"Shi'an, come home. Your father has already forgiven you!"
Jiang-shi sensed that Song Shi'an was being stubborn, and feared that his wings had truly "hardened" and he wanted to establish himself independently.
But that kind of thinking was dangerous.
"Mother." Seeing her so agitated, Song Shi'an comforted her, "I'll definitely come home, just not in the next few days."
He had never had any intention of cutting ties with Song Jing.
On the contrary, the great tree of the Song clan was his solid backing.
His status as an illegitimate son had become unimportant after he passed the jieyuan examination.
There were generally only two possibilities for why an illegitimate son couldn't get ahead.
First, the illegitimate son was too weak.
Second, the illegitimate son wasn't weak, but was weaker than the legitimate son.
If the levels of two people weren't too different, as long as they could make contributions to the family, they would basically receive support from the entire clan.
If the illegitimate son was stronger than the legitimate son, and the legitimate son's maternal family wasn't overly powerful, it was even possible for the family head position to change hands.
The inheritance system of ancient aristocratic families could be said to be full of wisdom.
A pair of brothers perfectly illustrated this.
Cao Chun and Cao Ren.
Cao Ren was Cao Chun's older brother. In Cao Wei, Cao Ren was Cao Cao's trusted confidant and clearly had more power and prestige. His military abilities and achievements were also more outstanding, yet Cao Ren's family estate was inherited by Cao Chun.
The reason was that Cao Chun was better at family management, treated talented people with courtesy, and was welcomed by the gentry.
Meanwhile, Cao Ren, who had already separated out, could establish another branch due to his high position and great authority.
The two supported each other, ensuring the family's prosperity and growth.
If Song Shi'an demonstrated superior talent in officialdom, Song Ce would absolutely be the one to inherit the family estate in the future.
But Song Ce would also fully assist him in establishing his own branch.
The reason for this change was because a certain wastrel had an epiphany in a brothel and became first place in Si Prefecture.
My father has forgiven me?
We're all one family—why talk about such things?
"Then when exactly? Tell Mother a specific time." Jiang-shi asked with particular seriousness.
"Within the next few days," Song Shi'an said.
"Are you certain?" Jiang-shi was somewhat afraid. "You're not deceiving Mother, are you?"
"I could deceive anyone but never Mother." Song Shi'an prepared to swear an oath.
"Enough, enough, I believe you, my son."
Jiang-shi grasped his hand, then reminded him: "Seven days from now, you must report to the Secretariat for your assignment. The official robes have already been delivered to the house. You absolutely cannot be late—being late is treated as forfeiture. Everything would be finished!"
"Definitely. I took the examinations for wealth and honor," Song Shi'an said, giving Jiang-shi reassuring words.
"Then son, what exactly do you want to do? Can you tell Mother?" Jiang-shi asked, extremely puzzled.
What words couldn't be spoken?
Or was this something his father wouldn't permit?
To set Jiang-shi's mind at ease, Song Shi'an promised with a serious tone: "To bring harmony to the family, and to completely reconcile with Father."
Hearing these words and seeing that sincere expression, Jiang-shi was relieved: "I believe you."
"Then Mother, please go back first. It's getting late now."
Song Shi'an said with a smile.
"Alright then."
Jiang-shi agreed somewhat reluctantly, but before leaving, she looked around and said: "Don't forget to attend Minister Sun's birthday celebration the day after tomorrow. I'll have someone send you clothes, and have your father prepare some gold as a congratulatory gift for the Minister."
"Yes, Mother."
After agreeing with Jiang-shi and personally escorting her downstairs and out of the inn, the gentle smile on Song Shi'an's face was quickly replaced by gravity.
Military farming would harm the interests of the aristocratic families.
And the greatest aristocratic family in Jiangnan was the Sun clan of Yangzhou.
If he was dissatisfied, would he hide it?
If he vented it, would he dare target the Emperor?
No.
This wasn't a question of daring.
Compared to targeting the Emperor, targeting others was much easier.
Gradually, Song Shi'an understood.
