Chapter 8 Chapter 8 "Zhang Xueyou, your pornographic picture fell!" ...
Princess Ning Yan waited for a long time and finally saw Zhang Jingxuan coming.
He bowed and said, "Greetings to Princess Ning Yan."
"Master Zhang!" Princess Ning Yan put down the banner, her eyes red and aggrieved. "You're finally here. I've been waiting for you for a long time. Why don't you want to see me?"
This made him sound like a heartless man. Zhang Jingxuan frowned and said, "Princess, be careful with your words."
Princess Ning Yan pursed her lips. Someone had just gone to the palace to inform her father. This was too shocking and she might be punished with house arrest. She had to finish her story as soon as possible, otherwise she didn't know if she would have another chance next time.
So, without caring about the people present, she blurted out, "You would definitely not agree if I asked you to meet me privately, so I can only use this method to tell you. I sincerely hope that you will become my consort. Can you consider it? I will not treat you unfairly. You don't have to worry about me changing my mind. Just nod your agreement, and I will immediately ask my father to grant the marriage."
Zhang Jingxuan lowered his eyes, his voice flowing like a clear spring, and said, "I have not yet passed the examination for honors, nor have I achieved any success, so I will not marry you. For the sake of your own reputation, please reconsider."
Princess Ning Yan's eyes were about to turn red again. The banner fell alone on the ground, just like her broken heart. She said as if she had cast aside her pride:
"But I like you."
Zhang Jingxuan raised his eyes to look at her, his voice gentle and soft, not allowing for argument:
"But I don't like the princess, and I won't like her. I'm sorry to disappoint her."
He wasn't even interested in asking her what she liked about him or how long she had liked him.
There were low hissing sounds coming from all around, as if expressing lament for his lover's heartlessness.
Zhang Jingxuan ignored him, glanced at the eunuchs coming in from Jixian Gate, and nodded to Princess Ning Yan:
"The palace has sent people to take the princess back. Please follow them back to the palace. Don't waste your time on me anymore."
The chief eunuch hurried over and smiled at Zhang Jingxuan. Then he looked at Princess Ning Yan with a look of disappointment and said,
"Someone, the princess is drunk, help her back to the carriage!"
Although it was a blatant lie to describe the princess's grand confession as being due to drunkenness, it saved the princess's face and prevented her from being thwarted in the capital.
Princess Ning Yan couldn't break free and staggered out.
It was more like holding her up than helping her. She didn't intend to resist anymore, but turned her head to look at Zhang Jingxuan, and asked unwillingly with red eyes:
"Zhang Jingxuan, you rejected me twice, and I won't let you reject me a third time. But I really want to ask you one more thing: what kind of girl could make you willingly bow down to her? Do you have the heart to cherish a woman?"
The chief eunuch and the maidservant following behind her were eager to take the princess away quickly and stop her from talking nonsense.
But Princess Ning Yan stared at him intently, as if she was being stubborn and insisted on getting an answer.
Everyone thought that Zhang Jingxuan would come up with an appropriate and irresistible explanation to answer the princess. After all, that was just the kind of person he was and he always did that.
But unexpectedly, he raised his eyes slightly, smiled, and said:
"Since Princess already knows the answer, why do you still insist on asking? Does it matter to you whether I know it or not, whether I am willing to do it or not?"
Princess Ning Yan seemed to have lost all hope in an instant, and her face turned pale.
Gao Songlin, who was standing with Xue Yuanyin under the shade of a tree, hissed, feeling sorry for Princess Ning Yan. "Zhang Jingxuan is so cruel. Is he this cruel when he rejects every girl?"
Xue Yuanyin was not surprised and said, "He is just like that. I have told you many times that his true temperament is not that of a gentle gentleman, but you all don't believe it."
"Then I still believe that he is a gentle gentleman." Gao Songlin crossed his arms, "I just didn't expect him to be so bold and blunt. He hurt people so much."
