Chapter 58

Chapter 58

(Added 4,000 words of new plot in the previous chapter.)

His tone was impossible to decipher.

Wen Yu's voice remained quite calm, and it sounded just the same as it had then. Now that he was sober, it had lost that distracting, captivating allure. Yet when he lowered his voice, it became softer than usual, which always made him think of things he shouldn't.

Luo Qianyu's Adam's apple moved slightly. His eyes met Wen Yu's and he quickly looked away, grateful for the cover of night so the other man couldn't see the flush creeping up his neck. He shifted his gaze, subtly avoiding Wen Yu's stare, his throat was dry. "Me, run? When have I ever run? It's just that I was ambushed by that brat Guan Mingyang before, so when I come across rockeries now, I'm naturally more cautious than usual."

But Wen Yu kept his eyes fixed on him, his voice steady. "Where did you go last night, Young Master?"

"Just wandering the streets. When it got late, I headed back. Speaking of which, I was just about to ask you—did you see that Mysterious Guest last night?" Luo Qianyu maintained a calm expression, feigning composure as he asked curiously, "With no one around to bother you, what did you talk about? What did you do?"

Wen Yu lowered his gaze. "I don't remember."

"...You don't remember? How could that be?" The Young Marquis's eyes lit up. Suppressing the flutter in his heart, he put on a regretful look. "Not a single word? Did you get that drunk? What a waste. After I finally set up that meeting for you, all my good intentions are wasted."

Sure enough, the original novel was right.

The protagonist shou spoke truthfully under the influence of alcohol but lost his memory afterward. This trope never failed. Just look at him now—not only had he forgotten everything. And judging by Wen Yu's demeanor now, he probably wouldn't cling to or pester the Mysterious Guest either.

Wen Yu opened his mouth. "Why does the Young Marquis seem so pleased?"

"..."

He'd been trying so hard to keep a straight face. Had it shown in his eyes?

Luo Qianyu played dumb. "What am I pleased about? You've been looking forward to this for so long, and now you finally meet him, only to forget everything? I just feel bad for you."

Wen Yu took a step closer, his expression darkening. "I don't regret it."

The Young Marquis was taken aback. His face began to burn. He fell silent for a moment, pursed his lips, and walked past Wen Yu. As he passed the rockery again, he couldn't resist kicking the Jade Spirit Sword blocking his path.

Stopping, he turned back with a cold snort. "Whether you regret it or not, I'm only helping you this once."

"Wen Yu, from now on, you will never see him again."

.

The Spring Examinations were approaching.

The Young Marquis was about to finish his time at the Imperial Academy.

The manor was already brightly lit. Zhao Nian was still at the academy sorting through old books, since the Young Master's belongings needed to be packed and brought back. After bathing, the Young Marquis had just stepped into the main courtyard when he was intercepted by the head housekeeper.

"Young Marquis, you're finally here!" The housekeeper held a stack of brand-new clothes, speaking urgently. "The Madam ordered several plain satin robes for the examination compound to be made overnight. Please try them on quickly to see if they fit."

Before he was even done trying them on, his mother, Sun Shi, emerged from the inner chamber, holding a list in her hand, her voice filled with caution. "Three inkstones are prepared, the inksticks are made of high-quality pine soot, and new brushes—five purple-haired and five wolf-haired—have been made... The food in the examination basket still needs more consideration. We'll prepare it the day after tomorrow."

Luo Qianyu sighed helplessly. "Mother, the examination is only three days. It'll be over in the blink of an eye. Why go to such lengths?"

Madam Sun glared at him. "What do you know? The examination hall is cold and damp. Charcoal, warmers, and thick bedding are all essential." She then turned to instruct the servants, "Go fetch that box of aged ginseng slices from the other day. My son should take two slices daily to nourish himself and stay alert."

Luo Qianyu opened his mouth but ultimately dared not argue. The Luo Manor had been waiting for this day for too long, treating it with the same importance as the modern college entrance examination. This wasn't just his exam—it was the entire family's.

