Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 337 The girl is pregnant

The next morning.

As Lu Beigu was reading aloud in his usual morning at the Imperial College, there was a knock on the gate.

Standing outside the door was a junior official familiar with the prison. He said respectfully, "Young Master Lu, Scholar Yang requests your presence. He says that an additional examination has been temporarily added to the prison, and all students must go to the hall immediately to take the test."

Lu Beigu was slightly taken aback.

The provincial examination has just passed, and the palace examination has not yet arrived. It is really abrupt to add an examination at this time. Moreover, the Imperial Academy is so small that there are hardly any people who have passed the preliminary examination. They are usually too lazy to organize examinations. What is the point of testing them now?
However, since it was Yang Anguo's request, Lu Beigu had to make time to attend.

After all, Yang Anguo had nothing but praise for him.

Moreover, no matter how promising his future might be, he was still a student at the Imperial Academy's Guangwen Hall at this time, and he had to abide by the rules within the Imperial Academy.

Lu Beigu put down his book, straightened his blue robe, and followed the clerk out the door.

As I passed through the passageway shaded by ancient cypress trees, I saw many students hurrying along, all with similar expressions of confusion on their faces.

It wasn't until he saw the dozens of examination papers that had been temporarily set up in the hall, and the students lying down behind them catching up on their sleep, that he suddenly realized what was happening.

—It must have been Yang Anguo who arranged the "Supervisor" exam for him on a whim!

As expected.

Before long, several officials from the Imperial Academy escorted the high-ranking official in purple robes to the outside of the hall.

Yang Anguo was all set up today, his long white beard meticulously combed. He walked to the chair set up in the hall and sat down, intending to personally supervise the entire examination!
Zhou Dunyi stood on one side with two teaching assistants, who were the chief examiner and co-examiner in charge of the examination.

Inside and outside the hall, only the soft rustling of the spring breeze through the old cypress branches and the snoring of some students could be heard.

Seeing that most of the people had arrived, Yang Anguo coughed loudly, waking up the students who were taking a nap. He then announced loudly, "Today's examination will be conducted according to the old system of the Imperial Academy. The examination questions will be personally drafted by Dr. Zhou: five questions on classical texts, five questions on calligraphy, one poem, one essay, three questions on current affairs, and one argumentative essay. You will have two hours. Everyone must give it your all."

This is a real hardship for the sons of officials who never study at all.

You can't hand in a blank paper for this exam. Even if you don't know the answer, you have to bite the bullet and write something.

After the exam began, Yang Anguo sat upright in his chair, his gaze slowly sweeping across the room. The students were either frowning in deep thought or lost in their own world, their writing mostly hesitant and sloppy, revealing a sense of perfunctory work.

However, the scene before Lu Beigu's desk was quite different.

He held his wrist and wielded the brush with a steady posture, the ink spreading across the paper like flowing clouds and water.

Although still somewhat bewildered by being suddenly pulled into the exam, once she put pen to paper, her solid foundation naturally emerged, the article became increasingly well-organized, and the tone was calm and composed.

Although Lu Beigu knew that this exam was specially arranged by Yang Anguo to enhance his resume, he did not take it lightly at all.

After all, for Lu Beigu, having a chance to warm up before the palace examination was a good thing.

Moreover, Zhou Dunyi and Song Tang, who were in charge of setting the questions, were all highly skilled. This time, they also intended to give him some practice. Therefore, although there were fewer questions than in a normal exam, the questions were not easy. They were of moderate difficulty, and it would still take a lot of effort to answer them carefully.

Yang Anguo stroked his beard and observed quietly, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

His bottom was getting a little numb from sitting, so he would sometimes get up and pace around, lightly tapping a table with his ruler, startling a student who was dozing off. At other times, he would pause for a moment beside Lu Beigu, not saying a word, but his focused gaze was enough for the surrounding officials to understand.

As the sun rose higher, it was finally time to wrap up the book.

The minor officials stepped forward to collect the exam papers, and the students, as if granted a pardon, got up to stretch their stiff limbs before leaving.

Yang Anguo then walked toward Lu Beigu, who was tidying up his writing implements.

The solemn expression on his face had quietly melted away, and his usual wide, toothy smile reappeared.

"Bei Gu."

His voice was full of warmth, and he patted Lu Beigu's shoulder and arm affectionately with one hand.

"I summoned you here in haste today without prior notice, please forgive my abruptness."

Lu Beigu quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Scholar, you flatter me. I just don't know about today's exam..."

"Eh!"

Yang Anguo interrupted with a smile, pointing to the empty examination papers around him: "Look at these good-for-nothing students of the Imperial Academy, not a single one of them is capable of being developed, so it has been a long time since they have organized an examination."