Xue Yuanyin shrugged and declined to comment.
She was not surprised by Zhang Jingxuan's attitude, nor was she surprised by Zhang Jingxuan's answer.
Everyone said Zhang Jingxuan was a young gentleman nurtured by the legacy of a century-old aristocratic family. Indeed, he had developed a dignity like the gentle breeze brushing against the snow, while also developing a character that the Imperial City was most proud of.
Although he sympathizes with the world, he never places himself among them. He has a golden appearance and treats people with kindness and modesty, but that's all.
No one can make him bow his head voluntarily, and no one can make him willingly show favoritism among the three thousand ladles.
It's just a pity for Princess Ning Yan, who gave her heart to the wrong person.
Why do you fall in love with someone impossible?
-
The result of Princess Ning Yan's passionate confession was that the emperor was furious and put her under house arrest because he thought she was embarrassing.
But Princess Ning Yan kept her promise and sent someone to deliver the bill that night. Xue Yuanyin held this private money in her hand and had the illusion that money was easy to earn.
But she herself had no shortage of money, so she put the bill back into the box and kept it in her boudoir, treating it as her own money.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and tomorrow was the day when the emperor would visit the Imperial College in person.
The teachers reduced the amount of homework and let the students review on their own.
Everyone was a little restless, wondering who had brought in a hidden "banned book". While there were no classes in the school, illustrated books were passed around among the students, accompanied by giggles and whispers.
"This... wow, this is eye-opening!"
"You actually read this in school. It's completely disregarding moral principles and is outrageous and disrespectful! Where are the rites, where is the sense of honor, where are the books?"
“…”
The book of calligraphy and painting was passed around and suddenly flew onto Zhang Jingxuan's desk.
"Where did it spread? Where did it spread?"
"At Brother Zhang's place!"
Zhang Jingxuan turned a page, and a white body in an obscene posture came into view. He lowered his eyes to glance at the page, but before he could react, someone entered the school at the door.
He looked up at the person who came, closed the album of calligraphy and painting without changing his expression, and quickly put it under his elbow.
Xue Yuanyin was a little nervous today. As soon as she arrived at the school, she paid special attention to Zhang Jingxuan's condition. Unexpectedly, he was staring at her. He looked very relaxed and was not affected by the upcoming invigilation test at all. He didn't even take out the book!
Then he calmly lowered his head, took out a book whose purpose he didn't know, spread it out on the table, and flipped through it casually.
Xue Yuanyin was jealous.
How can he be so good-tempered!
She walked over to his desk and deliberately provoked him, "The exam is about to start, what are you looking at?"
"nothing."
Zhang Jingxuan covered the book with his elbow, slowly pulled it out with his other hand, and calmly and quickly threw it into the bookcase at his feet.
Xue Yuanyin stared at his movements suspiciously, then glanced at the other classmates who had avoided her sight at the same time, feeling that they were hiding something from her.
But before she could figure it out, Zhang Jingxuan reached out to cover the bookcase, lifted his shirt and stood up and said:
"I went to the library."
Xue Yuanyin watched him walk away.
No, he actually has the time to work hard secretly at this time!
She had to admit that she was a little bit inferior in mentality. Thinking that today was her last day in Ruxing Hall, she became nervous in front of the book.
When she was nervous, she liked to fold things to distract herself. Soon she was sitting at the desk and folding a bunch of kites with old manuscript paper.
After the morning classes were over and everyone was preparing to go to the cafeteria, Zhang Jingxuan finally came in from the library. Xue Yuanyin looked up from a pile of paper mandarin ducks and met Zhang Jingxuan's eyes.
In the past, Xue Yuanyin would always look away, but this time, she wanted to know what he had done, so she stared at him without moving.
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at the paper mandarin ducks on her desk, raised his brows slightly, and said, "Xue Xueyou is really leisurely and elegant."
