace pillar, his eyes testing him. "Calculate how many dragons you can carve on this pillar, and how much will it cost?"
Si Yan glanced at the pillar in the direction the emperor pointed, his eyes blazing as he quickly calculated in his mind. Without a moment's hesitation, he spoke, "Eighteen coiled dragons, two taels each, for a total of thirty-six taels. If it's hollow carving, an extra ten taels!" His response was clear and crisp, like pearls falling on a jade plate, every word ringing with power.
As soon as these words came out, the whole palace was shocked. The court officials whispered to each other, casting surprised glances, and were amazed at the young man's quick wit. Jiang Yan stood among the court officials, his face flushed and whitened, and he wished he could find a hole to crawl into. He was proud of his son's outstanding talent, but also a little embarrassed by his son's bold and straightforward performance. In the harem, Su Qingyao was listening to the news from the palace maid. She couldn't help laughing so hard that the rouge in her hand was smudged because of this sudden laughter. "This kid is even more arrogant than his father was back then!" She laughed and shook her head, her eyes full of love and pride for her son.
Next, Si Yan presented his own policy paper. When the emperor unfolded the policy paper, his eyes lit up. On it was a "World Commercial Tax Circulation Chart", which was ingeniously conceived and clearly organized, showing the circulation, collection, and use of commercial taxes in the world in an extremely intuitive way. What's even more peculiar is that Si Yan also used abacus beads to carefully arrange the key figures, making the entire chart more vivid and clear at a glance. The emperor carefully examined the policy paper, and the admiration in his eyes became stronger and stronger. He couldn't help but slam the table and said: "Wizard! I want to appoint you as the third place!"
Upon hearing the emperor's announcement, everyone's eyes once again turned to Si Yan. Some were filled with envy, others with a hint of jealousy, but most were filled with recognition of his talent. However, just as Si Yan was thanking him, he suddenly said, "Your Majesty, can the salary of the third place winner be converted into cash? I want to use it to open a bookstore."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire Golden Throne Hall fell into a brief silence, followed by a burst of uncontrollable laughter. Jiang Yan finally couldn't help himself and quickly covered his face with his tablet, trying to hide his complicated expression. The officials behind him were so embarrassed that their faces flushed. They had never seen such a bold and straightforward candidate, daring to make such a strange request in such a solemn occasion as the palace examination.
The emperor, however, was not angry. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed heartily. He looked at Siyan, his eyes full of admiration and tolerance: "As you wish! As long as you settle the accounts of the world, I will reward you with ten thousand taels of gold!" The emperor's voice echoed in the hall, with a sense of heroism and open-mindedness, as if he was making an extremely grand promise to this young talent.
Si Yan kowtowed once more in thanks, his heart filled with excitement and gratitude. He knew that his life would be completely changed by this palace examination, but he also knew that this was just a new starting point on his journey to pursue his dreams.
After the palace examination, Siyan walked out of the Golden Palace. The sunlight shone upon him, as if covering him with a golden cloak. He took a deep breath, savoring this hard-earned honor, and secretly resolved to use his knowledge to contribute to the country's commercial development and economic prosperity.
Back home, the Jiang family was filled with joy. Su Qingyao personally prepared a sumptuous celebration for Siyan, and the family gathered together, filled with laughter and joy. Jiang Yan looked at his energetic and intelligent son, and was overwhelmed with emotion. He recalled his own experience taking the imperial examinations. Although he had also experienced hardships, Siyan's boldness and innovation were beyond his reach.
"Son, your performance in the palace examination today really surprised and delighted your father." Jiang Yan raised his wine glass and looked at Si Yan with eyes full of satisfaction. "However, in the future, in front of the emperor, you still need to be careful with your words and not be too reckless."
Si Yan smiled and nodded: "Dad, I understand. But I really want to expand the bookstore so that more people can read useful books and learn how to make money."
Su Qingyao smiled at the side and said, "I believe our son has this ability. If he gets the third place in the imperial examination this time, his future will be much easier."
As news of Siyan's success spread, the Jiang family's door was practically thronged with congratulatory visitors. Not only relatives and friends, but also numerous court officials and wealthy businessmen sought connections with the Jiang family. Siyan also met many like-minded friends, discussing business development and economic strategies with them, striving to achieve their dreams.
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