After finishing his tirade against Jiang-shi, Song Jing showed no mercy as he left with Song Ce.
Wiping away the tears that fell in streams with her handkerchief, constantly sobbing, Jiang-shi couldn't understand what had happened to her son.
In the past, he had never been like this.
After waking up that day, it felt like his entire temperament had undergone a complete transformation.
And it wasn't a change for the worse.
His eyes had inexplicably become sharper, he proactively asked to study, he was filial to her, yet he insisted on opposing his father...
What exactly was he trying to do?
"Does he really think he can pass?"
Madam Cui also looked on as if watching a joke, seamlessly twisting the knife: "He should take a good look in the mirror and see what he really is. The juren degree is something anyone can pass? My Ce'er will naturally have no problem, but your son? As if he's worthy!"
Having said this, she left without looking back, head held high with pride.
Standing there, Jiang-shi felt no heartache over these insults at this moment.
She even felt that whether her son could pass the juren exam didn't matter—as long as he lived well, that would be enough...
......
After returning home, Song Ce's first priority wasn't to go to the main hall for dinner, but rather to go to the study with Song Jing.
"Don't let anyone enter."
After Song Jing gave this instruction to the servants, they withdrew and closed the door.
"The morning's lyrical composition was on the topic of 'books.'"
Once they were alone, Song Ce went straight to the point.
"Just books as the topic, with no other focus?" Song Jing asked.
"Yes, Father."
"How did you answer it?"
"I answered that books are the words of the sages. And the books of sages are also the path of sages. Scholars shouldn't only read the books of sages, but should also travel ten thousand li to forge their own book. That's how I answered." Song Ce looked at Song Jing and replied earnestly.
Hearing this, Song Jing nodded with considerable satisfaction, as if looking at his former self, his eyes overflowing with admiration.
Song Shi'an also resembled him, but in terms of ability compared to Song Ce, he was like a firefly next to the bright moon.
Needless to say, Song Jing naturally loved more the son who looked like him and whose genius took after him.
"Father, I can recite the lyrical composition I wrote. Would you critique and evaluate it?"
"You can still remember the essay you wrote in the examination hall?"
Song Jing was somewhat surprised.
Song Ce did have a photographic memory, but that was in the examination hall—in such an important moment, he could remain completely calm and remember everything perfectly?
"Mm."
"Recite it then."
And so, Song Ce began his recitation.
Meanwhile, Song Jing, like savoring fine wine, enjoyed the 'aftertaste' contained in his son's lyrical composition, thoroughly pleased.
From Song Ce's childhood, he had found him a highly respected scholar from Jingzhao as his teacher, and the man had praised him without reservation—Ce'er's literary talent is like an ocean; he has the bearing of a jinshi.
At such a young age, he had already displayed exceptionally high literary talent.
"Father, how was it?" Song Ce asked.
"Excellent." Song Jing, as a veteran scholar himself, immediately said with certainty, "Just with this composition alone, you could pass the juren exam."
Hearing this, Song Ce immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as Song Shi'an had told him...
There was no need to worry excessively.
"What about the afternoon policy essay?" Song Jing asked.
Song Ce paused before saying: "Father, the question was this: Last year Yí Prefecture suffered a locust disaster, the people starved, refugees arose everywhere, even the garrisoned armies had no provisions, and it took the strength of the entire nation to barely restore order. Our dynasty has had no major wars for several years, yet the national treasury has no surplus grain. The prompt asks to write a policy essay on this topic."
After hearing this, Song Jing's expression froze slightly.
All the joy and ease from before was replaced in an instant.
His father's expression made Song Ce feel uneasy.
Was there really a problem with this question?
"Father, what's wrong with this question?" Song Ce asked.
After remaining silent for a while, Song Jing spoke: "It's too deep."
"Deep?"
"The surface isn't deep—what's deep lies behind the question."
Song Jing looked at Song Ce and asked somewhat anxiously: "Ce'er, from what angle did you answer?"