Knowing that he couldn't produce ivory, Xue Yuanyin didn't want to pay any attention to him.
Zhang Jingxuan's gaze lingered on the nearly crumpled exam paper in her hands, and he spoke for the first time, "Your policy essay had a wrong approach to the topic, so you haven't figured out how to revise it. Why not rewrite it with a different theme, such as people's livelihood?"
Xue Yuanyin was stunned and looked down at his own article. Although he had indeed struggled with it for a long time and felt that it was not well written, it was still not too crooked, right?
He has never had good intentions. This time he probably wants to provoke her. Tomorrow is the day when the emperor comes to the Imperial College. Who knows if he deliberately said something wrong to confuse her.
Xue Yuanyin retorted unhappily, "I'm not like you, working hard in the library behind people's backs. I'll go find the doctor to help me with my doubts after class, so I don't need your fake kindness."
Zhang Jingxuan seemed speechless for a moment before he said, "No."
Xue Yuanyin: “?”
Zhang Jingxuan said calmly, "I didn't go to the library to study hard. I went to look up some other books."
Xue Yuanyin subconsciously asked, "What kind of literature?"
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her and said, "It's the route to Ximing Garden."
Ximing Garden? The palace where His Majesty would go to escape the summer heat, Ximing Garden?
Before Xue Yuanyin could understand why he suddenly said this, a voice beside her interrupted with a hint of sarcasm: "Zhang Jingxuan, have you read that book? What do you think?"
The man looked up and saw Xue Yuanyin, coughed a few times, and quickly stopped talking.
Xue Yuanyin stared at the scene without blinking.
She was now certain that this group of people were working hard in secret but hiding it from her!
She wanted to know what they were secretly learning!
"Is there anything you can't tell me?" Xue Yuanyin raised her eyebrows slightly and snorted, "Tell me the truth!"
The man coughed twice again, then laughed it off and said it was nothing.
Looking at Zhang Jingxuan again, he had no intention of answering and ignored her question.
After asking questions to no avail, Xue Yuanyin became even more suspicious and secretly glanced at Zhang Jingxuan's bookcase.
Could it be that he secretly brought some secret book home to review?
When Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan passed by her, she deliberately stretched her shoulders and tripped him. Sure enough, the book box in Zhang Jingxuan's hand shook, and a booklet fell out and opened to a certain page.
Xue Yuanyin looked down and saw a patch of white, tangled together.
Wait, what is this?
The classmate covered his eyes, unable to bear to look at the scene before him.
Xue Yuanyin took a while to react and finally understood what it was.
she:"……"
Xue Yuanyin was stunned for a moment, not expecting to see something like this. Then, with a look of disbelief and a complicated expression, she shouted to Zhang Jingxuan:
"Zhang Xueyou, your pornographic picture fell down!"
The whole room was silent for a moment.
Zhang Jingxuan looked down, then picked it up without changing his expression as he faced everyone's gazes: "Got it."
He immediately handed it to the man next to him, glanced at him lightly, and said, "Take it."
The classmate quickly slipped away with the small banned book.
Xue Yuanyin was still immersed in shock. When she came to her senses, Zhang Jingxuan had already turned around and was about to leave.
She quickly called out to him, saying in disbelief, "You're reading this kind of book in broad daylight in school?!"
Zhang Jingxuan stopped and looked back at her. His handsome face was speechless for a moment before he said, "It's not my book."
Xue Yuanyin couldn't find any words to refute.
No, what does this have to do with him openly looking at pornographic pictures?
But Zhang Jingxuan didn't explain any further and turned away.
However, Zhang Zimo, who was following behind, had a complicated expression and his eyes shifted between the two of them, as if he had misunderstood something.
After they left, Xue Yuanyin's anger rose slightly, and he said to Gao Songlin who was watching the excitement beside him:
"Is he provoking me? He openly peeked at the forbidden book before the exam. Is that a provocation? Or does he think that supervising the exam tomorrow is no problem and that I'm not a concern?"
