Zhu Song, son of the Deputy Envoy of National Trust, Lu Mingbo, son of Si Prefecture's River Supervisor, and Song Ce—all three had passed the provincial examination. Moreover, thanks to their family connections, they had all been assigned to the Imperial Academy.
Although they were currently just clerks, after a while they would basically all be promoted to Rank 9, given their exceptionally wealthy family backgrounds and status as legitimate sons.
Actually, there was one more person in their small circle—Lu Mingbo's older brother Lu Qingyan—but he hadn't passed the exam, so after the results were posted, he never went out again or gathered with the others.
Anyone who takes exams regularly knows the most annoying thing isn't failing yourself—it's when your study buddy passes but you don't.
And something even more painful than that, reaching the ultimate level of misery, is—when everyone in your group passes except you.
This leads to that person being permanently unable to join the small circle anymore.
Even if they pass later, it'll still feel pretty awkward inside.
Actually, among these people, Lu Qingyan's scholarly level was quite good, second only to Song Ce. But as mentioned before, for this examination's topics, having knowledge alone wasn't enough—you also needed experience.
In such circumstances, reading too many books could actually make you overthink things.
He had thought too much, which caused him to completely miss the point.
Conversely, Lu Mingbo, who had a somewhat impulsive personality and was straightforward, had unexpectedly passed.
"The Imperial Academy is really damn boring," Lu Mingbo complained as they walked down the street. "Only been there two days and they already have us copying books."
"What did you expect?" Zhu Song said. "You think passing the juren exam makes you something special? Remember, we're only juren."
Some people who've just passed the civil service exam, before their appointments are even finalized, have very beautiful fantasies.
They can't wait to prepare their slicked-back hair and administrative jacket in advance, imagining themselves with hands clasped behind their backs, surrounded by village officials as they go down to the grassroots level.
And after working for a few years, they should honestly realize—fuck, I am the grassroots level.
It was the same for juren.
Even young juren only had one advantage: youth.
"Same juren rank, but it'd be better to go to some county below and become a Rank 9 instructor after half a year. At least then you could manage the education of all the scholars in a county."
Thinking about what they were doing now, Lu Mingbo complained again: "The Rank 9s at the Imperial Academy are more numerous than the turtles in our moat. You have to bow your head to everyone you meet."
"You're not even Rank 9 yet and you're already spouting nonsense. Be careful or the senior students at the Academy will hear and beat the crap out of you."
After teasing him, Zhu Song also said with some emotion: "But we still need to pass the jinshi exam. Otherwise, if we rely entirely on our fathers in the future, we won't be able to become high officials."
"You dare to dream of jinshi? There's this older brother in my neighborhood who was called a child prodigy by his uncles when he was young. Later he entered the Ministry of Agriculture and kept taking the exam until he was almost forty, and still hasn't passed." Lu Mingbo waved his hand dismissively, not placing much hope in it.
Currently, there were several thousand juren across the entire country. Even if the vast majority of them focused on their government positions and weren't preparing for exams, each metropolitan examination still had nearly a thousand candidates.
Yet the number admitted didn't even reach thirty.
Who dared say that with effort, you'd definitely pass?
"Jingming should be able to pass," Zhu Song said with a smile.
Although Song Ce was certain he would become a jinshi, faced with his friend's flattery, he still sighed: "But I didn't even place as a sub-yuan this time."
"If our Jingming had placed as sub-yuan, maybe he could have married Minister Sun's younger daughter," Zhu Song teased. "After all, you're similar in age, and Jingming is quite handsome and elegant."
"Speaking of which, your family's that..."
Before the words 'illegitimate son' could come out, remembering that last time he'd been subtly rebuked by Song Ce for saying Song Shi'an didn't follow the rules, Lu Mingbo swallowed those two words and said instead: "He placed as jieyuan. Will your father arrange something for him?"
"I don't know."
Song Ce shook his head. He basically had no control over this matter.
In fact, he didn't even know where Song Shi'an was right now.