Returning to the Jinlin Courtyard, his desk was even piled high with various items. The newly tailored knee pads were made of soft velvet, stitched so densely they could keep out snow. The examination basket was lined with silk cotton, and even the water gourd was wrapped in an insulating cotton sleeve.

The Young Marquis was secretly alarmed.

With such a grand fuss, if he performed terribly in the exam, he would surely face trouble.

In the original novel, the Young Marquis was mediocre in martial arts, neglected archery and horsemanship, and his literary skills were equally unimpressive, lacking any great ambition. So, unsurprisingly, he failed the examination this time.

Although he was later granted an official position by the emperor due to his family's influence, the author didn't elaborate on the Young Marquis's experiences before and after the examination hall, as he wasn't the protagonist. Such trivial plot points were merely glossed over.

However, it was true that the entire Marquis Manor placed high hopes on the Young Master's scholarly achievements.

Performing poorly was one thing, but what if the old Marquis took his exam papers to the chief examiner to inquire in detail about where his son had fallen short?

Late at night, the manor finally quieted down.

Luo Qianyu pushed open the door to the Jinlin Courtyard and saw that the bed curtains had been changed—another gesture for good luck. Beside the pillow, there was even a calming medicinal jade sachet.

Until dawn on the day of the imperial examinations, the Young Marquis never summoned Wen Yu again.

On the day of the examination, before daybreak.

When Luo Qianyu boarded the carriage, he did not ride with the Marquis and Madam but shared a compartment solely with Zhao Nian. Zhao Nian had an important task: to ease the Young Master's pre-exam nerves. Thus, the carriage curtains were drawn low, strictly forbidding any disturbances.

Midway, while Zhao Nian stepped out of the carriage, Luo Qianyu lifted the curtain slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he called out softly:

"...Wen Yu."

Footsteps approached outside the carriage, light, steady, and deliberate, stopping just outside the window. He heard the familiar voice, "Young Master."

Although he hadn't felt particularly anxious during the preparation period, the impending exam and the tense atmosphere made it impossible to deny a certain nervousness.

Yet, upon hearing Wen Yu's voice, he inexplicably felt a sense of reassurance.

Even though he had been subtly giving Wen Yu the cold shoulder these past few days, even Zhao Nian had noticed.

So, he spoke to Wen Yu through the carriage curtain.

What was the topic for the fourth year of the Sheng Yuan era again?

After a brief moment of thought, a passage of text surfaced in the Young Marquis's mind.

His impression of this exam topic was relatively deep, mainly because of the new top scholar—Chen Boyu. His exam paper had been commented on by the emperor, and though the original novel described it briefly, it left a strong impression on Luo Qianyu.

This year's examination topic roughly meant: "Border threats remain unresolved, and canal transport is congested. If you were to oversee the Ministry of Revenue, how would you coordinate funds and grain to meet the needs of border defense while ensuring the livelihood of the people? Please elaborate on your strategy."

The Young Marquis broke down the question, making it sound less like an exam topic, and then posed it.

He had assumed that, coming from a wastrel like him, Wen Yu would most likely decline to answer. To his surprise, the man pondered for a moment before speaking. "Border threats and canal transport may seem like two separate issues, but they share the same root: funds and grain."

"Currently, the congestion in canal transport is not solely due to silted waterways. Since the Yellow River changed course last year, seven out of ten counties along its banks have built unauthorized dams to protect their farmland. Moreover, canal gangs have colluded with officials, forcibly conscripting civilian boats, causing merchant vessels to hesitate."

"To clear the congestion, we must take swift and decisive action to regulate the waterways, setting deadlines to dismantle unauthorized dams. Then, establish a canal transport office to oversee boat scheduling and strictly crack down on corruption."

"As for the border threats." Wen Yu paused, his voice slightly lower. "There are two hundred thousand troops stationed in the northwest, consuming an astonishing amount of provisions. The court currently relies on taxes from the southeast to support them, but transporting supplies over thousands of miles results in over half being lost. If one were to oversee the Ministry of Revenue, they should implement a garrison farming policy, selecting strong soldiers to reclaim wasteland. They would serve as soldiers during wartime and farm during peacetime. Within three years, they could become self-sufficient."