Gao Songlin, who hadn't seen the whole thing, spoke frankly, "I think you're overthinking it. It's normal for us to secretly look at something here. Although it's certainly rude and shouldn't be brought to school, didn't he say the booklet wasn't his?"
After a pause, he said seriously: "Zhang Jingxuan is a gentleman, not as despicable as you think."
Xue Yuanyin left him angrily.
What's wrong with this guy? Instead of helping his friend, he speaks for his opponent. She wants to unilaterally have a cold war with him for the whole afternoon!
Then he thought again, he didn't expect Zhang Jingxuan to be such a person in private, secretly reading banned books.
It seems he's not as calm and composed as the Foreign Minister. He's so obsessed with desire, he's not a gentleman!
-
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was their last afternoon in Ruxing Hall.
There is no more homework to do. The doctors will examine and evaluate them later and present them to His Majesty tomorrow.
Everyone was a little reluctant to leave, and the classroom was exceptionally quiet.
Xue Yuanyin waited anxiously, but Dr. Jiang came in without any examination and evaluation books. Instead, he said:
"There are no exams or rankings today. You are all the most outstanding young people in the capital. In this final lecture, I will give you a test that does not require you to answer immediately."
Everyone was waiting for him to talk about the test questions, but Dr. Jiang didn't continue to give questions or impart books. Instead, he slowly talked about irrelevant things.
Looking at the present from the past, from high up in the government to being a free and unrestrained wanderer, from the emperor governing the country to the people's livelihood, from how to behave in the world, from the surroundings to oneself.
Finally, he finally revealed the title - Gentleman.
Dr. Jiang first said:
"Ancient sages said, 'A gentleman can accomplish anything.' Gentlemen are the pillars of a nation and the role models of the world. You are all young men in the prime of life, with lofty ideals and a broad mind. You are truly the heroes of our time. One day you will establish yourself in the world, supporting the state and benefiting the people. You can also cultivate your character, return to your true nature, and discover your true heart."*
After a short pause, he assigned the lesson:
"Today, I invite you to discuss the topic of 'gentlemen'. Regarding the gentleman's self-discipline, the gentleman's virtues, the ways in which gentlemen interact with one another, how a gentleman can assist a wise ruler and rectify the government, or how one can truly become the gentleman the sages envision... Feel free to express your thoughts and ideas. I will give you one day. Tomorrow, after His Majesty has completed the examination and you leave the Ruxing Hall, write an essay as your response to the question."
As soon as Dr. Jiang left, the crowd below immediately burst into an uproar.
This topic is undoubtedly difficult to write about, as it involves many aspects and it is difficult to grasp the intention. No wonder the doctor generously gave me a whole day to think about it.
Gao Songlin sat behind Xue Yuanyin, feeling overwhelmed. He held the ink pen but didn't know where to start, so he complained to her:
"How do I write this? How can I write this well? The definition of a gentleman is too broad! Even the imperial examination essays aren't this difficult!"
This was the first time Xue Yuanyin had heard such a broad and complex exam question. She was momentarily confused and replied:
"I can't even imagine what a gentleman is like, let alone write an article about it."
After she finished speaking, the first thought that flashed through her mind was Zhang Jingxuan's jade-like face with dark eyebrows.
A young man from an aristocratic family, he is gentle and modest; his demeanor is calm, elegant and unrestrained.
This must be about people like him.
Realizing what he was thinking, Xue Yuanyin shook his head violently, driving his figure out of his mind.
It was really confusing, what did she want him to do!
-
The sound of cicadas chirping can be heard faintly in the summer season, and the day when the emperor will set out for Ximing Garden to escape the summer heat is approaching.
The news that the emperor was personally visiting the Imperial College and wanted to select young people from the Ratexing Hall to accompany him also spread in the capital.
