Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 50 Go Home

Zhu Chong, the son of the Deputy Envoy of the State, Lu Mingbo, the son of the River Conservancy Commissioner of Sizhou, and Song Ce all passed the imperial examination and were assigned to the Imperial Academy due to their family connections.

Although they are currently all minor officials, after a while, they will basically be promoted to the ninth rank, since they all come from very wealthy families and are legitimate sons.

Actually, there was another person in the small circle who was with them, namely Lu Mingbo's older brother, Lu Qingyan. However, he did not pass the exam, so after the results were released, he never left the house again and stopped getting together with the others.

Anyone who takes exams often knows that the most frustrating thing isn't failing, but that your partner succeeds while you don't.

But what's even more painful, the ultimate agony, is that everyone you've been with has passed the exam, except for you.

This will result in that person never being able to be called out again within the small circle.

Even if I pass the exam later, I'll still feel uneasy about it.

In fact, Lu Qingyan's academic level is quite good among these people, second only to Song Ce. But as mentioned before, this exam question requires more than just knowledge; experience is also necessary.

In this situation, reading too many books can actually lead to overthinking.

He was overthinking things, which is why he completely went off-topic.

On the contrary, Lu Mingbo, who was somewhat impatient and straightforward, unexpectedly won the lottery.

"This Imperial Academy is really boring," Lu Mingbo complained as he walked. "We've only been there for two days, and they're already making us copy books."

"What can we do?" Zhu Chong said. "Do you think it's so great to have passed the imperial examination? Remember, we're just a mere licentiate."

Some people who have just passed the civil service exam and haven't even passed the public announcement period have some very beautiful fantasies.

I wish I could prepare my slicked-back hair and administrative jacket in advance, imagining myself with my hands behind my back, surrounded by village officials as I went down to the grassroots level.

And after working for a few years, one should honestly realize – damn, I'm just a low-level employee.

The same applies to those who pass the imperial examinations.

Even a young scholar who has passed the imperial examination has only one advantage: youth.

"Even if you're both successful candidates in the imperial examinations, you might as well go to a county in the lower part of the province, work your way up in half a year, and become a ninth-rank instructor. That way, you can be in charge of the education of students in the county."

Thinking about what he was doing, Lu Mingbo complained again: "There are more ninth-rank officials at the Imperial Academy than turtles in our moat. They have to bow their heads to everyone."

"You're not even a ninth-rank yet, and you're already spouting nonsense here. Be careful, or your senior brothers in the prison will hear you and give you a good beating."

After making a joke, Zhu Chong sighed and said, "But we still have to pass the imperial examination, otherwise we'll have to rely on our fathers to get a high-ranking official position."

"You dare to dream of becoming a Jinshi? My neighbor's older brother was called a child prodigy by his uncles when he was young. Later, he entered the Ministry of Agriculture and kept taking the exams until he was almost forty, and he still hadn't passed." Lu Mingbo waved his hand, not giving much hope.

There are several thousand successful candidates for the provincial examinations (举人) across the country today, even though the vast majority of them are focused on politics and not preparing for the metropolitan examinations. Yet, nearly a thousand people still apply for the metropolitan examinations each year.

The number of people admitted was less than thirty.

Who dares to say that as long as you work hard, you will definitely pass the exam?

"Jingming should be able to pass the exam," Zhu Chong said with a smile.

Although Song Ce was certain that he would pass the imperial examination, he still sighed when faced with his friend's praise: "I didn't even pass the first round of the imperial examination this time."

"If Jingming becomes the top scholar in Asia, he might be able to marry the youngest daughter of the Sun family," Zhu Chong joked. "After all, we're about the same age, and Jingming is quite handsome."

"Speaking of which, your family..."

Before he could utter the words "illegitimate son," Lu Mingbo remembered that he had been subtly criticized by Song Ce for saying that Song Shi'an did not follow the rules, so he swallowed those two words and asked, "If he becomes the top scholar in the provincial examination, will your father make arrangements for him?"

"I do not know."

