After delivering the official robes and reminding him of the reporting date, the scholars from the Imperial Academy left to visit the next household.
Song Jing stood rooted in place, his expression stiff, his conflicting emotions giving him something of a headache.
Reporting to the Secretariat was no small matter. Even though Madam Cui was consumed with jealousy, she didn't dare speak recklessly at a time like this.
"My lord."
Jiang-shi walked over, cradling the official robes and black silk cap in her hands. She said quietly, "Shi'an was only frightened—he doesn't think he did anything wrong. I'll have him come back and kowtow to you in apology. Just please don't beat him anymore during this time... When he reports to the Secretariat, it wouldn't look proper if he were covered in injuries."
Song Jing didn't respond to Jiang-shi's words.
The black silk cap embroidered with copper thread gleamed brilliantly.
Twenty years old and Rank 7...
Jiang-shi could tell—the old master had room to turn back.
Right now, he just needed a way to save face.
Agreeing directly would naturally diminish his authority.
After all, he'd just cursed him out so thoroughly...
"Father." Just then, Song Qin, whose palms had been beaten into little pig's trotters that morning, said quietly, "I know where he's hiding... Take some household guards and we can definitely drag him back."
"Hmph." Hearing this, Song Jing immediately acted fierce and said, "Tell him that if he dares come back, he'll be served with household discipline the moment he returns!"
Song Jing spoke with extreme harshness, giving the jieyuan no face whatsoever.
But everyone knew this was him descending the stairs that had been offered.
Who deserved to be served with household discipline?
Family members, of course.
"My lord, he definitely won't dare again, never again!"
After Jiang-shi expressed her gratitude with a beaming smile, she walked to Song Qin's side and said, barely containing her excitement, "Does the young miss know where he is?"
"I think I know..."
After Song Qin muttered quietly, she glanced at her father.
Since she hadn't been beaten, she probably hadn't said the wrong thing.
It was just that Mother—her expression didn't look very good.
Please don't hit me, don't hit me, wuwu...
As the atmosphere grew slightly awkward, Song Ce returned home.
"Ce'er, you passed!"
Madam Cui grasped his arms with both hands, her eyes shining, extremely proud as she spoke.
The affairs of other people's sons wouldn't affect her love for her own son.
"Yes." Song Ce nodded, then bowed respectfully to Song Jing, saying somewhat apologetically, "Father, your son only achieved the rank of common juren."
Looking at this obedient child, Song Jing placed his hand on his head and said with a smile, "It's fine. Juren is enough—passing is what matters."
"Next year, your son wants to take the jinshi examination."
Song Ce's eyes were determined.
"Then I'll arrange for you to enter the Imperial Academy for some idle position that won't interfere with your exam preparation," Song Jing decided.
Common juren could also enter the Imperial Academy—that didn't need special arrangements.
But once inside, they'd just be clerks.
With the backing of his father, the Sheng'an Magistrate, Song Ce could become an official directly, starting from the Rank 9 position.
As long as he wasn't a clerk, his workload would be drastically reduced.
Why take on even a minor Rank 9 position instead of staying home to prepare full-time for the exams?
Work experience.
If Song Ce entered this year, even if he did nothing, he could accumulate a year of service record for free.
One could say that as the legitimate son of an aristocratic family, as long as you showed some spirit and passed the juren examination, your father could arrange everything for you perfectly.
This was also tacitly permitted by the court.
After all, establishing the examination system had already hurt the feelings of the great clans.
"Father, I will definitely pass the jinshi examination!"
Song Ce, whose pride was extremely strong, swept away his earlier gloom. He kowtowed solemnly before his parents, vowing not to disgrace the family tradition.
"My son, you will definitely pass."
Madam Cui helped Song Ce to his feet. As she spoke, she glanced at Jiang-shi with considerable pride.
Jieyuan was nothing—it wasn't jinshi.
At the jinshi level, rankings would be reassigned.
Even if they both passed, her son would be a jinshi before age seventeen—a child prodigy!
"Mm."
Song Jing nodded, full of approval.
At that moment, another marriage proposal procession arrived at the Song Estate gates, beating gongs and drums.
"Song Gan, inquire about their family background. If you don't think they're suitable, refuse them."
"Yes, my lord." Song Gan smiled.
Song Jing added casually, "Before sending them away, give each person some reward money."
Actually giving reward money to those seeking good fortune—the old master was clearly happy inside!
Jiang-shi could see it.