The capital was bustling with activity early in the morning. Some people with ulterior motives set up a gambling game to see who would take first place in the examination supervised by the emperor.
Xue Yuanyin was one of the most heavily bet on, even seemingly rivaling Zhang Jingxuan. As a woman inheriting the throne, shouldering the responsibilities of a prominent figure, and even entering the Imperial College, any of these achievements would be commendable, leading to considerable support for her.
Xue Yuanyin asked Gao Songlin to secretly place a bet for her, but she didn't expect that after placing a bet on her, Gao Songlin placed two bets on Zhang Jingxuan, under the pretext of not wanting to return empty-handed.
Xue Yuanyin: “…”
She knew that he was just afraid that she would lose money if she lost!
The examination hall was located in the Biyong Hall of the Imperial College, which was located in the center of the college. It was square and spacious and could accommodate a thousand people.
The emperor had not arrived yet, and the students of Suixing Hall were lining up to touch the Aotou statue at the entrance before the examination, which meant "to be the best". Xue Yuanyin had been holding back his anger for a long time, and rubbed the shiny Aotou repeatedly and vigorously.
She must avenge her previous humiliation today and make sure he never dares to look away from her again!
After touching the Aotou, thirty students from Shuexingtang came to the Biyong Hall to wait. The exam was quite grand, and the students were slightly separated and sat in two groups.
Xue Yuanyin deservedly became the leader of the Prince of Yu's party and was given an important task by everyone: "Xue Ling, our hopes are all placed on you. This time you must beat that kid from the Zhang family!"
Xue Yuanyin agreed solemnly and glanced at Zhang Jingxuan who was surrounded by a group of people not far away. It was obvious that as the leader of the princelings, he was also entrusted with an important task.
The emperor arrived at this time, and everyone knelt down to welcome him.
The current emperor, just over forty, in the prime of his life, walked to the center of the hall and sat solemnly, his demeanor dignified. He glanced at the many people in formal attire below him, then turned his gaze to the Imperial College's chief academic officer and nodded, "Begin."
The white-haired chief priest presided over the meeting personally. He first started with a debate topic to warm up. The topic was "A white horse is not a horse". In front of the emperor, it was not appropriate for everyone to be too confrontational, but some verbal battles were inevitable.
The emperor, who was sitting in the center, nodded slightly and said, "Not bad."
Xue Yuanyin took a furtive glance and thought to herself, "Isn't the Emperor here to select outstanding young men to accompany him?" His reaction was more subdued than she had imagined.
Could it be that his current performance doesn't seem impressive enough to him?
The procedures and content of the examination were determined by the emperor. It was unrealistic to complete the examination paper honestly in one day. The most effective method was to draw lots.
Each pair would compete on two of the Four Books and Five Classics and the Six Arts. The great Confucian scholars, civil servants and ritual officers beside the emperor would set the questions on the spot, and it would be quickly clear what the academic level of the thirty people was.
There were even students who were competing in archery and sparring with military officers in the open space outside the Biyong Hall.
The emperor watched indifferently from beginning to end, occasionally offering words of encouragement, but otherwise saying nothing more.
This makes it even harder to guess what he is thinking.
The atmosphere was at its highest point. I don't know if the eunuch who drew the lots had burned incense with both hands on purpose or what, but it was just such a coincidence that he pulled the wooden plaques with Xue Ling and Zhang Jingxuan's names out of the bamboo tube at the same time.
Under the questioning gaze of the chief eunuch, the emperor lowered his gaze from behind his crown and nodded after a moment, saying, "Approved."
There were shouts from the hall!
The most handsome young man in the capital, and a girl who is as brave as any man, the fight between the two tigers is an open contest between the Prince's Party and the Prince of Yu's Party.
The scene everyone has been waiting for has arrived!
The author has something to say:
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*Extended reference to the ancient sages’ understanding and interpretation of gentlemen.
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Updated with the ranking list (occasionally every other day)
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