Song Ce replied: "Reduce redundant officials, lower salaries, and increase taxes on merchants."
"..."
Hearing this, Song Jing's heart sank immediately.
It's over, truly over.
While one couldn't call it completely off-target, it was certainly ineffectual.
My son indeed took to heart my advice to discern the examiner's intentions.
He considered the position of the Great Yu aristocratic families.
But he completely misunderstood!
"Fa...ther?"
Seeing the subtle change in Song Jing's expression, Song Ce panicked immediately, his voice trembling as he spoke, his eyes full of worry: "Did Ce make a mistake?"
"You should still be able to pass the juren exam." Song Jing said comfortingly.
"But was the policy essay completely wrong?" Song Ce said nervously, "Were there problems with the measures I proposed?"
"Ce'er."
Song Jing looked at his son, patted his shoulder with his hand, and said: "You're very clever, but you're only fifteen years old."
"Father means I lack experience?"
"Yes, you lack some experience."
Song Jing turned completely around to face him and asked: "Do you know how much salary the officials under the Sheng'an Magistrate received last year?"
"Your son, your son doesn't know."
Song Ce shook his head woodenly.
"Fifty percent—only fifty percent was paid out."
After Song Jing finished speaking, he raised his finger and said: "The imperial capital is the center of the realm, yet can only pay out fifty percent of salaries. In those remote provinces and commanderies, many places haven't paid salaries in over ten years."
"Salaries have long been unpayable..."
Hearing this, Song Ce's heart also grew cold, and he muttered in a daze: "Then lowering salaries is completely meaningless. And reducing redundant officials also can't fill the national treasury."
The measures he proposed could be fine as pretty empty words.
But for governing the country...
They were completely useless.
"Then, then what should be done?" Song Ce asked, quite earnestly.
In response, Song Jing shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "His Majesty wants us to bleed."
As expected, the core of the question lay with the aristocratic families.
"But aren't those examiners also from great aristocratic clans..."
Song Ce became somewhat agitated, his tone growing excited.
Seeing his son take such a big loss in the examination, Song Jing felt quite uncomfortable too, but didn't forget to pass on the most important wisdom: "This question seems to be just a topic, but it represents the direction of the Great Yu's transformation. With or without this provincial examination, the Great Yu will undergo a fundamental change."
"What kind of change?"
"Land reform."
With these four words, Song Ce suddenly understood.
And Song Jing already knew that the importance of the lyrical composition section had become negligible.
"The jieyuan of this provincial examination."
After weighing and pondering deeply, Song Jing had seen through everything: "Will be the one who coincidentally shares the same views as the Emperor."
........
Shenyu Palace.
The Emperor sat upon the dragon throne, while below the steps stood a person wearing python robes who, though noble in bearing, gave off an impression of honest steadiness—this was the Great Yu's Second Prince, the Prince of Jin.
"Prince of Jin, you are overseeing this provincial examination. Tomorrow at the Academy's grading session, you personally go and supervise."
"Your command is received."
After the Prince of Jin clasped his hands together to accept the command, he raised his head and slowly spoke: "However, the Grand Secretaries of the Imperial Academy are all unparalleled national scholars, knowledgeable and learned. If your son is present, I fear it may interfere with their grading. If they ask your son's opinion on ranking matters..."
Seeing the Prince of Jin's cautious and careful manner, the Emperor directly interrupted, somewhat impatiently: "I don't need you, Prince of Jin, to grade papers. Just sitting there is enough."
"Your son obeys the command!"
Sensing the Emperor's displeasure, the Prince of Jin immediately responded with utmost seriousness.
Trembling with trepidation.
"You may go."
"Your son takes his leave!"
Watching his son kowtow and bow, deathly afraid of even the slightest offense as he left, the Emperor closed his eyes, sighed, and said with sadness: "If only Zirui or Zihuan were still here... what place would there be for the likes of you."