However, as they were walking and talking on the street, they happened to encounter Song Shi'an coming out from the Secretariat.
Black official robes of Rank 7, so 'dazzling.'
In comparison, the three young masters in their clerk uniforms had lost all semblance of nobility.
In fact, the other two were even a bit nervous and intimidated.
"Ah, Jingming."
After seeing clearly it was them, Song Shi'an greeted them with a smile.
"Greetings, Lord Song."
Zhu Song hurriedly saluted.
Lu Mingbo at his side followed suit, honestly bowing to Song Shi'an.
Trash-talking behind people's backs was one thing, but when a clerk meets a Rank 7 official and doesn't respectfully use honorific language, what are you trying to do?
"Jingming's friends, greetings to you both."
Seeing this, Song Shi'an made a motion as if reaching into his sleeve and asked Song Ce: "If you're going out to have fun, do you have enough money?"
Running into little brother and his classmates on the street, act like a successful adult.jpg, giving little brother spending money to treat his friends.jpg.
But not actually giving spending money.
Big brother doesn't have money.
"I have enough money," Song Ce said.
"Then remember to treat your friends to a meal."
Song Shi'an withdrew his hand from his empty sleeve.
"Mm-hm." Song Ce nodded slightly, looking at him with some hesitation. Then he said to the other two, "You go ahead first, I'll be right there."
"Alright." Zhu Song agreed, then together with Lu Mingbo bowed to Song Shi'an in farewell. "Lord Song, we'll take our leave first."
"Mm, good. You two go ahead."
Song Shi'an smiled, looking very approachable.
He had already passed the age of reading those novels where 'someone insults him once and he murders their whole family.'
That day Eunuch Chen had given him a thorough scolding, and Secretary Yu had also berated him with a dark face. If he rose to power in the future, would he seek revenge against those two?
Must every humiliation suffered today be repaid in full?
Moreover, that scolding was actually to protect him.
It was just said a bit... harshly.
True showing off is an attitude.
Summarized in two words: composure.
"Aren't you going home yet?"
After the two had left, Song Ce suddenly asked.
Between himself and this older brother, there had actually never been any conflict.
Song Ce had never insulted or looked down on him even once.
The reason the two of them had no contact at the Song Estate was only to accommodate their mother's feelings.
But precisely because there was no hatred, disgust, or disdain, and yet they were also constrained by their mother's feelings and couldn't interact—they hadn't even had many chances to talk—so the relationship between the two had always been somewhat awkward.
The one who mainly felt awkward was the younger Song Ce.
"About that..." Being asked this, Song Shi'an deflected: "I've been a bit busy these past two days. I'll go home once I'm done."
"If you're worried Father is angry and don't dare go back, you don't need to be like this."
Song Ce looked at him and said: "I think he's already not angry anymore."
"Alright, thank you, little brother. I'll go back as soon as possible."
Nodding with a light smile, Song Shi'an agreed.
"Good." Song Ce said.
Song Shi'an stepped aside: "Then you go find your friends. I'll be going first."
After a moment of silence, Song Ce started to leave.
However, when passing by Song Shi'an, he stopped and said with a somewhat serious tone: "Although I don't know the content of your appointment ceremony, I'm guessing you probably want to go to a dangerous place like Cangxia. If so, you must discuss it with Father."
"I kno—"
"I guarantee you will definitely receive the family's protection."
Interrupting Song Shi'an, Song Ce said with certainty.
He understood that because of his subtle relationship with Father, Song Shi'an was unwilling to involve the family.
So after he said these words, Song Shi'an's concerns would be much less.
These words surprised Song Shi'an.
Then he looked at Song Ce with a smile and said: "Jingming has always been taciturn. Even when with friends, you're often silent. That day before entering the Examination Compound, you took the initiative to mention 'the war between the North and Qi might be worth understanding'—that was because Father had privately given you that as a likely topic, wasn't it? You said that so I would hear it too, right?"
Being asked this, Song Ce's expression showed no ripples. Then slowly, he nodded: "Yes."