He then sighed, “However, according to the old custom, there was a ‘Jianyuan’ in the internal examinations of the Imperial Academy, but the title of ‘Jianyuan’ has been vacant for many years. However, since you come from the Guangwen Hall of the Imperial Academy and have now become the top scholar in the province, how can such an honor not be given a corresponding title to reflect your glory? I think it is the right time to revive the old system!”

"Dr. Zhou, please start grading the papers quickly."

The work of Zhou Dunyi, Song Tang, and others in grading the papers was actually very simple; there was not much to grade. The vast majority of the papers submitted were utter nonsense, and only a few that could barely answer some questions were also poorly written.

Therefore, Lu Beigu unsurprisingly ranked first in the Imperial Academy.

"Although this examination was somewhat rushed, the rules and format were strictly followed. We have all seen your exam paper; it is clear, solid, and well-organized. It is no surprise that you stood out from the crowd. You are undoubtedly the 'Top Scholar' of the second year of the Jiayou era!"

After speaking, Yang Anguo didn't wait for Lu Beigu's response and loudly ordered his men, "Post a notice immediately!"

Lu Beigu stood aside, knowing that Yang Anguo wanted to use him as the prestigious name of the Imperial Academy, but he was happy to see it happen.

After this period of preparation, in the bustling places of Kaifeng, such as the Zhouqiao Night Market, Maxing Street, the teahouses outside Zhuque Gate, and the area around Daxiangguo Temple, well-informed idlers, storytellers, or seemingly casual tea drinkers began to vividly spread the story of the fierce confrontation that had taken place in the Dongyulin Lane restaurant not long ago.

The reason it only came to light today is not because the Imperial City Guard couldn't do it, but because they were waiting for progress in the diplomatic arena.

The dispute over the demarcation of the Quye River has entered a crucial stage after several days of negotiations between the Song and Xia dynasties.

Therefore, in order to gain an advantage at the negotiating table, Lu Beigu's defeat of Xu Shunqing became a public opinion card played by the Song Dynasty.

The core of the story is naturally the arrogant provocation of Xia envoy Xu Shunqing and his eventual humiliation of being unable to find a reason to speak. The scene of provincial scholar Lu Beigu facing danger without fear and writing "On Heroes" with his pen, refuting fallacies with every word, is described in great detail.

Lu Beigu's "On Heroes" was copied and circulated widely, while Xu Shunqing's "On Heroes" became a laughing stock. Even children on the streets could recite a few lines like "The spirit of a man is not different because of his fame or obscurity." As for aphorisms such as "If you hold fast to your principles, Mount Tai will not move; if you hold fast to your principles, metal and stone will not be taken away" and "Alas, you men, be careful in what you do," they quickly spread among scholars and citizens.

It can only be said that the Imperial City Guard's covert efforts were perfectly timed, both arousing the people's indignation and greatly satisfying their love for tales of talented scholars and diplomatic rivalries, and also shaping Lu Beigu's image into a noble and positive one.

In a short time, Lu Beigu's reputation soared even higher, winning widespread praise not only for his talent and learning but also for his integrity and moral character.

This wave of public opinion, quietly guided by the authorities and flourishing among the common people, became a powerful force for the Song Dynasty to occupy the moral and public opinion high ground in this diplomatic game between Song and Xia.

Xu Shunqing originally intended to stir up trouble, but by a twist of fate, he instead presented the Song Dynasty with an excellent opportunity to promote its national prestige and unite the people, which was probably something he had not anticipated.

The western post station of Duting was where the Xia Kingdom delegation was staying. At this moment, Xu Shunqing stood in the hall with his head bowed, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead, dripping down his temples onto the floor, but he dared not raise his hand to wipe it away.

He was still wearing the magnificent robes that signified his status as an envoy, but they felt like heavy shackles, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

A voice broke the silence, cold and harsh, with the strange intonation unique to Tangut nobles speaking Chinese.

"Xu Shunqing".

Xu Shunqing lowered his head even further, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

"How dare a mere Song Dynasty scholar, a mere child, trample on the face of my Great Xia in front of so many people?"

The speaker was Yeli Mang, a nobleman of the Tangut people. He was the chief envoy of the second delegation and came from the Yeli clan.

Ye Li Mang's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger: "Where is your literary talent that you were so proud of? Has it all been eaten by dogs?"

He suddenly stood up and walked over to Xu Shunqing.

"Did the Prime Minister send you here to embarrass yourself? You actually let that brat surnamed Lu use this incident to make a name for himself? You've done a truly 'brilliant' job!"

Xu Shunqing's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word in his defense.

Every scene in the restaurant was like a brand of shame, burning deeply on his nerves.

Lu Beigu's young and handsome face, his powerful rebuttal, and the subsequent laughter and disdain from the Song Dynasty students seemed to transform into countless fine needles, piercing his heart and leaving it riddled with holes.

Yeli Mang looked at him with even greater disdain.

