The sun passed through the window lattice, clouds poured into the window, and a layer of fine shadow floated over the desk.
Yan Shisheng bent over the desk and drew the appearance of the white cow tea tree for Mu Wanyao according to her request.
When Mu Wanyao heard that Yan Shisheng only had less than a pound of Bainiu tea, she felt disgusted. She thought, how could such a small amount be enough for the people in Chang'an to share?
The best way is to find out what the white cow tea tree looks like. She asked her people to look for it in the wild. If the white cow tea trees in Lingnan can be moved to Chang'an for planting and maintenance, that would be the best.
As the provincial examination was approaching, Yan Shisheng wanted to study, so he only agreed to help Mu Wanyao draw the appearance of the tea tree. This was in exchange for Mu Wanyao teaching him "Qieyun" and helping him correct his ancient pronunciation.
In such an afternoon, it was natural that Mu Wanyao was flipping through the book "Qieyun" out of boredom, while Yan Shisheng was painting tea trees.
When everything was quiet and peaceful, the sound of horse hooves could be heard outside the gate fence. Someone shouted loudly before entering the gate: "Yan Erlang! Yan Erlang, come out!"
Startled by the sound outside the window, Yan Shisheng pressed down the wolf hair brush in his hand, and thick ink spread on the rice paper. A deep shadow appeared on the tree under the brush.
Mu Wan shook her head and felt sorry for Hua: "Who is making noise outside?"
The maid Chunhua walked out: "I will go and take a look."
When Yan Shisheng heard someone calling him, he immediately stood up to see. Mu Wanyao stretched out his hand and pulled him, turned his head toward the window, and said, "Let Chunhua go and see what's going on. What if it's a villain holding a stick and trying to hurt you because of all the shouting?"
Yan Shisheng's wolf hair brush trembled, and he looked at Mu Wan with a look of confusion and relief: This lady actually defended him? Did he hear it right?
Mu Wan shook his head and said, "You still have to help me paint the tea trees, you can't get hurt at this time."
Yan Shisheng was speechless.
Outside the gate of the Yan family, a brown horse was parked. A young scholar rode the horse, carrying a thick list of books and dry food.
The young scholar got off his horse and started shouting before he even entered the yard: "Yan Erlang! Yan Shisheng! My father asked me to look for you. Where are you?"
After he got off his horse, he saw that the Yan family was different from before, with many more guards and maids in the yard. He was just surprised for a moment, but not frightened, and still pulled his horse into the gate.
The rest of the Yan family was not at home at the moment, so no one was there to greet the guest. The maid Chunhua came out through the curtains and shouted, "Who is making a noise here?"
Chunhua went down the stairs and the maids around her pointed and she saw the young man who had already entered the yard but was stopped by the guards.
Chunhua looked at him and was stunned for a moment. This man was young, dressed in fine clothes, with a profound and talented look, completely different from the ordinary Lingnan people.
Chunhua couldn't help but mutter in her heart, in such a remote place like Lingnan, it's not easy for a Yanshi to grow well, how come another one appeared now? If someone who didn't know saw it, they would think it was not Lingnan, but the golden cave Chang'an.
The young man did not expect that a beautiful girl with a slender waist would stand in front of the steps with a frown on her face. He was stunned for a moment, and then the arrogance and impatience in his eyes disappeared in an instant, and his snow-white face suddenly turned red.
He put down the reins of his horse in a panic and bowed: "May I know your name, young lady? This should be the home of Yan Erlang, right? My surname is Liu, and my father asked me to find Yan Erlang to ask about this year's state examination. If there is no other reason, my father asked me to go to the state examination with Yan Erlang."
Chunhua understood immediately.
Every year in the deep winter, the states and prefectures of the Wei Dynasty would pass the examinations and recommend qualified students to the Shangshu Province in Chang'an to take the examinations. When that time came, it was the "imperial examination". The young scholar came to see Yan Shisheng, naturally for the first "recommendation" examination.
Chunhua knelt down and saluted, and replied softly: "My dear, wait a moment, I will go and find Yan Erlang to come out."
She turned and went into the house, then turned back and looked at the scholar named Liu who had come from afar in the yard.
The scholar looked at her infatuatedly, his eyes fixed on her with bright expression.
Seeing the warm winter sun, the girl stands tall and graceful, blooming with extraordinary beauty.
The breeze blew across her cheeks and messed up her hair. Chunhua blushed again. She smiled at the scholar and lowered her head. This time, Chunhua did not look back and went straight in to find the princess.
-----
The scholar's name was Liu Wenzhi. He was just eighteen years old this year, one year older than Yan Shisheng.
His father used to be an imperial censor, but later he offended a high-ranking official in the court and was demoted to Lingnan.
According to Yan Shisheng, Liu Wenji was a famous child prodigy in Lingnan. Yan Shisheng studied under Liu Wenji's father. Yan Shisheng had participated in the state examinations for three years, but Liu Wenji was not as impatient as him.
This was Liu Wenji's first time taking the state exam. He was sent by his father to ask Yan Shisheng about his experience in the state exam, and he planned to take the exam together with Yan Shisheng.
Although it was Liu Wenzhi's first time taking the exam, he was full of confidence and felt that he would definitely pass.
Liu Wenji planned to live in Yan's house for the convenience of taking the exam. Yan Shisheng told Mu Wanyao about Liu Wenji's situation, hoping that Mu Wanyao would allow Liu Wenji to stay.
Mu Wan glanced at Yan Shisheng who was explaining the situation to her. It was obvious that Yan Shisheng explained so patiently because he wanted to keep the person.
The maid Chunhua also said softly: "The towns in Lingnan are far apart. Liu Lang has finally come here. If we send him back, he might be late for the exam."
Mu Wanyao looked strange: "You want him to stay and go to the exam with you in two days?"