Song Ce shook his head, realizing he had virtually no control over the matter.

He didn't even know where Song Shi'an was now.

However, as the group walked and talked on the street, they happened to run into Song Shi'an, who was coming out of the Ministry of Personnel.

The black official robe of a seventh-rank official was so 'dazzling'.

Compared to the three young men dressed in official robes, the former appeared utterly lacking in wealth and status.

The other two even appeared nervous and timid.

"It's Jingming."

After recognizing who they were, Song Shi'an greeted them with a smile.

"Greetings, Lord Song."

Zhu Chong quickly bowed.

Lu Mingbo, standing to the side, followed suit and respectfully bowed to Song Shi'an. It was one thing to casually ramble on behind someone's back, but for a clerk to not speak respectfully to a seventh-rank official—what was he trying to do?
"Greetings, friends of Jingming."

Seeing this, Song Shi'an made a gesture of reaching into his sleeve and asked Song Ce, "Do you have enough money on you if you're going out to play?"

I bumped into my younger brother and his classmates shopping. I was acting all high and mighty, pretending to be a tough guy, and I gave my brother pocket money to treat them.

But it's not actually giving them pocket money.

I have no money.

“I have enough money,” Song Ce said.

"Then remember to treat your friends to a meal!"

Song Shi'an pulled his hand back into his empty sleeve.

"Mmm." Song Ce nodded, looking at him hesitantly. Then, he said to the other two, "You guys go first, I'll be right there."

"Very well." Zhu Chong agreed, and then he and Lu Mingbo bowed to Song Shi'an to take their leave. "Lord Song, we'll be going now."

"Alright, you two go ahead."

Song Shi'an smiled, appearing very approachable.

He's past the age of reading novels where "he'd kill his whole family if someone insulted him."

That day, Eunuch Chen gave him a piece of his mind, and Physician Yu also scolded him with a dark face. If he rises to power in the future, will he take revenge on the two of them?
Must we repay all the humiliation we suffer today?
Besides, that scolding was to protect him.

I just said it a bit too harshly.

True pretentiousness is an attitude.

In short, it can be summed up in two words: sufficiency.

"Aren't you going home yet?"

After the two left, Song Ce suddenly asked.

In fact, I have never had any conflict with this older brother.

Song Ce never insulted or looked down on him even once.

The reason why the two had no contact at the Song residence was simply to take care of the mother's feelings.

But because he felt no hatred, disgust, or aversion, and was wary of his mother, he could not have any contact with her and had very few opportunities to speak with her, so their relationship was always somewhat awkward.

The awkward situation mainly affected Song Ce, who was the youngest.

"Well..." When asked, Song Shi'an replied evasively, "I've been a bit busy these past few days. I'll go home once I'm done."

“If you’re afraid to answer because you’re worried your father will be angry, you don’t need to do that.”

Song Ce looked at him and said, "I think he's not angry anymore."

"Okay, thank you, little brother. I'll be back as soon as possible."

With a slight smile, Song Shi'an nodded in agreement.

"Okay," Song Ce said.

Song Shi'an turned to the side and said, "Then go find your friends, I'm leaving first."

After a moment of silence, Song Ce set off to leave.

However, as he passed by Song Shi'an, he stopped and said in a serious tone, "Although I don't know the content of your report, I guess you want to go to a dangerous place like Cangxia. If so, you must discuss it with your father."

“I know…”

“I assure you, you will receive the protection of the family.”

Interrupting Song Shi'an, Song Ce said firmly.

He understood that Song Shi'an was unwilling to involve his family because of his delicate relationship with his father.

So once he says it himself, he will have fewer concerns.

Song Shi'an was surprised by these words.

Then, he smiled and looked at Song Ce, saying, "Jingming has always been taciturn, often silent even when with friends. That day before entering the examination hall, you took the initiative to mention 'the war between the North and Qi may be understandable,' because it was a question that Father had privately given you. You said that so that I could hear it too, right?"

When asked, Song Ce's expression remained unchanged. Then, slowly, he nodded: "Mm."

(End of this chapter)