The Young Marquis listened in surprise but took it in. After a moment's thought, he couldn't help but raise a question. "These ideas are indeed promising, but garrison farming requires oxen, farming tools, seeds, and funds, doesn't it?"

"Then there are methods for coordinating funds and grain. Once canal transport is smooth, merchant ships coming and going can be taxed. Smuggling of salt and tea should also be strictly regulated. The saved transportation costs could be split: half used to fund garrison farming, half to subsidize border defense. This way, funds and grain would flow naturally."

The Young Master in the carriage remained silent, but his pupils subtly contracted.

"However," Wen Yu's voice grew quieter, "whether it's canal transport or border defense, the most crucial factor is personnel. If officials are all self-serving, even the best strategies are empty talk."

Well, after such a detailed, point-by-point analysis, he circled back to the core principle.

Truly a textbook-perfect, flawless answer.

Luo Qianyu couldn't help but ask, "What you said is too practical. If the question were posed formally in writing, how should one answer? It must be logical and clear, with points laid out step-by-step, right?"

He expected Wen Yu to ponder carefully before responding, but the other merely fell silent for a moment in thought before speaking. "One could write about the 'Three-Part Method.' First, separate the grain transport routes. Second, reform the tax system. Third, implement military agricultural colonies."

Luo Qianyu was stunned. The more he listened, the more familiar it sounded, as if he vaguely remembered something.

Wasn't this the "New Frontier Defense Policy" that, in the original book's timeline, wouldn't be implemented until five years later?

And now, it was being laid out smoothly from Wen Yu's mouth.

This person, Wen Yu... how is he so good at everything?

.

At the third quarter of the Mao hour (around 6:45 AM), the long street outside the Examination Hall was already packed to the brim with candidates and their families.

Luo Qianyu stepped down from the carriage using the footstool. Before he could find his footing, his mother, Sun Shi, pulled him over to straighten his lapels, grabbed his wrist, and rubbed it vigorously.

"My dear, the ink in the inkstone is freshly ground, enough for all three sessions." Lady Sun stuffed a hand warmer into his sleeve, hoping it would provide some warmth for a while. "The charcoal cakes are in the exam basket. They don't taste great, but they stave off hunger. Don't push yourself too hard."

Luo Qianyu murmured in agreement. He saw out of the corner of his eye the old Marquis standing to the side. The old man merely patted his shoulder, saying, "Eat well, answer the questions well, don't embarrass your old man." The force of the pat sent Luo Qianyu stumbling half a step forward, nearly coughing.

"Master!" Lady Sun hurriedly intervened, reaching out to rub his shoulder again. "Qianyu is sensitive to pain, can't you be gentler?"

"You're spoiling him again like this. He's my own son, what's wrong with a couple of pats?"

...

Luo Qianyu quietly gathered the hem of his robe, silently looking for a chance to slip away.

But just as he turned, he locked eyes with Wen Yu.

The young man didn't speak, but he blinked at him. Even the usually aloof Guard Wen couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

At that moment, the urging shouts of the proctors at the Examination Hall gate rang out, accompanied by the sound of a gong. "All candidates, line up!"

The line of candidates had already formed a long queue. Soldiers conducting the search and inspection held rosters, verifying each person one by one.

"Name?" a soldier asked.

"Luo Qianyu."

A brush ticked off the name on the register. Then, a clerk came to inspect the exam basket. The charcoal cakes were broken open for examination, pastries were cut into pieces, and even the writing brush was taken apart for inspection.

Passing through the Dragon Gate, Luo Qianyu followed the stream of candidates past the stele pavilion. He saw the slanted sunlight on the ground and the rows of examination cells in the distance, looking just like a large prison.

Upon entering his assigned examination cell, despite having been cleaned, the smell of rotten wood and mildew still assaulted his nostrils. It looked damp and sticky; staying here long would likely lead to rheumatism. Luo Qianyu lifted the coarse cloth door curtain, using the daylight to survey this exam room less than six feet wide.

