Sending students to the exam
On a chilly February morning, even the breath exhaled would condense into frost.
The area in front of the West Mountain Villa was already bustling with people, dispelling some of the chill. The carriage was already harnessed and waiting nearby. Little Stone, dressed in a clean and crisp, slightly worn blue robe, had a calm expression, but his hands, unconsciously gripping the straps of his satchel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white, betrayed his inner tension.
Shen Yan slapped Xiao Shitou on the shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy.
"You brat, come back with the top score in the imperial examination! Then I'll be able to walk with my head held high in the capital!"
Little Stone winced as he was slapped, but his initial tension dissipated, and he said helplessly, "Dad, you should think about what Grandpa Yang scolded you about yesterday."
"Hey! You little brat!" Shen Yan glared.
Yang Sijian stroked his beard and smiled, "Brother Yu, just do your best and have a clear conscience."
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats grew louder. Little Bull, dressed in the sleek uniform of an imperial guard, reined in his horse, dismounted nimbly, and beamed with a hearty laugh: "Luckily we made it! Brother Yu, let Brother Bull see you in!"
"Brother Niu!" Shen Xing and Shen Chen cheered and surrounded him.
The little bull brothers smiled and turned to Ling Zhan and Shen Yan, saying, "Father, Mother, I asked for an hour's leave. I'll go back after dropping off Yu-di."
Ling Zhan nodded slightly. Shen Yan chuckled, "Good lad, that's a good friend! Perfect, the more the merrier, let's go together!"
So the whole family set off in a grand procession to the Imperial Examination Hall, located near the capital city.
The closer one gets to the examination hall, the denser the crowds become. All sorts of carriages and sedan chairs clog the streets, filled with students coming to take the exam and their families seeing them off. The air is thick with tension, anticipation, and whispered words of advice.
The Shen family's carriage finally found a relatively open spot to stop. As soon as the group got off, they heard a commotion ahead. A procession of ceremonial guards led the way, and a group of people escorted an extremely luxurious carriage as it approached.
"It's His Highness the Prince of Changyi's carriage!" someone exclaimed softly, like a pebble thrown into water.
The surrounding noise instantly subsided, and the crowd retreated to both sides like a tide, lowering their eyes, and a cautious awe filled the air.
The carriage stopped in an open space not far from the gate of the examination hall. The curtain was lifted, and Changyi King Wei Jie, dressed in a dark purple robe with a coiled dragon pattern, stepped out of the carriage with a gentle smile. He paid no attention to the gazes around him, but turned around and personally helped a young scholar down from the carriage. The scholar, dressed in a brocade robe, had a somewhat arrogant expression on his face; he was none other than Grand Secretary Jiang's grandson.
"Zhiheng, there's no need to be nervous. With your talent, passing the imperial examination is to be expected."
The King of Changyi's voice was not loud, but it was enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly, and his appreciation and closeness were undisguised. Jiang Zhiheng bowed and said, "Thank you for your encouragement, Your Highness. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
This scene of "treating scholars with respect" has different meanings in the eyes of many candidates and their families.
Envy, jealousy, flattery... all sorts of emotions flowed silently among the crowd.
On the Shen family's side, Shen Xing and Shen Chen didn't look at the Jiang family student at all, but stared intently at the attire of the attendants behind the King of Changyi—they were clearly wearing standard leather armor and carrying swords of naval officers, looking very imposing.
"Father! Mother! Look!" Shen Chen excitedly tugged at Shen Yan's sleeve. "It's the Prince's navy! How majestic!" Shen Xing also nodded vigorously, his little face shining, and blurted out, "Your Highness! Is your navy still recruiting? We want to sign up!"
His voice was exceptionally clear in the suddenly quiet environment.
Upon hearing this, the King of Changyi turned his head and looked over Shen Yan and Ling Zhan. His smile deepened, carrying a condescending kindness: "Oh? The two young masters of Lord Shen's family? As expected, like father, like son. At such a young age, they already have the ambition to serve the court and roam the seas. Rare indeed!"
He took a few steps forward, ignoring Shen Yan's momentarily stiff expression.
He continued gently, "My navy is eager for talent. Since the two young masters have this intention, I will certainly..."
"Your Highness."
Shen Yan quickly interrupted, pulling her two silly sons behind her, her face plastered with her usual slightly exaggerated smile, "Children's nonsense, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously! They're not even fully grown yet, wouldn't they just be causing you trouble if they went to the navy? Besides, this matter needs their mother's approval first."
He cleverly passed the ball to Ling Zhan, who remained silent to the side.
The King of Changyi turned his gaze to Ling Zhan, his smile unchanged, but now tinged with a hint of inquiry: "What does Lady Ling think? I can send someone to carefully instruct the two young masters, ensuring they are not mistreated. It's always good for a man to have ambitions beyond his hometown and to strive for a better future."
All eyes were on Ling Zhan.
Today, she was dressed in a simple riding outfit, standing among a group of richly dressed nobles, yet she did not appear inferior in the slightest; on the contrary, she possessed a cold and aloof air that seemed out of place. She had been silently watching and listening, and finally raised her eyes to calmly meet the gaze of the King of Changyi. Her eyes showed no evasion or flattery, as cold and clear as the chilly morning wind.
She spoke slowly, her voice clear and calm, yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over her two eager sons before finally settling on the face of the King of Changyi.
"If they really want to join the army, I might as well train them myself."
As soon as the words were spoken, the surrounding air seemed to freeze. The smile on the King of Changyi's face instantly froze, leaving only a cold, stiff expression. He clearly hadn't expected such a response, so direct, even rude, rejection of his "goodwill," and in an almost contemptuous manner—
She came to train? A woman? To train an elite navy?
