Who exactly was Song Shi'an?
Among the seven Grand Secretaries present, plus that young Imperial Academy scholar standing nearby, not a single one of them knew.
Logically speaking, in Sheng'an, any young person of considerable learning would typically have an excellent teacher.
Take Song Ce for example—his teacher had once passed the jinshi examination and was a scholar at the Imperial Academy. Though he hadn't risen to the powerful and prestigious position of Grand Secretary, he was still quite renowned.
The students taught by these great scholars frequently interacted with each other, and most outstanding youngsters were well-known among these circles.
Chief Grand Secretary Gu Yixin had even held young Song Ce in his arms when he was a child.
"Speaking of Song Ce..." At this moment, Gu Yixin suddenly thought of something. "Does he have an older brother?"
"It seems like he does, but I don't know what his name is," Zhang Zhao shook his head.
No matter what, it was impossible to expect these important figures to remember an illegitimate son with no reputation.
"Then this Song Shi'an must not be from a prestigious noble house," Sun Kang concluded.
"How rare—not from a noble house, without a famous teacher's guidance, yet possessing such learning and insight." Someone sighed in admiration. "This young man will accomplish great things."
Hearing this, the Prince of Jin developed a trace of interest.
But that was all.
Though rich in learning, without family background, even if he could accomplish something, it would be quite limited.
Take Zhang Zhao among the seated Grand Secretaries, for instance.
Born from a humble family, zhuangyuan of the special examination—at most, he could only reach this position.
Moreover, his achievements were only in the realm of scholarship.
Unlike Master Gu, who had once served as Minister of the Imperial Workshops, a crucial national position and one of the Nine Ministers with real power.
Gu Yixin had only retired to the position of Chief Grand Secretary in his old age, focusing on scholarship and examinations.
Even when he retired completely, this position would not go to some "noble" son from a humble family.
Those who could assist him would certainly be legitimate sons of established clans.
Compared to individual ability, the Prince of Jin believed what he needed more was the clan support behind "worthy ministers."
"Then there's no need to guess who ranked as the first sub-yuan (second place in the provincial examination)," Sun Kang said with a smile.
"Let's still take a look."
"What a pity. If not for this Song Shi'an, Sun Qian truly would have had a chance at winning first place in all three examination levels consecutively."
Amid everyone's discussion, the seal on the second-place examination paper was cut open.
As expected: Sheng'an, Sun Qian.
And this name stirred the Prince of Jin's emotions far more than Song Shi'an's had.
Sun Qian, the legitimate son of Minister Sun.
Though not the eldest legitimate son, he was the most outstanding among all his sons.
The one most likely to inherit the Yangzhou Sun Clan would probably be him.
He should be won over before he rose to power and prominence.
………
The next day.
The Minister's estate, main hall.
An elder with white beard and white eyebrows, wearing a red jade thumb ring on his left thumb, sat in the seat of honor. Though over seventy years old, he was quite robust, giving off the spirited impression of "Never say the mulberry and elm are in their twilight, for their glow still fills the sky."
"It should be almost time for the results to be posted, shouldn't it?"
The First Madam sitting beside Minister Sun asked with considerable anticipation.
At this moment, the chief steward responded, "In answer to Madam, it should be."
"Then Qian'er, aren't you going to watch the posting?" the First Madam asked.
A youth sitting below in the hall—refined in features yet imposing in bearing, exuding nobility—raised his head confidently: "Your son can simply wait at home for government officials to come and announce his appointment."
"How proud my son is," Madam teased.
"Passing the juren examination is certain, ranking among the sub-yuan is only natural."
Thinking of his son's examination essay, Minister Sun stroked his beard: "If that jieyuan isn't him, then it would be this old man's fault."
"Why?" The First Madam was puzzled. "If he doesn't place as jieyuan, why would it be your fault, my lord?"
At this, Minister Sun smiled: "If Qian'er doesn't become jieyuan, it means this old man hasn't gotten along well with his colleagues at court and has earned someone's resentment."
This statement left the others at a loss for how to respond.
"My lord's reputation fills the court, and his students and former subordinates are spread throughout the land—such a thing would never happen," only the chief steward said with timely flattery.
"Ha ha ha."
Minister Sun laughed with the sound of wealth and privilege.
The several other legitimate sons below in the hall wore subtle expressions, their gazes wandering.
Unconsciously, they settled on Sun Qian.
Until they heard that brat's next statement, they immediately felt physically nauseated.
"A mere jieyuan is nothing—your son will definitely pass as zhuangyuan next year and not disgrace Father's illustrious reputation."
………
"They're posting the results! They're posting the results!"
At the Song Estate, everyone was extremely excited. The First Madam was so eager she practically wanted to go out with Song Ce herself, almost rubbing her hands together like a fly.