The meaning of this personal invitation.
No.
Minister Sun had two choices.
Leading the resistance, or leading the support.
His choice would determine my situation the day after tomorrow.
Heaven or hell, decided in a single thought.
………
"Laoye."
Upon returning home, Jiang-shi went directly to find Song Jing, who was working in his study.
He looked up, and seeing no one beside Jiang-shi, his brow furrowed.
Immediately after, Jiang-shi hastily explained: "Laoye, when Shi'an heard that you had already forgiven him, he was very happy and wanted to quickly come home. But these past few days he's been afraid, and with no lodging, he became friends with some scholars who also passed the juren examination. They happen to have plans to gather over the next couple days... His meaning is that he wants to bid farewell to his fellow juren friends before returning home."
"They're truly juren friends?"
Hearing her say this, Song Jing wasn't angry, but rather confirmed.
He had been through this himself.
The friendship between juren of the same cohort was indeed the deepest.
In the future, they would also be allies in officialdom.
"Yes, laoye. I even met several of them. They're all upstanding young men of excellent character and learning," Jiang-shi said quite earnestly.
"I understand."
At this, Song Jing asked no further questions.
"Then laoye..." Jiang-shi began somewhat embarrassedly, "The day after tomorrow is Minister Sun's birthday. If Shi'an goes, he must bring some congratulatory gifts. It's also a matter of our Song Estate's face..."
"You don't need to tell me."
Song Jing glanced briefly at an exquisite small wooden box on his desk and said casually: "Let him take it."
Seeing he had already prepared it, Jiang-shi was instantly overjoyed. She stepped forward and gently grasped his arm with both hands, her smile radiant: "Laoye, you're so good."
"Alright, alright..." Though Song Jing's tone was impatient, it wasn't harsh. "I still have work to do."
…………
Outer city, West Market, Reading Pavilion bookstore branch.
Today's best-selling "novel" was the jieyuan's model answer paper.
The acceptance rate for the juren examination was extremely low. Not everyone who registered had expectations of passing.
Many first-timers participated just to accumulate some examination experience.
So when these people failed, their mindset wasn't particularly poor. It wasn't as if seeing the test papers would trigger hidden pain and make them miserable.
Moreover, just like how the essay topic of the college entrance examination sparked nationwide discussion every year, the literate petit bourgeois class loved joining in the excitement, especially with content they could understand.
Therefore, every cohort's jieyuan policy essay model answer would be critically reviewed by the common people.
"This year's topic was excellent! If Yi Prefecture wasn't suffering from locusts, I wouldn't have known the court was short of grain to this extent!"
"This is truly a major issue. Liang Prefecture is still fighting Ji Yuan. If the soldiers at the front have no provisions, how can they fight?"
"Indeed, military farming is good. In places not at war, the soldiers are idle anyway. Gather up the refugees and have them cultivate the land—they'll definitely accumulate quite a bit of grain."
"But if military farming goes on too long, won't the army forget how to fight?"
"Then have the old, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers do the farming, along with that general who keeps losing battles... let him become a military farming general."
"Hey, watch your words. Don't let General Xia hear you."
"Hey, I didn't say which general!"
On the bustling market street, a plain horse carriage stopped to one side.
Inside the carriage, Wei Wusheng held the Strategy for Military Farming model answer in both hands, completely absorbed.
After a while, the carriage curtain lifted.
A young woman with her hair tied in a spirited high ponytail, a cold countenance, eyes devoid of tenderness, and dressed in men's clothing, placed one foot on the carriage step. Leaning forward, she said quietly: "Your Highness, I've inquired clearly. Song Shi'an is the eldest son of the Sheng'an Magistrate's family, illegitimate. He had no previous reputation, and his hobby was listening to music at entertainment houses."
"Ah?"
Hearing the last four words, Wei Wusheng suddenly snapped to attention and looked up.
"Never mind, it doesn't matter."
But returning to that essay, a curious light reappeared in his eyes: "This Song Shi'an—I really want to meet him."