Chapter 419 Seeking Guidance from Uncle

Chapter 419 Seeking Guidance from Uncle

Since its establishment, the Imperial Examination has been a pathway for the emperor to offer upward mobility to the landlord class, allocating the available resources.

The more influential the gentry in a region, the more positions and quotas they receive.

Achieving absolute fairness is impossible.

For example, in this era, candidates from the south generally outperform those from the north.

In the early years of the dynasty, during one nationwide examination, southern candidates dominated the entire list of successful candidates for the metropolitan examination.

Not a single northern candidate made the list.

When this came to light, the founding emperor was furious and executed a group of examiners outright.

Was this because of the examiners' bias?

Not at all.

In the context of this era, the south had more scholars with a deeply rooted cultural foundation, while the north was ravaged by wars and the integration of barbarians, making its scholarly foundation far weaker than the south's. Therefore, under the same examination conditions and standards, northern candidates simply couldn't match their southern counterparts.

But if the Imperial Examination only selected southern candidates, the entire north would erupt in turmoil.

Moreover, if this happened year after year, the southern clans' power would far exceed that of the north.

Thus, even in the seemingly fair Imperial Examination, those in power had to divide regions to maintain balance.

Executing a group of examiners to appease public outrage, and then establishing separate lists for the north and south, covertly adjusting the admission ratios to ensure relative fairness and stability.

Those in power seek stability and progress, not absolute fairness.

Therefore, even in the Imperial Examination, there is significant room for manipulation.

Lu Lingyun chose a relatively steady path, unlike those extremely powerful families who could directly secure quotas from the emperor.

Just like when Li Wenxun took the Imperial Examination, Lu Lingyun was reborn, and Liu Shuhui emerged as the top scorer, but the second-place position in that year's examination remained unchanged.

A child like Li Shouye, with exceptional talent, if born into a powerful and influential family, could have surpassed even his uncle, astonishing everyone.

Lu Lingyun silently pondered this as Li Shouye was brought in by the servants.

Lu Lingyun saw a simply dressed, sixteen or seventeen-year-old young man, who entered with a scholarly air.

His features resembled his father's by seventy percent. Both Li Wenxun and Lu Hanyi were good-looking, and this child was also a handsome young man.

Upon entering, he first saw Tong Nanyuan, then noticed Lu Lingyun sitting beside her. Seeing Lu Lingyun, he was slightly taken aback.

"Shou Ye, you're here," Tong Nanyuan smiled and waved at him. "Your uncle hasn't returned yet. Sit here with your aunt for a while and rest."

Tong Nanyuan didn't have a good impression of Li Shouye's mother, Lu Hanyi, but she had a very good impression of her son.

Every time he came, he was polite and greeted her proactively.

He didn't seem like the offspring of his erratic mother.

"Yes, Aunt," Li Shouye greeted Tong Nanyuan, then looked at Lu Lingyun. "Hello, Auntie."

"Shou Ye, you've grown so much," Lu Lingyun smiled at him.

In the past ten years, she seldom visited the Lu family, only occasionally visiting her parents during the New Year holidays when she could see Li Shouye.

Lu Hanyi always kept a close watch on her, forbidding Li Shouye from greeting or speaking to her. Over time, even though they both lived in the Imperial City, there was little interaction.

“Aunt,” Li Shouye approached Lu Lingyun and bowed respectfully.

“You're such a good boy,” Lu Lingyun said affectionately and gave Shuang Hong a glance. Shuang Hong handed her a silver money pouch.

Lu Lingyun stuffed the pouch into his hand, “This is a red envelope from me, your aunt, wishing you success in this year’s Imperial Examination.”

“This…”

“Take it. You’ll be sitting for the Imperial Examination in a few days, and it will last several days. You’ll need to stay in the examination hall for the duration. Your mother is rather laid-back, so she probably hasn’t prepared the necessary items for you. Go and prepare some things yourself. It gets cold at night, so bring a thick coat or knee pads,” Lu Lingyun said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Shouye silently accepted the money pouch, “Thank you, Aunt.”

“Shou Ye, come sit down,” Tong Nanyuan urged him, “I’ve got knee pads ready for you. Your uncle told me about your situation. I’ll have the maid fetch them for you later, so you can take them back and be prepared.”

“Thank you, Aunt,” Li Shouye turned to Tong Nanyuan to express his gratitude.

“No need to thank us; we’re all your aunts,” Tong Nanyuan said warmly, pouring him tea and offering snacks. “Have some tea and cakes.”

Perhaps it was her age, but she had developed a soft spot for children. To her, such a young boy was both pitiful and endearing.

Tong Nanyuan kept offering him things, asking about his well-being and how he had been recently. Hearing that he stayed up late every night studying, she felt heartbroken.

She told someone to get a few ginseng roots from the storeroom for him to steep a small piece nightly to boost his health.

Li Shouye kept trying to decline, but he couldn’t resist Tong Nanyuan’s persistence. She packed everything up, and later, she’d have someone deliver it to him!

Not long after, Lu Kuan returned.

After Lu Kuan returned, Li Shouye went with him to the study.

Lu Lingyun had been sitting there for a while and was feeling weary. Seeing that they had all left, she also bid farewell and returned to the Marquis's Mansion.

As she left, the medicine on Tong Nanyuan’s stove was ready.

Lu Lingyun watched as Tong Nanyuan downed every last drop of the bitter, unpleasant remedy, furrowing her brows.

Enough of this. She’d talk to Lu Kuan about it soon.

She returned to the Marquis's Mansion first.

After Lu Lingyun left, before dinner, Li Shouye also bid farewell and went home.

Lu Kuan and Tong Nanyuan wanted to keep him for dinner, but Li Shouye was afraid of being warmly persuaded to stay. If he stayed for dinner, Lu Kuan and Tong Nanyuan would surely urge him to eat slowly, constantly serving him dishes, and after eating, they would insist he rest. By the time he returned, it would be very late.

His mother was waiting for him back home!

If he delayed his study time, Lu Hanyi would nag him to death!

Li Shouye had only had dinner at their house once and didn’t dare stay until evening again. Before dinner time, he hurried home.

Seeing his insistence, Tong Nanyuan didn’t press further and only sent someone to accompany him home and deliver the items.

At this time, in the Li residence.

In a courtyard, a woman with several white hairs on her head was glaring at the gate.

As the appointed time approached, Li Shouye returned with someone.

"Why are you so late again today! You’re about to take the Imperial Examination, and you’re not hurrying back to study!"

Li Shouye replied, “Uncle had matters at court today, so he returned late.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Hanyi immediately started cursing, “What’s wrong with that scoundrel Lu Kuan! Doesn’t he know to come back earlier? Wasting time like this, affecting my son’s Imperial Examination—I won’t let him off!”