After having a maid take down the official robes and black cap, she quickly walked forward with a beaming smile and said to Song Gan, "I'll also give some money to those marriage proposal servants. Also, Steward Song, you must inquire thoroughly—don't let any good girls slip by!"
"The second madam can rest assured, I won't, I won't..."
No longer involving himself in this matter, Song Jing turned and walked toward the main house.
His steps couldn't help but feel lighter.
---
Inside Minister Sun's private chambers.
Sitting in his grand armchair, Sun Yan's face was iron-blue.
Sun Qian beside him also wore an expression of shock, never expecting that the jieyuan his father had already acknowledged would fall short.
But the critical issue was that he was second in both subjects.
Policy essays were one thing, but Sun Qian, famous for the magnificence of his lyrical compositions, wasn't first.
Moreover, that Song Shi'an was first in both subjects, pressing down on him perfectly!
After a while, a man of about forty with a robust build walked in quickly, holding two model answer papers in both hands. "Father, the moment the rankings were posted, the bookstalls throughout the streets and alleys started selling the jieyuan's essays."
"Give me the lyrical composition." Sun Yan reached out his hand. Though angry, he remained relatively rational.
Taking the model composition, he prepared to read it.
But after blinking his eyes and finding it difficult, he handed the examination paper to Sun Qian. "You read it."
Unable to help it, Sun Qian felt like he'd swallowed a fly. Though uncomfortable, he had no choice but to recite.
As he read on, Sun Yan's expression became increasingly absorbed.
After finishing, he sighed and said, "Good writing. Your second place isn't unjust."
"..." Clutching the essay with both hands, Sun Qian, though extremely dissatisfied internally, had to acknowledge it.
The language was refined, the metaphors apt, the meaning profound.
If this was written on the spot, it was truly remarkable.
"Do you know this Song Shi'an?" Sun Yan asked Sun Qian.
"I've heard he's the illegitimate son of the Sheng'an Magistrate, with frivolous conduct. He hadn't displayed any talent before," Sun Qian said.
"Could his father have ghostwritten it for him?"
At this point, Sun Heng speculated.
Then the next moment, he was shouted at by Sun Yan: "Foolish! If his father ghostwrote it, why would he give it to an illegitimate son?"
Sun Heng silently lowered his head. "Father is right."
Indeed, if it was ghostwritten, it would have been given to Song Ce.
"Study it well." Then Minister Sun attacked Sun Qian without discrimination, lecturing, "I've told you before—essays emphasize meaning, don't indulge in flowery styles, especially in examinations."
"Your son understands." Sun Qian lowered his head.
"The policy essay." Sun Yan said.
Then Sun Qian began reading Song Shi'an's policy essay aloud: "'Strategy for Military Farming.' The art of stabilizing the nation lies in strengthening the army and ensuring adequate food..."
Sun Yan listened attentively throughout.
His hand stroked his beard.
After finishing, Sun Qian didn't pause for a moment, immediately raising his head to ask, "Father, is this the direction the court will take in the future?"
"I've never heard of it."
Sun Yan had never heard any discussion about military farming.
There was only one possibility—someone had submitted a memorial to the Emperor on this topic.
And the Emperor was pleased with it, wanting to release it through this examination.
The fact that the jieyuan's model answers could be purchased the moment rankings were posted proved as much.
But now, these weren't what Sun Yan cared about.
Rubbing the armrest with his palm, after contemplating, Sun Yan said slowly, "The Emperor—he's going to bleed the aristocratic families."
Hearing this, Sun Heng didn't understand. "Father, doesn't this policy essay speak of gathering displaced people for military farming?"
Sun Yan said nothing.
Then Sun Qian explained to his elder brother, "Essentially, this is competing with the aristocratic families for tenant farmers."
Furrowing his brow, looking at Sun Heng to the side, Minister Sun sneered, "Where are there so many displaced people for military farming?"
Sun Heng lowered his head again, saying honestly, "Father's words are extremely correct..."
An incompetent legitimate eldest son—this was quite the headache.
But teaching his children was no longer the most important matter.
Minister Sun felt that His Majesty wanted to pave a path for his son.
And moreover, it was quite radical.
So radical that it would produce intense conflict.
There were clearly more moderate methods available, yet His Majesty was unwilling to use them.
Therefore, he was somewhat angry too.
His palm lightly struck the armrest, then gripped it heavily, as if engaging in a mental exchange with the distant figure in the palace. Minister Sun declared solemnly, "Your Majesty, it won't be that easy."