A wooden plank resting on two bricks served as the desk and chair. The brick walls were gray. In the corner sat a lonely chamber pot.

"..." The Young Marquis wore a bewildered expression.

He knew the conditions were harsh, but he hadn't expected them to be *this* harsh.

He then tried to comfort himself: since he was already here... a real man, a true gentleman—if others could endure it, so could he.

Not long after, exam officials began distributing the question papers.

Luo Qianyu spread out the exam paper. His brush tip hovered for a long time without touching down. The coughing and rustling of clothes from the candidate next door disturbed the young scion, making him restless.

As night fell, oil lamps were lit in the examination cells.

The flickering flame cast Luo Qianyu's wavering shadow on the wall.

Mosquitoes, drawn by his scent, arrived unbidden. His delicate, fair-skinned hands were soon covered with red, swollen bites. Luo Qianyu could only wave a fan to drive them away while forcing himself to write despite the intense itching.

Afraid of being bitten while sleeping at night, he tucked his hands into his sleeves and curled himself into a ball.

The food in his exam provisions had long gone cold. The baked cakes and pastries were unpalatable without pickled vegetables. After a couple of bites, he found them hard to swallow. Though his stomach growled with hunger, he dared not eat much. The latrines in the Examination Hall were a hundred meters away. Getting up in the middle of the night was not only troublesome but also filthy.

After staying too long in the damp, chilly examination cell, besides the poor food, the young scion began to suffer from unbearable back and waist pain. The room was truly tiny; he couldn't even stretch his legs when sitting upright, so he had to sit cross-legged.

Leaning against the wall, Luo Qianyu rubbed his ink-stained hand against the tip of his nose, gritting his teeth and persevering.

The final day coincided with blazing sunshine. The fierce sun pierced directly through the thin roof tiles, baking the examination cell like a steamer. The Young Marquis's inner garments were soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his back. The sticky fabric chafed against his skin, making it difficult to sleep, his flesh aching.

When the bell signaling the collection of papers rang, Luo Qianyu's fingers were already so stiff he could barely hold the brush. The moment he stepped out of the examination cell, he staggered, nearly falling to the ground.

He had finally endured through it.

...

The crowd from the Marquis's estate waiting in front of the Examination Hall was vast as a sea. Someone with sharp eyes spotted their young master immediately.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

"Master! Over here!"

...

However, as they shouted, their voices, as if by unspoken agreement, gradually and unanimously fell silent.

"..."

What was going on?

That person in the distance... was that their Young Marquis?

...

An ordinary person might just look a bit thinner after the exams.

But their Young Marquis... had turned himself into a grimy mess.

The servants and attendants stared, dumbfounded. A perfectly fine young master had gone in, but what came out was a little beggar.

And he was limping.

"How did he suffer such hardship?" Seeing this, Sun Shi's heart ached with distress, trembling. She quickly raised her voice to instruct, "Quick! Someone, carry your young master back."

Luo Qianyu caught a familiar scent. Subconsciously, he tightened his arms around the other's neck, hugging Wen Yu tightly without uttering a word. Soon, golden droplets fell onto Guard Wen's neck. The man's figure stiffened slightly. Without a change in expression, he hoisted him up a bit more securely, his palm holding him tighter.

The servants followed, their hearts aching. To think the young scion was so exhausted that precious tears streamed down. He fell into a deep sleep the moment he was on Guard Wen's back. Judging by his appearance, he had truly endured great hardship this time.

Just as they were about to return to the estate, Wen Yu suddenly heard the Young Marquis speak softly.

"Wen Yu, what you said was excellent."

Not only had he accurately predicted the exam topic, down to the last detail, but he had also gotten to hear the previous top scorer's perfect answer in advance. Upon entering the Examination Hall and spreading out the exam paper, all he needed to do was to restate and copy Wen Yu's original words verbatim.

...

But I didn't write a single word of what you said.

Because the entire exam paper was filled with his own thoughts, written freely and recklessly, full of nonsense and wild theories.

This time, in the Metropolitan Exam, it was absolutely impossible for him to pass.