Song Jing held her hand, smiling faintly, and advised: "Let Ce'er go by himself."
Madam Cui said impatiently, "Then Ce'er, hurry back and tell Mother what rank you achieved."
"Do I have to tell you even if I didn't pass?"
Song Qin didn't know what possessed her to blurt out that statement.
Madam Cui's expression darkened immediately.
Song Jing, however, remained quite calm. He slowly drew a disciplinary ruler from his sleeve and spoke coolly: "Hold her."
By the time Song Qin came to her senses, she was already being restrained by maidservants.
Forcibly, they made her extend her hand.
Frantically, Song Qin pleaded in terror: "Father, have mercy! Please spare me!"
The next moment, the ruler fell upon her palm.
Tears came together with restrained screams.
After watching the entire process with an expressionless face, Song Ce clasped his hands and bowed to his parents: "Father, Mother, your son is going now."
Then he departed with the carriage driver through the Song Estate's main gate.
Meanwhile, in a corner, Jiang-shi watched from afar. Compared to Madam Cui's joyful anticipation, what she felt was anxious prayer.
………
"Shi'an, Shi'an, let's go quickly—we're already quite late."
Tugging at Song Shi'an's arm, Wang Shuishan hurriedly rushed out of the inn.
"I overslept, sorry, sorry."
Song Shi'an apologized while crossing his collar and straightening his clothing.
Two men rushing out of the inn like this, with one of them disheveled—it really did look a bit strange.
Walking with me on the streets of Sheng'an, oh oh oh~
What makes me shed tears isn't just last night's wine~
"Shi'an! Wang Shuishan!"
On the road, they happened to run into Chunhou and Zhang Ji.
Seeing them, Song Shi'an—who had already properly dressed—swept away all traces of fatigue and drowsiness from his face, as if nothing had happened at all.
Of course, nothing had happened!
"Gentlemen."
Wang Shuishan took the initiative to greet them.
"It's one thing for Wang Shuishan to come watch the posting, but you're joining in too, Song Shi'an?" Chunhou said with his usual sharp tongue.
"What about you two?" Song Shi'an asked in return.
"This is your third attempt while we're only on our second—why shouldn't we come?" Chunhou directly exposed his embarrassment.
"That's because you two passed the xiucai examination late. Even with ten more attempts, you'll never pass the juren," Song Shi'an didn't indulge him in the slightest.
Moreover, he wasn't angered by having his failures exposed in front of Wang Shuishan.
My past failures are part of my journey here.
If he did exceptionally well this time, naturally great scholars would explain it away for him: Master Song had calculated the auspicious date and deliberately chose to take this year's examination.
"You're the one who won't pass even in ten attempts!" But Chunhou got agitated and began attacking wildly. "Even if I can't pass in ten attempts, you'll take eleven—always one more than me!"
Hearing this, Song Shi'an said calmly and casually: "Then whoever doesn't pass has to call the one who does 'father.' How about it?"
"Oh? You're not actually serious, are you?" Zhang Ji showed a puzzled expression, then smiled: "What I mean is—you don't actually think you'll pass, do you?"
"Then let's bet." Chunhou said carelessly, "Anyway, probably none of us three will hear anyone call us father."
"Sure, let's bet."
Zhang Ji waved his hand dismissively, appearing nonchalant, though in his heart he felt some anticipation.
Actually, this time... I did pretty well on the exam.
But even if he didn't pass, so what?
Song Shi'an was the laziest and dullest of the three.
In any case, he definitely wouldn't pass.
"Shuishan, do you want to join our 'call me father' bet?" Song Shi'an asked.
Wang Shuishan showed a somewhat helpless expression and forced a smile: "Gentlemen, please hurry—they're about to post the results."
At this moment, a group of blade-carrying capital officials rushed past them, calling out loudly: "Examination results being posted—make way quickly!"
Very soon, the dense crowd of scholars consciously opened up a path.
Wang Shuishan and the others also hurriedly pressed forward to watch the posting.
But with the sea of people, they couldn't squeeze through at all.
They could only watch as the capital officials climbed ladders and pasted the ranking list onto the high wall of the Examination Compound.
But this was dozens of steps away—they couldn't make out a single character...
As Wang Shuishan and the others stood on tiptoe, straining to look, the scholars who could see the ranking list began making sounds one after another.
"I passed!"
"Mother, I passed!"
Besides the wild cries of joy from scholars who found their names, Wang Shuishan and the others faintly heard one name being mentioned repeatedly.
Then they slowly turned their heads to look at Song Shi'an.
At this moment, the discussion from ahead continued—
"Song Shi'an..."
"Who is Song Shi'an?"
"It's actually Song Shi'an!"