However, Ling Zhan's imposing presence made it impossible for anyone to immediately refute him.
Her matter-of-fact manner made it seem as if she were stating something perfectly natural.
Shen Yan's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, "This is bad," but his smile widened as he quickly tried to smooth things over: "Oh dear! Your Highness, please don't take offense. My wife just feels sorry for the children and doesn't want them to suffer! I'll give her a good talking to later! It's getting late, Your Highness, you must be busy! Brother Zhiheng, I wish you success in the imperial examination!"
While laughing it off, he subtly tugged at Ling Zhan and then winked at Yang Sijian and Xiao Manniu.
A fleeting hint of displeasure flashed in the eyes of the King of Changyi, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, he maintained his composure, gave Ling Zhan a meaningful look, and said indifferently, "In that case, I will not interfere further." After saying that, he turned and gave Jiang Zhiheng a few more words of encouragement before walking towards the main gate of the examination hall, surrounded by guards.
Little Stone took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to his family: "Father, Mother, Uncle Yang, Big Brother, I'm going in."
“Go!” Ling Zhan nodded.
Watching Xiao Shitou's figure merge into the crowd of examinees and disappear into the gates of the examination hall, Shen Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, leaned closer to Ling Zhan, and whispered, "Madam, you really dared to say that just now..."
Ling Zhan's gaze remained fixed on the direction of the examination hall, his tone flat: "Just telling the truth."
On the other side, Shen Xing and Shen Chen were still whispering to each other: "Mother's scolding is fine... but the prince's warship is definitely bigger..."
The little bull looked serious and whispered, "Father, Mother, His Highness the Prince of Changyi seems to be... paying special attention to our family."
Yang Sijian sighed softly, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. Let's go back first."
In the morning light, the gates of the examination hall slowly closed, separating the future and destiny of hundreds of students from the outside world.
Shen Xing and Shen Chen were still immersed in their conversation, muttering to themselves with regret: "But... the prince's warship must be huge and impressive... when Mother scolds us, we can only ride horses in the training ground..."
Upon hearing this, Ling Zhan did not stop walking, his gaze remaining fixed straight ahead.
The voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of his two sons clearly, carrying an almost calm arrogance:
"Warships?" She tilted her head slightly and glanced at the two ignorant young men.
"If you can demonstrate the determination and ability worth investing in through my training camp—"
"What kind of warship can't our Shen family build?"
Upon hearing this, not only Shen Xing and Chen Chen were stunned, but even the little bull standing beside them widened its eyes in surprise. Only Shen Yan and Yang Sijian, who had seen the ingenious new loom and many "trinkets" at home, instantly showed expressions of deep agreement on their faces.
He raised an eyebrow, disliking the peach blossoms.
The slight frustration caused by the King of Changyi was immediately replaced by overwhelming pride. He slapped his chest forcefully, his voice becoming louder: "That's right! Your mother is right! It's just a boat, isn't it? As long as you two little brats are really tough and can withstand your mother's training, I'll sell everything I own to build you the biggest and strongest boat! I guarantee it will be ten times more impressive than that damned king's wrecked boat! Our family's craftsmen are not to be trifled with!"
Yang Sijian stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with wisdom and certainty. He nodded slightly and added in a steady tone, "Xing-ge'er, Chen-ge'er, your mother is not speaking recklessly. A skilled craftsman must first have the right tools. The Shen family certainly has the capability. Perhaps we can ask Madam to draw up the plans. I also know several master shipbuilders hidden in Liaodong, who have unique expertise in keel selection and sail design. The ships they build will be like dragons of the sea, far superior to ordinary warships."
Shen Xing and Shen Chen were stunned by this sudden and bold statement. They blinked and tried to process the information, which was far beyond their imagination.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Shen Chen pointed at Shen Yan and bluntly exposed him: "Dad, you're bragging again! That little painted boat you secretly bought a few days ago is swaying in the lake behind the villa! Grandpa Yang even said it's just a 'pretty but useless showpiece'!"
Shen Xing immediately covered her mouth and chuckled, "Yes, yes, yes! The boat that Daddy bought himself is a broken-down boat!"
When his son exposed his shortcomings, Shen Yan blushed and immediately retorted, "Go away! What does a little brat know! That...that's not the same thing! That's art! Art! Do you understand? Your father saw that many fine carpenters and carving masters in the capital were almost starving, and I couldn't bear it! Now that our Shen family is well-off, can we just stand by and watch our ancestors' skills die out? That's called sentiment! Responsibility! It's completely different from those iron lumps used in war! When it comes to building warships, see if your father will even blink!"
The more he talked, the more convinced he became of his point, raising his chin high.
Ling Zhan listened to the childish argument between the father and his sons behind him, and the corners of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly.
She quickly regained her usual aloofness and simply said, "I'm leaving."
Yang Sijian looked at the noisy father and son and shook his head helplessly.
Her eyes were full of smiles as she followed Ling Zhan's footsteps.
Watching this scene, the little bull felt a slight light in his heart, which was heavy with the emperor's deteriorating health. This strange, reassuring warmth from his family softened his mood somewhat. He smiled and put his arms around his two younger brothers: "Alright, alright, Dad is just thinking about the craftsmen. If you really want to get on the big ship, you'll have to get past Mom first!"
The family walked toward the carriage, making a racket and oblivious to everyone else.
He left all the commotion, scheming, and complicated gazes outside the examination hall behind.
The morning light grew stronger.
Their shadows stretched long and intertwined closely.
It is so solid that it seems impossible for any wind or rain to break it.
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