On this day, Prime Minister Wan Nian entered the Wenchang Pavilion and posted a framed article, with the author's signature obscured, on the Wenchang List. He then spread the word, inviting scholars and merchants from all walks of life in the Southern Chen Kingdom to read the article and give it a score.
Upon hearing the news, the students of Tingquan Villa flocked to read it.
The article reads, "The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important." "If there are no wise ministers and capable advisors within the country, and no external enemies or threats, the country will inevitably perish. Only then can we understand that one is born in hardship and dies in comfort."
The students of Nanchen Kingdom were thrilled, and even ordinary people could read the author's emphasis on people's livelihood and the common people.
Within a month, this article was pushed to the top of the list, ranking first in terms of writing style, literary talent, and ideological conception.
On the day the results were announced, the area outside the Wenchang Pavilion was filled with all sorts of people, all eager to know who the author of the article was.
Prime Minister Wannian personally went to the Wenchang Pavilion to accept the proclamation.
The article was signed: Hu Changshi. The mysterious man who appeared out of nowhere and disappeared in an instant twenty years ago has reappeared twenty years later.
This time, Hu Changshi surpassed himself and remained at the top of the list.
What puzzled Prime Minister Wan Nian was that this article was handed to him by Grand Tutor Li, who asked him to help solicit public opinion on it.
When Grand Tutor Li left the Prime Minister's residence, he said that Hu Changshi would naturally appear when the time was right.
The list has been posted, but no one has appeared. Wan Nian stood on the upper floor of Wenchang Pavilion, looking down at the crowd below, but no one came to claim their article.
The people downstairs were all waiting quietly for the top liberal arts student, whom they had thought would be a fleeting phenomenon but had actually been hiding among the people of Nanchen.
Everyone waited anxiously, but the person did not appear.
Suddenly, a loud cry broke the silence in front of the Wenchang Pavilion. A carriage slowly drove towards the crowd, and the baby's cry came from this carriage.
As the carriage drew closer, a booming voice could be heard soothing the baby, "Don't cry, Ruanruan, Daddy will take you to see the excitement later!"
"Ruanruan, we're about to see the most spectacular scene in the Southern Chen Kingdom."
The Prime Minister was stunned. Wasn't that the voice of Grand Tutor Li? Was he also here to wait for that mysterious person?
Wan Nian didn't think Li Ting was the type to just watch the show. Li Ting was a rough man, and his usual behavior was that of a warrior and a brute. He had never attended such a literary gathering before.
Moreover, Li Ting had led troops in battle for twenty years and had never heard of him writing articles.
The crowd parted to make way for the carriage, which stopped in front of the Wenchang Pavilion.
The carriage was simple, pulled by only two horses, but those two horses were handsome and strong, their hooves clattering on the ground.
"Ruanruan, Daddy will go downstairs to check on things first, then I'll come back and hug you."
[Hehe, even a tough guy like Daddy has a soft side!]
More and more people gathered in front of the Wenchang Pavilion. Among those who came to see the top scorer in the liberal arts exam were students, civil officials, the owner of a steamed bun shop, the manager and staff of Yunhai Tower, and even the head of the most luxurious brothel in the capital, Lady Ruyi.
Every trade that can be found in the capital is waiting here today.
After all, Hu Changshi was too legendary. He appeared briefly twenty years ago and disappeared from the public eye for the next twenty years, yet no one could surpass his literary talent.
Twenty years later, he suddenly submitted another article, surpassing himself. The news spread like wildfire throughout the capital, and the area in front of the Wenchang Pavilion was packed with onlookers.
Looking again at the carriage parked in front of the Wenchang Pavilion, the carriage itself was quite simple in design, but the horse was gleaming and robust, resembling a legendary steed capable of traveling a thousand miles.
Looking at the man who had already alighted from the carriage, someone in the crowd muttered, "Isn't that General Li?"
Immediately someone chimed in, "It is General Li. There is a sign on the carriage that says 'Li Mansion.' Besides, I saw this horse once when General Li returned to the capital three years ago."
"General Li has come to join the fun too!"
"Could General Li be Hu Changshi?"
"How could that be? General Li can fight a hundred men single-handedly, but you can't expect him to be good at pedantic writing."
"Just wait and see, the truth will come to light today."
After getting off at the station, Li Ting hung up the curtain of the carriage.
Li Xingran's impatient thoughts immediately surfaced.
[Daddy, Daddy, please carry me downstairs! I want to go down and see too!]
Hearing that soft, sweet voice, Li Ting wondered who this girl took after for her impatience.
After scanning the crowd with a stern gaze, Li Ting scooped up Li Xingran and held her firmly in his arms.
Wan Nian looked down at Li Ting, and the feeling was completely different from when she went to his residence to submit her article that day.
That day, Li Ting, dragging his lame leg, didn't say much, only sincerely asking the Prime Minister for a favor.
Today, Li Ting is full of vigor and seems to be able to do anything.
Wan Nian went downstairs and stood with Li Ting.
"Grand Tutor Li, you also have time to join in the fun today? I've heard that since you relinquished your military power, you haven't been associating with your colleagues in the capital and have been living a very lonely life!" Wan Nian still couldn't believe that Li Ting was Hu Changshi.
[For ten thousand years, you've never believed your father was the top student in the humanities. You'll be in for a world of surprise.]
"Prime Minister, today I, Li, have brought my beloved daughter to claim the top spot on the list of candidates for the civil service examination."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Fu arrived at Wenchang Pavilion in another car, bringing with him the five Li Ruizhang brothers and Xiao Sheng.
Li Ting's words just now stunned the people surrounding them.
[Haha, you got slapped in the face, didn't you? Who said my dad could only lead troops into battle and couldn't write articles? They have no sense of right from wrong!]
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