Yan Shisheng said softly, "Yes. Brother Liu is very knowledgeable. If he stays here, I can ask him for advice. And if we go to take the exam together, we can take care of each other."
Mu Wanyao: "He is known as a child prodigy?"
Yan Shisheng nodded.
Mu Wanyao was very curious: "How does your knowledge compare to his?"
Yan Shisheng blushed and said ashamedly: "Brother Liu has a profound knowledge, I am not as good as him."
So, Mu Wanyao was extremely shocked.
She stood up and walked around Yan Shisheng: "So, you want to keep a person who can threaten you and may steal your place in your house? You don't drive away such a threatening person, but you are afraid that he won't get a good rest, so you provide him with good food and drink? Are you ready to fail yourself and plan to curry favor with the child prodigy?"
Yan Shisheng said: "I may not lose either."
"puff."
Yan Shisheng: ...What does "Puff" mean?
Mu Wan sat back down, looking up at him eagerly: "The Great Wei has fifteen north-south roads and fifty east-west passes, and recommends talents to the Shangshu Province to take the imperial examinations every year. Fifteen roads plus fifty passes, there are countless students in the world, but only a thousand or so are recommended every year."
"There are many candidates in the big states, but in a remote place like Lingnan, there are only one or two candidates every year. Since Liu Wenji is known as a child prodigy, he is your biggest threat."
Mu Wan shook her eyes and gave him an idea, eager to try: "You can eliminate this threat at the beginning."
Yan Shisheng was silent for a while.
He asked, "Do you think I should kick him out?"
Mu Wan leaned on the table with her elbows, and said cutely, "Of course I have to stay."
Yan Shisheng raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Mu Wanyao gave him some advice: "I think he seems to be a proud person who has never suffered setbacks. Such people are very stubborn and easily broken. With your scheming, you can disrupt his mind while stealing his talent, causing him to fail the exam, and become your stepping stone to help you win the state exam. Although you may not win, he will definitely lose."
"In life, it is all about striving forward!"
The princess spoke with a smile, but her words were so cruel.
Yan Shisheng stared at Mu Wanyao for a moment, then slowly said, "In life, it is not just about striving forward. It also requires virtue, loyalty, benevolence, and righteousness."
He said: "Of course I am not good enough in academics, I cannot be called a child prodigy, and I have taken the state exam for three consecutive years without any results. But I will never use the future of others to pave the way for myself. God has his rewards, I have my own way, I just hope to look up to the world and have a clear conscience."
Mu Wan shook his head without changing his expression.
She still tried to persuade him to be a bad guy: "If you don't tell me, who will know what you have done? Anyway, you have done it, and it is over."
Yan Shisheng said gently: "In this world, nothing will ever truly pass. It will never pass."
After listening to his long talk, Mu Wanyao didn't look upset, but these few words were like a heavy hammer hitting his heart, causing Mu Wanyao's heart to ache suddenly.
She took a step back, her face suddenly changed, and her expression turned a little pale.
In this world, nothing can pass away? All traces of the past will turn into nightmares and come back to torment you again and again, right?
Seeing that she looked unhappy, Yan Shisheng asked with concern: "What's wrong with you?"
Mu Wan leaned on the table, her thin bones trembling slightly. However, she did not show any weakness on her face, and said fiercely: "I have given all my suggestions. If you don't want to listen, then get out!"
Yan Shisheng observed her for a long time but to no avail, so he withdrew his gaze.
-----
Two days later, Yan Shisheng and Liu Wenzhi came to say goodbye to Mu Wan. They were going to take part in the provincial examination together and would not be back for a day or two.
Mu Wan looked at Liu Wenji who kept stealing glances at her maid Chunhua, while Yan Shisheng looked gentle and calm. The brothers and sisters of the Yan family encouraged Yan Shisheng to do well in the exam and reluctantly sent him off.
Looking through the curtain at their mutual encouragement and deep brother-sister love, Mu Wanyao sarcastically said, "Are they going to win the first prize in the imperial examination?"
Yan Shisheng said politely: "Thank you for your care these days, madam."
Mu Wan shook her head and asked with concern: "Have you ever thought that you might not be able to pass the exam?"
The Yan family members all glared at Mu Wanyao angrily.
No one wants to be a bad person, but Mu Wanyao likes to be that bad person. She covered her mouth and pretended to be surprised: "I am telling the truth. God's will is unpredictable. Don't you prepare for the worst?"
Yan Shisheng then said politely: "Then I can only pray that man will triumph over nature."
As soon as Yan Shisheng left, Mu Wanyao no longer greeted them with a smile, but drove everyone out.
She said to the guards, "Follow me into the wild, we're going to look for the white bull tea tree! Once we find it, we'll leave this place, meet my uncle, and then we'll go back to Chang'an!"
Chunhua asked timidly: "Aren't we waiting for Yan Erlang's test results? Aren't we waiting for Yan Erlang to come back?"
Mu Wanyao asked, "What are you waiting for him to do?"
She said contemptuously: "No one is looking after him, how can he pass the exam?"
Chunhua's heart was moved: "It's not as good as you, my lady..."
Mu Wanyao smiled and said, "Isn't he going to rely on his own ability to win the fate? Then how dare I hinder Yan Erlang's righteous path? For a villain like me, it is more important to find my tea tree."
The author has something to say: Let me explain that the imperial examinations at that time were very sloppy. If there was no one above to look after you, you would either fail the exam or it would be useless even if you passed. Even if you passed the exam and became the top scholar, it would still be useless. But if you had someone above you, you could definitely make yourself the top scholar.
During this period, even if you passed the imperial examination, you would not be given an official position immediately. If no one from above took care of you, you might waste three, four or five years after passing the examination and not be able to become an official.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