He snorted coldly, sat back down, and softened his tone slightly: "This matter cannot be left like this! The dignity of my Great Xia is not something anyone can easily infringe upon. However, the timing is not right now. Killing that brat will bring big trouble, and the Song Kingdom is just looking for an excuse to retaliate. But this anger must be vented!"

He paused, then looked at Xu Shunqing with the cunning of a jackal: "He has to pay a price, to make him remember what happens when he offends the Great Xia. And this will also allow you to atone for your sins."

Xu Shunqing suddenly looked up, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Please instruct me!"

Yeli Mang leaned forward, his voice extremely low: "Find an opportunity to cripple his pen-holding hand. Make sure he can never write those seductive articles again in his life! Remember, do it cleanly, and absolutely do not implicate the mission."

Xu Shunqing's heart pounded, and he nodded heavily, accepting the task.

Once I got back to my room...

"Somebody come!"

He suddenly looked up, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

From the shadows, a Tangut warrior dressed in Song Dynasty attire, but with prominent cheekbones, stepped forward in response; he was his bodyguard.

This man was specially recruited by Xu Shunqing. Although he was not skilled in riding and archery, he was good at close combat and was usually responsible for protecting Xu Shunqing's safety.

“I heard that Lu Beigu often spends time in a shop called ‘Chengmingzhai’.”

Xu Shunqing instructed, "It's not easy to do it in the Imperial Academy, so go there and break his hand cleanly."

The Tangut warrior bowed and accepted the order, then silently withdrew.

At this time, the palace was under lockdown.

Princess Fukang, Zhao Huirou, was leaning against the couch by the window, her fingertips unconsciously fiddling with the hanging tassels.

The spring sunshine outside the window was beautiful, and a few sparrows chirped in the crabapple tree in the courtyard, but it did nothing to dispel the faint look of unease between her brows, a unease that even she herself was not fully aware of.

After returning from Shaoshi Mountain that day, she had carefully put the plain paper with the poem "Partridge Sky" into a sandalwood box. However, the scene described in the poem, "Her cloud-like hair half-conceals the startled swan's shadow, and the golden threads suddenly flutter among the embroidered butterflies," as well as the melancholy of "The pine shade turns and the fragrant trace is lost," would occasionally surface in her heart.

What stirred her thoughts even more was the recent whispers circulating in the palace about the essay "On Heroes".

Her father seemed to approve of the article, and the name kept coming to her ears. He could not only write historical essays and elegant and graceful lyrics, but also compose such powerful and resounding articles that refuted the Xia envoy.

"Has the princess heard the story of Lu Shengyuan refuting the Xia envoy?"

A personal maid brought over a freshly brewed cup of honey-infused kumquat tea. Seeing her lost in thought, she asked softly with a smile.

She had served Zhao Huirou since childhood and understood the princess's thoughts best.

Zhao Huirou came to her senses, her cheeks slightly flushed, and spat lightly: "Don't talk nonsense. I just think this person has some talent. It's quite rare that he was able to suppress the arrogance of the Xia envoy."

The maid gently placed the teacup on the small table beside her and smiled, "If the princess is truly curious and wishes to see this talented scholar who is famous throughout Tokyo, there is a way."

"I was with my father during the palace examination, so I was naturally able to see him."

Zhao Huirou picked up her teacup, using the rising steam to conceal her expression.

"What can one truly see during the palace examination, separated by layers of imperial ranks and officials?"

The maid leaned closer and lowered her voice even further: "I heard that this Lu Shengyuan recently opened a new shop called 'Chengmingzhai'."

"Chengmingzhai?" Zhao Huirou raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where is that?"

"They say they specialize in a strange item called 'glasses,' which can help those with poor eyesight see clearly. It's quite popular among the old officials and nobles in the capital these days; even the wealthy and powerful have gotten them."

The maid explained, "I've heard that no matter who it is, whether they are high-ranking officials or commoners, if they want to get those glasses made, they have to go to the shop in person so that the shop owner can carefully measure their eyes and examine their vision in order to make them fit properly. Princess, don't you think this is a good opportunity to meet them openly and honestly?"

Zhao Huirou's heart skipped a beat.

The idea was so bold it startled her, yet it also carried an indescribable allure.

It is no longer a fleeting glimpse through a carriage and jeweled banners, nor is it a vague imagination through poems and articles.

Instead, it allows us to truly see, in broad daylight, what the young man who wrote "In my youth I did not understand the meaning of the spring mountains, yet I said the beauty was like a painting" really looked like, and what kind of demeanor he had.

She ran her fingertips over the warm porcelain cup, lost in thought.

Spring sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled light and shadow on her delicate features, and also revealing a hint of eager anticipation quietly emerging in her eyes.

Perhaps we should really go and take a look?

(End of this chapter)